Madagascar

Off the Beaten Path in Madagascar

Eight nights that detour through the Avenue of the Baobabs and Kirindy's fossa forest before the beach ever comes into view.

8 Nights / 9 DaysDuration
5Cities

Most Madagascar itineraries pick two regions and stop there , road conditions and distances make a third region a real commitment, not an afternoon add-on. This one makes that commitment. It flies west to Morondava for the Avenue of the Baobabs and a walk through Kirindy Forest's dry primary woodland, before doubling back east to Andasibe's rainforest and finishing on Nosy Be's coast.

This is one of the Madagascar itineraries we've planned for a couple before , eight nights, nine days across Antananarivo, Morondava, Kirindy Forest, Andasibe-Mantadia and Nosy Be, built for two adults travelling together as part of a longer multi-country journey. It's shared here to show what a wider route through Madagascar could look like on its own. A version built around your own dates and pace would look a little different , and that's the point.

Why This Trip

Why Go Beyond Andasibe and Nosy Be

Why Go Beyond Andasibe and Nosy Be

The Avenue of the Baobabs sits a domestic flight west of the capital, and most first-time itineraries skip it for exactly that reason , it costs a day each way. This route spends two nights in Morondava instead, with a sunset at the baobabs on arrival and a second sunset there the following evening, after a morning in Kirindy Forest looking for fossa, Madagascar's largest predator, and the dry forest's own lemur species.

From there the trip loops back through Andasibe for the indri lemur's call at dawn and a night walk for the nocturnal species Andasibe is known for, then on to Nosy Be, where a full day is set aside for Nosy Iranja , two islands joined by a sandbank at low tide, with a lighthouse built in 1909 by Gustave Eiffel's firm. If you asked us: the extra two nights in Morondava are worth the domestic flight. Baobabs and fossa aren't on the standard Madagascar route, and that's precisely why they're worth the detour.

Holiday Overview

Cities Covered
Antananarivo, Morondava & Avenue of the Baobabs, Kirindy Forest, Andasibe-Mantadia, Nosy Be & Nosy Iranja
Starting Price
On Request

₹7,24,450 per adult for the full 19-night Madagascar, South Africa & Zimbabwe journey this itinerary was drawn from, including international airfare, based on 2 adults travelling together , a Madagascar-only version of this same 8-night route would be quoted separately

Best Time to Travel
Late April (dry season)
Experiences Covered
Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset, Kirindy Forest fossa walk, Andasibe indri lemur walk & night walk, Vakona Lemur Island, Nosy Be beach stay, Nosy Iranja day trip

Tap a pin to preview each stop

Trace Your Path

An itinerary designed
for every moment.

Antananarivo Day 1–2

A city tour of the Royal Palace (Rova) and the old town.

Morondava & Avenue of the Baobabs Day 2–4

Morondava, capital of the Sakalava people, with sunsets at the Avenue of the Baobabs.

Kirindy Forest Day 3

A rare surviving stretch of Madagascar's dry primary forest, home to the fossa and several lemur species found only in this ecosystem.

Andasibe-Mantadia Day 4–5

A walk through the primary forest of Analamazaotra to see and hear the indri, the largest living lemur, plus Lemur Island and a night walk.

Nosy Be & Nosy Iranja Day 6–9

Nosy Be, Madagascar's 'Perfume Island', and a full day at Nosy Iranja, two islands joined by a 2km sandbank visible at low tide.

Day By Day

Madagascar Trip Itinerary

  1. Day 1 (26 April)

    Antananarivo Arrival

    Arrival at Ivato International Airport and a transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, a city tour of the capital takes in the Royal Palace (Rova) and the old town.

  2. Day 2 (27 April)

    Antananarivo to Morondava

    A short morning city tour, then a domestic flight to Morondava, capital of the Sakalava people. In the afternoon, a first sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs, where different baobab species stand along a dirt road, including the famous 'baobabs in love', two trunks twisted around each other.

  3. Day 3 (28 April)

    Kirindy Forest

    A drive to Kirindy Forest, 60km north of Morondava and a rare surviving stretch of Madagascar's dry primary forest, home to the fossa and several lemur species found only in this ecosystem. The afternoon returns to the Avenue of the Baobabs for a second sunset before heading back to Morondava.

  4. Day 4 (29 April)

    Morondava to Andasibe

    A traditional canoe visit to the fishing village of Betania in the morning, then a flight back to Antananarivo. After lunch, a drive to Andasibe National Park via Peyrieras Reserve for reptiles and chameleons, followed by an evening visit to Lemur Island and a night walk for nocturnal wildlife.

  5. Day 5 (30 April)

    Andasibe to Antananarivo

    A morning walk through the primary forest of Analamazaotra to see and hear the indri, the largest living lemur, along with the grey bamboo lemur and common brown lemur. The afternoon returns to Antananarivo.

  6. Day 6 (1 May)

    Antananarivo to Nosy Be

    A flight to Nosy Be, Madagascar's 'Perfume Island', known for its ylang-ylang plantations and calm coastline. The rest of the day is free to settle in.

  7. Day 7 (2 May)

    Lokobe Reserve

    A boat trip to Lokobe Reserve for black lemurs and panther chameleons through lowland rainforest, with the afternoon left free for snorkelling or diving.

  8. Day 8 (3 May)

    Nosy Iranja

    A full day at Nosy Iranja, two islands joined by a 2km sandbank visible at low tide and a breeding site for hawksbill turtles. The fishing village and an 1909 lighthouse, designed by Gustave Eiffel's firm, round out the day.

  9. Day 9 (4 May)

    Departure

    A transfer to Nosy Be airport for the onward flight.

What's Included

Experiences Included.

Where You'll Stay

Hotel Stays.

Hotel stays in Antananarivo, Morondava, Andasibe and Nosy Be, with breakfast daily.

Antananarivo: Le Louvre on arrival, San Cristobal on the return night.

Morondava: Kimony Resort.

Andasibe: Vakona Forest Lodge, inside the reserve.

Nosy Be: Home La Residence for the final three nights.

The Fine Print, Handled

What Travenza Holidays
Will Arrange.

Itinerary planning, hotel reservations, private transfers, domestic flights between Antananarivo, Morondava and Nosy Be, naturalist-guided walks, park entry fees, visa assistance, and travel support for the whole trip.

Customised by travel dates, pace, and which regions earn the extra transfer time , a version with fewer regions and more nights in each is equally possible.

Ready When You Are

Plan Your Off the Beaten Path Holiday to Madagascar

Baobabs at sunset, a fossa somewhere in Kirindy's dry forest, an indri's call at dawn in Andasibe, a lighthouse on a sandbank in Nosy Iranja , the longer route through Madagascar holds a lot most travellers never see.

This is one of the itineraries we've built for a couple travelling together before, shared here to show what the trip could look like. A version built for your own dates and pace would look a little different.

Pricing on request · Fully customised for you

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