Like Nowhere Else on Earth: The Wildlife & Cultures of Madagascar
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Overview
Highlights
- Hike into the wilds of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, home to more than 300 species of orchid, 20 species of lemur and an astounding array of endemic species.
- Join a naturalist on a 4X4 ride deep into Isalo National Park to search for the iconic Ring-tailed Lemur and Verreaux's Sifaka.
- Spend three nights in the pristine and un-touristic coastal village of Anakao, learning about the local lifestyle and endemic flora and fauna.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- 12 nights of accommodations
- 6 expert-led lectures
- 17 expert-led field trips
- 2 flights during the program
- 2 performances
- An experienced Group Leader
- Customary gratuities throughout the program
- The Road Scholar Travel Protection Plan, 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage
- Taxes
Itinerary
In Flight
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Palissandre Hotel
Afternoon: Arrive Antananarivo and have time to unpack, freshen up, and relax. The capital and largest city of Madagascar, Antananarivo – known as Tana by the locals – has been the island’s most important ci...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Palissandre Hotel
Activity note: There are steep steps with a handrail that one must climb between the parking area and Ambohimanga palace. The grounds around Ambohimanga are uneven with tree roots, bould...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge
Activity note: Drive time between Tana and Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is 4.5 hours.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: This morning we will divide between enclosed, 4...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge
Activity note: Drive from the lodge to the Mantadia trailhead takes approximately 1.5 hours over very bumpy road. Hiking time and distances vary depending on where the wildlife is at t...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Relais des Plateaux
Activity note: Hiking time and distances vary depending on where the wildlife is at the time; trails can be steep in places with areas of mud or sand. The flat parts of the trail are o...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Relais de la Reine
Activity note: The charter flight to Isalo National Park is approximately 2 hours long.
Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Morning: This morning at the hotel we wil...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Relais de la Reine
Activity note: Namaza Canyon is a gentle hike of about 30-45 minutes one-way, with a roundtrip mileage of around 1 mile to the campground where lemurs are commonly spotted. Participants...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Relais de la Reine
Activity note: Roundtrip mileage for the hike to the natural pool is approximately 4 miles. The path climbs steeply at the start for about 30 minutes before reaching a long flat hike ac...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Moringa Hotel
Activity note: The walk in Zombitse is approximately 1.5 miles on a flat, sandy trail with plenty of shade. At the arboretum, the walk is on flat and even terrain, for no more than 1 mile. T...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Les Dunes d'Ifaty
Activity note: Drive time from Tulear to Ifaty is approximately 1 hour.
Breakfast: At the hotel we will have a plated meal, with eggs cooked to order. Tea/coffee and fruit juices ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Les Dunes d'Ifaty
Activity note: Walking trail in the nature reserve is flat and approximately 1.5 miles in length.
Breakfast: Light snack prior to morning activities, then full breakfast in the la...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Palissandre Hotel
Activity note: Air Madagascar frequently changes their flight schedules, so timing and activities on this day must be flexible. Drive time from Ifaty to Tulear is 1 hour. Flight time fro...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
In Flight
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Departing via motorcoach with our Group Leader, we will visit a local family co-operative that makes silk scarves, a craft that has been handed down through four generations. W...
In Flight
Morning: Morning arrivals in North America.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Tour Operator
Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel since 1975, offers 5,500 educational tours in all 50 states and 150 countries. Alongside local and renowned experts, experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural tours and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Programs For Whatever You Love to Do:
Much more than a tour, a Road Scholar program is a true learning adventure. Whether you join us in Seattle or Santiago, Beijing or Berlin, Road Scholar programs all share four unique attributes:
--Exceptional opportunities for learning and exploration through special behind-the-scenes access to the world's most fascinating treasures, led by our passionate and knowledgeable instructors.
--The shared fellowship of learning and warm camaraderie, whether a solo traveler or with a companion.
--Comfortable accommodations and appetizing meals.
--Excellent value.
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There are no grades or tests on Road Scholar programs. All that's needed is an inquiring mind, an adventurous spirit, and the belief that learning and discovery are lifelong pursuits.
Established in 1975, Road Scholar offers participants once-in-a-lifetime experiences delivered by local and world-renowned experts. Experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities, from cultural excursions and study cruises to walking, biking and more.
Our Most Popular Tours:
Adventures Afloat Cruises: On these educational cruises, you’ll traverse some of the world's most spectacular waterways, offering you a convenient and rewarding way to learn and explore aboard ocean liners, riverboats and small ships.
Independent City Discoveries: Combine structured learning with independent discovery — each program includes hotel accommodations and some meals, lectures, expert-led field trips and detailed outlines for four self-guided excursions.
Grandparent Travel: Discover and explore together with your grandchild through interactive learning experiences and field trips. Both you and your grandchild will share the joy of learning with other grandparents and their grandchildren, bridging generations and opening doors to discovery and friendship.
National Parks: From Denali to the Everglades and countless beautiful, historic places in between, field trips to America’s National Parks reveal what tourists can’t see on their own, with specialized experts showing you how to track wildlife or lead you to the spot with the most awe-inspiring view.
Outdoor Adventures: From hiking in the Grand Canyon to exploring France by barge and bicycle, to sharpening your golf or tennis skills, these active programs exercise the body and the mind.
Service Learning: From tutoring school children or helping restore a crucial forest habitat for wildlife, to assisting with artifact restoration and museum curatorial work, Service Learning adventures are an opportunity to make a difference in the world.
Small Groups: Love to learn in a small-group setting? Check out this collection of programs that have 10-24 participants.
Why Road Scholar?
You Can't Beat Road Scholar's Remarkable Value: Our all-inclusive prices have no hidden costs. Compare the price of one of our programs to what it would cost to duplicate the experience on your own (if that's even possible) and you'll see what we mean by "remarkable value."
Lifelong Learning and Lifelong Friends: When you participate in a Road Scholar program, you will not only expand your mind, you will be in the company of other people who believe that learning is one of the best parts of life.
Instructors Who Inspire: Road Scholar instructors are both experts in their field and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share in your experience.
Solo Participants Love Our Programs: Road Scholar programs are renowned for being inclusive, warm and welcoming for solo participants. We can either match you with a roommate or, on most programs, you can choose to room on your own.
Think Outside the Tour: The educational focus of Road Scholar programs makes us completely different from a commercial travel tour. Road Scholar programs offer educational experiences that answer the what's, the why's and the how-to's.
You Go Where Others Can't: We've been offering educational experiences since 1975 and we've made connections with educators and other local "insiders" all around the world, creating learning opportunities that show you the world in a way that just can't be done on your own or on a "tour."
We've Covered All the Bases: From expert-led lectures and field trips to comfortable lodgings and meals, we handle all the details, including the ones you might not anticipate. We've taken the worry out of the planning, so you can focus on your learning experience.
Peace of Mind Through the Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan: The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, which is purchased on behalf of every participant, provides 24-hour emergency assistance in the unlikely case of a medical emergency.
Scholarships for Those in Financial Need: Each year, Road Scholar awards $250,000 in scholarships toward programs in North America for those who do not have the financial means to participate.
Our Donors: Each year, thousands of donors contribute to our Annual Fund, helping to cover the gap between the tuition we charge and the actual cost of our programs.
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