Traveling on the RN7 from South to North

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo

Your first day in Madagascar begins with your arrival in Antananarivo. Upon landing at Ivato Airport in the capital city, we will pick you up and take you to your accommodation at Villa Sibylle. If you have any specific requests for meals or drinks upon your arrival, please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements for you.

Day 2 - Arriving in Tulear by Plane

There are many fishing villages along the dusty track that runs along the coast. The southern regions (from Tulear to Fort Dauphin) are at the center of interest for visitors and botanists due to their unique vegetation (dwarf baobabs, euphorbias, aloe, etc.). Before reaching Tulear, we head south on the sandy track through remote areas. As we approach the peninsula of Sarondrano, which stretches between sand dunes and mangrove forests into the turquoise lagoon, things get exciting. Between Tulear and Saint Augustin lies one of the most pleasant guesthouses I know on this island, "Résidence Eden Lodge," which is still a hidden gem but will soon become well-known as there are very few accommodation options available. Overnight stay at Hotel Résidence Eden Lodge.

Days 3 to 5 Stay in Sarondrano and Surroundings

Days three to five on your Madagascar journey are dedicated to various day trips and individual activities. During these three days, you will exclusively stay in Sarondrano and its nearby surroundings, spending your nights at the wonderful Résidence Eden Lodge. You have the freedom to customize your daily itinerary, and we are here to assist you every step of the way: Relaxing hours on the dreamy beach, sailing trips, diving excursions, or a boat ride to see humpback whales are all possibilities. Just let us know your preferences, and we will arrange a tailored program that suits your individual desires.

Day 6 - From the Mozambique Channel to Isalo

Continuing northward: journey through savannah and desert landscapes until reaching Ilakaka, a city that has been attracting miners and traders to the world's largest open sapphire mines for almost 20 years. Along the road, you will also see the famous Mahafaly tombs and burial sites adorned with "Aloalos" - wooden steles with geometric motifs that depict important scenes from the lives of the deceased in a simple and naive way. Inland, there are few opportunities for livelihood, yet people continue to live in unimaginable conditions, with agriculture and animal husbandry being nearly impossible due to extreme dryness. A visit to Zoombitse-Vohibasia is definitely worthwhile, where you can observe locally endemic birds, insects, lemurs, and ancient baobabs. Overnight stay at the "Isalo Rock Lodge****."

Day 7 - Exploring Isalo National Park

On this day, you will venture into one of the most famous national parks in Madagascar, the Isalo National Park. This park features a massive mountain range where granite and sandstone formations alternate with waterfalls and tropical vegetation. Covering over 80,000 hectares of land, the park offers a wealth of diverse landscapes. The difficulty level and length of the tour through the park will be tailored to your personal preferences and physical abilities. After an exciting day trip, you will spend the night at the Isalo Rock Lodge (4****) hotel.

Day 8- From Isalo to Ambalavao

Continuing our journey north, the landscape becomes green and pleasant as we leave the savannah behind on well-paved roads. Before reaching Ambalavao, you have the option to go on hikes in a reserve founded and managed by the local village community known as the "Association Anja Miray", or Anja Park for short. This approximately 3-hectare reserve is home to hundreds of ring-tailed lemurs, as well as rare reptiles like the Brookesia pygmy chameleon. The park also features several burial caves and spiritual gathering places of the Betsileo people, making a visit well worth the 2 to 4 hours spent there. Overnight stay at the Tsienimparihy Lodge.

Day 9 - From Ambalavao to Ranomafana

After leaving the peaceful town of Ambalavao behind, the drive continues on a well-paved road heading north. Massive granite rocks, increasingly barren red laterite soil, and sparse grass can be seen as the landscape undergoes a dramatic change when reaching the pass with a beautiful viewpoint. From there, you can look down into the valley of Ambalavao, nestled peacefully between towering mountains.

Driving through many small villages, you'll see a variety of colors ranging from red earth tones to vibrant red against a green backdrop. The landscape is lush green, with rice fields creating a mosaic of various shades of green reflecting in countless ponds. The region of Fianarantsoa is intensively used for agriculture (mainly tea, wine, and rice). In Fianarantsoa, you'll visit the photography studio of the world-renowned photographer Pierrot Men.

Approximately 40 km after Fianarantsoa, the landscape changes dramatically again, becoming noticeably greener with denser and taller trees. Almost without a clear transition, we find ourselves in the montane rainforest where it rains an average of 250 days a year. Accommodation at the Thermal Hotel.

Day 10- Visit to Ranomafana National Park

On the tenth day of your Madagascar adventure, the Ranomafana National Park is your destination. This park covers over 40,000 hectares and is located at around 1,300 meters above sea level. Various species of lemurs, insects, birds, frogs, and reptiles call this montane rainforest home, and with some luck, you may come across some particularly spectacular specimens to capture on camera. The specific activities of the day in Ranomafana National Park will be tailored to your individual preferences and fitness level. You will spend the night at Hotel Thermal, where you can relax after the exciting adventures of the day.

Day 11 - From Ranomafana to Antsirabe

Early in the morning, the drive takes us up numerous switchbacks to the park entrance. Then, we head back to the highlands, with the city of Ambositra known for its craftsmen specializing in carving and veneer work with precious woods (especially ebony and rosewood). Several sculptor workshops and carpentries, located right next to the locals, invite visitors to explore. Continuing towards Antsirabe, there is a rather unique reforestation project with orange trees to visit. In the afternoon, we arrive in the highest city in the country, a former spa town located at around 1600m above sea level. Overnight at the "Chambres du Voyageur" hotel.

Day 12 - From Antsirabe to Faratsio and on to Ampefy

After spending a long time in nature, in the heat of the deep south, and along the incredibly diverse highland route, it is very pleasant to feel the cool air of this volcanic area. This final leg of this extraordinary tour gives guests a different insight into this fascinating and diverse island. These were the impressions of Madagascar, 1500km full of unforgettable experiences. Drive through Faratsio on a new road located over 2000m high to reach Ampefy and relax in a very peaceful volcanic landscape.

Day 14 - Ampefy and Surroundings

The Lily Waterfall is an absolute highlight - it can be reached on foot within a good hour from Ampefy or by a 4x4 vehicle over a bumpy track in about 30 minutes. Several meters wide, the water rushes 20 meters down! The best part - you can admire the spectacle up close - a narrow path leads to the foot of the waterfall where you can sit on large rocks and forget about time while listening to the sound of water. Another attraction in the region is the only Geysers in Madagascar - located in the middle of nowhere. However, these are artificially created geysers and the water is not hot, but rather lukewarm. The water is the wastewater from the surrounding mineral mines. Since this water contains a lot of carbon dioxide, it dissolves deposits of lime and iron from the pipes along the way - at the geysers, it bubbles to the surface and the lime deposits. So, the geysers grow more and more over the years. Even though they are not natural geysers, they are fascinatingly yellow and red colored and worth a visit.

Day 15 - From Ampefy to Antananarivo

Even the most beautiful journey comes to an end, and the final leg takes you through a very diverse landscape towards the capital city of Antananarivo. Fortunately, along the way lies the famous Lemur Park, which can be visited upon request and according to guests' interests. Several species of lemurs live there freely in different habitats that can be explored with a guide in just over an hour. After that, it's back to the peaceful Villa Sibylle, with or without traffic jams, where the journey began.

Day 16 - The Return Flight to Europe

The last day of your holiday in Madagascar is all about the journey back home. You will spend this day on the plane to Europe, most likely dreaming about the various experiences and memories from your trip through Madagascar.