Places to see on a road trip in Madagascar
See them on the road trip map.
Avenue of the BaobabsGiant baobabs along a sandy road near Morondava, at their best at sunset.
Tsingy de BemarahaA UNESCO forest of razor-sharp limestone needles, crossed by rope bridges.
Isalo National ParkSandstone canyons, natural pools and wide grassy plains.
Ranomafana National ParkMisty mountain rainforest with lemurs and hot springs.
Andringitra and TsaranoroGranite peaks and some of the best hiking on the island.
Ifaty and the spiny forestStrange octopus trees and baobabs close to the beach.
Andasibe-Mantadia National ParkRainforest where you hear the call of the indri, the largest lemur.
AntananarivoThe hilltop capital, with its stairways, old palaces and rice fields.
Highland villages and rice terracesBrick villages and green rice terraces along the RN7.
Manambato and Lake RasoabeA quiet lake beach on the Pangalanes canal, near the RN2 to Tamatave.
MahamboA palm-lined beach village on the east coast, north of Tamatave, and the boat departure for Île Sainte-Marie.
Île Sainte-MariePalm-lined island off the east coast, with humpback whales from July to September.
Nosy BeIsland beaches and turquoise water, a boat ride from Ankify.
Moramba BayA calm bay with limestone islets and baobabs on the north-west coast, near Analalava, reached by boat.
Wildlife and nature you may meet on the way
Ring-tailed lemur 
Black-and-white ruffed lemur 
Tree frog 
Leaf-tailed gecko
Ranomafana 
Makay
When is the best time to drive in Madagascar?
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- May to October
- The dry season, with the best road conditions, and the only time for the Tsingy and the coast between Tuléar and Morondava.
- July to September
- The prime months, with humpback whales off Île Sainte-Marie and a chance to see local festivals and ceremonies.
- November to April
- Hotter and wetter, and the cyclone season on the east coast, so plan carefully. A 4x4 is essential. Madagascar is then at its greenest and most beautiful, with far fewer tourists.
Sample road trip itineraries in Madagascar
Three routes our clients love, starting and ending at our office in Antananarivo. Driving days are kept short because roads are slow. Every route can be adapted: tell us your dates and we plan it with you.
10 days on the RN7: highlands, rainforest and Isalo
Renault 4 or 4x4Self-drive or with a driverAll year; best May to October
10 days on the RN7: highlands, rainforest and Isalo
Renault 4 or 4x4Self-drive or with a driverAll year; best May to October
- Day 1Antananarivo to Antsirabe Brick villages and rice terraces of the highlands.
- Day 2Antsirabe to Ranomafana Arrive in the rainforest; hot springs in the evening.
- Day 3Ranomafana Morning walk in the national park to see lemurs.
- Day 4Ranomafana to the Tsaranoro valley Via Fianarantsoa and Ambalavao, below the granite peaks of Andringitra.
- Day 5Tsaranoro valley A day of hiking among the granite domes.
- Day 6Tsaranoro to Isalo Across the wide grassy plains to the sandstone canyons.
- Day 7Isalo National Park Canyons, natural pools and sunset on the rocks.
- Day 8Isalo to Ambalavao Start the drive back north.
- Day 9Ambalavao to Ambositra A long but beautiful highland day.
- Day 10Ambositra to Antananarivo Return the car at our office.
2 weeks: Andasibe on the RN2, then the whole RN7 to the beaches of Ifaty
Renault 4 or 4x4Self-drive or with a driverAll year; best May to October
2 weeks: Andasibe on the RN2, then the whole RN7 to the beaches of Ifaty
Renault 4 or 4x4Self-drive or with a driverAll year; best May to October
- Day 1–2Antananarivo to Andasibe East to the rainforest: indri lemurs and a night walk. Two nights.
- Day 3Andasibe to Antsirabe A long day back through Antananarivo and south into the highlands.
- Day 4–5Ranomafana Rainforest, lemurs and hot springs. Two nights.
- Day 6Ranomafana to Ranohira The village at the gate of Isalo National Park.
- Day 7–9Ranohira to Ifaty Via Tuléar to the beach. Three nights: beach days and the spiny forest with its baobabs.
- Day 10Ifaty to Isalo Canyons and natural pools.
- Day 11–12Isalo to the Tsaranoro valley Below the granite peaks of Andringitra. Two nights, with a day of hiking.
- Day 13Tsaranoro to Ambositra Via Ambalavao, a long but beautiful highland day.
- Day 14Ambositra to Antananarivo Return the car at our office.
3 weeks: the Avenue of the Baobabs, the Tsingy, the west coast and the RN7
4x4Our driver is mandatory on the coastDry season only, May to October
3 weeks: the Avenue of the Baobabs, the Tsingy, the west coast and the RN7
4x4Our driver is mandatory on the coastDry season only, May to October
- Day 1Antananarivo to Antsirabe South through the highlands.
- Day 2Antsirabe to Miandrivazo West towards the Tsiribihina river.
- Day 3Miandrivazo to Morondava The Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset.
- Day 4Morondava to Kirindy Dry forest, with a night walk to look for wildlife.
- Day 5Kirindy to Bekopaka Via Belo-sur-Tsiribihina and two traditional river ferries, to the gate of the Tsingy.
- Day 6–7Tsingy de Bemaraha The limestone needles, and a canoe trip on the Manambolo river.
- Day 8Bekopaka to Morondava A long day of tracks, travelling in convoy with other tourists.
- Day 9Morondava to Manja With our driver from here to Ifaty: sandy tracks and river crossings, south along the coast.
- Day 10Manja to Andavadoaka On the RN9 via Morombe, with the ferry across the Mangoky river.
- Day 11Andavadoaka to Ifaty Sand tracks south to the beaches.
- Day 12–13Ifaty Beach days and the spiny forest with its baobabs. Three nights in all.
- Day 14–15Ifaty to Isalo Via Tuléar onto the RN7. Two nights in Ranohira: canyons and natural pools.
- Day 16–17Isalo to the Tsaranoro valley Below the granite peaks of Andringitra. Two nights, with a day of hiking.
- Day 18–19Tsaranoro to Ranomafana Via Ambalavao and Fianarantsoa. Two nights: rainforest, lemurs and hot springs.
- Day 20Ranomafana to Ambositra Back in the highlands.
- Day 21Ambositra to Antananarivo Return the car at our office.
Book a car
Tell us your travel plan and dates, and we will assist you from there.
The Cinéroutes team speaks French, English and a little Dutch.
The map of our office appears here on the website.