Baobab Avenues
Ride beneath the giant baobabs at golden hour, one of the most iconic sights
in all
of Africa.
Mountain Biking · Madagascar · Indian Ocean
The Madagascar
The Madagascar
MTB Mission
An amazing untouched and unspoilt adventure along remote village paths, through spiny forests and baobab avenues to empty Indian Ocean coastlines, on one of the
last great wild islands on earth.
11
Days, Cape Town return
5
Days riding · 3 rest days
8
Riders maximum
The Adventure
Ride the island
Ride the island
time forgot
Madagascar is like nowhere else. Split from Africa 160 million years ago, it evolved its own world, lemurs in the trees, baobabs on the horizon, and villages where a mountain bike is still a rare and wonderful sight.
This is a proper mission for experienced riders: red-earth tracks, ox-cart trails and sandy coastal paths, linking remote villages and hidden beaches far beyond the reach
of ordinary tourism.
As always, every night is spent in characterful boutique lodges, and our local team handles the logistics, the language
and the local knowledge so all you have
to do is ride.
Red-earth tracks and
baobab avenues
baobab avenues
What Awaits
More than a bike ride
Untouched Trails
Village paths and singletrack that see more zebu than cyclists, genuine unspoilt riding.
Village Life
Warm welcomes in remote Malagasy
villages where the journey becomes a
cultural immersion.
Empty Coastlines
Finish on deserted Indian Ocean beaches, with an optional add-on to
dive Nosy Sakatia.
Boutique Lodges
Small, characterful lodges with the best local cuisine, far from the
package-tourist crowds.
Fully Supported
Support vehicle, mechanic and
guides throughout, so you can focus
on the adventure.
Day by Day
Ten days on the
Ten days on the
island time forgot
Our proposed itinerary, part road, part singletrack, part boat. Expect
the unexpected: that is half the adventure.
Day 01
Cape Town to Antananarivo
Travel
Fly Cape Town to Johannesburg and on to Tana, the Malagasy capital. Sample the local cuisine and enjoy a couple of beers.
Overnight in an upmarket Tana hotel.
Day 02
Fly to Sainte Marie
Light Ride
Optional Dive
Fly to the island of Sainte Marie and set up the bikes. A light shake-down ride, an optional scuba dive, then the evening mission brief. Overnight at Baboo Village.
Day 03
Around Sainte Marie
Cycling
A full day cycling around the island to Chez Mme Robert and back, easing into the riding
on quiet coastal tracks.
Overnight
at Baboo Village.
Day 04
Ferry to the Mainland
& Manompana
Ferry
Cycling
Catch the ferry to Soanierana Ivongo to meet the land-support vehicle, then cycle to Manompana. Overnight in an A-frame beach bungalow at Chez Lou Lou, or the
Mahle Hotel on Mahle Point.
Day 05
Manompana to Mananara
Cycling
Aye-aye Island
The big day: 85 km of sand, rivers, hills, mud and rocks to Mananara, with a possible visit to aye-aye island.
Overnight at Hotel Chez Roger.
Day 06
Up the Coast to Rantabe
Cycling
Seventy kilometres up a wild coast to the tiny village of Rantabe. Overnight in a very basic but characterful beach lodge,
right on the sand.
Day 07
Maroantsetra & Boat to Masoala
Cycling
Boat
Ride to Maroantsetra for lunch, then a boat transfer across the bay to Masoala Forest Lodge, a luxury tented camp set in remote jungle, reachable only by boat.
45 km
Day 08
Masoala Forest Lodge · Rest Day
Rest
Lemurs
A rest day in paradise: primary forest walks, beach time, snorkelling, hiking and the chance to see lemurs. An optional strenuous sea-kayak trip for the restless. All food
and activities included.
Day 09
Masoala Forest Lodge · Rest Day
Rest
Sea Kayak
A second day at Masoala: the option of a long forest cycling mission, or a sea-kayak mission along the wild Masoala coast.
Or simply a hammock and a book.
Day 10
Boat & Fly Back to Tana
Travel
Farewell
Boat back to Maroantsetra and fly to Tana. A farewell party in the capital to toast an unforgettable adventure. Overnight in Tana.
Day 11
Tana to Cape Town
Travel
Fly Tana to Johannesburg and home to Cape Town, heads full of baobabs, lemurs
and empty coastlines.
The Route
The full mission map
From Antananarivo out to Sainte Marie, up the wild east coast to Masoala and back, part road, part singletrack, part boat.
Good To Know
What a Madagascar
What a Madagascar
mission includes
Almost everything is taken care of from Johannesburg and back.
Mail us for the cost for your dates.
What's included
- Return flights from Johannesburg
- All internal transfers, boats and ferries
- Accommodation, from upmarket hotels to the jungle lodge
- Most meals along the way
- All guided riding and rest-day activities
- Support by vehicle or boat throughout
Not included
- Drinks and personal extras
- Visas (issued on arrival)
- Bike hire & maintenance
- Travel insurance & malaria medication
- Optional scuba diving
Booking: limited to just 8 cyclists, so confirm early with a 50% deposit (balance due six weeks before departure). It’s advisable to bring your own bike and essential spares, though we can arrange a decent hire bike if needed.
Scheduled & Tailor-Made
Madagascar your way
Join a scheduled departure or let us build this trip around your group. Tell us your dates and we’ll put together the itinerary,
logistics and pricing.