Manakara to Fianarantsoa
Touristic circuits

Rn7 tour via Manakara

Built in 1926 by the French colonists, this railway is located on the outskirts of Ranomafana National Park (one of the most visited NP in Madagascar), this is Fianarantsoa Cote Est (FCE) train road which takes you to the dynamic evergreen landscape of the South-East coast of the Island.

This trip will allow you get interacted with the local, far from the beaten track of the classic tourist route. In addition to the tourist attractions mentioned above, this train line is vital and remains the economic heart of the region; this train punctuates the life of the local people living alongside the remote villages which have no access to the road but only by train.

Tour destinations

Tour destinations

Tana – Antsirabe – Ranomafana –Manakara – Fianarantsoa – Ranohira – Isalo –Tulear – Tana

Programs

DAY 1 : ANTANANARIVO or TANA

Arrival at the international airport of Madagascar, we will meet and welcome you at the airport of Antananarivo and will transfer you to your hotel. You will be briefed on your Madagascar guide at the comfort of your hotel. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.

  • Chalet de Rose
  • Sakamanga
  • La Ribaudiere
  • La Villette hotel
DAY 2 : TANA - ANDASIBE
Tranogasy

Meet your driver after breakfast and then continue to Antsirabe. Stop at Ambatolampy for a visit of a workshop working on recycled aluminiumn, a good example of Malagasy know-how and handicraft skills. Continue to Antsirabe; check in at the hotel upon arrival. Antsirabe is a thermal town also famous for the handicraft workshops. Be sure to enjoy the taste of a true Malagasy beer whilst here. An option is to visit the two crater lakes of Andraikiba and Tritriva. Legend says that there were two young lovers forbidden to marry by their parents, so they threw themselves into Tritriva and drowned. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.

  • Les Chambres du Voyageur
  • La Residence Camelia
  • Couleur Café hotel
DAY 3 : ANTSIRABE - RANOMAFANA
Bira

Breakfast at the hotel. Hit the road southwards to Ranomafana, passing by Ambositra and visit. Ambositra is the Zafimaniry capital. Zafimaniry being people of the forest, they have for year mastered woodcarving and all wooden furniture manufacturing. The Zafimaniry Capital is a real work of art; the shutters and walls are carved in geometric designs inspired by Arabic designs. Lunch at your charge. Continuation to Ranomafana and check in at the hotel by the end of the afternoon. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Manja hotel
  • Grenat hotel
DAY 4 : RANOMAFANA NP
lemurs' encounters

Exploring of Ranomafana. This is the best reserve for lemurs’ encounters; no fewer than 12 species are seen in the park.
This includes the most notable two species: the golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur. Other mammals include the Malagasy striped civet (strictly nocturnal) and Ranomafana NP is an excellent chance of seeing it, eastern ring-tailed mongoose belongs to the endemic subfamily Galidiinae.We will also see many species of birds, chameleons. Afternoon transfer to Manakara. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Parthenay Club
  • H1 hotel
DAY 5 : MANAKARA
Pangalana Channel

Excursion to the Pangalana Channel. Afternoon visit of the town of Manakara. Afternoon transfer to Manakara. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Parthenay Club
  • H1 hotel
DAY 6 : MANAKARA-FIANARANTSOA
Manakara to Fianarantsoa

After the breakfast, we leave Manakara and continue to Fianarantsoa. The train runs every WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY connecting Manakara to Fianarantsoa. Arrival in Fianarantsoa, then transfer to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • La Riziere hotel
  • Villa Sylvestre
DAY 7 : FIANARANTSOA - RANOHIRA
Ranohira

Today we continue the trip along the National7; we then head to Ambalavao, which is a very beautiful and quaint town. A visit to a local workshop gives you an opportunity to see the craftsmen and women at work, possibility to visit the famous zebu market which takes place every Wednesday. We will stop at ANJA Park, which is a sanctuary of ring- tailed lemurs and this reserve was created by the local village to protect the fauna in Madagascar. It’s a perfect opportunity to come close to the lemurs, take some great photos and witness how local villages can make a positive impact on protecting the environment. After lunch we continue our trip till Ranohira by passing through the non-man land plateaux of Horombe.

Arrival at Ranohira by the end of the afternoon. Possibility to visit the natural rock windows for sunset photos. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Isalo Ranch
  • Orchide of Isalo
DAY 8 : ISALO NP
landscapes

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we explore the bizarre landscapes that are scattered throughout Isalo National Park, and with a little luck we might encounter the three lemur species that are found here the Red-fronted Brown Lemur, the highly charismatic Ring-tailed Lemur and the loping bipedal Verreaux’s Sifaka. Picnic lunch during the visit (at your charge), and return to the hotel in the afternoon. Time permitting will allow for a turn at the window of Isalo, one of the most famous spots of this National Park. It is where people generally take pictures of the sunset reflecting on the sandstone massif. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Isalo Ranch
  • Orchide of Isalo
DAY 9 : RANOHIRA - TULEAR – IFATY

Continue to Tuléar after breakfast. You will pass by Ilakaka, the sapphire town. This used to be a small village before is expanded in an amazing way from 1998, since the discovery of a sapphire mine. From this point of the road, you will see the difference in habitat, which is different from Ranomafana evergreen forest, to the dryness of Isalo, and then the lush green vegetation within the massif, and finally going drier southwards. The forests around Tuléar are typical dry forests, and bushes. On the road, you will see a few baobabs as well, a different species from those seen in Morondava. Also, funerary arts seen on the local Mahafaly tombs. Arrival in Tuléar, lunch at your charge. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Bella Donna
  • Le Nautilus
DAY 10 - 11 : IFATY

Relaxing days at Ifaty. Possible visit of the Reniala reserve known as the forest of baobab. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis

  • Bella Donna
  • Le Nautilus
DAY 12 : IFATY – TULEAR - TANA

Transfer to the airport of Tuléar following your flight schedule to Tana. Overnight at your hotel on bed and breakfast basis.

  • Chalet de Rose
  • Sakamanga
  • La Ribaudiere
  • La Villette hotel
DAY 13 : INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TRANSFER

Before we transfer you to the international airport of Tana, we will offer a free city tour depending your time. This can be the visit of the Lemur’s Park located 23 Km West of Tana or the Queen’s Palace located at 18 Km North of Tana following the shopping time at La Route Digue on the way to the airport. End of our services.

Included
  • Land transporting + fuel
  • Driver + his food & accommodation
  • Park Entrances fees & guides
  • Transfer airport/hotel /airport
  • Accommodation listed on the tour program based on midrange hotel on a bed and breakfast basis
  • City tour of Tana
  • Train ticket Fianarantsoa/Manakara (1st class)
  • Escort of an English-speaking guide during the tour
  • Domestic ticket flight (TLE-TNR)
Excluded
  • lnternational ticket flight
  • Food & drink
  • Tips
  • Personal spending money
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Pricing

2 to 5 People 1385 € per person
6 to 9 People 1285 € per person
10 to more People 1085 € per person