EXPEDITION OF THE PAGANELS to the Madagascar and Mauritius Island
9 DAYS
16 PEOPLE
3550 EURO
This time, we decided to create a combo of two of our programs and gather all the best parts together. We’ll first head to the magical island of Madagascar, home to an unreal number of endemic animals and plants. This happened because it broke off from Gondwana (the continental part of that era) 160 million years ago. Just imagine — this island is like a journey back in time, a place separate from the rest of the world. Most of its flora and fauna exist only in that one location.
The most famous animals here — of course — are the lemurs! There are around 90 species of them, instead of the usual monkeys we know. And also countless chameleons, butterflies, birds, and fish — most of which are unique and live only here.
We’ll visit several parks and reserves to see everything with our own eyes.
Although Madagascar is a rather poor country, with complex logistics and not the best hotels, what you’ll see here will outweigh any difficulties of the trip.
Next, we fly to the neighboring island — tiny Mauritius, surrounded by coral reefs and wide beaches! Here, everything is different!
Mauritius was first a French and then a British colony until 1965, which is why there’s even a Michelin-starred restaurant here. But that’s not why we’re going ;)
This is home to several dozen sperm whales. Mostly females, their young, and juvenile whales, ranging from 6 to 12 meters in length. Their main source of food is squid, whose abundance keeps the whales here. If we’re lucky, we’ll even see the large males, who visit the island a few times a year for mating.
What makes this place unique is that by sailing just a little away from the shore, you can observe these giants with your own eyes, using just a regular mask and fins. Tell me — do you know anyone who can brag about snorkeling not with little fish in Egypt, but with sperm whales in Mauritius?? Didn’t think so!
We’ll swim with the whales in the morning, and after lunch walk with turtles, hike to waterfalls, or simply enjoy the sunshine.
So don’t waste time — send in your application! See you on the islands!
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ITINERARY
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Flight from Antananarivo, Madagascar to Mauritius
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Transfers to and from the airports
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Jeep rental with drivers for part of the journey in Madagascar (based on 3 people per jeep + driver)
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Fuel
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Permits and entrance fees for visiting National Parks
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Accommodation in hotels and lodges along the route (based on double occupancy)
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Meals: breakfasts; on Mauritius – breakfasts and dinners
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Excursions according to the program in Madagascar
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Services of local guides in the parks and helpers
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Rental of buses, boats, and motorboats in both countries
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Accommodation in a cozy, air-conditioned hotel on the ocean shore (double occupancy)
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Boat rental for 3 sea trips in Mauritius
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All transfers in Mauritius by private bus
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Services of the Paganel Studio team tour leader
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Services of a local expert guide
IMPORTANT!
Please note that swimming skills and snorkeling skills (snorkeling and snorkeling) are a prerequisite for this program.
IMPORTANT!
Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.
ITINERARY
Day 1
(28 February)
Arrival in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, which locals affectionately call "Tana." Meeting at the airport with our guide and currency exchange. Transfer to a cozy hotel in the central part of the city.
In the evening, at the hotel’s restaurant, we’ll hold the traditional Paganel welcome evening. Personalized expedition T-shirts and badges will be handed out. Time to relax.
Day 2
(1 March)
We wake up, have breakfast, and check out of our rooms. We load up into our 4x4 vehicles, three people per car. Today, we have a long journey ahead to the eastern side of Madagascar — to the most famous park, Palmarium.
On the way, we’ll visit a truly amazing place — a park with friendly lemurs in Mantasoa. Here, we’ll have the chance to see both bamboo and ring-tailed lemurs. And not just see them — in this place, they are almost tame!
We then continue our journey toward Palmarium with a stop for lunch.
Palmarium is a vast reserve (50 hectares of rainforest) that is home to seven species of lemurs, including the black-and-white Indri.
The journey to the park will take several hours. To reach the park, we’ll need to switch from our jeeps to boats and sail across the lake for about 1.5 hours. By evening, we’ll arrive at our destination. It can get chilly on the boat, so make sure to bring warm jackets and raincoats to protect against splashes.
Upon arrival, we’ll explore the area and check into our bungalows (double occupancy). And if we still have some energy left, we’ll head out for a night excursion.
Included: breakfast
Day 3
(2 March)
We spend this extraordinary day in Palmarium. It’s extraordinary because every moment you are surrounded by lemurs.
Palmarium is a true Lemuria.
They will come to visit you in the evenings and mornings, with their cute, innocent faces, snatching bananas and fruits during breakfast. If they catch the scent of bananas in your bungalow, they might even dig their way in, and when you return to your room, you could find a fluffy, bushy-tailed gang rummaging through your belongings in search of their favorite treats.
If they realize you are the source of bananas, they’ll start asking to be held in your arms.
Of course, we won’t just sit still and enjoy the lemurs. We have plenty of other exciting things to do.
For example, visiting a fishing village on the east coast, where you can meditate to the sound of the ocean waves, meet the local people, sing songs with the children, and play a game of tag.
Late in the evening, we will set off by motorboats to one of the nearby islands, where the mysterious nocturnal lemur, the aye-aye, lives.
The aye-aye lives in the bamboo thickets of Madagascar. Zoologists classify it as a mammal from the order of prosimians. It was discovered by the naturalist Pierre Sonner during his work on the shores of Madagascar. Its name is aye-aye, or the Madagascar long-finger.
The aye-aye, or simply aye-aye, is a mammal classified as a unique type of lemur. The long-finger is the only species in its family. However, it looks nothing like its lemur relatives or monkeys in general. Scientists note that the Madagascar long-finger is genetically closer to squirrels or cats. Even in size, the animal resembles a very scruffy domestic cat.
At night, we return to our bungalows, checking to make sure no lemurs are hiding under the beds or behind the curtains. Time to rest.
Included: breakfast
Day 4
(3 March)
In the morning, we have breakfast and say goodbye to the lemurs we have come to love. We check our suitcases and bags for any hidden critters.
We board the boats and sail for 1.5 hours to the place where we left our jeeps. After arrival, we settle into the vehicles with our crews. Then we drive to Andasibe (about 5 hours), which is famous for its rainforests.
We arrive in Andasibe and check in at the ANDASIBE CYPERUS HOTEL.
During the day, we will visit another interesting park — Vakona Island, and in the evening, an evening walk near Andasibe Park awaits us.
We return to the hotel. Dinner. Rest.
Included: breakfast
Day 5
(4 March)
We wake up, rejoice in life, and have breakfast. Today, we will return to the capital to catch a flight to the island of Mauritius, where the second part of our journey will take place.
On the way, we will visit the reptile park Réserve Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic.
Here, you will see and even get to touch many species of chameleons, geckos, and small endemic frogs.
In the evening, we fly to Port Louis and transfer to a hotel at Flic en Flac Beach on the island’s west coast. Time to rest.
Included: breakfast and dinner
Day 6
(5 March)
Early in the morning, we have breakfast and head out to the hotel’s beach. Right there, our boats will be waiting to take us out into the ocean in search of sperm whales! Our sea adventures begin—memories that will last a lifetime!
Has anyone you know ever bragged about snorkeling—not with fish in Egypt—but with real sperm whales? Just like that, without any diving gear?
Every morning, our experienced captains communicate with other boats to find out where the sperm whales currently are. We head to the spot and swim with the whales. By around 12 or 1 p.m., we return back.
After lunch, we will definitely gather to share our impressions of the first experience and celebrate the occasion.
Included: breakfast and dinner
Day 7-8
(6-7 March)
In the morning, we head out again for photo safaris and swimming with the giants. We dedicate three days to this so that everyone has a chance to see everything with their own eyes and to be prepared for any weather.
After returning and having lunch, everyone can decide how to spend their free time: either relax by the pool, visit the town, or take a walk in the Chamarel Park, home to the island’s largest population of the famous giant Seychelles tortoises. You’ll be able to feed them, pet them, and take selfies and videos.
There is also an opportunity on the island to go trekking to the Tamarind Waterfalls.
Or you can go on a helicopter tour to see the world’s only phenomenon — an underwater waterfall!
It’s an optical illusion created by changes in depth, which from a bird’s-eye view looks exactly like a real waterfall.
Included: breakfast and dinner
Day 9
(8 March)
Today we wake up leisurely, enjoy our last day by the coast, buy some souvenirs to remember the trip, or take a stroll in town. We gather for a farewell lunch, plan our next adventures, and head to our evening flight.
This incredible adventure has come to an end, which means new corners of the world await us ahead.
Hugs and flight home.
We are unique
For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.
WHY WITH PAGANEL?
Creation
The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!
Interest
By joining our team, you join a kind of club-family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.
Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.
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