The south destination kaleidoscope discovery

Madagascar is a fascinating country that has preserved its original nature. Known throughout the world, the island is a kaleidoscope of spectacular and varied landscapes. You will cross the magnificent green landscapes of the southeast with its mountains dressed with Ravinala which is also known as the trees of the travelers. The particularity of this tour is that it offers you the beauty of the varied landscapes and cultures from Antananarivo to Ifaty. You can also appreciate the ways of life of the inhabitants, customs and colors, through the colonial city of Antsirabe and Ambositra, famous for the know-how of carved wood and Zafimaniry art. Then, you will continue to the magnificent tea plantation of Sahambavy. Apart from that, you continue the journey up to Manakara to live an exceptional adventure by train. Further along this tour RN7, Ranomafana and Ambalavao respectively known as one of the best national parks of Madagascar and the manufacture of Antemoro paper or silk breeding. Stroll in the Anja village reserve in Ranohira, in the famous Isalo National Park with its impressive sandstone massifs, to complete the RN7 itinerary to the seaside resort of Ifaty.

Highlights of the circuit

v  Appreciate the historical landscapes of the Capital and visit its sites on your return trip.

v  Exceptional discovery on the national road RN7

v  Admire the beautiful and unique Sahambavy tea plantation.

v  Travel by train enjoying the natural landscape

v  Live a great adventure by embarking in a pirogue on the Pangalanes Canal 

v  A stay of wellbeing on the thermal swimming pool of Ranomafana

v  Discovery of the fauna and flora in the famous Ranomafana National Park

v  Meeting of endemic animals of Madagascar in the Anja Reserve

v  Exceptional hike in the famous Isalo National Park

v  Convivial meeting with the Vezo population and discovery of their culture.

v  Relaxation on the beautiful beach of Ifaty

ITINERARY

DAY 1 : International flight - Antananarivo

DAY 2 : Antananarivo - Antsirabe

DAY 3 :Antsirabe - Sahambavy

DAY 4 :Sahambavy - Manakara

DAY 5:Manakara

DAY 6 :Manakara - Ranomafana

DAY 7 :Ranomafana - Ambalavao

DAY 8 :Ambalavao - Ranohira

DAY 9:Ranohira: Visit Isalo National Park

DAY 10 :Ranohira - Ifaty

DAY 11- 12 :Ifaty

DAY 13 :Ifaty - Antananarivo

DAY 14 : Antananarivo - International flight

Specific information for the tour

·         Possible tour duration of 14 days / 13 nights

·         Departure from 2 persons

·         Accommodation in comfort hotels

·         4×4 car with a good driver and a professional English, French, Italian or Spanish speaking guide according to your choice.

·         Accessible all year round

·         Walking, train and pirogue rides

·         Variation in transportation: Car, plane, rickshaw, train, dugout canoe

Tour Category

ADVENTURE, DISCOVERY, FAMILY, RELAX, CULTURE

Activities

-          Hiking in a dugout canoe

-          Trekking on foot

-          Discovery of fauna and flora in national and private parks and reserves

-          Train ride

-          Meeting with the local population

-          Relaxation on the sandy beach

Group Size

Unlimited number but at least 2 people, if solo, you just have to pay the extra indicated in the program.

Regions

Highlands and South

Important information

Train journeys are set according to the following frequencies:

·         Fianarantsoa - Manakara: Tuesday and Saturday.

·         Manakara - Fianarantsoa: Wednesday and Sunday

Day 1: Arrival in the Capital City

Upon your arrival at Ivato International Airport, you will be met by our team and transferred to the hotel where you will spend the night. Presentation of the program of your tour and delivery of your travel documents. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: 30 min

·         Distance: 15 km

·         Accommodation: ROVA HOTEL or similar

Day 2: Departure from Antananarivo to discover the city of waters.

After breakfast, departure for Antsirabe, discovery of the Central Highlands with their rice fields and red laterite brick houses. Crossing the magnificent landscapes along a winding road lined with small waterfalls extending the view over carpets of rice fields arranged in terraces. Lunch on the way. A small stop in Ambatolampy to discover the artisanal manufacture of cocottes and other aluminium articles. Continuation of the road, you will appreciate the magnificent landscape, the rocks, the fertile plain with volcanic soil. Arrival in Antsirabe, visit of the town of Vakinankaratra, from the avenue to the thermal baths by walking in a rickshaw. Depending on the time availability, possibility to visit workshops of gemstone and zebu horn cutters. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 4 hours

·         Distance: 170 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: GREEN PARK HOTEL or similar

Day 3: Visit of the Sahambavy tea plantation

After breakfast, continuation of the road. During the trip, visitors will be able to contemplate the rice terraces that occupy the entire landscape. Stop at Ambositra where you can visit the Zafimaniry Arts workshop. After lunch, direction to Sahambavy, the main locality where tea is cultivated. Visit of the plantations then installation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 5 hours

·         Distance: 240 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: LAC HÔTEL or similar

Day 4: Exploring a natural landscape by train

After breakfast, departure to the train station. The railway, in operation since 1936, crosses the beautiful green landscapes of southeastern Madagascar, with its mountains dressed with Ravinala, also known as "travellers' trees", watered by waterfalls and dotted with Tanala villages and many stations where travellers can taste the exotic fruits of the region and observe the daily life of the villagers. Picnic lunch on the train, prepared in advance at the hotel in Fianarantsoa. Arrival in Manakara and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 10 hours of train ride

·         Distance: 168 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast and Picnic lunch

·         Accommodation : LES DELICES DE L'ORIENT hotelor similar

Day 5: Pirogue trip on the Pangalanes

After breakfast, a pirogue ride on the Pangalanes is planned. This canal, 700 km long, is dug from lagoons and lakes separated by islets. Project already conceived under Radama I, it was necessary to wait for colonization for it to be realized. A luxuriant flora is established on its banks where fishermen also live. Discovery of the essential oil distillery and visit of historical sites. Picnic lunch by the sea. Stroll on the beach. Return to Manakara in mid-afternoon, discovery of four corners of the city. Dinner at the restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: All day

·         Meals included: Breakfast and Picnic lunch

·         Accommodation : LES DELICES DE L'ORIENT hotel or similar

Day 6: Visit of the Ranomafana thermal swimming pool

After breakfast, drive to Ranomafana which means "hot water". We will take the opportunity to visit the thermal swimming pool of this resort and if you want a hot bath, it's quite possible! lunch at the restaurant. Walk to the village and installation at the hotel. After the dinner at the restaurant, a night visit to discover chameleons and small lemurs. Night at the Hotel

·         Duration: About 4 hours

·         Distance: 163 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: CHEZ GASPARD hotel or similar

Day 7: Visit Ranomafana National Park.

Morning dedicated to the visit of Ranomafana National Park. This Malagasy park, created in 1991, is located 65 kilometers northeast of the city of Fianarantsoa and covers nearly 41,601 hectares. More precisely, the Ranomafana Park lurks happily in the heart of the Namorona Valley. It is surrounded by mountainous massifs. The immense evergreen forest that surrounds it will only increase its charm. The Bamboo Lemur, the Fulvus, the Rubriventer Lemur populate the place. Numerous medicinal plants mark out the path, our guide will introduce them to us. We leave from the entrance of the park and will go down through this jungle with the village of Ranomafana at the end. After the visit, road to Ambalavao by making a stop at Fianarantsoa "where one learns the good", small city tour to admire its historical vestiges. This locality is a copy of the city of Antananarivo. Indeed, Queen Ranavalona I had built it in the image of the capital. Lunch at the restaurant. Continuation of the trip to Ambalavao. Installation at the hotel. Visit of the Antemoro paper making workshop and the silk weaving workshop. Discovery of the city of Ambalavao. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 2 hours

·         Distance: 119 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: ZONGO HOTEL or similar

Day 8: Visit of the Anja reserve.

A few minutes from Ambalavao, on the road to Isalo, visit the Anja Community Reserve. This site is very attractive for its biodiversity, presence of lemurs such as the lemur catta (Maki), reptiles such as chameleons, snakes. Here, we begin to get closer to the territory of the Bara tribe. We enter by a road that crosses a vast prairie that reminds us of the movies about the American far west with cowboys and redskins. Arrival in Ranohira, installation at the hotel. Attend the sunset at the window of the Isalo. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 4 hours

·         Distance: 230 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: CHEZ ALICE hotel or similar

Day 9:  Isalo National Park visit.

After breakfast, departure to visit the park. The Isalo National Park is a natural rocky massif with a very particular relief which is not without recalling the great American West. Stroll in this setting dating from the Jurassic, alternating desert landscapes and green canyons. This day will be devoted to the visit of the Isalo National Park. We can take the tour of the natural swimming pool and that of Namaza to access the blue and black pools as well as the nymph cascade for a swimming session. Picnic lunch with the beautiful Malagasy cooking. Return to the hotel and free afternoon: you can have a massage session at the hotel or discover the village of Ranohira. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: Visit all day (but it depends on your physical capacity)

·         Meals included: Breakfast and Picnic lunch

·         Accommodation: CHEZ ALICE hotel or similar

Day 10: Route to discover the Vezo population

After breakfast, departure for the territory of the Vezo tribe. We will cross, on the edge of the RN7, Ilakaka, a small village that has become a city of several thousand inhabitants, including Thai, Chinese, Sri Lankans, Brazilians, all attracted by the sapphire mines which are among the most beautiful in the world. Arrival in Tulear. A visit to the Antsokay Arboretum is scheduled. It is the showcase of the typical and endemic fauna and flora of the South.  Lunch at the restaurant in Tuléar then direction towards Ifaty. Installation at the hotel. Relaxation on the beach while enjoying the sunset. Dinner at the restaurant and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: About 5 hours

·         Distance: 265 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation : SUR LA PLAGE CHEZ CECILE hotelor similar

Day 11 and 12:Free days on the beautiful beach of Ifaty.

Free days: relaxation, swimming, diving, possibility to go for a ride in a local pirogue, visit the fishing village and the baobab forest in a cart pulled by zebus... The hotelier can advise you.

·         Duration: Two days

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation : SUR LA PLAGE CHEZ CECILE hotelor similar

Day 13: Transfer to the airport for the return to Antananarivo.

After breakfast, departure for the capital according to your flight schedule. Transfer to the Tulear airport for the flight to Antananarivo. Arrival at Ivato airport, our team will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel. Free lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to do the craft market on the road of the dam for the purchase of souvenirs. Free dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: 1h drive to the Tuléar airport and 1h30 flight.

·         Distance: 40 km (Ifaty-Tuléar) + 635 km as the crow flies (Tuléar-Tana)

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: SAHAMALAZA or similar

Day 14: After the discovery of the Capital, return to the origin country.

After breakfast, take the national road RN3 for a cultural and historical discovery by visiting the Royal Palace in AmbohimangaRova. On the way, a stop to visit a center that takes care of autistic children and young people. This is the Padre Pio Charity House, supported by our Tour Operator in its charitable activities. Free dinner and meeting with our team. Day use at the hotel then transfer to the airport. Flight back to your home country.

·         Duration: All day

·         Distance: 20 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

·         Accommodation: SAHAMALAZA or Similar

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