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Train Tour

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Must Visit City
Fianarantsoa
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TRAIN TOUR PANGALANA CANAL DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ANTANANARIVO Upon arrival at the International Airport of Ivato, formalities and transfer to the hotel Le Medicis. Overnight stay in hotel. DAY 2: ANTANANARIVO ANTSIRABE After breakfast, your driver . .
Country: Madagascar
City: Fianarantsoa
Duration: 10 Day(s) - 9 Night(s)
Tour Category: Eco Tours
Departure Date: Thu 01 Jan '99
Package Itinerary

TRAIN TOUR & PANGALANA CANAL

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ANTANANARIVO

Upon arrival at the International Airport of Ivato, formalities and transfer to the hotel Le Medicis. Overnight stay in hotel.

DAY 2: ANTANANARIVO – ANTSIRABE

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from Le Medicis Hotel in Antananarivo and you will start driving towards the South to Antsirabe; as soon as you leave busy and crowded Tana, you can start enjoying the pretty views. This drive will take about 4 hours on a good, but twisting road. On route, you will meet the beautiful landscape of the rice field and Merina typical tombs, and villages. Stop at Ambatolampy to visit a local forging-making cooking pot by aluminum (metalwork). This is the largest town between Antananarivo and Antsirabe.

As soon as you enter the town the roads are buzzing with colorful rickshaws; this is the town to explore craft shops and it is also an important industrial centre, mainly for its beer breweries and dairy factories. You can relax for a while after the drive or take a walk to see around the town including markets etc…..Note that you can get on a rickshaw, which is the main means of local transportation. Overnight stay at Soa Guest House.

DAY 3: ANTSIRABE – AMBOSITRA – FIANARANTSOA

Today you have the whole day to explore the famous southern part of Madagascar from Antsirabe to Fianarantsoa. After the morning breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to visit the highlights around Antsirabe town, which are still widely used by the entire population. Besides the common hot springs, there is also the famous local beer called “Three Horses beer” (which you have surely already drunk during your trip, if not you still have time!).

We then make our way to Fianarantsoa; 89 km south of Antsirabe, you will pass by the center of Malagasy hand-sculptured wooden craft work which name is Ambositra; there are many shops here where you can browse for souvenirs and find very good marquetery artisan. Then continue up to Fianarantsoa literally means the place where one can learn something good.

It is famously caused by its Cultural events such as, between May and September, traditional Betsileo folk festivals are annually held, the « Tolon’omby » or « Savika »: a bullfight more similar to a Western rodeo than to a Spanish-style bullfight. Instead of riding the zebu (Omby), the goal is to run into the center of the arena, catch it by the hump and try to pull it to the ground.

Upon arrival in Fianarantsoa, your driver will take you directly to the train station to buy your train ticket and then take you to the hotel. Overnight stay at Hotel Zomatel

DAY 4: TRAIN RIDE FIANARANTSOA – MANAKARA

After breakfast, the driver will transfer you to the train station, where you will start the adventure train, exciting trips from Fianarantsoa to Manakara, here the 3rd steepest railway line in the world slowly descents from the highlands to the east coast. In Fianarantsoa, rails seek their way through the verdant rainforest and rice paddies to Manakara. It is a trip high on local color since it is the lifeline for locals bringing their products to the market. If you are keen on trail riding, certainly the trip to Manakara is well worth it if you bring sufficient time and patience.

The train leaves Fianarantsoa train station on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. and also gets back from Manakara to Fianarantsoa at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Theoretically, the train takes about 08 to 12 hours, but practically, it could take much longer with a distance of 163 km. The train passes 67 bridges and 48 tunnels. Do not forget to order your picnic meals from your hotel before you leave.

During the train ride, you will see amazing green landscapes including different fruit trees and other carnivore plants, and meet gentle local people. When you arrive in Manakara, your personal driver will meet you at the train station and take you to the hotel. Overnight stay at Les Délices de l’Orient (mid-range)

DAY 5-6-7-8: MANAKARA – MANANJARY – PANGALANA – ANDASIBE

These four days will accompany you with the beauty of nature that they have to offer you. An equipped motorboat will help you to discover the Pangalana River: to admire the preciousness of colors, voluptuous shapes, crystalline waters, the sublimity of sites, velvety taste, purity of sound, beget the most beautiful rose prints by passing several interests; possibility of visit of the Ambohitsara East village – a splendid village far from the noise and hubbub of cities – to discover a population still living in joy and simplicity in an environment where you still feel that man and nature have been made to live in harmony, discoveries of different fishing techniques, tasting local products, visit old spice plantations and factories of essential oils and overnight stay in Ambohitsara.

Continuing the river trip to reach Mahanoro with the possibility of forest walks, visits to villages, visiting lemur reserve, or small photo safaris at night in search of crocodiles in their natural environment. The natural rhythm of life and the beauty of nature will help you to immerse yourself in the exotic and have an experience of a wild landscape, taking time to admire the waters that reflect the beauty of the landscape, soaking up the atmosphere of perfect peace and quiet during the trip and your vacation in Madagascar.

And, on day 04, your personal driver will pick you up from your hotel in Mahanoro and drive directly to Andasibe National Park. Overnight stay at Grace Lodge.

DAY 9: ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK

The whole day is dedicated to exploring the Analamazaotra Park: to explore the fauna and flora of the park find the Indri Indri, and listen to the special sounds that they make, apart from that you can also visit the island of lemurs with a canoe and will be able to see more lemur species up close, a unique moment to feed lemurs and to take photos with lemur(s) on your shoulder, do not miss it!.

At night you will have a relaxing time and will enjoy the sounds of the fauna and flora at night which make you feel a good night's sleep, before driving to Antananarivo in the early morning of the next day. Overnight stay at Grace Lodge.

DAY 10: ANDASIBE – ANTANANARIVO

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your Hotel to leave Andasibe National Park and say the last “Goodbye” to the Indri Indri before joining the city. Arrival in Antananarivo, accommodation in Le Medicis Hotel 5mn from the airport, and transfer in time to the airport for your flight out.
End of our services and we say “Veloma!” (Goodbye!)

Please Contact us for the price in USD/Pax

INCLUDING:

Accommodation in hotels based on a double room, in bed & breakfast

Transport with a driver including fuel, train from Fianarantsoa to Manakara

English-speaking tour guide

Entrance fees to mentioned parks including a local guide

Boat for the Pangalana trip

Tax (VAT 20%) and tourist hotel taxes

Domestic flights

EXCLUDING:

Lunch, dinner, and drink

Insurance

Personal expenses and tips

International

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