- Discover the highlights of Madagascar, an extraordinary island with unique flora and fauna
- Visit the Alley of Baobabs at sunset to see these unusual and ancient trees in a golden light
- Hike among the towering limestone pinnacles of Tsingy National Park
- Join experienced local trackers for the best encounters with lemurs in their natural habitats
- Explore Isalo National Park, home to amazing rock formations, spectacular canyons and natural swimming holes
- Seek unusual species, such as tenrecs, indris and sifakas, in Andasibe and Ranomafana national parks
Madagascan Discoverer
16 Days
Excluding Flights From
0 Days
from
Culture
Activity Level
Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level
Classic
Itinerary
Antananarivo Antananarivo
Start Antananarivo
Our adventure starts in Antananarivo, known locally as Tana. There is a group meeting and briefing in the evening followed by an optional group dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Le Chato (or similar)
Morning city tour in Antananarivo; afternoon drive to Andasibe; guided night walk
We embark on a short bus tour of Tana this morning. With bustling markets and a hilltop ancient town with freestone churches and old royal places, it is unique among world capitals.
We then drive (four to five hours) to Andasibe, arriving around 3pm, where we visit the community-run Vondron’olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve. Here, we hope to see groups of the teddy bear-like indris in their natural habitat, while their white-headed relatives, diademed sifakas, jump between the treetops. There are also countless frogs along the crystalline river and several forest-dwelling chameleons.
In the early evening, we take a twilight/night walk and look for nocturnal lemur species.
Accommodation: Sahatandra River Hotel (or similar)
Morning trek in Andasibe National Park; return to Tana
Explore Andasibe National Park (also known as Perinet) on a four-hour wildlife walk, which covers around 3mi (5km) with a maximum ascent of 230ft (70m). The park is home to indri, the largest lemur in Madagascar, plus other flora and fauna and a wide array of birdlife.
Listening to the piercing yet melancholy cry of the indri in the morning is an evocative sound; for those prepared to follow them through the thick rainforest, the reward is often a close-up view. A group of five diademed sifaka have recently been re-introduced to Andasibe and we may spot one of these unusual creatures if we are lucky.
We return to Tana in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Au Bois Vert Hotel (or similar)
Fly to Morondava; visit Alley of Baobabs
Depart early to catch a flight west to the coastal town of Morondava, known for having one of the finest climates in Madagascar. We then pick up 4×4 vehicles in the afternoon and visit the Alley of Baobabs, where ancient baobab trees line an unpaved road known as the most scenic in the country. We then drive (two hours) on a dirt road to Kirindy dry forest reserve where we spend the night.
Accommodation: Relais du Kirindy (or similar)
Drive to Bekopaka, with a visit to Kirindy dry forest reserve
Visit Kirindy Reserve, home to giant jumping rats, seven lemur species and the fossa, an endemic creature that looks like a cat-weasel cross. Then we then drive (eight hours) on a dirt road to Bekopaka, passing baobab forests, desert and local villages, with a ferry crossing (one hour) over the Tsiribihina river. The western landscape is arid but beautiful.
Accommodation: Olympe de Bemaraha (or similar)
Morning trek in Tsingy National Park; return to Bekopaka
Depart early to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. A World Heritage site since 1990, it is best known for its forest of limestone pillars, some up to 165ft (50m) high. The karst landscape and deciduous forest are a refuge for rare and endangered species and there are more than 11 types of lemur, 90 bird species and 50 reptile species, some of which we might be lucky to spot.
Our hike takes us to the Grand Tsingy, a 3.5mi (5.6km) circular route that takes about five hours (with photo stops). We’ll hike up and downhill, over rocks, through the forest canyon, and across a hanging bridge. Along the way, we need to embrace our adventurous spirit to tackle some rock scrambling, ladders, crawling, and sliding into caves. A proper adventure! We also offer an easier walk to the Small Tsingy (€35) if you’d prefer.
In the afternoon, we head back to Bekopaka and relax at the hotel, perhaps with a swim at the pool.
Please note, while our time here is a highlight for most, it involves a demanding walk. Those who suffer from vertigo and/or claustrophobia may find parts of the trek challenging. In some places, we go through caves and narrow chasms; harnesses are used for the more challenging parts of the climb for safety reasons.
Accommodation: Olympe de Bemaraha (or similar)
Take a 4x4 to Morondava; sunset at Alley of Baobabs
Return south after breakfast, taking 4x4s to Morondava by road (10 hours) and ferry (one hour). We pass by Sakalava tribe tombs along the way, known for the unusual paintings and carvings that decorate the outside of each. We stop at the Alley of Baobabs again where we plan to spend sunset. This is the best time to see these amazing trees as the colours are spectacular, a perfect photo opportunity. After sunset, we spend the night in Morondava.
Accommodation: Renala au Sable d’Or (or similar)
Drive to Antsirabe
Today is our longest travelling day with a drive time of approximately 12 to 13 hours. We pass through the fascinating scenery of Betsiriry Plateau and the savannah plains, plus many villages along the way. We arrive by early evening. Antsirabe is at an altitude of 4,920ft (1,500m) and has a cooler climate. The warm springs and thermal baths here were a real draw in the 19th century.
Accommodation: Chambres du Voyageur (or similar)
Sightseeing tour of Antsirabe; drive to Ranomafana
We start with a sightseeing tour of Antsirabe, including a visit to craft centres. From here, we drive (eight hours) to Ranomafana. With rainforested hills and abundant wildlife, Ranomafana National Park has long been considered one of the highlights in Madagascar and is one of the most visited national parks in the country. The entrance lies about 4mi (7km) from Ranomafana village.
In addition to densely forested hills, the terrain is characterised by numerous small streams, which plummet to the beautiful Namorona River. Although much of the region has been logged, the easternmost part of the park retains relatively large areas of primary forest.
Accommodation: Centrest Hotel (or similar)
Morning visit Ranomafana National Park; afternoon visit Ranomafana village
Spend the morning (approximately five hours) exploring Ranomafana National Park with our tour leader and a local guide, hoping to spot golden bamboo lemurs, which are unique to this park, plus other lemurs, including eastern woolly, red-bellied, grey bamboo and red-fronted brown. This park is also home to other mammals including tenrecs, bats, mongoose and the Malagasy striped civet.
In the afternoon, we visit Ranomafana village, where we see typical Tanala tribe houses and the public thermal bath.
The evening is spent on a night walk along the roads in the hope of spotting nocturnal lemurs, chameleons and other animals.
Accommodation: Centrest Hotel (or similar)
Drive to Ranohira, visiting Anja National Park en route
The scenery changes dramatically today as we drive to the small town of Ranohira, a journey of approximately 11 hours. We stop in Ambalavao to visit Anja National Park along the way, a small reserve where several families of ring-tailed lemurs can be seen in the wild.
Accommodation: Isalo Ranch (or similar)
Full-day trek in Isalo National Park
Spend the day exploring Isalo National Park, a vast region of wind-polished and water-scoured rock towers, deep canyons, gorges and oases often described as Eden. If the conditions are right, we hike in the magnificent Canyon des Makis in search of cheeky ring-tailed lemurs and the Verreaux’s sifaka.
We also visit the Piscine Naturelle (natural swimming pool), a beautifully lush spot within an arid landscape, where we can swim and relax. The combination of coloured rock formations, strange plants and enveloping silence make this one of the most captivating places in Madagascar.
Please note, Isalo is a big national park. The total hiking distance is around 5.5mi (9km) and there is some driving involved – a transfer to the Canyon des Makis takes around 1hr 30min to two hours.
Accommodation: Isalo Ranch (or similar)
To west coast and beaches; overnight in Ifaty
We drive to Tulear, among the dry forests of the west and the spiny desert of the south, and we pass both the Mahafaly tombs and the Antandroy tombs, briefly observing their ornate decorations. Antandroy and Mahafaly are reputed to be the most impressive of all Malagasy tombs, with the Antandroy tombs large and brightly painted, relating to the life story and wishes of the deceased. They are also topped with the skulls of zebu sacrificed during the funeral festivity, a ceremony of great significance. Mahafaly tombs are characterised by their wooden sculptures known as aloalo, relating to the life of the deceased and their unfulfilled dreams, as well as their rank within the clan. After a brief stop in Tulear, we continue past the coastal town of Ifaty to Ifaty beach where we spend the night. Our total drive time today is six to seven hours.
Accommodation: Hotel de la Plage (or similar)
Free time for relaxation or optional activities at Ifaty beach
Today we have a free day. Running all the way around the southwest Malagasy coastline, Ifaty beach lies on one of the largest barrier reefs in the world and is an excellent venue for scuba diving. Between late June and early September, whales swim off the beautiful white beaches and the offshore islet of Nosy Ve is a terrific place for snorkelling. Protected by coral reefs, the beach and waters beyond the hotel offer a welcome place to rest.
Accommodation: Hotel de la Plage (or similar)
Fly to Antananarivo
Today we transfer to Tulear airport for our flight to Antananarivo, which typically arrives in the afternoon. Depending on the flight schedule, you may have free time to explore Antananarivo on your own.
Accommodation: Le Chato (or similar)
End Antananarivo
Depending on flight times there may be the opportunity to embark on an optional short visit to Ambohimanga, the fortified village and its royal palace. Ambohimanga, otherwise known as Blue Hills, was once forbidden to Europeans; the local kings and queens returning to this hilltop village to rest and relax. From here began the line of kings and queens who united Madagascar into one country. Ambohimanga remains of spiritual significance for the Malagasy people with ceremonies and rituals still taking place here.
A range of hotels
For this Madagascan adventure, we spend 15 nights in a range of hotels, each well located for our activities and in beautiful settings. Below are some of the standout accommodations.
Antsirabe: Les Chambres du Voyageur (night 8)
In Antsirabe, we stay at this husband and wife-owned hotel. They exhibit arts and crafts from the Zafimaniry ethnic group and there is a beautiful garden home to many endemic plants.
Near Isalo National Park: Isalo Ranch (nights 11-12)
This lodge close to Isalo National Park was one of the first hotels in Madagascar to run primarily on solar power. There are incredible mountain views and the owner has a collection of rhum arrange (rum with fruits, spices and herbs) that are available to sample at dinner.
Ifaty beach: Hotel de la Plage (nights 13-14)
With an enviable beachside location, Hotel de la Plage is the perfect destination for downtime following a thorough tour of Madagascar. Owners George and Myriam created this arrangement of simple bungalows by the beach and have hired helpful staff and a great chef to make their guests’ stay as comfortable as possible. Their son, Yannick, has a passion for water sports and knows the area very well.
Worth knowing
- Some properties are not connected to the electricity grid and use instead use generators that are turned off at night.
Trip Experts
Rija Rakotoarisoa
Expert Leader: Madagascar
Claudia Randrianasolo
Expert Leader: Madagascar
Reviews
Add your own reviewA Real Adventure with Fabulous Wildlife
Madagascar is a truly special place and this trip is a real adventure. I have heard Madagascar described as one for the “seasoned traveller” and this is pretty accurate – certainly it is somewhere that you should go with your eyes and mind open and prepare for the rugged terrain and slightly uncomfortable journeys. That said, I would not trade a thing as the experiences are all part of its charm and more than made up for by the beautiful scenery and amazing wildlife.
I loved the entire trip and thoroughly enjoyed the variety of experiences, from the slightly chaotic capital Tana, to the jagged UNESCO site of the Grand Tsingy, to the peace and tranquillity of Ifaty, all interspersed with amazing national parks and wildlife including lemurs, chameleons, fossa and owls.
We were incredibly lucky with our wildlife viewings, with red-fronted brown lemurs, greater bamboo lemur, Goodman’s mouse lemur, dwarf lemur, grey mouse lemur, sportive lemur, ring-tailed lemur, indri, diademed sifaka, Verreaux’s sifaka, Milne-Edwards sifaka and many many more. We went in October and the babies were out in force – so many incredibly playful young lemur could be seen and photographed, all apparently quite indifferent to our presence. The day and night walks were all very well organised and provided plenty of opportunity to just stand back and observe these creatures in their natural habitat. We were rarely rushed on the walks (only when the guides had heard tell of something else exciting up ahead) and the local guides were expert at finding the best angles and lighting for some great photographs, even in challenging conditions.
I found the hotels to be of a general good standard and, as a solo traveller, did not feel as though I was in any way penalised by room size or quality. In fact, by luck of the draw, in one location I ended up with the suite! We had at least warm water most of the time and the food was generally good if a little repetitive after a while. Breakfast was generally fruit, breads, jams, and eggs cooked to order. Where there was nowhere appropriate to stop for lunch, we were able to order sandwiches to go so we never went hungry on the long drive days.
Most Inspirational Moment
For me, I think watching the playful baby ring-tailed lemurs in Anja National Park, as well as the red-fronted brown lemurs in Kirindy Reserve were definite highlights, although sunset in the Avenue of the Baobabs and the epic scenery of the Tsingy both come a very close second.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Elodie was an absolute star, always making sure we were well looked after and going out of her way to get us the most out of our trip, whether it be an additional night walk squeezed in or a side trip to a local hot spring. She was so knowledgeable about the wildlife and was a brilliant spotter when we were out on the nature walks. She was very open and honest about the challenges that the Madagascan people face and just chatting to her was a real education. On top of that, she was always smiling and bubbly, even when she herself was not feeling 100%, helping us all to get through the occasional challenges that inevitably presented themselves on a trip like this (broken down vehicle, stomach issues, delayed ferry) and making this a truly memorable trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Do not underestimate the travel days. Read the trip notes in detail and pay attention to the fact that days 5,7,8,9 and 11 all include long drives on very poor roads. Madagascar is a poor country and if you go expecting western levels of comfort and road conditions, you are going to be sorely disappointed. If, however, you go with your eyes and mind open, you will get to experience a truly fantastic country full of genuinely happy and helpful people, with incredible scenery and wildlife experiences. Take plenty of Imodium or similar - I think everyone on the trip had an upset stomach at one point or another. Only around 20% of the population have electricity in their homes, so you need to accept that there are rolling blackouts and just get used to charging cameras / phones during periods of power. At the end of the day, Madagascar is a wonderful country to visit and I feel incredibly privileged that we were able to explore and experience so much in just 16 days. I would have happily stayed longer.
Wonderful wildlife
Hotels
The hotels were clean and the staff were friendly. Some of the hotels were run on solar power or generators which were turned off around 22:00/23:00. Turned back on about 5:00, remember to take a torch with you. All the rooms were a good size. Some hotels did not have hot water, although a bucket of hot water could be provided. The hotels provided bars of soap, some of which had been used by the previous occupants. Net curtains were provided in some of the hotels. I would recommend always wearing mozzie spray at all times, and taking sufficient toiletries for the duration of your trip.
The roads are awful, making all journeys long and uncomfortable. Arriving at the hotel after an early start, given our room keys and told we needed to order dinner. I understand the need for ordering as they needed to freshly cook the food. There was no time to wind down before eating.
Food
Breakfasts were simple, bread, jam, fruit, and eggs. There was enough food provided to start your day.
Lunch was non-existent on many days. Several days we had chips and cereal bars
On the occasions we did stop for lunch then it was a tourist type restaurant where the food was more like a main meal. There were no light lunches and we ended up with a plate of chips (French fries). For the majority of our journey there are no places to buy snacks. At least 4 of our journeys resulted in a picnic lunch of the bus. One hotel offered us a packed lunch of omelette or sardine sandwiches which are not to everyone’s taste.
Dinner. All bar one was taken in the hotel as there are very few restaurants around, and none outside the main towns. There was a limited choice of food in the hotels and most people on our group had upset stomachs. The food was overcooked and the meat/fish was tough.
Roads
Are terrible, potholes that you could fit a car in. The journeys on the 4×4 and the bus were very uncomfortable and the proposed journey time in the trips notes were under estimated. We had three journeys of 12 hours. The state of the roads means that after your early start to the day that you are unable to have a ‘nap’.
Transport
The bus and 4×4 were in a good condition, albeit that our bus needed to change a tyre and to fix a slow puncture. The tread on the tyres would not pass a MOT.
As we were a small group (8) then we could spread ourselves around. It did however make slow progress due to the road conditions
We had sufficient room in the 4x’s however we were thrown around due the road surface, which was mainly mud. The drivers were very mechanically minded and could fix problems on the cars and quickly change tyres.
The very long days did detract from the overall experience of the trip
Wildlife
There is abundant wildlife which our guides managed to find for us. We were able to take many, many photographs. The wildlife and in particular seeing lemurs in the wild was the main reason to go to Madagascar. There were a lot of them and we saw many different types. The mouse lemur is the cutest.
Walking
There is a lot of walking on uneven ground as the animals are living in their natural habitat. Be prepared to scramble through the undergrowth to get ‘that’ picture.
Begging
Madagascar is a poor country and not set up for mass tourism. Be prepared to see a lot of children begging for sweets and money as you travel through the countryside.
Most Inspirational Moment
Tsingy The harnesses were in good condition and were fitted on to people by the guide. The stepping rocks that you use to climb are securely bolted as were the ladders. The metal ropes that you clip onto looked new and again were securely fitted to the walls. The bridges did have a few larger spaces between the slats but were acceptable to walk across. The caves are not that large and you did need to bend or crawl through them. This is a strenuous walk but worth the effort.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sol was our guide. He was very knowledgeable about the country and the wildlife. He provided commentary whilst we were traveling, stopping the bus to show us various village activities. He joined us on our excursions providing us with information on the animals and was always happy to answer any questions.
Advice for Potential Travellers
To go or not to go This is a very interesting and tyring trip with basic amenities. The plumbing is very different to home, service station stops and ‘wild wees’ are the norm. It’s not a holiday but an adventure. However, it’s a beautiful country that needs to be seen before it changes. The wildlife makes it well worth the trip. Tips Take a torch Take Imodium Take walking type boots Take long trouser for forest type walks Take mozzie spray Take snacks Take tissues for toilet breaks. Take antibacterial hand gel
Incredible Adventure
Incredible adventure through Madagascar. While there is a lot of travel, it allows you to see all the different cultures and landscapes of the country – from the highlands to the western coast, cities and rural villages, national parks etc. There were plenty of stops along the way for toilet breaks, and culture stops. We were never uncomfortable but you do have to go with an open mind and just go with the flow. We went for the wildlife and this didn’t disappoint – we saw so many different lemurs up close and all of the guides were fantastic to point out all the different animals Our tour guide, Claudia, was amazing and so helpful throughout the entire tour. Our group was very enjoyable and we all had a similar mindset.
Most Inspirational Moment
- Tsingy National Park: this was an amazing hike. It was very hot during the day (38C) but with plenty of breaks and water it was very memorable - Wildlife: So abundant and incredible to see, from all the lemurs (ring-tails, sifaka, indri, red-fronted brown, fork masked, mouse, bamboo) geckos, chameleons (lots of chameleons!), fossa, plenty of birds and owls - Isalo and ranomafana National Parks - Alley of the Baobabs
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia was amazing and very accommodating of our group. She was always laughing and had a smile on her face, despite all of our questions and different requests. She had plenty different tricks and tips to keep us all happy, including early starts to get ahead of other tours, where best to stop and pick up different souvenirs, and plenty of stories and advice about our travels.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go with an open mind and take some time to slow down (Mura-Mura!) Madagascar goes on its own time, we never had to wait too long for anything but there was always something to watch or soak in the culture. I would definitely have packed more long sleeves and loose flowing clothing. While it was warm it was also very sunny and the longer clothing was better for the rainforest hikes, night walks and when there was no shade. Make sure to bring your regular travel medications (imodium, motilium, antihisamines, bite cream, electrolytes etc). I used a bit of everything at one point and you're better to have it than need it. Everyone's tummy was a little upset at some stage or another but nothing to cause too much concern. The food isn't too exciting but still tasty - most dishes come with boiled rice and vegetables. Make sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, head torch and travel pillow. I used these 24/7 and were very appreciated. I also had a small fan to help keep me cool. I had a 70-200mm camera lens. The wildlife gets lovely and close so anything bigger isn't really needed. I stocked up on plenty of batteries and memory cards as power isn't always a given. We had short outages most nights (keep your headtorch handy!) I had a small power bank to keep my phone charged for videos during the days. Some of the hikes are a little tough with some high steps or climbing, so any preparation before with your fitness will help make it more enjoyable. There are plenty of stops for wildlife and water breaks so you never feel too pressured.
Madagascan Discoverer 16 day tour
In general the trip was good. I enjoyed the scenery. We had a small group, only 7 people which was good. If there had been the full 16 guests, the bus would have been far too small. I loved seeing the Lemurs and the various treks that we did, especially the Tsingy. The hotels were very basic, quite disappointing in many places. The hotel at Ifaty Beach (La Plage) was the worst that we experienced. It is neglected, dirty, very poor quality beds, my room was musty, the fans didn’t work, the bedside lights didn’t work, we were there for two days and had no hot water. There was a smelly dog in the public area. The covers on the sun loungers were dirty. As a solo traveller, as usual with Exodus, I got the worst room, that is compared to what the couples in the group get. One hotel we stayed in, (Les chambers du Voyageur) the room was so small, I couldn’t open my suitcase inside the room, unless I put it right up to the entrance door of the room! There was no wardrobe, no place to put anything, so I had to put my rucksack on the bed beside me, I didn’t want to put it on the floor. The breakfasts were also very poor, quite often stale bread and an omelette made with just one egg! There was no toiletries in any of these hotels, just soap! The other big negative for me, was the extremely long drives on such poor roads. We had breakfast each morning and within minutes of eating, we were on these really bumpy roads. As a result, we all had stomach problems throughout the trip. One day we were on the bus for 13 hours and for the final five hours, we never stopped, neither to stretch our legs nor for a comfort stop! If the bus was full with 16 people, it would have been close to torture!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the lemurs up close and doing the Tsingy walk.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia was great, quite inspirational and with a great personality. She too had some medical issues during the trip but she kept going and behaved very professionally. She also had a personal tragedy to deal with, but we never suffered because of the things that were going on in her personal life. She was wonderful, we loved her.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be very aware of the long journeys on such poor roads. For me this was a daily torture.. I hated the long bus journeys..! I think that the level of activity rating for this trip it not correct. The Tsingy walk was not for the faint hearted. I was well able for it, but it was tough for others. If I were to go again, I would take old clothes with me and donate them to the locals at the end of the trip. My clothes got really dirty on this trip! I would also take some goodies for the many children that we encountered along the way (Pens, pencils, note pads, yoyo's for hair, anything that would be light to carry!). I can't recommend this trip to any of my friends, because any of my friends wouldn't be able to cope with the long days and the long journeys. I appreciate that it is a big country and if you want to see it you have to travel. It was quite exhausting. One day we left our hotel at 05:30...!
Reply from Exodus
We’d like to thank you for your review, Mary, and we are heartened to receive your comments about your tour leader, Claudia, which have been passed on. On the other hand, we were sorry to hear that you were disappointed with several other aspects of your holiday, particularly the accommodation. Hotel standards in Madagascar are known to significantly contrast those in Europe and this, alongside our literature description of simple yet comfortable lodgings, usually sets our customers’ expectations accordingly. In order to keep the trip attractive, whilst still affordable, we use the best quality mid-range properties in the country, and, though they may not be everyone’s preference, we have not previously received feedback to suggest they are not meeting the mark. In fact, one of our staff members recently undertook this trip and relayed that even the most basic hotels featured clean rooms, reliable electricity and constant water, which is not always a given in this part of the world. We understand that the lack of toiletries is part of an effort to reduce plastic waste, which honours our commitment to travelling responsibly, but we are sorry if the soap you were provided was insufficient. Whilst paying a single supplement does not guarantee a superior room, rather one for sole occupancy, we were regretful to learn that yours were somewhat cramped. Our local manager has advised us that room types do not vary at any of the properties we use, other than between doubles and twins, and we’ve not received this type of feedback in the past, which we find reassuring. Nevertheless, we wouldn’t wish to downplay your disappointment and we’ll closely monitor the reviews we receive going forward to ensure that we are continuing to please our solo customers, who we greatly value. One of the selling points of this trip is that it covers many of Madagascar’s highlights such as the Alley of the Baobabs and Tsingy De Bemaraha National Park, although this does translate to some lengthy drives on underdeveloped roads, which we realise is not ideal. Tour leaders are encouraged to incorporate as many rest stops as possible, to break up the journeys, but it is not always safe to stop by the roadside, which means that long stretches are inevitable. Should your comments become more commonplace, we will certainly consider redesigning the itinerary to incorporate rest days, which we hope shows that we are willing to make changes to our tours to enhance our customers’ experiences. We sincerely hope that you retain some fond memories of Madagascar overall and that you continue choosing Exodus for your travel plans.
John Penge, Product Manager
Only in Madagascar, a real adventure!
I’ve wanted to visit Madagascar for some time, mainly to see the lemurs and to visit the giant baobab trees, but there is so much more to Madagascar, it has to be one of the most amazing and unique places I have ever travelled to! Everyday there was something new and exciting to experience. This is a fast-paced trip and you are always on the move, with quite a lot of long drives on poor roads, but I have to say it’s totally worth it, you just have to embrace it as part of the adventure. Even during the long drives the landscape is constantly changing, we travelled through cool rainforests, paddy fields, sandy beaches, canyons, deserts, spiny forests, rivers, and some really the fascinating towns and villages.
Most Inspirational Moment
We had great wildlife spotting - lots of opportunities to see lemurs in the wild and hearing the call of the Indri in the morning in Andasibe is just magical. So many highlights! The night walk in Kirindy was my favourite of the night safaris, and getting to the top of the Tsingy, was an unexpected yet terrifying highlight! The most unique though has to be the ‘ferry’ crossings on the Tsiribihina River – only in Madagascar!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The whole trip ran smoothly thanks to Claudia, our fabulous guide, who spent most of the trip checking ahead to make sure that everything was organised for us. She always kept us informed of all aspects of our itinerary and managed everything so that we didn’t waste time, particularly when ordering meals, wearing the right clothes for each activity, finding us good shopping spots (and bush toilet stops). She is also very knowledgeable about the country’s history, wildlife, food and we all enjoyed her talks on the Malagasy culture - which is also quite unique! Also all the local guides were fantastic and very engaging, they gave great detail and interesting explanations especially of the endemic wildlife, only to be found here. We had some amazing trackers seeking out lemurs, chameleons, mongoose and the tiniest of geckos and frogs. I was travelling with my sister and we both felt we had a great group too, lots of fun, like-minded people, who really added to enjoyment of the trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read the trip notes thoroughly as they are full of really useful tips and information! My own top tips – definitely do laundry on two-night stopovers – everything gets very dusty! A travel pillow is doubly useful for both bus and flights! Make sure you take a head-torch for the night and cave walks. Stock up on snacks for long drives and I also recommend trying the local beers and infused rums! If you want five-star accommodation and amazing cuisine, this is not the trip for you. You’ll get a comfy bed and (generally) hot water, sometimes limited wi-fi and electricity, a limited (but cheap) menu of well-cooked meals of zebu/chicken/fish and rice.
Madagascan Discoverer
A fantastic adventure holiday. Yes the days are long with a lot of travelling, but the rewards along the way more than make up for it. The spotters ability to find lemurs, chameleons, frogs, geckos, etc (even in the dark!) was unbelievable. Our guide, Claudia, was one of the best guides we’ve ever had. The landscapes are varied and the people are lovely.
Most Inspirational Moment
Our day at the Tsingy. We saw lemurs and other animals as we walked through the forest, we enjoyed the via ferrata climb and were rewarded by the view from the top of the Tsingy.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Claudia, our guide, was absolutely excellent, one of the best we've ever had. She was super organised, knowledgeable and great fun.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a spirit of adventure. As per the trip notes, there are some long drives, but the wildlife and other activities more than make up for it.
Madagascan Discovery review
This trip fulfils its promise of seeing Limas in their natural environment. However the country is extremely poor. All the sealed roads are riddled with potholes and the dirt roads are rough. Electricity is hit and miss and there are no street lamps even in the cities. Piped water is a rarity, Meat is butchered locally and sold from wooden huts (no fridges). If you survive this trip without diarrhoea then you are extremely lucky
Most Inspirational Moment
Lima watching
Thoughts on Group Leader
Generally excellent
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take extra care of hygiene
Madagascar
“Madagascan Discoverer” was a truly wonderful, very enjoyable, multi-faceted trip with a really excellent guide, Rija. I am writing this review to inform future customers about 1 less-than-good aspect because it might be a safety issue for some people booking this holiday. In addition, Exodus has failed to respond to the comments I made in my on-line post-holiday evaluation about this, so I do not know if Exodus has read the evaluation and is going to do anything to improve the situation. My criticism relates to the harnesses provided for the walk in the Grands Tsingy. Mine was too big for me, even when the smallest harness the company had was adjusted to the smallest possible size. This same problem also affected another person in the group. Both of us are slimmer than most other British adults. Fortunately, neither of us fell and came to any harm. If we had fallen and had had to rely on the harnesses to keep us safe, there would have been the potential for an accident or injury. If you are slim or if you have children who are intending to do the Via Ferrata in the Grands Tsingy, please consider bringing your or their own harness(es) that fits you/them. A harness that does not fit the wearer is of little use. I climb regularly and know how important this piece of equipment is and how a proper fit is necessary for safety. This deficiency on the part of Exodus is made worse because I had actually queried with Exodus BEFORE the trip whether I should bring my own harness to Madagascar. The reply that the Exodus rep gave me was that we would not be doing Via Ferrata and there was no need for the harness. This reveals that the Exodus representative does not know her product: we definitely did a Via Ferrata and we used climbing equipment. Other than this failing, and one or two things which were beyond the control of Exodus, the holiday was very good, hugely interesting and varied and I had a great time. I fully recommend this holiday and in particular, commend Rija for her excellent guiding.
Most Inspirational Moment
See above.
Memorable Madagascar
This trip gives you a glimpse of an incredibly varied country rich with unique wildlife and landscapes. Yes the roads maybe a bit bumpy 🙂 but you soon forget that when every day you see so many endemic lemurs, sifakas, chameleons and, if you are lucky, a fossa. The tour leader Rija is the best that I have ever met on an Exodus trip. Her vast knowledge and infectious passion made the trip even more special and memorable.
Most Inspirational Moment
Each type of forest -rain, spin and dry offered something different but they don’t prepare you for the spectacular limestone forest at Tsingy. Simply stunning. .
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be prepared for delays on the internal flights !
A bladder stretching, inspiring, bumpy, simply amazing adventure!
This is not a trip for anyone seeking a rest. The days are long and you aren’t going to get a nap on the bus unless you nab a front seat or can sleep literally anywhere. However, you will get to see some absolutely amazing creatures in the wild that you will not see anywhere else, see the magnificent baobabs, fake baobabs and fake fake baobabs and find yourself in more different landscapes and climates than you can reasonably expect in one country. So many people have told me Madagascar is on their wish list but, until you have been there, you can not imagine it. They need all the tourism they can get in order to help more locals understand how conservation can actually benefit them and, with the rarity of species that Madagascar has, the sooner you go, the better.
Most Inspirational Moment
I admit to getting tearful at my first sighting of an Indri in the wild - these animals do not survive in captivity. And actually finally getting close enough to a mouse lemur for me to see it with my own eyes - I could have watched them all night ( as they didn’t pay any heed to us). And, of course, actually getting up ( and down) the Tsingy. And the photos of the Alley of the Baobabs at sunset still take my breath away.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rija is simply fantastic. She exudes passion and knowledge for her country and its peoples and nature, always seeking ways for us to understand more or have the answers to our questions. I particularly appreciated how she sought ways for us to interact with the locals so that we could all gain from the experience. She is very thoughtful, seeking to consider everyone’s particular preferences or circumstances and maintaining a sense of humour through out that is positively delightful. However, the test of a good guide is when things don’t go to plan and we had a little bit of an unscheduled extension to our trip. Rija was calm, clear and reassuring and, even when we had no idea when and how we would get home, we were happy to trust her judgment. I trust Exodus to treasure their relationship with Rija, she is an ambassador both for Exodus abs Madagascar.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a good torch and spare batteries. I hadnt realised just how many hotels do not have 24 hour electricity and I used my torch for pottering around inside my bungalows at night much more than for the night walks! The roads in Madagascar rival any I have seen anywhere else in the world for poor condition. But Dama, our main (modest) driver is capable of taking that bus anywhere. On the other hand, I was pleasantly surprised at the standard of hotel and food throughout the trip. There is an opportunity to do laundry after a week. All hotels we were in had WiFi at reception when they had electricity on and some had sufficient connection to support WhatsApp calls... how times have changed.. I suffer from vertigo and I managed the Tsingy ( with the help of my fellow travelers) - and I am glad I did. This trip ends with an internal flight back to the capital. When the trip notes say that internal flights can be unreliable, take that very seriously and don’t plan anything you really can’t miss for the days immediately after you get home just in case. Exodus did a brilliant job in getting us back as soon as they could, just like we knew they would.
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Thursday Wednesday
22 May 2025 21 May 2025
Friday Friday
06 Jun 2025 06 Jun 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3599Now £ 3249Saving £ 350 Usually £ 4479Now £ 4129Saving £ 350
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 425
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
26 Jun 2025 25 Jun 2025
Friday Friday
11 Jul 2025 11 Jul 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request) Only 3 spaces left!
Land Only Trip Price £ 3599 £ 4979
Optional Single Supplement +£ 425
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 3 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
21 Aug 2025 20 Aug 2025
Friday Friday
05 Sep 2025 05 Sep 2025
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3599Now £ 3229Saving £ 370 Usually £ 4479Now £ 4109Saving £ 370 Book with £ 807 deposit Book with £ 1027 deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 425
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
04 Sep 2025 03 Sep 2025
Friday Friday
19 Sep 2025 19 Sep 2025
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3649Now £ 3379Saving £ 270 Usually £ 4549Now £ 4279Saving £ 270 Book with £ 844 deposit Book with £ 1069 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 425
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
18 Sep 2025 17 Sep 2025
Friday Friday
03 Oct 2025 03 Oct 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request) Only 1 space left!
Land Only Trip Price £ 3699 £ 4579 Book with £ 924 deposit Book with £ 1144 deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 425
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
25 Sep 2025 24 Sep 2025
Friday Friday
10 Oct 2025 10 Oct 2025
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3679Now £ 3399Saving £ 280 Usually £ 4549Now £ 4269Saving £ 280 Book with £ 849 deposit Book with £ 1067 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 425
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
02 Oct 2025 01 Oct 2025
Friday Friday
17 Oct 2025 17 Oct 2025
Availability Sold Out
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3649Now £ 3449Saving £ 200 Usually £ 4549Now £ 4349Saving £ 200
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 425
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
09 Oct 2025 08 Oct 2025
Friday Friday
24 Oct 2025 24 Oct 2025
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3699Now £ 3499Saving £ 200 Usually £ 4579Now £ 4379Saving £ 200 Book with £ 874 deposit Book with £ 1094 deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 425
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesThursday Wednesday
23 Oct 2025 22 Oct 2025
Friday Friday
07 Nov 2025 07 Nov 2025
Availability Guaranteed (On Request)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 3649Now £ 3449Saving £ 200 Usually £ 4549Now £ 4349Saving £ 200 Book with £ 862 deposit Book with £ 1087 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 425
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and can be booked, although some components will need to be requested. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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Madagascan Discoverer
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