5 May 2027Ends 14 May 2027
AvailableConfirmed departure
€2,197 double/twinSingle €2,497
Book All tours
10 days9 nightsConfirmed departures
The RN7
ToliaraAntananarivo
Start on Madagascar’s southwest coast and follow the RN7 north as dry forest gives way to sandstone canyons, granite cliffs and rainforest. We walk in Isalo, spend time among the rice fields and villages of Tsarasoa Valley, and explore Ranomafana with local guides who know the places we visit.
Activity levelModerateGuided walking on natural terrain, with the route and pace shaped by conditions and the group. The planned Chameleon Peak walk on Day 5 depends on conditions and the group’s ability.
Who travels with usSolo travellers, couples and friendsPrivate single, double or twin rooms. We do not arrange room sharing.
InclusionsAll inclusive small group tourAccommodation, listed meals, programme transport, guiding and scheduled activities. Drinks and discretionary tips excluded.
Price per personFrom €2,197€2,497 single room · €2,197 double or twin room
6 special mentions
Day by day
Your RN7 itinerary
Travel time depends on road conditions. Walking routes and pace depend on conditions and the group. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Meet the WAU team at Toliara airport and transfer to your hotel. Take time to settle in and talk through the northbound RN7 journey. Spend the night in Toliara before setting out towards Ranohira tomorrow.
Toliara airport welcomeHotel transferRN7 journey briefing- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Dinner
Leave Toliara and turn inland on the RN7 towards Ranohira. The coast gives way to dry country and, farther along the route, the sandstone scenery around Isalo. This is a travel day with a forest visit along the way, so keep what you need for a walk handy rather than packed deep in your luggage.
At Zombitse Vohibasia National Park, walk with a guide and look for birds, lemurs and reptiles among the trees. Sightings depend on the day, but there is plenty to notice in this patch of southwestern forest. Continue to your hotel in Ranohira, ready to explore Isalo tomorrow.
Northbound RN7 journeyZombitse Vohibasia forest visitRanohira arrival- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the day walking in Isalo, where erosion has shaped the sandstone into towers, canyons and broad rock faces. The route passes open savannah and tapia woodland, with pachypodiums and other plants adapted to the dry conditions. Your guide will also help you look for lemurs, birds and reptiles.
The day’s walk takes in canyon scenery and a natural pool, with a chance to cool off if conditions permit. The walking route and pace depend on the conditions and the group. Later, visit Isalo Window, a natural opening in the rock, to watch the evening light over the sandstone before returning to the hotel in Ranohira.
Guided Isalo walkSandstone canyons and natural poolEvening at Isalo Window- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel from Ranohira to Tsarasoa Valley, a journey of about 210 km with roughly three and a half hours of driving. Watch the scenery change as you leave Isalo’s sandstone country and approach the granite cliffs and cultivated valley.
After settling into the hotel, enjoy a Betsileo music and dance performance. Local musicians and dancers share songs, percussion and traditional dances, giving you a chance to hear the sounds of the region before tomorrow’s day exploring the valley on foot.
Journey into Tsarasoa ValleyGranite mountain sceneryBetsileo music and dance- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start early for a guided walk in Tsarasoa Valley, with Chameleon Peak as the planned objective when conditions and the group’s ability allow. The climb gains views over the granite cliffs and rice fields below. Expect an active day on foot, with the route and pace agreed with your guide according to the weather and walking conditions.
Continue through wooded areas, where ring tailed lemurs may be seen, and return through Betsileo villages. There is time to notice the fields and everyday work around the valley as you walk back. Spend a second night at the same hotel.
Guided valley walkingChameleon Peak route when conditions allowBetsileo villages and rice fields- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leave the valley for Ranomafana, travelling about 180 km with around four hours of driving, plus time for visits. Stop at Anja Community Reserve to walk among granite outcrops and vegetation with a local guide. Look for ring tailed lemurs, chameleons and lizards, allowing time to watch any wildlife you encounter.
Continue through Ambalavao and the Betsileo highlands, past terraced rice fields and granite domes. In Fianarantsoa, visit the old upper town to see its highland houses and streets. Beyond the city, turn east and descend towards greener, forested slopes, reaching Ranomafana for the night.
Anja Community ReserveFianarantsoa old upper townHighland road to the rainforest- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Ranomafana with a guide, following rainforest trails among palms, tree ferns and orchids. This humid forest is home to several lemur species, including bamboo lemurs, but finding them takes patient looking and listening. Your guide will help you notice smaller animals too, from reptiles and amphibians to insects among the leaves.
Expect a damp forest environment and a walking pace shaped by the trail conditions and wildlife activity. Later, head out for a nocturnal visit in the area around the forest to look for mouse lemurs and other animals active after dark. Sightings vary on both walks, so take time to watch and listen with your guide.
Guided rainforest walkLemur and smaller wildlife observationNocturnal visit around the forest- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leave the rainforest behind and return to the central highlands. The drive to Antsirabe covers around 230 km and takes about five hours, with extra time for the stop in Ambositra. Rice paddies and other cultivated fields line parts of the route as the forested slopes give way to more open agricultural country.
Ambositra is known for woodcarving and marquetry. Visit a workshop to see some of the techniques used, then browse the craft shops if you wish before continuing north. Reach Antsirabe towards the end of the day and settle into the hotel for the night.
Highland agricultural sceneryAmbositra woodcarving workshopAntsirabe overnight- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel north through the highlands to Antananarivo, a drive of about 170 km taking roughly four hours before city visits. Fields and villages give way to the busier streets of the capital as you approach the final overnight stop.
See some of Tana’s main landmarks, visiting the Queen’s Palace area and passing Ambohitsorohitra Palace and Independence Avenue. There is also time to browse the Digue craft market, where you can look at local work and choose any last souvenirs before returning to the hotel.
Highland drive to the capitalAntananarivo city landmarksDigue craft market- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, your itinerary concludes in Antananarivo. There is no overnight stay included today. WAU can arrange onward travel or a further tailor made extension separately if you would like to see more of Madagascar.
Breakfast in AntananarivoOnward travel- Accommodation
- No overnight stay
- Meals
- Breakfast
Confirmed departure dates
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Each confirmed departure shows its current room rates and a direct way to book.
31 May 2027Ends 9 Jun 2027
AvailableConfirmed departure
€2,197 double/twinSingle €2,497
Book26 Jun 2027Ends 5 Jul 2027
AvailableConfirmed departure
€2,197 double/twinSingle €2,497
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Before you book
Questions about The RN7
Where does The RN7 start and finish?
It starts with an airport welcome in Toliara and finishes after breakfast in Antananarivo on Day 10. It is not a return journey from Antananarivo, so plan around those different endpoints.
What is included in the tour price?
Accommodation, listed meals, programme transport, guiding and the scheduled itinerary activities are included. Drinks and discretionary tips are extra. Ask us to clarify flights, transfers, extra nights and anything not listed before booking.
How much walking is involved?
The activity level is Moderate, with walking on natural terrain in forest, sandstone and valley landscapes. Day 5 has Chameleon Peak as a planned objective only when conditions and the group’s ability allow. Tell us about your walking needs so we can discuss the programme before you book.
Can I have my own room?
Yes. Choose a single room, or a double or twin room for people travelling together. We do not arrange room sharing.
Are departures guaranteed?
We offer guaranteed departures for our small group tours. Ask us to confirm the applicable conditions and your chosen departure’s arrangements before booking flights. A departure guarantee is not a promise that travel cannot be disrupted. Private tours and extensions require separate confirmation.
How does payment work?
Check the deposit, balance deadline and payment conditions for your chosen departure before booking. Ask us to clarify anything you are unsure about before paying.
What if I need to change or cancel?
The Terms of Service explain cancellation timings, name changes and other booking conditions. Contact us if you need help understanding how they apply to your booking.
Can I stay longer after the tour?
We can discuss a private extension or onward travel from Antananarivo. These arrangements are separate from The RN7 programme, so we confirm their itinerary, timing, inclusions and price with you.