TSINGY & BAOBABS

DAY 1

Antananarivo – Antsirabe

• 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. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
• 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 – Miandrivazo

• In the morning, visit Antsirabe.
  We will visit local craft workshops (artisanal confectionery, embroidery, sculpture of a zebu horn and manufacture of miniature cars in “salvage” of aluminum boxes). Free lunch in town, market district.
  In the afternoon, transfer to Miandrivazo, on the Tsiribihina river.
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 225 km – duration: +/- 4h30

DAY 3

Miandrivazo – Kirindy

• All morning, the asphalt road crosses splendid dry landscapes of thorny forest.
  We pass through many villages, each time allowing us to observe the local life and the customs of the natives.
  Then the track crosses the Baobab alley and stretches in the thorny forest until the stage. We join Kirindy via the Baobabs alley at sunset: a magical spectacle! The private park “Kirindy” is characteristic of the prickly-dry forest of the west of the island to observe the different species of diurnal lemurs: Sifaka, sifaka, gray bamboo lemur (Hapalémur griseus). Possibility in Kirindy of a night visit of the reserve to observe the Microcèbes and Chirogales lemurs which nest in the trees.
  We sometimes get the chance to see the “fossa”, a kind of “puma” endemic to Madagascar.
• Dinner and overnight at the park gite.
  Night in bungalows (“single” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road and track: 290 km – duration: +/- 6h00
  Walk: +/- 1 hour

DAY 4

Kirindy – Bekopaka

• (180 km, 5h00) on the track, 2 ferries to pass.
  By leaving early, we join the problematic ferry of Bekopaka to cross before the queue is too big.
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance per track: 180 km – duration: +/

DAY 5

Tsingy de Bemaraha

• Early departure in an all-terrain vehicle for the big Tsingy located about twenty kilometers from the village of Bekopaka.
  The pedestrian circuit: “Grand Tsingys” presents simple climbing passages secured by the park guides: a kind of “via-ferrata” on the needles! Picnic lunch on the itinerary. Return by 4 × 4 to Bekopaka.
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 40 km – duration: +/- 1h30
  Walking: +/- 4h00

DAY 6

Bekopaka – Morondava

• (210 km, 6 h00) on the track. Track for Belo on Tsiribihina. Lunch at “Mad’zébu”, the local institution. Passage of 2 bins.
  We reach Morondava in the middle of the afternoon to do some shopping in the capital of Menabe. The big point of this day is sure to catch the sunset at baobab alley.
  Unforgettable !
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
  Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 210 km – duration: +/- 5h30

DAY 7

Morondava – Belo sur mer

• In the morning, after having visited the town center and market of Morondava, transfer in 4 × 4 to Belo sur mer by a chaotic track which crosses the thorny forest before joining the saltworks (salans marshes) which must be crossed at low tide under penalty of getting bogged down. Free lunch in Belo. Visit to the Malagasy dhow yards which are inspired by the Breton ones (the Breton ones have left traces and children there).
• Dinner and overnight at the hotel in front of the Mozambique Channel.
  Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance per track: 70 km – duration: +/- 3h00

DAY 8

Belo sur mer – Manja

• (110 km, 5 h00) on the track.
  Start of a large 4 × 4 stage, the schedule of which depends on current conditions (heat, tide to cross the salt marshes dry, level of the rivers to be crossed).
  This is the most difficult step for the vehicle and for the driver.
• Overnight in wild camping under igloo tents (2 places) with mattress.
• Meals: Continental breakfast.
  Lunch in picnic formula.
  Barbecue dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 110 km – duration: +/- 5h00

DAY 9

Manja – Morombe

• Start of a large 4 × 4 stage, the schedule of which depends on the conditions of the moment (heat, sand, river level to cross) in landscapes that lend themselves to photos and stops to meet the villagers.
  Bevoy’s bac is unpredictable, sometimes fast and sometimes it is long overdue…
  Arriving at Morombe depends on all these conditions! to sleep facing the sea.
• Dinner and overnight at the guest room.
  Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / Lunch in picnic formula / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 160 km – duration: +/- 7h00

DAY 10

Morombe – Andavadoaka

• In the early hours, do not miss the ballet of the canoes which go offshore.
  In the morning, transfer by 4 × 4 to Andavadoaka, and on the route, you will discover the variety of “dwarf” baobabs from this arid region which are very different from those encountered before.
  Dinner and overnight at the local hotel.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 40 km – duration: +/- 2 hours.

DAY 11

Andavadoaka – Ambatomiloa

• Transfer by vehicle via the track to reach Ambatomiloa by the most chaotic track in the region: sand!
  The route allows us to observe the bush landscape (dry euphorbia forest) and its rubrostipa baobab trees from Mikeas country, the last representatives of the Bantu ancestors. They are hunter-gatherers, they live hidden in the thorny forest and are very fearful. Picnic on the way. Swimming in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in the heart of a typical Vezo village.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 40 km – duration: +/- 5h00

DAY 12

Andavadoaka – Ambatomiloa

• In the morning, you can visit the village and observe the life of this fishing village.
  We then follow the sandy track which joins Mangily.
  The landscapes are more familiar, allowing you to choose photo stops and meetings with those we have already encountered. Swimming in the afternoon.
  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in front of the lagoon.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 100 km – duration: +/- 5h00.

DAY 13

Mangily – Tuléar – Ranohira

• Depart for Tulear (city tour) and visit the “tsena-be” market, then drive to Ilakaka on the “RN7”.
  Visit the Antsokay Arboretum and have lunch on site. Ilakaka: the “far west” in Madagascar! A mushroom town following the discovery of sapphires. Visit to a working mine. The route crosses desert landscapes where the very poor vegetation consists of thorny plants endemic to Madagascar. Forest corridor, cotton fields and some baobabs will pass before your eyes. Along the way view of the Antandroy tombs.
  Dinner and overnight at the hotel by the pool.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 250 km – duration: +/- 4h00.

DAY 14

Isalo

• From Ranohira “the water of the lemurs”, the view embraces the chaotic and ruiniform landscapes that are of interest to Isalo National Park.
  This rocky massif seems to come from science fiction whose hallucinating forms it borrows: high rocks, caves, peaks of sandstone and granite enliven this area which has the appearance of a ghost town. Hiking to reach the canyon of “Namaza”.
  An excursion that allows you to discover birds, butterflies, lizards and a panoramic view of the last tropical rain forest in southern Madagascar, the waterfall, the blue pool and the black pool. Free time for swimming.
  Picnic in the heart of the “Namaza” forest under the interested eye of the lemurs.
  Dinner and overnight at the hotel by the pool.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance per track: 20 km – duration: +/- 0:30.
  Walking: +/- 4h00.

DAY 15

Ranohira – Ihosy – Ambalavao – Fianarantsoa – Ambositra

• (430 km, 8:30 am) on tar. After breakfast we take the “national 7” to reach Ihosy by crossing the immense semi-desert plateau of the Horombe and its termite mounds.
  Picnic on the way. access to the village reserve of Anja, rich in lemurs.
  Departure for Ambalavao and Fianarantsoa which we cross to reach our stopover town in Ambositra.
  Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road: 430 km – duration: +/- 8:30.
  Walking: +/- 1h30.

DAY 16

Ambositra – Antsirabe – Antananarivo

• Breakfast at the hotel, then visit to an artisan workshop “Zafimaniry” specializing in the marquetry of the island’s rare woods (Ebony, rosewood, rosewood). This part of the route gives access to the Betsileo region, the landscape of which is dotted with hills with granite rocks characteristic of “vatos”.
  Free lunch at Antsirabe.
  The route then tackles the peaks and pass of the Vakinankaratra geological formation, comparable to the central massif (extinct volcanoes).
  Arrival in the capital at the end of the afternoon.
• Meals: Continental breakfast.
• Transfer distance by road: 260 km – duration: +/- 5h30