Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Madagascar – Antananarivo – Antsiranana – Andrafiamena – Ankarana – Nosy Be
100% customisable for you
Fish out your swimwear and gather up the passports – your family getaway to Madagascar kicks off today. Head to the airport, breeze through security and usher everyone into the lounge for some complimentary nibbles ahead of departure. Flights to the capital, Antananarivo, connect through either mainland Europe or Africa and take around 14 hours. So, make sure to load up on in-flight games and snacks.
Land in Antananarivo the following morning, ready to grab your bags and hop in a private transfer into the heart of the city. Then, check in for two nights, divvy up the beds and freshen up before heading out in search of dinner this evening. Let the family fun commence...
Tuck into a tasty breakfast this morning before meeting your private driver-guide to journey 40 minutes out of the city to the UNESCO-listed settlement of Ambohimanga. Here, you’ll be introduced to the treasures of Malagasy culture.
Two young locals will showcase their collection of miniature cars crafted from recycled metal cans and explain how they design each one. Then, they’ll talk you through some more traditional arts and crafts, including Malagasy balloons and vibrant papango kites, made from repurposed plastic bags.
Afterwards, everyone can try their hand at flying the kites and the youngsters can play with the local children. Once they’ve had their fill, continue to a paper craftsman’s workshop to learn about Antemoro paper (handmade paper crafted from mulberry bark). Observe the process before rolling up your sleeves and having a go yourselves. Time to crown the family craftsman.
Bid the capital a fond farewell this morning as you meet your private driver to transfer to the airport and catch the two-hour flight north to Antsiranana – also known as Diego-Suarez.
When you land, another private driver will be waiting to take you to the centre of this pretty port city, where you’ll stay for the next three nights. Having taken some time to settle in, lather on the SPF and step out this afternoon for a gentle stroll around the city centre.
Once little legs have grown tired and everyone’s worked up an appetite for dinner, reach out to our local Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations. Seafood fiends, this is the place to try it.
Fuel up on a filling breakfast this morning before heading out to meet a private driver-guide and hop in a 4x4 to head east along the shore. Once you’ve reached the Oronjia Forest, jump out and set off on a scenic coastal walk.
First, head towards Cap Mine, which guards the entrance to Antsiranana Bay and flaunts a photogenic lighthouse. Then, continue south to Sakalava Bay, via Dune Bay and Pigeon Bay. You know what they say: good things come in threes.
Feel free to run off into the sea at any point during the walk to splash about in the crystal-clear waters. Afterwards, bundle back into the car to journey back to Antsiranana and unwind in the lead up to another family dinner tonight.
Another day, another scenic hike. Wake up bright and early this morning to don your sunnies and strap in for the hour-long journey to the crab fishing village of Ampondrahazo.
Here, the villagers harvest giant mud crabs, 28cm-wide crustaceans that typically weigh between four and six pounds. If you’re not fond of the idea these clawed critters, don’t worry – it’s the landscapes you’re here for.
Lace up your trainers for an hour-long walk through the rice-growing plains, keeping your eyes peeled for the odd zebu (humped cattle brought to Madagascar from South Asia over a millennia ago).
While you’re out and about, you can also meet and chat with a few of the locals. Then, stop to take in the breathtaking views of the protected karst plateau of Analamerana and its baobab forest.
Having worked up quite the appetite, settle down for a picnic lunch on the beach before returning to Antsiranana to indulge in some well-earned downtime this afternoon.
Make the most of your convenient base in Antsiranana this morning by venturing out to Tsingy Rouge, a stone formation of red laterite deposits on the banks of the Irodo River. Cue photos of the youngsters posing in front of this rugged landscape.
After snapping some future photo wall favourites, you’ll be privately transferred the three-hour drive to Andrafiamena – your base for the next two nights. Drop your bags and enjoy a delicious dinner here before heading back out this evening for a late-night adventure.
The forest of Andrafiamena is home to plenty of endemic plants and animals, many of which the children might recognise from the Madagascar movie. Accompanied by an expert guide, venture out to try and spot local legends like fork-marked lemurs, red mouse lemurs, gray mouse lemurs and aye-ayes. The luckiest among you may even glimpse a crowned lemur. Eyes peeled...
The only way to follow up spotting a couple of lemurs: spotting even more lemurs. After breakfast this morning, join a private naturalist guide to set off on a hike to the small village of Ampantsona.
Here, you’ll be in with the chance of seeing a Sanford's brown lemur, a crowned lemur and even a fossa – the largest carnivore on the island. Bonus points today to anyone who manages to spot the ring-tailed vontsira, another elusive little lemur.
For any budding birdwatchers, the most common in the area are the Malagasy green sunbird, the Malagasy bulbul and the lesser vasa parrot. You might also encounter the Malagasy turtle dove, the slaty egret and the (rather excessively beaked) African openbill.
After – hopefully – spotting some curious critters, stop by a natural pool for a refreshing splash to round out your day of discovery.
Load up the 4x4 and hop in the back for your private transfer west to Ankarana this morning. The journey takes around three hours, so don’t hesitate to crack out the car-journey games and crank up the road trip tunes.
When you pull into your next hotel, check in for two nights, indulge in some post-car-journey-stretching, take some time to unwind and head back out. This afternoon is dedicated to a boat trip through the Ankarana Special Reserve.
Meet a private local guide to hop aboard a pirogue (a small, draft canoe) and cruise through the massif. Then, disembark and tire out the youngsters with an hour-long walk around the surrounding landscape. Dinner will look extra enticing after this one.
Indulge in a decadent breakfast this morning to prepare for another action-packed day. This time, you’ll explore more of the Ankarana Special Reserve, specifically the tsingy (meaning ‘where one cannot walk barefoot’) and cave system.
Make sure to have plenty of snacks packed, because today’s hike requires a fair bit of energy. Accompanied by a private local guide, set off along a path equipped with ladders, footbridges and railings to reach stunning belvederes and foundations hollowed out by underground rivers.
At the top, whip out some binoculars to scour this karst-filled landscape. Then, explore on the flipside (literally) by heading back down to duck into the caves beneath the plateau.
Leap out of bed this morning to check out and saunter off to the island-within-an-island paradise of Nosy Be, off Madagascar’s northwest coast. Meet your private driver to head to the port before crossing to the white-sand shore.
Having docked and departed, meet another private driver to transfer to the final hotel of your trip, where you’ll check-in for three nights.
The next few days are yours to spend dialling up the beach vibes and indulging in some good-old-fashioned sun-kissed bliss. You can splash about in the sea or the pool, snorkel in the crystal-clear waters leading off the shore and hire bikes to pedal through the lush interior of the island.
There will also be plenty of time to whip out a board game under the welcoming shade of a sun umbrella, host sandcastle-building competitions on the beach and share in the highlights of the day over a cocktail after the children have turned in for the night. Dreamy.
Perch up in front of a vibrant array of fresh fruit and vibrant juices this morning before pushing off the shore with a local naturalist guide in search of some marine marvels.
Those travelling between July and September will be in with the chance of spotting the humpback whales that come to nurse in the warm waters off Nosy Be. And from October to December, whale shark encounters are on the cards too.
Back on dry land this evening, make the most of your last night in Nosy Be (and Madagascar) by sharing stories of everyone’s favourite moments from the trip over a truly decadent dinner. And don’t forget to toast to a trip well spent – the youngsters can clink mocktails, of course.
Sadly, your family foray into the tropical treasure trove of northern Madagascar comes to an end today. Indulge in a slow start and one last breakfast in paradise before crossing back to the main island and being privately transferred to the airport in Antananarivo for your return flight.
The route home connects through either mainland Europe or Africa again and takes around 16 hours, meaning you’ll arrive the following day. In the meantime, there’s nothing left to do but sit back and engage everyone in the task of dreaming up your next family adventure.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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