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Tsingy of Bemaraha, Kirindy, Andasibe, and Sainte Marie

The Earth is rich in partially amazing and unique landscapes and creatures. A variety of the most impressive representatives from both categories can be found on the island of Madagascar. Here on the so-called "Red Island," you have the opportunity to experience fascinating adventures and breathtaking natural spectacles. Some of them we would like to present to you on the following journey through Madagascar. We offer an exciting mixture of adventure and nature experience on this tour - where you can encounter lemurs, and experience a spectacular landscape with the Tsingy of Bemaraha, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But that's not all. On this tour, we allow you to travel according to your individual wishes and preferences. We offer you the opportunity to customize the presented tour according to your personal desires. If you wish to do so or need additional information, please feel free to contact us. The tour presented below is like a trip to a completely different world, offering you extraordinary and incomparable experiences. However, it also requires careful planning. Moreover, the Tsingy of Bemaraha are not even accessible during certain seasons without an excellent off-road vehicle. Even in the months of May to November, there may be occasional restrictions that require changes to certain areas or sections of the tour. Therefore, we believe it is particularly advisable to plan such a diverse and exciting tour in advance. This way, we can ensure that your personal preferences are fully taken into account in the planning of this journey through Madagascar. Tour extensions or combinations are also possible with us. After visiting the mineral landscape of the Tsingy of Bemaraha, explore the beautiful and unique tropical rainforest in eastern Madagascar: the famous Andasibe/Mitsinjo National Park, where you can see various species of lemurs, chameleons, birds, reptiles, butterflies, and orchids. After a few days, head towards the east coast and take a boat transfer to the beautiful green island of Sainte on the east coast, where palm trees and endless beaches await you. If you wish to do so or need additional information, please feel free to contact us.

Services

Included Services:

Accompaniment by an English-speaking experienced driver & tour guide

Logistics

Four-wheel drive vehicle with driver and diesel

Boat transfers to Sainte Marie and Ankanin'Nofy

All specified accommodations in hotels on a Bed & Breakfast basis

Not included services:

Lunch and dinner

Entrance fees to the national park + boat ride

Tips

Drinks

Optional sightseeing, excursions, and guides

Day 1 - Arrival in Antananarivo

Lemurs, baobab trees, rainforests, deserts, hiking, and diving: Madagascar is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts - half the fun is reaching all these incredible attractions. Once visa formalities are completed, you will be met by one of my staff holding a sign, and the journey can begin. The first stop is always Villa Sibylle, a beautiful property where we can discuss the itinerary together and tailor the fine planning to the guests' wishes and expectations. Dinner and overnight stay at Villa Sibylle.

Day 2: From the Malagasy capital to Antsirabe

Kick off the second day of your exceptional journey through Madagascar with a drive south from the capital. Your first stop will be in Behenjy, where you can indulge in culinary delights. Behenjy is home to one of the most renowned restaurants in all of Madagascar, offering a variety of duck liver specialties for you to savor. Next, you'll head towards your destination for the day, Antsirabe, with a planned pit stop in Ambatolampy along the way. Here, you can visit an aluminum foundry where the famous aluminum pots, known throughout Madagascar, are crafted under challenging conditions. As evening approaches, you'll arrive in Antsirabe, often referred to as the industrial heart of the Highlands. Your accommodation for the night at Chambres du voyageur will include a gala dinner to spoil you before your restful night.

Day 3: From Miandrivazo to Morondava

Miandrivazo is the next major stop on your itinerary and also one of the hottest places in all of Madagascar. It is important to make sure you always have enough drinking water with you. The drive to Miandrivazo is very diverse, heading west and passing through the Bongolava Mountains. The road to the capital of the Menabe region, Morondava, is well-maintained. We arrive early enough at the famous Baobab Alley, then continue on to the hotel.

Day 4: Heading to Bekopaka

Leave Morondava behind and be picked up again by the 4x4 car to be taken to Belo-sur-Tsiribihina for the ferry. Enjoy a meal at the renowned restaurant Mad Zebu, known throughout Madagascar for its delicious dishes. After that, head northward on a slightly bumpy road towards Bekopaka, the entrance to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Arrive in the evening and spend the night at the Olympe d‘Bemaraha hotel.

Day 5: Exploring the Small Tsingy and a Boat Ride on the Manombolo River

Before heading to the big Tsingy of Bemaraha, you will embark on a small detour to the small Tsingy. The trek through the small, fascinating rock formations that protrude from the ground everywhere is reminiscent of a walk through a labyrinth and proves to be incredibly captivating. Among the formations, you will discover rare Pachypodiums and various Euphorbia plants. Various animals also make appearances during this two to three-hour tour. You are free to decide how long you want to stay here, as we tailor the tour to your preferences. However, don't forget that after lunch at a fine riverside restaurant, another highlight awaits on the agenda: a boat will take you upstream on the Manombolo River. Here, you will encounter numerous sacred burial sites of the legendary indigenous people of Madagascar, the Vazimba. You will then return to rest at the Olympe d’Bemaraha for the night.

Day 6: The Great Tsingy of Bemaraha

To make the most of your day at the world-famous National Park Tsingy de Bemaraha, you will start your adventure at five in the morning. The hike into the park begins at six in the morning, after receiving instructions on how to properly use the climbing gear. After about an hour of walking, you will understand why this gear is crucial for your trip, as you will encounter several narrow caves and steep cliffs before reaching a well-designed via ferrata leading to the most breathtaking viewpoints in the park. You will be treated to views like never before. The exact route you take through the park will depend on your individual fitness level, as there are five different paths to explore the park. At the end of the day, the Olympe d’Bemaraha will be waiting for your overnight stay.

Day 7: Heading back to Morondava

After the eventful days exploring the big and small Tsingy, the tour is coming to an end. Early in the morning, you will drive back south and cross the river after lunch in Belo-sur-Tsiribihina. The journey continues by car, leaving the dry forest of the west coast behind. You should usually arrive at the Baobab Alley just in time for sunset. The towering baobab trees cast fascinating shadows in the setting sun, bathed in a beautiful red light. After this spectacle, you will head back to Morondava, where you will stay overnight in an attractive beachfront bungalow.

Day 8 - Domestic Flight to Antananarivo

Today marks the transition between two very different tours. Starting from Antananarivo, the next part of the journey will take you to Andasibe, Ankanin’Nofy, and Sainte Marie before heading to the East. Enjoy the ambiance of Villa Sibylle once again as you prepare for the next leg of the journey.

Day 9 Antananarivo to Andasibe

Early in the morning of your Madagascar adventure, you leave behind the colorful bustle of the Malagasy capital Antananarivo and head east towards Tamatave. You will spend a few hours on the busiest road in all of Madagascar, surrounded by the vibrant and impressive landscape of the central highlands before entering the rugged Mandraka area. Here, the forest becomes denser and the green of the leaves becomes more intense. If you wish, you can make a stop to visit the private reserve called Madagascar Exotique. Here, you can have your first encounter with Malagasy wildlife, spotting chameleons, geckos, snakes, tenrecs, frogs, and butterflies in various variations. After lunch, you will head directly to the Analamazoatra Reserve. This area is home to numerous nature reserves and national parks, including Mantadia, the Torotorofotsy high moor, and the Andasibe National Park. For tonight's accommodation, you will stay at the beautifully located Eulophiella Lodge.

Day 10 - Extensive Tour through Andasibe National Park

The Andasibe National Park is a unique montane rainforest. Nowadays, there are very few of these extraordinary forest formations left on our planet, and on the second day of your trip, you have the opportunity to explore such a montane rainforest in depth with a guide. The majority of the tour, which can be individually tailored to your needs, will be spent in the dense primary forest, home to many unique life forms and offering a truly impressive spectacle on the east coast of Madagascar. It rains here around 250 days a year, which is why this forest is so lush and impressive. In the Andasibe National Park, you will immerse yourself in a completely different world. You will discover animals and plants that you may only know from television, but here you can observe them in their natural habitat in a relaxed manner. Many of these animals are only found in the Andasibe National Park or only in Madagascar, and cannot be found anywhere else in the wild. A prominent example of this are the so-called giant lemurs, the Indri lemurs, famous for their distinctive calls, and are somewhat safe only in the Andasibe National Park. The Aye-aye, which attracts attention due to its somewhat bizarre appearance, is also found in this national park. However, since this animal is nocturnal, you are unlikely to see it during your stay. Instead, you may encounter Gray Bamboo Lemurs, Dwarf Chameleons, Boas, and numerous other animals. The hikes are organized according to your personal preferences, so if desired, you can spend up to five hours in the rainforest. Today, you have the choice between the two accommodations, Hotel Feon´y ala or for an additional cost, the Vakona Lodge.

Day 11: Heading to Ankanin’y Nofy via Brickaville

After a thorough tour of the montane rainforest yesterday, today brings a different itinerary. Following breakfast, you will depart from the Analamazoatra area and drive towards Brickaville. After a stop in town, a boat transfer is scheduled to take you to the Canal des Pangalanes, from where you will continue directly to Ankanin’y Nofy. Here, a lovely resort right on the famous canal awaits you. Relax with a refreshing swim and spend the night at Palmarium.

Day 12 to 14 - Ankan'y Nofy

Known as the Nest of Dreams, this peaceful and relaxing area is located between Lake Ampitambe, the Indian Ocean, and the Pangalanes Canal. White sandy beaches, lakes, lush vegetation with mangroves and orchids. Many native plants, mainly palms, grow there, but you can also see carnivorous plants like Nepenthes and many species of orchids blooming in November. Ankanin'nofy is mainly known for the tame lemurs living in the reserve there, but you can also find reptiles, frogs, and crocodiles. What makes this place truly special is the opportunity to see and even interact with different rare lemur species. A unique attraction is that it is one of the few places in Madagascar where you can observe the elusive Aye-Aye lemurs at night, and a nighttime hike can be organized to get there.

Day 15: Continuing the journey from Tamatave to Mahambo

After a delicious breakfast, we will head back to Brickaville. The boat transfer provides a unique opportunity to admire the surrounding landscape from a different perspective, passing by magnificent Ravinala trees along the way. Our next destination is Tamatave, the most important port city in Madagascar. In the afternoon, we will continue our journey northwards to Mahambo. By evening, you will arrive at the comfortable "La Pirogue" hotel, where you can relax and spend the night.

Day 16: Your journey takes you to the island of Sainte Marie

On this day of your Madagascar adventure, you will reach the legendary pirate island of Sainte Marie. You will start early in the morning, heading north towards this mystical destination. The road winds its way between the Indian Ocean and the shade-providing forests and coconut plantations, passing through villages, rivers, and smaller beach towns like Foulpointe or Fenerive-Est. After a three-hour drive, you will reach the end of the paved road at Soanierana Ivongo, a tiny river port where you can catch a boat to Sainte Marie. Soanierana Ivongo is also the starting point for an optional adventurous off-road tour, which is offered in a separate package. Upon arrival at the port, you will bid farewell to your guide and driver as you board the boat. While we handle the organization of your stay on Sainte Marie, your guide's journey with you ends here. After a three-hour boat ride, you will arrive at Sainte Marie and spend the night in a beachfront bungalow.

Day 17: Extensive Exploration of Sainte Marie

There are plenty of options to enjoy your stay on Sainte Marie. You can easily explore a large part of the island by bike. For those seeking a more adventurous tour, you can also rent a motorcycle or quad if desired. Water lovers can enjoy snorkeling or diving trips to explore the fascinating coral reefs off the island. Of course, swimming or relaxing on the beach is also possible. Between June and September, you can observe numerous humpback whale families swimming with their calves in the water. A visit to the famous Pirate Cemetery in Ambodifotrata is highly recommended, with numerous waterfalls to admire and the kilometers-long sandy beaches on the west coast of the island as well as the rocky cliffs on the east coast. All activities are optional and not included. Accommodation will be at the Natiora Lodge near the beach.

Day 18: Trip to Ile aux Nattes

Today, an exciting customized excursion awaits you: in the morning, head to the airport and then board a traditional pirogue to reach the island of Ile aux Nattes. Embark on a multi-hour exploration of the island and immerse yourself in its fascinating adventures. Enjoy a delicious lunch on the island before returning to Sainte Marie in the afternoon. All activities are optional and not included in the price. Tonight, you will stay in a beachside bungalow at the Natiora Lodge.

Day 19 to 21: Excursions and Sightseeing on Sainte Marie

Various excursions are planned for these two days on your itinerary. If you rent a motorized vehicle, you can make a stop at the so-called Ampanihy Paradise and enjoy an excellent lunch there. This can be followed by a Pirogue ride on the lagoon of the same name. A secluded sandy beach awaits you on a peninsula, which can easily be compared to tropical paradises seen on postcards. In the afternoon, the return journey will take place. Overnight accommodation will be in a hotel or bungalow.

Day 22: Return Flight to Antananarivo

This day begins with saying goodbye to the island of Sainte Marie. You will travel back to Antananarivo, where you will be picked up by your driver and tour guide at the airport. Depending on the arrival time, you may choose to take a city tour before the end of this tour. Connecting tours are available upon request.

Day 23 – Antananarivo and Surroundings

If time permits, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy this last day in Madagascar. A particularly attractive option is the "Lemurs Park," located 22 km outside of Antananarivo, for those who can't get enough of these adorable animals. There are also plenty of other sights to see, and your guide will be happy to advise you on what to do. In the evening, we will take you to the airport. Since most flights depart after midnight, you will appreciate the option of a "Dayuse" in the hotel to relax and prepare for your journey home. Overnight stay at the guesthouse of "Villa Sibylle."

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Explore the best of Western Madagascar with us- from Tsingy of Bemaraha UNESCO World Heritage Site to exotic landscapes of Andasibe and serene Sainte Marie. Encounter lemurs, experience breathtaking natural wonders, and shape your journey as per your desires. Contact us for an unforgettable, customizable adventure.

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