3-Week Madagascar Tour Packages
Ready for real-life Madagascar? Picture exploring UNESCO-listed Ambohimanga Rova palace, spotting lemurs during amazing night walks in Ankarafantsika National Park, touring the dramatic Tsingy rock formations of Ankarana, and relaxing on beautiful Nosy Sakatia beach. Three weeks shows you everything from Madagascar's rainforests to beaches across diverse landscapes and wildlife throughout the island.
Insider tips: Recommended 3-week Madagascar tour itineraries
Compiled by
NadineMadagascar travel expert at TourRadar
21 Days in Madagascar, incl. Antananarivo and Nosy Be
A 21-day route through Madagascar spans 5 major destinations including Antananarivo, Nosy Be, and Antsiranana. The tour includes 3 nights at Madagascar Resort Nosy Be, visits to UNESCO-listed Ambohimanga Rova, and ventures into Ankarana National Park's limestone formations.
- Days 1-2
Antananarivo
Begin your journey in "Tana," Madagascar's vibrant capital. Visit the UNESCO site Ambohimanga Rova, a sacred hill and former royal city 20km from the center. Plan to arrive by 8am to beat the crowds. Make time for local artisan workshops at the Padre Pio Charity House.
- Days 3-4
Ankarafantsika National Park
The drive northwest spans 440km through the Tampoketsa plateaus. Stop at Maevatanana to watch traditional gold miners at work. In Ankarafantsika, take night walks to spot nocturnal lemurs and birds. The trails get slippery during wet season (November-March), so pack sturdy shoes.
- Days 5-6
Majunga
This coastal city offers rich history and nearby "Red Circus" rock formations. Cross the Betsiboka River to Katsepy village by ferry or speedboat (30-60 minutes). The metal lighthouse provides great views but climbing 150+ steps is tough in midday heat.
- Days 7-9
Rural Madagascar
Discover real village life around Antsohihy and Ambanja. Visit local farms growing cocoa, coffee, and ylang-ylang. Bring light clothes as temperatures often go above 30°C (86°F).
- Days 10-13
Nosy Be
Take a ferry to "Perfume Island" for beaches and wildlife. See Lemuria Land's gardens and ylang-ylang distillery. Boat trips to Nosy Komba offer lemur watching, while Nosy Tanikely is perfect for snorkeling. Swim with sea turtles at Nosy Sakatia's marine reserve.
- Days 14-16
Ankarana & Diego Suarez
Visit the limestone Tsingy formations and caves. Take the small Tsingy circuit for great views, but expect some climbing. Red Tsingy looks best in early morning light. Diego Suarez features colonial buildings and bay views.
- Days 17-19
Northern Coast
If weather allows, sail to Emerald Sea (check conditions - southern winter brings rough waters). Explore Three Bays' beaches. Visit Amber Mountain National Park for forest walks and waterfalls. Bring rain gear for afternoon showers.
- Days 20-21
Return to Tana
Fly back to the capital (1h20m). Shop for crafts at Digue market and get city views from upper town.
20 Days in Madagascar, incl. Antananarivo and Fort Dauphin
A 20-day adventure through 8 major cities including Antananarivo, Manakara, and Fort-Dauphin. The journey showcases 3 distinct ecosystems in Andohahela National Park, includes a train ride to Manakara, and dugout canoe excursion on Pangalanes waterway, with stays at selected properties like Rova Hotel and Safari Vezo.
- Days 1-2
Central Highlands
Start in Antananarivo, the capital city. Spend your first evening exploring the upper town for great sunset views. On day two, take the 5-hour drive to Antsirabe. Stop in Ambatolampy to watch local craftsmen work with aluminum. A recent visitor shared: "The varied scenery is magnificent, but be prepared for the worst roads you've ever seen."
- Days 3-4
Ambositra and Fianarantsoa
Visit the volcanic Lake Tritriva before heading to Ambositra, known for its crafts. You can watch local artisans in their Zafimaniry woodcarving workshops. Continue to Fianarantsoa afterward. Start your days early since driving times can be unpredictable.
- Days 5-6
Manakara and Pangalanes Canal
Take the scenic train from Fianarantsoa to Manakara. The journey takes 7-10 hours. Local vendors sell snacks at each stop. Spend the next day on a dugout canoe in the Pangalanes waterway and visit vanilla plantations. Pack light clothes that dry quickly since it's humid all year.
- Days 7-10
The Southeast Coast
Travel from Manakara to Fort Dauphin through Vangaindrano and Sandravinany. Visit Nahampoana Reserve to spot lemurs and relax at Libanona Beach. Plan extra travel time, especially during rainy season when coastal roads get tricky.
- Days 11-14
Southern Parks and Reserves
Visit Andohahela National Park and Berenty Private Reserve with its sisal plantations. Make your way to Cape Sainte Marie, the southernmost point of Madagascar. Bring sturdy walking shoes and warm clothes for morning wildlife viewing.
- Days 15-17
Western Coast
Drive along the coast to Anakao via Tsimanampetsotsa National Park. The drives are long but worth it. One traveler noted: "The prickly forests of cactus and euphorbias were amazing." Expect basic accommodations in remote spots.
- Days 18-20
Return to Antananarivo
Fly back to Antananarivo from Tulear. The flight takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. Use your final days to see the Royal Palace at Ambohimanga Rova and browse the dam market. Book late afternoon flights out to avoid morning traffic.
20 Day Madagascar Itinerary, incl. Antananarivo and Isalo National Park
The limestone formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha and Ranomafana's rainforest highlight this 20-day Madagascar tour. Stays include 17 hotel nights at properties like Jardin du Roy and Salary Bay, plus 2 nights camping along the Tsiribihina River.
- Day 1
Antananarivo
Start in Madagascar's capital "Tana." Spend your first day exploring Upper Town's historic palaces to learn about Malagasy history. Try to arrive in the afternoon to skip the airport rush hour traffic.
- Days 2-4
Tsiribihina River Journey
Take a 7-hour drive to Miandrivazo before starting a 3-day river adventure. You'll need quick-dry clothes and binoculars to spot malachite kingfishers, crocodiles and lemurs along the banks. You'll camp by the river and can swim in natural pools near waterfalls.
- Days 5-6
Bekopaka & Tsingy de Bemaraha
Visit the incredible Tsingy limestone formations, a UNESCO site over 200 million years old. Bring shoes with good grip since limestone paths get slippery. Start early to beat the heat. Look for the Brookesia Perarmata, which holds the record for world's smallest chameleon.
- Days 7-11
Coastal Journey
Head to Morondava to watch the sunset at Avenue of Baobabs. Travel coastal roads through Belo, Manja and Andavadoaka. The roads are rough with 4-6 hour drives between stops. Go snorkeling in Salary Bay during morning hours when the water is clearest.
- Days 12-13
Isalo National Park
Explore Isalo's moon-like landscape on foot. Bring lots of water - at least 2 liters per person as the canyons get very hot. Want to see ring-tailed lemurs? Book an early morning walk when they're most active.
- Days 14-16
Fianarantsoa to Manakara
Take the scenic train ride from Fianarantsoa to Manakara (running Tuesday/Thursday only). The journey often runs late so pack extra snacks and stay flexible. Visit remote villages along the Pangalanes Canal by traditional pirogue boat.
- Days 17-18
Ranomafana National Park
Plan two days of early morning wildlife watching in this rainforest. Pack a reliable raincoat since it rains frequently all year. After hiking you can relax in the thermal baths.
- Days 19-20
Antsirabe and Return to Antananarivo
Ride bikes around Antsirabe to visit local artisans. The drive back to Antananarivo takes about 3 hours. Book afternoon flights since morning traffic can be heavy.
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Madagascar: The Lost Continent
What people love about 3-week Madagascar tours
- 18 days Madagascar Expedition group tour departure 2025 (especially for senior traveler)
Very unfortunate, the very last (5-day) part of our journey was cancelled due to the cancellation of all ferries to Ste Marie because of bad weather. We had to return back to Tana along the same route we had been just to be on the safe side that we would not miss the flight home. The lost is all on us. It’s nobody’s faults but we thought H.T. should have a plan B in such cases as an alternative. H.T. had been attentive to details and we were rest assured that we won’t be left alone; they were always there. We had mostly what we wanted to experience and took good pictures. Due to above incident, H.T. will check if they get refund from airline (hotels are all paid for in advance) and will let us know.
- Madagascar: The Lost Continent
Our guide Heri was excellent. Kind, caring, well spoken
- Best Discover
We just got back from a memorable trip to Madagascar. It has been a few years we planned our trip but the country’s border was always closed due to Covid19. We have always been kept posted by HT Agency Tours on how the situation in Madagascar evolved, that made our decision. We landed on Jan 1st, and had 48h quarantine at the hotel (rule imposed by the government). We noticed, it was not even 48h as we arrived around midnight (first night), we received the PCR test result around 10:00pm (second night) and released on Jan 3rd in the morning, we were relieved to be released earlier than expected but we started the tour the next day (Jan 4th). We booked the classic tour program with HT Agency tours for 10Days which allowed us to discover Antananarivo, the Pereiras reserve where we saw several reptiles especially chameleons, Andasibe where we had a stunning moment because after visiting the National park with spotting Lemurs mainly the Famous indri indri (wildlife); we had the chance to see them up close at the Vakona, there were six species: the bamboo lemur, the red raft, the black and white, the ring tails, the dancing and the brown. We continued to Antsirabe where we saw the small and authentic aluminum factory, the horn factory, … we discovered the city center of Antsirabe by rickshaw. We continued to Ranomafana and had to stop at the woodcarving town to see the handy crafts. Ranomafana was nice but we walked under the rain in the forest, the guide did his best but we only saw one specie. The guided night walk was super nice, we saw the mouse lemur, frogs and chameleons. The next days, we continued towards Isalo where it was an another horizon, the scenery is magnificent with the black and blue natural pool; The hotel we stayed reflects the authenticity of the area. For us Isalo National park was the best. Ifaty was our last destination, we discovered different species of baobabs at the spiny forest. Madagascar has breathtaking landscape, unfortunately our stay was limited we did not have the chance to visit the baobab avenue and Tsingy of Bemaraha which is our next plan. Everything was well organized, knowledgeable guide, we learned more about the country. We highly recommend this tour company for those who plan to visit Madagascar, they are professional and responsive.
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