Duration: | 8 Day(s) - 7 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
• Duration: 7 Days
• Arriving: Antananarivo
• Departing: Antananarivo
Diego is located at the Amber heading in northern Madagascar in the west with the Mozambique Channel and east Indian Ocean. Diego also has blue skies, crystal clear sea, greenery ... a corner of paradise!
Day 1: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT - ANTANANARIVO –ANDASIBE
On arrival at the Airport, you will be met by a Mada Hexagone representative; you will receive a briefing on your tour and then start your 3-hour road transfer to Andasibe, through the beautiful green landscape of the east. This step brings you to the humid part of the country with many primary forests and lakes. On route, you will stop in Peyreiras Reptiles Park to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles.
On a walk inside the forest, you can spot 2 types or species of lemurs: The Sifaka “Coquereli” and the brown lemurs “Fulvus”.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed and bed-and-breakfast basis.
Day 2: ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK
This morning after breakfast you will go on a 3 to 4-hour hike to Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east. Here you will be able to spot about 9 different species of lemurs. The highlight is the “Indri Indri” which is the largest lemur on the island. This 810-ha reserve is also home to numerous unique species. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds.
After the hike, visit Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village, the second largest tribe. They cultivate rice and work on vanilla plantations.
Afterwards, we will visit the private park of Vakona in the “islands of lemurs” which is the best spot to take pictures of lemurs.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed and Breakfast Basis.
Day 3: ANDASIBE –MANAMBATO -AKANIN' NY NOFY
Early morning breakfast and then you will have a 2 to 3 hours road transfer to Manambato. On route you will stop and visit of the town of Brickaville, an old colonial city known for its sugar cane plantation. Then continue on a dirt track to Manambato where you will take a 1 hour boat transfer to Akanin’ny nofy. Cross the Rasoabe Lake then the Pangalanes Canal, built during the colonization period for commercial use.
You can admire many birds along the luxuriant vegetation of the east. Arrival in the afternoon. Ankanin’ny Nofy means “nest of the dreams”. Surrounded by a huge blue lake, this is the ideal place for rest and to be in direct contact with nature.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed and Breakfast Basis.
Day 4: AKANIN’ NY NOFY –TAMATAVE (Boat)
In the morning, after breakfast, visit the PALMARIUM Private Park. The bungalows where you will be sleeping are situated inside the park so you'll be in complete contact with lemurs. Palmarium reserve is home to 7 species of lemurs with the “Indri-Indri” as a highlight and many species of reptiles, especially chameleons. Flora is also very rich with its garden of palm trees, orchids, and the famous vanilla.
This is the ideal place to rest and be in contact with nature. In the afternoon, 2 hours boat transfer to Tamatave along the Pangalanes Canal. During this mini-cruise, one will enjoy the life of the people living along the canal with their Bamboo pirogue.
Arrival in Tamatave, transfer.
Overnight at the hotel on a Bed and Breakfast Basis.
Day 5: TAMATAVE –SAINTE MARIE (Domestic Flight)
Enjoy a lovely breakfast and then be transferred to the airport, in time for your flight to Sainte Marie. On arrival in Sainte Marie, you will be met and transferred by road to your hotel.
Day at leisure. Sainte-Marie is an island situated on the east of Tamatave. It used to be the home of pirates during the 16th century. The queen of the island was even married to one of them. Dotted with nice beaches, and wonderful creeks, Sainte-Marie is the most frequented place by tourists. It is for those looking for tranquility and beauty, a place where we can watch the dancing of whales from July to October.
Overnight at the hotel on a Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast Basis.
Day 6–7: SAINTE MARIE
The next two days you have at leisure at Sainte Marie. Many excursions are organized on the spot like snorkeling, or diving on a small Island “Ile aux nattes” nearby. A tropical isle with luxuriant vegetation, Sainte-Marie is also a nice place for walking or cycling. There are also interesting sights around Ambodifotatra and the Baie des Forbans; in the town, there is also a Catholic church built in 1837, the Pirates’ Cemetery which marked the European passage in the island. The population is admired for their kindness and hospitality.
Overnight at the hotel on a Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast Basis.
Day 8: SAINTE MARIE -ANTANANARIVO (Domestic Flight)
This morning after your last breakfast in Madagascar, you will be transferred back to the airport, in time for your flight back to Antananarivo.
Depending on your flight, you have day use at the hotel before we will be transferred to the airport for the international flight back.