Our DISCOVER MADAGASCAR route is one of Indigo Be's most emblematic circuits. Discovering the Zafimaniry ethnic group and traveling by train through the lush jungle of the eastern corridor were two of the main objectives when showing the island to travelers.
Without forgetting the jungles of the Andasibe National Park, home to the island's largest primate, the famous Indri Indri, the southern route will take us to discover colonial cities such as the peaceful Antsirabe, the mountainous Ambositra or old historic villages such as the conservative Fianarantsoa, as well as to enjoy a cultural immersion in the most important agricultural region of the island: the vakinankaratra.
The Zafimaniry animist villages, only accessible on foot, will allow us to learn first-hand about this ancestral culture declared Oral Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. After anthropology will come sociology, and we will take the pulse of the island by traveling on the historic Jungle Train, the only passenger railroad that runs along the eastern corridor to the Indian Ocean. We will navigate the calm waters of the Pangalanes Channel in a traditional Antemoro canoe and then continue our journey to the rainforests of Ranomafana National Park.
We will leave the Highlands to enter the great south, where the savannah landscapes will combine with the foothills of the Isalo National Park massif, one of the most unexpected places on our route to reach the capital of the south.
Itinerary
DAY 1
ARRIVAL ANTANANARIVO
Arrival at the capital's airport, visa formalities, reception by IndigoBe's Spanish-speaking guide, transfer to the hotel and brief briefing of the route.
AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.
DAY 2
ANTANANARIVO / ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and departure to Andasibe National Park. Lunch in the city of Moramanga and visit of its lively market. Continuation to Andasibe National Park. Check-in at the lodge.
RELAIS DE MANTADIA 3*.
Breakfast
DAY 3
ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and departure to Analamazaotra National Park (Andasibe National Park) where we will make a walking tour of ± 4 hours to observe the largest lemur of the island, the famous Indri-Indri. After lunch, walk through the small village of Andasibe where we can meet the Bezanozano ethnic group and return to the lodge. At the scheduled time, nocturnal visit to the VOI Private Reserve, where we will appreciate various species of endemic and nocturnal fauna.
RELAIS DE MANTADIA 3*.
Breakfast
DAY 4
ANDASIBE / BEHENJY / ANTSIRABE NATIONAL PARK
Very early breakfast and continuation to the Malagasy "Highlands" between a landscape of terraced rice paddies, along the famous RN7 road. Free lunch in the city of Foie-gras, Behenjy, and continuation to Ambatolampy, to see the curious artisanal manufacture of aluminum pots. In the afternoon, arrival in the colonial city of Antsirabe and installation at the hotel.
ROYAL PALACE 3*.
Breakfast
DAY 5
ANTSIRABE / MANANDONA / ANTSIRABE
Breakfast and departure to the rural village of Manandona in the agricultural region of Vakinankaratra. We will walk through a landscape of rice fields typical of the "Highlands" to the waterfall at the foot of Mount Ibity where we will have the opportunity to take a dip in the natural pool (about an hour on flat terrain) and make a cultural immersion in the daily life of the villagers. Continuation to Antsirabe by car, free lunch after which we will take a pousse-pouse tour of the Avenue of Independence, the mythical hôtel des Thermes, the cathedral and the train station to finish at the Antsena kely (small market).
ROYAL PALACE 3*.
Breakfast
DAY 6
ANTSIRABE / AMBOSITRA
Breakfast and departure to the town of Ambositra, famous for being the cradle of Malagasy handicrafts. Located at an altitude of 1350 meters in the highlands, it is inhabited by the Betsileo ethnic group. We can visit various marquetry and silk workshops, or stroll through its streets and mingle with its colorful characters. If we travel between the months of July and September we can, if of course the family invites us, participate in a "Famadihana" (return of the dead). Check-in at the hotel.
GRAND HOTEL AMBOSITRA
Breakfast
DAY 7
AMBOSITRA / ZAFIMANIRY VILLAGES / AMBOSITRA
Breakfast and transfer to the village of Antoetra. From here we start the trekking of about 4/5 hours that will take us to walk about 8 kilometers (round trip) to visit the animist village of Ifasina. The entire Zafimaniry Country is made up of 52 animist villages and has been declared an Oral World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Zafimaniry are the last ethnic group to have an original woodworking culture. They settled in the 18th century in this remote mountainous region of southeastern Madagascar to escape the deforestation that was ravaging a large part of the country at the time. The Zafimaniry, who have been woodworkers, carpenters and craftsmen for generations, have created a whole set of techniques and knowledge around woodworking. This tradition of craftsmanship is testimony to the primordial function of this material in all aspects of life and death". In the afternoon we will visit Antoetra and continue by vehicle to our hotel in Ambositra.
GRAND HOTEL AMBOSITRA
Breakfast
DAY 8
AMBOSITRA / FIANARANTSOA / SAHAMBAVY
Breakfast and departure to the rural village of Sahambavy known for having the only tea plantations on the island. On the way we will stop in Fianarantsoa, where we will visit the famous "old city" and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the "Haute Ville". Arrival in Sahambavy, visit of the tea plantation and installation in our hotel located on the lake of the same name and in front of the train station.
LAC HOTEL 3*
Breakfast
DAY 9
SAHAMBAVY / JUNGLE TRAIN / MANAKARA
Breakfast and departure on the Jungle Train to descend from the Highlands to the Indian Ocean. It is the last remaining regular passenger train on the island and dates back to the French colonial era. We will travel through the jungles of the eastern corridor and arrive in the afternoon at Manakara.
The jungle train is Madagascar's last railroad and links the highlands with the waters of the Indian Ocean, serving as transport for people and/or goods for the entire region. We will stop at all stations and in many of them we will meet the inhabitants of this jungle who live isolated from everything, except for the passage of the train.
We will spend between 6 and 7 hours (±) with the new train recently inaugurated (July 2023), to cover the 160 km that separate Sahambavy from Manakara.
H1 MANAKARA
Breakfast
DAY 10
MANAKARA / PANGALANES CANAL / MANAKARA
Breakfast and departure in traditional canoes of the antemoro ethnic group to navigate the Pangalanes Canal. We will disembark in one of the fishing villages of this peculiar ethnic group. Lunch included based on fish and seafood. The Pangalanes Canal is a natural canal that the French colonists made navigable with a total distance of 665 km and economically vertebrates the entire central-eastern coast of Madagascar. During the navigation we can observe ravinalas (the traveler's tree and emblem of Madagascar), as well as various species of birds.
Return in the afternoon to Manakara.
H1 MANAKARA
Breakfast
DAY 11
MANAKARA / RANOMAFANA
Early breakfast and departure to Ranomafana National Park, declared World Natural Heritage Site of the Atsinanana Rainforest in 2007 by UNESCO. Lunch in the village of Ranomafana ("hot waters") and walk of ± 4 hours in search of lemurs such as the precious Propithecus Edwarsii, the Eulemur Rubriventer or the Hapalemur aureus. Check-in at the hotel.
CENTREST HOTEL 3*
Breakfast
DAY 12
RANOMAFANA / AMBALAVAO / ANJA / ISALO
Breakfast and departure to the south of the island. We will stop in the village of Ambalavao where we will discover the traditional elaboration of antemoro paper and the Anja Reserve, where we will see lemurs of the maki catta species with ease. Lunch and continuation to Isalo National Park. In this stage, we finish our journey through the highlands and begin our descent through the Malagasy savannah, desert landscapes, and towns grown in the middle of nowhere. Arrival in the afternoon at Isalo National Park and installation at the hotel.
RELAIS DE LA REINE 3*
Breakfast
Dinner
DAY 13
ISALO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast and visit to Isalo National Park (easy-medium level). Visit the waterfall of the Nymphs, blue pool and black pool in the famous Namaza Canyon and the spectacular sunset from the "window of the Isalo". Return to the hotel.
RELAIS DE LA REINE 3*
Breakfast
Dinner
DAY 14
ISALO / IHOSY / TULEAR
Breakfast and drive south observing on the way the famous Mahafaly tombs - stone tombs with carved funerary stelae or with paintings of animals, couples, scenes of daily life... They are almost always covered with skulls and horns of zebu - and being able to photograph the first baobabs of southern Madagascar before Sakaraha. Short stop to visit the Tropic of Capricorn Monument. After lunch transfer to the Reniala Reserve and its baobab forest. A 1-hour walking tour to observe these endemic trees of the island. Continuation to Tulear or to the beach hotel of your choice (See Extensions).
END OF TRIP
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Vehículo 4×4 con conductor y carburante incluido (3 pasajeros por vehículo)
Traslados aeropuerto-hotel-aeropuerto mencionados en el programa
Guía de habla española excepto en las extensiones a playa o Morondava
Guía local en los poblados Zafimaniry
Canoas y remeros en la navegación en el Canal de Pangalanes
Régimen en AD (Alojamiento y desayuno)
Media pensión en Isalo
Guías locales (obligatorios) en parques y Reservas
Entrada a Parques Nacionales y Reservas
Tasas (Turísticas, de Estancia y Municipales)
Todas las visitas y excursiones mencionadas como INCLUIDAS en el programa
Mapa de Madagascar
Regalo de bienvenida
Recepción en español por un guía de INDIGO BE en el aeropuerto
Asistencia telefónica al cliente en español 24h 7/7 en destino
Asistencia presencial en caso de urgencia en español 24h 7/7 en Antananarivo
Reconfirmación de vuelos domésticos y de regreso
Servicio de urgencias en español 24h para familiares
Kit de Bienvenida digital
SERVICIOS NO INCLUIDOS
Billetes de avión internacionales ni doméstico
Las comidas y cenas no especificadas en el programa
Bebidas
Visado
Gastos personales
Seguro Médico
Propinas
El orden de las visitas y excursiones se pueden modificar en función de los imperativos locales (horarios aéreos, estado de las pistas o carreteras, por ejemplo). Si algunas visitas y/o excursiones no pudieran realizarse por cualquier causa ajena a nuestra voluntad, se intentarán substituir siempre que sea posible.
INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE HOTELES
En nuestras rutas de aventura y expediciones ofrecemos variedad en el alojamiento, en algunas localizaciones puede tratarse de un hotel 4*, en otras 3*, en otras sin estrellas e incluso algún día de acampada. En lugar de restringir nuestros itinerarios a zonas que ofrecen un alojamiento estándar, preferimos alojarnos en infraestructuras más básicas y espartanas para poder disfrutar de una ubicación excepcional. Los alojamientos que ofrecemos en nuestras expediciones no son seleccionados porque tengan wifi, aire acondicionado, piscina o televisor en las habitaciones, para nuestra filosofía en los viajes de aventura, eso no es lo más importante. Nuestro objetivo es llegar a los parajes más auténticos, vírgenes y espectaculares. Disfrutad de estas experiencias, forman parte del viaje.
CARACTERÍSTICAS DE NUESTROS VIAJES
Nuestros viajes son diseñados desde el conocimiento, somos residentes en la isla desde hace ya más de 20 años (2006-2026) y nuestro equipo realiza más de 17 prospecciones anuales a lo largo de toda la geografía de la isla, para verificar sobre el terreno el estado de parques, pistas, hoteles, novedades y descubrir nuevos tesoros que aún, a día de hoy, siguen escondidos en nuestra isla-continente y que por el momento intentamos preservar hasta que no se disponga de una política de protección medioambiental. Nuestra actualización es prácticamente diaria.
Cualquier circuito en Madagascar deja un espacio a lo inesperado, de ahí que solicitemos vuestra flexibilidad a la hora de afrontar el viaje, como viajeros y no como turistas convencionales.
Para participar en nuestros viajes, es necesaria una forma física mínima, de lo contrario no se disfrutará de los parques, ni paisajes, ni algunos de los poblados animistas más alejados de las rutas convencionales.
Nuestros viajes de aventura no son para todos los públicos, son viajes participativos, en los que no se os hará remar ni lavar vuestros cubiertos, para ello damos empleo a la población local, sin embargo, queremos que vuestro paso por la isla cause el mínimo impacto posible, ni medioambiental ni social, es ahí donde solicitamos vuestra colaboración.
Los hoteles son variados, desde algún 5* hasta sencillos lodges, dependiendo de la infraestructura hotelera. La aventura no está reñida con la comodidad, nunca acamparemos (la acampada libre está prohibida en Madagascar, sólo es posible en lugares “autorizados” aunque no disponen de ninguna infraestructura similar a un camping, ni lavabos, ni duchas) si justo al lado disponemos de un alojamiento mínimamente correcto y del que nuestro paso pueda beneficiarse la población local. Intentamos siempre incluir los mejores hoteles disponibles, pero en algunas ocasiones nos vemos obligados en utilizar sencillos lodges porque la localización no dispone de más infraestructura hotelera o bien porque se encuentra en un paraje excepcional que bien merece la estancia.
Madagascar no dispone de una infraestructura turística como los países vecinos en sus safaris, pero eso le da el encanto propio de un país virgen y poco masificado (150.000 turistas al año). Rogamos un espíritu abierto y grandes dosis de paciencia a nuestros viajeros. De esa forma disfrutarán mucho más de su viaje.
Just a few words to thank you for your efforts and patience. A phenomenal trip that already has me wanting to come back. Delighted by the destination, the selection of activities and the organization. Nomad Photo Expeditions.
Harry Fisch ESENCIAS DEL SUR
An extraordinary journey
I totally recommend it, direct, clear and familiar treatment Sylvia, Jaume and Sergi are charming.
Small, well-organized groups.
Santa is a great guide.
And Madagascar, with its lemurs, baobabs, people and landscapes, has stolen my heart, I don't know which one to choose.
A dream come true!
We can't wait to come back and discover other parts of the island. And certainly with Indigo Be!
Montserrat Ros DESCUBRE MADAGASCAR
Impeccable organization
Everything was excellent! Highly recommended, both the country, a place of contrasts in its landscapes and inhabitants, and the impeccably organized agency! Thanks to Sylvia and Jaume for their organization, and of course to Luca and Mami for guiding us around the country!
Glòria Ramon ESENCIAS DEL SUR
Professionals who love their work
Misaotra to the whole team, after 25 years of travel and having traversed a large part of Africa, you can feel flattered because it's the first time we've met such professional people who love their work and put so much passion into showing and sharing their country. Thank you Sylvia for your attention and availability. We look forward to seeing you on your next adventure.
Clara Montes EXPEDICIÓN REMOTE RIVER
A highly qualified team
An impeccable organization, with values that I share, a highly professional team, very well trained and dedicated to the traveler. They respect the country, its people and its nature, and make us love Madagascar through their guidance.
Antonio Maria Tras el Corazon Verde
Expedition Baobab, hard but intense
Back home, we're trying to assimilate everything we've learned. Thank you Silvia for joining us on this fantastic trip, it was a privilege to have you as our guide, the group already saw that we got on well from day one, and the itinerary was incredible. We recommend the Baobab expedition to all travelers, challenging but intense.
Sara EXPEDICIÓN BAOBAB
A magnificent journey through Madagascar
Excellent professionals who helped us have an excellent trip to Madagascar. Many thanks to Sylvia, Jaume, Sergi, Santa (great local guide) and the whole team. We'll definitely be back.
Norberto Rosseti ESENCIAS DEL SUR
Indigo Be's affection for the country is obvious.
Lupe Bote EXPEDICIÓN BAOBAB
An authentic experience
I chose the "Baobab Expedition" itinerary with Indigo Be and it was an unforgettable experience... Indigo Be is an agency of young professionals who love and know Madagascar and pass on their passion and enthusiasm for the country to travelers.
Our guide, Jaume, made the day run smoothly thanks to his efficiency and kindness at all times.
Thanks to all the professional team at Indigo Be and ENHORABONAAAAAAAAA Jaume "per la feina ben feta". A hug! !!!!
Elisabeth Segui EXPEDICIÓN BAOBAB
A unique, surprising and unforgettable island
Madagascar sounds a bit like an animated film and impossible animals. But it's true, and it's also an island-country that doesn't attract many tourists, oozing African sap softened by Asian touches.
Descend a river between jungle canyons and sleep on its crocodile-protected beaches; sink into the jungle and listen to the sounds of its most characteristic animals, the lemurs; dive among tropical fish with the sound of humpback whales in the background ; take a sunset stroll along an avenue lined with giant baobabs; discover impressive rock formations in the shape of thousands of needles; taste seafood seasoned with French-influenced flavors; or simply stroll along a beach waiting for the fishermen to arrive. All this is Madagascar.
Madagascar promises relaxation, adventure and exoticism... and Indigo Be delivers just that!
Thank you for being wonderful hosts on this unique, surprising and unforgettable island.
Antonia Rubio EXPEDICIÓN BAOBAB
Experiences that will remain engraved in my memory.
Between shady jungles, deep rocky canyons and red clay moors, I discovered sites and experiences that will stay with me for the rest of my life. And what better way to do so than with local experts like Indigo Be.
Raul Martin AVENTURA MADA & SEYCHELLES
Ready, set... GO!
Because every trip is different and every traveller is unique, you have the opportunity to co-create YOUR PERFECT TRIP with us. And you ask yourself, how?
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OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
A meeting via WhatsApp or Zoom with us to have a virtual tea or coffee and guide you on what we can offer you based on your travel requirements.
ROUTE DESIGN
We work with you to create a route that is 100% tailored to your preferences: accommodation, vehicle, guide, visits, activities, meetings...
SERVICES
We offer you the chance to enhance your trip with our little ‘pills’ that will make your experience unique and memorable.
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Tailor-made travel
Adventure
Ethnic
Wildlife
AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.
Breakfast
