The highlands and the rainforest
Almost every trip begins in Antananarivo, the hilly capital known to everyone as Tana, with its royal palace, markets and rice fields. A few hours east, Andasibe is the easiest rainforest to reach and the best place to hear the indri, the largest lemur, sing at dawn.
The south: the RN7
The classic road trip runs south from Tana along the RN7 through Antsirabe, Ranomafana and Ambalavao to Isalo, a national park of sandstone canyons and natural pools, before ending at the beaches near Toliara.
The west: baobabs and tsingy
Morondava is the gateway to the Avenue of the Baobabs, Kirindy forest and, in the dry season, the limestone pinnacles of the Tsingy de Bemaraha.
The islands
For beaches, Nosy Be in the northwest offers islands, reefs, lemurs and whale sharks, while Île Sainte-Marie on the east coast is a slower, greener island famous for humpback whales and pirate history.
How to combine them
With two weeks, pair Tana and Andasibe with either the RN7 south or the west, or end with a beach. With three weeks, add an island. Domestic flights save days but change often, so build in slack. Our free trip planner can help you weigh the options.