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.
Itinerario
DAY 1
ARRIVAL ANTANANARIVO
Arrival at the capital’s airport, visa procedures, reception by the IndigoBe 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).
4WD vehicle with driver and fuel included (3 passengers per vehicle)
Airport-hotel-airport transfers mentioned in the program
English speaking guide except for the beach and Morondava extensions.
Local guide in the Zafimaniry villages
Canoes and paddlers in navigation in the Pangalanes Channel
AD (Bed and breakfast)
Half board at Isalo
Local guides (mandatory) in parks and Reserves
Entrance to National Parks and Reserves
Taxes (Tourist, Stay and Municipal)
All visits and excursions mentioned as INCLUDED in the program
Map of Madagascar
Welcome gift
Reception in Spanish by an INDIGO BE guide at the airport
24/7 Spanish-speaking customer service by phone at destination
On-site assistance in case of emergency in Spanish 24/7 in Antananarivo
Reconfirmation of domestic and return flights
24-hour Spanish-language emergency service for family members
Information dossier in Spanish
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
International or domestic airline tickets
Lunches and dinners not specified in the program
Drinks
Visa
Personal expenses
Medical insurance
Tips
The order of visits and excursions can be modified depending on local imperatives (air schedules, condition of tracks or roads, for example). If some visits and/or excursions could not be carried out for any reason beyond our control, we will try to replace them whenever possible.
IMPORTANT HOTEL INFORMATION
On our adventure routes and expeditions we offer variety in accommodation, in some locations it may be a 4* hotel, in others 3*, in others without stars and even a day of camping. Instead of restricting our itineraries to areas that offer standard accommodation, we prefer to stay in more basic and spartan infrastructures to enjoy an exceptional location. The accommodations we offer on our expeditions are not selected because they have Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a swimming pool or a television in the rooms; for our philosophy on adventure trips, that is not the most important thing. Our goal is to reach the most authentic, pristine and spectacular places. Enjoy these experiences, they are part of the trip.
CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR TRIPS
Our trips are designed from knowledge, we have been residents on the island for more than 18 years (2006-2024) and our team makes more than 17 annual surveys throughout the geography of the island, to verify on the ground the state of parks, tracks, hotels, novelties and discover new treasures that still, to this day, remain hidden in our island-continent and that for the moment we try to preserve until there is an environmental protection policy. Our update is practically daily.
Any circuit in Madagascar leaves room for the unexpected, hence we ask for your flexibility when facing the trip, as travelers and not as conventional tourists.
To participate in our trips, a minimum physical shape is necessary, otherwise you will not enjoy the parks, landscapes, or some of the animist villages furthest from the conventional routes.
Our adventure trips are not for all audiences, they are participatory trips, in which you will not be made to row or wash your cutlery, for this we employ the local population, however, we want your passage through the island to cause the least possible impact, neither environmental nor social, that is where we ask for your collaboration.
The hotels are varied, from some 5 * to simple lodges, depending on the hotel infrastructure. Adventure is not at odds with comfort, we will never camp (free camping is prohibited in Madagascar, it is only possible in “authorized” places although they do not have any infrastructure similar to a campsite, neither toilets nor showers) if right next door we have a minimally correct accommodation and from which our passage can benefit the local population. We always try to include the best available hotels, but on some occasions we are forced to use simple lodges because the location does not have more hotel infrastructure or because it is in an exceptional place that is well worth the stay.
Madagascar does not have a tourist infrastructure like neighboring countries in their safaris, but that gives it the charm of a virgin and uncrowded country (150,000 tourists a year). We ask our travelers for an open mind and great doses of patience. That way they will enjoy their trip much more.
puntos de venta a través de nuestras agencias colaboradoras por el mundo
+19 años de experiencia
como receptivo en Madagascar y el Océano Índico
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inspiracional para soñar desde tu sofá
Guías y Fixers
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18/05/2025
Un viaje fenomenal
Unas notas para agradeceros el esfuerzo y la paciencia. Un viaje fenomenal y que ya me está pidiendo volver. Encantado con el destino, la selección de actividades y la organización. Grupo Fotográfico Nomad Photo Expeditions.
Harry Fisch ESSENCES OF THE SOUTH
Un viaje extraordinario
Lo recomiendo totalmente, trato directo, claro y familiar Sylvia, Jaume y Sergi son encantadores.
Grupos reducidos y bien organizados.
Santa nuestro guía un crack.
Y Madagascar con sus lémures, sus baobabs, sus gentes y sus paisajes me robaron el corazón, no sé con cual quedarme.
Un sueño hecho realidad!!
Estamos con muchas ganas de volver y conocer más rincones de la isla. Y sin duda de la mano de Indigo Be!!!
Montserrat Ros DISCOVER MADAGASCAR
Organización impecable
Todo excelente! Muy recomendable, tanto el pais, lugar de contrastes en sus paisajes y su gente, y agencia con una organización impecable! Gracias a Sylvia, Jaume por la organización y como no a Luca y Mami por guiarnos por todo el pais!
Glòria Ramon ESSENCES OF THE SOUTH
Gente profesional que ama su trabajo
Misaotra a todo el equipo, tras 25 años viajando y haber recorrido gran parte de África os podéis sentir alagados porque es la primera vez que nos encontramos con gente tan profesional que ama su trabajo y pone tanta pasión en mostrar y compartir su país. Gracias Sylvia por tu atención y por estar ahí cuando hace falta. Por supuesto nos veremos en vuestra próxima aventura reunionesa.
Clara Montes REMOTE RIVER EXPEDITION
Un equipo sumamente preparado
Una organización impecable, con unos valores que comparto, un equipo muy profesional, sumamente preparado y dedicado al viajero. Respetan el país, a su gente y a la naturaleza, y hacen que amemos Madagascar a través de su acompañamiento.
Antonio Maria Following the Green Heart
Expedición Baobab, dura pero intensa
De regreso a casa e intentando asimilar todo lo aprendido. Gracias Silvia por acompañarnos en este fantástico viaje, ha sido un privilegio tenerte como guía, el grupo ya viste que congeniamos desde el primer día, y la ruta una pasada. Aconsejamos a todos los viajeros la Expedición Baobab dura pero intensa.
Sara BAOBAB EXPEDITION
Magnífico viaje por Madagascar
Excelentes profesionales que nos ayudaron a realizar un magnífico viaje por Madagascar. Muchas gracias, Sylvia, Jaume, Sergi, ¡Santa! (gran guía local) y todo el staff. Seguramente volveremos.
Norberto Rosseti ESSENCES OF THE SOUTH
Se nota el cariño que Indigo Be tiene por el país
Lupe Bote BAOBAB EXPEDITION
Una experiencia auténtica
Elegí el itinerario ” Expedición Baobab” con Indigo Be y ha sido una auténtica e inolvidable experiencia… Indigo Be es una agencia de jóvenes profesionales que aman y conocen a fondo Madagascar y transmiten su pasión y entusiasmo por el país a los viajeros.
Nuestro guía, Jaume, nos ha facilitado, en todo momento, con su eficiencia y amabilidad, la buena marcha del día a día.
Gracias a todo el equipo de profesionales de Indigo Be y ENHORABONAAAAAAA Jaume “per la feina ben feta”. Una abraçada !!!!!
Elisabeth Segui BAOBAB EXPEDITION
Isla única, sorprendente e inolvidable
Madagascar; suena a remoto, a película de dibujos y a animales imposibles. Es eso, y también un país-isla poco turístico que rezuma savia africana edulcorada con toques asiáticos.
Descender un río entre cañones de selva y dormir en sus playas protegidas de los cocodrilos; adentrarse en la selva y escuchar los sonidos de sus animales más característicos, los lémures; bucear entre peces tropicales con el sonido de fondo de las ballenas jorobadas; pasear al atardecer por una avenida plagada de baobabs gigantes; descubrir unas impresionantes formaciones rocosas con forma de miles de agujas; degustar su marisco aderezado con tintes de influencia francesa o, simplemente, pasear por una playa esperando la llegada de los pescadores. Todo eso es Madagascar.
Madagascar promete desconexión, aventura y exotismo…y con Indigo Be lo consigues!
Gracias por ser magníficos anfitriones de esa isla única, sorprendente e inolvidable.
Antonia Rubio BAOBAB EXPEDITION
Experiencias que me acompañarán de por vida
Entre junglas sombrías, profundos cañones de roca y páramos de arcilla roja, encontré miradas y experiencias que me acompañarán de por vida. Y que mejor que de la mano de expertos locales como Indigo Be.
Raúl 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
Cocreamos junto a ti, una ruta 100% a medida según tus preferencias: alojamientos, vehículo, guía, visitas, actividades, encuentros…
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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