Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Antananarivo
Welcome at Ivato International Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, a short orientation tour of the capital — the Upper Town with its panoramic views, Queen’s Palace, and the vibrant Digue Market. Welcome dinner and briefing. Overnight in Antananarivo. (D)
Day 2: Fly to Sainte Marie — Île aux Nattes
Morning flight to Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha), a slender 60-kilometer-long island off Madagascar’s east coast. Transfer to charming Île aux Nattes, a tiny island at Sainte Marie’s southern tip connected by a sandbar. No cars, no roads — just sandy paths beneath coconut palms. Check into your beach bungalow and spend the afternoon exploring the island on foot — it’s only 3 kilometers long. Swim in the warm Indian Ocean, walk the deserted beach, and settle into island time. Overnight on Île aux Nattes. (B)
Day 3: Whale Watching — Day 1
Your first full-day whale watching excursion. Between July and September, Sainte Marie’s warm, sheltered channel becomes a nursery for humpback whales that have migrated from Antarctica. From your boat, witness the extraordinary spectacle of whales breaching — launching their 30-tonne bodies out of the water — tail-slapping, pectoral fin waving, and mothers swimming with their newborn calves. The whales are often close enough to hear their powerful exhalations. Your guide will explain humpback behavior, the migration patterns, and ongoing research. Also watch for spinner dolphins and the occasional whale shark. Overnight on Île aux Nattes. (B, L)
Day 4: Whale Watching — Day 2
Second full day on the water. Every day with the whales is different — different behaviors, different interactions, different light. Today you might witness competitive groups of males fighting for a female’s attention, a mother teaching her calf to breach, or the magical sound of whale song through a hydrophone if conditions allow. In between whale encounters, snorkel in the clear waters of the coral reef. Afternoon: explore Île aux Nattes — walk the perimeter path, climb the lighthouse for panoramic views, and visit the traditional vanilla plantations that Sainte Marie is famous for. The pirate cemetery at Ambodifotatra on the main island tells the story of Sainte Marie’s 17th-century history as a pirate haven. Overnight on Île aux Nattes. (B, L)
Day 5: Sainte Marie Beach Morning → Fly to Tana → Andasibe
Final morning on Île aux Nattes — one last swim in the Indian Ocean, one last walk on the beach. Fly back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, drive east through highland scenery to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. The landscape transforms from open plateaus to dense, misty rainforest. Check into your forest lodge and enjoy the evening symphony of frogs and insects. Overnight near Andasibe. (B)
Day 6: Andasibe-Mantadia — Indri Lemurs & Rainforest
Pre-dawn wake-up for the indri lemur experience. Walk into the misty Analamazaotra Special Reserve as first light filters through the canopy. Listen — the haunting, whale-like song of the indri begins. Madagascar’s largest lemur produces one of nature’s most extraordinary sounds, its wailing calls echoing for kilometers. Spend the morning tracking multiple lemur species: diademed sifaka, common brown lemur, eastern woolly lemur. The reserve is also a chameleon paradise — from the tiny Brookesia leaf chameleon to the enormous Parson’s chameleon. Afternoon visit to Vakona Lemur Island for close, safe encounters with rescued lemurs. Evening: optional night walk for mouse lemurs, tree frogs, and sleeping chameleons. Overnight near Andasibe. (B, L)
Day 7: Mantadia National Park → Antananarivo
Morning visit to Mantadia National Park, Andasibe’s wilder and less-visited neighbor. The primary forest here offers more challenging hiking and excellent chances for diademed sifaka and black-and-white ruffed lemur sightings. Listen for the indri one more time. Afternoon drive back to Antananarivo. Last chance for souvenir shopping at the craft market — vanilla beans, wild silk scarves, and carved wooden lemurs. Farewell dinner. Overnight in Antananarivo. (B, D)
Day 8: Departure
Transfer to Ivato Airport for your onward flight. You leave with memories of humpback whales breaching against the Sainte Marie horizon, the haunting song of the indri in the misty rainforest, and the warmth of Malagasy hospitality. (B)
