10-Day Madagascar Tour Packages
What if ten days in Madagascar looked a little like this - Tsiribihina River floating, river beaches for camping, villages dotting the route, with dramatic rock formations rising throughout western Madagascar. The RN7 highway south from Antsirabe passes Ranomafana's rainforests down to Isalo's sandstone canyons. This island off Africa's east coast packs geology and species you literally won't find anywhere else, and it’s all waiting for you.
Insider tips: Recommended 10-day Madagascar tour itineraries
Compiled by
NadineMadagascar travel expert at TourRadar
10 Days in Madagascar, incl. Antananarivo and Isalo National Park
The route spans 10 days covering 7 major destinations from Antananarivo to Andasibe. Includes one domestic flight, daily guided activities, and strategic overnight stays. Perfect balance of wildlife encounters, cultural visits, and scenic drives.
- Day 1
Antananarivo
Arrive at Ivato International Airport and budget $30 for a mandatory PCR test. Have your hotel arrange airport pickup as current protocols require this. Spend your first day getting settled. Your guide can help you get a local SIM card and exchange currency.
- Day 2
Antananarivo to Ifaty (via Toliara)
Fly to Toliara in southern Madagascar in the morning. Drive 25km to the Vezo fishing village of Ifaty. Visit Reniala Reserve to see the iconic baobab trees. The dry forest is perfect for bird watching, so pack binoculars if you want to spot Madagascar's native species.
- Days 3-4
Isalo National Park
Travel north to Isalo and stop at Zombitse National Park to spot 8 lemur species. Take two days to explore the park. Spend one day hiking the Makis canyon and swimming in natural pools. Watch the sunset at the Window of Isalo the next evening. "The schedule was hectic but our guide kept us entertained through the long drives on rough roads."
- Day 5
Fianarantsoa via Anja Reserve
Drive to Fianarantsoa with a stop at Anja Reserve to see friendly ring-tailed lemurs. Visit workshops in Ambalavao that make traditional Antemoro paper and silk. The area's terraced rice fields make great photos.
- Day 6
Ranomafana National Park
Start early to see wildlife at its most active in this rainforest park. Join the night walk at 18:00 with a flashlight to spot nocturnal animals. Wear good hiking shoes as trails can get slippery.
- Days 7-8
Antsirabe to Andasibe
Take a rickshaw tour of colonial Antsirabe before the 7-hour drive to Andasibe. Stop at aluminum workshops in Ambatolampy and an exotic animal breeding center in Marozevo. Wake up early to hear the indri, Madagascar's largest lemur, calling at sunrise.
- Day 9
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Explore the park's trails. Visit Lemur Island for up-close encounters and take another night walk to find nocturnal wildlife. The park guides know a lot about local plants and animals.
- Day 10
Return to Antananarivo
Visit La Digue craft market for souvenirs before heading to the airport. Schedule time for a PCR or antigen test before your departure.
10 Day Madagascar Itinerary, incl. Antananarivo and Isalo National Park
Madagascar's highlights shine across 6 major destinations. Antananarivo's UNESCO sites, Ranomafana's rainforests, and Isalo's canyons create memorable moments, enhanced by premium hotels and guided wildlife encounters.
- Days 1-2
Antananarivo & Andasibe
Start in "Tana" the capital city. Visit the UNESCO site of Ambohimanga for great views of the highlands. Take the RN2 highway to Andasibe where you'll see beautiful rice terraces. Keep some small bills handy if you want to take photos of the rice fields. Local farmers usually expect a small tip.
- Days 3-4
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Get up early (before 7:30 AM) to spot the Indri, Madagascar's biggest lemur. You can hear their unique calls until about noon. Bring rain gear since the rainforest is often wet and slippery. Visit Lemur Island later in the day for some great photo chances with friendly lemurs. Take a night walk to see nocturnal animals like mouse lemurs.
- Days 5-6
Antsirabe & Ranomafana
Travel through the highlands to Antsirabe to see colonial buildings and local craft workshops. Next is Ranomafana National Park where you might spot the rare golden bamboo lemur. The hiking is tough here so wear good boots and take lots of water. Trails can get slippery after rain.
- Days 7-8
Isalo National Park
Head south to see Isalo's incredible sandstone formations and canyons. A recent visitor said: "The sunset at Isalo's Window is breathtaking—get there 30 minutes before sunset for the best spot and bring a jacket as it gets cool quickly."
- Days 9-10
Tuléar & Return to Antananarivo
Drive to Tuléar through the spiny forest. Stop to look at the Mahafaly tombs but remember these are sacred so no photos. See ancient baobab trees at Reniala Reserve before flying back to Antananarivo. Plan 3 hours for the airport transfer because of heavy traffic in Tana.
10 Days in Madagascar, incl. Antananarivo and Tsingy de Bemaraha
A 654 km adventure spans 6 cities, including 3 days along Tsiribihina River. The UNESCO-listed Tsingy de Bemaraha, Antsirabe's rickshaw tours, and Ambatolampy's workshops showcase local culture. Two nights camping complement select hotels like Flower Palace and Hotel Tanankoay.
- Day 1
Antananarivo
Land at Ivato airport and take a 40-minute drive (18km) to your hotel. "We lived in the heart of the cities and met the people, getting a real taste of local life," one traveler shared. Try to book a morning arrival to skip Tana's busy rush hour traffic.
- Day 2
Antananarivo to Antsirabe (170km, 5 hours)
Travel south through the Central Highlands. Stop at Ambatolampy to see aluminum workshops. In Antsirabe take a traditional pousse-pousse tour to visit local gemstone cutters. The mountain roads wind past beautiful rice terraces. Bring motion sickness pills if you need them.
- Day 3
Antsirabe to Miandrivazo (220km, 5 hours)
Drive to Miandrivazo, one of Madagascar's hottest spots. You'll see old colonial bridges and wide savannah views. Pack light clothes and lots of water since it gets very hot here.
- Days 4-5
Tsiribihina River Trip
Spend two days on the river with overnight camping on sandbanks. One traveler recalled: "The two-day river cruise was lovely and a welcome break from the car. We met locals, participated in traditional dances, and swam under cascades." Pack a headlamp for nights and quick-dry clothes for swimming.
- Day 6
River Crossings to Bekopaka
Take two ferry rides: 50 minutes across Tsiribihina River and 10 minutes over Manambolo River. The roads are rough and bumpy. Stop for lunch in Belo Tsiribihina to break up the trip.
- Day 7
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
Spend the day exploring these UNESCO-listed limestone formations. Pick between the challenging Grand Tsingy (4-6 hours, good fitness needed) or the easier Petit Tsingy trails. "The Tsingy is worth the trip, though the infrastructure getting there is challenging," noted one visitor. Wear good grip shoes as the limestone can be sharp.
- Day 8
Bekopaka to Morondava (230km, 6 hours)
Head to Morondava and time your arrival for sunset at Avenue of the Baobabs. Madagascar has six of the world's eight baobab species. For the best photos, shoot during "golden hour" just before sunset.
- Day 9
Return to Antananarivo
Choose between driving (12 hours) or flying (1 hour) back to the capital. Book flights early as they fill up fast. You'll have the afternoon free to shop at the handicraft market.
- Day 10
Departure
Head to the airport for your international flight. Give yourself extra time to deal with Tana's unpredictable traffic.
Madagascar 10 Day Tour Packages You'll Love
Southern to the Highland
Madagascar Group Safari | Classic tour
Tsingy of Bemaraha expedition
Madagascar Classic Tour 10D/9N
Madagascar Wildlife & Island Adventure 10 Days/09 Nights
Customized 9 Days Private Baobab & Tsingy Family Tour, Fully Guided
The Highlands To The Mozambique Channel Via The Mythical Rn7
Rain Forest Birding
Baobab Safari
Madagascar 9 Days Baobabs and Lemurs Tour
What people love about 10-day Madagascar tours
- Southern to the Highland
We are a German couple, our experience with HT has been amazing. We had a 10 days trip recommended by our friend who has been working in Madagascar for a few years. 3 months before our departure, we contacted him to find out about Madagascar because he knows the country more or less. And off the circuit, he highly recommended HT Agency Tours for the organization as he is familiar with car hire with the company. The only annoying thing was the 2 nights quarantine, but we have been warned by the agency. Toky, our driver/guide picked us up from the hotel and we started our journey. He is knowledgeable and drives safely despite the road conditions. He really paid attention to every detail of the itinerary and to our expectations. Including in our package they provided 2 SIM cards. Of course, the network was bad on some parts of our route, but we felt safe throughout the trip. Our friend was right with their services so we highly recommend them too. Thank you Toky for this beautiful trip! (Tobi and Marlene)
- Madagascar Group Safari | Classic tour
Excellent tour definitely worth the price! Friendly and capable driver-guide who can improvise with flexible planning in face of unexpected events. Great selection of hotels, reserve visits and other activities. The country itself - stunning and diverse!
- Tsingy of Bemaraha expedition
There was more than we have expected despite two days late delivery of the lugguages. We have lived in the hearth of the cities, we met the people during the two days cruise in the river, we have tasted local food and drinks, we had chance to swim under the cascade and as well in the ocean, we have participated dans and music performance of the locals, we have even danced with them, watched the nature and took a diffecult path to climb. So we had nine days full.
More about Madagascar
Madagascar Travel Guide | All You Need to Know