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Madagascar rainforest & island escape
Preferred
Overview
Short Description
There’s no question that Madagascar’s main draw is its wildlife. Splitting off from the rest of the world millions of years ago, it evolved its own array of species that you’ll find nowhere else on Earth. After visiting this large island and exploring its habitats, our specialists have become captivated by its rich ecosystem. They’ll plan your holiday to Madagascar using their first-hand experiences.
Madagascar’s national parks and reserves ensure the protection of its unique inhabitants. Walking through deciduous forests and rainforests, you might hear the haunting call of an indri (the largest species of lemur), see a chameleon blending into its surroundings, or encounter the island’s only predator, the fox-like fossa. Our Madagascar specialists can also plan your trip around seeing migratory humpback whales, or so you can experience local culture with a riverboat cruise past tiny villages.
Destinations
MadagascarAttractions & Cities Visited
N/AActivities & Interests
Bird watching Game drive Hiking History Nature Relaxing Retreat Snorkeling Whale watching Wildlife viewingItinerary
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Antananarivo.
Day 2 : Antananarivo
On arrival at Antananarivo's Ivato Airport, you're met by your private driver and driven to your hotel. Depending on traffic and the location of your hotel, this can take up to an hour and a half. You have the rest of the day to relax at your lodgings or, depending on your time of arrival, explore the city's historic old town and vibrant markets with a guide.
Day 3 : Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
This morning your driver-guide meets you from your hotel and drives you for around four hours through the Malagasy countryside to Andasibe National Park on the edge of the rainforest. A great option during your stay here is to take an evening guided walk, watching out for nocturnal animals such as tiny mouse lemurs and greater dwarf lemurs, whose eyes can be seen illuminated by your guide's flashlight.
Day 4 : Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
You have all day to explore the rainforest on foot with your private guide, searching for the various lemur species found in the area. This includes indri, the largest species of lemur, which have a very distinctive, haunting cry that you can sometimes hear as you hike through the forest. You may also see grey bamboo, brown and woolly lemurs amongst the vegetation, as well as numerous reptile species such as the nose-horned chameleon, and vivid bird species like blue and red-fronted coucals. Your guide will help spot and identify the wildlife you encounter and tell you more about each species.
Day 5 : Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Today you're driven for around 45 minutes into Mantadia National Park, whose beautiful, untouched forest provides a home for even more lemur species, including diademed sifakas, black and white ruffed lemurs and the elusive aye-aye, which is notoriously difficult to spot and only comes out at night. Make sure you wear good walking shoes as the hiking trails here can be a little more difficult.
Day 6 : Antananarivo
This morning you might like to head to Lemur Island, where you can get up close to a number of habituated lemur species, including ringtail and indri. While the lemurs here aren't wild, a visit gives you a wonderful opportunity to see these incredible animals at close quarters. In the afternoon, take the four hour drive back to Antananarivo. You can explore more of the city with your driver-guide or relax at your hotel.
Day 7 : Ile Sainte Marie
Your private driver collects you from your hotel this morning to take you back to Ivato Airport - a journey of up to an hour and a half, depending on traffic. From here, you take the hour-long flight over to Île Sainte-Marie. Depending on the weather, you may reach your hotel by traditional zebu cart, which takes around 15 minutes, or take a five to ten minute journey in a 4x4. On arrival, spend the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing at your lodge amongst idyllic surroundings. You could head to the beach, do a spot of snorkeling or simply unwind with a cocktail.
Day 8 : Ile Sainte Marie
Today you can take your time exploring this sleepy island. We recommend hiring a bicycle to get around, stopping at some of the island's small villages, cafes and beaches. The beaches themselves are often deserted, and you may see fisherman paddling offshore in wooden pirogues. We can arrange for you to take a pirogue trip to the island's pirate cemetery, where you can see the graves of dozens of pirates who used the island as a base during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Day 9 : Ile Sainte Marie
Enjoy another day at leisure on the island. Snorkeling and diving is excellent here, with coral reefs providing a habitat for damselfish, whale sharks, eagle rays, tuna and many other marine species. The waters are calm and clear, with visibility of between 10m and 30m (33ft and 98ft) all year round. There are several PADI dive establishments and we can arrange this for you.
Day 10 : Ile Sainte Marie
You have another day to spend exploring and relaxing on Île Sainte-Marie. If you're visiting during the whale season (June to September), you have the opportunity to see humpback whales, who migrate to Madagascar's shores to have their young. You can often see them from the beach, or you may wish to go out with a research boat for the day in order to get a closer look and learn more about them.
Day 11 : Ile Sainte Marie
On your last day on Île Sainte-Marie, you could explore the tiny capital, Ambodifotatra. This is the hub of island life, with a bank, some shops and a small harbour. It's a pleasant place to walk around and take in island life, visiting the local market, the Catholic Cathedral and some of the cafes that line the streets.
Day 12 : International return flight
Today you're met by your private driver for the 10 to 15 minute trip back to the airport. The flight back to Antananarivo takes around an hour. If necessary you will have the use of a day room in a city hotel before your onward flight.
Day 13 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Availability
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3,420 Audley Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Madagascar rainforest & island escape
Company Reviews
Japan , our holiday of a lifetime
Audley took into account our budget. They booked mid range hotels that were fabulous and close to train networks for ease of travel.
I cannot think of one criticism at all. The G7 summit threw up some last minute problems with our booking which Jo dealt with on our behalf , she fully consulted us throughout.
Audley ensured we had the most amazing holiday. I have no hesitation in recommending them based on my personal experience and would definitely use them again if I were to have another long distance holiday.
Excellent all round
Brilliant comminication throughout
The communication with him was excellent and though I emailed lots of questions, these were constantly dealt with quickly and professionally. The advice and support we received was faultless and greatly appreciated.
It was good to have our final itinerary both electronically and in a folder, we used both quite extensively whilst we were away.
The accommodation booked for us was lovely and we checked in to all venues without any problems.
Our trip was a huge success and will be remembered for ever.
I had used Audley before several years ago for a New Zealand trip and was very glad I returned to them for this trip.
KL & Borneo
Katie took her time to get know us and our personalities which enabled her to plan & recommend one of the best trip that we have done.
In KL, Katie chose the hotel Ruma and arranged the best room with a view of the Petronas Towers which did not exist when we visited KL on honeymoon. She recommended the Banyan Tree Horizon Restaurant for our Anniversary dinner which had exceptional views of the city.
We had a fab street food tour with Bala who went above and beyond taking us on the Metro to show us where to get the metro the next day for our own planned visit for the Batu Caves, and giving us use of his KL equivalent of the Oyster card to use on the train. His historical knowledge of KL is exceptional and you will not be bored with him as your guide.
We done KL, along with 3 different areas of Borneo (Sepilok Lodge located next to the orangutan sanctuary and not far from the rainforest discovery centre, Sukau Rain Forest Lodge along the Kinabatangan River & The Borneo Rainforest in Danum Valley) finishing off on stunning Gaya Island.
Katie was very good in grounding our expectation in sightings of wildlife as "wildlife are just that, wild" and nothing can be guaranteed. But we did actually see "Borneo's Big 5" & all in the wild not just in the Sanctuaries. The highlight being a large herd of elephants crossing the River, our guide Jafa who has guided on the river for 10 years only sees this happen 2 or 3 times a year, along with seeing wild Orangutan at Danum Valley.
Farah our guide in Danum Valley was exceptional also and her love of the Rainforest was contagious.
Finishing off at Gaya Island Resort we where truly spoilt our room was exceptional and time take to decorate a welcoming with a Happy Anniversary message, we enjoyed the spa with a lovely massage, snorkelled the coral garden and kayaked among the mangroves.
We had the most wonderful Anniversary Meal on our actual anniversary in the Fisherman's Cove Restaurant. The staff could not do enough to ensure our celebrations where as memorable as the rest of the Holiday.
Make the phone call, have the chat, listen to the advice, go with the recommendation you will not be disappointed.
I am still buzzing whenever I talk about Borneo.
This was our first booking with Audley and it will not be our last.
A Stellar Honeymoon Planned By Shea
From our first consultation, it was clear Shea was not just going to be an agent who booked flights and hotels. She took the time to get to know us, our interests, hobbies, and what we dreamt our honeymoon would be. Shea's approach was exceptionally personalised, and she sought to ensure our trip to Australia and New Zealand would be more than just a trip; it would be a unique journey tailored to us as a couple.
Her knowledge and love for these countries were evident and instilled us with confidence. Shea's impeccable attention to detail, ability to anticipate our needs, and seamless coordination skills made the entire planning process a breeze. She recommended a combination of popular tourist spots and hidden gems that only someone with her deep knowledge could provide.
The level of personal attention Shea provided was second to none. We had access to her for any queries or issues, and she handled everything with professionalism and a reassuring calm that allowed us to relax and enjoy our honeymoon completely.
Hotels were selected with meticulous attention to quality and location, and each one had a distinct charm that resonated with the local culture. Every transfer was pre-arranged, and we were provided with comprehensive itineraries, leaving us stress-free.
We cannot express our gratitude enough for Shea’s expertise, dedication, and warmth. She didn't just plan our honeymoon; she crafted an unforgettable experience that echoed our dreams and desires.
We wholeheartedly recommend Shea to any couple seeking an impeccably organized, personalized, and dream-like honeymoon. She has a gift for making your travel dreams come true, and we are so thankful that she was a part of our journey.
Safe travels, and prepare to be wowed if you're lucky enough to work with Shea.
The most memorable and wonderful holiday
I explained to Sam that the holiday was for my 60th birthday and he designed a trip that meant we would end up at a beach resort on the actual day and it was just perfect! We started in Tortuguero and then on to Arenal, Monteverde and finally Manual Antonio. Every location was so different and we loved all the hotels Sam chose. He planned the perfect amount of excursions and every day was an adventure even when transferring from one location to another, we had really knowledgeable and enthusiasic guides from their partners in CS, Swiss Travel. The attention to detail was exceptional and Sam took on board everything we had discussed in our initial conversation. He was in regular contact with us as he was planning itinerary and he went above and beyond to ensure that we had the perfect holiday.
Costa Rica was everything we hoped for and more - an amazing country with amazing people and thanks to Sam and Audley Travel we saw it in the best way possible.
I cannot recommend Audley Travel highly enough and Sam Clarke was fantastic!
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport
Group Size
Intimate Group - 12 max
Trip ID#:
audley-travel-39871
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