Start: Antananarivo
Destination: Antsirabe
Drive: 190 km | 5 hours

Start on the famed RN7! Expect asphalted and windy roads passing rice paddies and small highland villages. You can have a good lunch stop at Coin de Foie Gras in Behenjy, or try an authentic paella (we're not kidding) at El Torro in Ambatolampy.

Where to stay in Antsirabe: 

Budget: Camping allowed at Green Park and Madalief (out of town) 

Mid-range: Trianon (€26/night), Madalief €26/night)

Deluxe: Couleur Café (€37/night)

Restaurants: Chez Jenny and Zandina (best pizza), Trianon (classic French), Vatolahy (classic French) and Conterno (pastries, baguettes)

Enjoy: Antsirabe

Explore Antsirabe town and surroundings. Take a pousse pousse (the Malagasy version of the Asian rickshaw) tour to the craft workshops, which are hard to find on your own. Hike or mountain bike around Lake Tritriva, an emerald-green crater lake.

Antsirabe is considered the pousse pousse capital of the country. There are three major ''species''. The basic model is a cart pulled by a man. It may feel uncomfortable to be towed around by someone in this fashion (who may even be barefooted), but this is the driver's living, so your pay is most welcome. The cyclo-pousse, in which the cab is attached to a bicycle, is a step up, at least as far as the driver is concerned. And on top of the food chain is the kinga, the motorised pousse-pousse. Explore Antsirabe town and take a pousse pousse (the Malagasy version of the Asian rickshaw) tour to the craft workshops which are otherwise hard to find on your own.

Start: Antsirabe
Destination: Ranomafana National Park
Drive: 227 km | 5 hours

Drive to Ranomafana National Park. It's another lovely windy road, passing highland villages, rice paddies and rainforest-covered hills. Ambositra makes for a good coffee stop. For those interested in community tourism and highland culture, this is an interesting region to linger around for longer. Stay at Grand Hotel or Motel Violette (both budget) or continue to Ambalavao and stay at Betsileo Country Lodge (mid-range), close to Anja National Park. 

Our favourite picks in Ranomafana:  

Budget: Camping allowed at park entrance, Ihary bungalows - €15/night

Mid-range: Setam Lodge - €30-50/night

Restaurant: Manja

Enjoy: Ranomafana 

Ranomafana is a small but lively tropical town with a stunning riverside setting surrounded by rainforest-covered hills and the lovely scent of flowers in the air. It's the place to search for the golden bamboo lemur, only discovered in 1986. Park entrance costs €16 pp plus €31 per guide for a group up to four. Half of the proceeds go to the guide. A tip is still appreciated.

We were lucky on our hike, as we spotted a greater bamboo lemur, of which there are only two in the park. We also saw the golden bamboo lemur, red-fronted brown lemur, Sifaka Eduardo, leaf-tailed gecko, brookesia chameleon, paradise bird, queen fisher, a snake and leeches... 

Start: Ranomafana National Park
Destination: Andringitra National Park
Drive: 110 km | 4 hours 

Drive to Andringitra National Park. Perhaps the most scenic drive thus far, especially beyond Ambalavao when the highland plateau gives way to deserted grassland with big sandstone massifs and distant horizons. Ambalavao is an interesting village to stop in and a base from which several community tourism initiatives are offered. 

The exit to Camp Catta and Tsara Tented Camp is 20 km after Ambalavao. Then it's 1 hour of off-road driving towards the park, with some rough parts. 

Accommodation in Andringitra: 

Budget: Camping allowed at Camp Catta 

Mid-range: Camp Catta, which has a natural pool (€27-€55/night), Tsara Tented Camp (€40/night), Varangue Betsileo, which has a swimming pool (€40/night). 

Enjoy: Andringitra

If you like hiking, this is a breathtaking area. Several hikes can be organised from the camps in this area, ranging from a few hours to multiple days. We did the real Andringitra, a tough full day walk up the peak. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat, as the sun is remorseless. Consider spending an extra night, to complete the Imarivolanitra trekking (2-3 days). 

Start: Andringitra National Park
Destination: Tulear
Drive: 460 km| 8 hours

We're heading for the coast today! It's a long drive, so leave very early. No more windy roads, but distant horizons and deserted grasslands, with some rocky peaks. You can have an early lunch at one of the nice lodges around Isalo National Park. After Isalo, it's another 4 hours' drive.

Our favourite accommodation around Tulear: 

Mid-range: Famata Lodge, with swimming pool (€35/night), Residence Eden Lodge in Sarodrano fishing village (€35/night)

Deluxe: Bakuba Concept (pictured) - €115-175/night

Our favourite accommodation in Ifaty:

Mid-range: Paradisier, Belle Vue

Deluxe: Dunes 

Enjoy: Tulear

The beach at Ifaty/Mangily, 24 km north of Tulear is nicer, but we prefer the vibe at St Augustine's Bay, south of Tulear. If you spend a few more days at the beach, consider going a bit more up the west coast towards the remote, yet beautiful Salary Bay (pictured) - 6 hours off-road driving, Nissan Double Cab required.

Enjoy: Tulear

Another day at one of Tulear or Ifaty's beautiful beaches. 

Start: Tulear
Destination: Isalo National Park
Drive: 237 km | 4 hours 

It's an easy 4 hour drive to Isalo National Park. On the way, you'll pass through sapphire ''boom'' towns. We found it impressive and throught-provoking. At Ilakaka, you can take a tour through the mines with Color Lines.

Roadtrip Madagascar's favourite accommodation in Isalo:

Budget: ITC lodge (Momo Trek) - €15, camping allowed
Mid-range: Isalo Ranch, with swimming pool - €42, camping allowed
Deluxe: Le Relais de la Reine (pictured), with pool & spa - €72-105

Enjoy: Isalo National Park

The combination of sandstone rocks cut by deep canyons, waterfalls and natural pools, with all sorts of native plants make Isalo Madagascar's most visited national park. The piscine and cascade hiking trail can become crowded during high season. Consider a more off the beaten track experience with Momo Trek, who organise multiple-day hikes with camping into remote sections of the park. Further activities include horse riding or climbing the Via Ferrate (enquire with Relais de la Reine).  

Start: Isalo National Park
Destination: Ambalavao
Drive: 255 km | 5 hours

Today, you're on your way to Ambalavao. There are various community tourism initiatives being developed in this culturally rich region. You can visit a paper factory, see silk production or a winery, visit the largest cattle market at Ambalavao or do a local homestay. Enquire with the lodge. Anja National Park is a small park with well-maintained hiking trails, where you can see ring-tailed lemurs and other wildlife. 

Accommodation in Ambalavao:

Mid-range: Varangue Betsileo, with swimming pool (€47/night)

Start: Ambalavao
Destination: Antsirabe
Drive: 300 km | 7 hours

Drive to Antsirabe.

Our favourite accommodation in Antsirabe:

Budget: Camping allowed at Green Park and Madalief (out of town) 

Mid-range: Trianon (pictured) - €26/night, Madalief €26/night

Deluxe: Couleur Café €37/night

Restaurants: Chez Jenny (pizza, lively), Trianon (classic French), Vatolahy (classic French)

Start: Antsirabe
Destination: Andasibe
Drive: 300 km | 7 hours

We're going to leave the RN7 and switch to the RN2 from Tana onwards. The scenery here is beautifully lush and tropical. The RN2 is the most important road of the country, connecting Tana with the port of Tamatave, so it can be busy with slow trucks. Be aware of dangerous overtaking. Coq d'Or in Moramanga makes a good coffee stop (try their eclairs!) or lunch break. 

Our favourite accommodation in Andasibe:

Budget: Feon' Ny Ala (€12-23/night) 

Mid-range: Grace Lodge (€ 28)

Restaurants: Feon' Ny Ala, especially their Chinese dishes

Enjoy: Andasibe

Andasibe is the prime location to search for the Indri Indri. With its 'surprised teddy bear' face it looks more like a gone-wrong panda than a lemur. If you don't see them (99% chance you will), you will definitely hear them. They make an eerie, wailing sound that carries for kilometres. Each Indri Indri only cries up to three times a day as it costs them so much energy. It really is mind blowing to witness this ritual. 

You can do between 2 - 4 hour walks in Andasibe to search for the lemurs. It's not strenuous. Mantadia National Park is 20 km up north, much bigger and more suitable for the hiking enthusiast. On our hike with guide Hermann, who we had to pick because of his Dutch name :) we saw the following animals and birds: Indri indri, diadeem sifaka, brown lemur, pandanus frog, elephant ear chameleon, green day gecko, paradise fly cather and red fronted cova.

Start: Andasibe
Destination: Antananarivo
Drive: 150 km | 5 hours

Explore Antananarivo and eat at one of its many good restaurants. 

Return your car to our office in Ivato, at the lodge you are staying in Ivato or at the airport ( both € 10). It's not possible to return your car in down town Antananarivo. 

Roadtrip Madagascar's favourite restaurants in Antananarivo: 

Varangue, Sakamanga, Les 3 Metis, Kudeta, Petit Verdot, Villa Vanille. 

Roadtrip Madagascar's favourite places to stay in Ivato: 

Mid-Range: Guesthouse Susie's Place 

Deluxe: Au Bois Vert. Good restaurant and swimming pool.

Restaurants: Au Bois Vert, Savanna Café, L'Escalle