What makes this Madagascar itinerary unique?

This journey combines Madagascar's eastern rainforests, central highlands and southern sandstone canyons in one itinerary, exploring Ranomafana, Andringitra and Isalo National Parks while blending rewarding walks, endemic wildlife and meaningful cultural experiences.

What wildlife can I expect to see?

Each national park offers different wildlife experiences. Ranomafana National Park is home to the rare Golden Bamboo Lemur, Giant Bamboo Lemur and colourful chameleons, while Andringitra and Tsaranoro Valley are known for ring-tailed lemurs and Isalo National Park provides opportunities to see lemurs, chameleons and other endemic wildlife.

How challenging is this trip?

This trip is graded Adventure Touring and includes introductory to moderate walks, generally lasting 3–5 hours on most days. A reasonable level of fitness and regular walking before departure will help you enjoy the trip.

Yes. Your journey is led by an experienced English-speaking local guide, with specialist local guides joining in Ranomafana, Andringitra and Isalo National Parks to share their knowledge of the region's wildlife, landscapes and culture.

How does World Expeditions support sustainable travel in Madagascar?

Our adventures aim to benefit local communities, safeguard the ecosystems we explore and contribute to the long-term sustainability of travel through responsible travel practices and partnerships with local communities.

Discover the dramatic granite peaks and mountain scenery of Andringitra National Park.

Encounter the critically endangered Golden Bamboo Lemur in the rainforests of Ranomafana National Park.

Vibrant colours as we trek though the rocky Isalo landscape | Gesine Cheung

Cool off beside Isalo National Park's natural swimming pools after a rewarding day on the trail

Up close to the weird and wonderful skin of a Chameleon | Ian Williams

Hiking in the Andringitra National Park

Learn the traditional craft of Antaimoro paper making in Ambalavao.

Updated

Unique Madagascar

Name: Unique Madagascar
Brand: World Expeditions
SKU: MGU
Rating: 4.86 (7 reviews)

Journey through Madagascar's spectacular national parks, from lush eastern rainforests to dramatic sandstone canyons, where endemic wildlife and local traditions reveal the island's remarkable diversity.

Madagascar

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7 reviews

11 Days from

$2590 USD

Trip Code: MGU

View dates to Book

Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Internal flights (subject to change & availability)

$410 USD

Duration

11 Days

Activities

Wildlife Safari
Day Walking

Accommodation

8 nights hotel
2 nights permanent safari camp

Meals

8 Dinners
8 Lunches
10 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

2 / 10

Adventure touring

Carbon Footprint

55kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(550kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Journey through rainforest and highland landscapes to the sandstone canyons of Isalo National Park, revealing the island's remarkable diversity.
Explore Ranomafana National Park, home to the rare Golden Bamboo Lemur, Giant Bamboo Lemur and diverse rainforest wildlife
Walk among the granite domes and mountain prairies of Andringitra and Tsaranoro Valley, with sweeping views across the central highlands
Discover Isalo National Park, where sculpted sandstone canyons, palm-fringed oases and natural swimming pools create one of the island's most distinctive landscapes.
Experience local culture through vibrant markets, the Antaimoro paper workshop and the Mahafaly tombs

Overview

Separated from mainland Africa for more than 80 million years, Madagascar is home to an extraordinary natural world found nowhere else on Earth. From lush eastern rainforests and central highland plateaus to the dramatic sandstone canyons of the south, this remarkable island is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity, striking landscapes and distinctive culture shaped by both African and Asian influences.

This 11-day guided adventure journeys through Madagascar's spectacular national parks, where you'll walk through the montane rainforests of Ranomafana National Park in search of the rare Golden Bamboo Lemur, Giant Bamboo Lemur, colourful chameleons and other endemic wildlife, continue across the granite domes and mountain prairies of Andringitra and Tsaranoro Valley, and explore the sculpted sandstone canyons, palm-fringed oases and natural swimming pools of Isalo National Park.

With rewarding walks graded introductory to moderate, comfortable accommodation, private vehicle support throughout, and opportunities to experience local markets and the traditional Antaimoro paper workshop, this itinerary brings together rewarding walks, endemic wildlife and rich cultural traditions in a journey through Madagascar's spectacular national parks.

Itinerary

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Upon arrival at Antananarivo international airport on Day 1 you will be met and transferred to the group hotel. (Normally this is late in the evening thus, there is a group briefing tomorrow.) Please check at hotel reception for details of the pick-up time tomorrow for your trip to Antsirabe. If you are arriving on any other day, private airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost. Accommodation: hotel or similar

Meals: Nil

After breakfast we drive to Antsirabe, which is well known as the capital of rickshaw (pousse-pousse), a hill-station and spa town in the central highlands. Along the way, you can have a look at the beautiful landscape of the highlands decorated by rice fields and green fields. After lunch we will have a city tour and visit a market. There is a meeting with the group this afternoon; dinner and overnight in hotel. Accommodation: hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

In the morning we begin our journey to Ranomafana Rainforest National Park located on the eastern mountain slope of the island and dominated by a humid tropical climate. We enjoy a picnic lunch and stopover at Ambositra to visit this little wood carving capital of Madagascar. (The local artisans are most famous for their wood carvings and we have an opportunity to explore and shop.) Then we continue driving to Ranomafana National Park. Accommodation: hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Ranomafana National Park was established in 1991 to protect the habitat of the rare Golden Bamboo Lemur and is an area rich in wildlife. It's the only locality for the recently discovered Golden Bamboo Lemur as well as the world's rarest primate, the Giant Bamboo Lemur. Today is exploration day: we head out to explore this evergreen forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of these fascinating animals as well as some of the other 13 species of lemur only found here. We can appreciate the views of the waters of the Namorona river and a picnic lunch. Accommodation: hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Continue south through Madagascar's central highlands towards Andringitra and Tsaranoro Valley. Stop in Ambalavao to visit the traditional Antaimoro paper workshop, where handmade paper is crafted from the bark fibres of the native avoha tree. The journey continues into one of Madagascar's most spectacular mountain landscapes. Accommodation: Permanent safari camp or similar

Meals: B,L,D

We enjoy a day of trekking in the high mountain prairies of the Tsaranoro Valley, with it's unique granite and gneiss formations. Andringitra has a wide diversity of ecosystems ranging from low altitude rainforest in the east to high mountain prairies in the west and the greatest diversity of lemurs in Madagascar. Perhaps we will encounter a few families of Lemurs Catta. Accommodation: permanent safari camp or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Travel across the vast grasslands of the Horombe Plateau as the scenery changes from mountain landscapes to Madagascar's dramatic sandstone country. The plateau is dotted with distinctive termite mounds before the sculpted formations of Isalo begin to appear. Arrive in Isalo National Park during the afternoon. Accommodation: Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

We enjoy exploring the rugged canyons cut deep into the sandstone plateau this morning. Lush vegetation in the moist canyons is home to many species of lemur and chameleon, which we have opportunity to see if we are lucky as we hike in the "Canyon des Makis". After lunch in Isalo town, we spend the afternoon hiking amongst the spectacularly sculptured rock formations of Isalo Massif, with its abstract sculpting and colors of the eroded sandstone rocks to the “Piscine Naturelle” – a natural swimming pool. Accommodation: Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Travel south through Madagascar's semi-arid landscapes towards the coastal city of Toliara. Along the way, pass the distinctive Spiny Desert and the culturally significant Mahafaly tombs. The changing scenery highlights another of Madagascar's remarkable natural regions before reaching the coast. Accommodation: Hotel or similar

Meals: B,L,D

Transfer to the airport and flight back to Antananarivo. (Please note: flight at own expense - schedule is subject to change and availability, and the flight is unescorted). Transfer to hotel at the arrival and overnight in hotel.

Meals: B

Trip arrangements end after breakfast with a transfer to the airport for onward travel. Please ask your reservations consultant for details if you would like additional nights in Antananarivo (extra cost applies) or airport transfers on any other day (extra cost applies).

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

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What's included?

Included

English speaking local guide (or driver-guide only for groups of 2-5 people)
Local guide in Isalo, Andringitra, Ranomafana National Parks
8 nights in 2 star hotels on a twinshare basis
2 nights in permanent safari camp including bedding
Private vehicle transport throughout
10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners
Airport transfers (day 1 and 11 only)
Permits and entry fees as listed in itinerary
Tourist taxes

Not included

International flights
Internal flight Toliara/Antananarivo is NOT included
Arrival and departure transfers if not arriving/ departing on Days 1 & 11
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Items of a personal nature such as laundry, etc.
Tips
Visa

About your guide

Please note that for groups of 6 or more people, an English-speaking guide will accompany the group throughout, in addition to a local driver. For groups of 2-5 people, your local English-speaking guide will also be the driver.