Tour overview

This 15-day adventure is for keen walkers who want to discover Madagascar's extraordinary landscapes on foot, from misty rainforest alive with lemurs to granite peaks and sandstone canyons, ending with time on the beach. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader, local guides and porters. You stay fourteen nights: seven in comfortable hotels, four in simple hotels and three camping on the Andringitra trek, where facilities are basic, with long-drop toilets and bucket washing. Breakfast is included every day, with eight lunches and eight dinners, and a trek cook prepares meals on the mountain.

Your adventure begins in Antananarivo. A long drive south through the highlands, past terraced rice paddies and volcanic fields, brings you to Ambositra, the woodcarving capital of Madagascar, where you enjoy a traditional dinner and folk dancing at a community guesthouse. In Ranomafana National Park you trek through primary rainforest in search of lemurs, including the rare golden bamboo lemur, and finish a day's hike at the town's thermal baths.

Read more

After visiting the Anja Community Reserve, home to ring-tailed lemurs, you begin the trek in Andringitra National Park, one of the most biodiverse corners of the island, with porters carrying the gear. Over three days you walk through villages, forest and high meadows, take a night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife and climb a well-managed path through granite boulders to the summit of Imarivolanitra, at 2,658m the highest point in southern Madagascar, for spectacular views across the park.

In Isalo National Park you stay two nights in thatched bungalows and walk through a sandstone massif eroded into gorges and strange shapes to swim in natural pools. On the way to the west coast you stop at Zombitse National Park, home to baobabs and the elusive fossa, before two nights at Ifaty Beach beside a lagoon protected by a barrier reef. A flight returns you to Antananarivo for a final walk to a sacred hill through highland villages.

The physical rating is high, with daily hikes of up to nine hours. This trip suits fit, adventurous walkers who want to experience Madagascar's wild places.

Trip highlights

  • Lemurs in Ranomafana's rainforest (Days 3–4)
  • Ring-tailed lemurs at Anja (Day 5)
  • A three-night trek in Andringitra (Days 6–8)
  • The summit of Imarivolanitra, 2,658m (Day 8)
  • Natural pools in Isalo (Day 10)
  • Ifaty Beach (Days 11–12)

Your route

12 stops from Antananarivo to Antananarivo

15-day route: Antananarivo – Ambositra – Ranomafana – Ambalavao – Andringitra – Isalo – Ifaty – Antananarivo
  1. Antananarivo Day 1
  2. Antsirabe Day 2
  3. Ambositra Day 2
  4. Ranomafana Days 3–4
  5. Fianarantsoa Day 5
  6. Ambalavao Day 5
  7. Andringitra National Park Days 6–8
  8. Isalo National Park Days 9–10
  9. Zombitse National Park Day 11
  10. Ifaty Days 11–12
  11. Toliara Day 13
  12. Antananarivo Days 13–15

Why choose this tour

Madagascar's wilderness on foot, with porters and a trek cook. Rainforest, mountains, canyons and beach in one trip.

Best suited to

  • Keen, fit walkers
  • Wildlife lovers
  • Adventurous travellers
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
A group of ring-tailed lemurs resting on a branch

Day-by-day itinerary

15 days from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Antananarivo, Madagascar

  1. Day 1 · Antananarivo Arrive in Antananarivo

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Relais des Plateaux or similar
  2. Day 2 · Antsirabe, Ambositra Ambositra

    Through the highlands to the woodcarving town.

    Hotel
    Artisan Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Ranomafana National Park Ranomafana

    A rainforest hike in search of lemurs.

    Hotel
    Manja Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Ranomafana National Park Ranomafana

    A wildlife walk and the thermal baths.

    Hotel
    Manja Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Fianarantsoa, Anja Community Reserve Ambalavao

    Ring-tailed lemurs at Anja.

    Hotel
    Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Andringitra National Park Andringitra

    Begin the trek and a night walk.

    Hotel
    Simple camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Andriampotsy Andringitra

    Up to the high meadows.

    Hotel
    Simple camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Imarivolanitra Imarivolanitra

    Summit day.

    Hotel
    Simple camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Isalo National Park Isalo

    Hike out and drive to Isalo.

    Hotel
    Isalo Ranch Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Isalo National Park Isalo

    Canyons and natural pools.

    Hotel
    Isalo Ranch Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Zombitse National Park, Ifaty Ifaty Beach

    Baobabs on the way to the coast.

    Hotel
    Bamboo Club or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Ifaty Ifaty Beach

    A free day by the lagoon.

    Hotel
    Bamboo Club or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Toliara, Antananarivo Antananarivo

    Fly back to the capital.

    Hotel
    Relais des Plateaux or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · Ambohidrabiby Hill Ambohidrabiby

    A walk to a sacred hill.

    Hotel
    Relais des Plateaux or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  15. Day 15 · Antananarivo Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A sandstone canyon in Isalo National Park

Where you stay

  • Antananarivo (1 night) Relais des Plateaux or similar
  • Ambositra (1 night) Artisan Hotel or similar
  • Ranomafana (2 nights) Manja Hotel or similar
  • Ambalavao (1 night) Hotel Bougainvillea or similar
  • Andringitra National Park (3 nights) Simple camping
  • Isalo (2 nights) Isalo Ranch Hotel or similar
  • Ifaty Beach (2 nights) Bamboo Club or similar
  • Antananarivo (2 nights) Relais des Plateaux or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 11 nights in hotels and 3 nights camping
  • Meals 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 8 dinners
  • Minibus and 4WD transport, and a flight from Toliara to Antananarivo
  • Guided treks in Ranomafana, Andringitra and Isalo
  • Imarivolanitra summit climb
  • Anja Community Reserve and Zombitse National Park
  • Porters, trek cook and roll mats
  • Tour leader, local guides and rangers

Not included

  • International flights
  • Sleeping bag
  • Meals not included 5 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Visa fee, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Farmers in rice fields in the Malagasy highlands

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike basic camping
  • You want an easy pace
  • You want luxury
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–15 · Lunch: Days 2–4 and 6–10 · Dinner: Days 2–4 and 6–10
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Madagascar
The landscape around Andringitra

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,910 per person, twin share, tour only. 6 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How hard is the trekking?

Challenging, with daily hikes of up to nine hours and a summit climb to 2,658m.

What is the camping like?

Basic campsites in the park with long-drop toilets and bucket washing. Porters carry the gear and a cook prepares meals.

What should I bring?

A 3–4 season sleeping bag, water purification and a personal first-aid kit. Roll mats are provided.

Do I need a visa?

For stays under 16 days no visa is needed, but a small fee is payable on arrival.

Will we see lemurs?

Very likely, especially in Ranomafana and at the Anja Community Reserve.

How many people travel together?

Up to 16 travellers, with a tour leader, local guides and porters.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

Similar routes

14 days · 84 departure dates

Madagascar Adventure: Baobabs, Lemurs & Rainforest – 14 Days

From £2,595
15 days · 19 departure dates

Madagascar: The Lost Continent – 15 Days

From £3,180
24 days · 2 departure dates

Madagascar in Depth: Tsingy, Baobabs & Lemurs – 24 Days

From £4,707
16 days

Madagascar Wildlife Adventure: Tsingy, Baobabs & Isalo – 16 Days

Dates on request

More tours in Madagascar

14 days · 11 departure dates

Wild Madagascar: Lemurs, Tsingy & Nosy Be – 14 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £3,603
11 days · 2 departure dates

Madagascar Baobabs & Beyond: Tsingy & Tsiribihina – 11 Days

From £1,794

Combine with

Tours in neighbouring countries.

11 days · 7 departure dates

Southern Africa Safari: Kruger, Zululand & Mozambique Coast – 11 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £2,521
15 days · 7 departure dates

South Africa Walking & Wildlife: Kruger to the Drakensberg – 15 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £2,496
12 days · 23 departure dates

Cape Town & the Garden Route: Addo to Table Mountain – 12 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £1,677
12 days · 7 departure dates

Cycling the Cape & Winelands – 12 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £2,329

Explore more

From £2,910
See dates & prices