Hike and Bike Madagascar, 15 Days, Wild Madagascar Tour
From: CHF 3'250
Discover the beauty of Madagascar up close by riding and hiking some of its most spectacular areas. You’ll meet locals and learn about their culture. You’ll spot animals that are only found on this amazing island and you’ll come away with unforgettable memories.
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Reviews 2 Reviews5/5
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Activity Level Moderate Adventure Holidays
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Group Size Medium Group
Hike and Bike Madagascar
Overview
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15 Days: 9 Cycling Days, 3 Hiking Days
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Staying in Hotels
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Support Van and Equipment
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English Speaking Guides
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Mostly Off Road
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A Challenging and Rewarding Journey
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Hike National Parks
Why Do We Recommend It?
Madagascar, the world’s 4th largest island’s incredible biodiversity.
Experiencing nature at ground-level, via your own effort is truly rewarding.
Cycling and hiking are the perfect ways to allow real encounters to happen. You’ll meet locals and gain personal insights.
Being fully supported in small groups allows you to relax and enjoy your experience completely.
Perfect to escape the day-to-day and feel rejuvenated. Being active while discovering the culture, nature and beauty is incredibly powerful and rewarding.
Experienced and trusted cycle tour operator.
Is It Right for Me?
This is a great trip for those who enjoy cycling. You don’t need to be an enthusiast but you should be comfortable on a bike as there is some off-road cycling. It’s a great trip for solo travellers or couples.
This is a great adventure holiday in the sense that you will discover and learn a lot about the amazing and unique natural environment of Madagascar. You’ll have contact with locals and the time to really get a connection to the island and its culture.
What People Say About The Trip
Beautiful country, wonderful people, fantastic experience! Strongly recommended to anyone who likes adventure travel.
Can I Go Anytime?
The tour is scheduled for specific dates and you can find those while checking availability in the fields above. However, not all dates are guaranteed to run and some may already have filled. So, just enter the dates you’re interested in and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible with confirmation of availability. We always do our best to get the trip that suits you best.
If you don’t see any dates that work for you, just select Get In Touch and send us a quick message about what would be ideal for you. We’ll do what we can and get back to you with options to make your dream trip a reality.
Itsy Bitsy Details
- Where: Madagascar (of course)
- Duration: 15 Days
- Tour Starts: Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Tour Ends: Toliara, Madagascar
- Fly To: Ivato International Airport (TNR)
- Fly From: Toliara Airport (TLE)
- Group Size: 2-16 riders
- Age: 18+
- Operated By: Spice Roads
- Total Cycling Distance: 519Km
- Average Distance/Day: 58km
- Average Climb/Day: 613m
More Great Biking Tours and Hiking Tours
- Tour rider’s jersey
- Water bottle
- Support vehicle
- Guide(s)
- Meals (as indicated)
- Accommodation
- Snacks and drinks
- International flights
- Domestic flights
- Airport pick up
- Airport drop off
- Visa fees
- Alcohol
- Tips
- Overview Overview
- Day 1 Arrive in Antananarivo
- Day 2 Antananarivo – Antsirabe
- Day 3 Antsirabe Loop
- Day 4 Antsirabe – Ambositra
- Day 5 Ambositra - Ranomafana National Park
- Day 6 Ranomafana National Park Hike
- Day 7 Ranomafana – Sahambavy
- Day 8 Sahambavy – Ambalavao
- Day 9 Ambalavao - Anja Park – Andringitra
- Day 10 Andringitra Massif Hike
- Day 11 Andringitra – Horombe Plateau – Ranohira
- Day 12 L'lsalo Massif
- Day 13 Ranohira – Ilkaka – Toliara
- Day 14 Toliara Rest Day
- Day 15 Departure
Hike and Bike Madagascar
Separated from the Southeastern coast of Africa, Madagascar’s isolation only adds to its appeal as an adventure holiday destination. Its seclusion is the reason for the rare plants and animals who live here, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Keep an eye peeled for the famed ring-tailed lemur as we explore the lush tropical rainforest on the Eastern side of the island. And look out for other curious creatures along your trip: tomato frogs, dwarf chameleons, and hedgehog-like tenrecs – all unique to the country and so prolific that sightings are sure to happen.
Ascend the ancient stone steps of Antananarivo, the country’s capital. Mingle with the friendly Malagasy people to experience their culture and how they live off the land. Refresh your hard-working muscles in the natural pools and waterfalls we pause at to rest. And ride the wide-open savannah, punctuated by otherworldly rock formations.
The wilds of Madagascar offer an exciting combination of terrain for the adventurous cyclist and hiker to tackle. From the mix of tarmac and hard-packed dirt roads, the uphill climbs (notably, to the glassy Lake Tritriva atop the mountain of the same name), to the vast downhill trail across the Horombe Plateau. Madagascar is an island of unparalleled landscapes, and this adventure treks it all.
This journey is a multi-activity tour consisting of 519 km of riding and up to 50 km of hiking. This trip is recommended for confident and physically fit riders looking for a challenging experience with a variety of off-road activities.
Although for some riders the journey may at first seem overwhelming, the rewards for your effort are priceless. It will also have lasting memories once you have made up your mind to get in the saddle, and those adventurous minds are sure to make the most of their time on this one-of-a-lifetime expedition.
Is This Hike and Bike Tour Suitable for Me?
The majority of Hike and Bike Madagascar takes place off-road, so we recommend that participants be physically fit and confident riding on rough terrain. In addition, as this cycling adventure is complemented by two days of hiking through rugged terrain, a moderate level of physical fitness will be an asset.
Biking Conditions
The off-road portions of Hike and Bike Madagascar are offset by flat tarmac and hard-packed roads. While the trails are generally smooth, some sections have loose gravel and sandy patches that could prove hazardous to riders. Additionally, as some of the descents can be rocky, extra caution is recommended.
Bikes
Because some people can’t imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section. The bikes are Carraro mountain bikes with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes, and Shimano components and front suspension. If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a mountain bike, preferably with front suspension, in good mechanical order.
Bike Repairs
During Hike and Bike Madagascar basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee to have spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.
Safety
Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non-negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree, you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.
Guides
You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.
Health
No vaccinations are required. However, it is encouraged to consult your physician if you need any preventive medication before you travel.
Weather
Dominated by the southern trade winds from the Indian Ocean Madagascar has two seasons, a warm, wet season (November – April); and a dry, cool season (May – October). However, due to its geographic setting, this island country has a variety of climatic patterns – tropical in the north, temperate in the central, and arid in the south. Although the western and southwestern parts are hot in the summer, the weather is warm, with blue skies and a lot of sunshine during the winter months. Also note that in the central highlands the weather can get fairly chilly in the day and cold at night, so warm clothing is highly recommended.
Food
Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Malagasy cuisine incorporates many ingredients and culinary techniques in its dishes that reflect Southeast Asian, African and European influences. With rice as the main staple, most meals consist of local dishes that include curries, soups, and salads, and we will make sure you sample as much variety as possible. Be sure to try Akoho Sy Voanio, a chicken dish made juicy and aromatic with coconut, tomato, onion, garlic and ginger. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.
Drink
Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere in Madagascar but is NOT included in the price of Hike and Bike Madagascar.
Solo Travelers
We don’t require you to pay a surcharge for travelling alone on Hike and Bike Madagascar. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveller of the same gender and if we can not match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.
Extra Expenses
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps £20, for incidentals. It is customary to tip local tour guides and drivers, however, the amount you give should be dependent on the level of service you receive.
Money
Madagascar’s currency is the Malagasy ariary (AR) and is used throughout the country. Euros are also widely accepted, with US dollars occasionally accepted in the capital, major cities and tourist attractions.
However, while ATMs are available in Antananarivo and other major towns, you are allowed to draw only around €150 per transaction. In addition, as credit cards are not widely accepted except at a few luxury hotels, upscale restaurants, Air Madagascar offices and travel agencies, it is recommended you have enough cash on hand. The most useful card is Visa, with MasterCard welcomed only in some stores. Visa and MasterCard can also be used to get cash advances (in ariary) at the banks which also change traveller’s cheques and cash in major currencies.
Ivato Airport also has a foreign-exchange counter offering exchange rates as good as those at the banks, and is quite convenient for tourists upon their arrival to the country, but be sure to count your money immediately so that you haven’t been short-changed as there have been a number of reports of fraud committed by its staff.
Destination
Madagascar
Tour Meets
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Tour Ends
Toliara, Madagascar
Fly in to
Ivato International Airport (TNR)
Fly out of
Toliara Airport (TLE)
Group Size
2-16 riders
Minimum Age
18 (on scheduled departures)
Total cycling distance
519km
Avg distance / day
58km
Avg climbing/day
613m
Number of Cycling Days
9
Number of Hiking Days
3
More Great Biking Tours
- Tour rider’s jersey
- Water bottle
- Support vehicle
- Guide(s)
- Meals (as indicated)
- Accommodation
- Snacks and drinks
- International flights
- Domestic flights
- Airport pick up
- Airport drop off
- Visa fees
- Alcohol
- Tips
Activity Level: Moderate
The majority of this trip takes place off road, so we recommend that participants be physically fit and confident riding on rough terrain. In addition, as this cycling adventure is complimented by two days of hiking through rugged terrain, a moderate level of physical fitness will be an asset.
Mountain Bike Hire: £196
Beautiful country, wonderful people, fantastic experience! Strongly recommended to anyone who likes adventure travel.
Fantastic dedicated, friendly, honest and skilled guides!