Discovery — Wildlife, Landscapes & Coast

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival at Antananarivo

   Highlights: Our agent greets you at the airport, helps with a SIM card and currency exchange, and transfers you to your hotel. Overnight at Le Grand Mellis or similar.

2. Day 2

   Antananarivo → Antsirabe (170 km, 4h)

   Highlights: Drive south through villages and rice fields, stopping at Ambatolampy's aluminium workshops. After lunch in Antsirabe, visit Lakes Andraikiba and Tritriva — the latter ideal for a swim. Overnight at Ecolodge Chambre du Voyageur.

3. Day 3

   Antsirabe → Ranomafana (250 km, 7h)

   Highlights: Tour Antsirabe by rickshaw (railway station, Hôtel des Thermes, zebu-horn crafts), lunch in Ambositra, capital of woodcraft, then descend to the eastern rainforest and Ranomafana with a night walk at the forest edge. Overnight at Setam Lodge.

4. Day 4

   Ranomafana National Park

   Highlights: Explore this 415 km² rainforest park, home to the golden bamboo lemur, 12 lemur species and 30 endemic birds. Choose a trail such as Varibolomena for bamboo lemurs and waterfalls. Overnight at Setam Lodge.

5. Day 5

   Ranomafana → Anja → Ranohira (360 km, 7h)

   Highlights: Along the RN7, stop in Fianarantsoa and Ambalavao (Antemoro paper, zebu market), then Anja Reserve for ring-tailed lemurs, crossing the Ihorombe plateau to Ranohira. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

6. Day 6

   Isalo National Park

   Highlights: A full day in the canyons and oases of Isalo — natural pools, waterfalls, the 'Piscine Bleue et Noire' trails and a mesmerising sunset at the Window of Isalo. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

7. Day 7

   Ranohira → Zombitse → Toliara (280 km, 5h)

   Highlights: Drive south past baobabs and thorny forest, through the sapphire town of Ilakaka. Visit Zombitse National Park and see the decorated Mahafaly and Antandroy tombs along the way.

8. Day 8

   Toliara → Ifaty → Ambatomilo (125 km, 2h)

   Highlights: Coastal road to Ambatomilo, stopping at Reniala Reserve near Ifaty — 60 ha of baobabs and thorny bush, a birders' paradise home to a 1,500-year-old baobab. Free afternoon on arrival. Overnight at Shangri-La Lodge.

9. Days 9–10

   Ambatomilo — lagoon & beach

   Highlights: Two free days on a magnificent lagoon: snorkelling on the reef a kilometre offshore, humpback whale watching in season (Jul–Sep), a visit to the Vezo village of Tsiandamba, or scuba diving along one of the world's richest reefs. Overnight at Shangri-La Lodge.

10. Day 11

    Ambatomilo → Toliara → Antananarivo (flight)

    Highlights: Transfer to Toliara and fly to Antananarivo; transfer to your hotel.

11. Day 12

    Antananarivo → Andasibe (150 km, 4h)

    Highlights: Scenic drive to Andasibe through villages, rice paddies and forest, with a stop at Mr Peyrieras' reptile and butterfly farm in Marozevo. Evening stroll through Andasibe village. Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.

12. Day 13

    Analamazaotra National Park

    Highlights: Trek in Analamazaotra to meet the Indri, woolly and brown lemurs, chameleons and frogs, then Lemur Island at Vakona and an evening night walk at VOIMMA (mouse lemur, leaf-tailed gecko). Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.

13. Day 14

    Andasibe → Antananarivo (150 km, 4h)

    Highlights: A final visit to the community-run Mitsinjo Reserve, then the scenic drive back to Antananarivo, ending with a walk along Independence Avenue and the Queen's Palace. Overnight at Sakamanga Hotel.

14. Day 15

    International departure

    Highlights: Your tour comes to an end. We arrange your transfer to Ivato Airport. Safe travels!