Cycle Madagascar From the highlands to the coast

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1 Enjoyable Bike trips to Madagascar Cycle Madagascar From the highlands to the coast Cycle in a small group or take an individual arrangement. We propose small cycle groups starting in Antananarivo 24 March, 14 April, 5 and 19 May, 2, 16 and 30 June, 14 and 28 July, 11 and 25 August, 8, 22 and 29 September, 6 13, 20 and 27 October 2018, Our groups 2019 starting on Saturday, 23 March and 13 and 27 April 2019 in Antananarivo. Cycling from the Malagasy highlands to the coast is one unforgettable experience to discover the fourth biggest island in the world. From Antsirabe to Ifaty beach we will cover about 580 km of cycling. This trip gives all cyclists a good chance to meet local people, learn about their culture and customs, explore fauna and flora and of course cycle through villages and different landscapes. This itinerary is a well-balanced tour, not only the accommodation and highlights but as well the mixing of tarmac road and off road. Experience this really special bike ride. It is fantastic. Our stages on this journey: Around Antsirabe, about 59 km Cycling tour from Antsirabe to Ambositra, about 95 km Cycling tour from Ambositra to Ranomafana, about 64 km Cycling tour from Ranomafana to Sahambavy, about 44 km Cycling tour from Sahambavy to Ambalavao, about 80 km Cycling tour from Ambalavao to Andringitra, about 54 km Cycling tour from Andringitra direction Ranohira, about 95 km Toliara to Ifaty about 54 km Page 1 of 12

2 Included services: English-speaking Tour Manager on the bike Day 1 13 Mechanic (with a minimum of six cyclists) Road book Bike rental accordingly reservation Hotels in double or twin rooms with private facilities, depending on availability Full board Day 2 13, Half-board Day Breakfast day 16 Mineral water during cycling All cars and buses, All transfers Local guides in the visited parks Entrance and guiding fees in the parks Not included: Long haul flight Domestic flight Bike rental accordingly reservation All other drinks Mineral water on non-cycling days Private expenses Additional beach activities etc. Insurances Prices: Individual tour for two or three cyclists: 3195 Euro per person sharing Individual tour for four or five cyclists: 2695 Euro per person sharing Small group with six or more cyclists: 2290 Euro per person sharing Single room surcharge 390 Euro Domestic flight Toliara Antananarivo on request Bike Rental 200 Euro Our bikes Stevens Mira Stevens Applebee, Rock Machine Torrent 70 and Cube Attention, 29 or 27,5 frame, 30 gears, Shimano Deore or higher, fork 100 mm Rock Shox or SR Suntour Cycle in a small group or take an individual arrangement. We propose small cycle groups starting in Antananarivo 24 March, 14 April, 5 and 19 May, 2, 16 and 30 June, 14 and 28 July, 11 and 25 August, 8, 22 and 29 September, 6 13, 20 and 27 October 2018, Our groups 2019 starting on Saturday, 23 March and 13 and 27 April 2019 in Antananarivo. Typically, you will be sharing your experiences with likeminded bikers and you'll have a cycling tour manager with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value and a great way to meet new people. Although the itinerary is scheduled, there is some flexibility according to your needs. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as experiencing new cultures. If you prefer an individual tour, please ask for an offer. Complementary information: From / to Antananarivo Duration of the tour: 16 days / 15 nights Cycling: 8 days Distance: approx. 580 km with approximate 165 km dirt road Support car: available National parks: Visit in Ranomafana (hiking) and Isalo NP (hiking) Private Park: Anja, villagers Park, (hiking) Region: Vakinankaratra region around Antsirabe and Andringitra massif and region (hiking) Beach: Two days You should be a good cyclist and have teamgeist Page 2 of 12

3 Don t forget: You re on holiday. We are flexible in distances and timings. If you need to do some extra miles, we will be happy to arrange this for you. If you think a bit less is fine, the support car is often very near. Madagascar is a third world country that is not fully geared up to tourism. Therefore be prepared to expect changes to the itinerary or accommodation right up the last minute. Due to weather conditions, (rain or cyclones) whole areas can be flooded or bridges may be destroyed. Aircrafts may not fly; trains are not always on time sometimes not at all. The standard of roads and accommodation is not the same as in Europe or other developed countries. Please bring a sense of adventure when travelling to Madagascar. It is a developing destination and we will be cycling through remote areas where hotels, infrastructure and travel services are often basic. Be prepared to go outside your usual comfort zone and you will be richly rewarded. Discovering the real Madagascar at close hand is what this challenge is all about. Highlights: Cycling about 580 km from the capital of Antananarivo to the south coast of Madagascar Antsirabe Region Antsirabe Tritriva lake Ranomafana National park Anja villagers Park Andringitra massif and region Isalo NP, massif and region Ifaty forest and beach Towns: Antananarivo Antsirabe Ambositra Fianarantsoa Ihosy Ranohira Toliara (Tuléar) Page 3 of 12

4 Detailed itinerary: Day 1, Touching down in Antananarivo, 'town of thousands' Today is an arrival day. You are free to arrive at any time. Upon arrival in Antananarivo you will be greeted by your tour manager and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Antananarivo, mostly shortened to Tana, takes its name from an episode in Malagasy history. King Andrianjaka had his royal palace and stronghold here. The name of the town means one thousand warriors. He quartered them at the palace and called this city Antananarivo. Day 2, Antananarivo Antsirabe bike fitting, bus transfer and about 16 km cycling On the way to Antsirabe, we reach the fertile highlands. In addition to the typical rice terraces, we also see many fruit and vegetable plants. We stop here and there to talk to people or to observe the rural life. The surrounding area of Antsirabe is worth exploring. Here and in Betafo the agricultural products of the area are cultivated. From here, most of the fruit and vegetables are transported to Tana and sold all over the country. In the afternoon we meet our bikes. A first small ride is on the agenda, to get used to the bikes and the traffic. Page 4 of 12

5 Day 3, Bike tour Antsirabe Lake Andraikiba Lake Tritriva Betafo Antsirabe, about 59 km including 30 km dirt road The lakes should not be missed when you pass through Antsirabe, the two most known crater lakes are Andraikiba and Tritriva. On the way, we have the chance to enjoy the typical landscape of the Merina ethnic group, we pass first Andraikiba 10 km from the city. Of a circumference of nearly 5 km, one can easily cycle around it by just following the little path surrounding it. Formerly, this lake was an important centre for water sport activities. After we continue the fun with our mountain bike, we will follow a track to reach another lake, more spectacular, and full of myth: the lake Tritriva. Before even reaching it, we can see the Mount Tritriva emerging from the village of Belazao. This crater lake with its volcanic landscape is formed by deep and impressive drops. Nested at an altitude of about 1880m in the hollow of a small mountain, we enjoy our picnic lunch. Day 4, Bike tour Antsirabe Ambositra, about 95 km tarmac After breakfast, we cycle further south on the hilly road to Ambositra, passing many rice terraces of farmers who can harvest up to three times a year. Ambositra is the home of the Zafimaniry woodcarving. We will stay at a nice hotel at the entrance of the town. Day 5, Ambositra Ranomafana, about 64 km including 21 km dirt road, two hour bus transfer A short visit to the woodcarvers before we transfer by our vehicle to Ialatsara camp. From there we start cycling. At a rural village we ride in a very beautiful valley below towering granite boulders to Ambohimahasoa. After two climbs on the short tar section, we ride again on the off road through villages and eucalyptus forests until we reach the rain forest of Ranomafana National Park. The last few miles are downhill to our lodge where we spend the night. Page 5 of 12

6 Day 6, Hike in Ranomafana National Park We will embark on a trek in the Ranomafana rainforest. We will probably find lots of birds, frogs, lemurs and other species. We hope to see Red-bellied lemurs, Red-fronted lemurs, and Diadema Sifaka although nowadays the Golden bamboo Lemur and the Broad-nosed gentle Lemur are more difficult to find. The park is also rich with orchids, tree ferns with floras, palms mosses, trumpet flowers and trees of giant bamboo. Day 7, Ranomafana Sahambavy, about 44 km, including 20 km dirt road After breakfast we drive back up again to Vohiparara, and from here we start to cycle. During the trip we see locals selling piles of sand, gained from the nearby river as well as women weaving baskets. On a good gravel road we reach our hotel right in the centre of a tea growing area. We will potentially visit the Sahambavy Tea Estate, the only tea plantation in Madagascar. The tea estate created in 1970, set in a pretty valley beside Lake Sahambavy, produces large quantities of tea for both export to Mombasa in Kenya and for local consumption. We will stay overnight in charming bungalows overlooking a lake. Page 6 of 12

7 Day 8, Sahambavy Ambalavao, about 80 km mostly tarmac, alternatively 63 km dirt road We cycle to Fianarantsoa, the former spiritual centre of the country. This is the second biggest town of Madagascar and the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. It was built in the early 19th century as the administrative centre. From here we continue cycling mostly downhill to Ambalavao. The ride is very scenic, with views of the valleys. Only shortly before arrival there are some long uphills. Alternatively, we can cycle from the hotel to Ambalavao for 44km on mostly undulating dirt road. The car cannot follow here. We cross several small valleys with rice and cassava plantations and some eucalyptus forests. It is an adventure, because the former road has become a footpath. Tourists do not come here; the children have rarely seen light-coloured people and are curious about us. Day 9, Bike tour Ambalavao Anja villagers Park Tsaranoro, about 54 km, including 20 km dirt road In Ambalavao we visit the traditional Antaimoro papermaking. The origin of the coppercoloured paper that feels like fine, silky wallpaper is far back into the past. We leave the busy little town heading further south. The landscape changes into open grassland savannah dotted with enormous granite mountains. Bizarre landscapes of towering cliffs await us in the small nature reserve of Anja with superb scenery, plants, Betsileo history, caves, tombs and ring-tailed lemurs. We take a short walk into the park before we leave the road entering the Tsaranoro Valley leading into the Andringitra Mountains. We stay over at a rustic camp for two nights. Page 7 of 12

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9 Day 10, Hike into Andringitra massif Today we take a hike in the Andringitra massif with the ascent to the chameleon mountain. we can recognize the shape of a chameleon in the rock. After villages, rice fields and hills we reach some forests. Maybe we'll see lemurs. The mountains with its steep cliffs are of volcanic origin and probably very suddenly emerged. They consist of highly fissured granite. The height can be between 650 and 2600 meters. Andringitra Park extends over a length of 100 km. We enjoy spectacular views over this ancient landscape. Day 11, Tsaranoro Ranohira, about 95 km including 20 km dirt road We ride back over a badly tarmacked road to meet the National road 7. We continue by car to Ankaramena. The place is well known for its delicious mango and papaya fruits. Then we drive to Ihosy and from there we continue to the plateau of Horombe. Up on the plateau we will have lunch. To get a better impression of this amazing landscape, we get back on the saddle for the last 75 km to our lodge on the edge of the Isalo National Park and in the middle of the little village of Ranohira. Day 12, Hiking in the Isalo NP This park is fiercely beautiful with golden plains surrounded by craggy pinnacles of terracotta rock, valleys, canyons and waterfalls. The Isalo National Park covers the entire stretch of the Isalo massif. This huge mountain range is spectacular with its eroded sandstone mountains. Our adventure begins with a short uphill to the plateau and viewpoint. In this surreal park we trek through landscapes formed by centuries of erosion. We walk into a canyon where we will see various types of lemurs. We can refresh ourselves at a waterfall or the natural pools in the canyon. Page 9 of 12

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11 Day 13, Ranohira Toliara, bike tour Toliara Ifaty Madiorano Ambolimailaka, about 54 km We drive by bus in the southern direction to Toliara (Tuléar), the end of the national road 7. On the way we will see impressive Baobab trees. We also stop at the tombs of the ethnic groups of the Mahafaly and Antandroy. The area around Toliara is the home area of the ethnic group of the Vezo. They earn their living by fishing. On a nice viewpoint before reaching Toliara we get on our bikes for the last leg of our trip. We cycle to Ifaty, Madiorano and Ambohimailaka, all small fishing villages. Here the warm Indian Ocean invites us for a swim. In the evening we forget all the hardship and celebrate the end of our bike tour. After dinner your tour manager says Good bye. Day 14, Day 15, Swimming and relaxing We relax and swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. At the coral reef discover colourful plants and fish life while snorkelling. If you like to see more of the unique plant life take a walk to a nearby Nature Reserve, this park is known for the variety of Baobab trees. Day 16, Ifaty Toliara Antananarivo Return journey home Flight with Air Madagascar Transfer to the Toliara airport and return by flight to Antananarivo. End of services at the airport. Photos: Ulrich Behrend, Stuttgart, Page 6 up and 7 bottom Danny Cambre, Brussels, Page 10 bottom Dimilahy Randriamizaka, Page Andreas Meyer, Stuttgart, Page 1, 3 Middle, 4, 5 and 6 bottom, 12 Ramón Pereira, Barcelona, Page 3 up, 8 bottom, 9 and 10 up Hariniaina Razafimampanana, Antsirabe, Page 7 Middle, 8 up Klaus Sperling, Antsirabe, Page 11 up Manfred Ungemach, Düsseldorf, Page 5 up, 11 bottom Matt Westby, London, Page 4 und 7 up Page 11 of 12

12 The proposed hotels, lodges and guesthouses: (The information comes usually from the hotel or a third party). The hotels are upper middle class hotels, boutique hotels, fine 3-star hotels or comfortable lodges with a special flair. Alternatively, we give up the comforts of the great and noble hotels and live in smaller, simpler hotels, guesthouses and lodges. In remote areas, electricity is often only available on an hourly basis. The standard of accommodation is not the same as in Europe. City or town, short description of the place Antananarivo, Orchid Hotel is ideally situated five minutes from Ivato airport making it a perfect hotel for one night stays or early morning departures. Built on two floors with elevator access, the rooms is spacious with has a/c, modern bathrooms, mini bar, TV, telephone, Wi-Fi, safe. Most of the rooms have impressive views over the rice paddies. Restaurant and a large terrace with great views and a huge moon shaped swimming pool. Adjacent to the pool is a gym. Antsirabe, Des Thermes, a haven of peace in the centre of the city... A colonial-style historical monument nestled in the middle of a magnificent park. Ambositra, La Piscine Escapade. The city is known for the Zafimaniry carving. There are several bungalows and the main building has a restaurant, bar, the swimming pool and a gallery. Ranomafana, Cristo. The hotel is situated on the hill of Manerinerina directly on Namorona river that flows through the National Park. The bungalows and rooms are well furnished. You will find everything you need for a pleasant stay. Sahambavy, Lac Hotel. The hotel is beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Sahambavy, in the centre of Madagascar, at the foot of a hill. Comfortable rooms and charming bungalows, some of them scattered on stilts, amidst a tropical garden. Ambalavao, Aux Bougainvillées, A good choice for those seeking for some comfort. Nice, clean rooms with a good restaurant. The hotel shares the same grounds as the Antaimoro paper factory so you can enjoy watching the manufacturing of the traditional art. Tsaranoro, Camp Catta, accommodation in the Betsileo type s bungalow. Great view over the Andringitra massif. Situated at the foot of the Tsaranoro cliff, not far from the sacred forest with the same name, the staff will welcome you in accordance with Malagasy traditions. Ranohira, the Orchidée de l'isalo is perfectly located in the centre of Ranohira. Massive stonewalls, marble floors and original decoration give the rooms their comfort and character. You will feel like sleeping in a medieval castle. The nearby restaurant Le Zebu is affiliated. Toliara-Ifaty, Belle Vue. Located right in the dunes, the well-appointed hotel enchants its guests with a breath-taking view over the lagoon of Ifaty. It has bungalows type, Waterfront ', with the typical architecture with thatched roofs. The bungalows have a private terrace and are right on the beach. There are also rooms in the main building. Page 12 of 12