Nature bike to the East coast

Each people have their own manner to discover, exchange and enjoy their holiday, on this trip we will bring you in our favourable way to explore our country, to be close of the local culture and people, experience their daily life support and share with them. The optimal time for this amazing tour is from March to October, designed for all regular bikers and nature lovers who prefers to explore the wild by bike feeling, it will be new experiences again. The mega biodiversity in our unique country with the best combinations of activities tarred and off road make this tour unforgettable experience.

Nature bike to the east coast is cycle from the capital of the red Island and end in the green east coast , the tour is designed for regular cyclists who are looking for two or three days cycle and have full day walk, visit, relax or other activity. Madagascar is a continent in miniature with its micro climates, vastly different habitats and a huge number of endemic species. The international conservation community has singled it out as one of the ecologically richest countries on the planet – the last Eden. . Experience this real special bike ride. It is fantastic.

Highlights

Combination of bike and wildlife, cycling through rain forest and villages, Mantasoa region, Exotic reptile park, Andasibe national park, Vakona private reserve, Manambato beach, Rasoabe lake, Pangalanes channel, Palmarium reserve, Mahavelona and Mahambo beach

Day 1

Touching down in Antananarivo

Upon arrival in Antananarivo, you will be welcome by our staff and transferred to your hotel. Depend in your arrival time, we may plan bike fitting if the time allows us or just keep the rest of the day free. We will hear more about the trip during the first briefing for this evening.

Day 2

Antananarivo

Today we have our first bike ride in the surrounding of Antananarivo. We start it with our bike fitting in the morning, then continuous to a well combination ride to know better the bike and Madagascar. Some visit of handicraft will be in our program.

Day 3

Antananarivo – Mantasoa Lake approximately 87 km

We begin early for our first ride to the east coast. We cycle from our hotel, we may have some busy road in the city, but as soon as we are out of Tana then the road becomes more quite, it allow s us to enjoy more the fantastic highland landscape. The day is a good start to warm up because we have some hilly part in the paved road. Later we will leave the national two and take the right sanction to our hotel, from here we cycle 13 km on dusty off-road trails to the small village of Mantasoa, in where we over night for this day.

Day 4

Mantasoa – Andasibe approximately 98 km (20 km off road)

As our tour named wildlife and bike tour, so we have a good chance today to discover lots of these wildlife. We cycle back the off road part to reach the main road, then we forwards east, the goal for this day is to reach Andasibe rain forest. After few hours in tarmac road with some undulations, we have long downhill; just at the end of it we will have a break and visit the exotic reptile’s park. The park is well known for its colourful chameleons and butterfly, leaf tailed geckos, snack and many other reptiles. After the visit we still have few hours ride until Andasibe, cycle through the busy small city of Moramanga, have some more gentle uphill before we reach the national park.

Day 5

Andasibe National park – Vakona private reserve

Full day to explore the flora and fauna in the park, the animals and birds are most active in the early morning and there should be good opportunities to see and hear the lemurs. The black and white coated Indri-Indri is an extraordinary Lemur, known for its wailing call. Indri’s are active on and off throughout the day but are best seen in the morning. In the afternoon we may visit Vakona private park well known for its island of lemurs, we crass small river with a canoe and will be able to see more lemur species up closer.

Day 6

Andasibe – Manambato approx. 79 km and car transfer

After yesterday full day hike, we are pleased again to be back on the saddle. We cycle through the rain forest of Andasibe region; some up and down hills make our day more interesting, because it gives great view. The scenery changes again and our route is lined with lush banana and mango plantations, litchi trees and the endemic Ravinala palm, whose enormous fan-like leaves are used for roofing in the area. The air becomes noticeably hotter as we descent, we see more of these small typical villages of the east. After lunch we have car transfer to manambato, we have 7 km off road before we pass through the little hamlet of Manambato to the shore of Lake Rasoabe in where we overnight this evening. You still have enough time to enjoy the beach this evening.

Day 7

Manambato – Palmarium

From there the boat will depart to bring you to Ankanin’ny nofy (The nest of dreams). Very cine scenic cruise along the Pangalane Canal, we pass through great lakes with beautiful green landscapes, sandy beaches and remote villages. The Pangalana is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast. As soon as we arrive, we visit the private reserve, a good chance again to add our lemurs’ list and learn about many spices.

Day 8

Palmarium – Toamasina

After all of these beautiful fauna and flora we have seen in Palmarium reserve, we are really interested to get our next step. We back again in our discovering boat trip to Toamasina, it takes about three hours. We meet more and more local people along the channel, fishing, washing, swimming. There are also many men working to transport goods, charcoal, wood and so on. We have short car transfer to our accommodation, if you want to have walk and discover the city after lunch is possible, or go for souvenir shopping in Bazary Be.

Day 9

Toamasina (Tamatave) – Mahavelona (Foulpointe)

Today can be most of the very interesting day ride during the trip. We cycle between the channels and the ocean, the road is flat, quiet and rural with little traffic. It will be another hot day so there will be more water stops throughout the ride. Eventually we reach sand dunes and follow the beautiful coastline northwards, passing modest resorts and the occasional village. As we cycle up the coast, we continue crossing bridge, the last part to the hotel is off road trail to the beach and to our resting place for the night.

Day 10

Mahavelona (Foulpointe) – Mahambo

After breakfast we have easy ride as we cycle half day on mostly wide, flat paths and a few more gentle undulations than yesterday. The road winds round this lush landscape towards the town of Fénérive. 3 km before the village we turn off and cycle towards the ocean to our accommodation situated right on the beach. The setting is idyllic, overlooking the sea and a nearby island. Here we end our bike tour. In the afternoon we are free to relax on the beach. We celebrate already this evening, because drivers and mechanics will back the next day.

Day 11

Mahambo – Ile Sainte Marie by boat

We leave after breakfast by boat, transfer to Ste Marie. As soon as you arrive in Ambodiatafana some hotel staff are happy to welcome you in the tropical Island and transfer you to the hotel

Day 12-13

Ile Sainte Marie
Swimming and relaxing

Depending in your program option, just keep the day free and enjoy the beach, or choose some of these optional activities such as whale watching, natural swimming pool or the nearby Ile aux natte, most of them start shortly after breakfast, take the boat and start to explore the place. Whatever you do Ste Marie is a best place to stay for few days

Day 13

Ste. Marie – Tana

Flight from Ste. Marie to Tana
You will be transferred on time for your scheduled flight to Tana. The flight takes about 2 hours. Depending in our domestic flight scheduled, some activities may be planned in Tana or just have easy afternoon and take the chance souvenir shopping to full up our day.

– End of service at the airport. –

Complementary Information:

From Antananarivo to Ste Marie Airport
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
Cycling: 6 days
Distance: approx. 415km
Boat transfer: 2 half days
Beach stays: 2 days
Support car available
National park: 1 day in Andasibe-Mantadia
Private reserve: Exotic reptiles park, Vakona and palmarium
Requirements: good cyclist, teamwork
The tour can be changed according to circumstances

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