Paris Roissy CDG - Antananarivo

• Flight to Antananarivo, dinner on board, arrival during the night at the Ivato Antananarivo airport. Program developed with Air Madagascar for international flights.

• We take the beautiful road towards the west. We cross the typical villages of the Highlands and, gradually, large volcanic cones appear. On the borders of Itasy lake, we settled in the small town of Ampefy.
  After lunch, we take the time to discover and soak up the very peaceful atmosphere of this little-traveled region.

Ampefy - Ampefy

• Above the village of Ampefy soars myriad volcanic cones. This looping tour allows us to permeate the soul of the Malagasy Middle West. Our hike will take us through the mountains to the west of Ampefy which overlook the entire region. We climb and walk along extinct volcanoes, across cultures that shape the landscapes, to meet the people at the place of their work, the generous smile and often very discreet. The end of our walk leads us through the west to the legendary Lily falls.
  Afternoon tour of Amparaky geysers.

• Full south, a beautiful mountain road takes us to Faratsiho, via Soavinandriana. We cross a succession of rich agricultural valleys nested to the west of the massif of Ankaratra.
  The landscapes are superb, all the shades of green are declined in pallets on the slopes of the hills and rice fields at the bottom of the valley where are grown cassava, sweet potatoes and potatoes. We join the RN7 (the road of the South) at the exit of Ambohibary

• Then we leave Antsirabe to keep going South. We cross the Highlands and visit the city of Ambositra, famous capital of wooden crafts.

• We drive on towards Ranomafana, passing through Fianarantsoa, the cultural and historical capital of the Betsileo region. A few stops on the way to grab some lunch and discover the local crafts.

Ranomafana - Fianarantsoa

• A full day to discover the forest of Ranomafana, with its very rich and diverse fauna and flora (lemurs, reptiles, orchids, rosewood …). The National Park of Ranomafana covers about 41 600 ha of tropical rain forest. Registered on the World Heritage UNESCO List, this forest shelters an exceptional endemic biodiversity, among which many rare and endangered species.

  You may be lucky enough to glimpse a few of the 26 species of lemurs classified in the forest, as well as birds, butterflies, bats, chameleons, reptiles, amphibians. We also find a great diversity of medicinal plants, orchids and carnivore plants.

  Keep your eyes open!

• We hit the road again towards Fianarantsoa, the historical and cultural capital of the Betsileo region. It is the Malagasy city which gathers the highest number of cultural monuments and schools.

  Just like Antananarivo, the city is divided in three parts:

  • The Upper town, where used to be the Palace of the Merina Governor, and where we can admire today protestant churches, a Lutheran school, the brick Tuscan-style Cathedral, the Jesuit school of Ambozotany, and the Antsenakely Square where is held a small market, as its name indicates.
  • The New town : the administration neighborhood, where is also held the zoma (Friday's market).
  • The Lower town Ampasambazaha, heart of the city where are located the trading Chinese and Indian neighborhoods.

  Fianarantsoa is also well known for its tea plantations and its vineyard.

• Through the patchwork of terraced rice fields and various cultures where all the shades of green are declined, road to Ambalavao known for its vineyards.

• Visit of the Village Reserve of Anja.

• A beautiful day of hiking, discovering the Isalo National Park, between deep canyons, plateaux, natural swimming pools… We should be able to spot many endemic species of lemurs, birds, reptiles, plants and butterflies.
  Isalo National Park was created in 1962, and is classified in the category of Exceptional Parks. Its area is 100 km large from North to South. It is unique in Madagascar thanks to its geological formation, dating from the Jurassic period. This mountain massif made of continental sandstone and dug with deep canyons, welcomes a rupicolous vegetation (Aloes, Euphorbias, Pachypodium…).

  You can also find there an exceptionally rich fauna, where most species are natives, such as rock reptiles, makis and other lemurs.
  The main ethnic group in this region is the Bara, living essentially of farming zebus and agriculture. Considered as descendent of the Bantu, the Bara are livestock breeders but also fierce warriors, proud and ready to give up their life to defend their freedom.

Tulear - Anakao

• Boarding for a boat trip to Anakao where you can relax and enjoy the joys of the beach.
  Free lunch.
  Overnight at the hotel.

Anakao - Andramandeo

Fort Dauphin - Antananarivo