Travel concepts
Itineraries Back 2 Basics
Experience Madagascar in its purest form with our Back 2 Basics itineraries, focusing on nature, adventure and authentic local encounters.
Hiking the Tsaranoro Valley
Day 1 – to the Tsaranoro Valley
Madagascar is divided in two by a high ridge. The center of this is the Andringitra Mountains. The east side is very green and wet under the influence of the Indian Ocean, the west side dry and warm because of the winds coming from Africa. You’ll spend three nights in an incredibly beautiful camp in the Tsaranoro Valley in the middle of this mountain range. From here, mountain tours and other walks can be undertaken.
Hotel: Camp Tsarasoa
Day 2 + 3 – hiking the Tsaranoro Valley
The first day you’ll focus on the mountain that dominates your camp. It’s called the Chameleon. A climb of two hours brings you to the summit of this topographic phenomenon. After taking the time to enjoy the spectacular views, you descend leisurely down the back, stopping to splash in a natural pool and hike back to camp. The second day, the Tsaranoro itself is on the program. This 900m high rock face is a well-known challenge for alpinists. You, however, are going to approach this giant along the easy backside to reach the top in this way.
Hotel: Camp Tsarasoa
Isalo National Park trekking
Day 1 – to Ranohira
Coming from the North, on your way to Isalo National Park, you will stop in a small reserve called Parc d’Anja. You’ll go for a short walk to spot ring-tailed lemurs, perhaps the best-known kind of lemur. After some fun bouldering on the spectacular granite rocks and lunch, you’ll continue southwards until the small town of Ranohira, the gate of Isalo NP. You’ll spend the night in a very comfortable ranch.
Hotel: Isalo Ranch
Day 2 + 3 + 4 – trekking Isalo National Park
Experts agree, Isalo is the most impressive park in the south of this beautiful island. It is a natural rock massif giving a reminiscent great America West vibe. You will stroll through this Jurassic setting, alternating between deserted landscapes and verdant canyons. You will roam in completely arid zones with various colors and shapes. When you enter in the forest, it is not unusual for a lemur or a harmless serpent to welcome yu. These three days you’ll spend exploring this park with its waterfalls, natural swimming pools and adventurous canyons. Every evening you’ll put up camp in the midst of this wilderness.
Hotel: 3 nights camping
Day 5 – to Ranohira
After breaking up camp, you’ll hike out of the park where the bus awaits us. You’ll spend one more night at the Isalo Ranch where the nice setting will seduce us for an afternoon of relaxing and enjoying the sunset.
Hotel: Isalo Ranch
Descent of the Tsiribihina River
Day 1 – departure Tsiribihina River descent in Miandrivazo
After registering with the river police, your driver will take you to Masiakampi where you will board a traditional dug-out canoo. For the next 2.5 days you will sail down the river and camp on the banks in tents. All meals are included and are prepared by an accompanying chef. Today you will pass the gorge of Bemaraha and Anosinampela.
You can swim at a waterfall and you have the chance to see different lemur species. A guide travels with you to show you around.
Hotel: camping
Day 2 + 3 – Tsiribihina River descent
After breakfast you will visit the Sakalava village of Bedigro. During the departure today you have the chance to spot a big variety of water birds. Near the village of Ambatomisay you will visit a real baobab forest.
Hotel: camping
Day 4 – Tsiribihina River descent and on to Bekopaka
This is the last day of the river trip. By noon you will arrive in the port of Belo sur Tsiribihina. After a last lunch, your driver will drive you to Bekopaka to explore the Tsingy of Bemaraha.
Hotel: Orchidée du Bemaraha
Day 5 – Tsingy of Bemaraha
Millions of years ago, the north-western side of the island was pushed up from the sea. After years of being subjected to wind and weather, the limestone section pushed upwards has turned into a Karst formation. This razor-sharp sea of rocks is called in the local language: Tsingy. Today you go out to explore the Small and / or the Great Tsingy de Bemaraha accompanied by a guide.
Hotel: Orchidée du Bemaraha
Ibity Massif trekking
Day 1 – from Antananarivo to Antsirabe
A six-hour drive (with stops of course) along the Route National 7 will take you to Antsirabe. It is the capital of the pousse pousse, a type of brightly coloured rickshaw operating solely on manpower. This charming town has some beautiful historical colonial buildings, which make it the perfect place for a stopover on our way to the south. You’ll stay at the beautifully located Résidence Madalief, a very comfortable guesthouse that is part of a Dutch NGO that helps orphans in Madagascar.
Hotel: Résidence Madalief
Day 2 + 3 – trekking the Ibity Massif
Located 25 km from the city of Antsirabe, behind a rocky and spectacular landscape, the Ibity Massif is renowned for its floristic, faunistic, geological and cultural riches. The summit of the Ibity Massif culminating at 2254 m is one of the highest of the rock outcrops in Madagascar. The massif is about 20 km from north to south. You will hike along the hillside to the Grand Tombeaux mountain pass, continue on the crest to the south and towards the peak. You will stay two nights in a very warm and welcoming mountain gîte.
Hotel: Ecolodge Ihasy
Day 4 – back to Antsirabe
After descending into the Ihasy Valley, you’ll drive back to Antsirabe where you can visit the charming town center before heading back to the comfort of the hotel.
Hotel: Résidence Madalief
Lost World of the Makay Trekking
Day 1 – to Berorono
In Ranohira, at the gateway of Isalo NP, you’ll join a convoy of off-road vehicles. At sunrise you will take off for a tough drive northwest to reach the Mangoky River. You cross the Mangoky River with a ferry followed by a crossing of the Makay River, after which you follow the piste again to the foot of the Makay massif.
Hotel: camping
Day 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 – Makay trekking
Accompanied by guides and porters, you will depart for a 4-day trek through this unknown world. During the tour you descend into steep canyons and follow the gorges below, wading through the river. From time to time you climb back up the plateaus to descend a bit further down the ravine. In the evening you camp on small sandbars near streams.
Hotel: camping
Day 6 – to Ranohira
After another tough trip by 4×4 you arrive in Ranohira by the beginning of the evening.
Hotel: Isalo Ranch
Zafimaniry Land trekking
Day 1 – from Antananarivo (or Antsirabe) to Antoetra
Today you drive into the country of the Zafimaniry. You will follow the tarmac road until just past Ambositra where you turn into the mountains. You will stay one night in a beautifully situated hotel.
Hotel: Sous le Soleil de Mada
Day 2 + 3 – trekking Zafimaniry Country
The second day you continue through this beautiful area. After about 2.5 hours you arrive at the waterfalls of Fanandrano. After an invigorating natural shower, it is a 3 hour walk to the Zafimaniry village of Sakaivo, where you put up camp.
Hotel: 2 nights camping
Day 4 – to Ambalavao
From Sakaivo you hike back to Antoetra in about 3 hours where your driver awaits you and takes you to Ambalavao. It’s highly enjoyable to ramble around in the streets of this picturesque fairy tale town. You stay in a beautifully located country lodge.
Hotel: Betsileo Country Lodge
