Voyage créé par Asisten Travel:

Day 1 Montreal / Paris (Wednesday, September 11th)

Depart from Montreal onward Antananarivo

Day 2 Paris / Antananarivo (Thursday, September 12th)

A member of our team will welcome you at the international arrival hall. Please look out for a sign with your name after you exit the restricted area with your luggages. You will then be led to your vehicule for your private transfer.

Day 3 Paris / Antananarivo (Friday, September 13th)

Antananarivo, CBD and downtown visit: Discover the city's main commercial and administrative neighborhoods, which spread out from the city's railroad station at Soarano, the Avenue of Independance and the place where used to take place the ‘Zoma’ ( friday market) , the largest open air market in the world.  You will have the opportunity to climb one of the many stairway called ‘totobato” which will lead you to the CBD, the street of jewellers and the Presidential Palace.  Antananarivo, Old City and Upper Town: We will visit the Old city and upper town of Antananarivo. The majestic Rova (The Queen’s palace) overlooks the capital from the highest point of the city. The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as of the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century.

The historic boroughs around the Rova (The Queen’s palace) have nice panoramic views on downtown. You will drive or walk the neighbourhood with your guide to enjoy he picturesque ambience of the noblemen residence area, with both well-kept traditional houses, the colonial houses, palaces, cathedrals, the charm of

the narrow, curved, upslope cobblestoned streets and ensemble of cute traditional Malagasy houses built entirely of wood. This whole package make the unforgettable ambiance of this borough.

Day 4 Antananarivo / Andasibe (Saturday, September 14th)

We start our journey towards the Eastern part of the island. After exiting the busy and colorful city of Antananarivo, we reach the Route Nationale 2, the main commercial road of the country which leads to the East coast of Madagascar and its main harbour. During our 150 km (3.5 hour) long journey, we will see

various landscapes of the highlands from small traditional villages perched on hill sides, rice fields. A twisty, steep and lush portion of the road will announce that we are entering another region of Madagascar. You will arrive in Andasibe, known for its National Park, home of the primary and secondary forest.  The Peyrieras Butterfly Farm: We will make a stop at Madagascar Exotic. This private reserve is also known as the Peyrieras Butterfly Farm, Peyrieras Nature Farm and Mandraka Reptile Farm. It is a small privately run reserve (or zoo) at Marozevo, on National Road N2, 75 km (47 mi) east of Antananarivo, between the towns of Manjakandriana and Moramanga. It was founded and owned by the French entomologist and naturalist André Peyriéras, which is why it is also known as the Reserve Peyrieras.

The collection includes many reptiles (chameleons, iguanas, geckos, frogs), Batraciens (Bats), crocodiles, papillons (Butterflies). The adjacent forest area supports families of relocated and habituated Verreaux's Sifaka and Common brown lemur which provide opportunities to photograph them close up at feeding times.  Night walk in the VOIMMA reserve: At ightfall, pick up your headlamps and flashlights for a nocturnal walk

in the rainforest. In 2012, villagers from Andasibe founded the reserve as an alternative to the governmental led national park in the neighbourhood. The local people wanted to manage their land on their own again and be a part of ecotourism in this area.

For reptiles and amphibian lovers, the reserve offers countless frogs along its crystal clear river (among them Boophis pyrrhus, Boophis viridis and madagascariensis) and several amazing chameleons Chamäleons (Furcifer wilsii, Calumma parsonii cristifer, Calumma nasuta and brevicornis) in the forest. This is also a place to find the unique satanic leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus). Bizarre insects like the famous giraffe necked weevil (Trachelophorus giraffae) are part of the forest, too.

This community-run reserve is open for night-walks to those interested to search for lemurs, listen to the frogs, or stumble across sleeping chameleons after dark.

Day 5 Andasibe (Sunday, September 15th)

The Mantadia Park: We will visit the primary forest of Mantadia. Located about 1 hour drive from our base, the primary forest of the Mantadia Park spreads over 15 000 heactares. 108 species of birds are known in the park, of which some play a role in the survival of plants like Terpsiphone mutata. We can also find 14

species of lemurs, species of reptiles among them of which the snake Boa manditra and 84 species of amphibian.  This hike requires medium to good physical conditions as there are some steep slopes and dense vegetation.  Of all lemurs of Mantadia, the Indri Indri, endemic to Madagascar, is the one that enjoys best in the park. It is the biggest of the lemurs. It likes to live in group and the research of the scientists demonstrated that this

lemur cannot be raised in captivity. Some endemic species like Eulemur fulvus, Hapalemur griseus, the smallest lemur Microcebus and Lepilemurs can be also found.  Mantadia is also a kingdom of the orchids. Cymbidiellas falcigera and Bulbophyllum ameleni are the most enigmatic species, because in addition to be rare and magnificent plants, they maintain the balance of the

forest’s ecosystem.  Vakona reserve visit: On the immense Vakona property, an island surrounded by fresh water is home to

various species of lemurs: common brown lemurs, bamboo lemurs, ruffed lemurs, diademed sifakas. This will be a rare opportunity to get upclose and interact with these primates. Amazing photo opportunities and souvenirs will be the result of that visit.  The numerous crocodiles, which used to belong to a former farm, can also be found in one of the small lake of the property. If you happen to be around on a Saturday, you may see the reptiles having their weekly feast.

Day 6 Andasibe / Antananarivo (Monday, September 16th)

The Analamazaotra special reserve: We will visit the Analamazaotra special reserve. In order to have the best observation conditions, we leave our hotel around 7:30am to reach the entrance of the Analamazaotra special reserve. We will look for biggest lemur of Madagascar's famous "Indri Indri." This lemur is endemic to the site and made his emblem. Through an easy hike lasting about 2 to 3 hours, we will search for at least

groups of Indri Indri.. We also find other species of lemurs, birds, chameleons, etc., as of endemic flora among other orchids, medicinal plants.  

We leave the region of Andasibe and begin our ascent towards the highlands and the capital. This journey will give you an impressive perspective about the difference of altitutude between the two regions. This elevation is exploited by the hydroelectric power station which you will drive by. You will arrive in Antananarivo after a 150km journey lasting about 3.5 hours.

Day 7 Andasibe / Ranohira (Isalo) (Tuesday, September 17th)

We fly to Toliara.

Toliara - Ranohira:

This is a beautiful and smooth drive along a nicely paved road. On our way, we will cross one the numerous villages formed by the sapphire rush. You will also cross a dry decidous forest and see the first baobabs on the National Road 7.

Day 8 Ranohira (Isalo) (Wednesday, September 18th)

Isalo National Park: Accompanied by your park ranger, we will hike through the canyons and oases of Isalo and its lunar landscape to reach some waterfalls. This environment was formed during the Jurassic age and where the unique flora has evolved adapting to the existing conditions. There are 77 species of birds live in Isalo among which the rare and famous Benson rock-thrush ( Pseudocossyphus bensoni ).  During that hike, we will see different species of lemurs, including the world famous ring tailed lemur. After the canyons, we will go to different places to see a panoramic view of the landscape. We will have the

opportunity to relax in this environment and swim in the natural pools.  By the end of the day, you will enjoy a cocktail in this lunatic landscape, specially prepared for you on the

small hill called "Giorgio's window".

Day 9 Ranohira (Isalo) / Fianarantsoa (Thursday, September 19th)

The Anja Community Reserve: We will spend sometime at the Anja Community Reserve, located 13 km south of the district capital Ambalavao. It is an unique environmental and cultural preservation site in the south of Madagascar. As both a nature reserve and a growing Malagasy town, Anja is an example of how

humans and nature can co-exist and flourish.  The forest in Anja was designated a protected area reserve by the Government of Madagascar in 1999.  Management of the forest was officially transferred to the local association Anja Miray and the reserve

extends over 30 hectares. The space is enriched with an ecological wealth of flora and fauna species, most notable for its dense population of semi-tame ring-tailed lemurs.  Anja has become a vital example of how community management of natural resources can both effectively protect the area and benefit the community.  Antemoro paper: In Ambalavao, we will learn the process to produce the Antemoro paper: The Antemoro

(or Antaimoro) are an ethnic group of Madagascar. This ethnic group traces its origins back to Arab settlers who arrived from Mecca in the 15th or 16th century. Upon settling in Madagascar, these Arabs converted the Antemoro to Islam; the religion was soon abandoned in favor of traditional beliefs and practices associated with respect for the ancestors The Antemoro soon developed a reputation as powerful sorcerers and astrologers, in large part owing to their monopoly on knowledge of writing, termed “sorabe”, which uses the Arabic script to transcribe the

Malagasy language.  The community's historic production of Antemoro paper, a flower-embedded paper traditionally used to

record secret knowledge using sorabe, is another major source of income as the paper is commonly exported overseas.  City Tour of the Old town of Fianarantsoa: Visit Fianarantsoa wich means "Good education" in Malagasy.  It is a cultural and intellectual center for the whole island. It is home to some of the oldest Protestant and Lutheran cathedrals on the island, the oldest theological seminary (also Lutheran). Fianarantsoa is considered to be the capital of wine in Madagascar, because of the presence of many wine industries in the city.  Fianarantsoa has been known for its political activism and students of the University of Fianarantsoa have a reputation for sympathizing with radical leftist groups.  Fianarantsoa was placed by the World Monuments Fund on its 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered

Sites. The Fianarantsoa Old City occupies a dramatic hilltop setting once topped with a palace used by the Merina royal family during state visits. While the palace is no longer there, some 500 homes built between 1870 and 1900 by those affiliated with the royal retinue still line the city's picturesque cobblestone streets.

Buildings dating from this period survived because a royal edict forbidding commoners from using durable building materials was lifted in 1868. Moreover, the Old City is the only place in  Madagascar where nineteenth-century buildings form a coherent architectural ensemble.  Some of the buildings included in this listing are still occupied by descendants of their original builders.

Day 10 Fianarantsoa / Antsirabe (Friday, September 20th)

Zafimaniry Art: The Woodcrafting knowledge of the Zafimaniry is inscribed by the UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity ( 2008) . Today, approximately 25,000 Zafimaniry live in some one hundred villages and hamlets scattered in the highlands of this region.

The Zafimaniry community is the sole remaining repository of a unique woodcraft culture previously widespread on the island. In the eighteenth century, the Zafimaniry settled in the remote wooded region of south-east Madagascar, seeking refuge from the deforestation that was ravaging much of Madagascar at that time. For generations, Zafimaniry foresters, carpenters and craftworkers have developed a body of practical knowledge and skills revolving around wood. This craft tradition bears witness to the central role of this material in all aspects of life and death. Zafimaniry proficiency in forestry and wood sculpting can be

seen in constructions and everyday objects. Practically all wooden surfaces – walls, window frames, posts, beams, stools, chests, tools – display elaborate ornamentation.  The geometric patterns are highly codified and reflect not only the community’s austronesian origins but also the Arab influences in Malagasy culture. Although the number of motifs is limited, the creativity of the craftworkers means that no two pieces are identical. These motifs carry rich symbolic significance related to Zafimaniry beliefs and values. For example, the tanamparoratra (spider’s web) symbolizes family ties, while the papintantely (honeycomb) represents community life. The ornamentation also informs about roles and social standing within the community.

Rickshaw tour: At any given hour of the day, there are more than 6000 men pulling the “pousse-pousse” accross the city. Antsirabe would not be Antsirabe without the rickshaws. Embark on one “pousse-pousse” and enjoy a short tour of downtown from the seat of the mostly used mean of transporation in the city. We

would suggest the rickshaw take you to your hotel, the location of your next meal or your next sight.

Day 11 Antsirabe / Morondava (Saturday, September 21st)

We leave the National Road 7 and take a junction which heads West ( National Road 34). On this 220km section, the altitude drops quite quickly (from 1500m to 100m ) while the tempature rises. We reach Miandrivazo, one of the hottest city in Madagascar and departing point for all excursions on the Tsiribihina river. We continue further West and before reaching Morondava, we will note the green rice fields and

baobabs in the scenary.

Day 12 Morondava (Sunday, September 22nd)

Kirindy Forest: We head to the Kirindy reserve, home of the Fosa, the largest mammal carnivore in Madagascar. Kirindy is one of Madagascar’s most threatened ecosystems: its dry deciduous forests. It is also famous for the giant jumping rat, but is also home to seven species of lemur and a number of endemic

reptiles. We will spend hours here to spot the wildlife and discover the flora. we will head back to the world famous Baobab Alley to photograph the dramatic sunset over these endemic trees.  The Baobab Alley:The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belo sur Tsiribihina in the Menabe region in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. It has been a center of local conservation efforts, and was granted temporary protected status in July 2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, the first step toward making it Madagascar's first natural monument.  Along the Avenue in some 260 m long segment are remaining some 20 - 25 trees about 30 meters in height, of the species Adansonia grandidieri, endemic to Madagascar. Some 20 - 25 more trees of this species grow in nearby rice paddies and meadows.

Baobab trees, up to 800 years old, known locally as renala (Malagasy for "mother of the forest"), are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the sere landscape of scrub but stood in dense forest. Over the years, as the country's

population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect as for their value as a food source and building material.

The area is not a national park, and the trees are threatened by further deforestation, effluent from encroaching rice paddies and sugarcane plantations, and bush and forest fires. Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the area has no visitor center or gate fees, and local residents receive little income from

tourism.

Day 13 Morondava / Antananarivo (Monday, September 23rd)

Betania village: Early in the morning and depending on the time of the tide, we embark on a pirogue and we pass through the port of Botry (traditional dhows ) and naviguate accross the mangroves. We arrive at Betania, a small coastal village of Vezo fishermen. The Vezo is the term the semi-nomadic coastal people of southern Madagascar use to refer to people that have become accustomed to live from sea fishing. They go as far as 50km away from the shores on their small pirogues without any naviguation instruments. We will see them arriving from their fishing trip. As soon as the pirogues are emptied, we watch the locals bargain for

the freshest catch of the day, picking out fresh shrimps, mackerels, tuna and sharks.  You will be transferred by air to Antananarivo so you can continue your adventure in Madagascar.

A member of our team will pick you up at the domestic arrivals hall. Once your luggages collected, you will then be led to your vehicule for your private transfer.

Day 14 Antananarivo / Antsiranana (Diégo-Suarez)

(Tuesday, September 24th)

You fly to Antsiranana. The bay and city originally used the name Diego Suarez, named after Diogo Soares, a Portuguese navigator who visited the bay in 1543. During the second world war, the city and the harbour was a strategical base for the allies. France continued to use the city as a military base after Malagasy

independence in 1960 and until the socialist revolution of 1973. It is one of the largest deepwater harbors in the Indian Ocean and It is also the second largest bay in the world after Rio de Janeiro and also has its sugar loaf called Nosy Lonjo.  The Three Bays: From the city of Antsiranana, we drive on a paved road for about 20 km and after a short 5km sand track, we do arrive at the begining of this relaxing walk. This excursion will lead you in the

succession of three bays known for their impressive rugged beauty. Each bay has a unique landscape but all have in common the turquoise waters : The Bay of Sakalava , the bay of Pigeons and the bay of Dunes.  Take the time to do some farniente at any point.  To end this excursion, we will get to Cape Miné and the Orangéa camp with its guns and fortifications that authenticate the role of the former colonial army in the region. On our way to Diego Suarez, you will send enjoy the landscape with the French Mountain ( Montagne des Francais ) and the red baobabs.

Day 15 Antsiranana (Diégo-Suarez) / Joffreville

(Wednesday, September 25th)

We leave Antsiranana and drive 45km North in the mountains to reach Joffreville. It derives its name from Joseph Joffre, the French colonel in charge of Diego-Suarez region, who established the small city in 1903 during the colonization era. It is the gateway to the Amber Mountain National park.  The Amber Mountain National Park: The Amber Mountain National Park is a volcanic and mountainous area at an altitude of between 850 meters and 1475 meters (Peak of Amber Mountain), 40 km from Diego Suarez. Created in 1958, this park, rightly regarded as a "biological treasure", aims to preserve flora and fauna unique in the Diego Suarez area. It is home to a magnificent rain forest, protected from any human impact, where a rich and prosperous complex nature. This visit will allow you to enjoy various forms of

vegetation: canarium, ficus, orchids, ferns, .... The park is home to several species of lemurs such as crowned lemur, lemur fulvus ... several species of birds and chameleons (whose brookesia, the smallest in the world) .... You will discover beautiful waterfalls and lakes and magnificent views of the far north of the island.

Day 16 Joffreville / Ankarana (Thursday, September 26th)

The Red Tsingy: We leave the National Road #6 and take junction to head to the Red Tsingy. This off-road section is about 18km and the site will be reach about 45 minutes after we leave the junction. Once on site, we will have a short and easy walk to see this unique geolgical phenomenom. Erosion of red sandstone

resulted in the formation of these ephemeral structures carved at the whim of the wind and rain. The composition of the rock enables play stunning lights throughout the day depending on the orientation of the sun. We will also stop at a view point which will allow us to take pictures over the canyons.  Ankarana National Park visit: We will have a hike in one of the other location where lime stone forests can be observed in Madagascar. The Ankarana Special Reserve in northern Madagascar was created in 1956. It

is a partially vegetated plateau composed of 150-million-year-old middle Jurassic limestone.With an average annual rainfall of about 2,000 millimetres (79 in), the underlying rocks are susceptible to erosion, thereby producing caves and underground rivers—a karst topography. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion. The park is sacred to the Antankarana people, who have historically taken refuge from encroaching enemy armies in its caves and other natural rock shelters.  Indeed the Massif contains the longest cave systems in Madagascar, and probably in the whole of Africa.  The Ankarana Reserve is an important refuge for significant populations of the crowned lemur (Eulemur

coronatus), Sanford's brown lemur (Eulemur sanfordi) and other mammal species.  We leave the region of the bays and the forests of the Amber Mountain and hit the National Road #6. We

drive about 100km through very heterogeneous landscapes of the Antakarana country. Their name means "the people of the tsingy," the limestone rock formations that distinguish their traditional territory. The Antankarana have many similarities with the neighboring Sakalava which they split off from in the early 17th century following a succession dispute.. They practice tromba (ancestral spirit possession) and believe in nature spirits. They adhere to a wide range of fady (ancestral taboos), particularly including several that serve to protect wildlife and wilderness areas. The traditional economy of the Antankarana revolved around fishing and livestock, although more recently they have adopted farming.

Day 17 Ankarana / Nosy Komba (Friday, September 27th)

Eden is more than the name of the botanical garden at Tsara Komba Lodge—it’s the very essence of this remote island paradise off the northwestern tip of Madagascar. The second biggest island of the pristine Nosy Be archipelago, and one of the most beautiful, Nosy Komba (also known as “Lemur Island”) is home to a handful of small traditional fishing villages and dotted with fragrant cacao, vanilla, and coffee plantations.  The rest is pure wilderness—a playful colony of black macaco lemurs, dense tropical forest, and a kaleidoscope of marine life below the island’s glistening waters.  Like the dazzling biodiversity that coexists on this volcanic island, the tranquil hideaway of Tsara Komba works in harmony with its surroundings. An on-site nursery incubates endemic baobab trees, and the property backs onto a private indigenous nature reserve teeming with parrots, hummingbirds, and chameleons. Tucked between forest and sea, the lodge’s thatched bungalows blend into the tropical vegetation that spill down the hillside. Private terraces look out over the ocean, where dolphins skim across the horizon. Stone paths lead past bougainvillea, papaya, and flame trees to golden beaches. With no roads on the island, everyone travels by foot, boat, or dugout canoe. The pace here is as gentle as the waves

lapping its shores.  Nosy Komba, is the hyphen between Nosy Be, the famous island perfumes, and mainland Madagascar. This

peak of the island is at an altitude of 622 meters, covered by dense tropical forest. Nosy Komba is known for its many small and inhabited beaches as well as for its emerald like water.

Day 18 Nosy Komba / Nosy Mitsio (Saturday, September 28th)

You will then be driven to Fascene to catch your speed boat to one of the islets of the exquisite Mitsio Archipelago in the north western part of Madagascar, Tsarabanjina is 40 miles from the island of Nosy Be. A trip to Tsarabanjina is like a journey in the footsteps of Robinson Crusoe softened with a few extra comforts

and the luxury of Constance Hotels & Resorts. The island will give you opportunity to walk in a tropical forest or dive in waters teeming with reefs that have never been dived before. Once in Tsarabanjina, guests will be given time to settle in their private villas on the two beaches of the island.  A trip to Tsarabanjina is like a journey in the footsteps of Robinson Crusoe softened with a few extra comforts and the luxury of Constance Hotels & Resorts. A barefoot luxury resort on a small 86-acre island where you can indulge yourself with a peaceful and relaxed holiday experience and get closer to Madagascar’s nature. Guests are free to roam around the island barefoot along numerous pathways. The

island will give you opportunity to walk in a tropical forest or dive in waters teeming with reefs that have never been dived before.

Day 19 Nosy Mitsio / Antananarivo (Sunday, September 29th)

You will take a speed boat to Nosy Be.  Fly back to Antananarivo via our national airline.  We transfer you to the international terminal, on time for your departure flight. We wish you a safe flight home. End of our services.

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