Madagascar Bespoke Holidays

Planned by Aleem Raheem, Earth Trip co-founder and Madagascar specialist · Updated October 2026

Madagascar Bespoke Holidays: Private, Tailor-Made and Expertly Planned

Our Madagascar bespoke holidays are private trips planned around you, with your own driver-guide, hand-picked lodges and every domestic flight booked for you. Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island, and most of its wildlife lives nowhere else on Earth, including more than 100 species of lemur. On one trip you can hear the indri sing in the rainforest of Andasibe, watch the sun set over the Avenue of the Baobabs, walk among the limestone pinnacles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha and finish on a quiet beach in Nosy Be or Ifaty.

Distances are long and roads can be slow, so a good route makes all the difference. Our co-founder Aleem Raheem has explored Madagascar on research trips since 2013, and has stayed in the lodges, driven the routes and met the guides we use. Read our Madagascar travel guide for visas, health and when to go.

Why Book Your Madagascar Holiday with Earth Trip?

• Private driver-guides: an experienced, English-speaking driver-guide with a 4×4 or comfortable vehicle for the whole road journey, plus specialist local guides in each national park.
• Routes we know first-hand: from the RN7 road south through Ranomafana and Isalo to the baobabs and Tsingy in the west, we plan realistic driving days and use domestic flights where they save time.
• Lodges we have stayed in: from simple, well-run eco-lodges near the parks to beach hotels and private-island retreats.
• Responsible travel: we use community-run reserves and local guides, so more of what you spend stays with the people protecting Madagascar’s forests.
• Financial protection: every booking is protected through the Travel Trust Association (member Q059X). Read about our financial protection.

Where to Go on a Madagascar Holiday

1. Andasibe and the Eastern Rainforest

A few hours’ drive east of Antananarivo, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is home to the indri, the largest living lemur, whose eerie song carries through the forest in the morning. Night walks reveal chameleons, frogs and tiny mouse lemurs. Further east, the Pangalanes Canal links lakes and lagoons along the coast, and the Palmarium reserve is one of the few places to see the aye-aye.

Where to stay: Sahatandra River Hotel.

2. The RN7: Highlands, Ranomafana and Isalo

Madagascar’s classic road trip runs around 900 km south from Antananarivo to the coast. On the way, see the rice terraces and craft workshops of the highlands, look for golden bamboo lemurs in the rainforest of Ranomafana, meet the ring-tailed lemurs of the community-run Anja Reserve, and walk through the sandstone canyons and natural pools of Isalo National Park.

Where to stay: Tsienimparihy Lodge in Ambalavao, Isalo Rock Lodge or Le Relais de la Reine.

3. The West: Avenue of the Baobabs, Kirindy and the Tsingy

Near Morondava, giant baobab trees line a dirt road in one of Madagascar’s most famous views, best at sunset. Kirindy Forest is one of the best places to see the fossa, Madagascar’s largest predator, and Verreaux’s sifakas. Further north, the Tsingy de Bemaraha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a forest of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles crossed by rope bridges and walkways. The roads to the Tsingy are usually only open in the dry season.

4. The South-West Coast: Ifaty, Anakao and Salary Bay

The end of the RN7 is the perfect place to relax. Spiny forest, baobabs, coral reefs and fishing villages line the coast around Tulear, with snorkelling, diving and whale watching from July to September.

Where to stay: Les Dunes d’Ifaty, Salary Bay Hotel, Laguna Blu or Mikea Lodge.

5. The North: Nosy Be, Ankarana and Anjajavy

The north mixes white-sand beaches and islands with dramatic scenery. Explore the Tsingy and caves of Ankarana, the red Tsingy and the rainforest of Montagne d’Ambre, then relax in Nosy Be, with boat trips to the islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Iranja. On the north-west coast, Anjajavy sits in its own private reserve, with lemurs and sifakas around the villas.

Where to stay: Anjajavy Le Lodge, The Litchi Tree, Baobab Tree Hotel & Spa or Madagascar Resort Ambaro Beach.

6. Île Sainte-Marie

Off the east coast, this long, green island is one of the best places in the Indian Ocean to see humpback whales, which come here to breed from around July to September. The rest of the year it is a quiet island of beaches, palm trees and old pirate cemeteries.

Madagascar at a Glance

Our Madagascar Itineraries

Each of these is a starting point that we tailor around your interests, dates and budget. Prices are per person.

A Note from Our Co-Founder

“I first went to Madagascar in 2013 and I’ve been going back ever since. It’s not an easy country to travel in, and that’s part of its magic. Roads can be slow and lodges are often simple, but nothing beats hearing the indri at dawn or watching a sifaka dance across the sand. I check the routes, lodges and guides myself, so our clients see the best of Madagascar without the stress.” Aleem Raheem, Earth Trip co-founder

Responsible Travel in Madagascar

Madagascar has lost much of its original forest, and tourism helps pay for the protection of what is left. We use community-run reserves like Anja, local guides in every park and locally owned lodges wherever we can. We never include lemur handling or animal shows, and we ask you not to buy shells, coral or rosewood. Read more about our responsible travel approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a bespoke Madagascar holiday?

Our Madagascar holidays usually include all accommodation, a private driver-guide and vehicle for the road journeys, local guides and entry fees in the national parks, airport transfers, the domestic flights in your itinerary and most meals in the more remote areas. International flights can be added on request.

What is the RN7 route?

The RN7 is Madagascar’s best-known road trip, running around 900 km from Antananarivo to Tulear on the south-west coast. Over about a week, it passes through the highlands, the rainforest of Ranomafana, the Anja Reserve and Isalo National Park, and ends at the beaches of Ifaty or Anakao. It’s the most popular route for a first visit.

Can I see the baobabs and the Tsingy on the same trip?

Yes. The Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava and the Tsingy de Bemaraha are both in the west, linked by a long road and two river ferries. The road to the Tsingy is usually only open in the dry season, so we plan this region between about May and November.

Where can I see the aye-aye and the indri?

The indri lives in the eastern rainforest, and Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is the easiest place to see and hear it. The aye-aye is nocturnal and hard to find in the wild. The Palmarium reserve on the Pangalanes Canal is one of the most reliable places to see it.

When can I see whales in Madagascar?

Humpback whales visit Madagascar from around July to September. Île Sainte-Marie, off the east coast, is the best place to see them, and they can also be seen off the south-west coast near Ifaty and Anakao.

What are the lodges like in Madagascar?

Away from the beaches, most lodges are small and simple but comfortable, with private bathrooms and good local food, often in beautiful settings close to the national parks. For more comfort, we include boutique lodges and luxury beach and island stays such as Anjajavy. We tell you honestly what to expect at each one.

Plan Your Madagascar Holiday

Read our Madagascar travel guide, explore Madagascar’s regions and top experiences, or browse our Madagascar hotels and lodges. To start planning, request a video call with Aleem.