The RN7 Round Trip - 18 day Madagascar circuit tour

Tonga Soa Madagascar - welcome!

You'll land at Ivato International Airport and stay at a hotel in Ivato, near Antananarivo. If you arrive in the afternoon, you'll have time to exchange money, get a SIM card, and load an internet bundle.

Start: Ivato
Destination: Antsirabe
Drive: 190 km | 5.5 hours

After the car handover at your hotel, it's time to hit the road and start your Madagascar adventure! The route features winding roads that cut through rice paddies and small highland villages. For a lunch break, consider stopping at Coin de Foie Grass in Behenjy, Madagascar's foie gras hub. Or try the surprisingly great paella (we're not kidding), at El Torro in Ambatolampy.

Start: Antsirabe
Destination: Ranomafana National Park
Drive: 255 km | 6.5 hours

The drive today takes you along another scenic, winding road through highland villages, rice paddies, and rainforest-covered hills. 

The best route to Ranomafana is to stay on the RN7 and turn off at Alakamisy onto the RN45. Avoid branching off at Ambohimahasoa onto the RN25, as that road is in poor condition and will slow you down significantly.

Enjoy: Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana is a small, but lively tropical town set along a beautiful riverside, surrounded by rainforest-covered hills and the scent of fresh flowers. It's the perfect place to search for the famous golden bamboo lemur.

Just after sunset, join a night walk. With a bit of luck, you'll spot mouse lemurs, along with frogs, chameleons, and geckos. 

Restaurant tip: Manja

Start: Ranomafana National Park
Destination: Ambalavao
Drive: 130 km | 5 hours

Leave the tropics behind as you head into Madagascar’s dry highlands. Ambalavao is a charming, off-the-beaten-path village and a hub for community tourism. Here, you can visit a small paper factory at Aux Bougainvillées.

If you have time, consider stopping at the Anja Community Reserve just past Ambalavao. It’s a great spot to see ring-tailed lemurs, and the visit takes about an hour.

Start: Ambalavao
Destination: Isalo National Park
Drive: 220 km | 5 hours

After breakfast, hit the road toward your next adventure: Isalo National Park. Make a stop in Ihosy to refuel and grab a simple lunch before continuing your journey.

If you check in at your lodge early enough, consider driving to Isalo Window for a stunning sunset. It's a popular spot, but still a beautiful way to end the day.

Enjoy: Isalo National Park

Isalo National Park is Madagascar's most popular park, famous for its striking sandstone formations, deep canyons, waterfalls, and natural pools, all surrounded by unique native plants. The Piscine and Cascade hiking trail can be busy during peak season. For a more off-the-beaten-path adventure, consider Momo Trek, which offers multi-day hikes with camping in the park's remote areas.

Other activities include horse riding and climbing the Via Ferrata. Check with Relais de la Reine for more details.

Start: Isalo National Park
Destination: Tulear and the coast
Drive: 240 km | 6 hours 

After exploring Madagascar's stunning national parks, it's time to unwind by the coast. And be prepared: the 4-6 hour drive to Tulear will take you past your first sightings of majestic baobab trees!

Keep in mind that Tulear's coastline is mostly lined with mangroves. For a more classic beach experience, consider heading north to Ifaty or Mangily, or south to St. Augustin.

Enjoy: beach time

After all that driving, it’s great to settle in one place for a while. For your halfway beach break, we recommend staying at least three nights in St. Augustin. The beaches here are more beautiful than those in Tulear, though it is a 1.5-hour drive away.

If you’re short on time or would rather enjoy your beach days in Nosy Be, you can opt for a two-night stay in Tulear instead.

Unwind by the beach

Pictured below is a boat trip organised by your lodge in St. Augustin, featuring a visit to a beautiful cenote-like cave for snorkelling, followed by a delicious seafood lunch. 

Start: Madagascar’s West Coast
Destination: Ranohira (Isalo)
Drive: ± 250 km | 4–6 hours

About two hours from Tulear, you’ll reach Zombitse National Park, home to Verreaux’s sifaka lemurs and impressive baobab trees. Consider taking a short hike here to break up your drive. After exploring Zombitse, continue another two hours to Ranohira, near Isalo National Park, where you’ll spend the night.

Start: Ranohira (Isalo)
Destination: Tsaranoro Region
Drive: 210 km | 6 hours

After about 4 hours on the road, watch for signs directing you to your hotel. At this point, you’ll turn off the RN7 onto a dirt road (see picture) that will take an additional 1.5 to 2 hours to navigate. Locals are continuously working to repair the road, which often needs maintenance after each rainy season. To support these efforts, there is a small fee of 5,000 MGA (about 1 euro) for crossing through the village.

Enjoy: Andringitra National Park

For hiking enthusiasts, Andingitra is a must. Several trails are starting from the camps in the area. One challenging option is the real Andringitra hike, a full-day trek to the peak. Be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat - the sun can be intense!

Start: Tsaranoro Region
Destination: Fianarantsoa
Drive: 110 km | 4 hours

Your stop in Fianarantsoa is mainly to break up the long journey to Antsirabe. This inland, non-touristy town provides an authentic, off-the-beaten-path experience.

Start: Fianarantsoa
Destination: Antsirabe
Drive: 250 km | 7 hours

The next two days will involve long drives. If you have some extra time, consider a two-night break in Antsirabe. This will give you the chance to hike or mountain bike around Lake Tritriva, an emerald-green crater lake. Or take a pousse pousse (Malagasy rickshaw) tour to explore the local craft workshops, which can be difficult to find on your own. Though it may feel uncomfortable to be pulled by someone who might even be barefoot, remember this is their livelihood, and your fare is greatly appreciated.

Start: Antsirabe
Destination: Andasibe
Drive: 300 km | 8 hours

After passing through Antananarivo, you’ll leave the RN7 and switch to the RN2. This road is in better condition and serves as the main route between Tana and the port of Tamatave. Be prepared for heavy traffic, including slow trucks, and watch out for risky overtaking on the winding sections. The drive offers beautiful views of rainforest-covered hills.

Enjoy: Andasibe

Andasibe is the top spot to see the Indri Indri. With its wide-eyed, teddy bear-like face, it resembles a quirky panda more than a typical lemur. If you don't spot one (though there's a 99.9% chance you will), you'll definitely hear their eerie, wailing calls echoing for kilometres. Each Indri only cries up to three times a day because it uses so much energy, making this ritual truly unforgettable. 

Explore Andasibe with walks ranging from 2 to 6 hours to search for lemurs. The trails aren't strenuous. For a bigger adventure, head 17 km north (about a 2-hour drive) to Andasibe Mantadia National Park. It's much larger and very suitable for hiking enthusiasts. 

Start: Andasibe
Destination: Ivato
Drive: 150 km | 5 hours

Today marks your final drive through Madagascar’s beautiful landscapes. 

The end?

Wrap up your Madagascar adventure with one of these options:

• Catch a domestic flight to Nosy Be for a Seychelles-like beach escape.
• Fly to Diego Suarez, at the northern tip of the island, for excellent kite surfing.
• Or, if it’s time to head home, catch your flight. 

Most international flights depart in the evening. When you arrive in Ivato early afternoon, we recommend spending a leisurely afternoon at Relais des Plateaux. For a small fee, you can use their swimming pool. When you arrive late afternoon, we suggest enjoying a sundowner and dinner at Savanna Cafe.

When you arrive in Ivato we shall collect the car from where you are staying. Both of the above-mentioned options are conveniently located near the international airport, and they can arrange for an airport taxi.