Madagascar Overland: the Route South

A classic touring holiday, this scenic road journey includes some of Madagascar's best national parks, wildlife reserves, culturally interesting sites - and a couple of days to relax at the beach. The RN7 is now fully paved!

RN7 THROUGH HOROMBE PLATEAU by courtesy of BOB HEWSON

Day 1
Depart from London on the Air Madagascar flight to Antananarivo via Paris.

Day 2
Your guide and driver will meet you for the journey south to Antsirabe, once a spa town. Visit some of the craftworkers and explore a market. Overnight at Residence Camelia, a converted colonial villa with lovely gardens.

Day 3
Ranomafana National Park is about 6 hours drive south. For the next three nights, your hotel is the Centrest Sejour.

Days 4 and 5
Two days for the Ranomafana National Park.

Day 6
Morning in Ranomafana. In the afternoon, drive to Fianarantsoa (2 hours), Madagascar's second largest city. This is where the Malagasy wine and tea estates are situated. Overnight at Tsara Guesthouse.

Day 7
Ten miles south of Fianarantsoa, Anjaha Community Conservation Site is a community run park with habituated Ringtails and dramatic scenery. Continue to Ambalavao, the southernmost of the Highlands towns. Visit the excellent silkworks run by Feedback Madagascar, where beautiful lambas (wraparounds) are made.
You then pass through an area remarkable for huge granite domes (�inselbergs�) and enter the desolate central-southern interior, domain of the Bara people. Your destination is the Isalo massif, which you approach through the Horombe Plateau. Your hotel is the fine Relais de la Reine d�Isalo.

Day 8
A day to explore the majestic scenery of Isalo. Relais de la Reine d�Isalo.

Day 9
You travel the last 4 hours of the RN7. The first stop is Zombitse Forest National Park. Two hours further south are the tombs of Andranovory. These Mahafaly and Antandroy tombs are among the most impressive in the country. You enter the coastal town of Tulear and head north to Ifaty Beach. 3 nights at the beachside Hotel Le Paradisier.*

Day 10
Early morning excursion into the Ifaty Spiny Forest. Later in the day, you can relax on the beach or go snorkelling.

Day 11
A day to relax at Ifaty - or explore the reef.

Day 12
You will be driven to Tulear airport for the flight to Antananarivo. Visit the local artisans' market and, flight times permitting, tour the city. Return to the airport for the Air Madagascar overnight flight to Paris CDG.

Day 13
Arrive in Paris in the early morning and check in for your BMi flight to the UK.

Price per person sharing: From £2175 (Jan - Mar)/ £2325 (Apr - June, Sept - Oct)/ £2590 (21 July - 16 August 2007).
Price includes:
Air Madagascar flights from London and domestic flight, airport taxes, airport assistance and transfers, transportation, reserve permits, local guide fees, all accommodation and breakfasts.

Ask us to quote for add-on fares from UK regional airports.
If you wish to depart from Paris, Milan, Johannesburg, Mauritius or Antananarivo, please enquire.

*Alternatively, you can have a more leisurely journey to Tulear on Day 9, visiting the Arboretum and visiting the sculpture garden, staying at Paille en Queue BB. On Day 10, your guide and driver take you to the port, where you say goodbye, for the 08h30 speedboat transfer to Anakao (45 minutes). Stay 3 nights at Anakao Club Resort, all meals included. On Day 13, transfer to Tulear for the flight to Antananarivo, tour the city and, in the evening, depart on the overnight flight to Paris. On Day 14, connect with the morning flight to London.
2007 Prices: From £2150 (Jan - Mar)/ £2290 (Apr - June, Sept - Oct)/ £2565(21 July - 16 August 2007) per person sharing

You can read about Relais de la reine d'Isalo in The Independent 24/11/2000.

PHOTOGRAPHS: RINGTAILS AT ANJA PARK & PACHYPODIUM IN ISALO by courtesy of BOB HEWSON; HOTEL LE PARADISIER.
[Updated 17 January 2007.]