ITINERARY

 

DAYS 1-2 Montreal - Antananarivo
Participants depart for Madagascar from Pierre-Elliot Trudeau Airport. Meals included on board the airplane.
Overnight in hotel on Day 2
Meals (excluding meals on the airplane): Not included

DAY 3 Antananarivo – Ampefy (Lake Itasy)
This morning, we will begin your Malgasy adventure. From Antananarivo, we will go west to Ampefy Lake. We will cross the volcanic hills of the Itasy region. Upon arrival, we will hike a short distance near the lake.
Transportation 4×4 vehicle: 3h
Overnight in a hotel
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 4 Ampefy – Tsiroanomandidy – Bongolava
Early in the morning, we will take the road to Tsiroanomandidy; we will be sharing the road with wagon convoys pulled by zebu, carrying crops to the local market. We will visit the small town. Then we will take a track that crosses a landscape of hills and valleys before reaching the village of Belobaka. We will continue our trek along a winding road and reach the heart of the Bongolava Massif.
Walking time: 3h
Overnight camping
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 5 Hiking – Ankavandra – Canoes
We reach the western side of the massif dominating the great plains of Menabé, which crosses the river Manambolo. We arrive late morning in Ankavandra, the final step of our hike. Having having lunch in the village, we will begin our descent in canoes. Boatmen and cooks are from the village and will be happy to introduce you to their waters and local foods.
In the afternoon, after the traditional “fomba” (ritual), we begin our navigation. The canoe convoys are guided by the current. By late afternoon, we will camp on the sand banks.
Walking time: 2.5h
Canoeing time: 3h
Overnight in a camping site
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAYS 6–8 Canoe descentay
The course of the river is lost in the sand bed, and forces us to follow the boatmen, indicating the channel to follow. Tapering times between two hills, we will follow along the river, going by small cliffs from which flow the sources of clean water. Fishermen offer us their fish. Here and there, cultures are visible on the banks. All the river life unfolds before our eyes: the languid rhythm of nature and the current. The landscape changes as we approach the mass of Bemaraha. We enter the foothills of the mountain. The houses are gradually disappearing. We enter the gorges of Bemaraha.
Time canoeing: 6h
Overnight camping
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 9 Arrival to Bekopaka
In the morning, we explore on foot the canyon drowned in vegetation. Its watercourse has dug a series of natural pools and clear water in which we will swim! In the afternoon, we take our canoes and progress along the impressive silence grooves and hear the cries of parrots.
We reach our camp on the bank of the river, sheltered by mango trees.
Walking time: 3 to 4h
Canoeing time: 3h
Overnight camping
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 10 Bekopaka
With our 4×4 vehicle, we explore one of the strangest sites: the “Tsingy of Bemaraha” (A UNESCO World Heritage site). The site is dominated by this fairytale maze of crevasses, gorges, caves, limestone peaks. A must-visit is the suspension bridge, offering stunning views over the roof of the Tsingy. We will also visit the small village of Bekopaka.
Transportation 4×4 vehicle: 5h
Walking time: 3 to 5h
Overnight camping
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

DAY 11 Bekopaka – Morondavaay
Taking a small road, we head to Belo Tsiribihina. The first kilometres of road pass through a dry forest and grassland dotted with small villages. In Belo, we cross the Tsiribihina river by ferry, and then we continue the road until Morondava via the famous “Baobab Alley” at sunset. Arrival in the evening.
Walking time: 8h
Overnight stay in a hotel
Breakfast and Lunch included

DAYS 12-13 Morondava - Montreal
Our adventure comes to an end. This morning, we take our flight back and will arrive the next day in Montreal.
No meals included (except for meals served on board the airplane)