The Remote North

Day 1. Depart London

Depart London for Antananarivo, via Paris.

Days 2 & 3. Amber Mountain [B, L, D]

On arrival in the early morning you will be met and transferred to a nearby hotel to freshen up before flying to the coastal town of Diego Suarez and on to Amber Mountain National Park where you spend the next two nights at Nature Lodge in Joffreville just outside the park. Amber Mountain National Park is one of Madagascar's most attractive and scenic parks. Thick forest with lush and diverse flora and fauna, tumbling waterfalls, crater lakes and of course the lemurs - are all on offer. Be on the lookout for Sanfords Brown Lemur and the larger Crowned Lemur.

Days 4 & 5. Ankarana [B, L, D]

This morning you transfer by road to Ankarana where you spend two nights camping in Ankarana Special Reserve. Ankarana is formed from a massif of limestone some 80 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide. This rocky outcrop has been eroded by subterranean rivers and rain forming a vast system of caves and canyons and producing razor sharp points called 'tsingy'. Around the massif is a dense dry deciduous forest which shelters large populations of Crowned Lemur, Sandford's Lemur, and the nocturnal Forked Marked Lemur, Grey Mouse Lemur, and Greater Dwarf Lemur. Birdlife is equally well represented with the rare Brown Mesite, and other more common species such as Crested Ibis, Crested Coua and Madagascar Harrier Hawk all resident. Your nights here will be spent under canvas, camping beside a cliff face and inside one of the forest canyons. The wildlife here shows no fear of humans, with troops of audacious lemurs and Ring-tailed Mongoose coming out to steal your food during camp meal times!

Days 6 to 8. Nosy Be [B, D]

After breakfast drive to Ankify via Ambanja and then transfer by boat to the island of Nosy Be, where you spend three nights of relaxation at the Vanila Hotel. This is the largest island in the extensive archipelago, lying off the north-west coast of Madagascar. With a tropical climate, palm-fringed beaches and coral reefs galore, you may wish to just spend your time here simply relaxing. However, a visit to the Black Lemur colony at Nosy Komba and the marine reserve at Nosy Tanikely for a picnic lunch is also included.

Day 9. Homeward [B]

Return to Antananarivo for your homeward flight to the UK, via Paris.

Day 10. Arrive home