Madagascar 6/27/2027

Details

Trip Notes & Expectations

ACCOMMODATION

Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see “Single Travelers” below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are selected for safety, cleanliness, and convenient locations. While they are comfortable and well-suited for group travel, they are generally simple rather than luxury properties in order to keep the program affordable. The hotels in Madagascar are pretty basic.

TRANSPORTATION

We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The national road network is often narrow, winding, and characterized by potholes and uneven surfaces. This can lead to longer travel times and a bumpy ride. We make frequent stops for rest and facilities. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.

LUGGAGE

You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack. Carrying your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.

ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE

This program includes a mix of physical activities that require a moderate level of fitness. While some days involve light hiking and/or walking, please note that certain hikes, particularly in Isalo National Park, can be challenging; consider your fitness level and any pre-existing conditions when deciding to participate in these activities (see itinerary for more details). The heat and humidity are the biggest physical challenges. Make sure you stay hydrated! We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.

YELLOW FEVER

According to the WHO and CDC, there is no risk of Yellow Fever in Madagascar. It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling to Madagascar from a Yellow Fever-endemic country. If required, Yellow Fever inoculations need to be administered at least 10 days prior to your entry into the country.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

There are limited domestic flight options for our internal flights during the trip – we are at mercy of the national flight schedule, which often is only released 5 months at a time. Though there is normally one flight a day to and from each center, we have designed the itinerary around past and current flight departure times. These times may change, however, which may result in a slight adjustment in the itinerary in order for us to match up our trip itinerary with this local constraint. Typically, this results in shuffling days of the itinerary around and does not cause any missed activities, destinations, or experiences.

WIFI/ELECTRICITY

Wi-Fi access in Madagascar is generally available only in major hotels, and often limited to common areas like restaurants and lobbies. As you travel to more remote areas, connectivity will become minimal or non-existent. Power outages can also occur, and outlets may be scarce in older hotels and lodges, so bringing a power bank is highly recommended.

GROUP LEADER

All GEEO programs are led by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight.

Single Travelers

Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.

Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.

Want a private room? Most trips offer a “My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
“My Own Room” Exception: Receive private accommodation every night except night 5 in Fiadanana (community guesthouse – multi-share).

Emergency Contacts

If you need urgent help during your trip, call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible.

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
G Adventures Local Representative (Madagascar)
During Office hours (Weekdays, 8am-5pm Local Time): +261 202 202 012
After hours emergency number: +261 32 07 11511

G Adventures Local Office (Nairobi, Kenya)
From outside Kenya: +254 727 208 832
From within Kenya: 0727 208 832

If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below to connect with their Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

See our blog post of staff-recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.

As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination.

*Laundry: Laundry facilities are offered at some of our hotels for a charge, or ask your group leader where the nearest laundromat is located. If you want to do your own laundry, we suggest you bring your own non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.

PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here.

ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country’s official government resources. You can also use Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner to look up the latest requirements.

Money Exchange

Currency: The local currency in Madagascar is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA). For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.

Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards are not useful – plan to use the ATM to withdraw Ariary. Credit cards can sometimes be used for cash advances and/or purchases in Antananarivo.

Cash: We recommend that local purchases be made in cash (MGA). Outside of Antananarivo, you will find that it is difficult to use foreign currency. In Antananarivo, you can withdraw the local currency from ATMs using a debit card linked to a major credit card network (e.g., Visa or Mastercard). ATMs may have limits on how much money can be taken out at one time.

Emergency Funds: Bring at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.

For more advice, see our post, Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad

Tipping

Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:

– Driver: $2 USD per day.
– Supply Crew: $1 USD per day.
– Local guides: $1-3 USD (per couple of hours).
– Restaurant/café servers: 10% of the total bill.
– Hotel Porters: $1 USD.
– Tour leader: $25 USD per week.(We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)

*Tips should always be converted into Ariary, if possible*.

Vaccinations

GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the CDC’s recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!

Flights

Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bears responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.

This program begins and ends in Antananarivo. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Antananarivo, which usually means departing the U.S. 1-2 days prior. You may want to arrive in Africa one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Antananarivo any time on the final day of the program.

Plugs and Converters

Madagascar uses Type C and Type E plugs and the voltage is 220-240V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider:

1. Adapter (plug shape)
Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post.

2. Converter / transformer (voltage)
Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage.

Check what you need: Look on your device’s plug or power brick. “Input: 100-240V” works worldwide—you only need a plug adapter. Any range narrower (e.g., “110-120V” or “Input: 120V”) means you need an adapter and a voltage converter to avoid damage. Converters are inexpensive and available online or in travel stores.

Weather

July and August are in the midst of the Madagascan winter, and you will get some of the best weather of the year. We will be in a few different climate zones, but expect highs in the upper 60s to lower 70s and lows in the 60s. At Ifaty, it will be a bit warmer with weather typically in the upper 70s to mid-80s.

This means trekking the naturally humid rainforests can be refreshing and airy. The rainforests are alive with unique flora and fauna, with many different species of lemurs, and other animals getting on with their daily lives in the jungle depths. Being so dry does mean that some of the species will be hibernating, mainly small mammals and reptiles.

If you’re looking for marine life, you won’t miss out. You may have a chance to spot humpback whales near Ifaty.

Advice From Past Participants

– The nights are cold (bring warm pajamas). I would even suggest hand warmers for those days that are damp and cold. The temperature was 40 degrees when we stayed at Vatolahy and Feon’ny.

– Some of the hikes are short and easy, but others are rigorous, vigorous, and arduous.

– I would highly recommend people go to the Spiny Forest as an optional activity. It is not to be missed! I also opted into all the optional walks in Analamazaotra Park; the activities were not expensive and we saw many types of lemurs each time. I was glad I did the Tana city tour and would also highly recommend that to others.

– While we had a chance to donate funds to the community organization, I did not know that we could bring school supplies. I do not remember seeing this in the GEEO notes, and no one in the G group seemed to realize they could do that either.

– A group of us went to the bird park, and it was underwhelming. The birds are mainly in the island in the center, so without binoculars you only see ducks. There’s a nominal fee to get into the park, but the taxi costs a good bit more; split among 4-5 people, it was fine, but if someone went alone they would likely be upset at spending so much money to basically walk around a small lake with ducks.