Explorer — Baobab & Tsingy to Lemur Legends

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 → Morondava → Kirindy (flight + 2h)

   Highlights: Fly to Morondava, lunch, then to Kirindy Reserve with a photo stop at the Avenue of the Baobabs. Night walk for dwarf and mouse lemurs, including Madame Berthe's mouse lemur — the world's smallest — and the endangered giant jumping rat. Overnight at Relais du Kirindy.

3. Day 3

   Kirindy → Belo → Bekopaka (180 km, 7h)

   Highlights: Morning at Kirindy (fossa, Verreaux's sifakas, red-fronted lemurs), then drive through baobab forests and red earth, ferry across the Tsiribihina at Belo for lunch, and four more hours to Bekopaka near the Tsingy de Bemaraha. Overnight at Grand Hôtel du Tsingy.

4. Day 4

   Grand Tsingy

   Highlights: Drive to the start of the Grands Tsingy (17 km of track, 1–2h). The 4-hour 'Andamozavakay' circuit is a slow observational walk — no particular fitness required, but not ideal for those prone to vertigo. Caves, panoramic viewpoints and a suspension bridge, safely harnessed. Overnight at Grand Hôtel du Tsingy.

5. Day 5

   Bekopaka → Morondava (200 km, 9h)

   Highlights: Head back south by 4WD and ferry (about 9 hours), passing the Sakalava tombs and their unusual carvings, and stopping again at the Avenue of the Baobabs for a spectacular sunset. Overnight in Morondava at Chez Maggie.

6. Day 6

   Morondava → Antsirabe (520 km, 10h)

   Highlights: A long travel day across the Betsiriry plateau and savannah, lunch in Miandrivazo, past the gold-panning village of Dabolava, reaching thermal Antsirabe (1,500 m) by evening. Overnight at Flower Palace.

7. Day 7

   Antsirabe → Ranomafana (250 km, 7h)

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

8. Day 8

   Ranomafana National Park

   Highlights: Explore the 415 km² rainforest park — golden bamboo lemur, 12 lemur species and 30 endemic birds — along trails such as Varibolomena. Overnight at Setam Lodge.

9. Day 9

   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.

10. Day 10

    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 sunset at the Window of Isalo. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

11. Day 11

    Ranohira → Zombitse → Ifaty (300 km, 6h)

    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 before reaching the coast at Ifaty. Overnight at La Bella Donna.

12. Day 12

    Free day in Ifaty

    Highlights: Choose from hotel excursions: Reniala Reserve, the tortoise village, a zebu-cart ride through the baobab forest, a quad-bike adventure, or sailing, snorkelling and scuba diving in the crystal-clear lagoon. Overnight at La Bella Donna.

13. Day 13

    Ifaty → Toliara → Antananarivo (flight)

    Highlights: Transfer to Toliara airport and fly to Antananarivo; transfer to your hotel. Overnight at Sakamanga Hotel.

14. Day 14

    Antananarivo → Andasibe (150 km, 4h)

    Highlights: Scenic drive to Andasibe with a stop at Mr Peyrieras' reptile and butterfly farm in Marozevo, then an evening stroll through Andasibe village. Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.

15. Day 15

    Analamazaotra National Park

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

16. Day 16

    Andasibe → Antananarivo (150 km, 4h)

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

17. Day 17

    International departure

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