The Essentials, Differently
Nature, culture, lagoon · 15 days / 14 nights
Antananarivo → Toliara
From Forests to the Ocean
From the song of the indris to the silence of the islands.
- Length
- 15 days / 14 nights
- The experience
- Forest, wildlife, islands
- Level
- 1 to 2/5
- Comfort
- 4 to 5/5 depending on the hotels chosen
- Season
- May to November
- Who is it for?
- Couples, nature lovers and travellers looking for a comfortable pace
- Price
- On request
This journey begins in the rainforest, where the unmistakable song of the indris rings out. A few days later the scene changes: tropical beaches, coastal villages and the turquoise waters of Nosy Be.
The route
The road, step by step.
AntananarivoNosy Be- StartAntananarivo
- Andasibe
- Mantadia
- Andasibe
- Antananarivo
- Nosy Be
- EndAntananarivo
Highlights
Andasibe and Mantadia, realms of the lemurs. Orchids, chameleons and unique wildlife. The marine world of the North, weather permitting. The silence of Nosy Be's islands.
Day by day
Road distances and times are approximate and may vary with local conditions. Full board offered, to be confirmed in your signed programme.
From Forests to the Ocean
15 days / 14 nights · Forest, wildlife, islands
Open the notebookDay1ANTANANARIVO · ARRIVAL
A first breath
The hills of the capital light up softly in the evening. Our team welcomes you at the airport and takes you to your hotel: a first night to set down your bags and let the jet lag fade.
- Personal welcome
- Rest
- Night
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
Day2ANTANANARIVO · AMBOHIMANGA
The sacred hill
On the royal hill of Ambohimanga, the ramparts, old trees and views tell the story of the Merina sovereigns. A day to understand the cultural roots of the Highlands before heading for the forest.
- Royal heritage
- Guided visit
- Night
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day3ANTANANARIVO → ANDASIBE
Towards the eastern forest
Little by little, rice fields give way to wooded hills and the humidity of the East. At the end of the day the lodge nestles at the forest's edge, and its sounds become your first music.
- Road to the East
- Getting there
- 140–160 km · 4–5 h
- Night
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day4ANDASIBE · ANALAMAZAOTRA
The song of the indris
Early in the morning, a voice crosses the canopy: the indris. With your naturalist guide you walk through the Analamazaotra reserve, watching for movement in the trees and the thousand details of the forest.
- Nature walk
- Lemurs
- Getting there
- Walk 2–3 h
- Night
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day5MANTADIA
The deep forest
Wilder and denser, Mantadia reveals orchids, tree ferns and endemic species. A patient exploration, at the pace of the trail, to take the measure of a biodiversity found nowhere else.
- Nature exploration
- Orchids
- Getting there
- Walk 2–4 h
- Night
- Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day6ANDASIBE → ANTANANARIVO
Back through the hills
The road climbs back to the Highlands, with a few stops along the way. You see the landscapes of the outward journey differently: the forest stays with you a little longer.
- Road
- Stops along the way
- Getting there
- 140–160 km · 4–5 h
- Night
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day7ANTANANARIVO → NOSY BE
Heading north
One domestic flight and the scene changes completely. Warm air, the sea, tropical light: in Nosy Be you settle in by the water for another chapter of the journey.
- Domestic flight
- Beachside stay
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day8NOSY BE
The island of scents
Ylang-ylang, vanilla, plantations and villages: Nosy Be is also discovered through the nose. A day to understand its crops, its traditions and the daily life of those who live there.
- Plantations
- Villages
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day9NOSY TANIKELY
The waters of the North
A boat trip to Nosy Tanikely, weather permitting, reveals a marine world of great clarity. Mask and snorkel, or simply looking on: the ocean becomes a place of discovery.
- Sea excursion
- Marine life
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day10NOSY KOMBA
Between villages and nature
On Nosy Komba, paths link villages and forest. A cultural and craft discovery, at the island's pace, to meet the people who make embroidery and everyday objects here.
- Meeting craftspeople
- Cultural discovery
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day11NOSY BE · FREE DAY
Freedom
No alarm, no planned excursion. A day for yourself: the beach, a stroll, a nap in the shade. The journey goes on in these quiet hours too.
- Free day
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day12NOSY BE
At your own pace
A nature walk, an optional sea activity or the simple pleasure of staying by the water: you choose. Your team remains on hand to arrange whatever you feel like.
- Optional activity
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day13NOSY BE
Time to savour
Nothing but the horizon. You reread your notes, look through your photographs, tell each other the journey. A day meant as a pause, not an absence.
- Time to savour
- Night
- Beach hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day14NOSY BE → ANTANANARIVO
The way home
A last look at the sea through the window. Back to the capital by domestic flight, according to confirmed schedules, for a last evening in the Highlands.
- Domestic flight
- Night
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day15ANTANANARIVO · DEPARTURE
The last page
The forests, the islands, the faces met: everything now fits into a few pictures and many memories. Transfer to the airport for your international flight.
- Airport transfer
- Meals
- Breakfast
The rest of the story is yours.
Ask for this experienceCover
Included
- All planned nights, in charming hotels, lodges and eco-lodges
- Full board during the tour
- Drinking water throughout
- Domestic flights in the programme
- Private transfers and private vehicle with driver
- French-speaking guide or escort, depending on the programme
- Qualified local guides, parks and culture
- Entrance fees, scheduled visits and excursions
- Planned boat crossings
- Pre-departure information and assistance during the journey
Not included
- International flights
- Visa
- Travel and repatriation insurance
- Alcoholic drinks, personal purchases
- Tips
- Optional activities
- Services not mentioned in the signed programme
Time to go home, with the song of the forest and the silence of the islands in your bags.
