Coastal trail: Western highlights and Beaches

Tsiribihina river tour and Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Adventure and relaxation in the beautiful west of Madagascar. A relaxing tour on the Tsiribihina river by comfortable motor boat. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful landscape and a wide variety of birds and wildlife. Visit our National Park ‘Tsingy de Bemaraha’ and enjoy a beautiful sunset at the famous Baobab Avenue. Then reflect calmly on these impressive nature experiences on the wonderful beaches of South Madagascar.

14 days (13 nights)

Ivato Airport (pickup) – Antananarivo City – Antsirabe – Miandrivazo – Masiakapy – Tsiribihina River Tour – Nosinapela Waterfall – Belo Sur Tsiribihina – Bekopaka Village – Tsingy de Bemaraha national park – Baobab avenue – Morondava – Belo Sur Mer – Manja – Bevoay River – Morombe – Andavadoaka – Salary – Ifaty.

Day 01:

Ivato Airport – Antananarivo – Hotel (18 km)

Tongasoa!!! (Welcome) to Antananarivo capital of Madagascar. Antananarivo means ’city of thousand’ because a thousand warriors protected it. By the end of the 18th century, King Andrianampoinimerina had taken Antananarivo from his rebellious kinsman and moved his base there from Ambohimanga. We drive to the center of the city. Overnight at Chalet des Roses hotel (standard room).

Day 02:

Antananarivo – Antsirabe (170 Kms: 3.5 hours including photo stops)

After breakfast, we will do some paperwork and then take Route National nr. 7 by a private car to Antsirabe. A good road through highlands and beautiful green rice fields. Along the way, we can stop to take photos, buy fruit or crafts etc. In the evening there is time to walk through the nice town center or take a “pousse pousse” ride around town. Overnight at Couleur Café hotel: standard bungalow.

Day 03:

Antsirabe to Miandrivazo (230Kms: 5 hours including photo stops)

After breakfast, you can wander a bit around the center of city. From 10 am we will continue our driving to Miandrivazo. We’ll be traveling through the wonderful and changing Malagasy countryside. In the evening, we can relax at our hotel in Miandrivazo where we will start our descent down the river Tsiribihina. Overnight at La Pirogue hotel: economic bungalow.

Day 04:

Miandrivazo – Masiakapy – Tsiribihina River Tour – Nosinapela Waterfall – Camping (Begidro Village)

After having breakfast, we drive to Masiakapy where we take a motor boat. From here, we will start the water river journey on the majestic Tsiribihina River. You can lie down on the boat, relax and we enjoy the beautiful landscapes, many kinds of wild animals like Herons, Wild Ducks, Parrots, some Raptors birds, Kingfishers, etc. Before noon, we across the massif of Bemaraha. It overflows with a fantastic landscape, deciduous forest with its lemurs and the marvelous sounds of birds. At noon, we will have a shower under the best waterfall of Madagascar “Nosinapela” and its natural swimming pool. After this nice waterfall, we cruise again along the river until the place where we pitch our tents. Here we will be setting camp on a sand bank, build a fire in the night and cook your dinner. Enjoy your meal and listening to the sounds of the river and watch the sun go down. Camping at night.

Day 05:

Tsiribihina River Tour – Camping (Ambatomisay Village)

Before leaving this first camping, we have a short visit at Begidro village where we have some opportunity to contact with local people or Malagasy rednecks. We cruise again along the Tsiribihina River by motor boat. Camping at night.

Day 06:

Tsiribihina River Tour -The End of River Journey – Belo Sur Tsiribihina – Bekopaka – Hotel (100 km: 5 hours)

Before leaving this first camping, we have a short visit at Begidro village where we have some opportunity to contact with local people or Malagasy rednecks. We cruise again along the Tsiribihina River by motor boat. Camping at night.

Day 07:

Bekopaka – Big Tsingy NP – Bekopaka – Small Tsingy NP

Early morning after breakfast, we drive to Big Tsingy car park (17 km: 1 hour drive).
We spend 4 to 5 hours hiking in the infinite Grand Tsingy (Andadoany’s circuit) to see 30 meters high cracks, beautiful forests, canyons with lemurs and birds. The flora is truly unique with its endemic and medicinal plants. Caves, cathedral of rocks, the infinite view on the highest roof of the Big Tsingy! At 2 pm we arrive on the campsite and have lunch at the Malagasy restaurant. After lunch we will explore the beautiful small Tsingy with Andadoany’s circuits to see labyrinth of limestone. 2 view points on the limestone’s pinnacles formation, the biggest Sifaka of the West of Madagascar called Decken’s Sifaka; Red fronted brown Lemurs, spiders, Birds. And then, we come back to the hotel. Overnight at Orchidee de Bemaraha hotel: standard room.

Day 08:

Bekopaka – Belo Sur Tsiribihina – Baobab Alley with sunset – Morondava (200 km)

We will travel back to south by 4-wheel and arrival in Morondava. Passing through again Belo sur Tsiribihina village, the sacred and ‘Baobab in love’. At 4 pm, we stop for the nice souvenirs of photos at Baobabs Alley for Sunset with Baobab trees. In the evening we will arrive in Morondava and relax at the hotel. Overnight at Les Bougainvilliers hotel: economic bungalow.

Day 09:

Morondava – Belo Sur Mer – hotel (80 km / 4 hrs)

We get ready for 80kms to drive to the beautiful little village of Sinners Belo Sur Mer; it is a famous for the manufacturing of dhows, also. A wonderful village by the sea with crystal clear water. Overnight Chez Dede hotel.

Day 10:

Belo Sur Mer – Manja – hotel (105 km / 6 hrs)

After breakfast, we drive to Manja and pass dry forest and savanna, see some type of baobab one way. Overnight Kanto hotel.

Day 11:

Manja – Bevoay River – Morombe – Andavadoaka – hotel (230 km / 8 hrs)

After breakfast, we drive towards the charming city of Morombe, passing through many small villages on the roadsides. We cross the river at the village of Mangoky Bevoay. The Baobabs are quit ubiquitous in this region of the big island. At noon, we stop having a lunch in Morombe. After 2 hours, we reach a wonderful site of Andavadoaka. Overnight at Coco beach hotel..

Day 12:

Day off in Andavadoaka

A spare time in Andavadoaka. Overnight at Coco beach hotel.

Day 13:

Andavadoaka – Lunch Break in Salary – Ifaty – Hotel (171 km / 7 hrs)

After breakfast, we continue our coastal trail. Later in afternoon, reaching the beautiful beaches of Ifaty. Overnight at Chez Cecile hotel.

Day 14:

Back to Tana by plane or 4WD by road

Here, the tours ends.