Madagascar: The Lost Continent Tour with 32 Reviews by Explore

15 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Ends

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Highlights

Search the rainforest for the world's largest lemur

Endemic wildlife of Ranomafana

Sapphire mines, savannahs and canyons of the remote south

Itinerary

Step onto Madagascar’s "Lost Continent" and embark on a 15-day journey crafted for experienced explorers. Travel from Antananarivo’s lively markets through volcanic highlands, lush rainforests, and arid deserts, seeking out rare wildlife like lemurs and chameleons. Visit national parks, hear the Indri lemur’s call in Andasibe, and unwind on Iftay’s paradisiacal white-sand beaches. The USP? This adventure tour package expertly combines immersive wildlife encounters, dramatic landscapes, and local cultural interactions, delivering the ultimate exploration of Madagascar’s unique biodiversity and vibrant traditions.

day 1 - Join trip in Antananarivo

Our tour starts today in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo (also known as Tana). Built over 12 hills, the city is a tapestry of old and new with French colonial buildings, modern offices and apartment blocks vying for space.

For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to arrive in Antananarivo at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Ivato International Airport (TNR) which is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you might like to get to know Tana at your own pace. Take a walk to soak up the capital's colourful landscape, its houses stacked one upon the other down the sloping hills of the highlands.

Accommodation:Hotel Au Bois Vert (or similar)

day 2 - Morning drive to Andasibe Reserve; afternoon and evening wildlife walks

We have an early start to kick off our trip, leaving the city at around 7am this morning. We'll drive to Andasibe village, sometimes referred to by its French colonial name; Perinet. Although only eight square kilometres, Analamazoatra Reserve in Andasibe boasts nine species of Lemur, including the Indri Indri, whose morning calls can be heard piercing through the forest. After lunch, we'll trek in search of the Indri families in the area. Although the paths are often easy to follow, sometimes pushing further into the bush is required to spot these exquisite creatures in the trees, so it'll be an adventurous walk to kick off our two weeks searching for lemurs.

This evening, after dinner, we'll head out again with a local national park guide in search of the smallest of the lemur species, the mouse lemurs. Although nocturnal, these creatures can often easily be spotted along the one-kilometre roadside route that we'll follow this evening. As well as spotting tiny lemurs, it's common to see colourful chameleons, frogs and exotic insects.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Feon'ny Ala Bungalows (or similar)

day 3 - Morning walk in Analamazoatra reserve before a free afternoon

Listen out this morning, as often the Indri's calls can be heard throughout the forest and surrounding village areas, including our accommodation! We'll be up early to drive to the nearby Analamazoatra reserve. Mantadia and Analamazoatra reserve are both part of the same precious forest ecosystem but due to continuous deforestation in the area, they are now separate parks. We'll spend around four hours searching for the black and white ruffed and Diademed Sifaka lemurs, as well as taking the opportunity to spot some birdlife.

After a busy morning searching for wildlife, we'll return to Andasibe for lunch. Then, this afternoon, there will be an optional visit to the small sleepy village of Andasibe itself where we can walk amongst its quiet streets and drop in on its market.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Feon'ny Ala Bungalows (or similar)

day 4 - Full-day drive to colonial Antsirabe in the Central Highlands

We have a long travel day ahead of us today, so we'll set off early in the morning. We'll head south to the spa town of Antsirabe with plenty of comfort breaks and a stop for lunch.

Antsirabe's cool climate made it a favourite spot with European missionaries and French colonialists, and their influence is still present in the colonial architecture and churches. Set in the Central Highlands, the town is a clash of cultures with fading, ornate colonial architecture, colourful rickshaws pedalling up and down the streets and souk-like stalls selling goods to both local residents and visitors.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Couleur Cafe (or similar)

day 5 - Morning walk at Lake Tritriva; afternoon drive to Ambositira. Traditional Malagasy meal

This morning, we'll drive to the volcanic Lake of Tritriva. Local myths and taboos surround this mysterious lake which seems to have many guises, changing colour from one day to the next. We'll take a short walk to the crater's edge, where we can relax and take in the view. There'll be a short amount of free time to walk further if you'd like to.

From here, we'll continue our journey to Ambositra, where we'll visit some of the local woodcarvers. Their woodwork pieces - depicting Malagasy life and detailed marquetry work - are well-known for their fine standard of craftsmanship. Tonight, we'll visit a local development guest house to enjoy a traditional Malagasy meal and see a folk dance. By visiting here, we directly support an important base for the development of health projects, agriculture and the empowerment of women within the local community.

We'll return to Ambositra for our overnight stay.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation:Artisan Hotel (or similar)

day 6 - Full-day scenic drive to Ranomafana National Park

Before we depart from Ambositra this morning, we'll visit a woodcarving artisan market at the Ivato Centre.

The drive to Ranomafana will take up most of the rest of the day, however, the winding roads pass through rugged landscapes, rural villages and endless rice paddies, and along the way, there will be comfort breaks, plus a lunch stop at Vohiposa. Towards the end of the drive, we'll head down from the highlands and into the rainforest.

The Ranomafana National Park is Madagascar's third largest national park, established after a new species of lemur named the Golden Bamboo was found here in 1987. The lush forest area is also known for its hidden waterfalls and the Namorona River which flows through impressive gorges, flanked on either side by tropical rainforest. If you can't wait to explore it, this evening there is the option to join a night walk to the outskirts of the park (see the budgeting section for more details).

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation:Centrest Sejour Hotel (or similar)

day 7 - Spend the morning exploring Ranomafana National Park on foot in search of lemurs and birdlife

After an early wake-up call, we'll enter the park for a morning walk in the hope of spotting the Golden Bamboo Lemur, which is endemic to the forests in South-Eastern Madagascar. It's the only location in Madagascar where we can see all three species of Bamboo Lemur, namely the lesser Bamboo Lemur, the greater Bamboo Lemur and the Golden Bamboo Lemur which gets its golden colour from the cyanide compounds found in the bamboo it eats.

Depending on how lucky we are finding lemurs, we'll spend around three to four hours trekking along the forest trails in search of wildlife. As well as the Bamboo Lemurs, we might have the chance to see Red-Fronted Brown Lemurs, Red-Bellied Lemurs and Milne-Edwards Sifaka. Most lemur species are sadly now endangered, the last survivors of a once abundant family of primates, now confined to pockets of forest and bush throughout Madagascar. Deforestation has taken a heavy toll on these arboreal creatures - it's estimated only 80 species remain. With luck, we might also spot the Malagasy boa constrictor, chameleons, the black parrot, cuckoo roller and many other birds.

The afternoon will be free to relax or to go on an additional optional walk within the park for the chance to spot the species not already seen during the morning.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation:Centrest Sejour Hotel (or similar)

day 8 - Drive to Isalo National Park (Ranohira)

Returning to the main road this morning, we'll continue south via the regional capital of Fianarantsoa. Leaving the highland plateau and descending through superb mountain scenery to the plains, we'll pause at the Ambalavao paper workshop before arriving at Anja Community Reserve. Here, we'll have the chance to watch troupes of ring-tailed lemur among the granite boulders.

Continuing south the pine trees thin out and the fertile soil of the highlands gives way to drier savannah, cactus, termite mounds, and the dust of the midsouth. We'll finally reach our destination late in the afternoon; Ranohira, situated on the edge of the Isalo National Park.

Meals:Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Relais de la Reine (or similar)

day 9 - Explore Isalo National Park 'Madagascar's Grand Canyon'

One of the highlights of our trip has to be Madagascar's Grand Canyon in Isalo National Park. Dervla Murphy, in her book Muddling through Madagascar, describes the terrain as 'Landscapes that are literally incredible. You don't believe it. You think you're hallucinating. How can wind and water have done all this?'.

Natural erosion has produced fantastic canyons and bizarre outcrops of wind-blasted sandstone and we'll head out on a walk to take it all in. The walk will last around 90 minutes, along dry, dusty paths with a slight ascent to a natural oasis pool known as Piscine Naturelle where we'll stop for a picnic lunch. After eating, we'll continue exploring to see the tombs of the Bara people and the sparse, dry forest species of dwarf-like baobab.

This afternoon, there'll be the opportunity to take an optional walk with a local guide to Namaza to see the Cascade des Nymphes. We'll meet again as a group to enjoy the sunset with a sundowner in the hotel grounds overlooking the park.

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Relais de la Reine (or similar)

day 10 - Drive to Ifaty through the Spiny Desert, stopping at Mahafaly Tombs

This morning, we'll continue our journey south for about five hours. The temperature rises as we lose height and head for the coast, crossing the savannah plain that's dotted with herds of Zebu cattle.

The south of Madagascar is largely desert and obscure cactus-like plants, unique to the island, smother the land giving the area the name the 'Spiny Forest'. We'll stop at Zombitse National Park, where we'll stretch our legs on a two-hour walk through the remarkable dry forest which is home to many birds, including black parrots, the Madagascar buzzard and the cuckoo roller. There's also the opportunity to spot the shy ring-tailed lemur here.

As we continue our drive, we'll pass by several fascinating Mahafaly Tombs before reaching the costal town of Ifaty once an important port of call for Dutch and English ships plying the trade routes during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Le Paradisier (or similar)

day 11 - Morning activities at the coastal town of Ifaty. Free afternoon to enjoy the beach

After breakfast this morning, we'll have a chance to enjoy Ifaty Beach, a small resort on the west coast. We'll slow down here and have time to enjoy the white sand beaches. You might like to take a stroll along the beach dotted with fishing vessels, relax by the hotel pool or take a stroll in the spiney forest which is rich in birdlife.

Meals:Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation:Le Paradisier (or similar)

day 12 - Full day at Ifaty

Today is free to relax or explore the area. Ifaty Beach is a huge sandy bay which looks out over a lagoon protected by a barrier reef up to seven kilometres (four miles) from the shore. Traditional fishing villages are scattered along the bay and fishing is still done in sail-powered outrigger canoes. There is an excellent forest walk in the Reniala Reserve just inland from the beach area, where strange spiny forest can be found and some of the most attractive of the endemic bird species, such as the long-tailed ground roller, sub-desert mesite and sickle-billed vanga.

Meals:Breakfast & Dinner

Accommodation:Le Paradisier (or similar)

day 13 - Fly to Antananarivo

Depending on the flight schedule, we'll either have a very early start or a more relaxed morning in Ifaty, our tour leader will advise what time we need to leave.

We'll fly from Toliara back to Antananarivo airport from where it's a short transfer to our hotel. As the time of the domestic flight varies, the rest of the day is free to relax.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Au Bois Vert (or similar)

day 14 - Visit Madagascar's oldest palace, Ambohimanga, and take in the views across the city

Today we'll absorb the atmosphere of the capital city but before heading into the chaos of its bustling streets, we'll first drive out of the city to explore the oldest palace in Madagascar, situated on Ambohimanga, a forested hill, north of Antananarivo. It was from this fortress that the Merina, a highland tribe, first established an effective administration and military command under King Andrianampoinamerina. The fort boasts the original king's hut and later European buildings, and from this high vantage point you can take in magnificent views over the fertile rice fields below, the surrounding hills and the city in the distance.

We'll stop somewhere for a lunch break, before returning to the city later this afternoon, and if traffic allows, there will be time for some last-minute shopping in Tana before our final dinner of the trip.

Meals:Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation:Hotel Au Bois Vert (or similar)

day 15 - Trip ends in Antananarivo

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Antananarivo.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Antananarivo at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Ivato International Airport (TNR) which is around a 15-minute drive from the hotel.

Meals:Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel Au Bois Vert (or similar) (3 nights)Feon'ny Ala Bungalows (or similar) (2 nights)Couleur Cafe (or similar) (1 night)Artisan Hotel (or similar) (1 night)Centrest Sejour Hotel (or similar) (2 nights)Hotel Relais de la Reine (or similar) (2 nights)Le Paradisier (or similar) (3 nights)

Meals

14 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 7 Dinners

Transport

Driver(s)Flight

Guide

Explore Tour LeaderLocal Guide(s)

Others

Ranger(s)Minibus

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Madagascar: The Lost Continent

4.8

based on 32 reviews

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4.66/5

Excellent based on 805 customer reviews from

Karen

Excellent booking process. Easy to do online - simple and straightforward plus the 1 query I did have was quicckly solved due to customer service being on hand to help

17 hours ago

NicolaVerified Traveler

Sep 30, 2025

5.0

5.0 out of 5

This was an excellent holiday which happily we returned from some days before the UK advised against all travel to Madagascar. Hopefully problems will be resolved enough for people to go in the future. Our tour leader Armand was truly excellent. Our bus driver and assistant did a great job on awful roads. Our group was a lovely group of 9 guests and worked well together. I was amazed how many lemurs we got to see and how close. The forests, reserves and parks are very good and the guides excellent. The evening walks were good as well as the daytime ones. The Tritriva crater lake and the Ranohira canyon area are spectacular and not to be missed. There were chances to experience local culture and see some dancing. The cultural evening at Ambositra was particularly good. I chose the optional snorkelling trip followed by lunch on the beach and can recommend these highly. The hotels are typical of Explore, pretty good on the whole but not top of the range. Minor niggles occur in the odd place such as only one towel for a couple, poor bar service etc. but mostly very good. The best hotel was Relais de la Reine near Ranohira, both for location and service. Most of the others very good too. But Artisan hotel at Ambositra had a very pokey little room and Feon'ny Ala Bungalows at Andasibe was truly awful with leaky plumbing. I would recommend taking a head torch with plenty of batteries and not just for evening walks. Most of the hotels have their own generators but don't always run them the whole time the electricity is off. Even when the electricity is on the lighting is often poor so the head torch helps. The food I found was generally excellent quality but often the portion size was rather big for me. I used a watertogo filter bottle to drink tap water from and bottled water for cleaning teeth and used regular hand sanitiser especially after handling money and I didn't suffer any stomach bug, though a few people did. A unique holiday - put it on your bucket list!

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