Madagascar Highlights: Forest, Tsingy, Wildlife, Coast

Fly to Antananarivo. On your late night arrival, transfer to Relais des Plateaux for an overnight stay with breakfast included.

Travel 5 hours east to the escarpment for a 3 night stay in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Enjoy a guided rainforest walk to seek some of the animal oddities in this humid rainforest.

Be sure to enter the mist-enshrouded rainforest of Andasibe-Mantadia aka 'Perinet' as early as possible as then, you'll experience the dawn chorus - Malagasy magic at its very best! After lunch at the hotel, return to the rainforest for a mid-afternoon walk and if you wish, a night walk at either the rainforest parcel protected by VOIMMA guides association, or that administered by Association Mitsinjo. Either way, you'll see some of the nocturnal rainforest denizens.

Energetic visitors can explore the nearby Mantadia National Park, a 10,000ha rainforest where there are lovely views from the ridge. If its not accessible, Maromizaha is as good an option. Or, just enjoy another trail in Andasibe. Those keen to leave behind a meaningful contribution, could plant an endangered, endemic tree from the nursery of Association Mitsinjo, as part of an ongoing reforestation scheme here. As our friend Hilary Bradt says. 'what better way could there be to literally put something back into Malagasy soil?'...

Take a final rainforest wander to seek out species you may have missed. Then return to the capital to overnight once more at Relais des Plateaux with breakfast.

This morning you'll fly up to Diego Suarez, a port surrounded by dry hills on the northernmost coast. There your driver and guide will meet you and drive you to Ankarana Ouest, for a 3-night stay in stylish Iharana Bush Camp on a full board basis.

Ankarana is the 'Lost World within a Lost World' - a formidable limestone fortress topped with fields of limestone pinnacles the Malagasy call 'tsingy'. Where caves have collapsed, sunken forests harbour populations of wildlife shielded from the outside world. Underground is an insane labyrinth of passages, caverns and fast-flowing streams and rivers. Your guides will take you on some of the circuits in this otherworldly place.

You would want another day to get a more in-depth feel for what the remarkable Ankarana Special Reserve has to offer. At the lodge there is also a small lake, so boat trips are offered. Or, you could go cycling. Or visit a nearby village to learn about everyday life of the people living in this part of Madagascar.

Travel about 3 hours through 'Sambirano Country', where if you wish we can arrange a stop at Plantation Millot, near Ambanja. Here you can see cocoa plantations from which, marvellous chocolates are produced. Take a speedboat transfer from nearby Ankify, to delightful Eden Lodge where you stay for 4 nights in an East Africa Meru-styled tented en-suite room with all meals included.

Eden Lodge, with its impressive green credentials, is highly regarded and enjoyed by all who stay there. Its one of few sites in the country offering a combination of a lovely beach with wildlife. What's also appealing is you can't get there by road - its accessible only by speedboat. Hospitality and food are top-notch. Most visitors encounter green turtles while swimming and snorkelling offshore.

Take a speedboat transfer to Nosy Be, from where you fly back to the capital. Here you'll have a day/evening room and you'll have time for some souvenir shopping. Late evening transfer to the airport for the Air France check in.

Fly back to the UK via Paris CDG. You'll be home by lunch time.