Tsiribihina river trip to the famous tsingy conquest

A tour that will lead you to discover the Tsingy of Bemaraha, a unique formation in the world!

After crossing the highlands with impressive landscapes and houses typical of the region, you board a motorized boat for 2 days navigation on the Tsiribihina River, a possibility of pedestrian strolls in the small villages along the river.

The Bemaraha National Park is a nature reserve which was created in 1997, classified as World Heritage by UNESCO and located in the central-western part of the island, in the Melaky region, home to the famous Tsingy.

Highlights of the tour

v  Discovery of the capital and historic sites, especially on return.

v  Discovering the magnificent and impressive landscapes of the Highlands

v  Meeting with the manufacturers of aluminium pots

v   Antsirabe city tour by rickshaw

v  Discovery of the craft workshops

v  Tsiribihina River trip with wild life

v  Convivial meeting with the local population, especially during evenings camping on the sandbanks.

v  Observation of lemurs and other animals

v  Visit of the Bemaraha National Park, discovery of the famous Tsingy

v  Sunset on the Baobabs Avenue

v  Relaxation during the seaside stay in Belo sur Mer

ITINERARY

DAY 1: Embarcation country - Antananarivo

DAY 2: Antananarivo - Antsirabe

DAY 3:Antsirabe - Miandrivazo

DAY 4 - 5: Tsiribihina River trip

DAY 6:Tsiribihina river - Bekopaka

DAY 7: Bekopaka

DAY 8: Bekopaka - Morondava

DAY 9: Morondava - Belo sur mer

DAY 10 - 11: Belo sur mer

DAY 12: Belo sur mer - Miandrivazo

DAY 13:Miandrivazo - Antananarivo

DAY 14: Antananarivo – Origin Country

Precise information for the tour

·         15 days / 14 nights tour

·         Departure from 2 persons

·         Accommodation in comfortable hotels and gite and camping

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

·         Accessible between April and November

·         Transportation: Car, boat, rickshaw

Tour Category

ADVENTURE, DISCOVERY

Activities

-          Hiking by car on the trail

-          Tsiribihina river trip by pirogue or motor boat according to your choice.

-          Discovery of the craft workshops

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

-          Meeting and exchange with the local population

Group Size

Unlimited number but at least 2 people for a guaranteed departure, if single, you just have to pay the extra indicated in the program.

Regions

Highlands, West, South

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo

Upon your arrival at Ivato airport, meeting with our team, presentation of your tour program and handing over of your travel documents. Transfer to the hotel where you will spend a night.

·         Duration: 30 min

·         Distance: 15 km

·         Accommodation: ROVA HOTEL or similar

Day 2: Drive to the water city to discover the craft workshops.

After breakfast, departure for Antsirabe, stop in Ambatolampy to meet the manufacturers of aluminum pots. Lunch at the restaurant. In Antsirabe, visit of the city by rickshaw (the local means of transport). Then discovery of the craft workshops. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: about 4 hours

·         Distance: 170 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: GREEN PARK HOTEL or similar.

Day 3: Road to where the King waited for his wife

Departure from the town of water after breakfast to join Miandrivazo which literally means "waiting for a wife". According to history, King Radama I, after his conquests of the South-Western territory, stopped in this locality. He sent his messenger to find Princess Rasalimo from the nearby town to become his future wife. Passers-by asked him what he was doing there, he just answered "MiandryVazo aho" translated as "I am waiting for a wife". Along the road, you can admire the landscape, like savannahs, mountains, rivers with bridges made during the colonial period. Lunch at the restaurant on the way. Arrival in Miandrivazo, the city which, together with Maevatanàna, is the hottest city in Madagascar, because both are in a bowl. Installation at your hotel. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: about 4 hours

·         Distance: 220 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: PRINCESSE TSIRIBIHINA hotel or similar

Day 4 and day 5: Tsiribihina River trip

After breakfast, departure for the Masiakampy pier (about 01 hour from Miandrivazo). Beginning of the river tour. A stop to prepare the lunch and visit of the villages, meeting with the local population. In the early afternoon, entering the river gorge, observation of the first lemurs. At the end of the day, setting up of the campsite on a large sandbank bordering the forest. Dinner and night under the tent.

Second day of the trip: in the morning after breakfast, departure to reach a magnificent waterfall, a walk of 15 minutes will lead to a beautiful natural swimming pool. Lunch in the shade of the forest. Departure before noon, crossing high cliffs, the village of Berevo, and arrival at the campsite, still on a sandbank. The villagers in the surrounding area will join you in the evening, and a party with singing and dancing will be organized in honor of the guests.

·         Duration: 2 days and 2 nights

·         Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

·         Accommodation: Under the tent

Day 6: Drive to Bekopaka

After the last breakfast, continuation of the boat trip until noon and then another adventure awaits you, countinuing with the 4WD on bad road until joining again the river so you must take the ferry boat for acrossing at Belo on Tsiribihina during 45 minutes and lunch at the restaurant. Continuation of the road where you will do the second cross to the Manambolo River by ferry boat for 10 minutes. Installation in the room. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: about 4 hours

·         Distance: 100 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: Hotel TANANKOAY

Day 7:  Bemaraha National Park and discovery of the famous Tsingy.

This day, you will discover the Tsingy of Bemaraha, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. Their sharp peaks that form the limestone massif reach up to 40 meters. Limestone rocks formed by a deposit of fossils and shells dead under the sea, two hundred million years ago, the Tsingy of Bemaraha offer one of the most spectacular landscapes of the Big Island. The Tsingy of Bemaraha are part of the network of National Parks of Madagascar. The proposed circuits are different according to the physical condition of the visitors: that of Andamozavaky and that of Ranotsara, of rather difficult level (four to six hours of walk) are the circuits of the great spaces, dizziness and strong sensations. The hike starts 18 km north of the village of Bekopaka to reach gigantic limestone cathedrals, dense networks of faults, deep crevices, limestone blocks carved into blades or sharp needles that make the Great Tsingy. For the more timorous, the Little Tsingy circuits represent an interesting alternative, more moderate without being less spectacular. Picnic lunch during the visit. After the visit, walk around in the village. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: All day

·         Meals included: Breakfast and picnic lunch

·         Lodging: TANANKOAY hotel

Day 8: Towards Morondava by the Baobabs Avenue at sunset.

After breakfast, you will return to Morondava by taking the road and then the ferries. Stop at the restaurant to have lunch along the way. You will watch the sunset at the Baobab avenue. These big trees are specific to the region and Madagascar has six species out of the eight existing in the world. After enjoying the beautiful sunset, you reach to Morondava. Dinner and night at the hotel.

·         Duration: about 8 hours of track

·         Distance: 230 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: TRECICOGNE hotel or similar

Day 9: Adventure to Belo sur mer and its paradise of sunshine

The adventure begins, departing in the morning with 4x4 car towards the south of Morondava. An unavoidable passage, the Kabatomena river (easily accessible during the dry season) before entering the baobab forest. We cross several villages and before arriving in Belo sur mer, we cross on the famous local salt works. Belo sur mer is a small isolated fisher man village on the lagoon. A paradise for sun and scuba diving lovers. Lunch and dinner at the restaurant. Night at the hotel.

·         Duration: 5 hours

·         Distance: 80 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: ECOLODGE DU MENABE hotel or similar

Day 10 and 11: Free day on Belo sur mer

Free day on Belo sur Mer where you could do different activities such as: take a walk in town or just laze on the fine sand of the beach. You will discover white sand, turquoise blue sea, palm trees and the construction of schooners and dhows. In the whale season there is the possibility to see whales. Otherwise, you can always admire the lagoon with its fine white sand, get to know the Vezo people, famous for their pirogues, whose main activity is fishing. Visit the islets Andravoho, Andriangary and Andriamitaroka in sailing or motor canoes. Or the magnificent Tropical Aquarium. There is also the possibility of scuba diving and kitesurfing. Free lunches and dinners. Night at the hotel.

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: ECOLODGE DU MENABE hotel or similar

Day 12: Return to Miandrivazo

Departure for Miandrivazo after breakfast through full of contrasts landscapes.

·         Duration: about 7 hours

·         Distance: 356 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: PRINCESSE TSIRIBIHINA hotel or similar

Day 13: Return to the capital of Madagascar

After an early breakfast, early departure for the capital, you cross the Highlands again, you could admire the landscape with its different types of traditional houses, rice fields and inhabitants. A stop at the restaurant on the way for lunch.

Arrival in Antananarivo at the end of the afternoon where a room is at your disposal.Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

·         Duration: about 8 hours

·         Distance: 390 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast

·         Accommodation: ROVA HOTEL or similar

Day 14: Visit of historical sites in the capital and fly back to your country.

After breakfast, departure for the visit of the historical remains of the capital. About twenty kilometers north of the city is the cradle of the Merina monarchy in Ambohimanga or "the blue hill". Along the way, you will discover a center committed to the education of autistic children. This is the Padre Pio Charity House, supported by our Tour Operator in its charitable activities. Lunch at the restaurant on the way. The room is at your disposal until your departure in the evening. Dinner and day use at the hotel. Then transfer to the airport for your flight home.

·         Duration: All day

·         Distance: approx. 40 km

·         Meals included: Breakfast, dinner

·         Accommodation: ROVA HOTEL or similar

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