3 Days in Madagascar: First-Timer Itinerary
Three days adds a real Tana orientation day to the 2-day sprint: arrival and the capital first, then Andasibe-Mantadia’s indri overnight, then a dawn circuit before flying home. Need more time on the RN7 instead? The 4-day version adds Antsirabe; tighter, drop to 2 days .
Book these before you go
- Tana hotel for arrival night: check rates on Booking.com
- Andasibe lodge at the park edge: check rates on Booking.com
- A guided Indri Trail circuit booked ahead: browse Andasibe lemur tours on GetYourGuide
| Day | Focus | Drive/transfer | Rough daily cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tana arrival and orientation | Airport transfer only | 100,000-220,000 MGA |
| Day 2 | Drive to Andasibe, first circuit | RN2, paved, about 3 hours | 150,000-300,000 MGA |
| Day 3 | Dawn indri walk, drive back, depart | RN2 return, about 3 hours | 120,000-250,000 MGA |
Day 1: Antananarivo
- Land at Ivato International Airport (TNR), transfer into the city, roughly 16km
- Spend the afternoon on the Rova hill, the former royal palace complex, for the best city views, then wander Analakely market for handicrafts and a first taste of Malagasy street food
- Early dinner, early night, tomorrow’s drive starts the RN2 push east
Day 2: Andasibe-Mantadia, first circuit
- Drive the paved RN2 to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, about 3 hours, one of the more comfortable rides in the country by Malagasy road standards
- Afternoon Indri Trail circuit with a mandatory MNP guide (45,000 MGA entrance plus a 25,000 MGA guide fee, confirm current pricing at parcs-madagascar.com ), listening for the indri’s wail rolling through the canopy
- Overnight at a lodge right at the park edge, an optional night walk (roughly 20,000-25,000 MGA extra) turns up nocturnal lemurs and chameleons the daytime circuit misses
Day 3: Dawn walk and the flight home
- Out at first light for a second circuit, either back on the Indri Trail or the fuller Mantadia loop (40,000 MGA guide fee), when the indri’s calls carry farthest and the forest is at its most active
- Midday drive back to Tana on the RN2 (about 3 hours)
- Afternoon or evening flight out of Ivato
Is 3 days worth doing over 2?
Yes, easily. The extra day buys a real look at the capital instead of a rushed transit, and it turns one indri circuit into two chances to actually see, not just hear, the animal. Three days is the shortest itinerary here that doesn’t feel purely transactional.
Do I need to book the Andasibe lodge ahead?
In July-September, yes, park-edge lodges have limited rooms and sell out around peak dry season. Outside that window, a few days’ notice is usually enough, but confirm directly with the lodge rather than assuming same-day availability once you’re already on the RN2.
Book the Andasibe lodge before the Tana hotel, it has far fewer rooms and is the one piece of this trip that actually sells out.