40 Day Supported Cycle Trip Across all of Madagascar Top to Bottom (Route 2 - Central Cultural Axis)
- Duration: 40 Days (approx.)
- Location: Diego suarez
- Product code: cyclemadagascarforreal2
40 Day Supported Cycling Trip Across All Madagascar Tip to Toe (North to South)
This trip includes a team with a support SUV, medic, security, camping and kit quartermaster, satellite phone, guide, and team of tourism, wildlife, botanist, and security professionals, and even the camp setup ("glamp" but a tad rustic and ready for wilderness still...bicycles and backups (We include the motocross bikes or cycling bikes or you can bring your own)! You just show up and hit the road for the grand ride.
You will have everything included on this tour, turnkey. The tour will be flexible as to allow route changes but to eventually make it end to end. Please allow 2 months of time to cross Madagascar but we will endeavor to stick to the route. You will have a satellite phone, SAR and evac support, medical and security professionals along, route alternatives on tap to make it through and all the way, packs of electrolytes and protein snacks, all food and cooking included (and meals at the stated hotels when there,) as well as in the camp core tents and mats and accommodation, guides with knowledge of the Madagascar wilderness, fauna (yes - plenty of lemurs) and endemic plants (botanicals, not drugs.) - Anglophone of course.
We include the bikes or you can bring your own, and can liaise with any special zones or spots of interest to create a trip theme. This trip includes film, photography, and drone permits.
Working Itinerary
(this is definitely, and definitively, subject to change and improvisation)
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- Arrival to Nosy Be Day 1
Enjoy the hotel Nosy-Be hotel or Vanila Hotel or Home The residence
- Antsoha + Nosy Iranja Day 2
- Antsoha : 28 km southwest of the island of Nosy-Be, it is reachable by fast boat about 40 minutes from Ambatoloaka. This islet is intended as a protected area; covered with a tropical forest and having a coral beach of great beauty. Its waters are transparent and very rich in fish. Around the island, many marine animal species rest during the big migrations, like the humpback whales, and the turtles, who come to lay their eggs in peace on the beach, which it is possible to attend. hatching.
Lemurs welcome you upon your arrival on the beach of Nosy Antsoha. Leave for the Island Tour Walking Tour with local guide to meet these four species of lemurs reaching the top of the island for a breathtaking view of Sugar Loaf "Nosy kivonjy" in the Mozambique Channel.
Lunch at Coco Beach, In an environment between land and sea exclusive, intimate and heavenly for a unique and authentic experience. - Nosy-Iranja : is known as the most beautiful island in the Indian Ocean and the 3rd most beautiful island in the world. Consisting of two islands connected by a 1.2 km white sand beach. Ideal for snorkeling with its turquoise blue, white paradise, and green nature colors. The turtles come there to lay still to date hence its name "Turtle Island". We see all kinds of birds; terns, some varieties of herons and the passage of sea eagles.
Buffet lunch on tables in the shade of coconut trees (crab, grilled fish, kebabs of zebu and shrimp, coconut rice, raw vegetables, tropical fruits).
Photo shots insured. Visit the lighthouse and the authentic village of Greater Iranja.
- Sakatia, Nosy Komba , Tanikely Day 3
- Sakatia: Located only 15 minutes from the beach of Chanty beach, adventure begins for a "pool snorkeling" to meet turtles in the cove of the fishing village of Antanambe. Sakatia is a pleasant place to admire the underwater panoramas of rare beauty with coral seabed and multicolored fish. The authentic Malagasy lifestyle of the island and its experienced local traditions, walks will be embellished with the scents of coffee plantations, vanilla or ylang ylang and perfumes of orchids ... continuation to the north of the island for a bagnaide in crystalline water accompanied by lunch at the beach.
- Nosy komba : a volcanic island culminating at 622 meters, covered with a thick and dense tropical forest. It preserves the culture of local ethnicity and preserves the different customs, surrounded by volcanic rocks, which protect it from the waters.
She is best known for her friendly lemurs commonly called "Eulemur Macaco". Go for a pedestrian circuit to meet diurnal lemurs and discoveries of plantations of vanilla, coffee, cocoa, pepper ect ... Continuation to the east of Nosykomba Antamotamo; a tour of the canoebuilder village, outlining the principle steps of building wooden boats. Lunch at RemoeBerenice in Anjiabe, friendly atmosphere for a soothing meeting in a small cove of Nosykomba accompanied by lunch on the seafront just in front of Madagascar. A garden tour will be offered later for tropical plant lovers.
- Tour of Nosy-Be Day 4 (75 Km)
- Starting from Marodoka (First commercial port of Nosy-Be, passing through the cemetery of the Indians, towards Hell-ville. Going towards the Sacred Tree of Mahatsinjo, going up on Djamajary, passing through the ruins of the SIRAMA factory, producer of rum, passing through the rest of the cane fields. Going towards Mont Passot to admire the sunset and the 360 ° view on Nosy-Be; admiring the largest lakes in the Isle
- Boat crossing Nosy Be to Ankify + Ankify to Andoharano Day 5 (40 Km)
- Make the crossing that connects Nosy-Be to the great land of Madagascar. Cross the cocoa plantations and the Sambirano valley.
- The oxcart is popular with farmers. It adapts to all roads and can transport various goods. These are among other reasons why the manufacture of carts is a guaranteed success. Making a cart has become a business in this region
- Andoharano to Maromandia Day 6 (72 Km)
- Passing through the villages of Ankaramy Be, Anjagoa and Befotaka. A real trail for a guaranteed rough road trip. A broken national road, real pothole between twenty villages of earthen houses, without electricity where the contemplation of passers-by is the best distraction
- Maromandia to Antsohihy Day 7 ( 102 Km)
by car or tire change on mountain bike VTT
More a stage than a tourist destination, Antsohihy reserves itself for those who do not hesitate to live a stay away from modern comfort because the hotel infrastructures present generally offer only the bare minimum with very basic accommodation. The people of Antsohihy make a living from forestry, commerce and transportation. Among the local specialties not to be missed, dishes based on mud crabs, sea cucumbers and shrimps!
- Antsohihy to Port Berger Day 8 (123 Km)
A landscape, green, often yellow, a warm earth almost red ... passages of rivers under bridges of different shapes and lengths
- Port Berger to Mampikony Day 9 (90 Km)
This is a region mainly focused on agriculture, in which cassava, cotton, tobacco, corn and rice, of course, is grown there.
- Mampikony to Ambondromamy Day 10 (98 Km)
- Passing by Ambodromamy The crossroads of the 3 provinces (Majunga, Diego Suarez and Antananarivo). The great outdoors for big breaks. Buy handcrafted souvenirs, fruit, local specialties in bottles
- Ambondromamy to Mahevatanana Day 11 (96 Km)
- Maevatanana "the beautiful village" is one of the hottest cities in the country. It is an important relay of bush taxis on the Antananarivo-Mahajanga axis, an almost obligatory stopover. This city, which dominates the Ikopa valley, is populated mainly by Merina, Betsileo and Sakalava. It is best known throughout the country for being one of the gold trading centers, and gold panners have flocked to it since the 19th century.
- Mahevatanana to Mahatsinjo Day 12 (120 Km)
- The ravine climbs will be felt, the climate will change. The landscape is changing. the villagers born of a totally different ethnicity gradually appear.
- Mahatsinjo to Ankazobe Day 13 (101 Km)
- Ankazobe is a city in the Malagasy highlands of the province of Tana. "Ankazobé" to pronounce [ankazoubé], means in literal translation "where there are large trees". This translation is no longer adequate to this day because there are unfortunately practically no trees left. Today, the immense forests that bordered this locality are almost completely decimated by deforestation and the many bush fires ... These forests consist mainly of Eucalyptus, and the wood of this tree is used today to make charcoal which is very precious, because it is the only fuel for cooking food.
- Ankazobe to Antananarivo Day 14 (90 Km)
- The capital of Madagascar, the largest city full of stories. There is the royal palazzo of the Rova, the Soarano station. A city that has had major upheavals in development, between colonization and its independence. All the same, it retains an authentic aspect and is closer to the rest of the island by its rice fields and primary villages in the surrounding area
- Antananarivo Day 15 Day 16
Today we take a day to see some special hosts and friends in town, and enjoy the finest cuisine (and beverages) of the isle.
- Antananarivo to Ambatolampy Day 17 (73 Km)
Colonial architecture and its pleasant gardens. Behind the hotel, on the shore of Lake Ranomafana, the Thermal Establishment welcomes, in its Belle Époque decor, spa guests who come to treat liver problems and rheumatism. wheat, rice and corn are grown there, but it is above all the leading producer of temperate climate fruits and vegetables and the leading dairy producer on the Big Island. And of course and not the least, industrial city producing Bierre, the famous "Three Horse Beer" (THB)
- Ambatolampy to Antsirabe Day 18 (98 Km)
- Ambatolampy is a small country town appreciated as much by the nationals as the foreigners. Its temperate climate is particularly favorable for trout farming, which is in great demand in renowned restaurants in the area, where delicious nymph legs and snails are also served. Horse riding enthusiasts will be able to visit horse farms and, at the same time, explore the locality while enjoying the pleasures of horse riding. Ambatolampy is also known for its factories of pots and other aluminum kitchen utensils. The forge and foundry trades are passed on from generation to generation.
- Antsirabe Day 19
Enjoy meeting our friends and some famous hidden sites in town!
- Antsirabe to Ambositra Day 20 (93 Km)
- Antsirabe means "where there is a lot of salt" because of the quality of its soils and the waters very rich in mineral salts. Located at 1500 m above sea level, it is also a renowned spa resort which blends in the middle of an impressive volcanic landscape. It is also called the "city of water" where you can enjoy its baths with many therapeutic properties. Surrounded by three lakes (Tritriva, Andranomafana and Andraikiba), the city is rich in history and past vestiges. You can also feel the strong colonial influence through the architecture of the city’s buildings.
- Ambositra Day 21
- Passing by Ambositra, formerly called the "city of roses", it used its forest resources to stand out and become a master in the Madagascan marquetry. It is recognized as the source of ancestral artisanal know-how: Zafimaniry art.
- Ambositra to Ranomafana Day 22 (130 Km)
- Ranomafana, A still natural space, endowed with a national park with Twelve species of lemurs, numerous other mammals and birds in these 41,600 ha of tropical rain forest of medium altitude, crossed by rivers, of which only a small part can be visited (circuits ).
- Ranomafana Day 23
Day tracking lemurs and other fauna and flora in one of Madagascar's most famous rainforests.
- Ranomafana to Fianarantsoa Day 24 (60 Km)
- Ranomafana is a small village lost in the mountains, hidden at the bottom of a large deep valley and immersed in the dense forest of the East. Its natural hot spring. Then you continue your road in this still unique forest, among large rocks towards Fianarantsoa the province of the region
- Fianarantsoa Day 25
Enjoy meeting our friends and some famous hidden sites in town!
- Finanrantsoa to Ambalavao Day 26 (55 Km)
- Besides the richness of its craftsmanship, Ambalavao is also renowned for its wine products. Indeed, some great Madagascan vintages come from the region's vineyards. Besides, the city is also considered as the crossroads of zebu sales.
- Ambalavao to Ihosy Day 27 (136 Km)
- Ihosy of yesteryear is a cultural site. As the name suggests, it was an old town built by the kings of the BARA ethnic group (Malagasy ethnic group of the south). Before transferring the village, the King Bara erected the city of Ihosy on the hill called "Ihosy of Antan". This population is nomadic, composed of pastoralists and herders.. Nomadic people, they are always looking for a large piece of land for their herds of zebus, which is why they had to leave the " Ihosy d’antan" hill.
- Ihosy Day 28
Enjoy meeting our friends and some famous hidden sites in town!
- Ihosy to Ranohira Day 29 (90 Km)
- Between Ihosy and Ranohira, the Horombe plateau unrolls its immense peeled carpet, covered with ahidambo, a wild boar grass which zebus feed on and sown with aloes and tall red termite mounds. On these breeding grounds, large herds are regularly encountered, guarded by men armed with spears and whips.
- Ranohira Day 30
- Sometimes a story needs several pages to write and the story of Andranosoa is one of them. Abandoned by its inhabitants, the site has become a vast covered area of ancient habitat, with sediments collected over time. But during a period of titanic rains, runoff cleared these sediments and revealed ancient strata, which have since become of great interest to archaeologists around the world.
- Visit Isalo
- Ranohira to Sakaraha Day 31 (110 Km)
- The "sign water" has become that of travelers a providential stage on the monotonous and arid RN 7. A few kilometers from Ranohira, capital of an ancient Bara kingdom, Ranohira opens naturally onto Isalo and its national park Bush taxi, trucks stop there for a meal or a well-deserved night's rest. Amethysts and garnets are traded on the small market. After Sakaraha, on the western markets of Bara country, the landscape changes. The sun-scorched steppe gives way to a dry forest dotted with baobabs and cotton fields.
- Sakaraha to Tuléar Day 32 (130 Km)
A multitude of cultures, ethnicities, ranging from Vezo, Antandroy, Mahafaly then Antanosy. All along the coast, wonderful sites, Mahafay and Antandroy tombs ... You will have your eyes full for learning a lot of people and their know-how at all times.
- Tulear Day 33
Tulear rich in its history, which can be seen through its 3 museums (Mahafaly, Rabesandratana and that of Regional University). City of commerce, by a minority of Indians who contribute strongly
- Tulear to Saint Augustin Day 34 (60 Km go and back)
The stunning sunsets here have no equal. The bright orange colour of the sky competes with the hues of the Vezo dugouts, moored in a row along the beach, painted red, blue, green and black. During the day, the crystal clear waters invite those wishing to explore underwater treasures through scuba diving or snorkelling. The waters are alive with marine vegetation and multi-coloured fish that thrive in this turquoise-coloured environment and the soft sand will invite you to lie down and take an afternoon snooze.
- Tulear to Ifaty Day 35 (60Km go and back)
- Reach the station of Ifaty by bike. Those who want to admire the magnificent Vezo villages, will not hesitate to take an hour-long boat trip.
- Tulear to Berenty Day 36 (550 Km)
Very long driving day across Madagascar to reach the jumping lemurs park featured on BBC and many other news.
- Berenty Day 37
Strolling with the lemurs with rare birds flying above: such unforgettable experiences are possible for those who come to spend their holidays in the south east of Madagascar. 80 kilometres from Fort Dauphin, in the catchment area of the Androy River and along the banks of the Mandrare, is the nature reserve of Berenty, set up to protect endemic species of fauna.
It is a true paradise for wild fauna. Founded by the De Heaulme family, the reserve is an example of successful ecotourism management and a true open-air scientific laboratory where naturalists from all over the world come to study lemurs in their natural environment. Since 1936, work has been carried out here to protect the lemurs, but also other animals such as bats, reptiles, tortoises and hundreds of species of birds.
The nature reserve of Berenty proposes a number of excursions and tours to enable you to discover the diversity of its fauna and its ecosystem. Experienced guides and experts on the local fauna and flora will accompany visitors to the reserve. During your trip, you will become familiar with four families of lemurs: the ring-tailed lemur, the sifaka (‘dancing lemur’), the grey mouse lemur and the sonygika. The skies above Berenty are home to the majestic Harrier falcon, the Humblot’s heron and the giant Coua. All these species can be observed here in their natural environment. In 2004, Bill Gates visited the reserve and fell in love with them!
- Berenty to Fort dauphin Day 38 (80 Km)
Head to the last city in Madagascar at the bottom corner, overrun by Canadian miners and with few sites around, to relax over Talinjoo overlook on the ocean with an infinity pool and serene seaside.
- Fort Dauphin Around Day 39
With the aspect of the end of the world, bordered on one side by the luxuriant vegetation which descends the steep slopes of the Saint-Louis peak, on the other by the blond beaches of the Indian Ocean: Lokaro, Libanona, Manafiafy .. Each of these three coasts is bathed by the ocean, benefiting from its own climate.
- Outta there Day 40
Fly to the capital before leaving the country, TNR to FTE
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Notes: This trip requires physical and mental fitness, flexibility, patience, and sense of humour and a love of exploration and improvisational adventure. French is a plus but not necessary. We guarantee to get you tip to toe across Madagascar. If you decide to turn back and depart, there are no refunds, however we will get you to the bottom of the island, guaranteed. We include everything.