Airport pickup and transfer to the hotel. Have dinner at the hotel. Ikopa Hotel 3* or similar (D)

Head south along the RN7 to explore the Highlands: terraced rice fields, brick houses, and local crafts. Stop at Behenjy to taste foie gras, then visit an aluminum pot foundry in Ambatolampy. Arrive in Antsirabe, a spa town surrounded by volcanic mountains and renowned for its mineral water and invigorating climate. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at the hotel. Flower Palace Hotel 3* or similar (B-L-D)

Follow a local guide to learn all about daily life in the village, from working in the field to everyday tasks. Enjoy a typical shared lunch with locals. Return to Antsirabe for a ride in a rickshaw decked out like a work of art. Visit gemstone shops and miniature maker workshops. Have dinner at Le Trianon hotel and sample local products. (B-L-D)

After breakfast, head south through the Ankaratra Mountains and lush green rice fields. Arrive in Ambositra, a capital of handicrafts where the Zafimaniry work their magic with wood. Visit shops to peruse their works of sculpture and inlaid woodwork. Have lunch at the Artisan hotel restaurant to try romazava, the national dish. Continue on to Ranomafana, a picturesque village surrounded by mountains, famous for its national park and biodiversity. Le Grenat Hotel 3* or similar (B-L-D)

Head to the Ranomafana National Park, a primary forest with rugged terrain and rich biodiversity. Do some lemur watching, then have lunch at Manja restaurant and try ravitoto, a typical local dish. Tour the Tanala village of Kelilalina and watch a local folk dance called Ndombolo. Hit the road to the royal city of Fianarantsoa and its stunning landscapes. Visit the Sahambavy tea plantation, nestled between rice fields and lakes. Lac Hotel 3* or similar (B-L-D)

Have breakfast then head to Ambalavao, famous for its sacred rocky mountains and colonial vineyard. Go to the Chan Foui & Fils estate for a tour and wine tasting, then visit the Antemoro paper factory. In the afternoon, visit the Anja Reserve, with its many lemurs and chameleons. Continue on to Ranohira via the Ihorombe plateau. The desert landscapes and rocky massifs make for a spectacular backdrop at sunset. Chez Alice Hotel 3* or similar (B-L-D)

After breakfast take a stroll through Isalo Natural Park, an exceptional site offering a wide variety of majestic landscapes, deep, narrow canyons, and sandstone massifs carved by erosion. Enjoy a lunch of regional specialties prepared by a community association. (B-L-D)

Set out early for Toliara, passing through arid landscapes and villages of gemstone seekers, including Ilakaka, famous for its sapphires. Travel through Mahafaly country with its tombs decorated with aloalo. Stop at a local school. Once in Toliara, visit the market and enjoy a seafood dinner at Arboretum restaurant. Continue along a sandy trail used by zebu carts on the way to Ifaty. La Bella Donna Hotel 3* or similar (B-L-D)

Free day. (B-L-D)

Transfer to Toliara airport and fly to Antananarivo. (B)