You can spot a lemur before breakfast, watch baobabs catch fire at sunset, and still end your trip with your feet in warm Indian Ocean sand – but only if your route respects Madagascar’s scale.
A “15 days” plan that looks good on a map can collapse the moment you hit the RN7 roadworks, a rainy-season washout, or a flight delay. The difference between a dream trip and a long-distance endurance test is usually not ambition – it’s sequencing. Below is a Madagascar 15 day tour itinerary built the way we run trips on the ground: fewer backtracks, realistic drive days, and a balance of biodiversity, landscapes, culture, and a real exhale at the end.
Why this Madagascar 15 day tour itinerary works
Madagascar is not a “two-hour transfers” destination. Distances are big, roads are slow, and the best wildlife experiences happen early and late, when you do not want to be arriving exhausted.
This route takes you from the Central Highlands to the classic RN7 rainforest corridor, then west to baobabs and the Tsingy, and finishes with a beach reset. It’s a lot – but it’s achievable because the hardest drives are spaced out, key parks get enough nights to justify the effort, and there’s flexibility built in for weather and preferences.
You will still have trade-offs. If you want maximum rainforest species and night walks, you may cut the west. If you want pure landscapes and adventure, you may shorten the south. Fifteen days is generous, but Madagascar always rewards the traveler who edits.
The itinerary at a glance: Highlands, rainforest, baobabs, tsingy, beach
This plan starts in Antananarivo (Tana) and ends with a flight to the northwest coast for beach time. Expect a private vehicle, a dedicated driver, and local park guides where required.
Day 1: Arrive in Antananarivo
Land, clear formalities, and keep the first evening simple. If you arrive late, sleep and reset – tomorrow is the real start.
If you arrive earlier, a gentle introduction helps: a viewpoint over the city, a market stop for spices and crafts, and a calm dinner. The goal is not “sightseeing” so much as getting your body onto Madagascar time.
Day 2: Antananarivo to Andasibe (Périnet)
Drive east into greener hills toward Andasibe. This is one of the best wildlife-to-effort ratios in the country, and it’s a smart early win after a long flight.
In the afternoon, you can visit a community-run reserve for a first look at lemurs, then do a guided night walk. Night walks are where Madagascar starts feeling like a different world: chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos, frogs, and eyeshine in the understory.
Day 3: Andasibe rainforest – indri morning, slower afternoon
Start before the forest warms up. This is indri territory – the largest lemur, famous for its call that carries through the canopy.
Give yourself the afternoon to go deeper, photograph, or simply slow down. If you’re a serious wildlife traveler, this is a great day to add a second guided walk rather than trying to “add another destination.”
Day 4: Andasibe to Antsirabe
Today is a longer drive back through Tana and south into the Highlands. Antsirabe is a high-altitude town with a cooler feel and an easy pace.
If you have energy, a short pousse-pousse ride or a stroll near the lakes gives you cultural texture without overcommitting. This overnight also breaks up the RN7 so you are not stacking punishing drives back-to-back.
Day 5: Antsirabe to Ranomafana National Park
Continue south toward the rainforest again, but now in the southeast. Ranomafana is one of the richest biodiversity zones on the island and a highlight for many first-time visitors.
Arrive, check in, and if timing allows, do a short afternoon walk. Save your best energy for tomorrow morning when the forest is active.
Day 6: Ranomafana – rainforest deep day
This is a full rainforest day with a local guide. Expect humidity, mud if it rained, and a serious species list: bamboo lemurs, sifakas, tenrecs, and a strong chance of rare chameleons.
It depends on your fitness and interest whether you choose a longer trek or two shorter ones. Longer hikes can mean better encounters, but they also mean committing to steep, slippery terrain. A second night walk can be worth it if you love reptiles and amphibians.
Day 7: Ranomafana to Isalo National Park
The scenery transitions dramatically today, from forested hills to open plateaus. Isalo is about sandstone formations, wide skies, and canyon hikes.
Arrive in time for a sunset viewpoint if possible. This is one of those Madagascar moments that feels cinematic, especially after days under a rainforest canopy.
Day 8: Isalo – canyons, natural pools, and ring-tailed lemurs
Choose your hike based on heat tolerance and timing. Many travelers aim for a classic circuit with a natural pool swim.
Isalo wildlife is not as dense as the rainforests, but you can still see lemurs and birds, and the landscape itself is the star. Start early, carry water, and plan for a slower afternoon.
Day 9: Isalo to Ifaty (beach on the southwest coast)
Drive toward the coast for a change of rhythm. Ifaty is a relaxed beach area with fishing villages and offshore snorkeling depending on conditions.
This is not the “perfect Maldives” beach – it’s Madagascar, with wind, character, and an authentic coastal feel. For many travelers, that honesty is part of the charm.
Day 10: Ifaty – buffer day for rest or culture
Keep this day intentionally light. You can snorkel, visit a baobab reserve, or spend time in a Vezo fishing village with a respectful local introduction.
This day is also your schedule insurance. If you lost time earlier to weather or a road delay, you can absorb it here without sacrificing the core wildlife parks.
Day 11: Fly (via Tana) to the west for baobabs, then to Morondava
To make the west realistic in 15 days, flying is the smart move. The overland route from the south to Morondava is long and can be unpredictable.
Arrive in Morondava and plan your first baobab sunset. The Avenue of the Baobabs is iconic for a reason, and it’s best experienced at golden hour when the trunks glow.
Day 12: Morondava to Bekopaka (Tsingy base)
This is a long, adventure-style transfer involving rough roads and river crossings. It’s part of the story, but it’s a day you feel.
Arrive in Bekopaka and rest. The next two days are active, and the Tsingy demands steady footing.
Day 13: Tsingy de Bemaraha – limestone labyrinth day
The Tsingy is one of Madagascar’s most otherworldly landscapes: razor-sharp limestone formations, suspension bridges, and narrow passages that open onto huge views.
It’s not for everyone. If you dislike heights or tight spaces, you’ll choose an easier circuit. If you love adventure, this can be the day you talk about for years.
Day 14: Second Tsingy day or Kirindy-style wildlife add-on, then return toward Morondava
A second day lets you pick a different circuit or slow down for photography. Alternatively, if logistics and timing align, you can prioritize a dry-forest wildlife experience on the west side.
In the afternoon, start working back toward Morondava so you’re positioned for tomorrow’s flight and not gambling on the road.
Day 15: Fly to Nosy Be (or nearby islands) for a beach finish
End your trip the way most people wish they had started it: unhurried. Nosy Be and its nearby islands are ideal for swimming, a sunset cruise, or a final day of soft adventure.
If you are departing internationally soon, it’s often wise to route back through Tana and keep a little buffer for flight connections.
Smart customization options (because it depends)
If you’re looking at this Madagascar 15 day tour itinerary and thinking “I love it, but…” you’re already planning like a pro. Here are the most common, high-impact swaps.
If wildlife is your top priority, keep Andasibe and Ranomafana, and consider trimming the west. The Tsingy is spectacular, but it’s also logistically heavy.
If landscapes and adventure are your priority, keep Isalo and the Tsingy, and shorten the rainforest days. You will still see lemurs, but your focus shifts to big scenery.
If you want more beach time, move the beach to the end and add nights there. Madagascar is intense in the best way – many travelers underestimate how good two true downtime days feel after long drives and early starts.
Practical notes that make the trip smoother
Madagascar rewards early mornings. Most parks are best at first light, and you’ll avoid heat and crowds.
Driving days are real. Even when the distance looks modest, road conditions can stretch time. This is why private logistics matter – you can stop when you need to, adjust pacing, and avoid the stress of trying to “catch” the next step.
Hotel level changes by region. In some areas you’ll find charming, comfortable eco-lodges; in others, the best option is simply the best available. The key is choosing places that are clean, well-run, and positioned to reduce commuting to the parks.
If you want this route privately tailored to your dates, pace, and must-see species – with vetted drivers, local guides, and realistic timing – we can design it through Travelers of Madagascar and adjust the balance between rainforest, west, and beach based on what you care about most.
The best 15-day Madagascar trip is the one that still feels generous on day 13 – when you realize you’re not rushing past the moments you came all this way to feel.