A expedition to cross the central massif of the island of Madagascar by foot and raft, climbing the island’s highest peak and rafting to the Indian Ocean.
Adventure across the African island of Madagascar – know as the world’s eighth continent for its astonishing fauna and flora.
During this Peak to Sea expedition challenge you’ll scale a huge granite massif and summit Pic Boby at 2,658m (Madagascar’s second highest peak) before plunging into some of the last untouched and virgin forests in the country.
If mountains and jungle were not enough adventure, the final push is then afloat, with a three-day expeditionary river journey in two-person whitewater rafts, to follow a remote river to the coast of the Indian Ocean.
Why you'll love this adventure
- Climb Madagascar’s second highest peak, stunning granite outcrops reminiscent of Yosemite
- Move through rural Malagasy villages and experience the traditional rural way of life
- Forge a route through some of the last remaining wilderness forest left in Madagascar
- Raft a wild, untamed action packed river packed with rapids
- Experience highland peaks, tropical coasts and everything in between.
Dates
Itinerary
Rather than guided tours with set daily plan this expedition is run with a framework itinerary. The following is the outline plan for this epic Madagascar Peak to Sea expedition – the ‘substance’ rather than the specifics. A fuller itinerary is provided in the Madagascar Expedition Handbook which is available when you make an enquiry.
What's included
- Specialist leader with full medical and communications kits.
- Specialist guides and instructors.
- Tented/ hammock accommodation throughout.
- All food (snacks and meals) and soft drinks.
- Internal transport as outlined in itinerary.
- Rafts and rafting equipment in country.
Not included
- International flights/ travel to and from Madagascar.
- Travel insurance (obligatory).
- Visa if required.
- Tips to local guides (discretionary).
- Alcohol unless provided by hosts with meals.
- Personal equipment (full kit list in the Handbook).
Trip notes
Price
Min age
Accommodation
You’ll be accommodated in twin rooms at a comfortable hotel in Antananarivo and in Manakara at the end of the expedition. You’ll stay in rustic lodges on the edge of the National Park the night before the start of the trek. During the trek you’ll wild camp every night in tents that will be supplied.
Meals
All food is provided in country. In towns you’ll eat in hotels and local restaurants. During the trek phase of the expedition, you’ll be accompanied by porters and a Malagasy cook who will rustle up tasty local food to keep the team strong. Whilst paddling, the team will use high calorie, dehydrated expedition rations which pack down small in the two-man rafts. Teammates are welcome to bring their own favourite trail snacks to keep spirits high – at least one cereal/snack bar a day is recommended for a good morale boost.
Who is this trip for?
This expedition is achievable by anyone with a healthy lifestyle and a good level of general fitness.
Team members should be willing to be part of a team working together to achieve the goal of the expedition. The biggest challenge on this expedition will be the long days trekking through rarely visited forests and jungles and some challenges days on the river.
If you make a booking enquiry you will receive a Madagascar Handbook with further expedition information. Rafting beginners are welcome on this team. Teammates who arrive without meeting minimum fitness requirements can jeopardise themselves and the expedition’s goal so do take training seriously, prepare as appropriate and arrive fit and ready to go. Teammates must be comfortable with the following.
Minimum fitness requirements
- Trek: up to 25km per day with daily ascents of 1000m+ likely.
- Paddle: up to 30km per day in two-person rafts.
- Carry: 10-15kg of own kit and equipment.
- Terrain: mountainous and tricky jungle terrain on foot. Flat water, whitewater and rapids in rafts.
- Altitude: up to 2658m.
- Swim: strong swimmers who can swim at least 200m and are capable of pulling themselves back into a raft if needed.
- Age: over 21, fit and healthy.
Additional notes
Adventure smorgasbord
This epic peak to sea is a truly action-packed adventure, ticking all the boxes. There are mountains, rivers, waterfalls, scrambles, views, jungles, communities and culture, wild camps, unique species, legends, seclusion and more. In the main this expedition is far from roads and offers the intrepid adventurer a huge diversity of landscapes in a short, intense period of time.
Rafting the river
Colloquially called ‘hot dogs’, the two-person rafts used for the river and white-water section are perfect for expeditionary travel. They are robust, stable and capable vessels that are easily controlled – even if you’re new to paddling. This rafting route from Pic Boby to the Indian Ocean is rarely explored so you can expect crowds of inquisitive locals on the shore as your team passes through or around your camps. Your experienced guide is swift-water rescue qualified, and the river phase also has on-the-ground support from our in-country partners. Even if you’re new to rafting, you are welcome to apply for this team.
FAQs
I can’t swim. Can I join the team?
No. Due to the rafting element of this epic expedition and its many river crossings, being a confident swimmer who’s able to swim at least 200m is a prerequisite. Teammates also need to be fit and strong to be able to pull themselves back into the rafts from the water in case of capsize. Training will be given in country and a water session or two before departure are also recommended.
Can I get raft training?
Complete rafting beginners are welcome to join this team, as is training in advance is also welcome. The types of boats are two-person inflatable rafts that are colloquially known as ‘hot dogs’. Local watersports centres will be able to advise on a training day close to you. Basic training for teammates will also be provided once in-country.
Are there porters?
This expedition is supported by local porters. The porters will assist the team in carrying tents, food and cooking equipment. There will be sections of the river that can’t be rafted so all equipment will need to be ‘portaged’ by the team. Teammates must be prepared to carry all kit, equipment and water as outlined in the expedition handbook.
Can I arrive a day late?
As The Plan outlines, there is a chain of transport to get teammates in position to begin this expedition and so start and end dates are not flexible. You are, however, welcome to extend your trip either before or after the expedition dates – please just make sure your visa will be valid for your entire stay.
Can I charge all my electricals?
There will be charging facilities at the hotel in Antananarivo but once the trekking starts there will be no opportunities to charge electronics. Please ensure that you are self-sufficient in terms of charging your appliances by bringing things like spare batteries, lightweight solar panels or power packs to avoid frustration (and bring waterproof, roll-top bags to protect your equipment while rafting).
Will there be raft training in country?
The expedition leader is swift-water rescue qualified and there is a local support team in place for the rafting section of this expedition. The team will be briefed on paddling techniques (steering, capsize, whitewater etc.) at the beginning of the paddling phase.
What if I fall out in fast water?
As with many rafting trips, there is the chance of being taken under water for a few seconds – which might feel like longer! Often, this simply means is that you then swim or float downstream to the next area of calm water to regroup with the team.
Can I walk around all the rapids?
It is always possible to walk around – to ‘portage’ – the rapids, but doing this for each would slow the team speed considerably. Ideally, all teammates need to be ready and willing to paddle to Grade 2 and Grade 3 rapids. Those new to paddling might benefit from a taster day or weekend to get the most out of this epic expedition.
What grade are the rapids?
It’s hard to be specific on this front due to changing water levels. The hardest rapid could be a Grade 4 with many at the Grade 3+ level. The water levels and current conditions will have a large impact on which of the rapids will be run in the rafts and which will be portaged around.
How can I find out more?
Enquire about this expedition team using the button on this page to receive your Expedition Handbook with fuller details.
Tour operator
When it comes to getting off the beaten track these guys can’t be beaten. They lead pioneering expeditions to some of the most remote regions on earth. The organisers are dedicated to creating imaginative experiences for adventurers around the world and their team of expert military guides are some of the most experienced in the industry. Nowhere is off limits and no idea is too crazy. They have achieved ground breaking world firsts such as mountain biking in Afghanistan and mountaineering in Iraq and their first ever expeditions to walk across Madagascar and pioneer white water rafting in South Sudan both made the headlines…. and a bit of history.
Being wild and wacky is one thing but with their background as commanders in the British Army and experienced team of specialists in every kind of terrain and environment means that all of their adventures are thoroughly planned and the safety and security of teams is always their highest priority. Expeditions can be inherently risky, but they do everything possible to minimise potential hazards and for that, and the utterly extraordinary trips they put on, we salute them.
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Madagascar Trekking Expedition
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