13 Days Madagascar

Beach Bliss & lemur Island Paradise

Trip details

Discover the extraordinary diversity of Madagascar on this immersive 13-day journey combining idyllic tropical islands, lush rainforest reserves and the dramatic landscapes of the south. From the turquoise waters and relaxed charm of Nosy Komba to unforgettable encounters with lemurs in Andasibe and the unique spiny forests of Ifotaka, this itinerary offers a wonderful balance of wildlife, culture and relaxation. Guests will experience Madagascar’s remarkable biodiversity, vibrant local traditions and spectacular scenery while staying in a collection of carefully selected lodges and camps throughout the journey.

Day 01: Arrival & Island Transfer
  • Arrival: Land at Fascene Airport in Nosy Be.

  • Transfer: Road transfer to Hell-City followed by a boat transfer to Nosy Komba.

  • Activities: Check into Time and Tide Tsara Komba and spend the afternoon unwinding or using complimentary beach and water sports gear.

  • Activities: Enjoy a full day at leisure to relax on private beaches or book optional activities like pirogue tours, diving, and village visits.

  • Stay: Time and Tide Tsara Komba, Nosy Be.

  • Activities: Choose from optional excursions such as snorkeling around Nosy Tanikely or taking a guided wildlife walk through Lokobe Reserve.
  • Stay: Time and Tide Tsara Komba, Nosy Be.
  • Activities: Spend your final full day on Nosy Komba relaxing, enjoying water sports, or catching the sunset from Mont Passot.

  • Stay: Time and Tide Tsara Komba, Nosy Be.

  • Journey: Scenic road transfer east to Andasibe through highland villages, rice fields, and waterfalls.
  • Night Walk: Guided evening walk after 19:00 to search for nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, and other night wildlife.
  • Stay: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe.
  • Leisure: A full day of relaxation at the coast—options include poolside lounging, beach strolls, or a bay cruise.
  • Stay: Côte Ouest Palissandre, Morondava.
  • Morning Trek: Guided walk through Andasibe Special Reserve to search for the Indri Indri (largest lemur species) and visit the Orchid Garden.
  • Afternoon Trek: Visit V.O.I.M.M.A. Community Reserve to observe brown lemurs, chameleons, and geckos while supporting local conservation.
  • Stay: Mantadia Lodge, Andasibe.
  • En Route: Drive back to Antananarivo with a stop at the Reptile & Butterfly Farm.
  • City Tour: Take a short orientation tour of the historic capital (“City of Thousands”).
  • Stay: Palissandre Hotel and Spa, Antananarivo.
  • Travel: Flight to Fort Dauphin followed by a 3-hour drive west through sisal plantations to Mandrare Valley.

  • Night Walk: Evening walk in Analoalo or Ambovo Forest to observe mouse lemurs, sleeping birds, and active nocturnal species.

  • Stay: Mandrare River Camp, Mandrare Valley.

  • Morning Walk: Cross the Mandrare River to explore the sacred Gallery Forest for birdwatching and lemur spotting.

  • Afternoon Exploration: Guided walk through the hallowed Spiny Forest to view ancestral Antandroy tombs, followed by riverbank sundowners.

  • Stay: Mandrare River Camp, Mandrare Valley.

  • Morning Walk & Culture: Early walk among octopus trees, followed by visits to the local market and an Antandroy village.
  • Evening Highlights: Sunset drinks among giant baobabs, followed by a potential live performance of traditional Antandroy music and dance.
  • Stay: Mandrare River Camp, Mandrare Valley.
  • Transfer: 3-hour drive back to the coast at Fort Dauphin.

  • Leisure: Spend the afternoon relaxing at Libanona Beach or lounging by the hotel pool overlooking the bay.

  • Stay: The Talinjoo Hotel, Fort Dauphin.

  • Transfer: Fly from Fort Dauphin to Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo to catch your onward departure flight home.

TRip highlights

  • Tropical Island Relaxation on Nosy Komba (Days 1–4) Four nights at the luxurious Time and Tide Tsara Komba eco-lodge offer an ideal island escape, featuring pristine private beaches, forest-to-reef excursions, and snorkeling opportunities in the crystal-clear waters of the Nosy Be Archipelago.
  • Indri Lemur Encounters in Andasibe Rainforest (Days 6–7) Exploring the lush primary rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia and the community-run V.O.I.M.M.A. Reserve gives you the chance to spot and hear the iconic Indri Indri—the largest lemur species—alongside rare chameleons and nocturnal forest wildlife.
  • Cultural & Wilderness Immersion in Mandrare Valley (Days 9–11) Staying along the Mandrare River provides an off-the-beaten-track experience in the otherworldly Spiny Forest. Highlights include walking among ancient octopus trees and baobabs, exploring sacred Antandroy tribal sites, and enjoying traditional music and dance performances at sunset.

What's included

  • 12 x Breakfast
  • 7 x Lunch
  • 7 x Dinner
  • Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary or of similar standard
  • Local driver (English Guide additional cost)
  • All transport and group transfers in applicable vehicle as per tour itinerary
  • Activities and excursions as mentioned
  • Specialist local guides in national parks as per programme
  • Internal connection flights (pricing subject to fluctuations)
  • Park and reserve entrance fees
  • Domestic flight package included however, will need to be recalculated at time of booking as flight prices fluctuate
  • My support throughout

What's excluded

  • English-speaking guide excluded from rate for 1-5 clients
  • Flights: International
  • Pre and post tour accommodation
  • Optional activities
  • All drinks & meals not specified in itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as visas, travel insurance, curios, laundry, gratuities etc.

RATES 2026

All our itineraries are customisable and rates are seasonal. Current package quoted for travel from 1 Sept to 31 Oct 2026 – We will base your quote on the season you wish to travel and the amount of guests in your group as pricing drops if you have more than 2 joining you. Please reach out to discuss your unique travel plans.

Traveller
Pricing (p.p.s)
Traveller One
$9,076
Traveller Two
$9,076
Your total is $18,153.

 

Deposit – $5,446

Please pay your deposit by 2 Jun 2026 to secure your booking.

 
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Emily McIntosh
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It’s honestly hard to put into words what an experience this was. For a family who had never been to Africa and had no idea what to expect, Claire created the most incredible journey, full of surprises, beauty, and unforgettable moments at every stop. Everything was absolutely seamless from start to finish, hassle free in every sense of the word. You can tell Claire pours her heart and soul into what she does. Every detail was so thoughtfully planned and perfectly executed. She stayed in touch with us throughout our travels, checking in, offering extra advice, and making sure everything ran smoothly, those personal touches made all the difference. We only just touched the surface of Africa, but thanks to Claire, it’s left a huge mark on our hearts. We’ll definitely be using her again for our next African adventure. Highly recommend! 🌍✨
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Colorful Carpets
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We are extremely happy with the services provided by Hassle-Free Africa. Claire was outstanding and had excellent communication. She literally bent over backwards to make our visit to Africa as enjoyable and seamless as possible. Highly recommend their services to anyone considering visiting the beautiful country of South Africa Africa.
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Erica de Vries
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If you are looking for someone to handle everything, Claire at Hassle-free Africa is your woman! We scheduled our trip with only 5 weeks of notice, having never been to Africa before. We asked Claire for her advice on destination and, wow, she steered us in the exact right direction. We had the trip of a lifetime in Zimbabwe. Every box was checked and every experience far better than anticipated. At the outside of our trip, our flight was delayed, landing us in South Africa way behind schedule. We probably would’ve taken that as a bad omen except that Claire managed to get us rebooked on flights to our camp without a hitch. Everyplace we went there was someone to meet us to get us to our next destination. We were on vacation and had to do exactly zero thinking because Claire anticipated everything. She sent us to places in Zimbabwe and Zambia with expert guides and perfect accommodations. I don’t have enough positive things to say about how easy she made things and how vital her knowledge was to setting up the best first safari. Suffice it to say, for our next trip (and there will 100% be a next trip), the first call will be to Claire. Note: She stays in fabulous communication with you - before and during your trip. It was like having a cool, but never intrusive babysitter, which was exactly what we wanted. Final note: We saw four leopards. FOUR!
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Michele Retief
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Five starts from start to finish. Claire you attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile , has proved that no request is too big or too small. We had a wonderful time travelling through South Africa. Each element that you suggested from the ground handling to the exquisite lodges, was exceptional. Thank you.
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Family Bunting
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Claire was wonderful from our first enquiries all through the following 50 emails while we questioned and answered and changed our minds! She arranged the most wonderful 8 day trip along the garden route from Cape Town to a safari in the Eastern Cape. She spent time to understand our wants and needs, and the result was that we had a fabulous trip with our 8 year old and 4 year old. I loved it that she understood our needs to go slowly, for car seats, for adventure with little kids, and for self-catering opportunities. Can't recommend her enough 😊
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BelenOndruma
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Cloud9 was excellent , thank you Claire from Hasslefree Africa for helping to find this beautiful place and facilitating the booking . You exceeded our expectations !
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Janine Gelley
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It’s hard to believe that we are finally home after an amazing trip to Namibia. I started working with Claire from Hasselfree Africa from about February and we have been online ever since. She planed an incredible round tour for us from Windhoek and back. It’s was a 18 night 19 day tour. The places are amazing but we did do 4,500 km in this time. We planned to stay at least 2 nights at each place so as not to push ourselves too hard. Claire was with us every inch of the way and no question went unanswered. This is a huge bonus as you have someone to talk to whenever is needed. We had the opportunity to meet when I travelled through the Cape which was an added bonus. Almost All our hotels were Gondwana and we were very happy. The best of course was King Nehale outside the Etosha Pan Game reserve. We did tours in all places and they were once again handpicked by Claire. If and when I do another African tour it will be once again with Claire.
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Maruska Slater
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This was our first family holiday to South Africa and we had an absolutely fabulous time from the moment we arrived till the moment we left. Claire was truly an amazing tour manager who organized every detail and ensured everything ran smoothly. She made sure that every person had a memorable experience and went above and beyond any tour operator I have ever experienced. She created a perfect holiday for us and we truly can not wait to ask her again to prepare another adventurous trip for our family. Thank you very much Claire for looking after us and introducing us to this exciting country. I will not hesitate to recommend her to our friends or family.
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Anna O'Connor
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I was referred to Claire due to her expertise and experience and was not let down. Claire not only worked around our existing bookings but she ensured that everything ran well throughout our holiday, not just after payment was made like some! Right until we returned home Claire ensured everything was taken care of.
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Rossana Altomari
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Claire is an outstanding professional travel agent who guided us from the initial trip planning to our return home. She expertly organized a perfect African adventure for our family of four, complete with a safari and beach stay, tailored exactly to our preferences. Claire listened carefully to our needs and crafted an itinerary that reflected them perfectly. She was always patient and responsive, providing information and making adjustments whenever we requested. Beyond her professionalism, Claire’s warmth and kindness stood out. Throughout every stage of our trip, she was attentive and ensured everything went smoothly. The local partner she selected in Kenya, Asili Adventures, was excellent as well. I highly recommend Claire to anyone planning a trip to Africa.
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Note: This is an example itinerary.

Our journeys are completely customisable and pricing is seasonal and based on family dynamics as well as children’s ages – Please contact us to discuss your unique family requirements for an accurate quote.

Get to know your travel specialist

Claire Monson

Driven by a deep love for the continent, I founded Hassle-Free Africa to make African travel effortless and deeply personal. Leveraging years of experience and a trusted, on-the-ground network of expert guides and premier lodges, I handle the complex planning so you don’t have to. From gorilla trekking in Rwanda to family safaris in Kenya, I design seamless, tailor-made journeys that allow you to simply arrive, switch off, and experience the raw magic of Africa at its absolute best.

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