Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
On arrival at Antananarivo International airport you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Orchid.

Accommodation: Hotel Orchid or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant, air-conditioning, swimming pool)

Day 2: Antananarivo – Andasibe  
This morning we depart at approximately 08h00 and embark on a three hour drive through a landscape that is characterized by its rice fields and wooded hills.  We arrive in the valley of Moramanga and continue to Andasibe, where we check-in to the Vakona Forest Lodge.  This evening there is the possibility to do a night walk with a local nature guide where with the help of flashlights you can see night active lemurs (mouse lemurs), sleeping chameleons, tree frogs and other nocturnal animals. [B]

Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 3: Andasibe - Moramanga
Our morning walk leads us to the evergreen secondary forest of the Analamazaotra Reserve, which is best known for its population of Madagascar’s largest lemur, the Indri, with its distinctive call. In the afternoon we enjoy another nature walk in the Mantadia National Park, where we may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of diademed sifaka and black and white ruffed lemurs. Both parks are exceptionally rich in frogs and reptiles.  We then drive to Moramanga, where we overnight. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Bezanozano or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 4: Moramanga - Tamatave  
An early transfer takes us to the railway station in Moramanga, for our 07h00 departure by the train " Dia Soa " (meaning " good journey ") to the port city of Tamatave on the east coast.  This is the our first chance to experience the " big island " on rails.  With roughly 26 stops  the journey offer enough opportunities to take photos and meeting the local people.  We arrive at approximately 17h00 and transfer to the hotel Calypso. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Calypso or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 5: Tamatave - Moramanga 
Today we take a short city tour of Tamatave, which has wide palm tree lined avenues and a wide selection of hotels and restaurants.  We also visit the Parc Ivoloina which is rich in fauna and flora. We return to Moramanga by road passing through Brickaville where we once again overnight at the Hotel Bezanozano. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Bezanozano or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 6: Moramanga - Ambatondrazaka
After breakfast, (time permitting) we visit the police museum, stroll through the market and around this Chinese-influenced city with its many rickshaws.  At approximately 10h30 the train (Dia Soa) will depart from Moramanga to Ambatondrazaka just south of the largest lake in Madagascar - Lake Alaotra. The area around the lake is known as the rice bowl of the country as it is the most important rice producing region.  The Bandro lemur can be found on the shores of Lake Alaotra. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Belle Rive or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant

Day 7: Ambatondrazaka - Antananarivo
We continue our journey from Ambatondrazaka via Moramanga back to Antananarivo. On the way we stop at the exotic park in Marozevo which is home to many species of frogs, snakes, chameleons, geckos and crocodiles. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Chalet Des Roses or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant)

Day 8: Antananarivo – Antisirabe - Ambositra
Today we drive from the capital city via Antsirabe to Ambositra.  This afternoon we visit some of the workshops of the Zafimaniry ethnic group who are specialists in wood carving, sculptures and inlay work. [B]

Accommodation: Artisan Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant)

Day 9: Antananarivo – Antisirabe - Ambositra 
This morning we drive through the Zafimaniry area past rice fields, eucalyptus forests and Betsileo villages.   On arrival in Antoetra we take a walk through the village and visit some of the family run wood carving workshops.  We continue on to the municipality Soatanana and stop at a local village to see the production and treatment of silk, before returning back to Ambositra for our overnight. [B]

Accommodation: Artisan Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant)

Day 10: Antananarivo – Ambositra - Fianarantsoa
A pleasant drive takes us through beautiful countryside to Fianarantsoa, the “place where one learns the good ". It is the capital of the Betsileo tribe and also the centre of the Roman Catholic religion with almost 30 monasteries.  There is the option to board the local "Micheline" train for the remainder of the journey from Sahambavy to Fianarantsoa which takes approximately one hour. (Optional and for own expense). The Micheline is a wagon carriage with rubber wheels.  There are only two left in the world, one is exhibited in a museum and the other is still working in Fianarantsoa. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Soafia or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 11: Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao - Fianarantsoa  
We make our way to Ambalavao this morning to view the production of the Antaimoro-paper, which is manufactured from the bark of the Havoha-tree.  We then visit the small lemur reserve Anja, where Katta lemurs can be observed in their natural surroundings.  In the afternoon we return to Fianarantsoa. [B]

Accommodation: Hotel Soafia or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, restaurant, swimming pool)

Day 12: Fianarantsoa – Manakara
Today we depart early to get to Fianarantsoa station in time to board the 07h00 "Jungle Express ".  The train trip crosses over 67 bridges and goes through 48 tunnels, on its route to Manakara on the east coast.  At every station locals come to greet the train and the villagers sell a variety of fresh fruits, pastries and souvenirs to travellers.  The trip takes between 8 to 13 hours. [B]

Accommodation: O-Delices Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant)

Day 13: Manakara
We enjoy a day of leisure in the old fishing village of Manakara.  There is the option to take a pirogue (dugout canoe) trip on the “Canal des Pangalanes”. The canal was built during French colonization by connecting the numerous lagunas and rivers.  It has become the most important means to transport merchandise on the East Coast.  The canal’s charm comes from the procession of boats of all shapes and sizes on its waters, and the small villages on the banks. Here you can stop to see eels drying in the sun, visit local coffee factories, or talk with fishermen mending their wooden pirogues under the trees. [B]

Accommodation: O-Delices Hotel or similar (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, restaurant

Day 14: Manakara-Ranomafana- Fianarantsoa  
Today we head to Ranomafana (meaning ‘hot water” in Malagasy) where we stop to visit the Ranomafana National Park, which is without a doubt one of the most spectacular parks in Madagascar.  The park is home to twelve different species of lemur, such as the endangered golden bamboo lemur discovered only in 1986, the brown lemur and the Sifaka as well as the very rare aye-aye. [B]

Accommodation: Lac Hotel Sahambavy or similar (rooms with en-suite bathroom, restaurant)

Day 15: Fianarantsoa - Antananarivo
An early departure takes us back to Antananarivo, for a transfer to the airport in time for your flight or to a hotel if you have booked an additional night in the city. [B]