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MOTORCYCLE-TRIPS · MADAGASCAR
Enduro Motorcycle Tour Madagascar with Rental Bike
On two wheels through the land of baobabs: This Enduro motorcycle tour Madagascar starts in Antananarivo and takes you on a Honda XR250 rental bike over long off-road stages, through the Baobab Alley and to the Tsingy and Isalo parks.
How long?
20 Days
When?
Autumn
Price
€ 3,919
/ Person
The Journey
Madagascar: Baobab Adventure on Two Wheels
Madagascar is an island of contrasts: humid mountain regions in the interior, dry plains in the west and wildlife found nowhere else on earth. On this Madagascar motorcycle tour with rental bike, you start in the capital Antananarivo, visit lemurs and an ancient royal palace, then head west. You explore the Tsingy and Isalo parks, ride long off-road stretches along the west coast, take a boat trip to see whales and cruise through the Tsiribihina Gorge. You’ll be riding a robust Honda XR250: a varied route through deserted lowlands and beautiful mountain regions.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
01
Baobab Alley at Sunset
01
Baobab Alley at Sunset
Ride through the famous Baobab Alley and stop for photos among the mighty trees in the orange glow of sunset.
02
Tsingy & Isalo National Parks
02
Tsingy & Isalo National Parks
Explore the sharp limestone pinnacles of the Tsingy and the canyons, pools and waterfalls of Isalo on foot.
03
Up-close Lemur Encounters
03
Up-close Lemur Encounters
Watch ring-tailed lemurs and other species in reserves such as Anja Park and the Lemur Park near Antananarivo.
04
Long Off-road Stages
04
Long Off-road Stages
Tackle dusty gravel tracks, sandy stretches and river crossings by ferry on a nimble Honda XR250.
05
Boat Trip & Whale Watching
05
Boat Trip & Whale Watching
Glide through the Tsiribihina Gorge and try to spot whales off Toliara in July and August.
Madagascar
This 20-day Enduro motorbike adventure in Madagascar takes you on a Honda XR250 from Antananarivo via the Avenue of the Baobabs, the Tsingy and Isalo National Parks, all the way to Toliara, with long off-road sections, lemurs and ferry crossings.
Days 1-20
Antananarivo, arrival and city stroll
Your Enduro motorbike adventure in Madagascar begins at Antananarivo airport, where we collect you and take you to a central hotel. The capital is set in hilly terrain, its streets are steep and often linked by stairways. The area around Independence Square is always bustling. As you arrive early in the morning, you have the whole day to explore the city on foot.
Antananarivo, day trip to the lemurs
Today you get on your rental bike for the first time. We ride through the narrow, lively market streets of Antananarivo and out into the countryside. About 20 km outside the city lies the Royal Hill, with its temples built by the first settlers from Southeast Asia, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way back, we stop at a lemur rescue centre, where a park guide introduces you to the animals. Back in the city, you’ll face the busy rush hour traffic.
Antananarivo → Ampefy by the lake
On this Madagascar motorbike tour, we leave the city at dawn and take a well-paved road heading west. After an hour, we pass the Lemur Park, another sanctuary with a guided tour. Two hours later, we reach the Chute de Lily waterfall, one of the largest in the country. We spend the night in the small village of Ampefy, at a hotel on the lakeshore.
Ampefy → Antsirabe, first off-road section
After about 50 km, the road turns to gravel: the first off-road stretch of this Madagascar motorbike tour, around 80 km long. You’ll spend the whole day riding through rolling landscapes with rice fields, green in the rainy season and brown in the dry months. After that, it’s 40 km of tarmac to Antsirabe, the city of colourful pousse-pousse rickshaws. Historic colonial buildings make this a pleasant stopover.
Antsirabe → Miandrivazo and boat trip
Today’s stage takes about four hours. We follow the tarmac road west, steadily losing altitude until we’ve covered the 200 km to Miandrivazo. There, you park your Enduro, take time for lunch and hop into a dugout canoe for a boat trip through the valley. In the late afternoon, we return and find a nice spot for dinner.
Miandrivazo → Morondava on the coast
The Madagascar motorbike tour continues downhill: first 120 km south, then a coffee break in the small town of Malaimbandy. Malagasy cuisine blends Asian and French influences, with plenty of fish and zebu beef. After the break, the main tarmac road takes you to the coast. Morondava is a laid-back coastal town with a small beach, and this is the last day with mostly paved roads.
Morondava → Bekopaka via the Avenue of the Baobabs
We start early, as this will be a long day. We ride through the famous Avenue of the Baobabs and the private Kirindy reserve. After 90 km of dusty gravel tracks, we reach Belo sur Tsiribihina on one of the country’s largest rivers, which we cross by ferry. After lunch, it’s another 100 km off-road to the entrance of Tsingy National Park, where we spend the night.
Bekopaka, day tour in Tsingy Park
Tsingy National Park is the country’s most bizarre: countless sharp limestone pinnacles, linked by hiking trails and suspension bridges, not for those with a fear of heights. Today, the rental bike stays parked while you explore the park on foot. If there’s time, we’ll add a second route in the north. You spend a second evening in Bekopaka before heading back to the coast.
Bekopaka → Morondava at sunset
We retrace the same entirely unpaved off-road route, with lunch in Belo sur Tsiribihina and another ferry crossing. The highlight of this Madagascar motorbike tour is sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs: bikes in the dust, warm orange light and dozens of mighty baobabs as a backdrop, a dream for photographers. This does mean a late arrival at the hotel.
Morondava, rest day on the beach
Today is a rest day on your Enduro motorbike adventure in Madagascar. While the mechanic gives the bikes a major service, you can relax on the sun loungers and sample the town’s restaurants and bars. If you like, you can ride out to the Avenue of the Baobabs again in the evening to enjoy the sunset among the trees and take more photos.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Morondava → Manja through the lowlands
Now come the two toughest days. The first section follows a completely unpaved off-road route along the coast, before the track turns inland along the river. Manja is about 150 km from Morondava. The difficulty depends on the weather: dry conditions mean loose sand, wet conditions mean soft surfaces. This is where you’ll see why this Madagascar motorbike tour really calls for experience.
Manja → Toliara over the Mangoky
The second tough day stays in the lowlands and takes us over the Mangoky River, which we cross by ferry. After that, it’s another 180 km back to the coast. How challenging this off-road Madagascar motorbike ride is today again depends on the weather. In the port town of Toliara, a very nice hotel with hot showers and a good restaurant awaits you, and we stay for two nights.
Toliara, boat trip to the whales
In July and August, we use this day for a boat trip to see the whales. There’s no guarantee of sightings, but it’s well worth a try. You ride your motorbike to the starting point south of town. In other months, we visit the Sarodrane caves or an arboretum south of Toliara instead. A relaxing day on the Madagascar motorbike tour.
Toliara → Ranohira over the pass
We follow the well-built National Road 7, which winds into the mountains and crosses a real mountain pass at 1,056 metres altitude. Around midday, we stop in the sapphire town of Ilakaka, where you can have lunch and visit the mines and a workshop. After that, it’s only an hour on the rental bike to Ranohira, where we spend the night.
Ranohira, Isalo National Park
Isalo National Park is reminiscent of the Grand Canyon: here it’s all about the landscapes and rock formations rather than the wildlife. You spend the whole day with a guide exploring waterfalls, natural pools and adventurous gorges. In the middle of the wilderness, a barbecue is served while ring-tailed and red-fronted lemurs play in the bushes. A relaxing day on the Enduro motorbike adventure in Madagascar.
Ranohira → Ambalavao, meeting the ring-tailed lemurs
We continue the Madagascar motorbike tour on National Road 7 to Ambalavao. At midday, we check into a lovely hotel near Anja Park. A short trip takes you quickly to a large colony of ring-tailed lemurs, perhaps the most famous of all lemurs. You can watch and photograph their striped tails up close here.
Ambalavao → Ranomafana into the highlands
Today the Madagascar motorbike tour leads into the mountains and further north. You’ll have plenty of time for photos and stops in small villages. We enjoy lunch near Fianarantsoa. North of the city, we turn east and stop at the Namorona waterfalls. You spend the night in the small village of Ranomafana on the edge of the rainforest.
Ranomafana → Antsirabe through the highlands
In the morning, we visit the Ranomafana rainforest. Afterwards, we take a different, unpaved route to the main road, another off-road stretch, and return to National Road 7. After lunch in Ambositra, there are 90 km to go. You spend the whole day riding through the country’s highest regions with beautiful roads and sweeping views all the way to Antsirabe.
Antsirabe → Antananarivo, finale
A winding route takes you back to the capital. The closer we get, the busier the traffic becomes. At the hotel, you hand back your rental bike and say goodbye to the drivers and mechanic. As your return flight leaves late at night, you have the afternoon free for a last stroll around town and some final shopping. We round off this Madagascar motorbike adventure in a lovely restaurant.
Antananarivo, return flight and departure
Today your Enduro motorbike adventure in Madagascar comes to an end and you begin your journey home. Depending on your flight time, you may have a little more time in Antananarivo before we take you to the airport. With your head full of baobabs, lemurs, off-road tracks and national parks, you bid farewell to the great island in the Indian Ocean.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
PRICE
from
€ 3,919
/ person
Additional Options
Single room surcharge
€ 639
Passenger
€ 2,949
Trip includes
- All airport transfers
- All accommodation with breakfast
- Enduro rental motorcycle (Honda XR250)
- Support vehicle with local driver and mechanic
- Multilingual tour guide on motorcycle
- Third-party liability insurance
FAQS
-
What are the best routes for a motorcycle tour in Madagascar?
We ride the classic loop from Antananarivo via Baobab Alley, the Tsingy and Isalo National Parks to Toliara: a mix of tarmac and long off-road sections through lowlands and mountain regions. -
What is the condition of the roads in Madagascar?
Away from National Road 7, many tracks are unpaved, dusty and sometimes sandy. After rain, they become soft and slippery, so you should bring solid enduro experience. -
Are there off-road sections or are all routes paved?
This trip is mostly off-road. There are four particularly demanding off-road days in the southeast, with difficulty depending heavily on the weather; only some sections are tarmac.
OVERCROSS note on itinerary
The above travel description is a non-binding online proposal and does not represent a binding travel itinerary. We expressly reserve the right to make changes to the route, schedule, and accommodations (§ 651d BGB in conjunction with Art. 250 EGBGB). The terms and conditions of OVERCROSS apply.Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
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