The Big Boucle of Madagascar

Meet at the airport and transfer to your hotel Chalet Des Roses.

Picked up at your hotel by your driver who can take you to the upper town to admire the view of the capital (Haute Ville). Then, departing for the town of Antsirabe, you will stop along the way to the village of Behenjy famous for its foie gras, and to Ambatolampy known for its artisanal manufactures of aluminum objects including pots. Continuation to Antsirabe: the landscape and the environment reveal rich laterite lands, typical Imerina villages, Catholic or Protestant churches, lively markets. Arrival in Antsirabe, installation at the hotel hotel Chambre du Voyageur. City Tour. (Step 170 kms, 5 hours)

Rural walk around Betafo (200 m vertical drop): We will start with a visit of a traditional Malagasy popcorn maker; then, meet with blacksmiths who design tools for villagers such as: knife, spade, grass, ax, and workers specialized in bricks, tiles and building clay houses. The ballad will continue off the beaten track, to the rhythm of the campaign and the meeting of Malagasy peasants. The travelers will be welcomed by warm families who will have the pleasure of sharing their way of life. Arrived at the top of the hill Ambatomalaza, picnic and panoramic view of the valley. We will descend on Betafo, visit an unusual royal tomb and join the vehicle. Head to the village of Miandrivazo, where in the royal era, King Radama I was expecting his future wife, the daughter of a Sakalava king. Miandrivazo, located at sea level, is considered one of the hottest cities in Madagascar. Installation hotel Princesse Tsiribihina. ( briefing around 7 pm with your guide for the descent). (220 kms stage, 6 hours)

Departure around 9am from Miandrivazo, Transfer to the heart of the savannah, for the Pier near the village of Masiakampy. (count 1 hour, 20 minutes of tar, 40 minutes of track). The crew welcomes us on the barge. Barges are motor barges formerly used for the transportation of tobacco. They were then arranged for the transport of tourists. At the back of the barge is the cockpit and the kitchen. Passengers have benches on the lower deck where meals will be served. A staircase leads to the Solarium equipped with deckchairs.
The cruise will begin in the middle of the morning, we will cross vast cultivated plains, will sail along the banks and gorges of Tsiribihina and will cross the villagers of the river; they are part of the “Sakalava” ethnic group, their huts are built mainly of reeds, and roofs made of rice straw or palm leaves. In the late afternoon, refreshing stop and swim at the waterfall of Nosy Ampela (women’s island), a small corner of paradise that houses families of lemurs. The Camp will be set up nearby on a large sandbar.

The barge continues its navigation in the heart of the meanders of the Tsiribihina river. We will meet piroguiers, motor barges for the freight of local products and by means of transport and exchange for the villagers. In the day, stop at the village of Begidro famous for its old tobacco concessions. The peasants still cultivate it in a traditional way; you can visit the warehouse. We resume the cruise, landscapes follow one another: cliff bats (Kina Kina), the giant capoquin, rice fields, the village of Berevo, more modern, with a Catholic school, a dispensary and a gendarmerie. At the end of the day, stop for 30 minutes to the village of Ambatomisay to see our first Baobabs “Andasonia Za”. The crew will put up the Camp on a beach that can change from one year to another, depending on the rains. After dinner, we will participate, around a campfire, in a traditional dance show.

Day 6

The landscapes are confused with tamarinds, mango trees, jujube trees, ricins, sensory mimosas, balsas, and date palms. Last day of our cruise to greet once again herons, fishermen, drongos, green bee-eaters, teals, humpback ducks. Arrival at the end of the morning at Bereketa pier in Belo sur Tsiribihina; lunch on board the barge. We join the 4×4 which has left Morondava in the morning. It will take more or less 4 hours of track to reach Bekopaka, starting point for excursions in Tsingy Bemaraha. 2 Nights in Hotel Orchidées du Bemaraha (120 kms stage, track – 4 to 5 hours)

After breakfast, we will go for an excursion on a traditional pirogue all along the Manambolo river; it lasts around 1 hour and a half. We will see caves, Vazimba Tombs ( Vazimba were the first ethny leaving in Madagascar) , birds.
Then departure with the 4WD from Bekopaka to join the starting point of “Grands Tsingy” ( 17 kms of a bumpy road, it will take from 1 to 2 hours driving according the season ). The trip is called “Andamozavakay”, it takes around 4 hours It is not a trek but a slow and observation walk. This not requiere not a particular physical condition, but it is not good for those subject to vertigo or claustrophobia. During the hike we will discover: secondary forest, caves (bring a headlamp) of the diaclases, panoramic views of this unique massif in the world. We cross a suspension bridge. The set is perfectly safe and very well laid out by the National Park that provides safety harnesses.Back to the hotel after the visit.

Departure at 7:00 am, we return on track to join Belo Tsiribihina. Lunch advised at the restaurant “Mad Zebu”, one of the best in Madagascar. We will take a ferry boat and cross again the Tsiribihina (45 minutes crossing). It will remain 2h30 to 3 hours to reach Morondava. On the way, we will stop at the Sacred Baobab, a tree with a thousand years of notoriety. End afternoond we will stop at the baobabs alley to enjoy the sunset and take pictures. Arrival at the hotel hotel Sun Beach early in the evening. (Step 220 kms – from 8 to 9 hours of track)

In the morning, transfer by car  to reach Belo sur Mer known for its traditional sites. The landscape consists of ‘bush’ and skeletal vegetation that are resistant to prolonged drought. You will cross the first stepping Kabatomena, about 150m wide then that of Maharivo. Installation hotel Entremer . ( 117 kms  – 4 to 5 hours)

Half Board at the Hotel. Activities to arrange directly on site.

Departure around 7 am for a day on track  (approximately 07 hours) to reach the town of Morombe. Halfway we cross the river Mangoky. Accommodation Auberge chez Laurette (Step 260 kms – 10 à 12 hours )

We will begin a very nice track for the coming days, probably the most beautiful coast of Madagascar. In the mid-morning for a little break after the exhausted track, we can stop at Andavadoaka (very beautiful coves) . Majestic baobabs and casuarina forests will line the track. Then continuation to Salary quiet and beautiful site. Installation at the hotel hotel Salary Bay. (Step 130 kms – 4h30).

Free activities in Salary . The hotel offers different land and seaside activities: scuba diving historical theme with vestiges of British Portuguaises and wrecks, whales outing in July / August, excursion on pirogue (meetings with Vezo, nomads of the sea), the forest Mikeas of isolated tribe refusing all contact with civilization.

We take again the track which portions along the coast and offer magnificent views of the Mozambique Channel. We pass by Ankasy and Ifaty to reach Tulear. Installation at the hotel Victory. (Step 120 km -5  hours)

Head to Ranohira in the morning , desert landscape where thorny plants emerge. We visit the Arboretum of Antsokay at the entrance to the South Tulear grouping typical flora and many endemic medicinal plants in Madagascar. Passage of the country Mahafaly, overlooking the famous tombs of the same name, topped by large carved posts called “Aloalo”. Crossing villages gems of researchers which the best known is Ilakaka, the city sapphire. Installation at the hotel Isalo Ranch  in the one  site Isalo Western décor which presents a variety of majestic landscapes, impressive canyons, rock formations carved by erosion. (Step 215 Kms – 5h).

The Isalo National Park, criss-crossed by rivers and tributaries, covers 81,540 hectares. This ruiniform massif is a plateau of continental sandstone dating from the Jurassic. Heavily eroded, only witnesses fragmented by the sandy valleys and canyons remained. A truly exceptional show! There are several possible walking tours in the park. For example, you can take a walk in the morning and another in the afternoon or even make a complete loop during the day, a village association can prepare you a lunch in the middle of nature. We include 2 circuits that can be combined including:
– The natural pool ( Piscine Naturelle ): easy level, takes place in half a day, the water is very clear, you can swim there (fresh from June to August). From the pool, the park guide will take you to a lookout 10 minutes from the site (panoramic view of the Isalo)
– The waterfall of the Nymphs ( Cascade des Nymphes ): easy level up to the waterfall, it can be extended via rugged paths to the black and blue pools in the heart of lush vegetation.

We continue the descent to the National 7 about 5 hours. We pass through countries ethnicity “Bara”, zebu breeders. Crossing the Horombe tray. Before the arrival of Ambalavao, bifurcation towards the Tsaranoro Valley. Accommodation in Tsarasoa Lodge (Step 210 kms, 5 to 6 hours)

A guided tour in the Tsaranoro Valley. The walks are not lacking on the site and you can choose visits on the spot according to your physical condition. Among these, the chameleon circuit is more complete (duration maximum 6 hours) you will cross the Sacred Forest Tsaranoro cemetery of the inhabitants of the valley. The morning, you will have a good chance to see lemurs Catta reheating the sun. After climb towards Tsaranoro , we turn to go cross the stream that comes from the top. A short break for refreshing and we go back along the stream up lead on the board. Then you branch off on left towards the top of Langera called “The Chameleon”. A last steep slope, we must be carefull , reaching the edge where you can enjoy the scenery while at leisure. You go down towards the village of Morarano to your accomodation site.

Back on the national, passage to Ambalavao, famous for its antemoro paper factory. Visit the Anja Village Reserve. Continuation on Fianarantsoa, we will see vineyards. A short tour of the upper city. Then continue on Ranomafana. Arrival in the late afternoon. Installation at the hotel Ny Tanàna Hotel Ranomafana . (4 hours – 180 kms)

Visit Ranofamana Park in the morning. Guided excursion of about 2 hours in the primary forest. Road via Ambohimahasoa to get to Ambositra: which is the artisanal capital. Installation at the hotel Artisan Hotel . ( Step of 140 kms – 6 hours )

Visit the craft capital famous for its marquetry. Continuation to Antsirabe, short city tour and return on capital. Accommodation at the hotel Chalet Des Roses(Step 260 Km – 7h ).

Visit to the “City of Miles” starting from the upper town where is the Queen’s Palace, with a wonderful views on the west side of Antananarivo. The tour continues through the independence Avenue, limited by the rail station. After lunch continuing to the flower market through the artificial Lake Anosy and finally the handricraft market at “Marché de digue” for shopping. Transfer airport. end of prestations.