General

TRAVEL MADAGASCAR

DAY 1: TANA – ANDASIBE

Encounter-Madagascar-DMC-Traditionnal-villages-highland-Madagascar             

141 Km 3h30 to 4h

We will hit the road in the morning, heading east. On the first kilometers, we will cross the landscape of the Highlands: rice fields and some traditional villages. Then we will descend the eastern escarpment to reach an intermediate plateau to the reserve of Andasibe. Arrival at lunchtime. Free lunch.

In the afternoon, we will first go to a reserve managed by a local NGO. A beautiful first approach to the fauna of Andasibe. Hopefully, we will be able to see our first lemurs.

Half board accommodation

DAY 2: ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK

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A day dedicated to a full discovery of Andasibe’s protected area. In the morning, we will leave for a long stroll in the forest, in Analamazaotra’s special reserve. Here, we can observe the largest lemur in Madagascar, the Indri Indri. The reserve is home to several families and groups of lemurs. The forest is also characterized by the presence of several species of precious woods, magnificent ferns and more than a hundred species of orchids. Free lunch.

4-hour walk, 200 m of vertical drop, easy walk, sometimes muddy hiking trail

Necessary equipment: good walking shoes or good sneakers, mosquito repellent, waterproof bag for electronic devices, raincoat and water bottle.

In the afternoon, we are going to visit the islets of the lemurs. There, we will see 4 species of these friendly primates that are endemic to Madagascar.

We will then have a night out before dinner.

Half board accommodation

DAY 3: ANDASIBE – MANAMBATO – PALMARIUM 

inbound-operator-pangalanes-channel-akany-nofy-east-madagascar155 Km 5h

Transfer by car to the side of the first accessible lake of Pangalanes. We will then board a motorboat. Then, sail to the Palmarium Hotel. Settle in a bungalow, along one of the most beautiful lakes of Pangalanes. Free lunch.

Half board accommodation

 

DAY 4: PALMARIUM RESERVE AND AYE-AYE ISLAND

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In the morning, we will discover the private reserve of the Palmarium on foot. The park is home to over 10 species of easily observable lemurs. There are also several species of exotic plants such as the Nepenthes, a carnivorous plant. The most beautiful palm trees of the island are also seen in this park. 2h easy walk, low elevation, sometimes muddy hiking trail.

Necessary equipment: good walking shoes or good sneakers, mosquito repellent, waterproof bag for electronic devices, raincoat and water bottle. Free lunch at the hotel.

Around 05:30pm, departure from the hotel by canoe or boat for Aye-Aye Island. Approximately one hour of observation of the Ayes-Ayes in a primary forest that has remained wild. Return to the hotel.

Half board accommodation

DAY 5: SAILING TO TAMATAVE        

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03h sailing by motorboat

Navigation to the city of the great port of the East in the morning. (3 hours of sailing, a fast boat with a capacity of 11 people maximum). We will take the time to appreciate this extraordinary lake formation which runs along the east coast of Madagascar for more than 600 km. The vegetation along the canal is magnificent: traveler’s trees, elephant ears, pandanus, lychee trees, fruit bread, custard apples or soursops … Everything grows there. Also, enjoy the permanent show of “bus ships”, the fishermen’s parade with their canoes, rafts carrying exotic fruits. Arrival in Tamatave at lunchtime. Free lunch.

Walk in the town in the afternoon.

Half board accommodation

DAY 6: TAMATAVE – SAINTE MARIE

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Transfer to the airport for a flight to Sainte-Marie. Stay entirely free.

Sainte-Marie is one of the most beautiful islands in Madagascar. About 50 km long, the island is mostly surrounded by lagoons. Life there is sweet and the atmosphere is exotic and tropical.

Half board accommodation.

 

DAY 7 TO DAY 9: SAINTE MARIE

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Free days in Sainte Marie.

Several types of excursions are organized from the hotel. Among them, the most common ones are:

  • The tour of the island to Ampinihy’s mangrove canal and Clipper Bay
  • Ile aux Nattes (the island of mats) and East Coast lagoons
  • Sand and Coral Islands

Half board accommodation

DAY 10: SAINTE MARIE – TANA – PARIS

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Depending on the flight schedules, transfer to Sainte Marie airport and flight to Antananarivo. Pick-up on arrival. Installation in a hotel close to the airport for a Day Use. Dinner on site. In the evening, return to the airport then check in on the flight to France.

Available departures

Unfortunately, no places are available on this tour at the moment

Highlights

  • The one trip that offers the opportunity to watch the highest number of lemur species
  • Watching the Indri Indri in Andasibe, as well as other species of lemurs at Palmarium
  • Sailing on the Canal des Pangalanes: discovery of magnificent landscapes, meeting with the fishermen, discovery of the Canal’s villages, view on the Indian Ocean
  • Stay in Sainte Marie, a paradise island

Overview

A little getaway in the eastern part of Madagascar. After exploring the protected areas of Andasibe, we will sail on the intertwining lines of the great lakes that make up the Canal des Pangalanes. This is an original way to reach the coastal town of Tamatave. This trip is an opportunity to see several species of the mythical animal that makes the reputation of the Great Island, the lemur; first in the rainforest of Andasibe, then on the land tongues of the Canal des Pangalanes and finally on the island of Sainte Marie. Sainte Marie is a little piece of heaven with its primary forests, its historical sites, its inhabitants and its seabed, and it welcomes in its warm waters humpback whales every year from July to October.