South

(10 days/ 9 nights)

A classical south tour with visits of the national park Ranomafana, the Anja reservation and the Isalo national park, then drive to the beautiful beach of Ifaty with interesting back land. Beach extension in Ifaty possible.

Meeting at Ivato international airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

(169 Km about 4 hour – drive)
After breakfast. Drive to the Lemurs’ park which is located 25 km of the capital city for a visit, 9 species of lemurs are jumping around freely. After the visit drive to Antsirabe through a landscape composed mainly of mountains and rice fields . Tour of the “Town of Water”: so called because of its numerous thermal springs and the existence of two crater  lakes. Visit of a workshop where they make miniatures from recycled materials. Overnight at the hotel

(240 Km about 5,5 hour-drive)
After breakfast, drive to Ranomafana. – Stop in Ambositra for the visit of some Zafimaniry handicrafts centres: woodcarving. Continuation to Ranomafana. Check in at the hotel. Night walk along the road to try to see the nocturnal species of lemurs (mouse lemurs) and perhaps fossa (the Malagasy “Puma”). Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

(85 Km about 1,5 hour-drive)
After breakfast, visit of the some 40’000 hectares big Nationalpark with its lemurs, chameleons, spiders, frogs, varieties of orchids and medicinal plants. Only in 1986 was discovered the golden Bamboo lemurs here, and there are more than 100 species of birds. This walk takes around 3 to 4 hours, and goes mostly on trails, sometimes a bit steep up and down, and sometimes you’ll go off the paths and into the forest to spot the lemurs, it’s a bit exhausting and requires endurance and agility. After lunch, off to Fianarantsoa – the capital of the Betsileo tribe.  Overnight at the hotel.

(295 Km about 5,5 hour-drive)
Early departure to Ranohira. Stop in Ambalavao – the commercial centre of the southern Betsileo region, renowned for its folks, arts and crafts – to visit the “Antemoro Paper” factory (visit not possible on Sundays). This paper is a delicate, handmade, flower-decorated paper made of the fibres of the tree called “Avoha”. Another stop 12km south of Ambalavao to visit the Anja park, where you can see on a walk of around two hours on a little bumpy tracks, but not steep, some families of ring-tailed Katta lemurs in their natural surroundings. Continuation to Ranohira. Overnight at the hotel. 

Morning  trek inside the Isalo National Park to discover on a walk of around three to five hours on sometimes bumpy tracks, at some parts a bit steep, the massif of Isalo, its ruin like sandstones, canyons, endemic fauna and flora (Lemurs and endemic plants such as Pachypodium , aloes,..) and to swim in its natural pool. Back to the hotel and overnight.

(240 Km about 4 hour-drive + 27 Km about 1,5 hour-drive)
After breakfast, off to Tuléar. The landscape is composed of dry forests, baobabs and some proudly decorated Mahafaly tombs. Arrival at Tuléar visit of the Arboretum with many species of endemic plants. Transfer to Ifaty –a seaside resort protected by a coral reef, on good road and through spiny bush. Overnight at the hotel

Day free for leisure at the beach, or a walk to the nearby fishermen village, or an optional visit of the Reniala reserve with its Baobab Trees, birds etc.. Overnight at the hotel

(27 Km about 1,5 hour-drive)
Relax on the beach then transfer to the airport and flight to the capital city of Madagascar. Meeting at the airport, Transfer to the hotel and overnight.

In the morning, excursion to Ambohimanga – a King‘s palace, 21km north of the city (UNESCO World heritage site). In the afternoon visit of the handcrafts market to buy some souvenirs. Day use at a hotel. Then transfer to the airport for the flight back to Europe.

END OF SERVICE

Planned hotels for this tour (subject to availability, other hotels are possible, tariff may have to be adjusted):

Name of city / Standard hotel / best hotel
Antananarivo /Rova Hotel** / Hotel Palissandre ****
Antsirabe / Chambres du voyageur** / Arotel ***
Ranomafana / Centr’est** / Setam Lodge*** (Setam lodge on half board base compulsory)
Fianarantsoa / Villa Sylvestre** / Zomatel*** new wing
Ranohira / Isalo Ranch** / Isalo Rock Lodge**** on half board
Ifaty / Hotel La Mira*** /Paradisier***
Antananarivo /Rova Hotel** / Hotel Palissandre ****