Southern to the Highland

Arrival at the Ivato International Airport. Reception by HT Agency Tours, Meet and greet. Once you have passed customs formalities, it is to the Guide to smooth through the rest of the arrivals process - changing money, setting up your phone with the new SIM card, and anything else you need. We will provide 1 SIM cards with internet access (Where available) + National Call + 10mn International call for your stay in Madagascar; it will be easier for us to contact each other. Transfer directly to the hotel in town.

In the morning, after breakfast, around 10:00am transfer directly to the Airport for flight to the south to reach Toliara. A private car with Driver and National Guide with English Speaking will be waiting for you at the Toliara Airport. Drive directly to your hotel in the small fishermen village of Vezo located at 25 km after Tuléar “Ifaty”. Check-in at your hotel and relaxe on the beach before starting your first visit at the Reniala Reserve, a typical dry forest of the south, meeting the diversity of fauna and flora of the region, including the varieties of Baobab (Baobab Forest). 

After breakfast, back to the road for the North to reach the city of Ranohira, to meet Isalo National Park with one stop for a little detour at the arboretum of Antsokay for discovering the endemic and threatened  plants of the South Area. One another stop, 11 km after Sakaraha and 147km after Toliara, visit in the Zombitse National Park. This park is reputed with their endemic fauna species, with about 60 species of birds including 47% endemic to Madagascar, 24% endemic to the Malagasy region and a local endemic species - the Phylastrephus apperti, endemic Lacertilians and vulnerable species. Ispidina madagascariensis was recorded in the Zombitse forest. It is the only Protected Area with Phelsuma standingi and Phyllastrephus apperti. There are also 08 species of lemurs, some of which are almost endangered, such as the Phaner furcifer pallescens. After the visit, Continu to the Isalo. During the journey, you could often stop to enjoy the various changes of the mountain and landscape. On arrival, Check-in at your hotel. This afternoon, a horse ride is organized to discover the authenticity and the beauty of the area; the visit will take about one hour.

After breakfast, a day dedicated to trekking and discovery of the parc, composed of massif in form of ruin dating from jurassic, discovery of the most beautiful landscape of Madagascar. Hike and visit accross : the canyon of makis, the natural pool, where you can go for a dip, etc… picnic lunch in the park. At the end of the afternoon, back to the hotel for preparing the visit the famous Window of Isalo to appreciate the breathtaking and spectacular scene of the color of the sun (Sunset). Then drive back to the hotel.

After breakfast, on rout to reach Fianarantsoa with some stops to enjoy the landscape, for photos and for some little breaks if it is necessary. 13 km before arriving to Ambalavao, one special stop at the Anja Reserve for maximum 2 hours visit. The space is enriched with an ecological wealth of flora and fauna species, most notable for its dense population of semi-tame ring-tailed lemurs. Then, continue to the north by passing through the city of Ambalavao for lunch, with a small visit of product factory where you have the opportunity to learn the history of the famous Antemoro paper and the Silk. A little sightseeing in the capital of Betsileo “Fianarantsoa”.

Today, your journey is in the village of Ifanadiana, well known for the Ranomafana National Park. So aftre breakfast, you will be transfered directly to Ifanandiana. A morning visit at the heart of the wet forest of Ranomafana National Park, a reserved area typical and belonging to the remaining forest corridor longing the East part of the great island. Discovery of the wealth of the endemic biodiversity of the region, such as the rare species and gravely threatened lemurs, many species of rare plants and endemic used by the local population for traditional medecine… Trekking in the forest by following a track longing the forest passing through beautiful waterfall, meeting the rare species on the way. After the visit, you will be instaled at your hotel and have lunch. Toward in the afternoon, around 18:00, beginning of the night walk (the visit will take one hour and half).

After breakfast, direction towards the North with enjoying the beautiful Betsileo landscape composed of terraced ricefields. Main stop at Ambositra for lunch, followed by a small tour of the city to discover the typical Malagasy craft of the region : the marquetry, weaving, and especially wood carving. Then, continue to the city in the highlands of Madagascar, capital of the Vakinankaratra region, in the center of the island. It is the third largest city of Madagascar. Arrive in Antsirabe at the end of the afternoon. 

Early in the morning, after breakfast, city tour in Antsirabe by rickshaw (Visit: Avenue of independence, the famous Hotel des thermes, market of stones and the little Factory of Horn). And then, drive directly to Andasibe. You will pass through the beautiful landscapes of the Merina people, witnessing along the way the everyday life of these people, who were (and really still are) the ruling class in Madagascar. Stop briefly at Ambatolampy and visit the manufacturers of pots and decorative items from aluminium. This is a really important local industry and the artisan forgers now make, as well as the pots and pans used every day by all Malagasy, beautiful polished trinkets made from aluminum. Lunch in Behenjy (Town of fois gras). Then we take directly a scenic drive to Marozevo where we visit the famous exotic animal breeding centre owned by naturalist Andre Pereyras, where we see almost all the chameleon species of Madagascar – as well as butterflies, leaf tailed geckos, lemurs and other interesting animals. After 7 hours of trip, arrival in the village of Andasibe, transfer directly to the hotel.

After breakfast, Guided visit to Analamazaotra National Park. This morning you need an early start to catch the Indri-Indri and the Diademed Sifaka in their forest home. The visit takes about 4 hours. Within a mile of the park you can hear the peculiar call of the indri very early in the morning until noon and again in the late afternoon. Indris (called Babakoto in Malagasy) are the largest living lemurs at all reaching up to 1 meter. Andasibe is the best place to observe the Indris given that there are a couple of families habituated to humans. It lives in small groups and cannot survive in captivity. There are several legends trying to explain its origins since it is considered a sacred animal in the whole Madagascar. Apart from the Indri, another 13 lemur species inhabit these forests, such as woody lemur, grey bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse-lemur, red-bellied lemur, black and white ruffed lemur. In the afternoon, you will enjoy an amazing up close and personal experience with lemurs on the private Lemurs Island and then on to view many other species in the Vakona Reserve Zoo, where you will see many crocodiles in the huge river enclosure, native birds, and other wildlife in wellkept surroundings. Around 6:30PM, you end this day with a guided night visits that takes 1 hour and half, and then drive back to the hotel.

Today, Back to the capital “Antananarivo”. This last day is dedicated for a shopping and purchases some souvenirs at the craft market of La Digue (Depending on your international departure time, there may be time for last minute). then, transfer directly to the airport fro your external flight.