ANTANANARIVO – ANTSIRABE – FIANARANTSOA – AMBALAVAO ANDRINGITRA – ISALO – BETROKA – AMBOVOMBE – TOLAGNARO

-Tour with 4x4 off-road vehicle (self-drive without chauffeur)

- Diving in Tolagnaro - Surfing in Tolagnaro

- Hike on extraordinary Andringitra mountain

- Observation of the beautiful exotic landscape during the trip

- Discovery of lemurs, the most famous animals of the island

- Discovery of fauna and flora like chameleons and other animal and plant species

- Discovery of the culture of an ethnic group Betsileo

- Barbecue

- Campfire adventure and playing guitar

- Support with drinking water treatment plants

- Discovery of the small Malagasy villages and traditional life in Madagascar

Itinerary

They are fetched by an English speaking tour guide and accompanied to the hotel. After a long flight you can relax at the Hôtel Restaurant La Ribaudière Antananarivo, a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we drove to Antsirabe. The trip takes about 4 hours. Arriving in Antsirabe, you can discover the city of Antsirabe and get to know the culture of the ethnic group Vakinankaratra. Overnight stay in Plumeria Hotel, 3-star hotel.

ANTSIRABE

Antsirabe is located 168 km south of Antananarivo. The city and its surroundings are rich in history. The quality of its soils and waters with a high concentration of mineral salts gives it the name Antsirabe, which means "where there is a lot of salt". It is also called the "city of water", where you can enjoy its baths with their therapeutic virtues. There are three lakes in the area: Tritriva, Andranomafana and Andraikiba.

Today we will drive along a side road. After breakfast we will drive to Andraikiba. There we will enjoy the beauty of the lake. Then the journey continues to Tritriva. In Tritriva we will have lunch at the restaurant-hotel. After lunch the journey continues to Betafo. In Betafo we will discover Tatamarina Lake. In the evening we will return to Antsirabe. Overnight stay at the Plumeria Hotel, a 3-star hotel.

ANDRAIKIBA

Lake Andraikiba is located about 7 km west of Antsirabe. Its name comes from the cry of a young pregnant woman who drowned there during a swimming competition with her rival, organized by her own husband. People in the area often like to tell other legends, which are as amusing and striking as the others. This lake strongly resembles a circle with a circumference of 5 km, surrounded by some tree plants and the remains of a nautical complex from the colonial period.

TRITRIVA

Lake Tritriva is a volcanic lake located about 27 km from Antsirabe and has a shape like Madagascar. The water level of the lake sinks during the rainy season and rises when the monsoon rains have stopped. The story of Lake Tritriva is the story of Rabeniomby and Ravolahanta, two lovers who committed suicide because of their forbidden love in the lake. According to local legends and beliefs, after the suicide of the two cursed lovers, their souls were depicted in the intertwined trunks of a tree growing on a rock on the shore of the lake. They would bleed if they were cut off.

BETAFO

Betafo is located 22 km west of Antsirabe. It is a charming town that will seduce more than one visitor. It is a typical Merina village, specialized in wrought iron, but also has an agricultural vocation. Its lush rice fields, its plateaus with cutlery from various plantations and the joy of life of its inhabitants have created the charm of this unique destination.

On the way to Fianarantsoa you will discover a beautiful landscape with green nature and mountains. The trip is to Fianarantsoa (capital of the Betsileo ethnic group) and takes about 6 hours. After a long drive you can relax in the hotel. Overnight stay at Lac Hotel Sahambavy, 3-star hotel.

FIANARANTSOA

Among the 6 provinces of Madagascar, Fianarantsoa is one of them. It is located 413 km from the capital Antananarivo and is a large classical city of Madagascar. There are some interesting places that the tourist can visit, such as the Fianarantsoa viewpoint, a view from above, from where you can see the whole city of Fianarantsoa at a glance. This place is especially known by the tourists of Fianarantsoa. There are also beautiful lakes to visit: Anosy, Manovoriaka, Sahambavy.

After lunch we drive to Sahambavy to discover the tea plantation. It is 40 km away from Fianarantsoa. We will have lunch at the restaurant-hotel. After lunch we will drive to Ikalamavony. Ikalamavony is 93 km away from Fianarantsoa. On the way we will enjoy the beauty of the landscape. When you Arrive in Ikalamavony you will get to know the culture of the inhabitants. In the evening we will return to Fianarantsoa. Overnight stay at Lac Hotel Sahambavy, 3-star hotel.

SAHAMBAVY

About 27 km from Fianarantsoa, about 25 minutes by car, Sahambavy is one of the most beautiful places for tourists in Fianarantsoa. The history of Madagascar's first tea plantation begins in 1969 with the arrival of the French Institute for Coffee and Cocoa. They first started with the scientific research of the different qualities of tea that can be grown in Madagascar. In 1970, the European Development Fund financed the expansion of the plantation, which became a state-owned enterprise in 1973 during the socialist period under the name SOTEMAD (Société Théicole de Madagascar).In 1996, the tea plantation returned to the private sector: Mauritian investors bought 2/3 of the capital. Currently the name of the plantation is SIDEXAM Sahambavy. The Sahambavy tea plantation is the only one in Madagascar, so there is no competition. In the coming years, they will work on the development of green tea, which is known for its health benefits and is currently in demand on Western markets, as well as on a project for organic tea.

IKALAMAVONY

Ikalamavony is 62 km away from Fianarantsoa. Ikalamavony is known for its agriculture and mining areas and cows. The zebu height is very important for the culture of this city, so to reach Ikalamavony we have to take a side road. The inhabitants of Ikalamavony are very sociable and very popular because of their ability to express themselves.

After breakfast the journey continues to Ambalavao. Ambalavao is 60 km away from Fianarantsoa and the trip takes about 2 hours. In Ambalavao we will get to know the Betsileo culture. Overnight stay at La Varangue Betsileo Hotel, 4-star hotel.

AMBALAVAO

Ambalavao is a city in the south of Madagascar with about 31,000 inhabitants in the Haute Matsiatra region. The town is located on the national road RN 7 between Fianarantsoa and Toliara. The city is the center of Antaimoro paper production. Ambalavao is a charming market town. Ambalavao is the location of the largest zebu market in Madagascar, where zebus from all regions of the country are sold. The Zebu Market is held on Wednesdays and Thursdays on a hill about 1 km south along the RN 7. A landmark of the city is the zebu.

After breakfast we hike to the national parks of Andringitra. This is the second highest mountain in Madagascar with a height of 2.658 meters. We will leave the hotel at 7.00 am. Andringitra National Park is located in the province of Fianarantsoa, 47 km south of Ambalavao, and covers a total of about 31,000 hectares. This park is absolutely breathtaking and has very varied landscapes. There you will discover different species of birds, rattas (a special type of lemurs) and other mammals. The hike will take about 7 hours. We will return to the hotel in Ambalavao. The drive there and back will take 4 hours. Overnight stay at the hotel La Varangue Betsileo Ambalavao, 4-star hotel.

ANDRINGITRA

Because of its indescribable beauty of the impressive mountain massif and the spectacular panorama, the Andringitra massif has been under protection since 1927. Even then it was recognized that few areas on earth have a similarly high biodiversity: more than 100 different bird species, 13 species of lemurs and about 40 other mammal species find their home here. Especially the funny looking rattas populate large parts of the Andringitra National Park. More than 50 frog species live in the protected area and about 1000 plant species from Andringitra are known until today. Its highest peak is the Pic Boby. With 2.658 meters it is the second highest mountain in Madagascar. Only since the area was declared a national park in 1999 as part of Madagascar's environmental action plan, has there been a significant influx of visitors. The climate varies from humid, tropical conditions in the eastern lowland tropical forests to extremely low temperatures at higher altitudes that can drop to -8°C.

After breakfast we will drive to Ambalahamba for an excursion. It is 29 km away from Ambalavao. On the way you will enjoy the beauty of the landscape. Packed lunches are available for lunch. In the evening we will return to Ambalavao. Overnight stay at La Varangue Betsileo Hotel, a 4-star hotel.

AMBALAHAMBA

Ambalahamba is 29 km away from Ambalavao and the drive from Ambalavao to Ambalahamba takes about 1 hour. Ambalahamba is known for its tobacco plantation. On the way to Ambalahamba is the big canal, founded in the colonial times, which irrigates all the rice fields of Ambalavao. The houses in Ambalahamba are Malagasy structures.

After breakfast we will continue our trip to Isalo. Isalo is 186 km from Ambalavao and the drive takes about 4 hours. Along the way you will encounter many adventures and experiences. Once you arrive in Isalo you can get to know the city of Isalo and its culture. Overnight stay with Isalo Ranch Hotel, 4-star hotel.

IHOSY

Ihosy is located in a plateau at an altitude of about 730 meters and is the capital of the Ihorombe region, in the former province of Fianarantsoa and is the capital of the Bara region. Ihosy is mainly known for its surroundings, including the very famous Isalo National Park. This city is considered as a meeting point for the Malagasy population, who come from different regions of Madagascar. Peanuts and corn are very fertile in this country.

After breakfast we will visit Isalo National Park. There you can see chameleons and lemurs. Overnight stay at Isalo Ranch Hotel, 4-star hotel.

ISALO

The Isalo National Park was designated as such in the 1960s and has been under comprehensive protection ever since. There is a natural swimming pool under the waterfall. Strictly speaking, the park is a table mountain range that has risen from the Jurassic Sea over many thousands of years. Now multicolored sediment layers lie in bright daylight and let their fascinating and mysterious play of colors shine in the sun. Numerous animals such as lemurs feel at home here and will surely meet you on your tours.

After breakfast the journey continues to Betroka. The trip takes about 2.5 hours. Arriving in Betroka you can get to know the city and its culture. Afterwards you can relax in the hotel. Overnight stay in Ombilahy Hotel, standard hotel.

BETROKA

Betroka is known for its mine, which is operated by a private company. The mines are the only real tourist attraction of the village. Its landscape is very attractive because of its hills and extensive meadows. In Betroka the plant that distinguishes the southern part of Madagascar is the cactus. The cactus seed is the food base in the south.

After breakfast we will continue to Ambovombe. Ambovombe is 271 km away from Betroka. The drive takes about 7 hours. On the way you will enjoy the beauty of the landscape. Packed lunches are available for lunch. After a long drive you can relax in the hotel. You will spend the night at the Hotel Lazan´Androy, a 4-star hotel.

AMBOVOMBE

Ambovombe or Ambovombe-Androy is a community on the coast in the south of Madagascar. It is the seat of the Androy region and the district of the same name Ambovombe. Ambovombe is a modest small town whose life is interrupted by the coming and going of bush cabs. Zebu breeding has a big place in the culture of many ethnic groups here.

After breakfast we will go on an excursion to Berenty Nature Reserve. Berenty is 50 km away from Ambovombe. There you will observe lemurs and enjoy the beauty of nature. In the evening we will return to the hotel. After dinner we will make campfires with scouts and play guitar in the courtyard of the hotel. Overnight stay in the hotel Lazan'Androy, a 4-star hotel.

BERENTY NATURE RESERVE

Since its creation in 1936 by the de Heaulme family, the Berenty nature reserve has had the ambition of protecting the lemurs and their natural environment: the dense gallery forest dominated by tamarind trees and the thorny dry forest. Since its opening to the public in 1981, it has enjoyed international renown. Many public figures have visited it, such as Prince Philippe of Edinburgh or the son of the Emperor of Japan. The private reserve of Berenty is a place where lemurs like Makis, Sifaka and various species of lemurs like Eulemur collaris and Eulemur rufifrons can be observed. It consists of a gallery forest and is also a place to observe the endemic bird species Couas.

After breakfast the journey continues to Tolagnaro. On the way there you can discover the different cultures of the small village like Amboasary-Sud, Ankaramena and meet interesting new cultures. When you arrive in Tolagnaro, you can relax at the hotel and spend a week exploring the local culture and enjoying the beautiful beach of Tolagnaro. Overnight stay at Hotel Talinjoo, a 4-star hotel.

TOLAGNARO

Tolagnaro (formerly Fort-Dauphin) is a city in the southeast of Madagascar. It is the capital of the Anosy region and is 1122 km away from the capital Antananarivo. It was here that the very first colonization of Réunion Island began. Fort Dauphin offers some of the most spectacular landscapes in Madagascar. There are many historical quarters from the colonial period, such as Sainte Luce, a fishing village with its palm-lined beaches, the Fort-Flacourt, the remains of an old bastion, the Anosy Museum or the Portuguese Fort.

After breakfast we go diving. It takes two hours. A diving mask is provided for diving. Under water there is a real aquarium where you can admire the magnificent corals, admiring the magnificent spectacle of anemones, myriads of colorful fish, shells, perches, morays and sea turtles. You will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch you can relax at the hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel Talinjoo, a 4-star hotel.

We will spend this day on the beach. After breakfast we will go to the beach to play sports like volleyball, sand soccer. You will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch we will go surfing. Overnight stay in Hotel Talinjoo, a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we will take a boat trip by the sea. You can enjoy the beauty of the sea. You will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch you can relax on the beach. Overnight stay in Hotel Talinjoo, a 4-star hotel.

After breakfast we go diving again. You will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch you can relax in the hotel. Overnight stay in Hotel Talinjoo, a 4-star hotel.

Early after breakfast we take the off-road vehicle to Betroka. The trip takes about 11 hours. We will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch the journey continues. After a long drive you can relax in Ombilahy Hotel, standard hotel.

After breakfast we will go back to Fianarantsoa. The trip takes about 8 hours. We will have lunch at the hotel. After lunch the journey continues. After a long drive you can relax in the hotel. In the evening we will have a barbecue. Overnight stay at Lac Hotel Sahambavy, 3-star hotel

Today we will have breakfast earlier, because we are continuing to Antananarivo and the drive takes about 8 hours. We will have lunch in Antsirabe. After lunch the journey continues. As soon as we arrive in Antananarivo, you will be driven to Ivato airport. There you will take the flight to Europe.