NATIONAL ROAD N°7

Road trip in Madagascar

This trip “national road 7” allows to discover a variety of landscapes which justifies its fame. The asphalt road winds between the hills and valleys of the highlands from Antananarivo to Antsirabe, then Ambositra and Fianarantsoa, ​​capital of the Betsileo region, to finally reach the Mozambique Channel at Tulear. A dugout canoe trip and walk loop allows you to enjoy the panorama of the Betsiléo hills, and to meet the villagers by walking for a few hours. Discover Ranomafana National Park: an immersion in the rain-forest which allows the observation of lemurs in a natural environment. Then, head towards the south of the island, crossing completely different, mineral and chaotic landscapes of Isalo National Park, then the sapphire mines of Ilakaka, before reaching the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel. Along the way, three natural parks and reserves will have been visited, allowing you to meet lemurs and discover the beauty of the endemic flora of this biodiversity sanctuary.

DAY 1

Tana – Antsirabe

• Departure around 09:30. You leave Antananarivo for the south on the famous “national road 7” which winds between the rice fields and climbing the hills, which allows you to observe the landscape of the highlands. Free meal in Behenjy to discover the “malagasy” foie gras.
  Visit one of the artisanal foundry workshops (Ambatolampy) which make aluminum pots for all the housewives on the island.
  Continuation on the RN7 which crosses fertile plains surrounded by mountains, the route is very suitable for photo stops to Antsirabe, the spa town of the volcanic highlands.
• Hôtel in Antsirabe.
  Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 170 km – duration: +/- 3h30

DAY 2

Antsirabe – Ihasy- Ambositra- Antoetra

• In the morning, visit a tourmaline quarry then hike between the rice fields to the village of Ihasy.
  Visit to the public school and the health center, possible, appreciated and useful donations, then lunch at the Ihasy lodge.
  We then join Ambositra by the RN7 before continuing to the ecolodge located in the countryside to stop there.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals : Continental breakfast – dinner
• Transfer distance by road and track: 130 km – duration: +/- 4h30
  Walking: +/- 2h30

DAY 3

 Antoetra – Ambositra – Ranomafana

• In the morning, visit artisan workshops in Ambositra (marquetry) then drive to “Ranomafana” national park, with lunch stop at the Ambohimasoa belvedere.
  Lunch-show (Malagasy songs and dances) in front of the panorama, continuation of the road in the afternoon to join Ranomafana to stop there.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 160 km – duration: +/- 4h00
  Walk: +/- 1 hour

DAY 4

Ranomafana – Fianarantso

• Early in the morning, guided morning hike (3 hours) to observe the lemurs in the national park.
  Free lunch in the village and transfer to Fianarantsoa for a stopover after visiting the upper town and watching the sunset at the belvedere.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 70 km – duration: +/- 2 hours
  Walking: +/- 3h00

DAY 5

Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao

• Oxygenation day to soak up the Betsiléo landscape: paddle on the river Matsiatra in a dugout canoe, picnic on the bank, hike to cross the hamlets and meet the locals at work in the rice fields.
  You arrive at the Sahambavy tea plantation (visit possible on weekdays), then return to Fianar and transfer to Ambalavao (60 km, 2 hours).
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road and tracks: 130 km – duration: +/- 4h00
  canoe descent +/- 3h00
  Walking: +/- 2h00

DAY 6

Ambalavao – Ranohira

• Visit the “antaimoro” paper factory, then drive south across the Horombe plateau to reach the Isalo National Natural Park.
  On the way, guided tour of the Anja nature reserve (lemurs). Free lunch along the way. Stopover in Ranohira.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 200 km – duration: +/- 4h00
  Walking: +/- 1h30

DAY 7

Ranohira

• Guided tour of “Isalo” national park. Natural pools.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Free lunch to be provided in the form of a picnic.
• Transfer distance per track: 20 km – duration: +/- 1 hour
  Walking: +/- 3h30

DAY 8

Ranohira – Tuléar-Mangily

• (250 km, 4h00) with the visit of a sapphire mine in the village of Ilakaka, then the visit of the arboretum of Antsokay and lunch on the spot, Tulear transfer, in the afternoon and continuation to Ifaty 30 km away km to reach Mangily beach.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast
• Transfer distance by road: 250 km – duration: +/- 4h30
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 9

Mangily

• Day of rest and beach in Mangily. We recommend the “dugout and snorkelling” excursion offered by the hotel (equipment provided) to discover the aquarium of the protected marine reserve and the visit of the baobab forest “Reniala”.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast

DAY 10

• Airport transfer and assistance for check-in of the return flight to Tana (the flight is not included in our basic rate, but we can take care of it).
• Meals: Continental breakfast