From the Land of Volcanoes to the Pangalanes Canal

Flight to Antananarivo, dinner on board, evening arrival at Ivato Antananarivo airport.
Program developed with Air France.

We take the scenic road westward, passing through the traditional villages of the Central Highlands. As we continue our journey, magnificent volcanic cones gradually come into view. Upon reaching the shores of Lake Itasy, we settle into the charming little town of Ampefy.

Due south, a beautiful mountain road takes us to Faratsiho, via Soavinandriana. We cross a succession of rich agricultural valleys nestled to the west of the Ankaratra massif.

The landscapes are superb, with every shade of green displayed as a palette on the hillsides and rice paddies in the valley bottoms where cassava, sweet potatoes and potatoes are cultivated.
Faratsiho is a large town built against the foothills of the Ankaratra mountains. The town overlooks a magnificent rice plain.

We reach AAntsirabe and, once there, we take time for a city tour. Here, the rickshaw is king, it's the favorite mode of transportation for Antsirabe residents.

We continue our journey towards Manandona where we settle into a rural guesthouse, managed by a local community where the inhabitants welcome us warmly.

Basic comfort, outdoor sanitary facilities and bucket shower.

Starting from the lodge; we set off on foot to discover the typical environment of the Highlands. Nestled at the foot of the mighty Ibity massif, the Manandona Valley is rich and prosperous. The land here is also very generous and rice is the main crop.

After gaining elevation by following good trails crossing the foothills, we return to the valley to meet the inhabitants. All are rice farmers and own zebu cattle, some raise silkworms, others are blacksmiths, basket weavers or carpenters. Traditional craftsmanship is omnipresent.

Our guides are part of a local association for the development of the region. They will be able to tell you about their activities, customs, traditions and development.

Second night with a local family.

Duration: +/-5h00 of hiking / Distance: 13 km

After breakfast, we leave Manandona Valley to continue south. We cross the highlands and visit the town of Ambositra, the famous capital of wood craftsmanship. Meeting with marquetry artisans: in their workshops, they display remarkable imagination and ingenuity in creating marquetry items and wood sculptures.

After lunch, we continue our journey towards Ranomafana and its national park hosting a multitude of lemur species, which we will visit the next day. We reach the village in the late afternoon.

We then cross the Vatovavy region, a mountain range that is full of different stones such as emerald, ruby, and amethyst.

We reach the small, quiet town of Mananjary, a producer of vanilla, coffee, and clove, on the banks of the Pangalanes Canal.

We leave our driver-guide here, who will turn our vehicle around to meet us upon our arrival in Manahoro, at the end of our cruise on the Pangalanes. We will be taken care of by the English-speaking guide and the barge crew during the navigation.

After breakfast, departure for the river cruise on the Pangalanes Canal.

The Canal stretches along the East coast of Madagascar between Farafangana in the south and Foulpointe in the north. This waterway, 665 km long, is much safer than the very tumultuous Indian Ocean.

On this aquatic boulevard, we encounter barges, "bush boats" (river bush taxis), dugout canoes and rafts transporting local products shipped to the nearest cities, including bananas and other seasonal fruits, cassava, fish, dried ravinala leaves for thatching huts… Spontaneous greetings and joyful cries from children on the banks accompany us throughout our navigation. We are spectators of unusual and unforgettable scenes of life.

After breakfast, embark on board the boat and progress towards Ampanalana via a small canal.
Fishing pirogues cross us in this verdant network of lakes and lagoons that form the Canal.
The passage of the mouth of the Mangoro River, several kilometers wide, constitutes one of the highlights of our stage today.
After wonderful encounters and magnificent discoveries, we will arrive at the end of our navigation, in the middle of the afternoon.

We meet our driver-guide again. Transfer to the hotel and installation in our bungalows.

After breakfast, embarkation on board the boat then progression towards Ampanalana by a small canal.
Fishing pirogues cross us in this verdant network of lakes and lagoons that form the Canal.
The passage of the mouth of the Mangoro River, several kilometers wide, constitutes one of the highlights of our stage of the day.
After wonderful encounters and magnificent discoveries, we will arrive at the end of our navigation, in the middle of the afternoon.

We meet up with our driver-guide. Transfer to the hotel and installation in our bungalows.

Departure to Andasibe after breakfast. Between dense forest and the Pangalanes Canal, the road winds between narrow valleys. Stop at the tropical fruit stalls of Antsampanana. We have lunch there before continuing to Andasibe, towards the central East of the country in the heart of humid tropical forest.

After breakfast, drive to Antananarivo, which we will reach by late morning. We rediscover the typical landscapes of the Highlands, the earth becomes redder and the traditional houses of the Imerina in red brick and rammed earth gradually replace the wooden houses of the Betsimitsaraka.

Arrival late morning at Paris CDG.