The Soul of the Makay, Between Adventure and Wonder
Madagascar – the great journey into the three territories of the Makay
24 DAYS / 23 NIGHTS · expedition, nature & cultural immersion
In the heart of Madagascar, the Makay reveals a forgotten world, shaped by time and protected by its isolation. From north to south, this expedition crosses secret canyons, lush forests and ancestral lands, between wild exploration, human encounters and unforgettable emotions.
The journey at a glance
- Duration
- 24 days / 23 nights
- Destination
- Madagascar, west coast
- Expedition
- 13 days in the Makay massif
- Territories explored
- Makay North, Centre and South
- Accommodation
- Lodges and bivouacs in the wild
- Experience
- Adventure, trekking, biodiversity and cultural immersion
Highlights
- Village immersion in Antsirabe
- Exploration of the three main sectors of the Makay massif (North, Centre, South)
- Canyons, gallery forests and ruiniform rock formations
- Archaeological sites and rock paintings
- Biodiversity and lemur watching
- Encounters with Bara communities
- Trekking and bivouacs in the wild
- Isalo National Park
- A seaside break in Madagascar's deep south
Overview
- Day 1Arrival in Antananarivo, a first taste of Madagascar.
- Day 2Across the Highlands to Antsirabe via Faratsiho.
- Day 3Cultural immersion and the traditions of Antsirabe.
- Day 4On the road to Malaimbandy, at the gates of the Makay.
- Days 5 to 8Makay North: canyons, secret valleys, gallery forests and archaeological treasures.
- Days 9 to 12Makay Centre: canyons, lakes, caves, endemic biodiversity and lemur watching.
- Days 13 to 16Makay South: canyons, lakes, caves, wild landscapes and encounters with Bara communities.
- Day 17A last crossing of the Makay to the banks of the Mangoky.
- Day 18Along wild tracks to the landscapes of Isalo.
- Day 19Hiking in the heart of Isalo National Park.
- Day 20On the road to Toliara, at the edge of the coast.
- Days 21 to 22Rest and the easy pace of life in the south.
- Day 23Flight back to Antananarivo and a last Malagasy evening.
- Day 24Transfer to the airport and departure from Madagascar.
Day-by-day itinerary
MAKAY NORTHWhere the exploration of the unknown begins
Makay North opens the doors to a fascinating mineral world, where sandstone cliffs draw a labyrinth of canyons and secret valleys. Between gallery forests, rivers, natural pools and archaeological remains, this first immersion reveals the richness of a territory long set apart from the world.
MAKAY CENTREIn the heart of a living labyrinth
At the centre of the massif, the Makay reveals its full natural complexity. The great sandstone canyons shelter gallery forests, natural pools and remarkable micro-ecosystems. Isolation favours a singular biodiversity, while the ridges offer striking views over this labyrinth of rock and plants.
MAKAY SOUTHIn the footsteps of a forgotten story
Makay South shows another side of the massif, where nature and human memory meet. From the Mahatiny rock paintings to the Anosilahy lakes, from the Nosilahy and Sakamanitra canyons to the landscapes of the Mangoky, this crossing ends with encounters with Bara communities, keepers of a culture deeply rooted in these lands.
