15 DAYS & 14 NIGHTS

DAY 1: PARIS / ANTANANARIVO:

Arrival at Ivato International Airport, where our guide from Chrismiatours will be waiting for you with great joy. Our agent will accompany you to your internationally-standard hotel for a rest and refreshment. One hour later, we will have a briefing about the tour, and then we will visit the souvenir market.

 We will stop at the Crocodile Park, Croc Farm (depending on the travelers’ preferences), then head to the city of Antananarivo, or “the city of a thousand.” It was built as a fortress in the early 17th century by King Marina. We will also visit the market. Next, we head to the Upper Town for lunch.

Lunch at Lokanga Restaurant.

Visit to the Queen’s Palace and its unique alleys.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 2: ANTANANARIVO / ANTSIRABE 170Km / 3h30:                                                

Wake up at 7 AM and breakfast at the hotel.
We set off for Antsirabe.
This city, founded by Norwegian missionary T.G. Rossas in 1872, was established as a retreat center. The thermal springs and their healing properties attracted prominent figures. Many came here to treat their rheumatism. Mohammed V and his family, including his son, the future Hassan II Maroc, were exiled here in 1953.

We will make our first stop just 42 km from Tana

At BEHENJY ,a town known for its gastronomy ,food lovers will enjoy tasting excellent foie gras, snails, and frog legs. As there are many pleasures to enjoy, after this gastronomic stop, we will take a walk to aid digestion up to the train station on the heights, where we can enjoy a view of the city. Then, we will visit the rural market.

We will continue to Ambatolampy, a 30-minute drive along the RN7.

Ambatolampy comes from the term “vatolampy,” meaning large rocks.. Here, we meet artisans who handcraft aluminum pots, known as (vita malagasy).

We will visit the town and its market before finally heading to Antsirabe. We will pass through its landscapes and villages, where people greet us with big smiles. Along the road, we will encounter vendors selling fruits and vegetables, their stalls full of fresh produce.
We will arrive in Antsirabe at 3 PM and make our first visit to its cathedral. After the visit, a break at the hotel is welcome.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 3: ANTSIRABE TRITRIVA LAKE & Andrakiba 68Km/3 hours:  

Wake up at 7 AM, breakfast at the hotel.

Departure at 8 AM for the visit of the two lakes. The first one is just outside the town of Antsirabe, which is Andrakiba Lake. We then continue our journey to visit Tritriva Lake, which will take us an hour to reach and another hour to return. But it will be a pleasure, as this lake is beautiful and majestic. It is of volcanic origin with a depth of 160m. Its opaque green waters give it the name “sacred and mysterious lake.” For some, it’s the “Romeo and Juliet lake” of Madagascar. For others, whenever a major event is about to occur, the lake turns red. According to some, it is strictly forbidden to swim if you have eaten pork. As in many places in Madagascar, there are customs and traditions specific to each ethnicity and region.

Picnic lunch by the lake. A “thermal Spa” afternoon.

A nice rickshaw ride to finish the day.

  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 4: ANTSIRABE/AMBOSITRA/FIANARANTSOA 93Km/2 hours:

Wake up at 7 AM, breakfast at the hotel, then departure for Ambositra; arrival at 10 AM. We visit the workshop that produces wild silk weaving, made from cocoons of wild caterpillars. Then, we visit the marquetry factory and the wood sculpture workshops. It’s worth mentioning that this region excels in craftsmanship, giving it an artistic vibe, and they will introduce you to the art of sculpture! We will also meet, for those interested in gemstones, stone carvings by the Zafimaniry ethnic group, who are highly skilled in the art of sculpture.

Lunch, then departure at 2 PM for Fianarantsoa.

Departure at 2 PM, arrival at 4 PM in Fianarantsoa. During the journey, we will admire the beautiful landscapes of terraced rice fields and mountains. Fianarantsoa, the city of highlands, with its traditional houses, churches, and cultivated lands, is known for its education and instruction, hence its name “the city of learning.” In Fianarantsoa, there is also a wine culture, and you can taste wines from its vineyards (Isandra and Famoriana) like Lazan’i Betsileo, ‘Château Verger,’ and ‘Couteaux d’Ambalavao.’ You can also visit the cellars and taste the wines.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 5: FIANARANTSOA / SAHAMBAVY 23km/ 45min:                                                                               

Tuesday and Saturday

Wake up at 7 am, breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the city of Fianarantsoa.

The city is divided into three parts: The lower town is a lively, popular neighborhood. The middle town is much more modern with its many administrative buildings. The upper town is a vestige of the past dating back to the 19th century. You cannot miss the religious buildings such as the Vatican of Fianarantsoa, the “famous cathedral,” or the city’s grand mosque. Visit to the workshop of photographer Pierrot Men.

Lunch followed by departure for Sahambavy, arrival at 2 pm. Visit to the tea plantation, the only one in Madagascar. 20% of the production is enough to cover the domestic market, while the rest is for export and is of very high quality. Tasting on-site for tea lovers. Return to the hotel for dinner and rest.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 6: SAHAMBAVY / MANAKARA 08 to 12 hours by TRAIN:

(2 hours of navigation)

Sahambavy / Manakara by train
Please note that it only operates twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, starting at 7:00 AM. The approximate time for the 163 km journey is 8 to 12 hours.
Discover the villages and the warmth of their inhabitants throughout this long trip.
* However, we offer an option for this journey due to its duration. We can propose you to do only the Fianarantsoa / Sahambavy section.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 7: MANAKARA/MANANJARY 164Km/03h:                                                             

Wake up at 7 AM, breakfast.
City tour: This picturesque town, known for its natural landscapes, exceptional biodiversity, and historical and cultural heritage, will fascinate you. The beaches, lined with coconut trees, are beautiful but not suitable for swimming due to strong currents and sharks. The population comes from the Antehimoro or Antimorôna ethnic group (morona meaning riverbank). Hiking is one of the main activities, with several trails to explore on foot, by bike, or in a local pirogue (which allows you to discover local cultures, architecture, landscapes, fruit trees like jackfruit, mango, and banana trees, as well as spice trees like cinnamon, coffee, and the traveller’s tree (ravinala) that grow abundantly along roads and trails). The FCE, built in 1936, is the Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway line, 158 km long. The port, built in 1936, greatly contributes to the city’s development.
This day will be dedicated to visiting the city and its market. We’ll visit the Antehimoro paper craft factories.
Take a walk or bike ride to explore the Betsileo villages.
Lunch, then departure at 1 PM for Mananjary… arrival at 4 PM.     

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 8: MANANJARY/AMBOHITSARA:                                                          

Mananjary / Ambohitsara 60km This excursion will be done by motorized pirogue to discover the Pangalanes Canal and the surrounding villages. The crossing duration is 3 hours. Wake up at 6 a.m., breakfast at 7 a.m., and departure to the village of Ambohitsara, arriving at 10 a.m. Visit the village and the opportunity to discover the “White Elephant,” a stone statue brought from Mecca in the 12th century and considered sacred by the Antambahoaka ethnic group. Picnic lunch facing the ocean. Along the canal, there are villages inhabited by people with big smiles and kindness, waving us in welcome. Along the canal, we will encounter pirogues filled with goods, agricultural products, and fruits.

Around 1 p.m., we will begin the return journey to the hotel, arriving at 4 p.m. Refreshment and rest at the hotel, followed by dinner. One of the unique features of the city of Mananjary is the traditional circumcision ceremony of the Antambahoaka. This small ethnic group organizes a grand collective celebration every 7 years to mark the “Sambatra,” preparing the initiation of young boys toward adolescence and adulthood. Sambatra means joy or happiness, and it lasts nearly a month. Mananjary is a small coastal town surrounded by dense tropical vegetation, a prime destination for those seeking a change of scenery and authentic cultural discoveries. It is known for its cultural monuments, including the Vatolambo, a statue dating back to the 12th century.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 9: MANANJARY/RANOMAFANA 138Km/02h30

Mananjary / Ranomafana (2h 30 minutes / 138km) Wake up at 5 AM, breakfast. Departure at 6 AM for Ranomafana, arrival at 8:30 AM. A national park classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its dense, humid forest at low altitude (600-800m), dense humid forest at medium altitude (800-1400m), bamboo forest, and swamp where plant and animal species such as pandanus, Varecia variegata, crayfish, and Limogale mergulus can be found. The visit will last between 2 to 4 hours. The park spans 41,000 hectares and is a protected area, with a large part recognized as primary forest. You’ll need a good pair of shoes, rain gear, water, and a camera. We’ll encounter lemurs, animals, birds, plants, and a very beautiful waterfall. Return to Ranomafana.

Lunch at the park facing the majestic waterfall, then end of the visit. Depart for the pool or baths in Ranomafana. After this relaxing moment, we return to our hotel for dinner and a well-deserved rest..

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 10: RANOMAFANA/AMBALAVAO 118Km/2h40:

 Breakfast Departure at 7 am for Ambalavao.

We will pass through vineyards, and the nature is truly generous. We will meet some groups of ring-tailed lemurs and chameleons in the Anja Reserve. The town of Ambalavao is inhabited by the Betsileo ethnic group, and it was here that they fought against the Bara in the 18th century and the Merina in the 19th century to protect their land and independence, as evidenced by the Ifandana rock, a place where those who preferred death to domination were thrown..

In this ancient city, one can admire the architecture of its red brick, multi-story houses. Every Wednesday and Thursday morning, there is a zebu market.

The Anja Reserve is managed by a group of 6 villages, making it a form of eco-tourism.

We will visit several craft workshops, discovering the strong and useful bond between man and material (his environment),

We will have lunch in the city and take our time to wander through the streets of this picturesque town.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DAY 11: AMBALAVAO/RANOHIRA 224Km/3h30:

Ambalavo/Ranohira (3h15 minutes of travel for 224km) Wake up at 6 am, breakfast at the hotel. Departure at 7 am for Ranohira, arrival at 10 am. We discover the local population dominated by the Bara, a people specialized in cattle breeding, especially zebu. There are even rodeos where young people compete against bulls in a makeshift arena… Another traditional discipline is the hand-to-hand wrestling known as “Ringa.” The Isalo National Park has created many jobs for young people, such as licensed, qualified, and multilingual guides.

We visit the Isalo Massif National Park, an exceptional site offering a variety of majestic landscapes, deep and narrow canyons. It is clear that erosion is the master sculptor of this massif.

It is in these places that one feels a sense of protection and tranquility. In this park, we will discover a natural pool, very clear and fresh water, known as the Blue Pool. We can see leaf chameleons, tiny reptiles with an incredible camouflage skill.

We will have lunch in the park, then continue our visit until the afternoon, where we return to our hotel for a well-deserved rest, waiting for new surprises on our fabulous journey.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 12: RANOHIRA/TULEAR/IFATY:

D12 Ranohira/Tulear (3 hours and 30 minutes for 240 km). Wake up at 6 a.m. and breakfast. Departure at 7 a.m. for Tulear. Arrival at 10:30 a.m. City tour and market visit. We will have lunch in the city before heading to Ifaty.

Throughout this journey, we are captivated by the contrast of nature on this red island, which continues to reveal its secrets. How can one move from a humid region like Ranomafana to Tulear, an arid and desert-like area, in just a few hundred kilometers? This is the mystery we discover together!!

During our trip, we see desert landscapes, with poor vegetation mainly made up of thorny plants. We will pass through sapphire villages, the most famous being Ilakaka. We glimpse the first baobabs. We will cross paths with the Mahafaly people, an ethnic group living on a limestone plateau in the southwest of Madagascar. It is a desert region where the vegetation consists of various succulent plants, and they were known as formidable warriors. “Mahafaly” can mean “taboo” or “bringer of happiness.”

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 13: IFATY:    

Breakfast.

Relaxing day.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 14: IFATY / TULEAR / ANTANANARIVO:

After breakfast, transfer to Tuléar airport and flight to Antananarivo.

Arrival in Antananarivo, welcome at the airport, and transfer to the hotel.

Depending on the arrival time, you may visit the market at the pier for souvenir shopping.

Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 15: ANTANANARIVO / PARIS:

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport according to the flight time.

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