Trekking in the highlands

Antananarivo - Antsirabe

• After breakfast, we head south.

  We will be crossing the characteristic landscapes of the Hautes Terres along a winding road lined with a mosaic of diverse crop fields and terraced rice paddies.

  Several stops along the way to discover the villages along the Nationale 7.

  Lunch en route at your own expense.

  ---

  On arrival in Antsirabe, city tour by rickshaw to discover the town of Antsirabe, its colonial railway station, its traditional miniature and candy-making workshops, and its gem markets, as you wish.

Antsirabe - Manandona

• We continue our journey to Manandona, 25km further south, in the foothills of Mont Ibity. We settle into a self-catering cottage run by a local community, where the inhabitants give us a warm welcome.

  Basic comfort, outdoor sanitary facilities and bucket shower.

Manandona - Manandona

• Through a landscape of collines and lignes de crêtes, from village to village, often clinging to the mountainside, our hike takes us into the foothills of Mont Ibity, culminating at over 2,250m.

  We rub shoulders with villagers, silkworm breeders, blacksmiths, rice farmers… most of whom welcome us with their spontaneous smiles and natural kindness.

  We have lunch on a hilltop with a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire region. At the end of the day, we make our way back down through pine forests to the gîte.

  Dinner and overnight stay with our hosts. An evening of exchanges with the farmers, accompanied by memorable musical and cultural entertainment.

Manandona - Fianarantsoa

• Early departure for the RN7. On the way, visit the town of Ambositra to discover wood craftsmanship.

  Continuation to Fianarantsoa for a lunch stop.

• Fianarantsoa is the historical and cultural capital of the Betsileo region. It is also the Malagasy city with the most cultural buildings and schools.

  Like Tana, the city is divided into three parts:

  • The old town, where the palais du gouverneur Merina once stood, and where Protestant temples, a Lutheran college, the Tuscan-style brick cathedral, the Ambozotany Jesuit school and the Place d'Antsenakely, where a small market is held, can all be admired today.
  • The new city, the administrative district, where you'll also find the zoma (Friday market),
  • The downtown, Ampasambazaha, the heart of the city, home to the Chinese and Indian shopping districts. Fianarantsoa is also famous for its tea plantations and vineyards.

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

Fianarantsoa - Anja

• Arrival at Ambalavao, one of Madagascar's most beautiful villages, specializing in the artisanal manufacture of papier Antemoro.

  We continue our journey towards the Anja Reserve. We set up camp at the foot of this granite massif.

  At the end of the day, we make an incursion into the forest where a few families of mischievous catta lemurs have made their home. We'll also have the opportunity to meet up with them the next morning before our departure. The Anja reserve is managed directly by the villagers. Profits are used to improve living conditions in the surrounding villages.

Anja - Manampotsy

• We meet the local team of guides and porters, who will be our traveling companions for the next 5 days.

  Our journey begins at the Anja Special Reserve, a site managed by the village community and home to small colonies of ring-tailed lemurs.

  Day hike through the Betsileo landscape. The scenery is dominated by agriculture and livestock farming. We follow the zebu herd trails to the pastoral village of Manampotsy. We set up our first bivouac not far from the village, on the next hill.

Manampotsy - Belambo

• On our second day, we hike through a landscape dominated by large granite massifs. In a desert setting, we find a whole range of succulents such as Kalanchöes, Alöes and Pachypodiums, accompanied by small forests wedged into the hollows of the valleys.

  In the distance, the highest peaks of the Andringitra can be seen. At the end of the day, we arrive at Camp Belambo. We are now in the Andringitra National Park.

  We set up camp for the night.

Belambo - Andriampotsy

• On the third day, we set off early in the morning for Andriampotsy, situated at an altitude of 2,000 m. This will be the starting point for the next day's hike, to Madagascar's 2nd highest peak: Pic Boby, culminating at 2,658 m.

  The landscapes here are lunar, and the Malagasy call this place “the plateau of the extraterrestrials”. A short detour to get a closer look at the two sacred Cascades: Riambavy (female waterfall) and Riandahy (male waterfall), via the Grotte du Jajofo.

  We set up camp at Andriampotsy, at 2050m altitude, ready for our ascent of the Pic d'Imarivolanitra the following day.

Andriampotsy - Pic Boby

• Early in the morning, we set off in the direction of Madagascar's 2nd highest peak, Pic Boby or Imarivolanitra, culminating at 2,658 m altitude.

  This beautiful hike takes place on a well-maintained trail. We set off early to enjoy the view from the summit. If the sky is clear enough, we can even catch a glimpse of the east coast.

Pic Boby - Iantaranomby

• We retrace our steps to the Andriampotsy bivouac site. We find ourselves back on the surreal lunar plateau, which deserves the nickname of “extraterrestrial” because of its phantasmagorical erosions.

  We then cross the forest of Ravenea glauca palms, endemic to this region, to reach our bivouac at Iantaranomby, on the banks of a beautiful river where we can cool off.

Iantaranomby - Valley of Tsaranoro

• On the fifth day, our walk takes us to the heart of the Vallée du Tsaranoro, where we arrive in the late morning. This superb valley is dominated by immense cliffs, very popular with rock-climbers. Once again, we meet the Lemur Catta, living in the preserved forest areas. The valley is alive with life, and the villages that dot it are magnificent. The simplicity and warmth of the people who live here lends a phantasmagorical atmosphere to the place, which we can explore in the afternoon.

Valley of Tsaranoro - Ranohira

• Breakfast at the hotel and we resume the trail, join the National 7, pass the Doors of the South and cross the town of Ihosy before attacking the plateau of Horombe.

  It is the road of wide open spaces. From one mountain to another … We arrive in Ranohira at the end of the day.

Massif of Isalo - Canyon of Maki

• Early in the morning we join the Canyon des Makis, beginning of our hike with our guide to the discovery of this massive sandstone ruiniforme very different from Andringitra.

Canyon of Maki - Natural swimmming pool of Isalo

• We start with the forests of the canyon and then climb up the plateau carved by erosion, where a beautiful day of hiking awaits us. This massive sandstone has been shaped since the Jurassic in strange forms ruiniformes.

  These lands belong to the Bara people, an ethnic group of the South.
  Our hiking route will take us to the place called "the natural pool". After the heat of the day, a swim in the pool is welcome.

Ranohira - Ifaty

• We pass through the villages of Ilakaka and Sakaraha, still on the immense plateau de l'Horombe, quiet little settlements until the discovery of a huge sapphire deposit transformed them into veritable mining towns worthy of the American Far West epic. First glimpse of the baobabs and crossing of the plateau calcaire Mahafaly, its famous and impressive tombs surmounted by funerary sculptures called “Aloalo” and painted with naïve scenes of life.

  Visit of Tuléar and lunch. Early afternoon drive to Ifaty, some 30 km north of Tuléar, to reach the land of the Vezo fishermen.

• Ifaty, Mangily, Madiorano and Ambolimailaka are small villages that face the majestic lagoon of Ranobe with turquoise water, renowned for its coral reef. They are here as seaside resorts.

  Free stay, activities to see at the hotel or with your guide: hiking in the backcountry of the dry forest to various varieties of endemic spiny, euphorbia, Didiéracées, pachypodium and of Baobabs.

  The visit can be done in zebu charette or on foot; or relax to enjoy the beach, a beautiful invitation to swim in this beautiful lagoon.

  Will also be at the rendez-vous: excursion featured, balade in traditional dugout canoe, trolling, water skiing, snorkeling… Or simply walk along the beach, meet the locals and discover in depth the life of these fishing villages.

  Activities at your own charge.