Summary
Short description
A 15-day journey of discovery, taking in the wildlife, culture and beaches of Madagascar
In Brief
- 1 Night Antananarivo
- 2 Nights Andasibe
- 1 Night Antsirabe
- 2 Nights Ranomafana
- 2 Nights Ranohira
- 2 Nights Ifaty
- 1 Night Antananarivo
- 3 Nights Nosy Be
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Activity adventure | Beach | History & culture | Natural world | Wildlife
Just off Africa's east coast lies Madagascar, a land of arid desert, tropical rainforest and mist-shrouded mountains - best known for its peculiar wildlife, most of which cannot be found anywhere else on earth.
The suggested tailor-made itinerary shown below provides a great, in-depth introduction to the island, and you can even extend your stay with a little relaxation beachside afterward at Nosy Be.
Madagascar is still emerging as a tourism destination and, while its popularity rose with the BBC series narrated by Sir David Attenborough in February 2011, the standards of the hotels are not the same as those you may be used to in South Africa, for example. Rest assured though, that we have selected the best below.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Antananarivo
Arrive in Madagascar’s capital city for your first night.
Stay: Colbert Hotel
Days
2-3
Andasibe
Head east to Andasibe for a day of lemur-spotting, initially at Marozevo and then at Vakona island, where you can see the mouse lemur, hairy-eared dwarf lemur, and eastern woolly lemur, as well as reptiles and batrachians.
The following day explore Andasibe Mantadia National Park to find more lemurs, including the largest living example, the Indri Indri. You’ll also enjoy the chance to spot some of the island’s endemic birds, such as the blue coua and Madagascar buzzard.
Stay: Mantadia Lodge
Breakfast & dinner included
Day
4
Antsirabe
Return west to Antananarivo then turn south to Antsirabe passing through Madagascar’s highlands. The industrial and agricultural centre is well-known for its precious stones.
Stay: Couleur Café
Breakfast & dinner included
Days
5-6
Ranomafana
After a tour of Antsirabe and Ambositra - the capital of Malagasy handicrafts - head to the south-east of the island to Ranomafana National Park where you will spend the following day exploring the forests, home to numerous lemur species and abundant birdlife.
Stay: Thermal Hotel
Breakfast & dinner included
Days
7-8
Ranohira
On the drive to Ranohira you’ll make a quick visit to a hand-made-paper factory and pass through the wide Harombe grasslands. The landscape then changes, to become dominated by granite outcrops. Spend the following morning exploring Isalo National Park and discovering its many unusual endemic plants, and take a swim at the Piscine Naturelle. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Stay: Isalo Rock Lodge
Breakfast & dinner included
Days
9-10
Ifaty
On the drive to Ifaty, the landscape changes from savannah to bushland, and you’ll go through a number of villages populated by sapphire miners and pass by some well-adorned tombs commemorating southern tribes. The following day head to Reniala spiny forest for bird watching.
Stay: Dunes Hotel
Breakfast & dinner included
Day
11
Antananarivo
Fly from Tulear to Antananarivo and make an afternoon visit to the Ambohimanga Royal Palace to learn about the Malagasy kingdom.
Stay: Colbert Hotel
Breakfast & dinner included
Day
12
Departure
After breakfast, make your way to the international airport for your onward flight. Alternatively, extend your stay in Madagascar with a few days relaxing on the beach at beautiful Nosy Be.
Breakfast included
Days
13-14
Nosy Be
Take a morning flight to Nosy Be, known as the 'Perfumed Island' due to its plentiful ylang ylang and cinnamon and sugar cane plantations. Previously volcanic, the island is strewn with mountains and old craters, where lakes have now formed. Small islets nearby make for a fun visit for fishing, snorkelling or diving, while inland the tropical forest at Lokobe has plenty of interesting flora to discover.
Stay: Home Madagascar the Residence (Superior) or Constance Tsarabanjina (Deluxe)
Breakfast & dinner included
Day
15
Antananarivo
Fly to Antananarivo and transfer to the Relais des Plateaux Hotel where you have use of a room through the day, before returning to the airport for a late evening flight home.
Breakfast included
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
15-day tailor-made holiday
from £4,985 pp incl. flights
Superior
Low Season
from £4,985 pp. incl. flights
High Season
from £5,795 pp. incl. flights
Includes:
- Complimentary UK airport lounge access
- Return flights between the UK and Anantanarivo
- Domestic flight from Tulear to Anantanarivo
- Private airport transfers
- 11 nights accommodation in typically 4* (Superior) hotels on a half-board basis
- Private guided tours
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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Having drifted away from the African mainland many millions of years ago, Madagascar has evolved along its own unique path, and more than 80% of its flora and fauna are found nowhere else on earth. By far the most famous are its loveable lemurs, of which there are 53 known varieties. As likely to c…
