Overview

Fascinating voyage on this extraordinary land where contrast is the essential components of the environment. Multitude of sensations, astonishment, enthusiasm in front of such strange and different natural shapes. Intense contrast of colours with a dominant red, dazzling laterite, sweet green of the paddy-fields, yellow large savannas, desolate and cold steps ... and a surprising variety of cultures.

Peaceful villages full of charm with traditional and secular way of life. Worship of the dead and deep respect for the ancestors are the bases of the local customs. The dantesque scenery of the Isalo massif and its mysterious beauty invites to silence and respect.

Day 1:

ANTANANARIVO

Arrival at the Ivato international. Meet with our guide-driver and transfer to hotel.
Bed & Breakfast at PANORAMA

Day 2:

ANTANANARIVO

Departure for the sightseeing tour around Antananarivo including the visit of the queen summer palace in AMBOHIMANGA, heritage of UNESCO.
Lunch at the restaurant RELAIS DU ROVA
Half board accommodation at PANORAMA

Day 3:

ANTANANARIVO – AMBATOLAMPY - ANTSIRABE

Breakfast at the hotel, departure to Antsirabe.
Typical landscape of the highland: vast fields of rice and wheat, charming laterite coloured villages.
On the way, visit of a traditional workshop making pots with a rudimentary material.
Lunch at the restaurant AU RENDEZ-VOUS DES PECHEURS
Arrival at Antsirabe, installation at the hotel.
Visit of the city and the surroundings and a semi-precious stone shop, and a silkworm treatment workshop.
Possibility of a rickshaw tour depending on the weather.
Half board accommodation at LES CHAMBRES DU VOYAGEUR,

Day 4:

ANTSIRABE – AMBOSITRA - RANOMAFANA

Breakfast at the hotel, morning drive to Ranomafana.
A spectacular landscape to admire along the way, flat rice fields along the hill, betsileo houses; a very simple traditional house made with raw bricks made with the sun, its walls of puddle clay washed by the rain. Usually there is no fireplace; the smoke filters out through the window or through the thatched roof.
Stop at AMBOSITRA, centre of Malagasy handcraft: well-known by its wood carven of the zafimaniry tribe

Lunch at restaurant
Continuation through the Ranomafana forest, vast forests of eucalyptus. Nocturnal visit of Ranomafana forest.
Half board accommodation at CENTREST

Day 5:

RANOMAFANA - FIANARANTSOA

Visit of the Ranomafana national park, situated inside a mountainous region. Humid forest characterised by numerous euphorbia, epiphyte plants, palm trees and orchids. The fauna is rich: the hapalemur Aureus was recently discovered and the reserve is its unique sanctuary. A big variety of birds, many of them endemic of Madagascar.

Lunch at the restaurant MANJA.
Continuation to Fianarantsoa in the afternoon.
Half board accommodation at the hotel ZOMATEL, new building,

Day 6:

FIANARANTSOA – AMBALAVAO - RANOHIRA

Continuation to Ranohira.
Through rice and tobacco plantation. Possibility of visiting vineyards. At Ambalavao, visit of the Antaimoro rice paper workshop.
(Visit of the impressive zebu market on Wednesday).
Lunch at the restaurant AUX BOUGAINVILLEES
15 km far from Ambalavao, Ny Anja associative villagers’ park. Home of many ring-tailed lemurs (the catta) the visit allow you to close these sympathetic “monkeys”.
Passing by the « Porte du Sud » here should be the beginning of this extraordinary tour of the south along endless strange natural shapes , large savannahs.
The traveller suddenly discovers a new world, an unexpected landscape.
Big herds of zebus on the way.
Arrival in Ranohira at the end of the afternoon.
Half board accommodation at SATRANA LODGE***,

Day 7:

RANOHIRA

After breakfast. Full day visit of the Isalo Park, a lunar landscape of continental sandstone of the Jurassic era. Walk to the “Piscine Naturelle”, a surprising site which invites to relax and bath.
Visit of the “cascade of the Nymphs”. Back to hotel in the afternoon.

Full board accommodation at the hotel SATRANA LODGE**

Day 8:

RANOHIRA - TULEAR - IFATY

Departure to Tulear, spiny bush adapted to long periods of dryness, characteristic of the South. Along the road, we can see typical Mahafaly and Antandroy’s tombs. Magnificent « aloalo »: grave poles made of carved wood with geometrical design on the top of which we see naive daily life scenes. Arid vegetation of the south with a big variety of succulents, euphorbs...

Arrival in Tulear, visit of the seashells market.
Lunch at restaurant
After lunch, drive to Ifaty.
Half board accommodation at the hotel NAUTILUS**

Day 9:

IFATY

Stay at leisure.

In the afternoon, visit of the RENIALA PARK (reserve of baobab). A 45 ha area which shelters a remarkable endemic biodiversity (flora and fauna) and is a meeting center of numerous scientists.
Full board accommodation the hotel NAUTILUS**

Day 10:

IFATY – TULEAR – ANTANANARIVO

Lunch in restaurant.
Transfer to airport according to the flight schedule to Antananarivo.

Arrival in Antananarivo, transfer to ORCHID HOTEL,

(5 mn from the airport) for a day use (late check out).

Dinner at the hotel and, transfer to airport for the return flight.

Supplementary SINGLE ROOM: 600.00 USD

Our prices include:

• -  All transfers airport / hotel and hotel / airport,

• -  Lodging and meals as per itinerary,

• -  Vehicle with the service of an English speaking driver-guide during the tour from Day

  2 to Day 8, fuel included,

• -  Entrance fees and local guide during park visit: Ambohimanga, Ranomafana, Ny

  Anja, Isalo,

• -  Excursions mentioned in the program,

  Do not include:

• -  International and internal flights (TULEAR / ANTANANARIVO on Day 10),

• -  Dinner on Day 1,

• -  Beverages,

• -  Personal items,

• -  Tips at time of services.