Malagasy cuisine draws its many flavours from the various African, Indian and Southeast Asian cultures which have informed Malagasy life. For the majority of Malagasy however, the staple meal is a rice-based dish served with zebu beef and fresh leafy vegetables. These dishes are typically simple fare with mild flavours and include romazava (leafy greens cooked with zebu, tomato, and onion) and ravitoto (crushed cassava leaves, pork and garlic). Ranon’ampango tea is a traditional drink made from burnt rice.
And yet, Madagascar also produces some of the finest “speciality grade” coffee and internationally award-winning chocolate and rum – both of which I can highly recommend over burnt tea rice! But each to their own…
Indulge your senses on the “spice islands”, where you will taste and smell the likes of raw cocoa beans, vanilla pods, peppercorns and a variety of essential oils which will fight for your olfactory attention.
If this itinerary has caught your eye, email Robin at madagascar@fleewinter.com or call us on (UK) 020 7112 0019. We specialise in private, bespoke holidays to ensure that you make the most of your time on this magical island.
Upon arriving at the Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo, your guide will escort you to the 4-star Maison Galliant Boutique hotel with its spectacular hilltop views of the city.
We’ve not planned anything for this afternoon to allow you to recover from your flight, so relax and enjoy the views.
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Today Chef Henintsoa will take you on a journey to discover the cuisine inspired by the Malagasy highlands and eastern lowlands.
After lunch at Hafa Ya restaurant, you will return to your hotel for an afternoon and evening of leisure. Why not take a tuk-tuk (taxi) and visit the Andafiavaratra Palace Museum and immerse yourself in Malagasy history?
Full board.
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After breakfast and a short drive to Talata Volonondry (30 min), a rural commune, you will learn how to make Malagasy sausage and ‘’Koba’’ (Malagasy cake – as pictured). After lunch at the Relais du Rova restaurant, you will depart to visit a local beekeeper where you will learn about beekeeping and how honey is harvested and processed.
Full board.
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Today will see you on a city tour to visit the busy wet and street food markets in Antananarivo where Malagasy street food is prepared and sold.
After lunch at the La Varangue Boutik restaurant, you will partake in a chocolate workshop at the Café du Musee restaurant with Chef Johary. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the restaurant, whereafter you will return to your hotel.
Full board.
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After breakfast, you will depart to the airport for your flight to Nosy Be.
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A boat transfer will see you travel from Hell-ville to Ankify, whereafter you will depart to Ambanja. You will be taken on a guided tour around the Millot plantation and its surrounds, where flavours and scents of organic cocoa, spices and essential oils will mesmerise your senses.
Lunch on the plantation at the Cananga Restaurant.
Full board.
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After breakfast, you will transfer back by boat to Hell-ville. After checking in at your hotel and freshening up, you will depart on a guided sightseeing tour of the city, including visiting the old rhum factory at Dzamadzar.
During the day, you will enjoy a picnic lunch.
Full board.
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Your morning will be spent in a cooking class with Chef Henry where he will take delight in sharing with you Nosy Be’s culinary specialities.
Nothing has been planned for the afternoon, thus it can be spent at leisure, for you to relax, or for the more adventurous, join an organised dive to one of the amazing dive sites found around the island.
Full board.
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Nothing has been planned for you today, so you can relax, soak up the rays and work on a tan, go for a walk or take a tuk-tuk (taxi) to the bustling markets not too far from the hotel.
Full board.
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After breakfast, you will depart for the airport.
Bon voyage and safe travels.
This itinerary costs from £3,980 per person full board based on 2 sharing and including all private transfers, excluding international flights.
You can get international flights from as little as £700 per person return and do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.
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