Discover the heart of the Indian Ocean with our trips to Madagascar

Madagascar is a land of lemurs, tsingys, baobabs, paradise beaches and smiles.

Separated from Africa by a geological whim more than 150 million years ago, the world’s fourth largest island has remained untouched since time immemorial and is considered one of the last preserved ecosystems on the planet.

A crossroads of ethnicities and cultures with different origins, Madagascar stands proud in the middle of the Indian Ocean and still hides countless unknown treasures.

The time has come to dare to discover them: lush tropical rainforests, endemic fauna, baobabs, mountains, deserts, savannas, karst formations that emerged from the Jurassic period, thousands of kilometers of virgin beaches, animist ethnic groups from distant Indonesia, semi-nomadic pastoralist villages from neighboring Africa, and navigators of Arab and Swahili origin.

All this and much more makes up Madagascar, a warm, unchanging, mixed-race country, far removed from mass tourism, where authentic sensations easily combine with everyday surprises.

Immerse yourself in the untamed nature of Madagascar

Madagascar is home to 5% of all the world’s fauna and flora species.

Over the past decade, scientists have discovered 615 new species in Madagascar. The island boasts immense natural wealth; 80% of the species that inhabit it are unique in the world. This is why it is one of the 17 megadiverse countries on the planet.

Its isolation has preserved it from mass tourism, making it an exclusive destination that offers a perfect communion between lush nature, ethnicities of diverse origins and paradisiacal beaches.

All ecosystems coexist in harmony in Madagascar :

• 113 species of lemurs (100% endemic)
• 341 species of amphibians (99% endemic)
• 420 species of reptiles (92% endemic)
• 294 species of birds (61% endemic).

Eighty-three percent of Madagascar’s flora is endemic, and it is home to one of the most incredible trees on the planet: the baobab. Of the eight species that exist worldwide, seven are found in Madagascar, and six of those are endemic.

Everything about traveling to Madagascar:

Culture, Adventure and Relaxation

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. Discovering it isn’t something you can do in one trip, or even two; you need several visits to uncover the secrets of this island continent. Here are some of its best-kept secrets:

• SIts isolation has preserved it from mass tourism, making it an exclusive destination.
• It offers a perfect communion between lush nature, ethnicities of diverse origins and paradisiacal beaches.
• Si el factor humano determina tu viaje, aquí vivirás una inmersión cultural brutal gracias a las 18 tribus que habitan su tierra.
• If the human factor determines your trip, here you will experience a brutal cultural immersion thanks to the 18 tribes that inhabit its land.
• It invites you to live experiences that “leave a mark” such as observing humpback whales, hearing the awe-inspiring cry of the Indri at dawn, completing the via ferrata in the Tsingys of Bemaraha National Park, exploring the deep canyons of the Makay massif, navigating the waters of the Tsiribihina River…
• Madagascar is renowned for the high quality and refinement of its cuisine. A legacy of French colonialism, Malagasy haute cuisine is considered one of the most highly regarded in the entire Indian Ocean.
• It boasts countless accolades: national parks declared World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, and Ramsar Sites. Ancient cultures declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, Royal Palaces… all this and much more is Madagascar. Madagascar never fails to impress.

Places you can’t miss in Madagascar

Explore the canyons of Isalo National Park, traverse the dizzying via ferrata in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, hear the cry of the Indri in the jungles of Andasibe, be thrilled on the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset, sail the emerald waters of the sea in a traditional schooner, discover the enormous biodiversity of Ranomafana National Park, snorkel in the Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve… These are just some of the places you can find on our trips to Madagascar.

Experience the Culture and Traditions of Madagascar

Now more than ever, the human factor shapes our journey. A melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, the island of Madagascar allows us to encounter more than 18 different ethnic groups with diverse racial origins. Peoples of Indo-Malaysian origin, Bantu ethnicities from Africa, Swahili navigators…

Although all our trips to Madagascar have a strong ethnic component, most of our routes will bring you closer to what truly matters: having unique and endearing encounters that will remain forever in our memory.

In Madagascar, ancestral ceremonies such as the famous Famadihana are still practiced, where the dead return to life… an animistic ceremony that represents the communion between life and death.

The “Return of the Dead” or Famadihana ceremony is one of the most original and important in Madagascar, although there are also the Sambatra or collective circumcision, the Fitampoha, the Alahamady Be, the Tsanga-Tsaigny…

Plan your Madagascar adventure with Indigo Be

Any trip to Madagascar should be planned as far in advance as possible, given the island’s limited infrastructure and the growing number of international travelers interested in visiting it. You should also dedicate as much time as possible to your trip; we recommend a minimum of 15 days and a reasonable budget if you want to travel with a minimum level of comfort and enjoy the island’s most attractive destinations. Generally speaking, the best time to travel to Madagascar is from April to November, although if you’re interested in exploring the Tsingys de Bemaraha, the area is only accessible from June to October. If you have any questions, we can arrange a video call to answer them. Keep in mind that we have nearly 20 years of experience living on the island and sharing our beloved island continent with travelers eager for unique experiences.