Travel dates: July 18 - 29, 2027

This program connects with the Mauritius expedition running from July 15 to 18, 2027.

Duration: 12 days / 11 nights

Number of participants: 6 – 12

Price per person:

• euros at 12 participants, or
• euros at 10 – 11 participants, or
• euros at 8 – 9 participants,
• euros at 6 – 7 participants, twin/double occupancy.

10% early booking discount (valid for bookings made before January 18, 2027)

Everything included in the price except:

– international flight to Antananarivo and back,
– 4 domestic flights: Antananarivo – Morondava – Antananarivo and Antananarivo – Sainte-Marie – Antananarivo,
– international medical insurance, – Madagascar visa (on arrival, 30 euros for up to 15 days, or 35 euros for 16 days or more),
– lunches and dinners.

Estimated cost of the Antananarivo – Morondava – Antananarivo flight: 280 euros (tickets purchased independently, consultation provided).
Estimated cost of the Antananarivo – Sainte-Marie – Antananarivo flight: 280 euros (tickets purchased independently, consultation provided).

Single occupancy supplement: [___] euros (single occupancy available throughout the route).


TRAVEL PROGRAM: tour to madagascar


Day 1. July 18, 2027. ANTANANARIVO

Welcome to Madagascar – TONGA SOA!
Meeting at the airport and transfer to the Delta Hotels by Marriott 4* hotel, where we will check in and rest.
In the evening, optional dinner at one of the city's best restaurants, chosen by us. Malagasy cuisine certainly deserves special attention.

Recommended flights:

• Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-853 from Addis Ababa, arriving in Antananarivo on July 18 at 13:45;
• Emirates flight EK-707 from Dubai, arriving in Antananarivo on July 18 at 16:50;
• or any other flight arriving in Antananarivo on July 18.

Meals: none
Accommodation: Delta Hotels by Marriott 4 or similar

Day 2. July 19, 2027. ANTANANARIVO – NOSY SOA PARK – PEYRIERAS REPTILE PARK – NIGHT WALK

After an early breakfast, we set off for Nosy Soa Park to meet lemurs in their natural habitat. To reach the "island of lemurs," we will cross a small river by canoe and walk for about 30 minutes. Five lemur species live here: the ring-tailed lemur (yes, King Julien from the cartoon), the brown lemur, Verreaux's sifaka (the "dancing lemur"), the bamboo lemur, and the ruffed lemur. The lemurs are friendly and will happily greet us right at the boat. We will be able to feed them, watch them, and, of course, take plenty of photos.

Lunch at a cozy restaurant on the shore of a picturesque lake, where you can try local dishes, including sturgeon. After enjoying the food and the views, we continue toward Andasibe, admiring rice fields, jungle, waterfalls, and everyday village life.

Next, we visit Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic, where we will get to know the local fauna: chameleons, geckos, frogs, and other exotic creatures. We will spend about an hour and a half exploring the park and observing its residents. Transfer to the hotel.

In the evening, we head into the jungle in search of nocturnal creatures: insects, frogs, chameleons, and moths. But our main goal is to find nocturnal lemurs, which come out of hiding once darkness falls. The walk lasts about an hour and a half. Afterward, we return to the hotel for dinner and rest.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Andasibe Cyperus Hotel or similar

Day 3. July 20, 2027. ANALAMAZAOTRA NATIONAL PARK – ANTANANARIVO

We wake up in the rainforests of Andasibe! After breakfast, we head to Analamazaotra National Park, home of the indri, the largest living lemur. We will go in search of these giants. Indris are famous for their haunting song and, unlike most lemurs, have only a stub of a tail. The park is also home to other rare lemur species, as well as remarkable insects, chameleons, and birds.

After lunch, we return to Antananarivo, enjoying the scenery along the way. Check-in at the hotel, dinner.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Le Centell Hotel 4 or similar

Day 4. July 21, 2027. ANTANANARIVO – ANTSIRABE – FAMADIHANA CEREMONY

The road from Antananarivo to Antsirabe is a scenic route through rural Madagascar, past terraced rice fields, small villages, and impressive landscapes. The drive takes about 4 hours, depending on road conditions and stops along the way.

Lunch with foie gras is a great way to discover the French influence on the island's cuisine. This delicacy, usually served with bread or fruit sauces, can be tasted at French restaurants in the village of Behenjy, halfway along the route, and in Antsirabe itself.

Famadihana, the ritual veneration of ancestors also known as the "turning of the bones," is a widespread practice in Madagascar. Today we will take part in this extraordinary ceremony. The Malagasy believe in the immortality of the soul. For them, death is not an end but a transition to another state of being. They believe that every departed person will sooner or later return to earth in a new life, through the birth of descendants. This view of life and death is a source of joy for the Malagasy: each new generation brings renewal and rebirth.

During the festive ceremony, families open the family tomb and bring out the remains of their ancestors. The remains are wrapped in new silk shrouds, and the names of the dead are written on the cloth again. It is not only an act of honoring the departed but also a way of renewing the bond with one's ancestors, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and death.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Royal Palace or similar

Day 5. July 22, 2027. ANTSIRABE – ANTANANARIVO

Breakfast at the hotel at 7:00. We drive back to Antananarivo, arriving around lunchtime. In the evening, a grand folklore concert awaits us: we will listen to traditional music and watch local dances. Madagascar will reveal the secrets of its unique traditional instruments, such as the valiha, the amponga, and the kabosy, while dancers in bright raffia costumes turn the evening into a true festival of color! The performance is given by a renowned family ensemble that has toured all over the world.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Delta Hotels by Marriott 4 or similar

Day 6. July 23, 2027. ANTANANARIVO – MORONDAVA

Early breakfast and transfer to the airport. Today we head west to the delta of the Morondava River. This colorful seaside town wins you over with its laid-back charm. Right after landing, we head to the hotel.

Morondava is not only about beaches, cocktails, and relict forests – it is home to the famous Avenue of the Baobabs. These ancient giants have stood here like guardians of time for centuries, and each of them is like a book full of stories and mysteries. And here we are, standing against the sunset as if in a movie scene. The mesmerizing baobabs pose for us like true models, while we, like professional nature photographers, capture the moment. Ladies, don't forget a bright dress – it will make a striking accent against the baobabs and the evening sky.

Optional night photography at the Avenue of the Baobabs.

Recommended flight from Antananarivo to Morondava:

• Tsaradia Airlines flight TZ702, departing Antananarivo at 7:30, arriving in Morondava at 8:40.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Palissandre or similar

Day 7. July 24, 2027. MORONDAVA – ANTANANARIVO

Today we will get up early to reach the hotel beach before dawn. Soon dozens of fishing boats will appear on the horizon – a sight you won't be able to take your eyes off. After enjoying the riot of colors in the dawn sky and having breakfast, we head to the airport.

Our flight to the capital departs at 10:15. Upon arrival, we set off on a city tour.
Antananarivo, or Tana, as the locals call it, is the largest and most beautiful pearl in the necklace of Madagascar's cities and the capital of the island nation, founded in 1625. The city lies in the center of the country at an altitude of about 1,280 meters above sea level. Its name translates from Malagasy as "city of a thousand warriors." The bustle of the capital makes you curious about everything going on around you: someone carries sacks and baskets on their head, someone hurries about their business, and someone simply sits and basks in the sun.
We will visit Zoma Market, whose name comes from the Arabic word for "Friday." Market day used to be on Friday, but now the market is open every day. It is the most popular and colorful market in the very heart of Tana, where you can discover local goods: vegetables, fruit, textiles, handicrafts, and much more.

Independence Avenue is the straightest and widest street in the city center. It is lined with old arcaded buildings that housed governors' offices, shops, and restaurants in colonial times. We will see the City Hall and Soarano railway station, built in the early 20th century. We will visit the Lower Town, which lies in a valley among marshes and rice fields and is home to the city's poorer residents, and then the Upper Town, the highest district of Antananarivo, where the royal palace stands.

In the evening, we will go up to a viewpoint overlooking the whole city and, if we are lucky, see a spectacular sunset. Dinner at Café de la Gare.

Recommended flight from Morondava to Antananarivo:

• Tsaradia Airlines flight TZ703, departing Morondava at 10:15, arriving in Antananarivo at 11:25.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Le Centell Hotel 4 or similar

Day 8. July 25, 2027. ANTANANARIVO – SAINTE-MARIE ISLAND

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Sainte-Marie at 12:00. On arrival, transfer and check-in at the hotel, then we head to the Pirate Cemetery.
Now it's time to explore Sainte-Marie Island, known in Malagasy as Nosy Boraha. Today it is famous for its unique history: legend has it that the pirate republic of Libertalia was located here at the turn of the 18th century.

The island lay near the maritime trade route to the East Indies and was a favorite haven for countless pirates. Here they divided their loot and held boisterous feasts, and the graves of fallen comrades became part of the island's dark legend. The island is linked to such famous pirates as William Kidd, Henry Every, and Olivier Levasseur. To this day, its bays hide the remains of sunken ships.

Dinner and rest at the hotel.

Recommended flight from Antananarivo to Sainte-Marie:

• Tsaradia Airlines, departing Antananarivo at 12:00, arriving on Sainte-Marie at 13:05.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Les Villas de Vohilava or similar

Day 9. July 26, 2027. SAINTE-MARIE ISLAND – WHALES

Sainte-Marie Island is famous for its humpback whale season. A thrilling boat trip awaits us, during which we will see the whales' spectacular breaches and tail slaps. Departure from the hotel at 8:00, return by 12:00.

In the afternoon, an optional quad bike ride (at extra cost): through the seaport and the island's main town, Ambodifotatra, and further north to a small, picturesque waterfall. After an eventful day, relaxation on the hotel beach.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Les Villas de Vohilava or similar

Day 10. July 27, 2027. SAINTE-MARIE ISLAND

After breakfast, we set out to sea for the second and final time, hoping to catch the whales playing, breaching, or resting at the surface. Experts will share their knowledge with us. Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, a walk around Île aux Nattes – a true tropical paradise with coconut palms, white sand, rocks, and a natural pool where you can swim. We will enjoy the beauty of nature and the fresh Indian Ocean air, and after sunset we will leisurely return to the hotel to rest.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: Les Villas de Vohilava or similar

Day 11. July 28, 2027. SAINTE-MARIE ISLAND – ANTANANARIVO

After breakfast, at 8:30, we set off by canoe to "Sand Island." Here, far from civilization, lies a sandy paradise ruled only by seabirds, which raise their chicks here. After a swim, we return to shore for a Malagasy-style picnic.

After lunch, transfer to the airport and an afternoon flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at the wonderful Café de la Gare, housed in the colonial railway station building.

Recommended flight from Sainte-Marie to Antananarivo:

• Tsaradia Airlines, departing Sainte-Marie at 15:10, arriving in Antananarivo at 16:15.

Meals: breakfast, picnic lunch
Accommodation: Le Centell Hotel 4 or similar

Day 12. July 29, 2027. ANTANANARIVO – DEPARTURE

Today we will set aside time to visit the souvenir market. Souvenirs in Madagascar, like everything else here, are unique: you can buy ancient ammonites up to one meter in diameter or petrified wood of various tree species.
Transfer to the airport.

Recommended return flights from Antananarivo:

• Emirates flight EK-708 to Dubai, departing Antananarivo on July 29 at 18:35;
• or any convenient flight departing Antananarivo in the daytime on July 29.

Meals: breakfast
Accommodation: none

*The tour operator is not responsible for any changes to local airline schedules that may occur after booking. We will make every effort to minimize any deviations from the approved itinerary. The itinerary may change due to force majeure, current flight schedules, the availability of domestic flights, and the possibility of using charter flights. We recommend taking out insurance that fully covers possible risks and inconveniences during the trip.

Madagascar

Best Seasons: June – October, December – March

Experience the Famadihana ceremony, practiced by the Merina and Betsileo tribes. It is believed that until the body is completely decomposed, the soul has not left this world. During this ceremony, the deceased are taken from their tombs, dressed in new clothes, and the latest news is shared.

Witness the humpback whales, marine animals facing the threat of extinction.

Immerse yourself in pirate culture and feel the true spirit of adventurers!

Trek through the breathtaking reserves of Big and Little Tsingy, from whose observation points you can enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding landscapes.

Capture the incredibly photogenic landscapes of the Avenue of Baobabs. You'll have the opportunity to take memorable photos of this symbol of the country at sunset and sunrise.

Explore the local flora and fauna. Madagascar is home to many endemics, including lemurs, a vast array of primates, the fossa, the aye-aye, and many others.