ADVENTURE-TOURS · MADAGASCAR
Madagascar Round Trip – South Circuit
Madagascar round trip through the Madagascar south circuit connects highland terraces, ancient rainforests and sandstone canyons before ending on the white sands of Ifaty.
The Journey
South Circuit: Parks, Lemurs & Ifaty Beach
This Madagascar round trip begins in Antananarivo, where the team transfers every group from Ivato Airport to the hotel. The route heads south to Ranomafana for a guided ranomafana national park tour and rainforest hike, then on to Anja Park for ring-tailed lemur encounters. Next comes the isalo national park tour: a walk past Bara tombs and a freshwater oasis in the sandstone canyons. The final stretch follows Road 7 through baobab country to the ifaty beach madagascar coast for two days of snorkeling and reef diving. Day 11 visits UNESCO-listed Ambohimanga before departure on day 12.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
Madagascar
A 12-day Madagascar round trip through the south circuit covering highlands, rainforests, sandstone canyons and coral beaches.
Antananarivo – Arrival
Welcome to Madagascar! Your Madagascar round trip begins at Ivato International Airport (TNR), where the Overcross team meets every group and transfers them to the hotel in Antananarivo. Spend the evening settling in and preparing for the journey south. The capital sits at 1,400 m altitude and offers colonial hilltop architecture and lively street markets worth exploring before dinner.
Antananarivo – Antsirabe
After breakfast the group departs south toward Antsirabe on this Madagascar south circuit route. A stop in Ambatolampy visits an aluminum foundry where artisans cast everyday objects from recycled metal. The road continues to Antsirabe, known across Madagascar as the Water City for its abundant thermal springs. The drive covers roughly 170 km in about five hours.
Antsirabe – Ranomafana
A rickshaw ride to a local artists' workshop starts the morning, where craftspeople carve zebu horns into decorative objects. The group then continues south on this Madagascar travel itinerary to Ranomafana, home to one of the last mountain cloud forests on earth. Bamboo lemurs, golden bamboo lemurs and other endemic species share a forest rich with rare orchids and ferns.
Ranomafana – Rainforest Hike
An early start heads into the forest for a full ranomafana rainforest tour: a three-hour guided hike along trails used by researchers studying the park's endemic wildlife. The afternoon visits a traditional Tanala village about 12 km outside Ranomafana. 'Tanala' means forest dwellers, and the village shows a way of life shaped entirely by the surrounding rainforest. (1,200 m on foot / 3 hrs)
Ranomafana – Ranohira via Anja Park
Leaving the rainforest, the route descends to Ambalavao, a town known for its vineyards and handmade Antaimoro paper. The group visits Anja Park, a community-run conservation area and an excellent spot for a Madagascar lemur tour: ring-tailed lemurs warm themselves on granite boulders while local guides tell the legend of the three brothers. The day ends in Ranohira after 325 km.
Isalo National Park Hike
Today is dedicated to a full isalo national park tour. A three-hour isalo national park hike leads past ancient Bara tombs, through the botanical garden section and down to a clear freshwater pool shaded by canyon walls. Back at the hotel the regional museum explains how water erosion shaped the sandstone massif over millions of years. (1,100 m on foot / 3 hrs)
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Ranohira – Toliara – Ifaty
National Road 7 heads southwest toward Toliara through some of the finest baobab tour madagascar scenery on the island. The village of Ilakaka, now famous for its sapphire market, appears along the route. Mahafaly ceremonial tombs decorated with zebu horns mark the roadside as the landscape transitions from highlands to coastal dry forest. The day ends at Ifaty on the Indian Ocean. (280 km / 6 hrs)
Reniala Park & Ifaty Beach
A zebu cart collects the group in the morning for a ride to Reniala Park, a botanical reserve protecting ancient baobab trees and a bird sanctuary with endemic species. The park is a highlight of any madagascar wildlife tour along this coast. After the morning visit the afternoon is free, with the ifaty beach madagascar reef just offshore for snorkeling or diving on the coral gardens.
Free Day at Ifaty Beach
A full free day on the ifaty beach madagascar coast. The white-sand beaches and calm turquoise water invite relaxed swimming, while the fringing reef provides accessible snorkeling and diving for all experience levels. Those looking for more activity can arrange a boat trip out to the reef or explore the fishing village. This is part of what makes this one of the most complete madagascar vacation packages in the south.
Ifaty – Toliara – Antananarivo
The team transfers the group from the hotel to Toliara Airport for the domestic flight back to Antananarivo. The flight takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Upon landing at Ivato Airport the group is collected and taken to the hotel in the capital for the final two nights of this madagascar adventure tour.
Ambohimanga – UNESCO Hill
The morning visits Ambohimanga, the Sacred Hill of Imerina and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The royal city and hill fort offer insight into the history of the Merina kingdom that once ruled much of Madagascar. A craft market nearby gives time for final souvenir purchases before the farewell dinner. This is one of the cultural highlights of the entire madagascar national park and heritage circuit.
Departure from Antananarivo
The final day of the Madagascar south circuit round trip. After breakfast the team transfers every traveler to Ivato International Airport for the international departure. Madagascar's warmth, wildlife and landscapes leave a lasting impression that no amount of photos can fully capture. Safe travels and thank you for joining this journey through the diverse south.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
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Trip includes
- 5 overnight stays with breakfast
- 6 overnight stays with half board in Antananarivo and in Ifaty
- Airport transfers on days 1, 10 and 12
- City tour in Antananarivo on day 11
- Round trip in an air-conditioned 4x4 vehicle with English-speaking driver
- Local guides & entrance fees to the parks mentioned in the itinerary
- All visits according to the itinerary
- Map of Madagascar
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As a German citizen, you need a valid passport and a visa, which is issued upon arrival at the airport. This visa is free for a stay of up to 15 days. For a stay longer than 15 days, fees apply, the amount of which can be found on the website of the Embassy of Madagascar.
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