Andasibe National Park: indri, night walks and how to visit
The indri, how to arrange a guided night walk, Mantadia, Vakona and Peyrieras, rain and leeches, and how many days to give Andasibe.
Classic Eastern Madagascar: Forests, Lakes and Islands
Rainforest, canal villages and an island finish: the gentlest way to see a lot of eastern Madagascar in ten days.
Highlights of the tour
What you'll see
- Explore Analamazaotra National Park and see the indri indri, Madagascar's largest lemur
- Visit Vakona Reserve and Palmarium Reserve for close encounters with friendly lemurs
- Night walks in Andasibe and Ankanin'ny Nofy to spot nocturnal wildlife, including the aye-aye
- Scenic boat rides along the Pangalanes Canal
- Relaxing coastal time in Mahambo and on Île Sainte-Marie
- Snorkelling, beach time and whale watching (July to September, with the first whales from June)
- Cultural encounters with local communities along the canals and in the villages
Day by day
Day 1
Arrival in Antananarivo
Arrival in Antananarivo, airport pickup and transfer to the hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy a short city tour or visit the Queen's Palace (Rova). Rest and explore nearby streets or try local cuisine.
Overnight: Antananarivo
Day 2
Antananarivo to Andasibe
Drive east toward Andasibe, passing scenic highland villages, rice paddies and towns. Stop at Peyrieras Reserve to see reptiles such as chameleons and geckos. Continue to Andasibe for lunch. Optional evening night walk to see nocturnal species.
Overnight: Andasibe
Day 3
Full day in Andasibe
Morning exploration of Analamazaotra National Park, spotting indri, bamboo lemurs, birds and orchids. After lunch, visit Vakona Reserve with its lemur sanctuary for close encounters and photography. Afternoon free to relax at the hotel.
Overnight: Andasibe
Day 4
Andasibe to Ankanin'ny Nofy
Drive to the Pangalanes Canal region, followed by a boat transfer to Ankanin'ny Nofy. Afternoon arrival and check-in. Evening guided night walk to observe aye-aye lemurs, mouse lemurs, chameleons and insects.
Overnight: Ankanin'ny Nofy
Day 5
Palmarium Reserve
Morning visit to Palmarium Reserve to see indri, black-and-white ruffed lemurs and other species. Lunch in the reserve. Afternoon free to relax lakeside or visit a nearby village to explore local life and crafts.
Overnight: Ankanin'ny Nofy
Day 6
Ankanin'ny Nofy to Mahambo
Boat transfer along the Pangalanes Canal to Toamasina (Tamatave), then drive to Mahambo. Afternoon free to enjoy the beach, swim or rest.
Overnight: Mahambo
Day 7
Mahambo to Sainte Marie
Morning boat transfer to Île Sainte-Marie, an island known for palm-fringed beaches and turquoise waters. Afternoon free to relax or explore the village.
Overnight: Sainte Marie
Days 8 and 9
Sainte Marie
Enjoy the island with snorkelling, boat trips, beach relaxation and optional whale watching (July to September, with the first whales from June). Time also for exploring local villages or simply enjoying the tropical setting.
Overnight: Sainte Marie
Day 10
Sainte Marie to Antananarivo
Flight back to Antananarivo. Depending on the schedule, a short city visit, souvenir shopping or a last meal in the capital. End of the trip.
Included
- Private comfortable vehicle
- Accommodation as mentioned (bed & breakfast)
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Local guides and park entrance fees
- Boat transfers along the Pangalanes Canal and to Sainte-Marie
Not included
- Flights to Antananarivo
- Lunches and dinners outside included activities
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
Questions
Questions about the Eastern trip
When is the best time to visit eastern Madagascar?
The rainforest and its lemurs are there all year. The drier months, May to mid-November, are the most comfortable for forest walks, and humpback whales come to the waters off Île Sainte-Marie from July to September, with the first whales from June, when whale watching is an option on the 10-day Eastern trip. Cyclones are possible from December to April, mostly on the east coast, so tell us your dates and we'll be honest about whether they work. See the best time to visit Madagascar.
Can you see the indri and the aye-aye on the Eastern Madagascar trip?
The 10-day Eastern Madagascar trip goes where both live, though we never promise an animal. Day 3 is a morning in Analamazaotra National Park, home of the indri, Madagascar's largest lemur. On day 4, after a boat transfer to Ankanin'ny Nofy, an evening night walk goes out to look for aye-ayes, mouse lemurs and chameleons. The Vakona and Palmarium reserves add habituated lemurs you can photograph up close.
How do you travel between Andasibe, the Pangalanes Canal and Sainte Marie?
By road and by boat on the 10-day Eastern trip. Your private vehicle and driver-guide take you from Antananarivo to Andasibe and on to the Pangalanes Canal, where a boat takes you to Ankanin'ny Nofy. On day 6 another boat follows the canal to Toamasina (Tamatave), and you drive on to Mahambo. A boat crosses to Île Sainte-Marie on day 7. These boat transfers are included in the price. The trip ends with a flight from Sainte Marie back to Antananarivo, which isn't included, but we can arrange it on request.
What does the 10-day Eastern Madagascar trip include?
The 10-day Eastern Madagascar trip is priced from €1,620 per adult, and the price per person depends on group size. It includes your private vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide, accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, park entrance fees and local guides, and the boat transfers on the Pangalanes Canal and to Sainte-Marie. Flights to Antananarivo, including the flight back from Sainte Marie, are not included, and nor are lunches and dinners outside included activities, drinks, tips and personal expenses. We can arrange the Sainte Marie flight on request.
Where does the Eastern Madagascar trip start and end?
In Antananarivo. We meet you at the airport on day 1 and take you to your hotel, with a short city tour or a visit to the Queen's Palace (the Rova) if there's time. The trip ends on day 10 with the flight from Sainte Marie back to the capital, which isn't included in the price but can be arranged on request.
How active is the Eastern Madagascar trip?
It's gentle. You walk forest trails in Analamazaotra and the private reserves, with night walks on two evenings, one of them optional, and most afternoons are free. The rest of the trip is boat rides on the Pangalanes Canal and time on the beach at Mahambo and on Île Sainte-Marie, with snorkelling and boat trips if you want them.
Can I add more beach time or other regions to the Eastern trip?
Yes. Every trip can be reshaped: add days on Sainte Marie, slow the pace down, add Nosy Be at the end, or add a birding guide, which makes the east a very different trip. If your time is short, our 2-day Andasibe trip covers the rainforest part on its own.
Before you go
Guides for this trip
Île Sainte-Marie: whales, beaches and how to get there
Whale season and the rules boats follow, Île aux Nattes and the pirate cemetery, the rain and cyclones, the flight or the boat, and how many nights to give Sainte-Marie.
Where to see lemurs in Madagascar
Indri, ring-tails, sifakas, the aye-aye and mouse lemurs: where each one lives, when to go, and how close you really get.
Madagascar's rainforests: where to see them
Where Madagascar's rainforest grows, how much is left, what lives in it, the forests you can walk in and how hard each one is, plus the leeches and the best months.
Night walks in Madagascar: what comes out after dark
Mouse lemurs, sportive lemurs, sleeping chameleons and frogs: where night walks run, access rules, what to bring and the months when there's most to find.
The islands off Madagascar worth the boat ride
Nosy Be and its neighbours, Nosy Iranja, Mitsio, Sainte-Marie, Nosy Hara and Nosy Ve: what each island is for, the boats, the best months, and Mauritius or Réunion next door.
