Tour Overview
| Duration | 14 Days / 13 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Madagascar — Antananarivo, Andasibe, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Isalo, Toliara, Ifaty |
| Price From | $3,332 per person (twin share, 30% off from $4,760) |
| Tour Style | Active Small Group Adventure — Rainforest, Canyon & Coast |
| Best Season | May-October (dry season, hiking conditions optimal) |
| Data Source | TourRadar / Intrepid Travel 2026 verified pricing (⭐4.5, Travelers’ Choice) |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1-2: Antananarivo & Andasibe — Indri Encounters
Arrive Antananarivo, then drive east to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Two days tracking the indri — the largest lemur with its haunting whale-like dawn song — plus the diademed sifaka, woolly lemurs, and over 100 bird species in one of Madagascar’s premier rainforest reserves. Night walks reveal mouse lemurs and leaf-tailed geckos.
Day 3-5: Antsirabe to Ranomafana — Golden Bamboo Lemurs
South through the highlands to Antsirabe (thermal springs, rickshaw city, gemstone workshops), then onward to Ranomafana National Park — 416 km² of montane rainforest. Search for the golden bamboo lemur (discovered 1986, eats cyanide-laced bamboo that would kill most mammals), the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur, and 12 lemur species. Walk rainforest trails dripping with orchids, past thermal springs, through habitat for Parson’s chameleon (world’s heaviest at 700g).
Day 6-8: Isalo National Park — Madagascar’s Grand Canyon
Head south through Fianarantsoa (the intellectual capital, home to Madagascar’s oldest university) and the wine-producing region to Isalo National Park — 815 km² of Jurassic sandstone massif eroded into deep canyons, natural rock pools, and savanna. Hike the Canyon des Singes (Monkey Canyon) and Canyon des Rats, swim in natural pools (Piscine Naturelle) fed by waterfalls, and watch ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux’s sifakas against the dramatic sandstone backdrop. Isalo is sacred to the Bara people, who use the caves as burial sites — their tombs, some centuries old, are visible in cliff crevices.
Day 9-11: Toliara & Ifaty — Coral Coast
Continue west to Toliara on the Mozambique Channel, then north to the fishing village of Ifaty. The landscape transitions from sandstone canyons to the unique spiny forest — a desert ecosystem dominated by Didiereaceae (octopus trees, a family found only in Madagascar) and baobabs. Three days of Indian Ocean relaxation: snorkel on the Great Reef of Toliara (the world’s third-largest coral reef system at 450 km), take a pirogue excursion to a Vezo fishing village, and watch the sunset over the Mozambique Channel. The Vezo are semi-nomadic sea people whose entire culture revolves around the ocean — children learn to swim before they walk, and fishing knowledge is passed down through oral tradition.
Day 12-14: Return to Tana
Fly from Toliara back to Antananarivo. Last day: explore the Queen’s Palace, the artisan markets of the Haute-Ville, and enjoy a farewell dinner overlooking the city of twelve hills before departure.
Inclusions
- 13 nights accommodation (eco-lodges and hotels)
- Daily breakfast, 5 lunches, 4 dinners
- All ground transportation including 4×4 where needed
- Professional group leader
- Park fees: Andasibe, Ranomafana, Isalo
- Piscine Naturelle hike in Isalo
- Domestic flight: Toliara-Antananarivo
- Chocolate-making and silk-weaving experiences
Exclusions
- International flights
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Optional activities (snorkeling gear rental, etc.)
- Tips
