Highlands to Isalo

Antananarivo → Antsirabe

Antsirabe → Ambositra → Ranomafana

A long but beautiful driving day (about 7 hours with stops): wood-carving workshops in Ambositra, capital of Zafimaniry craft, then down into the Ranomafana rainforest.

Ranomafana National Park

Guided walk in the rainforest to look for lemurs (including bamboo lemurs), chameleons, frogs and birds. Optional night walk.

Ranomafana → Fianarantsoa → Ambalavao

Short visit of the old upper town of Fianarantsoa, then south through tea and vine country to Ambalavao, known for its handmade Antemoro paper and silk weaving.

Anja → Isalo

Morning at the Anja community reserve, 13 km south of Ambalavao, to see ring-tailed lemurs among granite boulders. Then across the wide plateaus of the south to Ranohira, the gateway to Isalo. Sunset at the Isalo Window rock.

Isalo National Park

Full day of hiking among sandstone canyons, oases and natural swimming pools.

Isalo → Tuléar / Ifaty

Drive to the coast (about 6 hours), passing the first baobabs of the south-west. Evening by the sea.

Tuléar → Antananarivo

Transfer to Tuléar airport for your flight back to Antananarivo (book early: domestic flights are limited), or extend with beach days.