Dear space explorers,

Dear fellow travelers,

The global situation and the challenges we are facing are unprecedented. In 30 years of activity, I have never experienced a situation like the one we are living through today. Neither September 11, 2001, terrorism, nor the pandemics we have witnessed so far, have impacted the lives of citizens across the Planet and our societies in this way.
The repercussions are immense: they deeply destabilize the fragile socio-economic balance at the global level, even more so in Madagascar, Mauritania—to name just the destinations that directly concern us.

It is in the context of this unique environment that I am making a committed choice, one I hope will be lasting: that the entire Détours team (Madagascar and Mauritania) continues its activities, keeps working at the office, to combat fears and anxieties, and to prepare for the future.

Here, in Madagascar, it is striking to hear about "technical unemployment" as we might imagine in France. Since unemployment benefits do not exist, an employee staying home on "unemployment" is an employee with no income, facing an even more uncertain future.

I am therefore choosing to ensure that our entire team benefits from this imposed quiet period, as long as we are not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: to continue our activities, enhance the training of each team member involved in planning your travels, strengthen our capacity and the quality of services we offer, all to make us more effective once better days return. Because they will return, undeniably, and we must already be ready.

In fact, we remain entirely at your service for travelers who wish to dream of their next escapes… We are here, ready to transform your travel aspirations into future reality.

This too is the corporate social responsibility of our companies Détours Madagascar and Détours Mauritania.

Of course, I am able to do this because, at the moment I write these lines, Madagascar is still spared from the pandemic. Should the epidemic, despite strong measures taken by public authorities, unfortunately strike the Great Island; we will all adjust our policies together and take the necessary steps for each of us and for our society.

To date, nothing prevents residents of Madagascar from traveling; from discovering our beautiful island and all its facets, our hidden gems.

Self-isolation can be fatal to us, panic is deadly. The breakdown of the social fabric would be terrible and damaging in the long term. Under these circumstances, we are making the decision to do this much: maintain a thread of activity, to avoid sinking into a post-health crisis catastrophe for this fragile country.

This is precisely why the entire Détours Madagascar team is currently working tirelessly to develop travel proposals for weekends or over several days; in the Makay Massif, the Radama Islands, or just around Antananarivo. Our guides and teams are keen to share with you the love of the country, the joy of discovering unsuspected corners.

These moments drive us to give our best to remain imaginative, creative.
Devoted to our passion for "genuine beautiful travel," to escape these complex, anxiety-inducing and economically constraining periods.
The future of our society is also linked to the ability curious travelers will have to trust us, to share our love of Freedom, of Nature. This period is conducive for us to broaden our visions of the Great Island, beyond the rice fields.

Even under a threatening sky, our will is to share and make accessible these moments of brightness.

See you very soon on the paths of the World,

Sylvain PHILIP

And the entire team at Détours Madagascar and Détours Mauritania,