Madagascar Pirate Island

Day 1 - Antananarivo

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 hill-top 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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Day 2 - Andasibe

Today you will depart for Andasibe. On the way, you will stop off at Mr Peyrieras’ Insect and Reptile Captive Breeding Centre at Marozevo. Here you will learn about the efforts to reintroduce various wildlife species back into the surrounding forests.

After arriving at your hotel, you will be guided to the Vakona Private Reserve to marvel at numerous lemur species, including the largest and noisiest lemur, the indri.

A guided night walk through the VOIMMA Reserve will hopefully result in good sightings of the not-often-seen and diminutive Goodman’s mouse lemur.

Full board.

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Day 3 - Andasibe

Today will be about exploring the fascinating biodiversity within the surrounding rainforests.

You will undertake a guided morning walk through the Andasibe National Park in search of lemurs, chameleons and other interesting forest dwellers.

The afternoon will see you explore the Vohimana Reserve which contains the richest diversity of frogs to be found anywhere in the world, with over 80 species. The afternoon would not be complete without a visit to an essential oil distillery.

Full board.

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Day 4 - Akanin'ny Nofy

Today you will drive to the picturesque resort town of Manambato, from where you will travel by boat along the Pangalanes Canal to AkAnin’ny Nofy (Palmarium Park). A guided night walk will take you to the small reserve adjacent to AkAnin’ny Nofy which supports the very elusive nocturnal aye-aye lemur.

Full board.

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Day 5 - Toamasina

An early start by boat along the Pangalanes Canal will allow you to witness the daily life of the local residents. Sit back, relax and marvel at the fishermen inspecting and servicing their fish traps; witness children frolicking in the water, all under the watchful eye of their mothers.

Upon your arrival at Port Fluvial, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Full board

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Day 6 - Sainte Marie

After breakfast, you will travel to the island of Sainte Marie (various options exist).

Today you will discover the old stomping ground of famous swashbuckling pirates like Henry Avery, dubbed “The Arch Pirate” and “The King of Pirates“, Christopher Condent and William Kidd who inspired Robert-Louis Stevenson to write his novel “Treasure Island”. All these pirates called Forbans Island home at some stage in their careers. It is also rumoured that Captain Kidd scuttled his ship, The Adventure Galley, mere meters from the island.

You will be guided around Ambodifototra to discover the likes of the pirate cemetery where you can see tombstones inscribed with the skull and cross bone insignia; the old fort which bears Louis XV’s badge; and the Catholic Church whose altar was a gift from the Empress Eugénie de France.

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Day 7 - Sainte Marie

Today is a day of leisure. Nothing has been planned so that you recharge your batteries and relax by either soaking up the sun on a lounger, walking for miles along what feels like deserted beaches, or reading a book.

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Day 8 - Sainte Marie

Today will be spent under water. Depending on your snorkelling or scuba diving ability, discover the vibrant underwater world at some of the best dive sites Sainte Maire has to offer.

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