12 Days / 11 Nights, including 10 Days on the motorcycle
Destination: Southern Madagascar
Total distance: 1,155 miles (1,860 km)
For drivers from Europe, a test of patience, for motorcyclists a challenge: Madagascar's roads are mainly paths and tracks.
More than 90% of the roads are unpaved. Even the two-lane "Routes Nationales" between major cities only allow speeds up to 80 km/h. Outside of urban areas, in the beautiful nature of Madagascar, conditions vary from dusty dirt roads and savannas to mud and mud holes to smooth laterite tracks. With five thousand kilometers of coastline and seven peaks over 2,000 meters high, mountains and desert - Madagascar is a real treat for bikers!
A landscape of endless expanses between sky and sea, between bushland and semi-desert - that is the South of Madagascar.
Enjoy a variety of fascinating landscapes during a slow descent from the highlands to the east coast of the island, and look forward to challenging rides through sand, dirt, and mud.
Welcome to our tour to the deep South!
A KTM 350 EXCF 2017 rental enduro, equipped and prepared,
An experienced tour guide.
Transfers on land as described in the itinerary including transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, a 4*4 support vehicle with driver for luggage and tool transportation.
Liability insurance
Accommodation in a hotel (double room, amenities or star category of your choice)
Full board (breakfast and dinner at the hotel, picnic lunch)
Free entry to all parks and excursions as described in the itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in AntananarivoOur team will greet you directly upon your arrival at Ivato International Airport and take you to your hotel. Villa Sibylle is a private guesthouse located near the airport, surrounded by a tropical garden. Relax after your flight and enjoy your first dinner in Madagascar with an overnight stay. Highlights along the way: Antsirabe Ambositra, the city of woodcarvers Ranomafana National Park Pangalanes Canal Fort Dauphin Faux Cap / Lavanono Tsimanampetsotsa National Park Anakao |
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Day 2: From Antananarivo to AntsirabeDistance: 142 miles (200 km) on laterite and asphalt roads Get to know our team who will accompany you on the tour and familiarize yourself with your enduro bike. Let's embark on the adventure in Madagascar: leave the bustling streets of the capital Antananarivo and continue on laterite roads, which are much more pleasant than regular asphalt. Discover the heart of the Highlands between rice fields, forests, and huge granite rocks. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to interact directly with locals in many villages. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. |
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Day 3: From Antsirabe to AmbositraDistance: 87 miles (140 km) on Laterite Embark on a journey through the captivating Highlands, passing through rice fields, small villages, and rivers as you descend the mountains to Ambositra, the center of craftsmanship in Madagascar. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the Hotel des Artisans. |
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Day 4: From Ambositra to RanomafanaDistance: 93 miles (150 km) on Laterite Experience the wildest regions of the "red island" on this day's journey. Follow a dirt road, which can quickly become muddy, along the course of a river in the midst of the pristine rainforest. The path leads to Ranomafana National Park. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. |
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Day 5: Ranomafana – ManakaraDistance: 93 miles (150 km) on asphalt Stretching over more than 42,000 hectares, this unique national park was founded in 1991. Located at an altitude of about 1300 meters, visitors can explore one of the last montane rainforests on Earth. A truly unique habitat, you may (with luck) spot 12 lemur species, over 100 bird species, insects, frogs, reptiles, giant trees, and ferns. The hikes will be tailored to the participants' preferences. Early in the morning, the drive takes you up numerous switchbacks to the park entrance: Lemurs are most active in the morning hours, and the misty rainforest reveals its full magic. Depending on the participants' fitness and interests, different trails can be explored, with the entire morning dedicated to hiking. Continuing through the peculiar hilly landscape near Irondro, we will eventually catch a whiff of sea air in the afternoon: Palms and the typical stilt houses signal the proximity of the rainy east coast, and in Manakara, we will finally see the Indian Ocean rolling onto the city's vast beaches. After barely three hours, palm trees and the endless blue expanse of the Indian Ocean come into view. In the coastal town of Manakara, we will visit the bustling market for the first time, where you can purchase the famous Madagascar pepper and other spices produced there, such as cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, and of course, top-quality vanilla at affordable prices. Overnight at Hotel "La Vanille" |
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Day 6: Manakara – SandravinanyRoute length: 143 miles (230 km) on asphalt and laterite The day tour starts on asphalt roads. You will pass through Vangaindrano and drive along the beaches of the Indian Ocean. This tour depends on five ferries, so it may not be possible to reach Sandravinany in one day. In that case, an overnight stay in Vangaindrano or along the way may be necessary. You will arrive in Sandravinany in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. |
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Day 7: Sandravinany – Fort DauphinDistance: 62 miles (100 km) on Laterite Prepare for a technically challenging day: at the beginning of the day, there are several river crossings with ferries. Navigate through mostly muddy terrain to reach the destination of Fort Dauphin. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. |
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Day 8: Fort Dauphin – LavanonoDistance: 155 miles (250 km) on asphalt, laterite, and sand. Embark on a beautiful journey through the rainforest, passing through the thorn bushes of the south for several dozen kilometers. Crossing through the regions of Anosy and Antandroy, you will eventually reach the day's destination, Lavanono. This small village is renowned for its beaches and is a popular surf spot. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the hotel. |
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Day 9: Lavanono – ItampoloDistance: 43 miles (70 km) on sand This is the shortest leg of the journey on one of Madagascar's most challenging routes. Driving along a stunning coastline dotted with baobab trees, you'll encounter some of the largest and most pristine sandy beaches imaginable. There's no opportunity to stop along the way, or you'll risk getting stuck in the deep sand. Focus and skill are required. You'll be able to relax and unwind in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Salary Bay. |
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Day 10: Itampolo – AnakaoRoute length: 81 miles (130 km) on sand You will never forget this sight: In Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, you stand at the shore of a lake with milky white waters, surrounded by petrified trees, where hundreds of flamingos, golden plovers, and other wading birds reside. You arrive peacefully in Anakao. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the hotel. |
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Day 11: Anakao – TulearDistance: 174 miles (280 km) on sand and asphalt For the final leg of the tour, you will start in the morning on a sandy track that leads you to National Road 13 and on to Betioky. You will cross the Onilahy River, reach National Road 7, and arrive in Tulear in the late afternoon. Here, you can add on a connecting tour via the Highland Route RN7 or along the West Coast, or simply catch your planned return flight the next day to Antananarivo, where the tour can be supplemented with additional connecting tours. |
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Day 12: From Tulear to Antananarivo (Domestic Flight)A taxi will pick you up from the hotel and take you directly to the airport. This marks the end of our services, as the motorcycles will be returned in Tulear. Of course, we can offer extension tours or additional services in Antananarivo until your return flight, and we can also handle the bookings for domestic flights if needed. |
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Day ChecklistPlease keep your luggage under 45 lbs weight (equivalent to 20 kg) Bags: An ideal option is a duffel bag, a hiking backpack without a steel frame is also suitable. You can secure your bag with a padlock. Please remember to label your bag with your address and the address of your destination in Madagascar. A small 20-liter backpack is perfect for daily essentials like your camera and sunscreen. A mattress will be provided at accommodations. If you desire more comfort, please bring an additional foam mattress. Beds, mattresses, and blankets will be available on site. Additional comforts like pillows are up to each traveler to bring.Clothing and Personal Equipment:Two lightweight pants, four shirts (including long-sleeve for sun protection), a swimsuit, sweater or jacket for cold nights, sunglasses, hat, lightweight sports shoes, flip-flops, flashlight with batteriesSpecial Motorcycle Gear:Motorcycle boots or waterproof hiking shoes are highly recommended, lightweight leather or synthetic motorcycle jacket, rain gear, gloves, helmet |
“Embark on a 12-day Motorcycle Adventure: Enduro tour taking you from the highlands in the east to the wild South of Madagascar. A 1,155-mile journey is filled with challenges and beauty such as dirt roads, savannahs, mountains, semi-deserts and coastlines. Experience patience-testing routes and relish the ride through varied landscapes.”