This family adventure through the east of Madagascar is much more than a holiday it’s a life-shaping experience for your children. As you travel across rainforest, wildlife reserves, local villages, calm lakes, and tropical beaches, your kids will be exposed to real-world diversity, new cultures, and the beauty of nature in a way that textbooks can’t offer. Following low-impact activities as village interactions, and a respectful school visit this journey helps children understand the planet while supporting the communities you meet.
Highlights
- See the Indri Indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur, in Andasibe.
- Easy rainforest trails suitable for young children.
- Pangalanes Canal boat ride, lakeside forest walks, and semi-wild lemur encounters.
- Tropical beaches, turquoise waters,optional activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, mountain biking.
- Seasonal humpback whale watching (June–September).
Itinerary
Arrival at Ivato International Airport. After customs formalities, you will be greeted by your driver-guide.
Transfer to your hotel in the city center. Check-in and free time to rest after your flight.
Accommodation: confortable eco-lodge
Meals: Breakfast Transport: By car
Drive east toward Andasibe, one of Madagascar’s most iconic rainforest regions, perfect for families.
Check in at your eco-lodge.
In the evening: guided night walk to observe chameleons, frogs, and tiny nocturnal lemurs. Accommodation: ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch Transport: car
A full day is dedicated to exploring the primary rainforest. You will start with an easy hike in the Analamazaotra (Perinet) Special Reserve to observe the Indri Indri, the largest living lemur. Afterwards, you will visit Mantadia National Park, renowned for its orchids, tree ferns, endemic birds (over 110 species), chameleons, and tenrecs. In the late afternoon, a visit to the private Vakona Reserve, also known as Lemur Island, allows for close encounters with these charming animals. Accommodation for the night is at an eco-lodge in Andasibe, with breakfast included. 
After breakfast, you will depart eastward toward Brickaville and then continue along a red-earth track to reach Manambato, a peaceful village on the shores of Lake Rasoabe. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch in the village before embarking on a boat transfer along the Pangalanes Canal to Akanin’ny Nofy, also known as the “Nest of Dreams.”
Accommodation: ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By canoe and car 
You will embark on a scenic road trip to Brickaville before boarding a boat along the historic 600 km Pangalane waterway to the peaceful village of Ankanin’ny Nofy. As you cruise, admire mangrove-lined shores, lush forests, and remote villages that depend on this canal for daily life. Then continue by traditional canoe to the village of Andranokoditra and immerse yourself in the relaxed “Mora Mora” lifestyle of eastern Madagascar.
After breakfast, visit the reserve to encounter iconic species such as Indri Indri, Macaco and Varecia lemurs, and Sifaka. Later, explore the Vohibola Forest by bike. With a local guide, discover endemic flora and participate in a hands-on workshop on medicinal plants, learning about traditional uses and sustainable practices.
Solidarity highlight: Your visit directly supports the Homme et l’Environnement association, contributing to forest conservation, sustainable development, and awareness of responsible resource management.
Accommodation: Ecolodge Les Orchidées d’Andranokoditra
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By car
After breakfast, you will depart from Ankanin’ny Nofy and travel along the scenic Pangalanes Canal to Ambavarano. Upon arrival, visit the “Bébé” mini-workshop, where local women are trained to create Betsimisaraka baskets. Then, take a guided tour of the village with explanations from your guide. Enjoy lunch on board the Reine Tina before continuing your journey along the canal.
Solidarity highlight: Your visit supports the empowerment of local women by preserving traditional skills and strengthening the village economy.
Accommodation: ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast
Transport: By boat
After exploring Ambavarano, depart by 4x4 along Madagascar’s scenic east coast toward Mahambo, passing lush coastal landscapes, rice fields, vanilla plantations, and traditional villages. Upon arrival in Mahambo, transfer to a boat or ferry for the crossing to Sainte-Marie Island, enjoying the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and coastal scenery along the way. Depending on the season, you may even spot migrating whales.
Upon arrival at Sainte-Marie, transfer to your hotel and relax, soaking in the island’s tropical charm.
Transport: 4x4 vehicle + boat/ferry
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Duration: 3–4 hours by road + 2–3 hours by boat
Set off on a boat or canoe down the Pangalane Canal, passing through remote villages and verdant waterways. This serene descent highlights the canal’s ecological role: it winds through lagoons, rice paddies, and forested banks that support vibrant biodiversity. You’ll see how fishing, small‑scale agriculture, and transport remain interwoven here. Guides share stories of local life, and you’ll disembark in villages to interact with artisans and farmers, illuminating the social and economic dimension of sustainable tourism.
Accommodation: Longoza ecolodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By car
A boat or combined boat/road transfer brings you to the idyllic island of Île Sainte‑Marie (Nosy Boraha). Here, pure white‑sand beaches and the turquoise Indian Ocean meet a place of global natural importance.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By car 
You will be welcomed by a local guide who will accompany you as you explore the island heading north. This area, still wild and rarely visited by tourists, is home to waterfalls and natural pools where you can relax and enjoy the mild water.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By car 
Board a traditional canoe to a small island south of Sainte-Marie. Explore the island, enjoy the panoramic view from Blévec Lighthouse, and go snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. End your day with a stunning sunset over Île aux Nattes.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Transport: By canoe and car 
Depending on your flight schedule, you will have the opportunity to relax on the beaches of Sainte-Marie before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, you will be taken to your hotel for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation: Sakamanga Tàna
Meals: Breakfast, lunch Duration: 1H
If time permits, you can explore Madagascar’s capital, visit its iconic sites, and wander through local markets before being transferred to the airport for your return flight.
Accommodation: Day use at Nosy Manga lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch 
Includes
- Accommodation in a double/twin room with breakfast (continental) in the mentioned hotels (or similar, depending on availability at booking)
- Activities and visits mentioned in the program
- Car rental with fuel
- Accompanying driver-guide with allowances
- Domestic flights Saint-Marie to Antananarivo
- Various transfers: boat, car, canoe
- Entrance fees and local guides in national parks
- A contribution to our local association
- Entrance fees to the sites, parks, and reserves listed in the program.
- Mandatory local guides in the parks and reserves.
- Airport transfers from Sainte-Marie
Excludes
- International flights.
- Meals on days of international flights.
- All lunches.
- Guide service from the Manambato boat dock to Sainte-Marie.
- Activities not mentioned in the program, and during free days.
- Drinks (mineral water, soft drinks, beers, etc.) during and outside meals)
- Tips and personal expenses.
- Travel insurance, including cancellation, repatriation, and first-aid expenses.
- Visa fees (35 EUR per person for stays under 30 days).
