Ultimate Trekking — Peaks, Canyons & Hidden Wilderness

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, then 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, lunch in the woodcraft town of Ambositra, 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 the 415 km² rainforest park — golden bamboo lemur, 12 lemur species and 30 endemic birds — along trails such as Varibolomena. Overnight at Setam Lodge.

5. Day 5

   Ranomafana → Ambalavao → Namoly (200 km, 6h)

   Highlights: Drive via Fianarantsoa and Ambalavao (Antemoro paper and silk factory) and the Anja Community Reserve, then take the rough 45 km track to Namoly, northern gateway to Andringitra. Overnight at Tranogasy Guesthouse.

6. Day 6

   Trek Andringitra → Andriamposty (2,100 m)

   Highlights: From Namoly through Betsileo villages and rice terraces, past the Riandahy and Raimbavy waterfalls, ascend to the Andohariana plateau among granite peaks, with a natural pool for a bracing swim. ~9 km, 6h, medium. Camp at Andriamposty (2,100 m).

7. Day 7

   Trek Andringitra — summit Pic Boby (2,658 m)

   Highlights: An early ascent of Pic Boby ('close to the sky') — technically straightforward carved steps, 3–4h to the top and breathtaking high-altitude views — then descend past granite cliffs and the Gloka palm forest to camp at Iantaranomby (1,650 m). ~20 km, 8–11h, difficult.

8. Day 8

   Andringitra → Tsaranoro valley

   Highlights: Descend through succulent landscapes of Pachypodium and Euphorbia and picturesque savannah to the Tsaranoro valley. ~13 km, 5–6h. Overnight at Tsarasoa Lodge.

9. Day 9

   Tsaranoro valley — Chameleon hike

   Highlights: A day hike (~4h up) to the summit of 'the Chameleon' for an outstanding view over the Tsaranoro valley, with a picnic lunch and endemic plants (Euphorbia, Pachypodium, aloes) along the way. Overnight at Tsarasoa Lodge.

10. Day 10

    Tsaranoro → Ranohira (250 km, 5h)

    Highlights: Drive south into 'American West' scenery — grey mountains, red laterite, standing stones and zebu steppes — through Ihosy and the Horombe plateau to Ranohira, near Isalo. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

11. Day 11

    Trek Isalo — Canyon des Makis & Natural Pool

    Highlights: Early 4WD to Ranohira Bas, then on foot to the Canyon des Makis (lemurs), deep into gorges with 100 m cliffs, the Douche du Roi Bara, and up to a panoramic summit before camping at the Natural Pool. Camping.

12. Day 12

    Trek Isalo — Namaza canyon

    Highlights: From the Panoramic Viewpoint past the Bara burial grounds and tapia forest, over the ridge above Mikaiky village, down into Namaza canyon (Isalo's three diurnal lemurs) and the Blue Pool, Black Pool and Nymphs' Waterfall. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

13. Day 13

    Ranohira → Beroroha (155 km, 8h)

    Highlights: A long track north along the Isalo massif to the Mangoky River through baobab-dotted savannah; cross by ferry and camp on the riverbank, with an afternoon walk in Beroroha — the last town before the wild. Camping.

14. Day 14

    Beroroha → Beronono → Sariaka

    Highlights: 65 km of track to Beronono to meet the porter team, then the start of the 5-day Makay trek — 2–3h hiking to Sariaka camp and Lake Sariaka. Camping.

15. Day 15

    Makay — canyon day (6–7h)

    Highlights: Cross the Sakamantse gorges with their crystal-clear water and lush vegetation, the Behetaheta forest (wild zebu), and on to the Anosilahy canyon. Camping.

16. Day 16

    Makay — Anosilahy → Andranovinily (6h)

    Highlights: Over plateaus and ridges with views of the Anosilahy and Sariaka lakes, through a canyon and past a waterfall (a chance to swim) to Andranovinily camp. Camping.

17. Day 17

    Makay — Andranovinily → Beravitrahazo (6–7h)

    Highlights: Deeper into the Makay's spectacular landscapes and palm forest (lemurs possible), through the Mazedrano canyon where the water can reach hip level, camping by the Makay River. Camping.

18. Day 18

    Makay — Beravitrahazo → Beronono (6–8h)

    Highlights: Trek the eroded ruiniform sandstone plateau and visit the Mahatiny cave and its rock paintings; camp at Beronono. Camping.

19. Day 19

    Beronono → Beroroha → Ranohira (9h)

    Highlights: Part ways with the porter team and take the 4WD back (9h of track, crossing the Mangoky) to Ranohira. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.

20. Day 20

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

    Highlights: Drive through baobabs and thorny forest, Zombitse National Park and Mahafaly/Antandroy tombs, to Toliara. Overnight at Auberge de la Table.

21. Day 21

    Toliara → Antananarivo (flight)

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

22. Day 22

    International departure

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