Visiting Madagascar in 10 days is far from enough to see the island, but since it’s sometimes all we get, I’ll show you how to make the most of it. This itinerary takes you to the two biggest cities in the central highland, to one of the best national parks in the country, and ends up with four nights on a paradise island.
You travel from Antananarivo in the central highland to the east. During these ten days, you will see city life, culture, craftsmanship, rainforest, plenty of lemurs (no guarantees, but chances are good!), and stunning white beaches surrounded by turquoise water. It is the perfect itinerary for those who want to get a feel for Madagascar’s diversity – both in terms of flora, fauna, and people – and chill by the beach for a few days before returning to everyday life.
Let’s take a look!
Day 1: Travel Day
Your first day is a travel day. You jump on a plane from home and arrive in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. Antananarivo is a horribly long word to pronounce, so in daily speech, we call it Tana. Much better!
From Ivato airport on the outskirts of Tana, you can take a taxi or have your hotel arrange a transfer. Both are perfectly safe, but a transfer will definitely give you more peace to enjoy the beautiful view of the rice fields as you move toward town.
Depending on your time of arrival, you can take a breather at your hotel or go for a walk in the city. If you arrive after dark, please stay inside. Antananarivo is a densely populated city and it’s the center of Madagascar’s many challenges. During the daytime, you should not worry when walking around (but avoid displaying too many valuables), but during dark hours, even the locals are uncomfortable walking the streets.
Day 2: Antananarivo
Wake up and take your time getting ready to explore the city. Antananarivo is a big city. You won’t have time to see it all. If into history, there are a few large monuments and a castle worth visiting. Are you a culture freak such as myself, take a trip to the local market. Getting close to the locals is the best way to get a feel for their everyday life and customs. The way of life is very different from how we know it in the Western world, so a culture shock is guaranteed during the morning. You’ll love it!
If you get hungry, try one of the food trucks on the street. Many serve a variety of bread, pastries, and meaty snacks such as samosas. They have a cake called Menakely that I highly recommend. It looks like a handmade donut, and it is a true mouth orgasm when freshly baked.
One experience I always try to push people towards is Ambohimanga. Ambohimanga is an old Merina castle outside of town, and it is a great place to learn about Malagasy history, religion, and culture. Plus, it’s located on a hilltop with an amazing view. You need to book a tour or take a taxi to get there. Booking a tour is the best option as you’ll have a guide to unload your questions on.
Enjoy Tana, because tomorrow you move on!
Day 3: Tana —> Andasibe
It is time to get your nature on. You are heading to Andasibe, after a few hours of driving toward the east. In that short drive, you are promised to see cities, villages, mountaintops, and rainforests. It’s quite an adventure.
Andasibe National Park is a rainforest. And an absolutely beautiful one. It is one of the most visited National Parks in Madagascar. Partly because of its close location to Tana, and partly because it is generous with its wildlife views.
When you get to Andasibe in the afternoon, you have time to freshen up at the hotel before going on a night walk. Night walks in Andasibe are by the roadside where you are likely to see plenty of wildlife. Especially the Chameleons are easier to spot at night, as they turn white in the darkness. Bring a flashlight, and preferably a raincoat. You never know how the weather acts in the rainforest.
When you get back to the hotel it’s time for a lovely dinner to the vivid sounds of the rainforests, which are impressively loud. No need to bring your white noise speaker!
Day 3: Andasibe
Today is a day walk in Andasibe National Park. This is the day on your itinerary in which you get to go ballistic over the many endemic species in Madagascar. It’s marvelous, to say the least.
Andasibe is an enormous reserve and is home to thousands of species. When arriving at the entrance, you get a guide (mandatory). Together you begin the walk in the forest. The Sifaka, the Vari, and the Brown Lemur are likely spotted in the forest. If you’re lucky, you can hear the Vari call up close. They are incredibly verbal lemurs, and each family’s call can be heard every hour. The Sifaka and the Brown Lemur are both water-drinking species meaning that you once in a blue moon get to see them on the ground. Cross your fingers!
Apart from the lemurs, it’s crawling with colorful frogs, birds, and lizards. While the chameleons are tough to spot due to efficient camouflage, they are everywhere when first you get your eyes tuned into them. And let’s not forget the flora. Andasibe has an abundance of beautiful exotic flowers and trees. Many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.
After the walk, you have time to relax at the hotel or walk in the villages around it. There are several good restaurants in the area, and even a nightclub if that suits your mood. Relax and enjoy the clean air, because tomorrow you leave for the city.
Day 4: Andasibe —> Antsirabe
Today you move from the east and back to the highland. This time not to Tana, but to the interesting artisan city Antsirabe. Antsirabe is the center of craftsmanship, and its settings are stunning. Furthermore, it’s a farming area as the climate is perfect for a large variety of crops.
As you close in on the city, you quickly realize the agricultural complexity. Antsirabe is at a high altitude with steep mountainsides. Farmers have built their fields in plateaus, and the view of colorful stairs down the mountain is just breathtaking. The industrial level in Madagascar is low, and most of the farming is done by hand or with the help of Zebus. When driving through the outskirts of Antsirabe you get to see all of that in action.
When you arrive after a few hours, you have time to freshen up the hotel and take a walk in the area around your hotel. For dinner, allow yourself to visit some of the good restaurants in the area. Tomorrow you explore the city.
Day 5: Antsirabe
Welcome to Antsirabe. Antsirabe is the most captivating city in the central highland, and today you see why. Start with a walk in the city center, and perhaps enjoy a tour in a rickshaw from one of the charming squares. A rickshaw is a carriage motored by people. They’ve been used to transport people and goods for centuries.
When done browsing the city, you should visit some of the factories where you can find crafts in many shapes. In the Zebu Horn Factory, you can see how Zebu Horn is turned into utilizes, plates, buttons, hair ornaments, and much more. It’s an interesting handmade craft. Other places worth exploring are the stone factory, paper factory, and silk factory. All the above-mentioned are happy to show you the process of their particular craft, and if you plan on bringing home souvenirs, these are the places.
You quickly spend an entire day enjoying Antsirabe, and enjoy it while it lasts. This is your last cultural day before leaving for your paradise island vacation.
Day 6: Antsirabe —> Tana —> Fight to Sainte Marie
Today you wake up, pack your things and drive to the airport in Tana in time to catch your plane to Sainte Marie. Leave in good time to make room for delays due to traffic in Tana. If you have time to spare when you get to the airport, have a good meal in Ivato (the suburb in which the airport is located).
The flight to Sainte Marie is about an hour, so no need to get too comfortable on the plane. When you arrive at Sainte Marie airport, say welcome to paradise.
Sainte Marie consists of two islands. Il Sainte Marie and Ile aux Nattes. Il Sainte Marie is the bigger one where the airport and main city are located. Most of the hotels, restaurants, and city life in general, are located in the southern part of the island. But the North should not be forgotten. The unspoiled nature in the northern part is ravishing.
Ile aux Nattes is a small island located South of Ile Sainte Marie. The distance from Ile Sainte Marie to Ile aux Nattes is less than 200 m. by Pirogue. Ile aux Nattes differs a great deal from Sainte Marie. It’s a true paradise island. No roads, no tuk-tuks, no street lights. On the downside, it is rather secluded from the amenities of the more developed Il Sainte Marie.
Whichever island you stay on, you will have plenty of dazzling experiences in the next few days.
Day 7-9: Sainte Marie
You now have two whole days to explore paradise and relax on the beach. Sainte Marie encourages its visitors to slow down and enjoy the moment. While there are plenty of activities to indulge in, you’ve had a week of cultural insights, so perhaps you are more in the mood to chill on the beach. For that, you’ve come to the right place.
Ile Sainte Marie and Ile aux Nattes are surrounded by a double coral barrier, so the waters are calm, the beaches beautiful, and the marine life fascinating. You cannot walk two meters without a new type of palm tree showing its face, and the place is crawling with exotic plants and orchids.
Let your hair down, and wallow in the serenity surrounding you.
For tips on places to visit on Ile aux Nattes, read here.
Day 10: Sainte Marie —> Tana —> International Flight
Last day of your trip, and time to leave paradise. Hopefully with a renewed energy for life. You leave on a national flight from Sainte Marie Airport and arrive in Tana. From here you embarge on your international flight to go home.
National flights are not departing every day, so depending on the flight schedules, you might have to shorten or extend your vacation by a day or two. If the latter, you may have a night in Tana, which is the perfect opportunity to stack up on spices, chocolates, and souvenirs to bring home.
This itinerary is a perfect choice for those with a shorter time to spend. You get to see the highlights in a short time, and I’m positive you’ll want to come back for more. For the schedule to work smoothly, I highly recommend getting a car and driver the first week. It will leave you much more time and calm to enjoy the scenery on the way.
It is, of course, possible to rent a car and drive yourself, but I must warn you that the roads are in bad condition, and traffic is not how you know it from home. It’s an exhausting drive for those not used to it.
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