Symbolic and natural treasures abound on the Great Island, which features stunning scenery, a rich cultural diversity, and welcoming local people. This 16-day tour of Madagascar highlands' southwestern coast and pristine beaches of the north are both breathtaking. From the lemurs of Amber Mountain National Park to the ancient tsingy of Mahaloka and its caves to the crystal-clear beaches of Nosy Be, Madagascar has something for everyone.
Highlights
Discover the amazing diversity of landscapes of the Highlands
Spot wildlife at Ranomafana rainforest
Explore and walk along the splendid three bays in Diego Suarez
Marvel at the beautiful red and grey Tsingy of Ankarana
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
After your breakfast at the hotel, meet with your guide and start heading south. See rice fields and typical villages that represent the landscape right after Antananarivo. Stop in Ambatolampy and discover how amazing the work of aluminum is to make a cooking pot. Continue your journey towards Antsirabe in the afternoon and take your time for a city tour and experience “pousse-pousse” (Rick-Shaw) riding the main transport for locals.
Continue your journey towards the south and shop around in Ambositra. Ambositra is the city of art, culture, and crafts. Discover that they are warm and welcoming people. Capital of the Zafimaniry territory, these people are from the heights of Betsileo work the wood in a very refined way. This Zafimaniry village is an unforgettable experience. Discover their refined art, worked in wood. Houses, utensils, and everyday objects are hand-crafted in geometric shapes of Austronesian motifs. Stroll around the town and continue to Ranomafana and witness the Betsileo tribe area located in the highest part of Madagascar Highlands. Continue to the east and, arrive in the rainforest in the late afternoon. Discover the night safari and witness the nocturnal species.
After breakfast, discover the Ranomafana National forest. One of the best sites which the rainforest of Madagascar can give you. Walk and visit the National Park with a local guide to watch the bamboo lemurs, red-fronted brown lemur, red-bellied brown lemur living in the forest.
Distance: 70 km Duration: +/- 5h of visit and 2h drive
This morning, leave the highlands and, at Ambalavao, visit the Antemoro paper factory. The secular process to make this paper by the bark of mulberry tree Avoha (Bosqueia danguyana) was introduced in Madagascar in the XVth century by the first Arabic migrants to re-transcribe the Koran. It is still made to the same processes in Ambalavao. Meet some lemurs in Anja small Reserve at this huge granite rock foothill. Continue to drive towards the southwest and enter the Bara region. Cross the largest plateau of Madagascar constituted by a beautiful herbaceous steppe, topped with huge termite nests of IHorombe. Arrive at Ranohira which is close to Isalo massif and the National Park gate.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Isalo foothill and hike inside the massif with just a small rucksack. This simple walk takes you to the amazing landscape towards the natural swimming pool. Swim and relax at the pool and take a picnic lunch at the Tapia forest. It is possible to walk around and explore the summit of the surrounding mountains to enjoy the view.
Duration: from 1h30 to 6 hours of the walk according to the chosen itinerary
After breakfast, continue your journey to go south and visit Ilakaka, a small town well known for the discovery of one of Earth's largest known alluvial sapphires. On the way to Tuléar, make some stops to see the Mahafaly tribes. They are known for the large tombs they built and, they are painted and decorated. They also put carvings and erected them on top of the tombs. The Mozambique Channel can be seen from far away before we get into Tuléar. Walk around the market and have lunch in town before we go to the beach at Ifaty.
Today is free to relax and explore different activities from the hotel during the day at leisure on the edges of the Mozambique Channel. Make the most of the sea and the lagoon by diving, dugout ride with Vezo fishermen, swimming, or just leisure. Hikers can discover the inland specific and extraordinary vegetation composed of euphorbia, baobab, didiereaceae, aloes and, those with thorns are kings in the south.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and catch your flight to Antananarivo. Depending on the flight schedule, take your lunch either at Ifaty or in Tuléar or Antananarivo restaurant. If you have enough time, stop at the crafts market in Antananarivo for shopping. Transfer to the hotel and take your dinner at the restaurant.
Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Diego Suarez. Your guide welcomes you at the airport of Diego Suarez. Explore the region and witness the Indian Ocean wherein opens to three beautiful bays (Sakalava bay, Pigeons bay, and Dunes bay). Walk along the beach and make the most of the time to relax and swim before going to Joffre Ville.
Distance: 90 km Duration: +/-4h drive; 1h15 flight + /-3h of walking
After breakfast, early morning at the hotel, drive to the park and start the visit of Amber Mountain National Park with a local guide to this luxuriant forest. This park is the first National Park created in Madagascar and, It has special vegetation with tree ferns, palms, orchids, and several rare species of trees. Waterfalls and crater lakes decorate your walk and discover the seven kinds of lemurs in the forest. You can meet the crowned lemur and Sanford lemur. You might see chameleons, geckos, leaf-tailed geckos, and many colorful birds. There is a possibility of walking down heading back to the hotel in the afternoon.
Today you can leave Joffre Ville to reach Mahamasina village and on the way to visit the red tsingy. The geological history of this formation is the same as Tsingy of Ankarana but with some thousands of years of difference. Red Tsingy is due to the erosion of sandstone, instead of limestone for Ankarana Tsingy. Drive back to the main road and continue until you reach Mahamasina until you reach the edge of a lake. In front of the Tsingy massif, within a few miles distance from Mahavavy River, you will arrive at your beautiful and relaxing lodge.
Distance: 250 km Duration: +/- 5h and +/-1h visit
Day 13: The Lake of Anjavy | The Grey Tsingy and Mandresy Cave
Enjoy your half-day to discover the Tsingy and its world. By dugout canoe, enjoy the borders of the lake and its luxurious fauna and flora. Various bird species such as heron, cattle egret, kingfishers, drongos which are considered as the king of the birds, or various colorful and shimmering butterflies.
By hiking, the tsingy-tsingy and mandresy cave you can explore this huge cavity full of stalagmite and stalactite. See the panoramic view of Ambatomiloloha with a private path with ladders, bridges, guardrails. The starting point is the camp itself with two choices either depart on foot or a boat. The biodiversity, the endemic ecosystem will reveal themselves to you during this thrilling experience and witness lemurs, butterflies, birds, various colorful flora, and other invertebrates.
Back in your hotel for the lunch and at night, walk along the Tsingy massif to reach the cliff edge and then, watch the animals which are mainly active at night.
Duration: +/- 30 mn of pirogue, +/-4h walk in the morning and +/-1h nocturnal walk
Continue driving going to the south and your route passes through the Ambilobe region and its cashews plantations. Then the Ambanja area with coffee, cocoa, and ylang-ylang plantations. Arriving at Ankify port and board on a speedboat for 45 minutes ride towards Hellville, the capital of Nosy Be. By taxi boat, reach the hotel at the beachfront.
Distance: 250 km Duration: +/- 6 hours + 45mn navigation
Enjoy activities that are possible from the hotel such as water sport, fishing, excursion in some islands, boat trips, motorbike or bicycle renting. The hotel reception will advise you and help you with all these activities. Walk to Mont Passot in the late afternoon for a beautiful panorama of the island sunset or just lazing around on the beach. Stay your evening and relax at your hotel in front of the sea.
Day 16: Nosy be | Return home
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport by the hotel.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for May 4, 2025 not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for May 4, 2025 are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 30% plus 100% of internal flight costs are due at the time of booking, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by Bank Transfer
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
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