The New Southern Route

120 km / Paved road / About 2h30 of driving depending on stops Breakfast, then we set off on an orientation tour of the capital. In the morning, we explore the capital aboard a 2CV. A stroll through the city's historic and famous districts, including the Queen's Palace. Our historical and cultural visit continues with the Photography Museum and Fondation H, Madagascar's first museum of contemporary art. Lunch on your own. Then we head west towards Ampefy. National Road 1 is the most beautiful on the island. It crosses magnificent landscapes of rice paddies and hills. We'll take time to stop at the small markets and typical villages along the way, for immersive experiences. Arrival in Ampefy in the late afternoon. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Farihy Hôtel or similar.

Overnight: Farihy Hôtel — Half board

After breakfast, we take a short drive, then set off on an approximately 3-hour walk through former volcanic craters now filled with lakes. The route crosses magnificent plantations and traditional villages. The view from the heights is stunning. We return to the village after the walk for lunch. In the afternoon, we set off to discover Virgin's Islet, considered the geographic center of Madagascar. We enjoy a panoramic view over Lake Itasy, covering 3 500 hectares, the third-largest lake in Madagascar Lunch on your own. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Farihy Hôtel or similar.

Overnight: Farihy Hôtel — Half board

160 km / Paved road / About 4h of driving depending on stops In the morning, on the way to Antsirabe, we leave the Itasy region to reach Vakinankaratra. These are two volcanic highland regions, each as fertile as the other. We cross fertile fields and magnificent volcanic dome scenery. This unusual leg is the new route to reach National Road 7. Arrival in Sambaina, where we meet Sylvain, a trained ethnologist, astrologer and traditional healer, a highly respected figure in the region. He is also a passionate guardian and promoter of ancestral traditions. With great open-mindedness and an exceptional general culture, time spent with Sylvain is always fascinating. About 2h of walking, for an immersive homestay experience. Lunch included at Sylvain's. Continue to Antsirabe; on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Souimanga Hôtel or similar.

Overnight: Souimanga Hôtel — Half board

250 km, paved road with a stretch in poor condition, about 6h of driving with stops Breakfast, then departure from the hotel for an orientation tour of the town of Antsirabe. An industrial town famous for its thermal baths and its rickshaws, Antsirabe stands out for its grand colonial buildings and wide avenues, a legacy of missionaries and settlers. Meet and share with skilled artists and craftsmen working with zebu horn or wood, making miniatures, as well as embroiderers. We then continue on to Ambositra, a multi-ethnic trading crossroads where you'll find masters of fine woodworking. After a short stop, we go to discover carvers and marquetry craftsmen in their neighborhoods — skilled and friendly artisans who will be happy to welcome us into their workshops. We continue on to Ranomafana National Park. Ranomafana lies between Betsileo country and Tanala country, the land of the forest people. The region takes its name from its iron-rich thermal spring. This water has various properties. The town is the starting point for all excursions into the National Park. Lunch on your own. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Hôtel Thermal or similar.

Overnight: Hôtel Thermal — Half board

65 km, paved road, about 2h of driving with stops Early in the morning, a guided walking tour of the Ranomafana forest. Ranomafana National Park is covered mainly by humid tropical forest and montane forest. It's home to a remarkable biodiversity, with abundant and varied wildlife including the golden bamboo lemur, as well as rich and lush vegetation thanks to the climate and its many waterways. Up to 3h of walking, up to 200m of elevation gain, easy walk, hiking trail. We take the road to Fianarantsoa after the visit. Lunch on your own in Fianarantsoa, then on through the vineyards of Betsileo country to Ambalavao. After a few visits in town, we continue driving to the outskirts to reach the lodge. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Betsileo Country Lodge or similar.

Overnight: Betsileo Country Lodge — Half board

A short transfer by car, or on foot, to Anja Reserve. This small gallery forest at the foot of an impressive granite dome is home to several colonies of ring-tailed lemurs. Several species of reptile and bird can also be observed here. Finally, it's also a sacred mountain, home to ancient burial sites that are now places of worship. 2 to 3h of walking in the park. (Add 1h30 more if you choose to walk to the park) Transfer to your hotel for lunch, on your own. Free afternoon: on foot or by bike, set off to explore the valley surrounding the lodge and enjoy magnificent mountain scenery, terraced rice paddies and a traditional village. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Betsileo Country Lodge or similar.

Overnight: Betsileo Country Lodge — Half board

We leave Ambalavao and continue our route south, with a picnic lunch prepared by us along the way. A change of climate and scenery marks the entrance to the Deep South. Rocky massifs, some of them sacred, now shape the landscape. We pass through the legendary Gates of the South and cross the Ihorombe Plateau. We're now in the heart of Bara territory. We continue on to Isalo, arriving there at the end of the day. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Le Relais de la Reine or similar.

Overnight: Le Relais de la Reine ★★★ — Half board

A day dedicated to visiting Isalo National Park. Transfer to the park entrance for a hike across the massif's most beautiful sites. We first reach the natural pool via a trail that winds through magnificent rock walls hiding Bara tombs. Stops at a few viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramas over the massif. After the swim, we resume the hike along a ridge line on the eastern side of the massif, ending at the cirque and the Namaza forest. With a bit of luck, we'll come across a few groups of lemurs. For the more energetic, the walk continues to the black pool and the blue pool, then to the Nymphs' Waterfall. About 5h of walking, 350 to 500m of cumulative elevation gain, moderate difficulty level, hiking trail. Equipment to bring: hiking boots or sturdy trainers, sun protection, insect repellent, water bottle. Picnic lunch prepared by us. About Isalo National Park: Madagascar's oldest geological formation reveals its secrets. This continental, ruiniform sandstone massif dates back to the Jurassic period. Its highly distinctive geomorphology, sculpted by erosion, offers a spectacle of colors and shapes... Considered the second-largest national park in Madagascar, it holds extraordinary riches in terms of biodiversity (endemic rock-dwelling vegetation such as aloes, euphorbias, pachypodiums and kalanchoes) and a distinctive wildlife. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Le Relais de la Reine or similar.

Overnight: Le Relais de la Reine ★★★ — Half board

243 km, about 4h of driving, depending on stops Departure for Toliara. We pass through Ilakaka, known as Madagascar's sapphire mining region. Possibility of a guided visit to the town's sapphire mine. We continue on, taking in the typical vegetation of southern Madagascar: aloes, baobabs, euphorbias, as well as the magnificent Mahafaly tombs. Lunch on your own. Arrival in the afternoon, check-in at the hotel, rest of the day free Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Auberge de la Table or similar

Overnight: Auberge de la Table — Half board

1h boat, 65km of dirt track, about 1h30 After breakfast, transfer by car to the jetty, then by boat to Anakao. Welcome by the Domaine d'Ambola team, then on along a smooth dirt track to Ambola. The village of Ambola is nestled between a magnificent lagoon and Tsimanapetsotsa National Park – The area is home to several ethnic groups, including the « Vezo » (fishermen), the « Tanala » who work the land, the Mahafaly and the Antandroy… A wealth of different and diverse cultures. Rest of the day free (relaxation, visit to the Vezo fishing village of Ambola, beach, snorkeling, dugout canoe outing…) Lunch included at the Domaine. Dinner, overnight and breakfast at Domaine d'Ambola or similar.

Overnight: Domaine d’Ambola — Full board

19 km of dirt track, one way The morning will be dedicated to discovering Tsimanapetsotsa National Park, a lake saturated with calcium sulfate. We set off on a 2h circuit through the heart of the Mahafaly limestone plateau. We explore a baobab forest, home to a range of specimens including giant baobabs, as well as pachypodiums and other plants endemic to the region that also dot our route. Observing these plants shows us the various techniques they've developed to cope with drought. We also discover caves, some of which are home to blind fish living in dimly lit crevices. Abundant wildlife is also present in the park: land birds, reptiles, tortoises, and we may even be lucky enough to come across the famous radiated tortoise « Geochelone radiata » Return to Ambola, rest of the day free. Lunch, dinner, overnight and breakfast at Domaine d'Ambola or similar.

Overnight: Domaine d’Ambola — Full board

65km of dirt track, about 2h of driving depending on stops Breakfast at the Domaine, then a visit to the ABC Domino Association. The association works mainly in education, and takes action for the environment, health and hygiene. In a few figures: it has 113 staff, 3538 children in school (primary, middle and high school) with a 100% pass rate for the Brevet and 96% for the Baccalauréat. You'll first visit the first school established in Ambola, opened in 2006, where, at the start of the 2021 school year, 576 children were welcomed by 12 teachers, then the ABC Domino Complex in Efoetsy, comprising a middle school and a high school – 618 children welcomed by 22 teachers in 2021. Afterwards, we continue by 4X4 along the dirt track to Anakao, and the Altra Faccia de la Luna: this unusual eco-lodge guesthouse is unlike anything you may have experienced before. Different in its setting too, as it's built on the Ankilimionga lagoon, 8km south of Anakao. Its 2 Lodges and bungalow, perfectly blending into the surrounding nature, overlook a dune and offer a breathtaking view over Ankilimionga Bay. Spacious, they're built from natural materials to reduce their impact on the environment. This makes it an excellent way to stay sustainably while recharging in an exceptional, entirely natural setting at the heart of nature. Lunch, dinner, breakfast at Domaine d'Ambola or similar.

Overnight: Domaine d’Ambola — Full board

1h by car and 1h by boat Departure at dawn (around 5am) along the dirt track to reach Anakao, where we board again for Toliara. Depending on flight times, transfer to Tuléar airport (about 4h drive), then flight to Antananarivo. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.