Madagascar | Jewels of Madagascar

Depart the U.S. for Madagascar.

Arrive in Antananarivo, Madagascar on a late night flight. After clearing immigration and customs, and exchanging money at the airport, meet your local guide and transfer to the hotel. Check in and rest after the long flight. * We recommend considering a stopover in Paris en route to rest or coming in a day early to rest.

This morning at leisure to rest. This afternoon welcome lunch and program orientation. This evening dinner in local restaurant. Lecture: An Introduction to Madagascar.

This morning leisurely breakfast and then depart to Andasibe; the drive is approximately 5 hours. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and have lunch. After lunch visit Lemur Island. Lemur Island, established by Vakona Lodge, was created to provide sanctuary for displaced lemurs that were former pets and not suited for reintroduction into the wild. The lemurs are isolated on the island and accustomed to human visitors, which offers guests the unique opportunity to interact and be photographed with them. This evening, enjoy dinner overlooking the Madagascan rainforest.

Rise early for breakfast and a full-day exploration of the Analamazaotra Reserve in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. The primary forests of Andasibe-Mantadia contain a dense humid forest covered with lianas, moss, fern trees, and more than 100 orchid species. Conservation of the forest is a critical challenge in this region due to the graphite mines inside the park; we will discuss conservation initiatives as they relate to natural resources. Later today, take an evening walk in the Mitsinjo Analamazaotra Forest Station, a community-managed protected area, to look for nocturnal species of lemurs and tree frogs such as the locally endemic Goodman's mouse lemur, furry-eared dwarf lemur, hairy-eared dwarf lemur, leaf-tailed geckos, as well as tree frogs Boophis viridis and Boophis pyrrhus.

This morning, have breakfast while listening to the peculiar call of the endangered Indri Indri, the largest living lemurs - some reach up to three feet tall! Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is an ideal place to observe the Indri, as there are some Indri families there who have been habituated to humans. Considered a sacred animal in Madagascar, the Indri is the focus of several myths. In addition to the Indri, 13 lemur species can also be seen at Andasibe-Mantadia: woody lemur, grey bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse lemur, red-bellied lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, and aye-aye. These forests are also home to 15 other mammal species, more than 100 types of birds, 50 species of reptiles, and 80 amphibian species.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel, transfer to the central part of Antananarivo, approximately 5 hours, and have dinner at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Tulear. Upon arrival, transfer to the Arboretum of Antsokay for visit and lunch at the arboretum. This afternoon have a lecture on the spiny forest in the Southern part of Madagascar. Transfer to hotel, time to relax before dinner.

This morning check-out of the hotel and drive to Isalo National Park. Travel approximately 3.5 hours to Zombitse National Park and have a picnic lunch. Continue 1.5 hours to Isalo, check-in at the hotel and have dinner and relax in anticipation of Isalo and its beautiful landscapes of sandstone canyons, fauna and flora.

Spend the day exploring Isalo National Park, a continental sandstone plateau dating to Jurassic times. This trek is across varied landscapes with different forms of sandstones, dotted with the famous dwarf baobab. After an hour walk with short climbs, stop to rest in a spectacular valley with beautiful views. The overlook shows miles of azure sky, rocky desert, and winding greenery. Trek to a white-sand natural pool. Go for a swim, then hike back to the starting point. Transfer back to the hotel for a sundowner, then dinner.

Early morning half day exploration in Isalo National Park. After lunch drive approximately 6 hours to the seaside town of Ifaty. Check-in at the hotel, time to relax. Have dinner at the hotel.

This morning board a dugout canoe for the 30-minute journey to Rose Garden snorkeling site. Rose Garden is a patch reef in the middle of the lagoon approximately 1.8 miles from shore. It is 20 feet to a sandy bottom and just 6 feet to the top of the reef. Rose Garden takes its name after the colony of Montipora or Rose shaped coral that primarily inhabits the patch reef. Other prominent coral colonies present include Fungia or mushroom shaped coral and Acropora or table corals and branching corals. Rose Garden is home to over hundred species of fish as well as lobsters, shrimps, rays, and octopus. Have the remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Dinner at the hotel.

Rise early for a special sunrise walk in Reniala Private Reserve, managed by a local environmental association working to develop ecotourism in the area. Hike some of the trails to explore the spiny forest, a unique ecosystem which only occurs in the southwest Madagascar. The reserve contains more than 2000 plant species, as well as impressively old baobabs - including one that is 41 feet in diameter. There are also 65 species of birds; rare endemics such as the Red-capped Coua and the Blue Vanga can easily be seen. Return to the hotel for a late breakfast, and explore the beach or hotel amenities. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner under the baobab trees.

This morning after breakfast transfer back to Toliara, approximately 1 hour, for flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, drive to Ambohimanga Royal Hill, a hilltop fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the palace dwellings and learn about the heritage of Madagascar. Have a typical, family style lunch at an open-air restaurant where the meal will be accompanied by the singing and dancing of a local dance troupe.

Today is a departure day. For those interested, visit Lemurs Park, a rescue and rehabilitation center for lemurs. Return to hotel to pack. Dinner included at the hotel. This evening, transfers to the airport for flights back to the U.S.

Arrive back in the U.S.