Day 1

Depart Bristol for Paris Charles de Gaulle. Overnight Radisson SAS Airport Hotel.

Day 2 Paris – Antananarivo

Depart Paris on your flight to Antananarivo, Madagascar. On arrival you will be met and transferred to hotel Le Royal Palissandre for two nights.

Day 3 Antananarivo

Half day city tour by car.

Day 4 Antananarivo – Andasibe

After breakfast, depart for Andasibe and the Vakona Lodge (three hours from Tana through lovely mountainous scenery). There will be an opportunity for a walk through the forests in the afternoon. 3 nights at Vakona Lodge.

The main attractions at Andasibe are the Perinet-Analamazaotra Special Reserve and the Mantadia National Park. Vakona is centrally situated to visit either, although Perinet is slightly more developed and able to offer better sightings of Common Brown, Eastern Grey bamboo lemurs and the Indri. The birdlife is superb and Perinet has excellent guides.

Day 5 Vakona, Perinet- Analamazaotra Special Reserve

Two full days to explore both Perinet and Mantadia Reserves, each walk hosted by an experienced and knowledgeable guide.

Early mornings in Perinet can be spent in search of the famous Indri, whose haunting cry will be heard echoing through the forest. The morning walk can be as long as you like – there are numerous trails which cross the special reserve. The birdlife is superb, and if you are interested the best guides will be able to locate the Madagascar flufftail, Madagascar wood rail, Blue coua, Blue vanga, Long-billed greenbul, Madagascar blue pigeon, Rand’s warbler, Ward’s flycatcher and Green jery amongst others.

The rest of each day can be spent relaxing around the pool, exploring the trails around the lodge. After sunset, and weather permitting, you may wish to return to Perinet for night walks in the forest which can be very rewarding.

Day 6 Andasibe Mantadia National Park

After breakfast drive up the track to Mantadia where there are numerous other trails through the forests to explore.

Day 7 Andasibe – Manabato – Akani’nny Nofy

Early departure for the drive to Manabato (2 ½ hrs). Continue by boat to Akani’ny Nofy across Lake Rasoabe to Lake Ampitambe. Akanin’ny Nofy or “the nest of dreams”, is set amidst waters and forest, and reached by crossing the Pangalanes Canal. Ankanin’ny Nofy offers you white-sand beaches, forest with orchids (according to the season), and is a botanists’ paradise. Afternoon at leisure. There will be an opportunity to visit the Palmarium. A forty six hectare peninsula gives you a unique glimpse of the Madagascar fauna and flora. There is a considerable collection of rare plants including xerophytes and orchids. Vivariums enable you to see lizards, snakes and frogs at close range. Different species of lemurs can also be seen at close range. Two nights at Les Pangalanes.

Day 8 Akanin’ny Nofy

Day at leisure.

Day 9 Akani’ny Nofy – Tamatave

Transfer by boat to Tamatave (2 hours) through the Pangalanes Canal . Transfer by car to the hotel. Two nights at Le Neptune.

Day 10 Tamatave

Day at leisure.

Day 11 Sainte Marie

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Sainte Marie. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Four nights at Princesse Bora Lodge.

Day 12 Sainte Marie

Day at leisure. Possibility of a whale- watching excursion arranged through the hotel. Other suggestions for excursions: visit to Ile aux Nattes, an islet situated to the south of Sainte Marie, visit the forest or go biking.

Day 13 – 14 Sainte Marie

Days at leisure.

Day 15 Sainte Marie – Antananarivo – Nosy be

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Antananarivo and onwards to Nosy be. On arrival at you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Two nights at the Vanila Hotel. The setting is idyllic, stunning beaches surround a lush tropical island covered with coconut palms.

Day 16 Nosy be

Full day excursion to Nosy Komba and Tanikely, small islands situated to the south of Hell Ville. Visit the lemur park and the submarine reserve.

Day 17 Nosy be – Nosy Mitsio

Transfer to the harbour and then transfer by boat to Mitsio Island. Accommodation for three nights at the Tsarabanjina Hotel.

Days 18 – 19 Iranja

At leisure.

Day 20 Nosy Iranja – Nosy be – Antananarivo

After breakfast at the hotel you will be transferred by boat to Madirokely, and then by car to the airport for the flight to Antananrivo. On arrival you will be met and transferred to the Sifaka Auberge for day use. Later transfer to the airport in time to check in for your return flight to Paris.

Day 21 UK arrival via Paris

Depart Antananarivo on your flight to Paris, and onwards to Bristol.