Discovery · Family or group
Encounter Madagascar: Myth and Legend
From the rice fields of the Highlands to the beaches of Ifaty, a journey through myths, traditions and legends: craft villages, forests alive with lemurs, the canyons of Isalo and authentic encounters with the Malagasy people.
- 12 days
- Highlands & South
- Quote within 48 h
At a glance
Trip highlights
- The great landscapes of Madagascar, from the terraced rice fields of the Highlands to the shores of the Mozambique Channel
- Immersion in the heart of Malagasy culture, through markets, villages and ancestral traditions
- An authentic hike of 4 to 7 hours through the villages of Betafo
- Ancestral crafts: Zafimaniry woodcarving, Antemoro paper and Malagasy silk
- The exceptional biodiversity of Ranomafana and Isalo national parks
- A spectacular transition to the Deep South: the sandstone canyons of Isalo, then savannah and bush
- A culinary and cultural experience in Talata Volonondry, centred on koba
- Human encounters, for a true journey through myths, traditions and legends
Your route
- Antananarivo
- Antsirabe
- Ranomafana
- Fianarantsoa
- Ambalavao
- Isalo
- Toliara
- Ifaty
- Talata Volonondry
Private bus with an accompanying guide, then a flight from Toliara to Antananarivo (flights not included).
Day by day
The itinerary
A 12-day itinerary that can be fully tailored: every stage can be adapted to your pace and wishes.
Day 01
Arrival in Antananarivo
Welcome to Madagascar! You are met on arrival in Antananarivo and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight at the Trois Métis, bed and breakfast
Antananarivo
Day 02
Antananarivo – Antsirabe
4 to 5 hours by road, including stops
An early start at 7 am, heading for the southern Highlands along the legendary RN 7. Village after village, the road reveals the rice fields so typical of the Malagasy high plateaux. On the way, there may be a stop at a foundry to see how cooking utensils are made. Lunch on the way at your own expense.
Arrival in Antsirabe, capital of the Vakinankaratra region, in the heart of the Central Highlands. Madagascar’s first spa town, it is also known as the rickshaw capital.
Overnight at the Chambre des Voyageurs, half board
Antsirabe
Day 03
Antsirabe and Betafo
An early start and a briefing with your guide for a day of immersive walking. Antsirabe is known for its cool climate, its industry and its many rickshaws. You then meet your local guide for 4 to 7 hours on foot, heading for Betafo, 22 km west along the RN 34, to explore its villages. Return to Antsirabe at the end of the day.
- A blacksmiths’ village
- A rope-making and basketry workshop
- Antafofo, the Andriamamovoka waterfall and Lake Tatamarina
- The first Lutheran church in Madagascar (1867) and the royal tomb
- The terraced rice fields of Vakinankaratra, the setting for a picnic lunch
- In the afternoon, Betafo market, ideally on a Monday
- The Andranomafana thermal baths, where a soak is a must after the hike
Overnight at the Royal Palace, bed and breakfast
Betafo
Day 04
Antsirabe – Ranomafana National Park
227.2 km of winding road, about 4.5 hours including stops
After an 8 am wake-up call and breakfast, the road leads to Ambositra, capital of the Amoron’i Mania region. The town is the heart of Malagasy woodcarving, thanks to the Zafimaniry, a Betsileo subgroup whose woodcrafting knowledge UNESCO has inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its many shops brim with wooden boxes, chessboards and figurines.
Lunch at your own expense, then the road continues to Ranomafana National Park, reached in the late afternoon.
Overnight at the Centre Est, half board
Ambositra · Ranomafana National Park
Day 05
Ranomafana – Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao
110 km of winding road, about 2.5 hours including stops
An early start to enter the park at 7.30 am and make the most of it. Ranomafana, the island’s second spa town, is the gateway to the tropical rainforest of south-eastern Madagascar. Established in 1991 to protect the unique biodiversity of this ecosystem and reduce human pressure on the area, the park is part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana World Heritage Site.
It is home to many rare species of flora and fauna, including the golden bamboo lemur, the greater bamboo lemur, the black-and-white ruffed lemur and Milne-Edwards’ sifaka, as well as more than 130 species of frog.
At around 10 am, the road continues to Fianarantsoa, for a lunch stop and a detour to the historic upper town. Founded in the early 19th century by the Merina to govern the newly conquered Betsileo kingdoms, the city bears a name meaning “good education”. A cultural and intellectual centre for the whole island, it is home to some of the oldest Protestant and Lutheran cathedrals in the country, the oldest theological seminary and the Roman Catholic archdiocese. It is also said to be Madagascar’s wine capital.
The road then reaches Ambalavao, at the southern tip of the Central Highlands. A day of close encounters with Malagasy landscapes, culture and everyday life, the kind that leaves you longing to return.
Overnight at Betsileo Country Lodge, half board
Ranomafana National Park · Fianarantsoa
Day 06
Ambalavao – Ranohira
210 km of tarmac road, about 4.5 hours including stops
A leisurely start and a visit to a workshop making the famous Antemoro paper, a traditional craft whose history goes back to the 12th century. It was born with the arrival of shipwrecked Arab merchants on the east coast, who introduced papermaking there to copy religious texts, including the Koran. The Antemoro, a people of the south-east coast, then adopted it to transcribe their sacred and esoteric texts.
Time permitting, a detour to the Anja reserve, a community reserve where you can watch the local wildlife, including lemurs, and see tombs adorned with zebu skulls. Lunch at your own expense, then on to Ranohira.
Overnight at Satrana Lodge, half board
Ambalavao · Ranohira
Day 07
Isalo National Park
A full day in the park, tailored to your fitness level: a choice of circuits is available inside Isalo. Lunch at your own expense.
Isalo holds a unique place in Madagascar’s national park network: a ruiniform massif of Jurassic continental sandstone with a striking geomorphology, endemic rock-dwelling plants (aloes, euphorbias, pachypodiums, kalanchoes…) and fauna specific to this exceptional habitat, including rock-dwelling reptiles, the vast majority of them endemic.
- Canyon des Makis, Canyon des Rats…
- Cascade des Nymphes (Nymphs’ Waterfall)
- Piscine Naturelle (Natural Pool)
- Grotte des Portugais (Portuguese Cave)
Overnight at Satrana Lodge, half board
Isalo National Park
Day 08
Ranohira – Toliara – Ifaty
250 km of tarmac road, 4 to 5 hours including stops
After breakfast, the road leads to Toliara (Tuléar), capital of the Atsimo-Andrefana region, 936 km south-west of Antananarivo. The scenery changes: savannah and bush take over. Lunch at your own expense.
The city spreads across a broad coastal plain fringed with dunes and mangroves, near the Tropic of Capricorn, facing the Mozambique Channel. Close by lies the Great Reef, a barrier reef 18 km long and 3 km wide, while the Fiherenana Delta opens to the north. The journey then continues to Ifaty.
Overnight at Vovotelo, half board
Toliara · Ifaty
Day 09
Ifaty
A free day in Ifaty to spend as you wish; lunch is at your own expense. Several activities are available locally, at extra cost:
- Deep-sea fishing
- Scuba diving
- Quad biking
- Snorkelling
- Cycling
- Walking
Overnight at Vovotelo, half board
Ifaty
Day 10
Ifaty – Toliara – Antananarivo
Depending on the flight schedule, transfer to Toliara airport and flight to Antananarivo. You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight at the Trois Métis, half board
Domestic flight
Day 11
Antananarivo – Talata Volonondry
Local tourism opens a window onto the cultural and historical richness of a place: in Talata Volonondry, we offer you a unique immersion in the soul of Madagascar. The visit is made on foot and lasts between an hour and a half and two hours, the perfect time to soak up the beauty of the place and uncover its hidden treasures.
Talata Volonondry is renowned for its production of koba. You explore its lively market and watch the entire preparation of this delicacy, from start to finish, delving into the history and evolution of this symbol of the region’s culinary heritage.
Another local treasure is Malagasy silk. The way it is worn, especially at ceremonies, gives the Malagasy people a distinctive identity. You discover how it is made, the raw materials used and the ancestral craftsmanship that makes it so special.
Lunch comes with entertainment and a meeting with a local artist, a fine opportunity for cultural exchange. Throughout the day, local dishes and cultural activities shared with local people make for unforgettable memories. Return to Antananarivo at the end of the day.
Overnight at the Trois Métis, bed and breakfast
Talata Volonondry
Day 12
Antananarivo – flight home
A final day for souvenir shopping. Lunch at your own expense, then transfer to the airport, with assistance, and your flight home. End of our services.
Antananarivo
Clear and simple
What the price includes
The price includes
- Hotel accommodation throughout the trip
- Meals as stated in the programme: half board (breakfast and dinner) or breakfast only, depending on the stage
- Private bus with an accompanying guide, including fuel, road taxes and parking
- All activities mentioned in the programme
- Entrance fees and local guides in each park and reserve
The price does not include
- Lunches and dinners not mentioned in the programme
- Activities not mentioned in the programme and those during the free day
- Tips, drinks and personal expenses
- International and domestic flights
- Insurance
Good to know The price may vary depending on accommodation availability.
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Encounter Madagascar: Myth and Legend
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