Essences of the South, without flights

Early breakfast and departure for the Malagasy Highlands, crossing landscapes of terraced rice paddies along the famous RN7 road. Free time for lunch (not included) in Behenjy, the foie gras capital, where you can sample this exquisite delicacy if you wish (tasting not included, extra cost depending on consumption). Continue to Ambatolampy to learn about the unique artisanal production of the aluminum pots found in every Malagasy home. In the afternoon, arrive in Antsirabe, a thermal spa town thanks to the discovery of its sodium chloride-rich waters, founded by Norwegian Lutheran missionaries in the late 19th century. Check-in at the hotel and overnight stay.

Early breakfast and departure for a walking tour of Ranomafana National Park. During this approximately four-hour hike, we will search for lemurs such as the Edward's lemur (Propithecus edwardsi), the gray-backed lemur (Hapalemur griseus ranomafanensis), and the variegata lemur (Varecia variegata), among the twelve species that inhabit this lush rainforest, with its tree ferns, wild orchids, and pandanus trees. The park is part of the Atsinanana Rainforests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a panoramic view of the waterfall on the Namorona River, we continue to Sahambavy to stroll through its unique tea plantations, learn about the production process, and taste its varieties (free time for lunch not included). Finally, arrival at the hotel next to the plantation, on the shores of Lake Sahambavy. Overnight stay.

Breakfast and departure for Ranohira. Stroll through the "old town" of Fianarantsoa and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the "Haute Ville" (Old Town). Continue to the village of Ambalavao, where we will discover the curious production of Antemoro paper and the Anjà Nature Reserve, an ideal place for easily observing the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), as well as chameleons and Betsileo-South tombs (the walk will last approximately one and a half hours). Free time for lunch (not included) and continue to Isalo National Park. This stage marks the end of our journey through the highlands and the beginning of our descent through the Malagasy savanna, desert landscapes, and villages that have sprung up in the middle of nowhere. Arrival at the hotel, dinner, and overnight stay.

Early breakfast and departure south, observing along the way the famous Mahafaly tombs (stone tombs with stelae carved or painted with animals and everyday scenes, mostly covered with skulls and zebu horns) and photographing the first baobabs of the south. En route, we will make a detour to visit the Tropic of Capricorn Monument, a work by the Belgian artist Bruno Decorte, who resides in Tulear, as we will be at the exact spot where the imaginary curved line of the Tropic of Capricorn crosses, and where we will be presented with a certificate acknowledging our passage along one of the great parallels of the planet. After lunch (not included), transfer to the Reniala Reserve and its baobab forest. Just 1 kilometer from the Mozambique Channel and near the picturesque village of Ifaty-Mangily, the Reniala Reserve is home to an amazing, strange, and unique ecosystem found only in southern Madagascar: the spiny forest. This particular forest forms part of the last remaining fragments of primary forest in the south. The imposing spiny shrubs are home to more than 2,000 plant species, many of them endemic, such as some spectacular baobabs (Adansonia rubrostipa), including a giant baobab 13 meters in diameter, which locals affectionately call "teapot" due to its appearance and which is said to be 1,500 years old. The reserve also boasts an entire family of endemic plants, the Didieraceae, as well as Pachypodium, Euphorbias, and others. We will take an approximately one-hour walk to observe these endemic trees of the island. Finally, arrival at the hotel and overnight stay. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to Tulear Airport. Arrival in Antananarivo and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Note: If the Tulear-Antananarivo flight arrives in the capital before 12:00 PM, a complimentary tour will be offered, consisting of a visit to the La Digue Handicraft Market, the largest handicraft market on the island and one of the largest markets in Africa, as well as a short visit to the city center, Soarano Station, and Independence Avenue. If the flight arrives between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, only the visit to the La Digue Handicraft Market will be offered. If the flight arrives after 4:00 PM, the complimentary tour will not be available.

Breakfast and transfer by regular service to Antananarivo International Airport.