Madagascar Biking Tour - 16 days
Mountain bike hire - €200
E-Bikes not available
Single room charge - €410
Tour price based on group size of 6+
Surcharge applies for group size 2-5
Overview
Madagascar is a magical place, and offers a memorable travel experience unlike any other.
Encounters with wildlife are often very close and intimate. Lemurs stare back with big round eyes, chameleons may climb up your arm to the top of your head, and unique birds are plentiful. Over 580 km from the Malagasy highlands to the coast, we experience a mix of on and off road cycling. There’ll be chances to meet the friendly and welcoming locals to learn about their culture and customs, and the flora and fauna will change as we travel through a variety of landscapes. This is a very special bike ride.
The biking distances on this tour will be between 38 - 95 km per day (total distance 580 km, 165 km of which is off road).
Highlights include:
Culture: Diverse and unspoiled with an incredible cultural mix of the Antisrabe and Isalo Massif Region
Nature: The island is famous for its lemurs (found nowhere else on Earth) and for stately baobab trees, chameleons and even turtles
Activity: See the beautiful Antisrabe Tritriva Lake, spot golden bamboo lemur's in Ranomafana National Park, tea factory in Sahambavy for tastings, spot tombs and ring-tailed lemurs in Anja Villagers Park
Culinary: Influenced by Arabia, China, France and India. Get ready for spicy dishes with a lot of chili, onion, garlic, ginger, curry and tomatoes
Souvenir: Madagascan Coffee
Accommodation is in simple middle class hotels and rustic lodges with basic facilities. All have a private bathroom with shower and toilet. There are two nights camping.
Tour Gallery
Full Itinerary
Arrival In Antananarivo
Welcome to Antananarivo, the capital and largest city in Madagascar. You can arrive any time today and will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel by your local tour guide. The rest of the day is at leisure. Antananarivo (often called Tana) takes its name from an episode in Malagasy history and means 'one thousand warriors'. Tana is enchanting and colourful, but also chaotic, cluttered, gritty and poor.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: None
Accommodation: Antananarivo
Antananarivo to Antsirabe
Our morning transfer (4hrs / 160km) into the fertile highlands is along a gravel road, past rice terraces, orchards and vegetable plots. A variety of agricultural products from this region are sold all over Madagascar. We arrive in Antsirabe, the third largest city in Madagascar. It’s well known for its thermal springs, French Colonial buildings, textiles and many colourful pousse-pousse (or rickshaw).After our bike fitting this afternoon there will be a short ride in the surrounding area to acquaint ourselves with the bikes and the traffic.
Cycling Distance: 16km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Antsirabe
Antsirabe (round trip)
In the area around Antsirabe, called Vakinankaratra, there are numerous crater lakes. The two most famous are Andraikiba and Tritriva. After a 2km transfer out of town, we’ll start cycling towards these lakes, passing rice and vegetable fields, fruit plantations and cattle farms. Our first stop is at Lake Andraikiba, which is both beautiful and unique. It used to be a recreational lake but now serves as a reservoir for Antsirabe. We then continue on a good dirt road through several villages to Lake Tritriva, another beautiful lake of volcanic origin. The grain grown in this area is used in Antsirabe’s brewery. After lunch we’ll cycle to Betafo where we can stop at the local market before returning to Antsirabe.
Cycling Distance: 63km (30km-dirt road)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Antsirabe
Antsirabe to Ambositra
Starting early today, we’ll cycle further south on a hilly, scenic road to Ambositra through fertile farmland where Zebu cattle are grazed. There will also be great views of numerous rice fields and pine forests. Here we’ll experience true rural Malagasy life, whether the people are tending the land or selling goods at roadside stalls. Ambositra is a lively arts and crafts village surrounded by misty green peaks. It’s also an ideal place to pick up souvenirs! Tonight's charming hotel is located on the edge of town.
Cycling Distance: 95km (tarmac)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ambositra
Ambositra to Ranomafana
After a short visit to a traditional wood carver’s workshop, we transfer to Lalatsara (2hrs / 90km). From here we ride to Ambohimahasoa along rural roads through a beautiful valley beneath towering granite mountains. Then after two climbs it's back to a dirt road through villages and eucalyptus forest to the primary forest of Ranomafana National Park - part of the lush chain of rainforest that runs down Madagascar's east coast. Established in 1991, Ranomafana National Park spans over 415km² of mountainous terrain. It's totally covered in dense forest at altitudes between 800m and 1200m. The park's star attraction is the golden bamboo lemur, often found grazing amongst the bamboo thickets. After a final descent we reach tonight's lodge.
Cycling Distance: 64km (20km- dirt road)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Ranomafana
Ranomafana National Park
No biking today but we need an early start to explore the spectacular Ranomafana National Park. After a 36km transfer, we’ll hike through this dense and damp park to discover more closely the endemic animal and plant world. We may hear the calls of the cuckoo rollers, catch a glimpse of a leaf-tailed gecko, see rare birds or stumble across the graves of the Tanala, 'the people of the forest'. The park is also flora rich with orchids, tree ferns, palms, mosses, trumpet flowers and strands of giant bamboo. We hope to see Red-bellied and Red fronted Lemurs as well as Diadema Sifaka. Although present in this area but more difficult to find, are the Golden Bamboo Lemur and the Broadnosed gentle Lemur. Back in the village we have the option to take a dip in the public hot springs.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ranamofana
Ranomafana to Sahambavy
This morning we take a 40 minute shuttle to Vohiparara before cycling up through a rainforest to the small town of Ambanja. Along the way we’ll see locals selling sand from the nearby river as well as women weaving baskets. The quaint town of Sahambavy is situated in the popular district of Fianarantsoa II with a small population of about 17,000. The residents are farmers with the predominant crops being rice, cassava and potatoes. The humid, tropical environment ensures the plants thrive. Sahambavy is also the tea growing centre of Madagascar so we’ll visit the factory and finish with tea tasting. Tonight we stay in charming bungalows at the foot of a hill and overlooking the lake.
Cycling Distance: 44km (22km -dirt road)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Bungalow in Sahambavy
Sahambavy to Ambalavao
We have two cycling options to choose from today. The longer (85km) route is mainly on tarmac via the busy city of Fianarantsoa, the former spiritual centre of the country. Then it's a very scenic, mostly downhill ride with stunning views to the valleys below. Just before arriving in Ambalavao there is one last climb. The shorter (51km) route follows a very narrow dirt trail so the support vehicle cannot follow. We’ll cross several small valleys with rice fields, cassava plantations as well as some eucalyptus forests. On our way we can stop in small villages where curious children may surround us as travellers are a very rare attraction here. We overnight in Ambalavao, one of the most beautiful towns in the Hauts Plateaux. It is characterised by brightly painted buildings which look like gingerbread houses. They have steeply tiled roofs and weathered wooden balconies.
Cycling Distance: 85km or 51km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ambalavao
Ambalavao to Anja Villagers Park to Tsaranoro
In Ambalavao we visit a workshop to see how traditional Antaimoro papermaking is done. Then we head further south where bizarre landscapes of towering cliffs await us in the small nature reserve of Anja Park. This unique environmental and cultural preservation site is an example of how humans and nature can co-exist and flourish. We'll see superb scenery, plants, caves, tombs and ring-tailed lemurs. We can take a short walk into the park before continuing our journey further south where the landscape changes to drier, grassy savannah. Its an interesting sight where the red earth is dotted with small picturesque villages. For the next two nights we’ll stay in a rustic camp.
Cycling Distance: 54km (20km - dirt road)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Tsaranoro
Hike to Andringitra Massif
No biking today - instead our hike is an ascent of the ‘Chameleon’ mountain - named because of the recognisable shape of a chameleon in the rock. After walking through villages, rice fields and hills we reach a forest with gnarled trees where we may see lemurs. The mountain with its steep cliffs is of volcanic origin and consists of highly fissured granite. Andringitra extends over a length of 100 km. We'll be rewarded with spectacular views over this ancient landscape dotted with many historic places.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camp in Tsaraoro
Tsaranoro to Ranohira
We ride back to meet National Road 7 and then travel in our vehicle for about 3hrs (120km) to Ankaramena - well known for its delicious mango and papaya fruit. We continue on to Ihosy and then the plateau of Horombe where we’ll have lunch. Then we ride the last 65 km on a good tarmac road to our lodge on the edge of the Isalo National Park in the small village of Ranohira. Despite its dryness, the landscape here is one of the most diverse in the country.
Cycling Distance: 85km (20km - dirt road)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lodge in Ranohira
Hiking in the Isalo National Park
This park is fiercely beautiful with golden plains and craggy pinnacles of terracotta rock, valleys, canyons and waterfalls. The Isalo National Park comprises the entire stretch of the Isalo massif - a huge and spectacular mountain which is characterised by its fascinating sandstone formations. We trek for about 8km through these landscapes which were created by centuries of erosion. In the canyons we can look for ring-tailed and other lemurs and hopefully we’ll also see a variety of birds and insects. There will be time to cool down along the way at a waterfall or a natural pool.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ranohira
Ranohira to Ambolimailaka (Bay of Ifaty)
Today is the last part of our cycling adventure. We begin with a bus ride (approx. 5hrs / 240km) south towards Toliara. This is the most important trade centre in southern Madagascar. On the way we’ll see Baobab and will also pass the tombs of the ethnic groups of the Mahafaly and Antandroy. To break the journey in the bus there will be an opportunity for a short ride before arriving in Toliara, a lively city with many bars and restaurants. After lunch we cycle to the small fishing villages of Ifaty, Madiorano and Ambohimailaka, stopping en route for a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. This evening we’ll have our last celebration dinner together before your tour manager says ‘Good bye’.
Cycling Distance: 54km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ambolimailaka
Bay of Ifaty
Time to relax at the end of your tour in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Discover colourful plants and fish while snorkelling around the coral reef. If you'd like to explore more unique plant life take a walk to a nearby Nature Reserve known for its variety of Didierraceae, Adansonia, Euphorbia and Baobab trees.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bay of Ifaty
Bay of ifaty
Another day to relax and unwind.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Bay of Ifaty
Departure day
Time to say goodbye. We farewell the forests of Ifaty and transfer you to Toliara Airport for your flight to “Tana”. Transfer time is approx. 50 mins (35km). Note: the flight back to Tana is not included in the tour price but can be arranged for you.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:
Download the Itinerary PDF here
All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.
The Details
- Accommodation in comfortable 2-3 star hotels, lodges & bungalows
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Experienced English speaking guide(s)/support crew
- Support vehicle
- Airport transfers on days 1 and 16 only
- Drinking water while riding
- National Park entrance fees
- International flights & taxes
- Passport and travel visa requirements
- Domestic flight from Toliara to Antananarivo
- Mountain bike hire (or bring your own)
- Single room surcharge
- Personal expenses, alcoholic drinks & your favourite snack bars
- Travel Insurance
- Tips to guide and support crew
Off-the-beaten-track destinations don’t come easy. This tour involves some longer days over variable terrain with distances ranging from 16km to 95km providing a more challenging ride for fit cyclists.
Riders should be comfortable making sustained climbs, being in the saddle for longer, consecutive cycling days and for tackling one or two especially difficult riding days.
You will need a very good level of fitness and technical expertise.
If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.
FAQsBooking information
Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
To ensure the trip's viability with our suppliers, a minimum of typically 2 participants is usually required. Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.
CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS
All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS
For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.
Explore Related Adventures
Don't just take our word for it
The whole tour was fantastic. Loved the food/culture/people and of course the bike riding. The support from staff during the tour was beyond the call of duty and the local guides were wonderful.
Greg Griffith
Our special experience was the close encounter with the Lemurs at small nature reserve of Anja exceeded expectations.
Mora Mora.
Alistair and Ann
The group was very good, good atmosphere and help from all participants.
Jef Raus
It was excellent! Our tour leader was helpful on every front, plus we had 5 others as part of the support team. They all worked really well together, were lovely and made things seamless for us. We ate really well, the lunches they prepared for us on the road were great, I might even say they were the best I had on a cycling tour. The restaurants they picked for the restaurant meals were good choices to give us some variety.
The routes were generally good, giving us a nice variety of landscapes and towns. To my surprise (I’m not much into hiking) I enjoyed the hikes and parks on the non-cycling days, particularly the latter 2. I wanted lemurs and I got many as well as cool other creatures in those parks as well as in our stay at Camp Catta (great location).
Our group got along really well & friendships were made. Anyway, it was a great trip, I am really happy with the experience. So a big thank you for everything!
Linda S
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