Madagascar Baobabs & Lemurs: 9-Day Self-Launched Adventure
9 days · Madagascar
Fosa Travel charges £1,400
No-markup version: ~£700 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Fosa Travel's best-selling 9-day loop from Antananarivo: rainforest lemurs in Andasibe, the highland town of Antsirabe, and the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava. Instead of a private guided vehicle for the whole route, this version uses Madagascar's local transport network — shared taxis-brousse, the taxi-brousse network, and (crucially) a domestic flight to Morondava to avoid two brutal 10-12 hour drive days that reviewers repeatedly complain about. Wildlife parks are visited with cheap on-site local guides, and accommodation is guesthouse/budget-hotel level rather than comfort hotels. You'll need a bit more patience and Malagasy French phrases, but you'll see the same lemurs, baobabs and highland towns for roughly half the price. Costs are approximate per person and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Antananarivo — acclimatise in the highlands
Antananarivo
Land at Ivato International Airport and take a taxi into the city centre (agree the fare first, around 40,000–60,000 MGA / £7-10; or use the airport shuttle if running). Check into a guesthouse in the Antsahavola or Isoraka area, which is walkable and has cheap eateries. Spend the afternoon gently: walk up to the Queen's Palace (Rova) viewpoint area, wander the Analakely market steps and Independence Avenue, and pick up a local SIM (Telma or Orange, ~£4-6 for data) and cash from an ATM — ATMs are scarce outside Tana, so withdraw enough for several days. Book your Andasibe taxi-brousse seat for tomorrow through your guesthouse. Eat at a local hotely (rice, ravitoto, zebu) for £3-4.
🚌Airport taxi into town ~£8; walking in the centre
🛏Budget guesthouse in Antananarivo city centre (e.g. Antsahavola/Isoraka area guesthouse), twin/dorm £12-18
- →Rova (Queen's Palace) exterior and viewpoint
- →Analakely market and Independence Avenue wander
- →Buy local SIM and withdraw cash
Antananarivo to Andasibe — Peyrieras Reserve and night walk
Andasibe
Take an early taxi-brousse from Tana's Ampasampito station to Moramanga and on to Andasibe (roughly 4-5 hours, ~£6-9). Alternatively a shared minibus transfer arranged via your Andasibe guesthouse costs £10-15 and is more comfortable. En route, stop at the Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve near Marozevo (entrance ~£5-6, local guide tip £2-3) — famous for chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos and frogs you can see up close. Check into a simple guesthouse in Andasibe village. In the afternoon walk to Parc Mitsinjo (~£4-5 entry) with a local guide, then return after dark for a night walk (£5-7) to spot mouse lemurs, chameleons and sleeping birds. Bring a headtorch — reviewers repeatedly note guides asking 'did you not bring a torch?'
🚌Taxi-brousse Antananarivo–Andasibe ~£6-9, or shared minibus ~£10-15
🛏Andasibe village guesthouse, £10-15
- →Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve
- →Parc Mitsinjo daytime walk
- →Night forest walk for nocturnal lemurs
Andasibe — Analamazaotra rainforest and Lemurs' Island
Andasibe
Get to the Analamazaotra (Perinet) National Park gate early — 7am opening — and hire one of the park's official local guides (entry ~£7-9 plus guide fee shared, ~£5). This is the best place on earth to see indri indri, the largest living lemur, calling across the canopy. Allow 3-4 hours on the trails. In the afternoon visit Lemurs' Island (£5-6) where rescued lemurs are semi-habituated, and the small Crocodile Park (£4-5) if time allows. Rebook your onward transport at the guesthouse for tomorrow's long haul south; ask them to reserve a seat on an early taxi-brousse back to Tana.
🚌Walking / short tuk-tuk or moto-taxi between sites £1-3
🛏Andasibe village guesthouse, £10-15
- →Analamazaotra National Park with local park guide
- →Lemurs' Island
- →Crocodile Park
Andasibe to Antsirabe — the long highland transfer
Antsirabe
A big travel day. Take an early taxi-brousse or minibus back to Antananarivo (4-5 hrs, ~£7), then a second taxi-brousse from Tana's Fasan'ny Karana station south to Antsirabe (3-4 hrs, ~£5-6). Total road time is 8-9 hours, so start at dawn and pack snacks and water — this replaces the operator's private-vehicle transfer. Antsirabe is cool, high-altitude and famous for its pousse-pousse (rickshaw) culture. Once you arrive, take a pousse-pousse tour of the town's highlights — the thermal baths, the cathedral, the old railway station and the gem/stone-cutting workshops — for £3-5 plus a modest tip.
🚌Two taxi-brousse legs ~£12-14 total
🛏Antsirabe budget hotel or guesthouse, £12-18
- →Pousse-pousse town tour
- →Antsirabe thermal baths and cathedral
- →Gem and craft workshops
Antsirabe to Morondava — fly, don't drive
Morondava
Skip the 10-12 hour overland slog (which nearly every Fosa reviewer complains about) and fly instead. Book a one-way Tsaradia/Air Madagascar flight Antananarivo–Morondava in advance, typically £80-140 depending on how early you book. Take an early taxi-brousse or shared taxi back to Tana's Ivato airport (~£5-7), fly in the late morning or early afternoon, and take a shared taxi-brousse or taxi from Morondava airport into town (~£2-4). Check into a beachside budget hotel on the Morondava channel. Spend the late afternoon on the beach and arrange with your hotel a moto-taxi or shared 4x4 to the Avenue of the Baobabs for tomorrow's sunset.
🚌Antsirabe–Tana shared taxi ~£6; domestic flight TNR–MOQ ~£80-140; airport transfer ~£3
🛏Morondava beachfront budget hotel, £12-18
- →Domestic flight across the island
- →Morondava beach and channel sunset
Morondava — mangroves, fishing villages and Baobab Avenue
Morondava
Book a half-day pirogue (dugout canoe) trip through the mangrove delta with a local boatman from Morondava's channel — £10-15 per person if shared, including a stop at a Vezo fishing village. Afternoon is free; rent a bike (£3-4) and cycle the 20 minutes out of town to Baobab Avenue (Avenue des Baobabs), or take a moto-taxi (£3-5 each way). Time it for golden hour: the baobabs at sunset are the trip's signature image. Most locals don't charge entry but there is now a small community fee (~£1-2 at most). Bring cash — nothing nearby accepts cards. If you have more time, add a night drive into Kirindy Forest (3 hrs away) to look for the fossa.
🚌Bicycle or moto-taxi to Baobab Avenue £3-5 each way
🛏Morondava beachfront budget hotel, £12-18
- →Mangrove pirogue trip with Vezo fishing village visit
- →Avenue of the Baobabs at sunset
Morondava to Antsirabe — fly back, overnight in the highlands
Antsirabe
Take the morning domestic flight back to Antananarivo (~£80-140 booked in advance), then a direct taxi-brousse south to Antsirabe in the afternoon (3-4 hrs, ~£5-6). Arrive in the evening, check into a guesthouse, and eat at a local hotely. Alternatively, if you'd rather break the trip up, stay a night in Tana and take the morning bus to Antsirabe on Day 8 — either works. Use the evening to sort out your final day's transport and any last souvenir shopping; Antsirabe's zebu-horn craft stalls and gem market are cheaper than Tana's.
🚌Domestic flight MOQ–TNR ~£80-140; taxi-brousse Tana–Antsirabe ~£5-6
🛏Antsirabe budget hotel or guesthouse, £12-18
- →Local hotely dinner
- →Craft and gem market browsing
Antsirabe to Antananarivo — highland capitals and colonial streets
Antananarivo
Morning taxi-brousse back up to Antananarivo (3-4 hrs, ~£5-6). On arrival, drop your bag at your guesthouse and spend the afternoon walking the city: the Queen's Palace (Rova) grounds and viewpoint above the city, Anosy Lake, the French colonial buildings and markets along Independence Avenue, and Gare Soarano, the crumbling 1910s railway station now housing cafés and small shops (a good coffee stop). Entrances are modest (£1-4) and much of it is simply a walk. Pick up any last woven baskets or vanilla — baskets run £1-3 and vanilla pods are far cheaper here than at home.
🚌Taxi-brousse Antsirabe–Antananarivo ~£5-6; walking in town
🛏Budget guesthouse in Antananarivo, £12-18
- →Rova (Queen's Palace) and Anosy Lake
- →Independence Avenue colonial architecture and markets
- →Gare Soarano visit
Depart Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Depending on your flight time, spend a slow morning at the craft markets or the Analakely area, then take a taxi to Ivato International Airport (~£7-10, allow extra time for traffic). One tip from past travellers: keep some Malagasy ariary for the airport and don't rely on cards. If you can stretch to it, an extra day would let you add the Ambohimanga royal hill (UNESCO, ~£5 entry plus taxi) — it's 45 minutes out of town and a lovely half-day.
🚌Taxi to Ivato Airport ~£8
🛏None (departure day)
- →Craft market shopping
- →Optional Ambohimanga royal hill if time allows
Self-launched vs. Fosa Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Fosa Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£700 | £1,400 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £700 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Fosa Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£700
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Madagascar Baobabs & Lemurs: 9-Day Self-Launched Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £700 per person for 9 days in Madagascar. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Fosa Travel?+
Yes — Fosa Travel charges around £1,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £700 — a saving of roughly £700 (50%) per person.
How long is the Madagascar trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Madagascar.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, budget trip through Madagascar, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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