South & East Tour

One of our drivers will meet you at Ivato International Airport and transfer you to your chosen hotel. After the long journey, you can rest and spend one night at this hotel.

Route: ANTANANARIVO

Overnight: antananarivo

You will first be driven to Antsirabe. The route includes some winding sections, passing through small traditional villages, rice and vegetable fields, and granite mountains. Along the road, you will occasionally encounter artisans. They craft figures from raffia palm fibers, musical instruments, miniature wooden cars, etc. Upon arrival in Antsirabe, you will check into your hotel room. In the afternoon, you will have time for a city tour of Antsirabe. In the city, you will see the historic post office building, the "Hotel des Thermes" built in 1897, and the railway station. The city is also called the "City of Water" due to its hot springs. If time permits, you will drive to a crater lake, Lac Andraikiba (9 km away). You can also visit a workshop where miniature bicycles and rickshaws are made from recycled materials, and a studio where items—including beautiful souvenirs—are crafted from zebu horn. The town, which is similar in altitude to Tana, was founded by a Norwegian missionary at the end of the 19th century. Norway is still involved in development aid, runs schools and sends teachers. The population is mainly composed of the Merina and Betsileo tribes. During the French colonial rule (1896 to 1960), Antsirabe became the recreation centre of the plantation owners who were exhausted by the hot and humid climate. In winter, it can get quite cold at night here, and in summer the temperature rarely rises above 25 degrees Celsius. From the beginning of 1954, the Hotel des Thermes was also the residence of King Mohammed V of Morocco and his family, who had been sent by France into exile here, for a good two years. You can also find some gemstone cutting workshops, however, caution is advised when making purchases. Today, the city is an important economic center with agriculture, textile, and tobacco industries. The brewery for the famous Three Horses Beer (THB) is also located here because of the excellent water quality.

Route: ANTANANARIVO → ANTSIRABE → Lac Andraikiba

Overnight: antsirabe

caution is advised when making purchases

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Ranomafana. After just over a third of the distance, there will be a break in Ambositra. You will visit some workshops and boutiques of the carvers from the local Zafimaniry ethnic group (a subgroup of the Betsileo). They are renowned for their traditional and highly developed woodcraft, which has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Beautiful silk scarves can also be purchased here. Bargaining is customary when buying such items. A striking feature in the center of Ambositra is a massive Benedictine monastery opposite the cathedral. Here you can stroll at your own pace. Then, you will drive around 150 km on to Ranomafana (the name means "hot water"). Before dinner, you have the opportunity to take a walk along the road using flashlights to look for nocturnal animals. With a bit of luck, you might spot swift brown mouse lemurs, sleeping chameleons of various sizes, or frogs, etc. Afterwards, drive to the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Route: ANTSIRABE → Ambositra → RANOMAFANA

Overnight: ranomafana

After breakfast, you will be driven to the Ranomafana National Park, established in 1991. This national park on the Namorona River, up to 1400 metres above sea level, is spanning about 40,000 hectares. It boasts extraordinary flora and fauna, including the red-bellied lemur, the red-fronted lemur, and the golden bamboo lemur, which was only discovered in 1986. Furthermore, the large national park features over 100 bird species (68 of which are endemic to Madagascar), various fern species, mosses, orchids, and giant bamboo. This hike takes about three to four hours and is quite strenuous as it goes over rough and smooth, up and downhill and on narrow forest paths. It requires endurance, fitness and surefootedness. Take your time for the trail and observations along the way. Below the park is the Valbio International Training and Education Centre with its own laboratory for scientists, biologists and students from all over the world. Before continuing on, it is worth visiting the small market in the centre of Ranomafana and the hot springs with public swimming pool. On the way there, a suspension bridge has been built to replace the steel structure that was destroyed by a cyclone a few years ago. Then departure towards Fianarantsoa, with a small stop four kilometres above the park entrance, where on the left is the Andriamamovoka waterfall. Opposite on the wet rock face you can often see frogs. Upon arrival in Fianarantsoa, you will check into your hotel room.

Route: RANOMAFANA → Ranomafana National Park → Andriamamovoka waterfall → FIANARANTSOA

Overnight: fianarantsoa

This hike takes about three to four hours and is quite strenuous as it goes over rough and smooth, up and downhill and on narrow forest paths. It requires endurance, fitness and surefootedness.

After breakfast, you begin the drive to Ranohira, stopping after about 56 km in Ambalavao. You will visit the production of Antemoro paper: a paper made from the bark of the Havoha tree using a method traditionally passed down from Arabs (this visit is often not possible on weekends, though sometimes a woman works for demonstration purposes). On Wednesdays and Thursday mornings, the island-famous large zebu cattle market takes place on the southern edge of town. Ambalavao lies at the foot of the Andringitra Massif. Its highest peak is Pic Boby at 2,658 meters, the second highest peak in Madagascar. It can be climbed as part of a three-day tour. About 12 km after Ambalavao, there is another stop for a roughly one-and-a-half-hour hike on sometimes rough paths to visit the small Anja Reserve, founded in 1999. It lies at the foot of the rock formation known as the "Three Sisters". Several hundred ring-tailed lemurs (Kattas) can be observed there in their natural environment, living in numerous family groups. Finally, the journey continues on quite a good road, initially winding with steep inclines and declines, before the road straightens out. The grass steppes are crossed by imposing granite rocks and river courses, on whose banks villages surrounded by greenery spread out under mango trees. You will pass through Ihosy, the center of the Bara tribe, and then across the Horombe plateau, a vast grazing landscape, to Ranohira. Upon arrival in Ranohira, you will check into your hotel room.

Route: FIANARANTSOA → Ambalavao → Anja Reserve → Ihosy → RANOHIRA

Overnight: ranohira

this visit is often not possible on weekends, though sometimes a woman works for demonstration purposes

In the morning, you set out for a hike of about 3 to 5 hours (on mostly rocky paths, partly steep). A local guide will show you a beautiful route in the 81,540-hectare Isalo National Park, featuring rugged sandstone massifs, canyons, and an extraordinary plant and animal world: various endemic plants can be seen, with particular mention of the Pachypodium (elephant's foot). In Namaza Canyon, there are also lemurs (Kattas, Sifakas, brown lemurs). During one of the possible hikes, you will pass by the "natural swimming pool," where a refreshing dip is a true blessing in hot temperatures (unfortunately, it is sometimes filled with sand after heavy rains). A side trip to the "Window of Isalo (la fenêtre)" at sunset, when the last light turns everything golden, is also a must. The rock wall with the hole is a popular photo motif. Not far away is a geological museum providing information on the history of the entire region's formation. Optionally, there are numerous hiking and trekking opportunities in the region of the Valley of Monkeys and Rats. Some parts near the park also feature trails suitable for mountain biking. Multi-day trekking tours with camping are also possible, though one should be prepared for simple infrastructure. After returning to the hotel, you can rest a bit in your room.

Route: RANOHIRA → Isalo National Park → Namaza Canyon → Window of Isalo → Valley of Monkeys and Rats

Overnight: ranohira

unfortunately, it is sometimes filled with sand after heavy rains

Multi-day trekking tours with camping are also possible, though one should be prepared for simple infrastructure.

After breakfast, drive along a mostly straight road past small cactus forests, mighty baobab trees, and tombs of the Mahafaly tribe. These tombs are partly decorated with typical motifs and wooden steles. In Ilakaka, you can still get impressions of the lively but also dangerous life of a sapphire mining town that grew rapidly in its early days. In Antsokay, shortly before Tuléar, you can visit the 40-hectare Arboretum, a collection created around 1980 by a Swiss named Petignat, featuring over 900 plant species from southwestern Madagascar, 90% of which are endemic to this region and 80% have medicinal properties. Among these many succulent species, several are considered endangered. Afterwards, you continue to Tulear, a major regional commercial center with a port, an oceanographic museum, and an attractively designed waterfront promenade. Rickshaw drivers handle passenger transport here. Towards evening, you will check into your hotel room.

Route: RANOHIRA → Ilakaka → Arboretum → TULEAR

Overnight: tulear

Depending on the flight time of the domestic flight, transfer to the airport for the flight with Madagascar Airlines back to the capital. Meeting at the airport and transfer to hotel, and overnight there. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Route: TULEAR → ANTANANARIVO

Overnight: antananarivo

Today you travel east by car. You drive through a landscape characterized by rice fields and wooded hills. En route, you visit the Exotic Park, also known as Peyrieras Park (named after its founder). Here you can see many chameleons up close. There are also butterflies, frogs, and other amphibians. Then you continue to Andasibe. The place resembles a poor village made of simple wooden huts. Andasibe is the starting point for visiting the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park – the realm of the legendary Indris. Once, Andasibe consisted only of the hotel in the imposing station building and a few bungalows on the opposite slope. Over the years, however, numerous new hotel complexes have opened thanks to visitors from all over the world. You will check into your hotel for the following night here. Before dinner, there is an option to go searching for nocturnal animals with a local guide along the road near the Réserve d'Analamazaotra. With a bit of luck, you might find woolly lemurs, mouse lemurs, chameleons, and other nocturnal creatures.

Route: ANTANANARIVO → Exotic Park / Peyrieras Park → ANDASIBE → Réserve d'Analamazaotra

Overnight: andasibe

In the morning, you visit the 810-hectare Analamazaotra Reserve (930 to 1000 meters above sea level). The reserve is home to many lemurs, such as the mysterious Indri lemurs with their distinctive and far-reaching calls, as well as 13 other lemur species. Furthermore, you can encounter various bird species, chameleons, and other types of animals. You will hike for about three hours on the "Indri II" trail. First, you master an incline, and then hike mostly on flat terrain. Here too, it is possible that you might leave the path and walk through the forest to track the lemurs. After visiting the reserve, you drive on "National Road" 2 for about 113 km into the sugar cane and fruit-growing area around Brickaville. After a few kilometers, you continue for 7 km on a rough track (off-road route) into the formerly highly frequented holiday resort of Manambato. There you board a covered motorboat to cruise along the Pangalanes Canal (approx. 20 km) to the hotel. Your hotel is located amidst beautiful nature in Akanin'ny Nofy on Lake Ampitabe. By the way, with a length of 645 kilometers, the Canal des Pangalanes is considered the second longest canal in the world. The canal is the lifeline of the region, as there are partly no roads. It runs parallel to the Indian Ocean from Tamatave in the north to Farafangana in the south. In places, the canal is only a few meters from the sea, even touching it, which is why its water is slightly brackish. During the colonial period, artificial connections were created within eight years between the natural lakes and the river courses fed from the heights.

Route: ANDASIBE → Analamazaotra Reserve → Brickaville → MANAMBATO → Pangalanes Canal → AKANIN' NY NOFY

Overnight: akanin-ny-nofy

Today you have time to discover the region of Lake Ampitabe. You can choose to visit the Palmarium Reserve, which showcases a large variety of lemur species. Lizards and other animals can also be seen. Alternatively, you can explore the area by canoe or on foot, and in the afternoon enjoy life by swimming in the clear waters of Lake Ampitabe and relaxing on the white sand beach. Evening excursion, partly by boat, to a small island to observe nocturnal lemurs, such as the rare, endangered Aye-Aye lemur (Daubentonia madagascariensis). These lemurs with their unusual appearance and large ears were introduced to this island. During the Aye-Aye stalk, coconuts are wedged between two tree trunks, and you can watch how these omnivores open them with their incisors and scoop them out with their long middle finger. Afterwards, you return to the hotel by boat.

Route: AKANIN' NY NOFY → Lake Ampitabe → Palmarium Reserve → small island to observe nocturnal lemurs

Overnight: akanin-ny-nofy

Early in the morning, you board a boat to travel on the Pangalanes Canal to Tamatave. As mentioned, the Pangalanes Canal is not exclusively a canal, Tte waterway leads more than once through partly extensive lakes. At the end port of the "Canal des Pangalanes” in Toamasina (Tamatave is the name the French gave it), you will be met by a local driver. You’ll then drive about 100 km northward to Fenerive Est on a poor road. In Fenerive Est, you can then check into your hotel room.

Route: AKANIN'NY NOFY → Pangalanes Canal → TAMATAVE / Toamasina → FENERIVE EST

Overnight: fenerive-est

After breakfast, early drive to Soanieran’Ivongo. Check-in with other passengers the trip takes about two hours. Reception there and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel. It is possible that the gendarmerie will prohibit the boat transfer at short notice due to rough seas.

Route: FENERIVE EST → SOANIERAN’IVONGO → SAINTE - MARIE

Overnight: sainte-marie

It is possible that the gendarmerie will prohibit the boat transfer at short notice due to rough seas.

Design your island stay according to your wishes. Relax on the beach, go snorkelling or diving, or discover the island on excursions by boat, bicycle, motorcycle, or on foot. Visit fishing villages or the idyllic Île aux Nattes in the south. With a bit of luck, between July and September, you can experience impressive encounters with mighty humpback whales—often even with their calves. Observations are possible on a boat tour and sometimes directly from the beach. Unlike the long east coast of Madagascar, extensive coral reefs protect the beaches around Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha)—ideal conditions for swimming and water sports. The island also offers numerous hiking opportunities: over hills, through meadows, along clear streams, past miles of sandy beaches, on the dunes of the Indian Ocean, and through pristine rainforest. On Sainte Marie, some Malagasy traditions have remained vibrant. Both Merina customs from the highlands and Sakalava festivals from the west coast have been preserved in original forms. A paved road about 50 kilometers long connects the airport in the south with the north of the island. Sainte Marie can be easily explored on foot, by bicycle, motorcycle, or by Tuk-Tuk (a type of motorcycle rickshaw). About 27,000 people live on the island, whose highest point measures 114 meters. South of the small capital Ambodifotatra, an old pirate cemetery recalls the time before colonization when buccaneers found refuge here. This historic cemetery can be visited. You have 2 overnight stays at your hotel on Sainte Marie.

Route: SAINTE - MARIE / Nosy Boraha → Île aux Nattes → Ambodifotatra

Overnight: sainte-marie

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Antananarivo. Transfer to the hotel, rest of the day free. Overnight at the hotel.

Route: SAINTE MARIE → ANTANANARIVO

Overnight: antananarivo

If your international flight is not until the late afternoon or evening hours: then you can still visit the historic sites of Ambohimanga (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001). This is the "Holy City" of the Merina (actually a small settlement) and was once the residence of the most powerful of all Merina princes. Until the conquest and final subjection by the French in 1896, no foreigner was allowed to enter it. It had seven city gates, and one of them still serves as the entrance gate to the town today. Next to the gate stands a huge, smoothly polished and almost circular stone slab. In former times, it was rolled in front of the entrance gate every evening. From the 1,468-meter-high "Blue Hill"—as Ambohimanga translates—you have a beautiful view of Tana and the surroundings. On the way back to Tana, you can visit a market with Malagasy handicrafts. Nice souvenirs can be bought here too. Depending on the flight schedule, the flight may be late at night, in which case day-use of a hotel room is an option. In due time before check-in, you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Europe.

Route: ANTANANARIVO → Ambohimanga