The Land of the Aye-Aye Lemur

Day 1: Arrival into Antananarivo

On arrival into Antananarivo, you will be met and greeted by our agents and transferred to the Tana Plaza Hotel for your overnight stay on bed & breakfast.

Day 2: Antananarivo / Andasibe (By train)

Embark the Micheline train for a 4 hour ride to Andasibe. The Micheline is one of the remaining old French trains in the world. Built during the colonial period, the eastern railway offers a lovely panoramic journey through lush vegetation and hills. On arrival in Andasibe, visit a Betsimisaraka village, the second largest tribe followed by a transfer to your overnight stay at the Vakona Forest Lodge on bed & breakfast.

Discover some of the 51 different Lemur varieties

Day 3: Andasibe

Drive to Mantadia National Park for a 6 hour expedition inside the Special Reserve. Mantadia is a new Special Reserve which has been recently accessible to visitors. It is very rich in wildlife and the ideal place for nature lovers to spot all different species of lemurs and reptiles. Later return back to Vakona to visit the Private Park and for your overnight stay at the Vakona Forest Lodge on bed & breakfast.

Day 4: Andasibe / Ankanin’Ny Nofy

After breakfast, drive to Andasibe National Park to see the Indri Indri the biggest lemurs of the island. This area is very unique with endemic fauna and flora. Later this morning you will head for Ankanin’ny Nofy by road and then by boat. We cross the Rasoabe Lake then the Pangalanes channel built during the colonisation day for commercial use where we can admire many birds and the lush vegetation of the east. Your overnight stay will be at the Hotel Palmarium on a half board basis.

Day 5: Ankanin’Ny Nofy

Surrounded by a large blue lake, this is the ideal place for rest and to be in contact direct with nature. Visit the Palmarium Private Park where your bungalow is also situated. This is a tropical lush park, where we can see many lemurs, orchids and a variety of flowers. There will be opportunities to take close up photos of the Indri Indri Lemur. Overnight will be at the Hotel Palmarium on a half board basis.

Day 6: Ankanin’Ny Nofy / Tamatave

After breakfast, a journey by boat along the Pangalanes channel. During this mini-cruise we can enjoy the life of the people living along the channel with their Bamboo pirogue. On arrival into Tamatave, transfer and night at the Calypso Hotel on a half board basis.

Day 7: Tamatave / Maroantsetra (Excursion to Nosy Mangabe)

Fly to Maroantsetra then boat to Nosy Mangabe, situated in the bay of Antongil. Nosy Mangabe is a nature reserve, cloaked with rainforest, set up especially to protect the Aye - Aye a rare species of lemur. The island contains an incredible variety of orchids, lemurs, birds and reptiles. In the afternoon, you will return by boat back to Maroantsetra and transfer for your overnight stay at the Relais Masoala on bed & breakfast.

The Pangalanes are a enormous stretch of smooth water goes on for 665kms

Day 8-9: Maroantsetra / Masoala National Park

Transfer across the bay to visit the National Park of Masoala which is situated in the north east of Maroantsetra followed by a full day visit of Masoala National Park with a local guide. You will be able to see the red-ruffed lemurs and a wealth of bird life for which the peninsula is famous for. Later in the afternoon enjoy some time at leisure. Your overnight stay will be at the Chez Arol on a full board basis.

Day 10: Masoala / Maroantsetra / Antananarivo

Early boat transfer to Maroantsetra followed by transfer to the airport for flight to Antananarivo. You will have the use of a day room at the IC Hotel until your flight home.

Prices start from £1778 per adult based on 2 sharing a double room excluding international flights. Arrivals for the above tour must be on Fridays, with the train from Antananarivo to Andasibe departing on Saturdays.

If you are interested in this itinerary and want more information please do not hesitate to request more information about this tour.