Best Madagascar Adventure

Day 1: Antananarivo

Arrival in Tana, meet and greet at the airport then transfer to your hotel .

Day 2: Antananarivo - Andasibe

Today we head eastwards to Andasibe through the green landscape of the East. Because of the heavy traffic in this
RN2 ( the first harbour of Madagascar) and its winding road, the 135 km distance will take us 3 to 4 hours' drive. This
step brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forest and lakes. On the way, on option, we may stop
in Pyereras Reptiles Park to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles. Then we drive for another 2 hours
to reach Andasibe. Check-in and overnight in your hotel.

Day 3: Andasibe

Drive to Mantadia, 17 km of dirt track north of Andasibe village. Then 3 to 4 hours guided walk in the Mantadia
National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest, more dense and much wilder than Andasibe. The different species of
lemurs are quite difficult to spot due to the size of the forest and also the fact that Mantadia is less visted. Many hikes
are available depending on visitor's wish, interest and physical condition. Then visit the private park of Vakona in the
"islands of lemurs" which the best spot to take photo of lemurs; Back in hotel for the night.

Day 4: Andasibe - Antananarivo

Breakfast at hotel, then 3 to 4 hours guided walk in the Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east.
9 species of lemurs can be spotted; the highlight is the "Indri Indri" which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810
ha reserve is also home to numerous unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like
chameleons, tenrecs, and many birdsthen we head on westwards to Tana. Although the distance is only 135 km, it
takes 3 to 4 hours' drive to reach the capital, because of the winding road and very busy traffic of the National Road 2.
Green landscape, composed with tropical rainforest, alternated with eucalyptus and pine, hills, valleys, lakes and
rivers, villages with huts, bricked house with thatched roof are the scenery we will see along the way. Arrival in Tana
late in the afternoon, settlement and overnight in hotel.

Day 5: Antananarivo - Kirindy (Réserve)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Morondava, on arrival transfer through the Baobabs forest and the red soil of the
west to Kirindy, Settlement in the lodge then meet the guide for night expedition of the reserve, We'll start an expedition
to see the fossa and other night active lemur's species; overnight in the lodge.

Day 6: Kirindy (Réserve) - Bekopaka Bemaraha

The Kirindy boasts more than 60 species of birds, so early morning we have 2 hours hike to look for birds before we
take our breakfast. Then around 9.00am, 2 hours' drive to Tsimafana through the Baobabs forest and the red soil of
the west. We take a Ferry boat transfer to reach Belo. Then head on to Bekopaka for another 4 hours adventure in a
dirt track. This drive brings us to Madagascar profound, the bush African side of the country with its dry and red soil.
One can experience the real life of Malagasy people in the driest part of the country. Arrival in Bekopaka by end of the
afternoon, check-in and overnight in Hotel.

Day 7: Bekopaka Bemaraha

Morning, after breakfast, hike to the small Tsingy, The small Tsingy, a 2 to 3 hours easy hike, combined with a pirogue
ride along the Manambolo River, is for everybody. Night at the same hotel.

Day 8: Bekopaka Bemaraha

Hike to the "Grand Tsingy" located 17 km from Bekopaka, requires a good physical condition as the hike takes 4 to 5
hours, Overnight in hotel.

Day 9: Bekopaka Bemaraha - Morondava

Breakfast at hotel then, cross Manambolo river and take the dirt road to Morondava. Stop in Belo sur Tsiribihina where
we cross the Tsiribihina river with a local ferry to reach Tsimafana. From there another 4 hours to reach Morondava.
We are in the region of splendid Grandidiers baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. We stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS »
and enjoy the sunset picture of this unique moment, with its different colours and lights. Night in Hotel.

Day 10: Morondava - Antsirabe

After breakfast, 4 hours drive to Miandrivazo then have 3 hour's drive to Antsirabe. Arrival late in the afternoon,
overnight in hotel.

Day 11: Antsirabe - Ranomafana

After breakfast, drive towards Ambositra, we are still in the Highlands with its green landscapes dominated by terraced
rice fields and pine and eucalyptus forests. One thing which marks the Highlands is its architecture. Almost all houses
are made from brick, with ornately carved wooden balconies and shutters with nice colours. Before Ambositra, we see
the " col de tapia" where the Tapia tree grows, a type of tree which resists bush fires. Arrival in Ambositra, a city known
for its wood carving and its numerous small handicraft workshops. Visit to workshop where one attend craftsmen
working. Continuation to Ranomafana, which will be reached in 3 hours. The landscape is now changing into a lush
green one, with a tropical forest on the both sides, sometimes interrupted by small villages selling bananas or charcoal.
Curving roads run up and down steep hills, making the driving quite long. Rice paddies, eucalyptus forest alternate with
local villages along the way. We stop in Ambohimahasoa, an important town enroute to visit the weekly Saturday local
market. After Alakamisy, we leave the RN7 and take the RN45 towards Ranomafana Ifanadiana. The 35 remaining
kilometers is through thick tropical rainforest, often in rain under cloudy skies. Overnight in hotel.

Day 12: Ranomafana

4 hours expedition in the forest with a local guide to see 12 species of lemurs, Ranomafana is the most important site
of lemurs in Madagascar, it is the only confirmed site for the two rarest species the greater bamboo lemur Hapalemur
simus and the golden bamboo lemur Hapalemur aureus. Different species like Fulvus Rufus, Varieca Variegata,
Hapalemur griseus, Avahi lanigeur, Lepilemur mustelinus, Propithecus diadema edwardsi, Cheirogaleus major and
Daubentounia madagscariensis are also seen there. More than 100 birds, five species of viverrids, reptiles, lizards,
butterflies and other insects have been recorded in this park. The area is covered with forest, in the higher areas ,the
trees are festooned with mosses and lichens, much of this secondary forest is dominated by the introduced tree
Psidium cattleyarum, also giant bamboo Cephalostacyum viguieri. Various orchids such as Bblophyllum and
Eulophiella, steep mountains, dramatic waterfalls and natural hot springs make this endangered and exotic forest
charming and unusual . The name Ranomafana means " hot water " due to its thermal springs. Overnight in hotel.

Day 13: Ranomafana - Ranohira (Isalo)

Morning, we'll have 1 hour drive to Fianarantsoa, the capital of Betsileo tribes, the second largest tribe of the
Highlands, also the second most populated city of the country after Antananarivo. From there, 60mn drive to
Ambalavao and visit the "Anteimoro paper" workshop; Paper making was introduced in Madagascar by Arab traders.
Then we'll visit ANJA, a park run by the local community where part of the income serves to pay the teachers of the
local school. We will spot ringtail lemurs during our 2 hours hike inside the park. We'll head on to Ihosy, the capital of
Bara tribes, through the mountain chain of Andringitra, which serves as a transition between green Highland and the
dry South. The landscape is more and more grandiose. Huge Granite blocks are marking the spacious and empty
plains. It is " the gate of the south " which marks the end of the Highlands and the beginning of the South. We feel like
being swallowed by this emptiness, as we pass through the "plateau de Horombe" with its spacious red soil, reminding
us of " no man's land". In various places we can see zebu herds, accompanied by Bara men with rifles. Arrival in
Isalo at the end of the afternoon.Overnight in your hotel.

Day 14: Ranohira (Isalo)

4 to 6 hours hike in ISALO National Park. The park covers an area of 81,540 ha comprising the entire stretch of the
Isalo massif. This huge massif is spectacular with its eroded sandstone mountains. 10 minutes drive from Ranohira
village to the entrance of the park, then 90 minutes hiking through the massif to get a spectacular view of Isalo's
eroded sandstone mountains with its different colors, its strange and eroded forms giving many different images like
"the tortoise", "the masks" and "the crocodiles". Vegetation is composed of Uapaca bojeri, Pachypodium rosulatum, an
endemic species in Isalo, Aloe isaloensis. During the hike, one can see tombs inside rockclefts, as these mountains
are also a Bara burial place. The canyon is just spectacular with its deep gorge. One will see small streams of water,
small rivers which are marked by lines of brilliant green, generally made up of numerous Pandanus pulcher and the
delicate, slim-stemmed, feathery leaved palm Chrysalidocarpus isaloensis. Along the way, for lemur's lovers, one might
see sifakas, brown lemurs and ring-tails, also fifty five species of birds, lizards, snakes. Back to the hotel at the end of
the afternoon. Then around 04.30pm, visit the fenêtre de l'Isalo for the sunset. Back and overnight in your hotel.

Day 15: Ranohira (Isalo) - Ifaty

After breakfast, head on to Tuléar, the terminal of the National road N° 7. After 1 hours drive, stop in Ilakaka, a tiny
village transformed into a busy town since the discovery of sapphire 15 years ago. From here, new scenery arises,
composed with semi-dry forest of the west, baobabs tamarind trees. As we come closer to Tulear, we start to see
thorny bush and from time to time some colorful tombs of Mahafaly and Antandroy tribes. Arrival in Tuléar, the end of
this long and stunning National Road 7. Afterwards we take the National 9, and head northwards to Ifaty along the
coast along mangroves, thorny bushes, dunes. Overnight in hotel.

Day 16: Ifaty

Morning visit of Reniala Spiny Forest, a typical dry and thorny bush only seen in the southern part of the country, where we find some Baobab samples and another special trees. Afternoon at leisure; Ifaty lies on the north of Tuléar. Situated in the largest lagoon of the country, Ifaty is protected by a large coral reef which makes it an ideal place for diving and snorkelling of just for relaxing. Many excursions are possible on the spot, being a fishermen village, we can just walk to the village of Mangily and enjoy the lively and animated return of the fishermen from the sea and experience the Vezo Fishermen's life, especially when the fishermen come back from fishing. Night in the same hotel. Overnight in hotel.

Day 17: Ifaty - Antananarivo

Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Tana, on arrival transfer to your hotel.

Day 18: Antananarivo

Depending on your international flight departure, if time allows we can drive and visit Lemurs Park situated 25km in the
West part of Antananarivo, on the way back we drive to handicraft market Marché Artisanal la Digue, then transfer to
the airport for the international flight back home.

• Accommodation in midrange hotels/Lodges, based as Meals indicated
• All transfer airport - Hotel - Airport
• Transport by private  4WD with english speaking driver and fuel
• Entrance and guide fees for the viists mentioned in the above program
• All local taxes

• All personal expenses, foods, drinks and tips
• Travel insurance
• Optional excursions and excursions not mentioned