L'Heure du Voyage
🇲🇬 Itinerary · Madagascar · 14 days

2-week Madagascar itinerary 2026: the RN7 road

Antananarivo, the lemurs of Andasibe, the RN7 down to Isalo and Tuléar in 14 days. Day-by-day itinerary with costed budget, transport and season.

🔄 Updated June 1, 2026

📅 See the program 🔄 See variants

In brief

Duration

14 days

Stops

7 places

Average budget

€1,900-2,800

Total distance

~1,500 km

Profile

Nature and wildlife

Season

May-Oct

Antananarivo 2d · Andasibe 2d · Antsirabe 2d · Ranomafana 2d · Isalo 3d · Tuléar 1d · Ifaty 2d

Itinerary map

The route at a glance

Map of the 2-week Madagascar itinerary: Antananarivo, Andasibe, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Isalo, Tuléar, Ifaty

© OpenStreetMap contributors

Detailed program

14 days, day by day

1

~€70/person

Antananarivo · Arrival

  • Morning Arrive Ivato (TNR). Transfer to the centre (1h, often heavy traffic).
  • Afternoon Rest, then a walk through the upper town and its stairways.
  • Evening Dinner overlooking the rice paddies, briefing with the driver-guide.
🛌 🛌 Upper town · e.g. Lokanga Boutique Hotel (2 nights)·🚗 4x4 with driver·Madagascar guide →
2

~€50

Antananarivo · Palaces and markets

  • Morning Queen's Palace (Rova) and the historic hill of Ambohimanga, UNESCO.
  • Afternoon La Digue craft market, basketry and gemstones.
  • Evening Prepare the eastward departure.
3

~€80

Antananarivo → Andasibe · Rainforest

  • 8am Drive to Andasibe (3h, 145 km, RN2).
  • 2pm Vakôna reserve, semi-free lemurs on Lemur Island.
  • Night Night walk to spot chameleons and mouse lemurs.
🛌 🛌 Andasibe · e.g. Vakôna Forest Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, paved road
4

~€55

Andasibe · The call of the indri

  • 6am Andasibe-Mantadia national park. Search for the indri, the largest lemur, with its powerful call ($13 entry).
  • Afternoon Analamazaotra park, endemic orchids and frogs.
  • Evening Return towards Tana the next morning.
5

~€85

Andasibe → Antsirabe · Highlands

  • 7am Long drive to Antsirabe via Tana (7h total).
  • 4pm Antsirabe, a spa town of colonial houses and colourful rickshaws.
  • Evening Workshop of semi-precious stones and miniatures.
🛌 🛌 Antsirabe · e.g. Couleur Café (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7
6

~€45

Antsirabe · Lakes and crafts

  • Morning Lake Tritriva, a volcanic lake wrapped in local legend.
  • Afternoon Artisan workshops: zebu horn, embroidery, recycled-metal miniatures.
  • Evening Rickshaw ride at sunset.
7

~€90

Antsirabe → Ranomafana · Eastern forest

  • 7am Drive via Ambositra (Zafimaniry carvers) to Ranomafana (8h).
  • Evening Settle near the park, hot springs.
🛌 🛌 Ranomafana · e.g. Setam Lodge (2 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7 then spur road
8

~€60

Ranomafana · Golden lemurs

  • 6am Ranomafana national park, a UNESCO rainforest: golden bamboo lemurs, sifakas, chameleons.
  • Afternoon Night walk, mouse lemurs and owls.
  • Evening Thermal bath, rest before heading south.
9

~€95

Ranomafana → Isalo · Towards the south

  • 7am Long drive to Isalo via Fianarantsoa and Ihosy (9h, shifting landscapes).
  • 12pm Anja Park near Ambalavao: a very visible colony of ring-tailed lemurs.
  • Evening Reach the Isalo massif, sunset over the sandstone.
🛌 🛌 Ranohira · e.g. Isalo Rock Lodge (3 nights)·🚗 4x4, RN7
10

~€70

Isalo · Canyons and natural pools

  • 6am Hike in Isalo national park: monkey canyon, natural pool, waterfall.
  • Afternoon Swim stop in the clear rock pools.
  • Sunset The Window of Isalo, a rock formation at sunset.
11

~€55

Isalo · Massif and villages

  • Morning Hike to the Bara tombs in the cliffs.
  • Afternoon Relax at the lodge, stargaze under the southern sky.
12

~€80

Isalo → Tuléar · South-west coast

  • 8am Drive to Tuléar (4h), past baobabs and the spiny forest.
  • 1pm Reach Tuléar, the end of the RN7 on the Mozambique Channel.
  • Afternoon Market and Antsokay arboretum, endemic southern plants.
🛌 🛌 Tuléar · e.g. Hotel Victory (1 night)·🚗 4x4, end of the RN7
13

~€65

Tuléar → Ifaty · Lagoon and beach

  • Morning Coastal drive to Ifaty (1h30). Lagoon protected by the coral reef.
  • Afternoon Snorkelling on the reef, outrigger canoe with the Vezo fishermen.
🛌 🛌 Ifaty · e.g. Les Dunes d'Ifaty (1 night)·🚗 Coastal track
14

Flight

Ifaty → Tuléar → Tana → home

  • Morning Back to Tuléar, domestic flight Tuléar → Antananarivo (Tsaradia, 1h15).
  • Evening Transfer Ivato (TNR). International flight home to Paris.
✈️ Domestic flight essential for the return

How much

Budget for this itinerary (per person, flight included)

Backpacker

€1,900

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €900
  • 🏨 Guesthouse: €20/night
  • 🍲 Local hotely: €8/day
  • 🚗 Bush taxi and shared 4x4: €350
  • 🎫 Parks and guides: €200
Recommended

Comfort

€2,400

per person

  • ✈️ Return flight: €950
  • 🏨 3★ lodge: €55/night
  • 🍽️ Mixed restaurants: €18/day
  • 🚙 Private 4x4 with driver: €600
  • 🎫 Parks, guides, domestic flight: €350

Premium

€4,500

per person

  • ✈️ Comfort flight: €1,400
  • 🏨 4★ lodge: €140/night
  • 🍽️ Refined dining: €40/day
  • 🚙 High-end private 4x4
  • 🎫 Private guides, domestic flights: €600

Shorter, longer

Other durations

1 week

1 week

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

You're here

2 weeks

2 weeks

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

1 month

1 month

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

How to get around

Itinerary logistics

This itinerary uses a private 4x4 with driver on the RN7 (the country's main road), plus 1 domestic flight for the Tuléar-Tana return. Budget ~€700 of transport over 14 days.

🚙

Private 4x4 with driver

~€600 for 12 days · the go-to choice on the slow RN7

🛣️

RN7 Tana → Tuléar

~950 km · paved but worn in places, allow long hours

✈️

Flight Tuléar → Antananarivo

~€120 · 1h15 · Tsaradia · saves 2 days of driving back

🛶

Vezo canoe at Ifaty

€10 · snorkelling trip with the fishermen on the lagoon

Adapt by season

The dry season for the RN7

This itinerary runs the RN7 south, drivable from May to mid-November in the dry season: roads open, clear skies, parks accessible. From December to April the rains swell the rivers, damage the road and close some tracks, with a cyclone risk on the east coast between January and March. The ideal window is June to October, cool on the highlands (down to 5 °C at night in Antsirabe) and warm on the south-west coast at Tuléar.

Author tips

What I would redo (and change)

✅ Would redo

  • • In September 2024, right at 6am as Andasibe park opened, the indri called directly above us, alone on the trail. An hour later the same spot was packed with groups. Always arrive at opening time.
  • • Take a private driver-guide rather than bush taxis: on the RN7 you gain comfort, safety and photo stops.
  • • The Tuléar-Tana domestic flight on the way back: it saves two exhausting days of driving.
  • • Anja Park near Ambalavao: the ring-tailed lemurs are plentiful and easy to see.
  • • Sunset at the Window of Isalo, simple and memorable.

⚠️ Would change

  • • Spread the RN7 over more days: the 8-9h legs are tiring, an extra night in Fianarantsoa would help.
  • • Skip Ifaty if you prefer the parks and keep more time at Ranomafana.
  • • Travel outside the rainy season: December to April make some tracks impassable.

FAQ

Itinerary FAQ

Do I need a visa for Madagascar? +
Yes, a tourist visa is required. Get it on arrival at Ivato airport or online via the official eVisa portal. Allow around €35 for a stay up to 30 days. Passport valid 6 months beyond your return.
Can the RN7 be done without a private driver? +
Yes by bush taxi, but it is slow, uncomfortable and time-consuming. For 14 days a private 4x4 with driver-guide is strongly recommended: they know the parks, timings and good lodges.
When is the best time? +
May to October, in the dry season: roads open, parks accessible, clear skies. Avoid December to April (rains, cut tracks, cyclone risk on the east coast).
Will we see lemurs for sure? +
Yes. Andasibe (indri), Ranomafana (golden lemurs) and Anja Park (ring-tailed) offer near-guaranteed sightings with a local guide, especially early in the morning.
What health and safety budget should I plan? +
Antimalarial treatment is recommended for coastal and low-altitude zones. Bottled water only. The highlands (Tana, Antsirabe) are outside the malaria risk zone.
Is this itinerary family-friendly? +
Yes from age 8, with lighter driving: children love the lemurs and the natural pools of Isalo. Plan frequent breaks on the RN7.

Marie Laurent ✓

·

Southeast Asia specialist · itinerary personally tested.

Last updated: June 1, 2026.

Profile →