Madagascar Private Expedition

Arrive in Madagascar’s lively capital and transfer to your hotel, perched on a lush hillside overlooking the heart of the city. Settle in, and enjoy an evening at leisure to discover Antananarivo’s rich blend of Indonesian, Malaysian, African, and Arab cultural influences.

Relais des Plateaux

Fly to Antsiranana, also known as Diégo Suarez, a laid-back coastal town near the northern tip of the country. Set out on a private tour of Antsiranana’s colonial centre, including a walk through the old French military district, a local open-air market, and the scenic waterfront. Continue inland to Joffreville, a former French military resort town, and your base for exploring Amber Mountain National Park. Settle into your heritage guesthouse, originally built for Joseph Joffre, the one-time town marshal.

The Litchi Tree (B/L/D)

Delve into Madagascar’s mind-blowing biodiversity on an excursion into the lush forests of Amber Mountain National Park—the country’s first national park, known for its lemur populations, kaleidoscopic chameleons, and Madagascar paradise flycatcher birds. Choose among three hiking trails of varying difficulty and landscapes, and set out with a private guide in search of hidden waterfalls, crater lakes, and fascinating creatures of the forest. Picnic in a serene spot before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

The Litchi Tree (B/L/D)

Travel overland to Ankarana Special Reserve, where karst formations have eroded into endless forests of limestone needles and blades called tsingy. This stone landscape alternates with dense jungles and a vast network of caves and canyons, creating a unique ecosystem that harbours more than 300 species of plants and one of the highest densities of primates in the world. Explore the park’s natural wonders and seek out lemurs, including the crowned, Sanford’s brown, northern sportive, and dwarf varieties. Enjoy a picnic in the park before driving to your lodge, located just beyond Ankarana’s borders.

Iharana Bush Camp (B/L/D)

Join a private guide for a walk around the lake bordering your lodge, and meet Malagasy farmers to learn about their traditional cultivation techniques. After lunch, choose between two guided hikes. Descend into recesses of Mandresy Cave, a sacred ancestral site. Or opt for a challenging trek among the tsingy that will have you scaling ladders and slipping through narrow rock passages in search of stunning panoramas, colourful birds, and butterflies. Spend the next day at leisure, relaxing at your camp’s natural swimming pool while enjoying views of Tsingy Massif. Opt for a guided bike through nearby villages; or canoe area waterways, spotting various bird species, such as herons, kingfishers, and drongos.

Iharana Bush Camp (B/L/D)

Depart early this morning for Ankify, and then transfer by boat to the Nosy Be archipelago. Arrive at Tsara Komba tucked into the lush volcanic slopes of secluded Nosy Komba, or Lemur Island. Settle into your thatched oceanfront bungalow, and join a private guide for an introduction to the isle’s endemic flora and fauna during a short hike through the surrounding rainforest reserve. Seek out leaping lemurs, colourful chameleons and sunbirds, and black parrots, and then enjoy the rest of your day at leisure in this tropical paradise.

Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge (B/L/D)

Cruise the Mozambique Channel to the Tanikely marine reserve for a snorkelling excursion. Plunge into turquoise waters and swim past brightly coloured corals, reef fish, and with luck, sea turtles. Join the lodge’s management staff for a visit to a nearby village, where you’ll meet the chief and learn about ongoing projects and everyday life in the community. Return to the lodge for a local rum tasting before a delicious Malagasy-French fusion dinner on the lodge terrace.

Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge (B/L/D)

Set out with a private guide for a full-day tour of the Nosy Be archipelago. Visit a fishing village on lush Nosy Mamoko, and canoe up a river lined with mangrove trees. Stroll along Nosy Kisimasy's white-sand beaches and pick a peaceful spot for a picnic lunch. Afterwards, go snorkelling in a secluded cove and seek out sea turtles and dolphins. Then return to the lodge for a free evening to relax on the beach or your private terrace.

Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge (B/L/D)

Enjoy the day to explore the lodge and its stunning surroundings at your leisure. Stroll the Eden Garden, an indigenous nature reserve that backs up to the property and blooms with more than 200 endemic plant species; and discover the on-site Baobab Nursery, where unusual baobab species and spiny succulents are incubated. Or borrow equipment from the lodge for a self-guided snorkelling or fishing excursion in the shallows.

Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge (B/L/D)

Spend a final morning at leisure on Nosy Komba before transferring back to the mainland. Fly to Antananarivo, where you’ll take a private tour of the city (time permitting). Explore the city’s leafy boulevards, admire stunning examples of French colonial architecture, and see the stately Rova of Antananarivo—a royal complex dating back to the 16th century.

Palissandre Hôtel & Spa (B/L/D)

After breakfast, join a private guide for an excursion to the 15th-century Royal Hill of Ambohimanga—an important pilgrimage spot for the Malagasy people, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Learn about the African and Polynesian roots of Malagasy culture while exploring this ancient royal city, and take in panoramic views over Antananarivo. Later, stroll the stalls at La Digue, a traditional craft market. Then transfer to your day room to relax before your international flight home.

Relais des Plateaux (B/L)