Last updated: 2011-08-22

Day by Day

Day 1-2

Gathering at the hotel in the capital Antananarivo, called Tana by the people, in the evening. The capital at 1400 m height is very hilly, long stairs lead up to higher parts of the town. The evening sun gives the town a wonderful luster.

Day 3-5

Trekking in small groups between villages in the countryside. You choose how long, fast and where you go. You live in the big beautiful houses and have an English speaking guide at your disposal from Tana, often a young student. Maybe he will take you to the village he grew up in himself. You share your meals with your host family. Rice is harvested during the spring and the atmosphere is high in the villages.

Day 6

Taxi-brousse ("bush taxi") to Antsirabe. So far you travel on the countries best road. You continue with a rental bus on considerably worse roads to Miandrivazo.

Day 7-8

In Miandrvazo go board a boat that slowly takes you downstream the river Tsiribihina. You stay over night in tents close by villages. Food is included during the boat ride. Near the coast 4wheel driven vehicles wait for you to take you to Park Nacional Tsingy de Bemahara. In the evening you see the particular limestone formations-tsingys.

Day 9-10

A whole days trekking among the most incredible limestone formations in Grand Tsingy. The paths partly run through forest, where you will see whole lot lemurs, such as the beautiful sifakan.

Day 11-12

By jeep to Morondava, via two ferries and Avenue de Baobab. The hotel lies by the very long, incredible shallow beach and you have time to relax.

Day 13-14

Flight to Toliara. Bus to Ifaty at the coast.

Day 15-17

By bus to Parc National Isalo. Two days for long treks, in an exciting and grand landscape, with dry grass plains, bare stone formations and spiny forest; an odd cactus like dry forest that reminds of cretaceous era. The arrangements are flexible, depending on interest and strength.

Day 18

Bus to Finarantsoa.

Day 19

Here you take the train, a memory from the French colonial era, a narrow tracked and slow ride down the mountain to Manakara by the east coast. Cancelled train, changes in the timetables and delays are completely normal happenings.

Day 20

By boat along Canal des Pangalanes, a water system consisting of rivers, lakes and canals that reaches 600 km, close and parallel to the coast.

Day 21-23

In the afternoon bus to Parc National Ranomafana. The mountains steep eastern falls are covered by rainforest and the rainfall is generous. A well developed system with paths offers treks for all tastes. Arrangements to stay in the forest can be made. The knowledgeable guides will help you spot lemurs and chameleons.

Day 24-25

In the morning by bus back to Antsirabe, a larger town with clear colonial mark, with a quantity of hand pulled rickshaws', pousse-pousse, and many French tourists. An excellent place to shop for various beautiful and exciting things, before the journey home. Bus in the evening, day 25, straight to the airport, for those who travel home immediately, with Air France, leaving some time after midnight.

If you travel with any other company with other time tables you should book your return ticket earliest on Day 26