The Big Boucle of Madagascar

Meet at the international airport ( Ivato ) and transfer to your hotel Chalet Des Roses.

Picked up at by your driver around 8 am;  Start by a view point on the ‘Haute Ville’. Then, you leave for Antsirabe, along the way , stops  to Behenjy and Ambatolampy . The landscape of the ‘Hauts Plateaux’ will reveal latérite lands, lively villages, churches, colorful markets. Once arrived in Antsirabe, installation at ‘la Chambre du Voyageur’. City Tour. (Step 170 kms, 5 hours)

Rural walk around village of Betafo : First visit to of an un-usual Malagasy popcorn maker; then, meet blacksmiths ( tools design like spade, knife, spade, ax, grass, and workers for bricks fabrication. Your ballad keeps on, off beaten tracks, to the campaign rhythm. Travelers are welcomed by families. After reaching at the top of the hill ‘Ambatomalaza’, picnic with a panoramic view of the mountains around. Come back to Betafo, join your driver. Road until Miandrivazo, Installation at  hotel Princesse Tsiribihina. ( briefing around 7 pm with your guide for the descent). (6 hours stage , 220 kms )

At 9 am,you leave Miandrivazo, Transfer for the Pier of Masiakampy. (count one hour and a half). Crew waits for you on the barge. Boats there are motor barges used long time before for tobacco. During the time, barges have been arranged tourists transportation. Cockpit and kitchen are back of the boat. On lower deck , travelers have benches,  where meals are served. For Solarium  ( equipped with deckchairs ) access, there is staircase.
Cruise starts middle morning, you cross cultivated plains, sail along Tsiribihina Gorges and villagers will say you ‘hello’ all along the river; Villages are part of “Sakalava” an ethnic group. Late afternoon, you win a very refreshing at the waterfall of Anosinampela; a paradise site where families of lemurs live. Camp will be set up nearby on a large sandbar.

In the heart of the Tsiribihina Meanders, continues its navigation. You will meet motor local barges ( used for passengers and freight ), piroguiers. First stop at Begidro village well kown for its tobacco concessions. The cruise keeps on going, landscapes follow one to another: the giant capoquin, cliff bats (Kina Kina), rice fields, Berevo Village , with a dispensary , a Catholic school, and a gendarmerie. End afternoon, , stop for 30 minutes Ambatomisay village to observe your first Baobabs called “Andasonia Za”. Crew will set up the Camp on a beach.

Day 6

Last cruise half day. Landscapes are confused with mango trees, tamarinds, mango trees, jujube trees, ricins, jujube trees, balsas, sensory mimosas, and date palms. Observe once again herons, drongos, fishermen, teals, green bee-eaters, humpback ducks. Arrival around 11 am at Bereketa ( Belo sur Tsiribihina Pier ) ; lunch on board. You join your 4WD comming from Morondava. It will take at least 4 hours to reach Bekopaka, starting point Tsingy Bemaraha excursions. 2 Nights in Hotel Orchidées du Bemaraha (120 kms stage, track – at least 4 hours)

Around 7,  departure for an 1 hour 30 excursion on a traditional pirogue along Manambolo River; Crossing caves, Vazimba Tombs and birds.
Then departure from Bekopaka to “Grands Tsingy” starting point ( 16 kilometers of bumpy road, up to 2 hours driving according season ). Excursion is called “Andamozavakay”, lasts 4 hours. Don’t worry, it is not a trek but a slow observation walk. Particular physical condition is not required; ,but don’t have vertigo or claustrophobia. During the hike,  you will discover: caves (bring a headlamp) of the diaclases,  secondary forest, panoramic views on enormous rocks. Cross a suspension bridge. Aménagement is perfectly safe; harnesses wiil be provided by the park. Back hotel after the visit.

Around 7:00 am, track back for Belo Tsiribihina. Lunch advised at “Mad Zebu” ( Really very good lunchs ) . Take a ferry and cross the Tsiribihina (at least one hour ). It will remain around three hours to reach Morondava. Along the track, Stop at Sacred Baobab, which has thousand years of notoriety. Last stop at baobabs alley for sunset and wonderful pictures. Arrival hotel Sun Beach early in the evening. (Step 220 kilometers – from 8 to 9 hours of track)

In the morning, 4WD transfer to reach Belo sur Mer known for its traditional sites. The landscape consists of ‘bush’ and skeletal vegetation that are resistant to prolonged drought. You will cross the first stepping Kabatomena, about 150m wide then that of Maharivo. Installation hotel Entremer . ( 117 kms  – 4 to 5 hours)

Half Board at the Hotel. Activities to arrange directly on site.

Departure around 7 am for a day on track  (approximately 07 hours) to reach the town of Morombe. Halfway we cross the river Mangoky. Accommodation Auberge chez Laurette (Step 260 kms – 10 à 12 hours )

You will begin a very nice track for the coming days, probably the most beautiful coast of Madagascar. In the mid-morning for a little break after the exhausted track, we can stop at Andavadoaka (very beautiful coves) . Majestic baobabs and casuarina forests will line the track. Then continuation to Salary quiet and beautiful site. Installation at the hotel Salary Bay. (Step 130 kms – 4h30).

Free activities in Salary . The hotel offers different land and seaside activities: scuba diving historical theme with vestiges of British Portuguaises and wrecks, whales outing in July / August, excursion on pirogue (meetings with Vezo, nomads of the sea), the forest Mikeas of isolated tribe refusing all contact with civilization.

You take again the track which portions along the coast and offer magnificent views of the Mozambique Channel. We pass by Ankasy and Ifaty to reach Tulear. Installation at the hotel Victory. (Step 120 km – 5  hours)

Head to Ranohira in the morning , thorny plants emerge from a desert land. Visit Antsokay Arboretum which re-groups typical flora and endemic medicinal plants unique in Madagascar. Passage in the Mahafaly country, overlooking their ancestral tombs decorated on top by carved posts called “Aloalo”. Crossing villages gems loke Ilakaka, the city sapphire. Installation at the hotel Isalo Ranch  for 2 nights (Step 215 Kms – 5 hours ).

Isalo National Park, is a plateau of continental sandstone strongly fragmented by erosion. As pedestrian circuit, there are mainly three suggested by the guides :
– The natural pool, The Canyon des Maki and la Cascade des Nymphes ). Guided visit all day.

You continue Road National 7 for 5 hours. Yu pass through “Bara” country , zebu breeders. Croos Horombe tray. Before the Ambalavao arrival of , bifurcation towards Tsaranoro Valley. Accommodation in Tsarasoa Lodge (Step 210 kms, 5 to 6 hours)

Tsaranoro Valley / Guided Tour. We advise circuit “The Chamelon” a complete one  of 6 hours which includes : Tsaranoro forest, Catta Lemurs, Top of “Lagera” mountain, Morarano village. In case, walk could adapted shortest.

Back on national road, passage to Ambalavao, famous for its Antemoro paper . Visit Anja Reserve. Continuation to Fianarantsoa, you will cross vineyards. Short tour on upper city. Then continue to Ranomafana. Arrival by late afternoon. Installation at hotel Ny Tanàna Hotel Ranomafana . (4 hours – 180 kms)

Visit Ranofamana Park in the morning. Guided excursion of about 2 hours in the primary forest. Road via Ambohimahasoa to join Ambositra, the artisanal capital. Installation at the hotel Artisan Hotel . ( Step of 140 kms – 6 hours )

Visit the craft capital famous for its marquetry. Continuation to Antsirabe, short city tour and return to the capital. Accommodation at Chalet Des Roses. (Step 260 Km – 7h ).

Visit to the “City of Miles” starting from Queen’s Palace, with a wonderful views on the west side of Antananarivo. The tour will continue through independence Avenue, limited by the rail station. After lunch continue to artificial Lake Anosy and finally the handcraft market at “Marché de digue” for shopping. Transfer airport. End of our prestations.