A local agency such as Endemika Voyages, based in Antananarivo, organises your trip directly using its own driver-guides, accommodation and partner families, without any European intermediaries. For a comparable tour, it is generally 15 to 30 per cent cheaper than a French tour operator, more flexible, and the services provided locally are paid for by Malagasy businesses.

In return: no APST financial guarantee. Endemika holds an A licence from the Madagascan Ministry of Tourism (130-MTA/SG/DGT/DAIT/STAT-EDBM25).

Ethno-tourism involves travelling whilst taking part in the lives of the Malagasy people rather than simply observing them: sharing a family’s daily life, learning a craft from an artisan, and staying overnight in a village. At Endemika, every tour can incorporate these experiences, which are organised in collaboration with the families and for which they are paid directly.

In practical terms: cooking over a wood fire, transplanting rice seedlings, watching the distillation of ylang-ylang, or making chocolate from the cocoa pod to the bar.

Endemika offers 17 workshops across five regions and in local homes: ylang-ylang and rum distilleries in Nosy Be, chocolate-making in Nosy Komba and Ambanja, rice transplanting and Antemoro paper-making in the Highlands, cotton and sisal in the South, and woodcarving and artisanal rum-making in the West.

Prices range from €10 to €90 per person, depending on the workshop, which lasts from 2 hours to 24 hours and includes an overnight stay in the village. These can be added to any tour that passes nearby.

Yes. Endemika organises homestays, notably in the village of Bongo on Nosy Komba and with a family of craftspeople in Ambositra. Accommodation is basic (a room or hut, simple facilities, shared meals cooked over a wood fire), but it’s often the most memorable part of the trip.

One night is usually enough, spent between two hotel stays. The family is paid directly and your guide stays with you to act as an interpreter.

Allow 12 to 15 days for one region (the RN7, the North or the West), including time for visits, and three weeks to combine two. If you have less than 10 days, you’ll spend most of your time on the road: the distances are long and a 300 km journey can take 8 hours.

Taking a domestic flight saves one or two days’ driving on the return journey.

The RN7 (Antananarivo → Tulear) is the most comprehensive route for a first trip: the rice fields of the Highlands, the craftspeople of Ambositra, the Ranomafana Forest, the Isalo Canyons, and then the sea. The north (Nosy Be, Ankarana, Diego Suarez) is more of a seaside destination, ideal for a second trip or as an extension to your holiday.

The west (Morondava, the Avenue of the Baobabs, Tsingy de Bemaraha) can be easily combined with the RN7, but only during the dry season.

The famadihana (turning of the dead) is a family ceremony practised in the Highlands, usually held between June and September. Attendance is by invitation from the family only: it is not a tourist activity and attendance is never guaranteed.

If a family agrees to have visitors, your guide will accompany you and explain the rules to follow: dress code, photography, and a small contribution towards the celebration.

Responsible travel in Madagascar means, first and foremost, choosing a local agency and licensed guides, and ensuring that the money goes to the families and craftspeople you meet.

Whilst there: do not give sweets or money to children (your guide can arrange for a donation to be made to a school), respect the fady (local taboos) and take a filter water bottle rather than plastic bottles.

From April to November, during the dry season. April–June and September–November offer the best of both worlds: good weather, fewer crowds and more affordable prices than in July and August. Whales can be spotted at Sainte-Marie from July to September.

From December to March, it is the rainy season, with a risk of cyclones between January and March; access to the Tsingy de Bemaraha is closed during this period.

Yes, a visa or a paid entry permit is compulsory for all travellers. Since 16 February 2026, the e-Visa has cost €30 for up to 15 days, €35 for up to 30 days, €40 for up to 60 days and €50 for up to 90 days.

It can be obtained from the official website evisamada-mg.com a few days before departure, or upon arrival at the airport (where there is usually a queue). Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your arrival and have two blank pages.

These rates change regularly: we will confirm the current rates at the time of booking.

Yes. As soon as your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you the steps to follow for the e-Visa, the list of required documents and the processing times. We’re here to guide you through the process step by step if you need us.

You will need a passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival, with two blank pages, a visa or e-visa, a return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation (our itinerary is sufficient).

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only if you are arriving from a country where the disease is endemic.

No vaccinations are compulsory for travellers arriving from Europe. The following are recommended: up-to-date core vaccinations (DTP, measles), hepatitis A, typhoid, and, depending on the itinerary, hepatitis B and rabies. Preventative treatment against malaria is advised outside the Highlands.

Visit an international vaccination centre 4 to 6 weeks before you leave.

No, but it is strongly recommended, particularly repatriation cover: medical facilities are limited outside Antananarivo and medical evacuation is very expensive.

Check that your policy (or your credit card) covers medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and luggage.

On international flights, you can generally expect a hold allowance of 23 kg and a cabin allowance of 8 to 12 kg, depending on the airline. Domestic flights often have stricter limits: opt for a soft-sided bag weighing less than 20 kg, which is also more practical for travelling in a 4x4.

Keep your documents, medicines, valuables and a change of clothes with you in the cabin.

Yes, provided the trip is organised and proper precautions are taken. Tourist areas (the RN7, the north and the west) can be visited without difficulty, but France Diplomatie maintains its advice to remain vigilant (updated August 2026): petty crime in towns, and frequent water and electricity cuts.

Our rules: no night-time driving, a private vehicle with a driver-guide, valuables kept out of sight, and a team available 24 hours a day. We monitor the situation on a daily basis and adjust the itinerary if necessary. Please register on Fil d’Ariane before departure.

Take with you anti-malarial medication (on prescription), mosquito repellent, painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, a disinfectant and sufficient quantities of your usual medication.

Drink only bottled or filtered water and avoid unwashed raw vegetables.

Yes. All Endemika tours are accompanied by a French-speaking driver-guide, from the moment you are met at the airport until your departure. In each national park, a local guide licensed by Madagascar National Parks is also compulsory.

For private or premium tours, a dedicated tour guide can be provided in addition to the driver.

Our team in Antananarivo can be contacted 24 hours a day on a number provided on arrival. Depending on the situation, we will arrange a consultation or transfer to a healthcare facility, re-plan your itinerary and liaise with your family and your insurance provider.

For a 12-day trip, expect to pay between €2,100 and €8,200 per person, including international flights (based on two travellers). The majority of our travellers, opting for the ‘comfort’ category, spend between €3,000 and €4,600.

Excluding flights, the cost of the holiday ranges from €1,200 to €6,000, depending on the accommodation category and the season.

From January to March, during the rainy season: flights are up to 20–30 per cent cheaper and accommodation is available. On the other hand, some tracks are impassable, there is a risk of cyclones, and the Tsingy de Bemaraha are closed.

The best balance between price and weather is still April–June and September–November.

The currency is the ariary (MGA); 1 € is worth approximately 5,000 Ar (exchange rate subject to fluctuation). Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels and restaurants in the major cities, but cash is essential elsewhere: in parks, at markets, in guesthouses and for tips.

Exchange your euros at banks or bureaux de change – never on the street. There are cash machines in the main towns and cities.

For a 12-day tour with half-board, allow between €200 and €400 per person in cash: for lunches, tips, souvenirs and small expenses.

Large sums of foreign currency must be declared to customs on arrival.

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is expected and forms part of the guides’ and drivers’ income. As a guide: €5 to €15 per day for the driver-guide, a few euros for a local park guide, and 5 to 10 per cent at restaurants.

For a 12-day trip, allow between €80 and €150.

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and bank transfer. Instructions will be sent to you with your booking confirmation.

Yes: a 30 per cent deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is payable 30 days before departure.

For bookings made less than 30 days before departure, the full amount is due upon confirmation. Payment in instalments is not available.

30 days from the date of issue. Once the booking has been confirmed, the price is guaranteed, with no hidden charges.

If more than 30 days have passed, please contact us to update the offer subject to availability.

Yes, subject to the terms of your contract. Changes (dates, itinerary) are subject to availability and may incur a charge.

In the event of cancellation, the fees vary depending on how far in advance of departure the cancellation is made; we will provide you with precise details on request.

Yes: discounts for children under 12, preferential rates for groups of five or more, and better prices for early bookings. Full details are set out in your quote.

Charming hotels, lodges and eco-lodges near the parks (Isalo, Andasibe, Ranomafana), guesthouses, campsites and homestays. Per person per night in a double room: €25 to €40 in a guesthouse, €60 to €100 in a 3-star hotel or nature lodge, €150 to €300 in a premium lodge.

In some remote parks, there is only one lodge: the choice is therefore limited.

Private in almost all accommodation. Only some campsites or very basic lodges offer shared facilities, which are always indicated in the itinerary.

By private vehicle (4x4 or car, depending on the roads) with a driver-guide, costing between €90 and €120 per day per vehicle, including fuel. Bush taxis are not recommended: they are slow, unreliable and often operate at night.

For long-haul journeys, Madagascar Airlines operates domestic flights, costing between €150 and €300 one way. Timetables change frequently: we always allow for an extra night’s stay before your international flight.

Yes. All transfers between airports, hotels, lodges and programme sites are included, in a private vehicle suitable for the number of travellers.

Yes, all our tours are tailor-made. The most common combinations are: the RN7 + a beach break in Nosy Be or Sainte-Marie, the RN7 + the West (baobabs and Tsingy), or the full North itinerary including Nosy Be.

If you’re visiting more than two regions, allow three weeks or book domestic flights.

Our trips are private: you’ll be travelling alone, as a couple, with your family or with friends, without any strangers. We also organise group trips for up to around 20 people, depending on the itinerary and accommodation.

The park visits and entry fees included in the itinerary, with local guides: hikes (Isalo, Andasibe, Ranomafana), lemur and chameleon spotting, canoe trips, and visits to villages and local craftspeople.

The workshops and activities at sea have been added to the programme.

Yes, especially from the age of 5–6. Children love the lemurs, the night-time walks and the workshops (cooking, making toys, rice, Antemoro paper).

We adjust the pace: shorter stages, quiet beaches, family-run accommodation.

Yes, for the activities included: lifejackets and masks for sea trips, tents and sleeping gear for camping trips, and walking sticks if required.

Bring a good pair of walking shoes, a head torch, a warm jacket for the Highlands, sun cream and insect repellent.

It’s a bit of a challenge: facilities are limited and the parks are best explored on foot along the footpaths.

We can plan a suitable itinerary (short stages, accessible accommodation) in consultation with your doctor and a carer.

Vanilla, wild pepper, cinnamon and pink peppercorns, flavoured rum, Sambirano chocolate, Antemoro paper, raffia basketry, wood carvings from Ambositra and objects made from zebu horn.

It is best to buy directly from local craftspeople: never buy animals, protected shellfish, precious woods or fossils.