MORONDAVA and the region of ANTANANARIVO

 15 days/14 nights-minimum 2 persons

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day 1: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Departure from Milan or Paris Antananarivo with final destination. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the ROYAL PALISSANDRE or similar. Dinner and overnight in Hotel.

2nd day: ANTANANARIVO MORONDAVA

Departure with destination Morondava. After a few hours we will reach the famous Road of Baobab to reach the city, the capital of the region of Menabe, important small maritime port. The town is populated by ethnic and local Sakalava Vezo, an important Indo-Pakistani community whose presence is marked by the massive Grand Mosque that dominates the city. Arrival and accommodation at hotel Le Baobab Café or similar. Dinner and overnight in hotel.

 

 

3rd day: MORONDAVA - BELO SUR MER

Breakfast and transfer from Morondava to Belo sur mer, a small and isolated fishing village on the lagoon. A true paradise for lovers of sun and diving: large white sand, palm trees and a turquoise blue sea. The construction of Schooners is one of the specialties of the population of Belo. All-inclusive stay at the hotel La Marina Belo or similar.

 

 

 

4th day: BELO SUR MER - MORONDAVA

Breakfast, Transfer from Belo sur mer to Morondava.
All-inclusive stay at the hotel Le Baobab Café or similar.

 

 

 

 

5th day: MORONDAVA - ANTANANARIVO

Breakfast. Lunch in a local restaurant.
Depending on the time of the flight, transfer to the airport in Morondava and flight back to Antananarivo.
Welcome and accommodation at the hotel Royal Palissandre et Spa or similar.
Dinner and night at hotel.

 

 

 

6th day: ANTANANARIVO - AMBATOLAMPY - ANTSIRABE

Breakfast and departure on the road linking Antananarivo to Tulear in the Mozambique Channel. The road passes through landscapes embedded between rice paddies and hills from the typical red soil in addition to the characteristic villages that surround the "hauts plateaux" (the Highlands). We stop in Ambatolampy, extraordinarily fragrant town from various spices: eucalyptus, pines, giants cypresses, filaos. Ambatolampy is at the Centre of a region rich in sites of great interest and beauty. Thanks to a relatively high altitude, the city enjoys a temperate climate. Lunch at restaurant "RENDEZ-VOUS DES PECHEURS". The villagers cultivated land by drawing with the help of large buckets to prepare rice paddies in anticipation of the rainy season. The fields are literally clinging to hillsides. Typical dwellings are brick red soil or with droppings of Zebu dried and coated with clay, which guarantee a good insulation throughout the year. Along the way, children selling cars in miniature with colourful tins manufacturing recovery. Suddenly, from nowhere, appears a herd of Zebu with its pastors, they walk hundreds of kms.to reach the markets. Some Bara, belonging to some ethnic groups in the South, is running for days to reach the market in Antananarivo. Continuation to the South and in the afternoon arrival at Antsirabe. The city is situated in a fertile plain surrounded by high mountains with an average altitude of 2,500 metres, in a recently extinct volcanic area. Is a famous spa and is also known as the "city of water". Important for its culture of fresh products and carbonated mineral water which is called "visy gasy". Antsirabe is also the capital of the "pousse-pousse" (cart for two passengers or freight pulled by a man, normally barefoot), means of transport are still widely used by the population. The city is completely surrounded by hills alternating with green paddy fields. Rice is sown and cultivated in small square spaces called "tanin-ketsa". Rice cleaning and dust from the Peel is done exclusively by women. Dinner and overnight stay at the HOTEL DES THERMES or similar.

7th day: ANTSIRABE - AMBOSITRA - ANTSIRABE

Departure in the direction of Ambositra, whose name means "where there are many oxen". The landscape is more mountainous. The territory is populated by the ethnic group of Betsiléo, whose women wear colourful costumes. We stop and shopping in one of numerous Studio specialized in engraving and wood carving. Normally the artisans working at home, small and cramped premises or, sometimes, in the courtyard, under a tree or a shed that protects them from the Sun. The proximity of the Zafimaniry and great region of the East have made it the capital of wood and especially of "maqueterie" (boxes and paintings engraved and inlaid with a mosaic of different coloured Woods, represented by figures of ancient and modern) cultural influence Zafimaniry and Betsiléo is found in traditional motifs and geometric elements of everyday life.

 

8th DAY: ANTSIRABE > ANDASIBE  

Breakfast and departure for Andasibe, situated in the heart of the primary forest: a mix of typical landscapes. Stop and visit of Madagascar Exotic Park, here we can see many chamaleons, geky, frogs, butterflies and insects of many species. Lunch in a local restaurant. Arrival at hotel Vakona Forest Lodge or similar.
Free afternoon to visit the East Tropical forest. Night visit at the Vakona private reserve to meet the night lemurs. Dinner and night at hotel.

 

 

9th DAY: ANDASIBE RESERVE> ANTANANARIVO

Breakfast, departure for a pedestrian path to the lemur village of Indri-Indri. Guided tour of the reserve: observe the fauna and flora, typical of the high lands Malagasy, the special reserve of Andasibe presents all the characteristics of a tropical humid forest. Sighting of wild fauna and flora is facilitated by paths between the valleys and to observe the lemurs, particularly the INDRI, defined as the biggest specie. There is also the possibility to discover many other animals and birds. Arrival in Manambato. Dinner and night at hotel Le Royal Palissandre & Spa or similar.

 

 

10th day: ANTANANARIVO

Breakfast and departure to visit Rova d'Ambohimanga. Ambohimanga,blue hill, "colline bleu", is an historical site where the ancestries of Andrianampoinimerina ruled, he unified Imerina. The palace was built in the XVII century. Ambohimanga is the most famous of the 12 holy hills, world heritage since 2001. Return to town for lunch in a local restaurant. Antananarivo city tour in the afternoon. Built on top of a hill, dominating the ruins of the Queen's palace, the city extends on the surrounding area. Digue handicraft market and boutique visit. Dinner and night at hotel Le Royal Palissandre & Spa or similar.

 

 

11th day: ANTANANARIVO > NOSY BE

 Breakfast, transfer to airport for Nosy Be.
Meet and greet and transfer to hotel.

 

 

 

12, 13, 14th DAY: NOSY BE

Free day at hotel.

 

 

 

 

15th DAY: NOSY BE – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Breakfast, transfer to airport for Nosy Be. Embarkation for final destination.

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