Dreamy Anakao

The Dreamy Anakao Tour is a 9-day private guided itinerary exploring the turquoise beaches located in the south-west of Madagascar. Start in Toliara and travel to the south, along the coast. If you like the road less traveled, raw and untouched places – this trip is for you. The tour has been exceptionally designed for adventure seekers who like to explore. Expect lots of beauty: spectacular beaches, unique marine life, birds and plants, impressive baobab trees, a bit of history and culture. This is a balanced trip, combining relaxation and activities and doesn’t involve day-long drives. Enjoy magical lagoons and exotic bays, watch the flamingos at Tsimanampetsotsa and Saint Augustin, dive and snorkel along a magnificent coral reef full of marine life. The program includes accommodation at small boutique hotels with comfort and charm. This trip can also start the other way around, depending on the flight scheduling. We can tailor this itinerary to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities.

9 Days – From £1,980 per person

*equivalent in USD, EUR accepted

Itinerary: Toliara, Anakao, Nosy Ve, Nosy Satrana, Tsimanampetsotra, Sarodrano, Saint Augustine, Andatabo

Included

Price is per person, based on two people sharing in a double/twin room
Breakfast
All the excursions mentioned in the itinerary on a private basis
All transfers on a private basis
Entrance & guiding fees to all the mentioned National Parks
Professional English speaking driver/guide
All mandatory local taxes

Excluded

Visa, where applicable
International Flights (See Flights to Madagascar)
Domestic Flights (allow around £300-350 per person for FTU-TLE-TNR)
Personal Expenses
Insurance
Tips & Gratuities
Meals not mentioned in the description

Flights

International flights are not included in the package price. We give you the freedom to book the flights yourself, use miles and choose your preferred airline, and if you are stuck we can help you find the right connections. Return flights to Madagascar start from £700 per person, depending on the connections and time of the year.

For families and groups (starting with 5 pax), we can book domestic flights in Madagascar, during the high season, and if the trip is part of a more complex itinerary. This is to ensure a seamless travel and no complications.

How to Book

Send us a message on WhatsApp or Email us to check availability, discuss your preferences and get a quote.

This is a sample itinerary and prices are correct at the time of writing. We can tailor it to suit your plans by changing the length of the trip or the order of activities. More days can be added. Other hotels can be chosen, according to your liking. For more travel inspiration check these itineraries.

Day 1 - Toliara

After breakfast, take a short 45-min flight to Tulear around 10.30. Extending along the Mozambique Channel, immediately north of the Tropic of Capricorn, Toliara is the largest town of southern Madagascar. The Great Reef extending all the way to Morombe starts here. Toliara is often called City of the Sun due to strong sunshine. Upon arrival, transfer to Antsokay Arboretum, a botanical park of 40 ha located in the south-east of the town. Local plants, threatened by constant deforestation and bushfires are reproduced and multiplied here by seed or transplant. This is a really beautiful garden to see. Overnight at Bakuba Lodge.

Day 2 - Transfer to Anakao

Early in the morning, transfer to the harbour and take a 1h 15 min boat transfer to Anakao. This charming Vezo village with white-sand beaches and emerald sea is one of the most beautiful places in Madagascar. Discovered by the local fishermen not so long ago, Anakao is still unspoiled and authentic. Spend dreamy moments in the wild, refill your batteries with pure energy and beauty. For something more active, the reefs off Anakao offer good diving and surfing. While snorkelling it is possible to see a myriad of fish. Spend the rest of day at leisure. Overnight at Anakao Ocean Lodge.

Day 3 - Nosy Ve

After breakfast, visit the coral island of Nosy Ve, located 3 km offshore (*not the same as Nosy Be). In the past, it served as a refuge place for pirates, whalers and explorers. The most amazing spot of the island is the tip of it that extends into a sandbank. The left side of the sea has an intense turquoise blue color and the right side has an emerald colour. The calmer side is on the right of the lagoon. Nosy Ve is home to the only colony of tail-straw tropic birds, also called the red-tailed phaeton. They hide all over the island to lay eggs and hatch. The site is also ideal for whale watching during the austral winter. Spend the day swimming and snorkeling. Enjoy the feeling of being at the end of the world. The guide will prepare a delicious fish lunch. Overnight at Anakao Ocean Lodge.

Day 4 - Nosy Satrana

After breakfast, when the tide is right, take a pirogue tour to another coral island, Nosy Satrana. The islet is located inside the lagoon itself and is a super nice spot for snorkeling. This small island has white sand beaches and the waters are crystal clear. For lunch, you will have a fish barbecue, caught and cooked on a wood fire by the local fishermen. After the meal, continue to the mangroves, which are just south of the island. Relax, fish, and enjoy this magnificent place. Return to the hotel when you feel like coming back. In the evening, admire the magnificent sunset and its reflection in the sea. What a dreamy place it is! Overnight at Anakao Ocean Lodge.

Day 5 - Tsimanampetsotra

After breakfast, take a 4×4 tour through sandy road to the spectacular Tsimanampetsotsa. The park hosts a unique salty lake which changes colour from bright turquoise in the morning to a milky white in the afternoon. The lake is a bird paradise with 112 endemic species, including the pink flamingos. Scientists found here well-preserved fossils of animals, including the extinct elephant bird and giant lemurs. Visit the gigantic banyan tree and the mysterious Aven cave. An endemic blind fish, considered sacred, dwells in the cave. People come here and ask for blessings. You will also see huge 3,000-years old baobabs. Continue to the stunning Ambola beach with white sands and a lovely lagoon. Overnight at Domaine D’Ambola.

Day 6 - Sarodrano

After breakfast, sail by boat to Sarodrano, a 3,3 km long sand peninsula, very close to the Bay of St. Augustin, about 35 min drive from Toliara. It is a laid back place with a simple lodge, where you can stop for lunch and from where you can explore the beautiful dunes. The peninsula is bordered on the one side by mangroves and on the other side by a coral reef. There is a beautiful natural pool inside a grotto with emerald water. The pool is a weird mix of freshwater at the top and saltwater at the bottom. This produced some cool wildlife: lizards, crabs, fairly large fish and shrimps. You will have stop for a fish picnic. Overnight at Villa Claire.

Day 7 - Saint Augustine

Saint-Augustin is a village nestled at the mouth of the Onilahy river. It looks like a natural harbor. It has such a picturesque bay that Daniel Defoe even used it as inspiration for his novels. Here you can see a rare species of pink flamingos. The birds live in colonies and arrive between April and December. When mating season comes, the colony organizes itself into small groups of males and females for seduction dancing. The choreography ends with a succession of wonderfully synchronized rapid steps. To admire this beautiful ballet, you have to come in April and May. Later, take a canoe trip to the mangrove forest. Return to the lodge for dinner. Overnight at Bakuba Lodge.

Day 8 - Andatabo Table Mountain

After breakfast, hike with a guide to the Andatabo Table Mountain. The trail takes 3 hours. You will be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you about the traditional medicinal plants which grow here, such as euphorbia, comiphora and more. This is also an excellent chance to spot birds, including the endemic red-shouldered Vanga. Once arrive at the table mountain, take the easy 30-min trail to the top. The place is breathtaking and you will have the opportunity to admire the magnificent 360° panoramic views of the Mozambique Channel, Onilahy River and the village of Saint Augustin. Overnight at Bakuba Lodge.

Day 9 - Departure

After breakfast drive to Tulear Airport (TLE). You can also continue north, along the Land of Baobas route. By choosing this way, you will discover the breath-taking lagoon of Ambatomilo, with beautiful crystalline water and amazing beaches. You will stay at very charming beachfront lodges along the entire route. The food is exceptionally fresh and delicious and you will have a good level of comfort and privacy. You will get to see some of the most unique baobab trees of different shapes and sizes. Not many venture in this part of Madagascar, so you will be able to see absolutely authentic places with pristine scenery.

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