Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Antananarivo
Morning Arrivée à l'aéroport d'Ivato
Land at Ivato International Airport. Transfer to Antananarivo city center (45 min-1h depending on traffic). Check into your hotel in the Upper Town (Analakely or Isoraka).
Afternoon Haute-Ville d'Antananarivo
Explore Antananarivo's Upper Town, perched on a hill at 1,400 m altitude. Visit the Rova (Queen's Palace), heart-shaped Lake Anosy with its jacaranda trees, and wander colonial streets lined with steep staircases.
Evening Dîner malgache à Tana
Discover Malagasy cuisine: romazava (meat broth with leafy greens), ravitoto (pounded cassava leaves with pork), and vary amin'anana (rice with herbs). Everything comes with the traditional white rice, the base of every Malagasy meal.
Day 2 Road to Andasibe
Morning Route Nationale 2 vers Andasibe
Depart by 4x4 to Andasibe-Mantadia (3-4h, 140 km). The RN2 crosses landscapes of terraced rice paddies, red-earth villages, and eastern tropical rainforest. Possible stop at Manjakandriana for the local market.
Afternoon Parc national d'Andasibe-Mantadia — Première exploration
Guided hike in the Analamazaotra Special Reserve (part of Andasibe). Spot the famous Indri indri, the largest living lemurs (up to 70 cm), recognized by their powerful call that echoes through the entire forest. Chameleons, frogs, and orchids complete the picture.
Evening Marche nocturne — Faune nocturne
Guided night walk with torches in the Andasibe forest. Discover micro-chameleons (among the world's smallest reptiles), nocturnal lemurs with glowing eyes (woolly Avahi), endemic frogs, and fascinating tropical forest insects.
Day 3 Mantadia Primary Forest
Morning Parc national de Mantadia — Forêt primaire
Hike in the Mantadia sector, wilder and less visited than Analamazaotra. Pristine primary forest sheltering the Diademed Sifaka (critically endangered black and white lemur), Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, and many endemic bird species.
Afternoon Réserve de Vakona — Île aux lémuriens
Visit the private Vakona Forest Lodge reserve and its 'Lemur Island'. By canoe, reach a small island where semi-tame lemurs (Sifakas, Brown Lemurs, Bamboo Lemurs) feed from your hand. A magical and unique moment.
Evening Dîner au lodge & sons de la forêt
Dinner at your Andasibe lodge, surrounded by tropical forest sounds: insect songs, nocturnal lemur calls, and canopy rustling. Lodge cuisine blends Malagasy and French influences.
Day 4 Road to Ambositra & Zafimaniry Crafts
Morning Route vers Ambositra via Antsirabe
Long driving day (RN7) heading south. Cross the Malagasy Highlands: spectacular terraced rice paddies, red-brick Betsileo villages, and green rolling hills. Stop in Antsirabe, the 'city of water' with its colorful rickshaws.
Afternoon Ambositra — Capitale de l'artisanat malgache
Arrive in Ambositra, capital of Malagasy craftsmanship. Visit workshops of Zafimaniry wood carvers, whose art is UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Marquetry, sculptures, and decorative objects of remarkable finesse.
Evening Dîner & nuit à Ambositra
Dinner at a hotely (popular Malagasy restaurant) to try vary sy laoka: white rice with multiple side dishes — braised zebu, coconut chicken, local vegetables. Warm atmosphere and very low prices.
Day 5 Ranomafana National Park
Morning Route vers Ranomafana & arrivée
Drive to Ranomafana National Park (3h from Ambositra). The descent to Ranomafana crosses increasingly dense and humid forest. This UNESCO park protects exceptional biodiversity: 12 lemur species, 115 bird species, and the rare Golden Mantella frog.
Afternoon Randonnée en forêt — Lémuriens dorés
Guided hike through Ranomafana's primary forest searching for the Golden Bamboo Lemur, rediscovered here in 1986 after being thought extinct. Also spot the Red-bellied Lemur, Milne-Edwards' Sifaka, and countless chameleons.
Evening Sources thermales & dîner
Relax in Ranomafana's natural hot springs after the hike. Hot water (38-40°C) in the wild — the contrast with the cool forest is delightful. Dinner at the lodge overlooking the Namorona river.
Day 6 Road to Isalo National Park
Morning Route RN7 vers le sud — Fianarantsoa à Ambalavao
Drive south via Fianarantsoa and Ambalavao (4h). Pass Fianarantsoa's vineyards (yes, Madagascar produces wine!) and the Antemoro paper workshops in Ambalavao — handmade paper from avoha bark, embedded with dried flowers.
Afternoon Arrivée à l'Isalo — Fenêtre de l'Isalo
Arrive in the Isalo region (3h from Ambalavao). The landscape changes dramatically: eroded sandstone massif resembling the American Grand Canyon. Stop at the 'Isalo Window' to admire the sunset over rock formations — one of Madagascar's most beautiful panoramas.
Evening Dîner sous les étoiles à Ranohira
Outdoor dinner in Ranohira under an exceptional starry sky. Far from any light pollution, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Lodges serve grilled zebu, a specialty of southern Madagascar, with rice and mango achards.
Day 7 Isalo Canyons & Natural Pools
Morning Canyon des Makis & Piscine Naturelle
Guided hike in Isalo National Park. The Makis Canyon is a spectacular rocky gorge sheltering Ring-tailed Lemur families. The Natural Pool is a crystal-clear basin nestled at the bottom of a canyon, surrounded by palms and red rocks.
Afternoon Piscine Bleue & Canyon des Rats
Continue the hike to the Blue Pool, a second natural basin with intense turquoise blue reflections, even more spectacular than the first. Pass through the Canyon des Rats (named after the giant Madagascar rats that live there) with its erosion-sculpted sandstone formations.
Evening Coucher de soleil sur le massif & dîner
Return to the lodge for a well-earned rest. Watch the sunset set the Isalo rock formations ablaze in shades of orange, red, and purple. Lodge dinner — braised zebu, palm heart salad, and tropical fruit dessert.
Day 8 Road to the Coast — Ifaty
Morning Route vers Tuléar & la côte
Drive from Ranohira to Tuléar (Toliara) on the southwest coast (4-5h). The landscape gradually transforms: from Isalo sandstone to vast thorny plains of southern Madagascar, populated with zebu cattle and scattered baobabs. Arrive in Tuléar, sunny coastal town.
Afternoon Ifaty — Plages & lagon
Transfer to Ifaty (30 min north of Tuléar), a fishing village bordered by the world's second-largest coral reef. Settle into a seaside bungalow. White sand beaches and turquoise lagoon contrast radically with the forests and canyons of previous days.
Evening Coucher de soleil & dîner de poisson grillé
Dinner of freshly caught fish grilled on the beach, feet in the sand. The sunset over the Mozambique Channel is spectacular. Lobster, giant prawns, and catch of the day at unbeatable prices.
Day 9 Snorkeling & Baobab Forest
Morning Snorkeling sur le récif corallien
Outrigger canoe trip to the coral reef off Ifaty. The Great Reef of Tuléar (450 km long) shelters clownfish, sea turtles, rays, and a profusion of colorful corals. Water is warm and crystal-clear, perfect for snorkeling.
Afternoon Forêt de baobabs de Reniala
Visit the Reniala community reserve, a forest of Grandidier's baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri), the tallest and most majestic of Madagascar's 6 endemic species. Some specimens are over 1,000 years old and 25 m tall. The forest also shelters Radiated Tortoises and endemic birds.
Evening Dernière soirée au bord de l'océan
Enjoy a final evening with your feet in the sand. Rhum arrangé cocktail watching Vezo canoes return to port, then seafood dinner. Ifaty's relaxed atmosphere is the perfect contrast to the hikes of previous days.
Day 10 Flight to Morondava
Morning Vol Tuléar — Morondava
Domestic flight from Tuléar to Morondava (1h, via Tsaradia/Air Madagascar). Morondava is the gateway to the famous Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar's most iconic image. Hotel check-in by the sea.
Afternoon Morondava — Plage & village de pêcheurs
Explore Morondava, a charming small coastal town. Walk along the seafront, watch Vezo canoes and traditional shipyards. Nosy Kely beach (accessible at low tide) offers a secluded stretch of white sand.
Evening Dîner bord de mer à Morondava
Relaxed seaside dinner. Fresh fish and prawns are caught the same day. Morondava is renowned for its sunsets over the Mozambique Channel — a daily display of blazing colors.
Day 11 Avenue of the Baobabs
Morning Allée des Baobabs — Aube magique
Depart before dawn to the Avenue of the Baobabs (45 min dirt road from Morondava). This dirt path lined with giant Grandidier's baobabs (25-30 m tall) is Madagascar's most photographed landscape. Sunrise casts immense shadows and bathes the massive trunks in golden light.
Afternoon Baobab Amoureux & villages environnants
Continue exploring with the Lovers' Baobab (two baobabs whose trunks intertwined as they grew) a few kilometers from the main Avenue. Visit surrounding villages to discover rural Malagasy life — rice paddies, zebu cattle, smiling children, and warm hospitality.
Evening Coucher de soleil sur l'Allée des Baobabs
Return to the Avenue of the Baobabs for sunset — the most famous moment in all of Madagascar. The black silhouettes of baobabs stand against a blazing sky of orange, pink, and purple. An unforgettable spectacle that alone justifies the trip.
Day 12 Return to Antananarivo & Departure
Morning Vol Morondava — Antananarivo
Morning flight from Morondava to Antananarivo (1h). Spectacular aerial views of rivers winding through Madagascar's red earth. Arrive in Tana for the final hours before your international departure.
Afternoon Marché artisanal de La Digue & derniers achats
Final visit to the La Digue craft market in Antananarivo. Basketry, embroidery, spices (vanilla, pepper, cinnamon), essential oils, and semi-precious stones (labradorite, amethyst) — the best Madagascar souvenirs at unbeatable prices.
Evening Transfert vers l'aéroport d'Ivato & départ
Transfer to Ivato International Airport for your return flight. End of an extraordinary journey through the island-continent — from primary forests to millennial baobabs, from lemurs to coral reefs.