TREK THE RED ISLAND

Arrival at the capital's airport, visa formalities, reception by IndigoBe's Spanish-speaking staff guide and private transfer to the hotel. Brief briefing of the next stage and delivery of information material.

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  • AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.
   

Breakfast and departure to Antsirabe. We will drive along the famous RN7 road through a landscape of terraced rice fields and ochre-colored houses typical of the highlands. Brief stop in the small village of Ambatolampy, known locally for the curious handmade manufacture of aluminum pots, destined for almost all Malagasy households. Arrival Antsirabe and free lunch. Tour in Pousse-Pousse (similar to Indian rickshaws) to tour the historic center of this city from another time. Visit the Atsena Kely (small market), the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de la Salette, the train station, as well as the countless buildings of the French colonial era.

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  • COULEUR CAFÉ 2*SUP
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  • Breakfast

Breakfast at dawn and transfer by vehicle to the traditional village of Ibity (01h30). Beginning of the ascent trekking that will take us about 3 hours of walking to the top of this mountain, at 2,345 meters high from where we will have a spectacular 360º view. Along the way we will find the "Uapaca bojeri" (tapias), a tree endemic to Madagascar that besides producing an edible fruit, houses silkworms with which the "lamba mena", burial shrouds, are made. Descent through the granite hills, parallel to waterfalls and watercourses for about 2 hours of walking. Picnic lunch. Continuation of the descent during 01h30 to the valley of Manandona where we will be able to take a bath in its natural pools. Walking tour of this agricultural village located in the Vakinankaratra region, one of the most fertile in the country. Continuation to Ambositra.

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  • L'ARTISAN D'AMBOSITRA
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic

Breakfast and departure by 4x4 to Antoetra, the first Zafimaniry village and the only one accessible by vehicle. Start of trekking to visit several Zafimaniry villages. This animist ethnic group lives isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of an unusual landscape, only accessible on foot, and has been declared Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Beginning of the trekking to reach the animist village of Tetezandrotra, where we will visit the village and skilled sculptors will explain the ethnic motifs carved in different areas of the houses. Picnic and continuation to the village of Faliarivo on superb cliffs. In this stage we trek for about 6 hours through valleys and hills, with continuous light ascents and steep descents.   "One of the ethnic jewels of Madagascar, the Zafimaniry country was declared an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2008 for its mastery of the art of marquetry." "The Zafimaniry are the last ethnic group to be the repository of an original woodworking culture. They settled in the 18th century in this remote mountainous region of southeastern Madagascar, fleeing 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 range of techniques and know-how around woodworking. This artisan tradition is testimony to the primordial function of this material in all aspects of life and death". Source ©Indigo Be Magazine.

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  • ZAFIMANIRY HOUSES
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic
  • Dinner

Breakfast and continuation of the trekking in which we will observe at the bottom of a valley, the village of Kidodo, famous for a dark history of legends of sorcerers and black magic. After picnic lunch, arrival at the village of Antoetra, capital of the ethnic group and from where we will transfer by vehicle to the rural village of Ambalandingana or to the town of Ambositra. On this day our trekking will last approximately 5 hours and will also take place in mountainous terrain, hills, valleys, etc.

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  • L'ARTISAN D'AMBOSITRA
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic

Breakfast and early departure to the town of Ambalavao at the gates of the great Malagasy south. Wine-growing area and famous for recovering in 1936 the handmade production of paper antemoro. On the way we will stop in Fianarantsoa, the second most important city in the country where we will visit the famous "old city" and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the "Haute Ville". Lunch and continuation to the Anja Reserve where we will hike for about an hour and a half in search of the famous maki catta, as well as chameleons and betsileo-Sur tombs. After the visit, installation at the hotel.

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  • BETSILEO COUNTRY LODGE 3*.
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  • Breakfast

Breakfast at dawn and transfer by 4x4 to the northern entrance of Andringitra National Park. This trek is a must for mountain climbing lovers. Arrival at Namoly village, and preparation of the expedition: porters, cooks, materials, logistics, etc. Beginning of our trekking. Picnic lunch en route next to the first natural pool where we can take a swim (austral summer). We will be able to observe two waterfalls with a legend that is still respected today, called Riandahy and Riambavy. Masculinity and femininity. Legend has it that one of the royal couple could not conceive until they took a bath in the two waterfalls following the recommendation of an "omviasy" soothsayer. Since then, couples from all over the region have been coming in search of the longed-for offspring.   Beginning of the light ascent to the base camp of Imarivolanitra (Pic Boby). In this stage we will walk a total of about 10 kilometers (about 4 hours of walking) through the plateau of the "aliens", until the first camp in Andriampotsy, (2050m) where we will arrive in the early afternoon and we can also take a bath in its natural pool. Camping.

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  • CAMPING
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic
  • Dinner

Breakfast and departure before dawn to start the ascent of the famous Imarivolanitra peak or Pic Boby (2,658 meters). We will walk (15 km) through one of the most spectacular landscapes of the Andringitra National Park, among forests full of endemic plants and fauna (lemurs, birds, reptiles and amphibians). Continuation to the top of the peak (the second highest on the island after Maromokotra and the highest that can be reached on foot), which we will reach at dawn and from the top of which we will get the best views of all the Malagasy Highlands, and even on a clear day, you could see the sea line in the Indian Ocean. We will begin the slight descent on the same face we ascended and have a picnic lunch en route. In the afternoon, after crossing savannahs and valleys, we will descend through a pleasant lunar landscape to the second camp in the great valley of Iataranomby, where we can also take a good swim in the natural pools.

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  • CAMPING
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic
  • Dinner

Breakfast and departure at dawn to continue the descent (14 km) to the Tsaranoro Valley, along the west face of Andringitra enjoying one of the most beautiful landscapes of the mountains of the massif, as the famous Pic Dondy, between bucolic valleys in the so-called "route of Mars". Immense rock formations covered with vegetation, granite cliffs, deep valleys, palm forests, lunar landscapes, natural pools and impressive waterfalls weave one of the most emblematic landscapes of the red island.   Arrival at noon in the southern Betsileo village of Morarano where our 4x4 will pick us up to take us to the Isalo National Park, a mountainous massif of Jurassic stoneware that occupies an area of 81 540 hectares.   We will cross the legendary “Gate of the South,” and the rice paddies and vineyards will give way to the savannah. The semi-desert Horombe plateau will lead us to the gates of the Isalo National Park.

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  • SATRANA LODGE 3*.
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic

Breakfast and departure by 4x4 through the north face of the Isalo massif. We will cross the Mangoky River to the village of Beroroha, one of the last villages of Isalo. Short stop to stretch our legs and continue this long stage to Beronono, our starting point of the expedition and meeting point with our porters. Camping by the Makay River.

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  • CAMPING
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  • Breakfast
  • Picnic
  • Dinner