How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

When are the next departures?

The next available departures are 11 October 2026; 10 October 2027; 15 October 2028. See the "Choose your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Domestic flights as shown in the itinerary; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Madagascar. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Madagascar18 daysMax 12 travellersSolo-friendly

Madagascar – Northern Explorer

An 18-day traverse of Madagascar's wild north, from rainforest camps in Marojejy to tsingy formations and lemur sanctuaries found nowhere else on earth.

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About this journey

What to expect on this trip

On this Madagascar small group trip we take in the very best of the North of this enigmatic and alluring land. Our journey takes us first to Sambava, Madagascar’s vanilla capital on the North East coast before we head to what is undoubtedly one of the jewels of an off the beaten track tour of Madagascar; Marojejy National Park which is only accessible on foot. Marojejy is part of the World Heritage Site of Atsinanana, which UNESCO has placed on its endangered list and contains lowland, mid altitude and high-altitude rainforest, as well as the island’s most intact remaining mountaintop moorlands. Visitors need to have a reasonable level of fitness due to the steep slopes in some places. The floral and faunal diversity in the park is bewildering, with the star attraction on the lemur front being the critically endangered pure white Silky Sifaka. We then head inland across the country along a poorly maintained road to Daraina Reserve run by an NGO, where we will hope to encounter the critically endangered Golden Crowned Lemur before continuing to the far North to Ankarana with its fantastic landscape of razor-sharp pinnacles (Tsingy), home to wildlife such as sportive lemurs. In this area we also pay a visit to the lush forests of Amber Mountain National Park. Our journey south back to the capital see us search for the Turquoise Eyed True Lemur and finally to Ankarafantsika National Park and Lake Ravelobe with its wildlife-rich deciduous woodland mixed with teak trees. This is an adventure not to be missed.

The journey

Madagascar – Northern Explorer

What makes this trip special

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

The highlights

Marojejy National Park & the Silky Sifaka
Three days of trekking through Marojejy's 60,050-hectare massif take you from lowland rainforest to high-altitude montane scrub, camping at Mantella and Marojejia. The park is the only place on earth where the critically endangered, pure-white Silky Sifaka can be sought in its natural habitat.
Sambava Vanilla Plantations
Sambava, nestled in a small bay sheltered by bamboo, banana and palm trees, is Madagascar's vanilla centre on the northeast coast. A visit to a vanilla preparation workshop reveals the cultivation and processing methods behind Madagascar's most famous export.
Daraina Reserve & the Golden Crowned Sifaka
An early departure brings you to Daraina Reserve, home to the critically endangered Tattersall's Sifaka — also known as the Golden Crowned Sifaka — found only in this area of the world. The search for this rare primate is one of the expedition's most singular wildlife encounters.
Tsingy d'Ankarana Limestone Formations
Ankarana National Park's dramatic Tsingy formations are sculpted by limestone erosion into a distinctive spiny landscape. Abundant wildlife lives in the forested canyons, with opportunities to observe brown lemurs, geckos and snakes across multiple walking difficulty options.
Diego Suarez: 3 Bays & Montagne des Français
A hike through Montagne des Français National Park delivers magnificent views over the three bays — Baie des Dunes, Baie des Pigeons and Sakalava Bay — each with white sand and turquoise waters. The day closes with a visit to Cap Miné's French military fortifications and sunset at Ramena village.
Amber Mountain National Park
From the atmospheric town of Joffre Ville, the route enters Amber Mountain National Park for waterfall exploration and close-range flora and fauna observation in a tropical rainforest setting. Multiple lemur species inhabit this protected highland area.

Full itinerary · 18 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Choose your departure

Reserve your place with a £700 per-person deposit; the balance is due 70 days before departure. Prefer your own space? A single room is available on every departure.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
11 Oct 2026	28 Oct 2026	Guaranteed	£3,550	+£450	Contact for availability
10 Oct 2027	27 Oct 2027	Guaranteed	£3,550	+£450	Book now
15 Oct 2028	1 Nov 2028	Guaranteed	£3,550	+£450	Book now

Departure
11 Oct 2026 → 28 Oct 2026
Guaranteed
From
£3,550 pp
Single supp. +£450
Contact for availability
Departure
10 Oct 2027 → 27 Oct 2027
Guaranteed
From
£3,550 pp
Single supp. +£450
Book now
Departure
15 Oct 2028 → 1 Nov 2028
Guaranteed
From
£3,550 pp
Single supp. +£450
Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Madagascar journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

What's included

What your tour price covers

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
Overland transport throughout with professional driver
Domestic flights as shown in the itinerary
All accommodation
Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

International flights (Contact us for expert advice and a quote)
Any airport taxes
Travel Insurance
Visa – To be obtained in advance
Drinks
Items of personal nature
Tips (Discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Madagascar Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Madagascar that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:
- US Department of State — US State Dept Madagascar Travel Advisory
- Australian Government — Smartraveller Madagascar Advice
- Government of Canada — Canada Travel Advice for Madagascar

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Madagascar – Northern Explorer. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

“This was my second visit to Madagascar so I knew that travel can be challenging. What a surprise it was to find many of the roads in the North recently paved. There are two ways to view the wildlife in Madagascar. The easy way is to visit sanctuaries with habituated animals that will eat out of your hand and present easy photo opportunities. The second way is to find the wildlife in the wild. That is what this itinerary offers. I don’t know how many kilometers I walked or how many mountains I climbed but, it was a lot. It was made possible by going “mora mora” ( slowly, slowly in Malagasy ), by hiring an extra porter in Maronjejy to carry my backpack and a helping hand when needed. There was a very good mix of wildlife and cultural experiences-both of which I enjoyed. Again, I am very grateful that you ran the tour with just myself. I look forward to more adventures with Undiscovered Destinations. ”

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Barbara Robert, USA

“Dore is great guide. Patrique is an outstanding driver, considering very poor road conditions in Madagascar. Both did a great job. Accommodations were better than expected. I have seen everything I would like to see and satisfied.”

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Traveller from Canada

“The country was beautiful and the local guides hired for the various parks were good. The guide, Nambibia, was excellent; he knew a lot about the country and he was very well organized. The people were very nice and the wildlife was engaging. ”

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Marc Moshma, USA

“Excellent guide and driver, knowledgeable and practical, good language and people skills, added value to trip.”

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Gary Decourcey, Australia

“The guide and driver were exceptional. I think I’ve done 4 Africa trips with UD. every time your overseas reps do a great job. No complaints at all. Accommodations and food exceeded my expectations. Guide and driver were exceptional. Very punctual and knowledgeable. ”

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Robert Scerbo, USA

“Dore is one of the very best tour guides I have had for any of my numerous overseas travels. The accommodations were beyond what I had anticipated! They were all truly excellent and impressive, especially the superb Vakona Lodge in Andasibe. What an amazing place to stay with uncommonly good meals and staff.he transportation was fantastic--and we had two incredibly professional, kind drivers who not only got us safely to our destinations, but were friendly and cheerful, helping us in different ways during the trip. Everything was excellent, and I wish i was younger so I could do this trip all over again!”

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John Thomas, UK

“Both Ando and Edi were excellent guides.”

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Jo Goodburn, UK

“Tour guide Nambinina... He was very good & very knowledgeable. guides in national parks & reserves were all excellent.”

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Catherine Price, Canada

“Jason was very helpful and the booking process was quick and easy. UD offers itineraries that many competitors do not. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips I've taken with them. While they may not suit everyone, I have happily recommended the Senegal tour to fellow travellers.”

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Bernice Hird, UK

Helped by Jason van der Wath

“Excellent customer service, reliable itineraries and ability to solve local issues when they arise”

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Gustavo Musto, Uruguay

Want to customise this tour?

Make Madagascar – Northern Explorer your own — adjust the route, dates, pace or who travels, or start from a blank page with a specialist. We'll bring the details of this trip straight into your enquiry.

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