Spa town of the Highlands, rickshaws and craftwork.
Antsirabe is the spa town of the Highlands, set at 1,500 meters above sea level about 170 km south of Antananarivo. A former resort built around its springs, it is today Madagascar’s capital of the rickshaw and of craftwork: zebu horn, embroidery, miniatures and sweets are all made in small family workshops.
A rickshaw ride down the jacaranda-lined avenues, a visit to the craft workshops, the great Asabotsy market, and the volcanic lakes of Tritriva and Andraikiba a few kilometers from town.
The altitude keeps evenings cool year-round — especially from June to August: bring a fleece. Antsirabe is the first major stop on the RN7 heading south.
Adventure
Tour · East & Highlands & South
Antananarivo → Sambaina → Antsirabe → Ambalavao → Isalo via the Anja Reserve → Toward Tuléar → Anakao → Itampolo → Lavanono → Berenty → Fort-Dauphin → The East coast by bivouac → Manakara → The Pangalanes Canal → Ranomafana Park → Ambositra
Guaranteed departures
Tour · Highlands & South
Antananarivo → Antsirabe → Ranomafana National Park → Ambalavao → Ranohira → Tuléar → Anakao → Antananarivo
Tour · Highlands & South
Antananarivo → Day in Ampefy → Ampefy → Antsirabe → Ranomafana National Park → Day in Ambalavao: Lemurs and Cycling → Ambalavao → The Isalo Massif → Ranohira → Toliara → Ambola
Tour · Highlands & South & West
Tana- Morondava → Morondava → Discovering the Manambolo Gorges and walks in the Small Tsingy → Taking on the Great Tsingy → Bekopaka → Morondava → Belo sur Mer → Manja → Andavadaoka → Free day by the sea → Salary → Tuléar → Isalo National Park → Isalo → Ambalavao → Fianarantsoa → Ranomafana → Antsirabe → Antananarivo and return flight
Tour · Highlands & South
Antananarivo → Antsirabe → Ranomafana National Park → Fianarantsoa → Ambalavao → Tsaranoro Valley → The Isalo Massif → The Isalo Massif: free stay → The Isalo Massif → Seaside stay in Ankasy → Ankasy → Antananarivo and return flight
The best time to discover Antsirabe: April → October (dry season).
Recommended time on site: 1 to 2 days.
RN7 from Tana — 170 km, approx. 3 h 30 by road [TO CHECK].
Bring a fleece: high-altitude nights are cold from June to August. Visit the workshops (zebu horn, miniatures) rather than the shops. Allow half a day for Lake Tritriva and Lake Andraikiba.
