Madagascar Exploration

Day 1 Antananarivo
With its cobbled hill streets, narrow wooden houses and dramatic church spires, this European-inspired city, affectionately known as Tana, has a distinctly romantic air. Explore the noisy Analakely street markets, or seek out lively restaurants and bars.

Day 2 Antsirabe Homestay
Take in breathtaking mountain scenery on the way to Antsirabe's famed thermal springs, gemstone merchants and elegant French architecture. On a village homestay chat with locals, sleep in a traditional house and try Madagascan home cooking.

Day 3 Ranomafana
Watch woodcarving artisans at work in Ambositra, then head through magnificent rainforest to the Ranomafana Lemur Reserve for a guided night trek. This 41,500ha park is home to rare golden bamboo lemurs, which were rediscovered here in 1986. Don't forget to have your torch ready and shoes with good grip, as we take a guided nocturnal walk into the rainforest. With luck, we should see different species of lemur as well as a variety of insects, bats and amphibians.

Day 4 Fianarantsoa
Set off early on another guided walk through Ranomafara National Park, following tracks through rugged mountainous terrain in search of other species of lemurs. This reserve is not frequently visited so walking through a perfectly still forest, the silence broken only by the occasional screeching call of a lemur, is sheer delight. The conditions can be hot and humid and we may leave the track and walk up and down steep jungle tracks in order to spot lemurs. Cool off during a dip in a pool fed by therapeutic hot springs.

Days 5-6 Isalo National Park
Today we visit Ambalavao, the home of Madagascar's famous natural paper, to watch locals producing paper from bark the traditional way. Here we also have a unique chance to visit the local zebu (Madagascan cattle) market and watch deals taking place against a magnificent mountain back-drop. There is time before lunch to explore the local market and also take a walk through this beautiful town.

Continuing south, the air feels drier and the vegetation becomes sparse as we pass a group of rocks known as the 'Door to the South' and climb onto the Horombe Plateau to the town of Ranohira to spend the night.

The following day we set out walking in the Isalo National Park, a vast region of wind-polished and water-scoured rock towers. The area offers excellent photographic opportunities, the possibility of seeing rare endemic plants and if we are lucky, lemurs, which add further to the attractions of this fascinating reserve. The walk will include a visit to a monkey canyon and a stop by a beautiful natural swimming pool where you can cool off in the afternoon. Some may choose to visit the lovely Nymphs Pool for another chance for a dip in crystal waters at the end of a wonderful day.

Days 7-8 Ifaty
Leaving the park, we continue on to Tulear where we have the chance to stop and marvel at some of the many Mahafaly tombs that lie along the side of the road. Madagascar is divided (like the rest of Africa) into tribal areas and the Mahafaly are amongst the most famous of them all, largely because of these extraordinary, beautiful tributes to their dead.

We travel onwards on a rough sand road to our beach resport at Ifaty. There's time to lounge on the white sands, snorkel with colourful fish or wander through the surreal spiny forest to see baobabs, aloes and euphorbia or simply just relax on sun-kissed sands. Enjoy a drink at a beach bar watching a spectacular sunset over the ocean.

Day 9 Antananarivo
Finish this extraordinary adventure by flying back to Tana. Stay longer to fully appreciate this charming capital/