L'Heure du Voyage
🇲🇬 Itinerary · Madagascar · 30 days

1-month Madagascar itinerary 2026: the grand tour

The RN7 south, the Avenue of Baobabs, the Tsingy and Nosy Be in the north over 30 days. Day-by-day itinerary with costed budget, transport and season.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

30 days

Stops

10 places

Average budget

€3,500-5,200

Total distance

~3,000 km

Profile

Complete

Season

May-Oct

Antananarivo 3d · Andasibe 2d · Antsirabe 2d · Ranomafana 2d · Isalo 3d · Tuléar and Ifaty 3d · Morondava 3d · Diego-Suarez 3d · Ankarana 3d · Nosy Be 5d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Map of the 1-month Madagascar itinerary: Antananarivo, Andasibe, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Isalo, Tuléar, Morondava, Diego-Suarez, Ankarana, Nosy Be

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

11 days, day by day

1

Stop · 3 days

Antananarivo · Arrival and capital

  • Plan Acclimatise, upper town and stairways, Queen's Palace, Ambohimanga hill (UNESCO), La Digue market. Grand-tour briefing with the driver-guide.
🛌 🛌 Upper town · e.g. Lokanga Boutique Hotel (3 nights)·🚗 4x4 with driver·Madagascar guide →
4

Stop · 2 days

Antananarivo → Andasibe · Rainforest

  • Plan Andasibe-Mantadia park, the indri and its call, night walk, Vakôna reserve. The best introduction to endemic wildlife.
🛌 🛌 Andasibe · e.g. Vakôna Forest Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN2
6

Stop · 2 days

Andasibe → Antsirabe · Highlands

  • Plan Spa town, rickshaws, volcanic Lake Tritriva, artisan workshops. First leg down the RN7.
🛌 🛌 Antsirabe · e.g. Couleur Café (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7
8

Stop · 2 days

Antsirabe → Ranomafana · Eastern forest

  • Plan Via Ambositra (Zafimaniry carvers). Ranomafana national park, golden lemurs, sifakas, hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Ranomafana · e.g. Setam Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7 and spur
10

Stop · 3 days

Ranomafana → Isalo · Towards the south

  • Plan Anja Park (ring-tailed lemurs) near Ambalavao. Isalo massif: monkey canyon, natural pool, Window of Isalo, Bara tombs.
🛌 🛌 Ranohira · e.g. Isalo Rock Lodge (3 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7
13

Stop · 3 days

Isalo → Tuléar and Ifaty · South-west coast

  • Plan End of the RN7 at Tuléar, Antsokay arboretum, spiny forest. Ifaty lagoon, reef snorkelling, Vezo canoe. Rest before heading back to Tana.
🛌 🛌 Ifaty · e.g. Les Dunes d'Ifaty (3 nights)·🚗 4x4 then ✈️ Tuléar-Tana flight
16

Stop · 3 days

Tana → Morondava · Avenue of Baobabs

  • Plan Domestic flight to Morondava (west coast). Avenue of Baobabs at sunset, the lovers' baobabs, fishing village. Excursion to the Tsingy de Bemaraha in the dry season (4x4 track).
🛌 🛌 Morondava · e.g. Palissandre Côte Ouest (3 nights)·✈️ Tana-Morondava flight then 4x4
19

Stop · 3 days

Morondava → Diego-Suarez · Far north

  • Plan Domestic flights via Tana to Diego-Suarez (Antsiranana). Diego bay, Emerald Sea by dhow, French Mountain, sugarloaf islets.
🛌 🛌 Diego-Suarez · e.g. Allamanda Hotel (3 nights)·✈️ Domestic flights
22

Stop · 3 days

Diego → Ankarana and Red Tsingy

  • Plan Ankarana national park, grey limestone Tsingy blades, caves and bats. Red Tsingy, eroded laterite formations, a landscape unique in the world.
🛌 🛌 Ankarana · e.g. Iharana Bush Camp (3 nights)·🚗 4x4 on track
25

Stop · 5 days

Ankarana → Nosy Be · Perfume island

  • Plan Transfer to Ankify then crossing to Nosy Be. Andilana beach, ylang-ylang plantations, Lokobe reserve (lemurs), trip to Nosy Iranja and its sandbanks. Final rest, diving and whales in season.
🛌 🛌 Nosy Be · e.g. Vanila Hotel & Spa (5 nights)·🚗 4x4 then ⛴️ boat
30

Flight

Nosy Be → Tana → home

  • Plan Flight Nosy Be → Antananarivo (Tsaradia, 1h30). Transfer Ivato (TNR), international flight home to Paris.
✈️ Domestic then international flight

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€3,500

per person

  • ✈️ International return: €900
  • ✈️ Domestic flights (3): €350
  • 🏨 Guesthouse: €22/night
  • 🚗 Shared 4x4 and transfers: €700
  • 🎫 Parks and guides: €450
Recommended

Comfort

€4,400

per person

  • ✈️ International return: €950
  • ✈️ Domestic flights (3): €400
  • 🏨 3★ lodge: €60/night
  • 🚙 Private 4x4 with driver: €1,100
  • 🎫 Parks, guides, excursions: €600

Premium

€7,500

per person

  • ✈️ Comfort flight: €1,400
  • ✈️ Domestic flights: €500
  • 🏨 4★ lodge and Nosy Be resort: €150/night
  • 🚙 High-end private 4x4
  • 🎫 Private guides, chartered dhow: €900

Shorter, longer

Other durations

1 week

1 week

Tana, the lemurs of Andasibe and the highlands. The essentials.

2 weeks

2 weeks

The RN7 from the centre to the south, lemurs and Isalo canyons.

You're here

1 month

1 month

RN7 south then the north: Tsingy, Avenue of Baobabs, Nosy Be.

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

A month combines a private 4x4 on the RN7 (south) and 3 domestic flights to reach the west and north, too far by road. Budget ~€1,500 of transport over 30 days.

🚙

Private 4x4 with driver

~€1,100 · essential on the RN7 and the Tsingy tracks

✈️

Tsaradia domestic flights

~€400 for 3 · Tuléar-Tana, Tana-Morondava, Nosy Be-Tana

🛣️

RN7 Tana → Tuléar

~950 km · the backbone of the south, slow but scenic

⛴️

Boat Ankify → Nosy Be

~€15 · 30 min · crossing to the perfume island

Adapt by season

May to October to link south and north

A month runs the RN7 south then the wetter north. The ideal window is May to October: roads open, Tsingy accessible, calm sea for Nosy Be. The western track to Morondava and the Avenue of Baobabs is only drivable in the dry season. From December to April the rains cut the tracks and a cyclone risk hangs over the north and east coast between January and March. On this long route, domestic flights secure the south-north link whatever the year.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In October 2024 I kept Nosy Be for the end: after three weeks of roads, Tsingy and parks, those five lagoon-and-diving days were the perfect rest. The order south then north then beach works.
  • • Take the domestic flights for the north rather than the road: the tracks to Diego are long and gruelling, the plane changes everything.
  • • The Red Tsingy of Ankarana, a laterite landscape few travellers see.
  • • The Avenue of Baobabs at sunset from Morondava, best in the dry season.
  • • The Lokobe reserve on Nosy Be, lemurs steps from the beach.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Do not attempt the west and north by road: too long, the plane is better.
  • • Cut Diego to 2 days if you want more time on Nosy Be.
  • • Travel in the dry season: the track to the Tsingy de Bemaraha closes with the first rains.
  • • Book domestic flights early: Tsaradia fills fast in high season.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Is a month needed to see Madagascar? +
To combine the south (RN7, Isalo), the west (baobabs) and the north (Tsingy, Nosy Be), yes. The country is vast and slow to cross; a month links these three regions without rushing.
Can it all be done by car? +
No. The RN7 in the south works by 4x4, but the west and north are too far by road. Three domestic flights (Tsaradia) are essential to reach Morondava, Diego and Nosy Be.
When is the best time? +
May to October in the dry season: tracks open to the Tsingy and baobabs, calm sea at Nosy Be. Avoid December to April (rains, cut tracks, cyclones in the north and east).
Do I need a visa? +
Yes, a tourist visa is available on arrival or online (official eVisa). For a stay up to 30 days, around €35. Beyond that, choose the 60-day visa. Passport valid 6 months.
What health budget should I plan? +
Antimalarial treatment recommended for the coast and north (Diego, Nosy Be, Morondava). Bottled water only. The highlands remain outside the risk zone.
Can this loop be done independently? +
The south yes, with a good driver. For the north, the Tsingy and the domestic flights, using a local agency simplifies logistics and secures high-season bookings.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

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