Trek the Remote Trails of Madagascar

Touch down in Madagascar's capital, affectionately known as Tana, meet your host at the airport and transfer across the city to your hotel. Meet up with your fellow adventurers for dinner and a chat through the adventure to come.

The sheer size of Madagascar means that taking a domestic flight is common on many trips here, so you'll be hopping on a flight today to reach Tulear (Toliara), 1000km south on the western coast, and your gateway to reach the two national parks that you'll be trekking through. Warm up for your trek with a night walk tonight at Antsokay Arboretum, getting your first glimpse of Madagascar's native plant and wildlife, including the tiny nocturnal mouse lemur and the enigmatic chameleon.

Wake up early and hop in the van for the drive from Tulear (Toliara) to Ranohira, the gateway to Isalo National Park and the starting point for your two-day trek through this remote region. The trail winds through a stunning landscape of towering sandstone formations, deep canyons, and lush greenery. You will stop for a picnic lunch in a scenic spot surrounded by endemic plants and trees – with plenty of chances to spot your first wild lemurs of the trip. Camp out beneath mango trees for your first night beneath the stars in Madagascar.

Roll out of the tent at sunrise to see the morning sun illuminating the Isalo massif before hitting the trail, reaching a forest at the foot of the cliffs that is home to unmistakable ring-tailed lemurs and the agile white sifakas. Trek deeper into the canyon between the towering walls, winding to reach the summit of the Isalo ridges giving a clear panorama to the north. After six hours of trekking through an evolving landscape of colours and textures through the heat of the day, you're rewarded with the most beautiful of Isalo's natural swimming pools. Take a well-deserved swim and enjoy sunset, before dinner at the next camp spot.

Tuck into breakfast at your final camp spot in Isalo, pack down camp and trek out of the park, traversing a plateau resembling a classic African savannah. Descend a steep valley on a well-maintained trail to reach the forest-flanked Namaza River, hiking along the river with yet more lemurs in the canopies for company, until you reach the Nymphs Waterfall. The trek winds down as you arrive back at Ranohira, where you'll hop back in the van for the onward drive to the village of Ambalavao. Spend the night in bungalows in a beautiful spot, enjoying a comfy bed and shower conveniently wedged in between the two trekking and camping sections of your trip.

From one trek straight to another, you'll drive into the Tsaranoro Valley through some stunning highland landscapes, to reach the trailhead for the hike into the Andringitra National Park. Start the climb to the Andringitra Massif with the majestic Tsaranoro cliff towering in the background, and after a few tough hours you'll have lunch and cool down with a swim in the river. Continue through a lunar landscape nicknamed 'Diavolana' ('moonlight' in Malagasy) until you reach the Andranolava campsite, beside a river at 1965m. Tonight's campout at this altitude will be colder, so wrap up and settle in ahead of summit day tomorrow.

Pic Boby is the star attraction of Andringitra National Park and Madagascar's second-highest mountain at 2658m, which you'll be summiting today. An early morning start with an hour of gentle hiking through the Andohariana plateau will lead you to the foot of huge granite cliffs, marking the start of the ascent to Pic Boby. After two and half hours of steady hiking and some rock scrambling, you'll be stood at the summit taking in a full panorama of the entire region. In very good weather, you can even see the Isalo massif, which you trekked through a few days ago. Descend from the peak via the same route, continuing along the foot of the cliffs back to the campsite to enjoy the rest of the afternoon by the river, where you can relax and recover from your summit exploits.

Roll out of the tent to the first rays of sunlight coming down the cliffs and the plateau, tuck into breakfast and set off toward the Namoly Valley, passing waterfalls and taking in the stunning landscape of the Andringitra Mountains. Your hike today passes through past crystal-clear streams with opportunities to swim before tackling some steep inclines. You will spend your final night camping in the Madagascan wilderness at a picturesque campsite surrounded by the natural beauty of this remote area.

Leaving the campsite, a short walk takes you to the village of Sendrisoa which is is a Malagasy rural commune located in the south-eastern part of the Haute Matsiatra region. Here you bid farewell to this wonderful place as you begin the drive back to civilisation. Given the poor condition of the road the going is slow, but this confirms the sense of remoteness that comes with the trek you've just completed in this region. You'll make a short detour for a hike through Anja Park, a community-run reserve famous for its ring-tailed lemurs. Continuing on the journey, you will stop at villages en route for a glimpse into rural Malagasy life, before coming to Fianarantsoa where you will spend the night.

After a week in the wilderness, its time to see the other side of life in Madagascar as you eat into the multi-day journey from your trekking spot to the capital. Road travel is slow in Madagascar due to the fluctuating quality of the roads, but this provides a great opportunity for an insight into life here. On your road trip today, you'll pass through charming villages showcasing local life and traditional architecture, including Ambositra – renowned for its woodcarvers and vibrant handicrafts, as well as the stunning highland landscapes with grasslands and volcanic formations. Eventually, you'll reach Antsirabe: the third-largest city in Madagascar is known for its colonial charm, thermal springs, and colourful pousse-pousse (a type of rickshaw). Enjoy some free time here to explore in the late afternoon and evening before bunking down in a cosy hotel.

You'll have a chance to stretch your legs again this morning before the final stretch of driving to the capital later. Hop on a mountain bike to explore Antsirabe and its rural surroundings as you pedal through the town's charming streets, past colonial architecture and out into the countryside. Pedalling mostly off road on rough tracks, you will roll through lush, green hills and past traditional Malagasy villages, stopping to buy local foods and learn insights into the unique local culture and way of life here from your guide. Tuck into lunch at a local restaurant before it's time for the drive back to the capital, Tana.

No need to rush to the airport on your final day today, as all flights depart in the afternoon and evening. So, enjoy a morning getting hands-on with one of Madagascar's most famous exports: Malagasy cocoa. Your host has their own kitchen in Tana, which you'll head to for a workshop with a chef where you'll make your own chocolate bars using the revered cocoa and unique Malagasy spices. Grab one last lunch in Tana before your host transfers you to the airport for your onward flight.