Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ANTANANARIVO
Upon arrival at the international airport of Ivato-Antananarivo; after all the check-in process, meet our agent and transfer to the hotel and overnight.

DAY 2: ANTANANARIVO > ANTSIRABE (170 Kms, 03h)
After breakfast in hotel, departure to the Lemur’s park about 22kms, there we’ll discover couple of Lemurs; then continuation of the itinerary southward along the national road n°7, one of the most famous holiday route in Madagascar thanks to the diversity of the scenery along the road; stops to the most interesting spots like at Ambatolampy where you’ll discover a very traditional process of making pots; lunch in a restaurant; in the afternoon, visit of the little and charming thermal city of Antsirabe (which means: where there are lots of salt) with the lake of Andraikiba and visit of couple of local workshops as well as the local lapidary which enables us to discover all the precious and semi-precious stones of Madagascar like Sapphires, Quartz, Tourmalines, Cat’s Eye, Rubbies etc; accommodation and overnight in hotel.

 

DAY 3: ANTSIRABE > RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK (260 Kms, 05h30)
After breakfast in hotel, continuation of the tour with arrival at Ambositra after 2 hour’s drive; then visit of the so-called “capital of the Malagasy art craft” especially known for the wood carving, classified among UNESCO intangible cultural heritage; after lunch, we continue to the south until a bifurcation that leads us eastward to the National Park of Ranomafana; the temperature changes, you’ll feel that the air is fresh and colder; accommodation and overnight in hotel.

DAY 4: RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK > FIANARANTSOA (70 Kms, 01h30’)
Breakfast in hotel; the whole morning will be dedicated to the visit of the tropical rain forest of Ranomafana (which means: warm water); indeed, this is a natural thermal centre; It was classified World Natural Heritage of the Atsinanana in 2007 and shelters a big wealth in endemic biodiversity but in danger; we can see rare and seriously threatened species of lemurs; the park is also the genetic reservoir of some rare and unique plant species; the park is browsed by many rivers that are the effluents of the Namorona stream; lunch in hotel; in the afternoon, let’s go and visit a traditional and typical village of the Tanala tribe (Tanala means: people of the wood) which provides us opportunity to observe their daily life, to attend a folkloric show (traditional music and dance) and to meet his royalty the King of the village in his humble wood made Palace; by the end of the afternoon, drive on to Fianarantsoa, the capital of the Betsileo people; accommodation and overnight in hotel.

DAY 5: FIANARANTSOA > ISALO NATIONAL PARK (300 Kms, 8h)
Breakfast in hotel; before departure, let’s have a walk at the upper town which is among the 100 most historical vulnerable sites in the world or World Monument Watch; continuation of the itinerary to the south; stop and visit at Ambalavao at the winery, the silk factory and at the “Antemoro paper” factory; drive on and new stop at the private reserve of Anjà which enables us to observe one of the most famous lemurs in Madagascar and may be in the whole world, known as the King Julian, the Ring-tailed lemur or Catta lemur prevails the whole forest of Anjà; lunch in a local restaurant; continuation through the city of the Bara tribe known as being warrior and great thieves of Zebù; check-in and accommodation in hotel; dinner and overnight in hotel.

 

DAY 6: ISALO NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, the whole day will be dedicated to the visit of the so-called “Colorado of Madagascar”; canyons, rivers, natural swimming pools and little forest of Tapia or “Uapaca Bojeri” known for being resistant to fires; the national park of Isalo, massive ruinform plateau of continental sandstones dating from the Jurassic era, very much eroded, only the parcelled witnessed by the sandy valleys and the canyons, is the most visited park in Madagascar thanks to its particular wild nature and its exceptional landscape; a sunset seen through the “window of the Isalo” is a real post card that deserves the detour; picnic lunch or in a local restaurant; before reaching the hotel, let’s take some time at the famous “Window of Isalo” to contemplate the sunset; in the evening, dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 7: ISALO NATIONAL PARK > TULEAR > ANAKAO (245 kms, 4h)
After breakfast, very early departure (05.30 am) to Tulear along a very good asphalted road, through couple of the villages of the Sapphire’s seekers, the forest of Zombitse-vohibasia, the traditional tombs of Mahafaly ornamented by “Aloalo” (sort of Totem) very much exploited by collectors, and through the spiny and dry forest at the door of Tulear; then transfer to the port to embark in boat to the Peninsula of Anakao; accommodation in hotel; lunch in a restaurant; rest of the day at leisure on one of the most beautiful sea resort of the South; in the evening, dinner and overnight in hotel.

DAY 8, 9 & 10: ANAKAO
Three wonderful plain days at Anakao enjoying the white sandy beach and the sun; lots of activities are available that you can organise on the spot; half-board treatment in hotel.

DAY 11: ANAKAO > TULEAR > ANTANANARIVO >
After breakfast in hotel, transfer by boat to Tulear; if the time allows us, let’s take a brief city tour of Tulear including the visit of the Arboretum of Antsokay; lunch in a restaurant; in due time, drive on to the airport to embark into the flight to the Capital; upon arrival, meet our agent who will transfer you to a hotel near the airport; in the evening, dinner and Day Use in the hotel; in due time, transfer back to the international airport of Ivato.

End of tour …