Tsingy de Bemaraha: visiting the Grand and Petit Tsingy
Grand or Petit Tsingy, the road from Morondava, the opening season, what the climbing involves and how many days to allow.
10 Days West Adventure: Tsiribihina River, Tsingy and Baobabs
Four days drifting down the Tsiribihina, with nights camped on the riverbank, then the Grand Tsingy and a night walk in Kirindy. The trip ends at the Avenue of the Baobabs, at sunset and again at sunrise.
Highlights of the tour
What you'll see
- Four-day descent of the Tsiribihina River, camping on the riverbank
- Sunset and sunrise at the Avenue of the Baobabs
- Night walk in Kirindy Forest with chances to see nocturnal lemurs and the fossa
- Wildlife encounters in Kirindy Reserve, including Verreaux's sifakas
- Hiking the spectacular Grand Tsingy
- Lake Tritriva, a volcanic crater lake in the highlands
- The unique landscapes and dry forests of western Madagascar
Day by day
Day 1
Antananarivo to Antsirabe
Pickup from the airport or hotel, then drive to Antsirabe through highlands, rice fields and small villages. In Antsirabe, enjoy a short city tour of wide avenues, colonial buildings, artisan workshops and the town's cool climate.
Overnight: Antsirabe
Day 2
Antsirabe to Miandrivazo
Morning visit to Lake Tritriva, a volcanic crater lake with deep blue waters. A short walk and photo opportunities while learning about local legends. Continue the drive to Miandrivazo, stopping for lunch along the way. Arrive in the afternoon.
Overnight: Miandrivazo
Days 3 to 6
Tsiribihina River descent to Bekopaka
Boat descent along the Tsiribihina River, enjoying calm waters, cliffs and riverbank villages. Wildlife spotting may include herons, kingfishers, raptors and occasionally lemurs in riverside trees.
Stops for short walks, swimming in natural pools, and visiting small communities. Camping on the riverbank each night, enjoying simple meals and the relaxed rhythm of river life.
On the final day we continue by road toward Bekopaka village.
Overnight: camping along the river, then Bekopaka
Day 7
Grand Tsingy
Early breakfast, then a hike in the Grand Tsingy. Explore limestone formations, narrow passages, ladders and suspension bridges at a comfortable pace. Enjoy unique geological formations, dry forest vegetation and occasional wildlife.
Overnight: Bekopaka
Day 8
Bekopaka to Kirindy
Morning departure from Bekopaka, crossing the river by ferry and driving to Belo-sur-Tsiribihina for lunch. Continue toward Kirindy through dry forest landscapes and small villages.
Evening guided night walk in Kirindy Forest to spot nocturnal wildlife, including mouse lemurs, sportive lemurs and possibly the fossa.
Overnight: Kirindy
Day 9
Kirindy to Morondava
Morning exploration of Kirindy Forest during daylight to see Verreaux's sifakas, birds, reptiles and other species. Drive to Morondava for lunch. Late afternoon visit to the Avenue of the Baobabs to enjoy one of Madagascar's most iconic sunsets.
Overnight: Morondava
Day 10
Morondava and departure
Early morning visit to the Avenue of the Baobabs to enjoy the sunrise. Drive to Morondava airport for your flight. Airport transfer and check-in assistance provided if needed.
Included
- Private comfortable vehicle
- Accommodation as mentioned (bed & breakfast)
- English-speaking driver/guide
- Local guides and park entrance fees
Not included
- Lunches and dinners
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Drinks
Questions
Questions about the Tsiribihina trip
What is the Tsiribihina River trip like?
Slow and quiet. On the 10-day West Adventure you spend four days travelling downstream by boat, past cliffs and riverbank villages, with stops for short walks, swims in natural pools and visits to small communities. You may see herons, kingfishers and raptors, and occasionally lemurs in the riverside trees. You camp on the riverbank at night, with the camping equipment and river crew arranged for you. On the last river day you continue by road to Bekopaka.
How fit do you need to be for the Tsiribihina and Tsingy trip?
Reasonably fit, mainly for one day. The river days are gentle, with short walks and swims. Day 7 of the West Adventure is a hike in the Grand Tsingy, through narrow passages, up ladders and across suspension bridges, taken at a comfortable pace, so you'll want to be steady with heights. The rest is drives, a night walk in Kirindy and the baobabs at sunset and sunrise. Our Tsingy de Bemaraha guide explains the circuits.
When is the best time for the Tsiribihina River trip?
The best season for the 10-day West Adventure is May to November, the drier months in western Madagascar. From about January to March, swollen rivers cut off remote places in the west, and the dirt road to the Tsingy is very hard going. If your dates fall near either end of the season, or outside it, ask us first: we would rather tell you honestly that a route doesn't work than sell you a bad week.
Where does the 10-day West Adventure start and end?
It starts in Antananarivo, with a pickup from the airport or your hotel, and ends at Morondava airport on day 10, after sunrise at the Avenue of the Baobabs. We drive you to the airport and help with check-in if you need it. Your flight from Morondava isn't included in the price, but we can book it for you.
Is there a shorter or longer version of the Tsiribihina trip?
Yes. The 5-day West trip covers the same Tsingy and baobabs from Morondava, without the river. The 20-day Ultimate Madagascar Adventure includes a three-day Tsiribihina cruise and continues down the west coast and through the south.
What does the 10-day West Adventure include?
The 10-day West Adventure is priced from €1,540 per adult, and the price per person depends on group size. It includes your private vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide, accommodation as listed on a bed and breakfast basis, park entrance fees and local guides. Camping equipment and the river crew are arranged for you. Lunches and dinners, drinks, tips and personal expenses are not included.
Where do you stay on the 10-day West Adventure?
Hotels in Antsirabe and Miandrivazo for the first two nights, then camps on the riverbank during the descent. After the river come two nights in Bekopaka for the Tsingy, a night at Kirindy for the night walk and a last night in Morondava. Hotels can be upgraded or downgraded to match your budget.
Is the Tsiribihina River safe to travel?
At the time of writing (October 2026), the UK government's travel advice reports armed robberies of tourist boats on the Tsiribihina and suggests other routes, so check your own government's current advice before you book. If you'd rather leave the river out, we can reshape this trip, for example by flying to Morondava and joining the western route there, as our 5-day West trip does. Our guide to safety in Madagascar covers the rest.
Before you go
Guides for this trip
Avenue of the Baobabs: how to visit, and when
When to go, how to get to Morondava, what the rains change, and how to fit the Avenue in with Kirindy and the Tsingy.
Madagascar itineraries for 1, 2 or 3 weeks
What fits in one, two or three weeks, with real drive times and the combinations that waste days on the road.
The Tsiribihina River: the descent and current travel advice
The Tsiribihina descent from near Miandrivazo to Belo: barge or pirogue, sandbank camps, the gorge, the season, the safety advice and how it leads to the Tsingy.
Morondava: the base for the baobabs, Kirindy and the Tsingy
The flight or the long road in, Kirindy to the north, Belo-sur-Mer to the south, the beach the sea is eating, the dry months and how many nights to stay.
Antsirabe: pousse-pousses, crater lakes and the road south
The highland spa town on the RN7: pousse-pousses, zebu horn and tin-can workshops, the Lake Tritriva crater walk, cold July nights, and how long to stay.
