Madagascar Classic

The most popular tour in Madagascar

Trip typeSafari

Trip duration13 days

Pricesfrom 2.322 €

AFRICA SAFARI

Madagascar Classic

The most popular tour in Madagascar - dramatic landscapes await in abundance: Highlands, mountains, rainforest and dry forests, the mountain ranges of Andringitra and the thorn bush of the southern part.

Highlights of this trip

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is Madagascar's capital. It is located on a...

Antsirabe

Madagascar's third largest city, known for its numerous...

Ranomafana National Park

Rare and exotic flora and fauna await you on the...

Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa is a royal city that was built in the 19th century...

Madagascar

On this remote island, evolution took place more or less...

Isalo National Park

Hundreds of years of wind and rain erosion have...

Ifaty

Located on the west coast of Madagascar, the resort offers...

Your destination

Madagascar

Interests and activities

Your itinerary

Day 1
Day 2 ...
Day 4 ...
Days 7 & 8 ...
Day 12
Day 13

Arrival in Antananarivo. Warm welcome and meet your guide at the airport, transfer to your hotel in the city center.

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Highlight of the stage

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is Madagascar's capital. It is located on a...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationPalissandre Hotel & Spa

CateringOvernight stay with breakfast

Stay1 night

After breakfast, you start your adventure and drive south to Antsirabe through mountains, hills and rice fields.

Learn more about daily life in the highlands and its typical landscape: meet people in the typical villages, at the local markets or visit the rural schools.

Stop in Ambatolampy and visit the aluminum craft workshops that make all the cooking pots for the Madagascans.

Arrival in Antsirabe in the afternoon, followed by a city tour of the thermal town. Antsirabe is situated at an altitude of 1,500 m and was founded in 1872 by Norwegian missionaries who were attracted by the cool climate and the healing properties of the thermal springs. It is an elegant town with modern houses and colonial brick villas. Take a photo of Independence Avenue, the monument to Madagascar's 18 main ethnic groups and the train station.

Highlight of the stage

Antsirabe

Madagascar's third largest city, known for its numerous...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationCouleur Cafe

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay1 night

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the gemstone store in Antsirabe to learn more about Madagascar's precious and semi-precious stones.

Then drive to Ambositra, the capital of Malagasy craftsmanship and the center of wood carving in Madagascar. There is a rich selection of carved figures of good quality in various stores. Then continue to Ranomafana through Ambohimahasoa. Leave the highlands and drive through the tropical rainforests of the low mountain range. Late arrival at your hotel.

Highlight of the stage

Ranomafana National Park

Rare and exotic flora and fauna await you on the...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationThe Thermal Ranomafana Hotel

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay1 night

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning visit to the forest to observe birds and lemurs. Three species of bamboo lemurs are found in this forest (gray bamboo lemur, golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur) as well as other lemur species such as the Milen'sedwardssifaka, the common brown lemur and the red-bellied lemur. With a bit of luck, you may also spot one of the largest chameleons on the island: the Parson's chameleon.

After the visit, lunch is served in Ranomafana. Ranomafana means "hot water", and it was the water, not the lemurs, that attracted visitors in colonial times and financed the construction of the once elegant Hotel Station Thermal de Ranomafana. Today's Hotel THERMAL is a new hotel built in 2016.

In the afternoon, continue to Fianarantsoa, which means "place of good learning".

Highlight of the stage

Fianarantsoa

Fianarantsoa is a royal city that was built in the 19th century...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationZomatel Hotel

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay1 night

Day 5:

After breakfast, short city tour by car to the old town. The city is built on a hill like a smaller copy of Antananarivo. Take photos of its cathedral and enjoy a beautiful view of the lower part of the city.

Then drive to Andringitra through Ambalavao. In Ambalavao you will visit a very interesting factory that produces handmade paper.

Continue to the Anja Community Reserve, where you can spot the ring tailed lemur.

Continue to Tsaranoro Valley on an unpaved, natural road for about 2 hours.

Day 6:

Today you can discover the original Madagascar on a mini-trekking tour through the Andringitra massif with its hills and villages, lush valleys and shady forests. Discover lemurs (Catta or Maki) and many bird species. Picnic lunch included.

Highlight of the stage

Madagascar

On this remote island, evolution took place more or less...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationTsara Camp

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay2 nights

Day 7:

Drive back onto the tarred road and continue via Ihosy through the vast Horombe grassland plains to Ranohira. The landscape begins to change as you travel through the "Gateway to the South" mountain and enter the charming landscape of the Betsileo people, where granite boulders dominate the skyline. Here the village architecture also begins to change, from the two-story buildings of the Central Highlands, where the people resemble those from Southeast Asia rather than Africa, to the one-story "African style" houses.

Day 8:

An early start to the day for the drive to nearby Isalo National Park. The combination of sandstone cliffs (cut by deep canyons and eroded into strange shapes), rare endemic plants and dry weather make this park particularly rewarding. Meet a local guide at the park headquarters in Ranohira and walk through the Tapia forest (90 min) to the park's natural swimming pool for a swim. Nature lovers have the opportunity to learn about the endemic plants of Isalo: the aloes, the pachypodium and the bottle plants. Relax by the pool or continue to the Namaza area with its dry forests and waterfalls, or return to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Highlight of the stage

Isalo National Park

Hundreds of years of wind and rain erosion have...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationRelais de la Reine

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay2 nights

Day 9:

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Toliara through various villages of Sapphire mountain people and the southern savannahs and bushes. Along the way you will see baobab trees, painted tombs and typical villages of the southern tribes.

Stop en route to take photos in Zombitse Park, known for its dry deciduous forest and as a birdwatcher's paradise. Optional lunch in Toliara to immerse yourself in the rhythm of the "White City".

In the afternoon transfer to the fishing village of Ifaty.

Day 10:

Day at leisure.

Optional visit to the Reniala spiny forest and Baoaba forest or excursion by pirogue to visit the coral reef.

Ifaty is a particularly beautiful place for birdwatching in the spiny forest, where some of the southern endemics can be seen.

Day 11:

Day at leisure.

Optional visit to the Reniala spiny forest and Baoaba forest or excursion by pirogue to visit the coral reef.

Ifaty is a particularly beautiful place for birdwatching in the spiny forest, where some of the southern endemics can be seen.

Highlight of the stage

Ifaty

Located on the west coast of Madagascar, the resort offers...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationHotel Le Paradisier

CateringDinner, overnight stay and breakfast

Stay3 nights

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy some free time at the hotel until the transfer to Toliara airport. Flight to Antananarivo. Arrival at Ivato airport. Meet & greet and transfer to your hotel in the city center.

Highlight of the stage

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is Madagascar's capital. It is located on a...

Your accommodation

Your accommodationPalissandre Hotel & Spa

CateringOvernight stay with breakfast

Stay1 night

After breakfast, departure for a city tour and visit to the Ambohimanga Royal Palace.

Antananarivo, "the city of a thousand", is known for its upper town or Haute Ville or old town. The old town is dominated by numerous stone churches, the colonial or traditional houses with beautiful verandas, the royal palace on the hill overlooking the lower town or the modern city and the surrounding rice fields and lakes.

The visit begins in the old town, then travels down Independence Avenue and its arcade buildings and ends at the main railway station.

The tour continues to the lower city with its contrasting architectural styles: the Carlton Hotel with its 15 storeys, the modern buildings of the various ministries and the radio station.

Visit the flower market and drive around Lake Anosy, which is well decorated in October thanks to the jacaranda trees and their purple flowers.

Then drive to Ambohimanga, the sacred blue hill, the cradle of the Merina monarchy, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ambohimanga is an important historical site of the Madagascans and was forbidden to Europeans for a long time. It is the home of Andrianampoinimerina, who was the first king to attempt to unite the different kingdoms into one country.

Day room is available for you at the hotel before the transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Services and information

Your destination

Madagascar

Info about the country >

Information on entry requirements, currency, security, health & more.

Included services

Accommodation, meals, activities and entrance fees as per itinerary
Domestic flight Toliara-Antananarivo in economy class
Transfers with English-speaking tour guide
Transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
Tourism tax

Exclusive services

International flights
Visa
All meals, activities and entrance fees not specifically listed as included
Optional activities
Drinks, tips, extras
Personal insurances
Expenditure of a personal nature

Are you ready to start the journey "Madagascar Classic" ? Let's go!

Your trip to Africa

Day 1
Antananarivo
Day 2
Antsirabe
Day 3
Ranomafana National Park
Day 4
Fianarantsoa
Days 5 & 6
Madagascar
Days 7 & 8
Isalo National Park
Days 9 - 11
Ifaty
Day 12
Antananarivo
Day 13
End of the itinerary

13 days in Africa

from 2.322 €

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