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For the 2022 itinerary of this tour, click here.

Highlights of Madagascar — Plus

14 days, Antananarivo to Antananarivo

Map of the route for Highlights of Madagascar — Plus
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Itinerary

Day 1Antananarivo

Arrive at any time.

There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting. If you arrive early, we recommend speaking with the hotel reception to learn more about available activities around the area.

Please note, occasionally the following itinerary may have to be shuffled due to changes with the internal flight schedules. Typically, this results in shuffling days of the itinerary around and does not cause any missed activities, destinations or experiences.

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

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Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow

The Prime Minister’s Palace Visit
Antananarivo
20000MGA per person

Located on the highest hill in Antananarivo, the Andafiavaratra Palace was the residency of Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony of Madagascar, who governed the island kingdom in the late 19th century. The site has now transitioned into a museum boasting over 1400 artifacts rescued from the fire at the Rova of Antananarivo, giving visitors insight into Malagasy history.

Queen’s Palace Visit
Antananarivo3h-4h
15000MGA per person

Belonging to a complex of seven monuments, the Queen's Palace (also called Manjakamiadana) was destroyed in a fire in 1995. Take a wander around the lasting stone walls of this site, 200m above the city centre. Admission includes entry fee and guide.

Tsarasaotra Bird Park
Antananarivo
25000MGA per person

Take a wander around this quiet park located near the city centre. Hang around the lake to catch a glimpse of this park's abundant aquatic bird life.

Antananarivo City Tour
Antananarivo

Follow a local guide on a tour of history-rich Antananarivo, the vibrant capital of Madagascar. Get to know the real "Tana" (as locals call it) on a 3-hour walking tour. Explore the colorful, bustling market, and sites such as the Cathedral, and Queen's Palace.

*Note: You will need to book pre-night to do this activity, due to this activity starts at 8 am on Day One. *

Day 2Antananarivo/Andasibe

Travel to Andasibe-Perinet National Park with scenic stops en route. Stay in a quiet area near Andasibe and explore the Indri Special Reserve section of this massive area.

Depart the capital and continue east, with stops along the scenic rainforest route of world-renowned Andasibe-Perinet National Park.

Continue on to the national park. With free time over the next two days, opt to visit other small private or community reserves around Andasibe, and go on guided night walks inside those reserves or along the main road. Walk to the little town of Andasibe or simply enjoy the relaxing tranquility of the surrounding forest.

Our accommodation here are simple bungalows with shared facilities.

Private Vehicle
Antananarivo – Andasibe4h135km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time
Andasibe Afternoon

Spend time visit nearby reserves or relaxing in the forest.

Day 3Andasibe

Spend the day exploring this national park. Stay in a quiet area near Andasibe and explore the Indri Special Reserve section of this massive area.

Explore the Indri Special Reserve and national park located 1.5km (0.93 mi) from the town of Andasibe. One of the park’s primary purposes is to protect the natural habitat of the indri, a large black and white diurnal species that feeds on leaves and fruit. In addition to the indri, the park has 10 other diurnal and nocturnal lemur species, large chameleons, and the rarely seen blue coua.

The flora is just as spectacular with numerous species of trees, palms, and orchids (which flower in October/November).

Andasibe-Perinet National Park Guided Walk
Andasibe

Explore the Indri Special Reserve and national park located 1.5km (0.93 mi) from the town of Andasibe. One of the park’s primary purposes is to protect the natural habitat of the indri, a large black and white diurnal species that feeds on leaves and fruit. In addition to the indri, the park has 10 other diurnal and nocturnal lemur species, large chameleons, and the rarely seen blue boa.

The flora is just as spectacular with numerous species of trees, palms, and orchids (which flower in October/November).

Free Time
Andasibe Afternoon

Keep exploring or start relaxing— the choice is yours.

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Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow

Vondron’olona Ifotony Reserve
Andasibe1h-2h
45000MGA per person

Take a walk through this nature reserve. Managed by the locals in the area, this area works to preserve species of native plants and animals.

Mitsinjo Park
Antananarivo
35000-50000MGA per person

Experience the Analamazaotra rainforest. Take a walk through the paths and enjoy the native trees and flowers. Opt to take a view of the park from the top along the tree top canopies, and zip-line back down! Please note that operational hours are irregular; speak to your CEO about booking this activity in advance.

Andasibe-Perinet National Park Guided Walk
Andasibe1h-3h
75000MGA per person

Want to continue your rainforest exploration? Return to Andasibe-Perinet National Park in the afternoon for a walking tour led by a local guide for a chance to spot more animals.

Day 4Andasibe/Antsirabe

Travel to the colonial city of Antsirabe, stopping to see rice paddies along the way.

Travel to the ancient colonial town of Antsirabe. Along this stretch of road you will see Merina tombs and the labour-intensive cultivation of rice paddies.

Antsirabe is known as a thermal city because of its volcanic lakes. It's also famous for its precious and semi-precious stones and handicrafts.

Opt to explore this quaint little city upon arrival.

Private Vehicle
Andasibe – Antsirabe7h-8h305km

Stop to visit some highlights along the way.

Day 5Antsirabe/Fiadanana

Visit Lake Andraikiba before continuing to the small village of Fiadanana. Opt to explore this beautiful village. Listen to a ghost talker, and enjoy dinner with a local family.

After a short visit to Lake Andraikiba, continue on to the small village of Fiadanana. This beautiful village is surrounded by breathtaking landscapes of rice fields and panoramic views of the nearby mountains.

Get to see how the villagers live by interacting with them and enjoy a chance to learn their rituals during an authentic community experience.

Lake Andraikiba Visit
Antsirabe

Enjoy the views of beautiful Lake Andraikiba.

Private Vehicle
Antsirabe – Betafo30m

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Walking
Betafo – Fiadanana3h5km

Lace up your shoes and get to the next stop under your own power.

Traditional Healer Visit
Fiadanana

Listen to a ghost talker to learn more about traditional healing and local legends.

Your Local Living Moment: Community Visit and Traditional Dinner

Get to know how the villagers live by interacting with them and enjoy a chance to learn their rituals during an authentic community experience and dinner.

Walking
Fiadanana45m

Lace up your shoes and get to the next stop under your own power.

Private Vehicle
Fiadanana – Antsirabe30m

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meals included:

Lunch | Dinner

Day 6Fiadanana/Ranomafana

Continue to Ranomafana, a little village named after the hot springs in the valley. The nearby national park is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar.

Private Vehicle
Antsirabe – Ranomafana5h230km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Day 7Ranomafana/Ambalavao

Opt for an early morning forest walk to get a feel for the incredible wildlife of the area, or explore on your own. In the afternoon, enjoy a scenic journey heading south through Madagascar's wine-producing region.

In the morning go for a forest walk, a swim in a hot spring, visit the local town and market, or get a massage.

Enjoy the wonderful changes of landscape along the way to the pleasant rural town of Ambalavao.

Visit a little paper factory where the locals will share their traditional methods of producing this unique, hand-made paper.

If time allows, opt to visit a silk factory in town and learn about the local way of making fabric or clothing from silk, and the process of dyeing it with natural dyes.

Private Vehicle
Ranomafana – Ambalavao3h30m106km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Paper Factory Visit
Ambalavao

Ambalavao is famous for its "Papier Antemoro", a papyrus-type paper impregnated with dried flowers and sold throughout the island. Visit a little paper factory where the locals will tell us about the traditional methods used to produce this unique, hand-made paper. You can even buy some and use it to write letters to your friends and family back home.

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Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow

Thermal Pool Swim
Ranomafana National Park
15000MGA per person

Take a dip into a pool heated naturally by the hot springs surrounding the Namorona River. Opt for a massage on site to deepen your relaxation.

Town Visit
Ranomafana National Park

Take a trip into town to get a feel for the local hustle and bustle. Stroll around the open market, or shop for a locally-made handicraft.

Silk Factory Visit
Ambalavao
2EUR per person

Visit a silk factory in town to learn about the local way of making fabric or clothing from silk and the process of dyeing cloth with natural dyes.

Morning Forest Walk
Ranomafana National Park
20-25EUR per person

Enjoy morning walk in the forest to see golden bamboo lemurs, greater bamboo lemurs, and other lemur species. There's a possibility of seeing reptiles such as the Madagascar boa, chameleons (the largest rainforest species being the Parson's chameleon), or the well-camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko.

Day 8Ambalavao/Ranohira

Stop at Anja Community Reserve, known for groups of ring-tailed lemurs. Continue on through the ever-changing landscape to Ranohira and Isalo National Park.

Journey from Ambalavao to the Anja Community Reserve and on through diverse scenery. Travel through the savannah before the massif of Isalo becomes clearly visible.

Private Vehicle
Ambalavao – Ranohira4h250km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Anja Reserve Walk
Ambalavao Morning

Stop at the Anja Community Reserve, which known for having some of the most accessible groups of ring-tailed lemurs in the country. Enjoy looking at these fascinating creatures. Breathe in the fresh air and take in the view of the rice paddies.

Day 9Ranohira

Spend the day exploring Isalo National park on foot, stopping at a natural swimming pool and waterfalls. In the evening visit the G Adventures supported tree planting project near Ranohira, creating a green corridor to protect the biodiversity of Isalo National Park.

In the morning, pack a lunch to take into the park with you to eat during a picnic break later in the day - your CEO can help you arrange this.

After a short trek within a small canyon, take a break from the sun and stop at fresh natural swimming pool. Continue on to the "cascades", considered to be amongst the best waterfalls in Madagascar and has a large natural swimming pool.

With a little luck, you may see sifaka, brown lemurs, or ring-tailed lemurs.

Isalo National Park Visit
Isalo National Park7h

Spend a full day exploring this fantastic park on foot. After a short trek within a small canyon, take a break from the sun and stop at a fresh natural swimming pool. We continue on to the "cascades", which are considered to be amongst the best waterfalls in Madagascar and boasts a large natural swimming pool.

If you are lucky, you may see sifaka, brown lemurs, or ring-tailed lemurs. Between September and October (in the most arid zones), you can witness the pachypodium blooms.

You will be able to choose between a shorter and longer section of the trail depending on ability and the group will be split into group accordingly.

Your G for Good Moment: Soa Zara Tree Planting Project

Help address one of Madagascar's biggest environmental concerns during today's tree planting activity. You'll learn about why deforestation is such a big problem in Madagascar, how it threatens to wipe out the country's unique biodiversity, and what we can do to stop it. Get hands-on as you plant indigenous trees alongside the rest of the group as part of a project initiated by local organization Soa Zara, who are working to protect the environment around the town of Ranohira through tree planting, conservation education, sanitation projects, and other initiatives.

Day 10Ranohira/Ifaty

Drive through the desert landscape, viewing Mahafaly tombs and giant baobab trees en route. Continue to the beautiful Mozambican Channel beaches of Ifaty.

En route to Toliara, drive through the magnificent wide-open and vast desert landscape. Pass through several unique frontier-style sapphire mining towns, and babobab trees en route.

This drive will also pass by the tombs of the Mahafaly; a local tribe in Madagascar known predominantly for their large tombs. They were built for chiefs and kings and are covered in stones, sculptures, and horns. The more important the deceased, the more horns and statues the tomb is adorned with. One of the largest tombs has over 700 zebu horns! As this is a sacred site we will just be passing by, and photography is not permitted.

Continue on to Ifaty to relax and enjoy the breathtaking beaches of the Mozambican Channel.

While in Ifaty, opt to ride in a dugout canoe, visit the spiny forest reserve, go snorkelling or diving on the reef, or simply relax on the beach.

Private Vehicle
Ranohira – Ifaty6h250km

Make stops along the way to spot baobab trees and visit the Mahafaly tombs.

Day 11Ifaty

Spend two full days enjoying this gorgeous area. Opt to do some hiking or hit the beach.

Your Discover Moment
Ifaty Full Day

There's plenty to see and do in Ifaty, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like Spiny Forest Reserve visit, dugout canoe ride, and snorkelling. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

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Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow

Snorkelling
Ifaty2h-3h
65000MGA per person

Grab a mask and some fins and check out what's living just under the water.

Reniala Spiny Forest Reserve Visit
Ifaty
65000MGA per person

Visit this unique ecosystem belonging to the last pieces of primary forests of Southern Madagascar. Learn more about the plant and animal life in the area, and gaze upon the largest baobab tree in Ifaty. Price includes entry fee.

Dugout Canoe Ride
Ifaty
55000MGA per person

Head out in a traditional dugout canoe to see the area from a new perspective.

Fishing
Ifaty
30000-800000MGA per person

There are tons of different types of fishing opportunities available in this area. Speak to your CEO to learn more.

Quad Biking
Ifaty4h-6h
290000MGA per person

Hop on an ATV to explore Ifaty. Rates will depend on duration, and if you'd like a guide to accompany you.

Day 12Ifaty

Spend two full days enjoying this gorgeous area. Opt to do some hiking or hit the beach.

Your Discover Moment
Ifaty Full Day

There's plenty to see and do in Ifaty, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like Spiny Forest Reserve visit, dugout canoe ride, and snorkelling. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!

5

Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow

Snorkelling
Ifaty2h-3h
65000MGA per person

Grab a mask and some fins and check out what's living just under the water.

Dugout Canoe Ride
Ifaty
55000MGA per person

Head out in a traditional dugout canoe to see the area from a new perspective.

Fishing
Ifaty
30000-800000MGA per person

There are tons of different types of fishing opportunities available in this area. Speak to your CEO to learn more.

Quad Biking
Ifaty4h-6h
290000MGA per person

Hop on an ATV to explore Ifaty. Rates will depend on duration, and if you'd like a guide to accompany you.

Reniala Spiny Forest Reserve Visit
Ifaty
65000MGA per person

Visit this unique ecosystem belonging to the last pieces of primary forests of Southern Madagascar. Learn more about the plant and animal life in the area, and gaze upon the largest baobab tree in Ifaty. Price includes entry fee.

Day 13Ifaty/Antananarivo

Travel to Toliara for a flight to Antananarivo and an optional last night out on the town.

Due to the unpredictability of local flights, if we are unable to secure your domestic flight, we will instead transport you in 4x4 vehicles. This journey can take approximately 10 hours.

Private Vehicle
Ifaty – Tulear1h30m30km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Plane
Tulear – Antananarivo1h

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Day 14Antananarivo

Depart at any time.

3

Optional Activities - Day 14 HideShow

Queen’s Palace Visit
Antananarivo3h-4h
15000MGA per person

Belonging to a complex of seven monuments, the Queen's Palace (also called Manjakamiadana) was destroyed in a fire in 1995. Take a wander around the lasting stone walls of this site, 200m above the city centre. Admission includes entry fee and guide.

The Prime Minister’s Palace Visit
Antananarivo
20000MGA per person

Located on the highest hill in Antananarivo, the Andafiavaratra Palace was the residency of Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony of Madagascar, who governed the island kingdom in the late 19th century. The site has now transitioned into a museum boasting over 1400 artifacts rescued from the fire at the Rova of Antananarivo, giving visitors insight into Malagasy history.

Tsarasaotra Bird Park
Antananarivo
25000MGA per person

Take a wander around this quiet park located near the city centre. Hang around the lake to catch a glimpse of this park's abundant aquatic bird life.

Highlights of Madagascar — Plus

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