Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Our team will greet you immediately upon arrival at Ivato International Airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Villa Sibylle is a private guesthouse near the airport, surrounded by a tropical garden. Relax from the flight and enjoy your first dinner there in Madagascar with an overnight stay. |
Day 2: Antananarivo - Ankarafantsika
Daily stage of 496 km
When you leave Tana, you will start a long journey. A journey where you will see how the landscape changes completely.
Very long way to the north via Maetavana.
Sometimes it goes briskly, and sometimes you can take very pleasant breaks, there are fruits to buy on the way, the markets and local restaurants are always worth a good stop.
On the way life is in full swing and often with a lot of cheerfulness!
|
Day 3: Ankarafantsika - Antsohihy
Long day stage of 370 km
Today the longest stage of the tour starts early in the morning and it doesn't really start on good roads, an almost constant slalom between potholes slows down the average speed considerably.
After lunch you will continue north to Antsohihy.
|
Day 4: Antsohihy - Ankarana
Daily stage of 236 km
You will approach the extreme north of Madagascar and enter the Ankarana Special Reserve, a 180 km² protected area.
Ankarana is known by the richness of its endemic fauna, its local culture and its unique geological formations, the Tsingy of Ankarana.
It is a spectacularly eroded limestone fortress with sharp ridges, patches of dense tropical jungle, deciduous forest, deep caves and gorges and rushing rivers.
With an annual rainfall of nearly 2000 mm, the underlying rocks undergo severe erosion, creating an amazing karst topography, the most famous result of which are the fantastically eroded limestone peaks known as "tsingy".
The park incredible trails, unique and magnificent landscapes and a lot of animals!
|
Day 5 - Ankarana visit to the national park
This day is dedicated to the visit of the Ankarana Special Reserve, where various species of birds, reptiles and mammals, including lemurs, are protected in a tropical rainforest with many lakes.
This reserve contains one of the highest primate densities of any forest in the world.
Its dense forests are home to one of the largest and least disturbed populations of crowned lemurs, Sanford's brown lemurs, Perrier's black lemurs, sport lemurs and pygmy lemurs.
Nearly 100 species of birds, 50 reptiles (including some endemic and endangered snakes and geckos) and 10 frogs coexist in the park.
Inside the spectacular and huge cave labyrinth, 14 species of bats, native endemic blind shrimp and the world's only known cave-dwelling crocodiles await your visit.
At night, swarms of bats and flying foxes cavort in the darkness.
|
Day 6 - Ankarana after Diego Suarez
Daily stage of 146 km
Arrival in the largest city in the north of Madagascar, Diego-Suarez or Antsiranana, known for its bays and Amber Mountain National Park, which is home to a tropical rainforest.
Antsiranana, located in the far north of Madagascar, is the capital of the northernmost province of Madagascar.
It has one of the most beautiful deep-water harbors in the world, and is known for its photogenic Sugarloaf Mountain.
Visitors love this city, which is probably the most French city in Madagascar, it has retained that colonial feel.
Antsiranana is the largest city in the north with a huge, cozy market, a number of fine restaurants, and some fantastic places and national parks to visit nearby.
Diego is the perfect place to rest and prepare for a visit to the neighborhood where a trip on the Emerald Sea would be most recommended.
|
Day 7: Diego by motorcycle - Montagne d'Ambre
Daily stage of about 100 km
You will spend the day visiting the Montagne d'Ambre National Park and enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets on the island - if not the world.
This massif rises from the surrounding arid region and forms an isolated section of montane rainforest that covers an area of 18,200 hectares and lies at altitudes between 800 and 1,470 meters.
The park offers great biodiversity: a vast tropical forest with endemic fauna and flora, lush vegetation and many waterfalls and volcanic lakes.
The climate is perfect, the cool air refreshing after the heat of the lowlands. The dominant ethnic groups are the Sakavala and the Antankarana.
|
Day 8 - Picnic trip at a Emerald Sea Island
Day stage from 50 km
The discovery of Diego will continue on the last day with a boat trip on the emerald sea.
A day trip to the nearby beach of Ramena is highly recommended. Ramena is a small village with an uncrowded sandy beach that doesn't seem to have benefited much from tourists, except for some local hotels and restaurants.
Boat ride from this small port across the emerald sea to a secluded island where you can swim and have lunch.
|
Day 9Diego Suarez - Ankify (250 km)
Daily stage of about 250 km
On the way, through a not always practicable path, we meet the "Red Tsingy", a wonder of nature. These cathedrals, made of sandstone, marl and limestone, are the result of erosion.
The spectacle of these pink tsingy built at the bottom of a gorge is simply magical.
Before continuing west, we drive through the Ankarana Reserve.
A very rich fauna may allow us to observe some species of lemurs such as Lemur Coronatus, Lemur Fulvus, Lepilemur and Hapalemur.
Tsingy eroded by rain and water, forming horizontal and vertical cracks, give the impression of a huge boulder, all surrounded by lush vegetation.
|
Day 10 - Ankify - Nosy-Be and Mont Passot
Daily stage of about 50 km
Between ylang ylang and cocoa...
We drive in the direction of Ambanja through a beautiful road lined with meadows or crops of ylang-ylang, pepper, coffee, vanilla and cocoa, typical of this region that enjoys a constant microclimate and rainy night.
It leads from Ankify, a small fishing village that leaves the ships that connect the "Big Island" with Nosy Be.
Nosy Be is a dream destination that anyone who can travel to Madagascar should not miss. You will go to Mount Passot, a volcanic hill in the center of the island that offers a 360° panorama.
|
Day 11 - Tour of Nosy Be by motorcycle
The island is fantastic on a motorcycle, little traffic and incredible landscapes and panoramas.
The visit of Lokobe Reserve is also possible but the highlight will be the ride to Mont Passot, along paradisical tropical beaches and ylang-ylang scented landscapes.
End of the motorcycle tour .
|
Day 11: Nosy-Be - Antananarivo (domestic flight)
Depending on your flight time, you may have a vehicle available for the day to tour the city and do some shopping.
|
Day 13: Antananarivo (international return flight)
You will have one day to visit the city by car before being transferred to the airport.
In any case, the rooms in Villa Sibylle are available as day use until the transfer.
|
Checklist
Please stay with your luggage under 45 lbs weight (equivalent to 20 kg)
Bags:
A duffel bag is ideal, a hiking bag is also suitable (without steel bar). You can secure your bag with a padlock. Please remember to mark the bag with your address and the address of vacation in Madagascar.
A small backpack of 20 liters is good for the things of daily use, such as the camera and sunscreen.
A mattress will be provided on site for overnight stays. If you wish more comfort, please bring an additional foam mattress.
Beds, mattresses and comforters are available on site. Additional comfort such as pillows depends on each fellow traveler themselves.
Clothing and personal equipment:
Two light pants, four shirts (also with long sleeves for sun protection), , a swimsuit, sweater or jacket for cold nights, sunglasses, hat, light sports shoes, flip-flops, flashlight with batteries.
Special motorcycle clothing:
Motorcycle boots or waterproof trekking shoes are highly recommended, light leather or synthetic motorcycle jacket, rain gear, gloves,helmet. |