Across the Red Island

Transfer to the motorcycle garage for a welcome briefing with your guide. After preparing the bikes and familiarising yourself with your motorcycle, it’s time to begin your Malagasy adventure.

Leaving behind the busy streets and bustling avenues of Antananarivo, you’ll head east onto quiet country roads and easy dirt tracks winding through sacred hills, rice paddies and traditional villages on your way to Lake Mantasoa. This first riding day offers the perfect introduction to the landscapes, atmosphere and unique charm of rural Madagascar.

After a final section of dirt track, rejoin the paved roads and continue towards Lake Itasy.
Today’s ride takes you through Madagascar’s volcanic region, with stops at the hot water geysers of Analavory and the impressive Lily Waterfalls before reaching the village of Ampefy and your lakeside hotel on the shores of Lake Itasy.

In the late afternoon, enjoy a relaxing excursion to the charming Virgin Islet, offering beautiful views over the lake and surrounding landscapes.

This new stage begins with a visit and short walk to the beautiful Lily Waterfalls.

You’ll then follow scenic roads across the Malagasy Highlands, leaving the volcanic landscapes of the Itasy Region behind and entering the volcanic area surrounding the Ankaratra Massif before continuing towards the spa town of Antsirabe.

After settling into your hotel, enjoy a memorable ride in a traditional Malagasy rickshaw to explore the city. Discover its lively atmosphere, colourful markets, gemstone and semi-precious stone traders, artisan workshops and local boutiques, offering an authentic glimpse into everyday life in Madagascar.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Leaving Antsirabe, you’ll head south along the legendary Route Nationale 7 towards the bustling town of Ambositra, located in the heart of the Zafimaniry Region and renowned for its exceptional woodcarving traditions.

Take time to browse the local artisan workshops, where you’ll find handcrafted wooden sculptures, silk scarves and a variety of traditional Malagasy crafts.

The journey then continues towards Ranomafana National Park. Leaving the main road behind, you’ll follow an easy and winding dirt track through classic Highland scenery: red laterite-brick houses, rice terraces, forests and rocky hills stretching across the countryside.

Along the way, you’ll meet local communities whose warmth and hospitality are among Madagascar’s greatest treasures.

Before reaching your destination, descend through the spectacular Ranomafana Gorge and its impressive waterfalls before arriving at your hotel, nestled in lush tropical vegetation.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Early in the morning, head to the entrance of Ranomafana National Park for a guided exploration of one of Madagascar’s most remarkable rainforest ecosystems. During this excursion through both primary and secondary forest, you’ll have the opportunity to spot several species of endemic lemurs, along with a rich variety of birds, frogs and other unique wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

Later in the morning, your motorcycles await for a spectacular ride along Madagascar’s eastern route. The road descends from the rugged Highlands through lush valleys and winding landscapes towards Irondro. As you gradually lose altitude, the climate becomes noticeably warmer, announcing your approach to the Indian Ocean coast.

By the end of the day, you’ll arrive in Mananjary, a laid-back coastal town on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Check in to your beachfront hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening by the sea.

For the morning, enjoy another superb ride along one of the most scenic roads in eastern Madagascar, with plenty of opportunities to appreciate the winding route back towards Ranomafana. Upon arrival, take a relaxing break at the village’s thermal baths and enjoy a soak in the recently restored natural hot springs.

After lunch in the village, continue with around 1.5 hours of beautiful riding followed by an easy 25-kilometre dirt track leading to the picturesque village of Sahambavy.

Nestled beside a peaceful lake and home to Madagascar’s only tea plantation, Sahambavy offers one of the most charming settings of the entire journey. Spend the night in unique overwater bungalows built on stilts above the lake, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and complete tranquillity.

Overnight stay in lakeside bungalows.

In the morning, enjoy a guided visit to the tea estate located beside your hotel in Sahambavy. Set among rolling green hills covered with thousands of tea bushes, the plantation offers a fascinating glimpse into Madagascar’s only tea-producing region, where tea pickers can often be seen harvesting leaves by hand.

You’ll then continue by road towards Fianarantsoa, with a stop at its lively central market, renowned for its colourful displays of fresh produce, local crafts and authentic atmosphere.

The journey continues as you gradually descend from the Highlands towards Ambalavao, a charming town surrounded by vineyards and nestled within a vast plain framed by hills and mountains. Beyond rises the impressive Andringitra Massif, home to Pic Boby, Madagascar’s second-highest peak at 2,658 metres.

A few kilometres further, at the foot of striking granite and basalt formations, stop at Anja Community Reserve, one of the best places in the country to observe large populations of ring-tailed lemurs in their natural habitat.

The day concludes with a scenic 25-kilometre dirt track leading into the spectacular Tsaranoro Valley. Dominated by towering cliffs rising nearly 800 metres above the valley floor, this dramatic landscape is a paradise for climbers and paragliders. If conditions are right, you may spot colourful paragliders soaring around the massif while climbers tackle its legendary rock faces, sometimes spending the night suspended high above the valley.

Overnight stay in the Tsaranoro Valley.

Leaving your hotel behind, you begin the true descent from Madagascar’s Highlands. As the altitude gradually drops, the temperature rises, creating perfect riding conditions on the beautiful road heading south.

The route becomes less winding as you approach the lively town of Ihosy, a crossroads between the Highlands and the vast southern plains. From there, you’ll cross the immense Horombe Plateau, following long open roads through wide, untouched landscapes that seem to stretch endlessly towards the horizon.

By the end of the day, you’ll arrive in Ranohira, a small village nestled at the foot of the spectacular Isalo Massif.

Tonight’s hotel is set among the region’s distinctive sandstone formations, offering a unique setting in the heart of nature. After a day in the saddle, the swimming pool provides the perfect place to relax and enjoy the warm southern climate.

Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today marks the final riding stage before reaching the coast and catching your first glimpse of the Indian Ocean. Leaving Ranohira, you’ll ride through vast open landscapes that evoke the endless steppes of Mongolia. Along the way, you’ll pass several gemstone-mining villages, where local miners work in challenging conditions, often searching for precious stones in riverbeds using traditional pans.

As you approach Toliara, the scenery changes once again. The first majestic baobab trees begin to appear, alongside the remarkable tombs of the Mahafaly People. These unique burial sites are topped with beautifully carved wooden sculptures known as *Aloalo*, sacred monuments that honour and represent the deceased.

Arriving in the bustling city of Toliara, you’ll immediately feel the warm climate of southern Madagascar. After lunch in town, continue for another 40 kilometres to the coastal village of Ifaty on the shores of the Mozambique Channel. Your beachfront hotel awaits, offering the perfect opportunity for a well-deserved first swim in the Indian Ocean after an unforgettable motorcycle journey across Madagascar.