Madagascar is a land like no other. An island roughly the size of Texas or France, Madagascar is home to more than 250,000 species of which 70% are found nowhere else on the globe.

International and domestic flights come into Ivato airport, just north of Antananarivo. The airports in Mahajanga and Toamasina both handle flights from Réunion, Mauritius and the Comoros.  Air Madagascar is the national carrier of Madagascar and the service is relatively good.  Air Madagascar, Air France and Corsair, all operate flights from France and fly directly to Madagascar.

The main hubs for flights to Madagascar are Johannesburg in South Africa and Nairobi in Kenya. Air Madagascar flies between Singapore and Antananarivo, with connections in Singapore to other Asian countries. The main regional airline linking Madagascar and the Comoros with the Indian Ocean region is Air Austral (working in partnership with Air France and Air Mauritius).

Most travellers visit the quiet coastal area of Ifaty, featuring the villages of Ifaty, Mangilly and Mandio Rano, or sit under a palm tree on a white sandy beach. With coral reefs just offshore, sea breezes whispering in the casuarina trees and a relaxed tropical ambience, it’s a great place. There's whale-watching in July and August, and the amazing spiny forest along the road just north of Mangilly is well worth a look

The flat, grassy plains of the hauts plateaux near Ranohira are abruptly broken by towering sandstone massifs sculpted by wind and water into gorges and craggy bluffs. It's one of the country's most spectacular regions, perfect for overnight hikes, rock-hopping along cool canyons and spotting lemurs.

It's best to visit during the cooler months (April to October), when the bizarre pachypodiums and periwinkles are in flower on the rock faces and walking is more comfortable. The Sakalava people used to bury their dead in caves high up on cliff faces and some areas are fady (taboo) even today. Official guides are compulsory for visits to the park and fees depend on the length of each trek. All trails start and finish in Ranohira, and range from one to seven days in length. All arrangements and permits can be dealt with at the Angap office in Ranohira.

Parc National de Ranomafana is 41,500 hectares (102,549 acres) of lush rainforest, riddled with small streams that plummet into the Namorona River, and teeming with 12 lemur species, including red-bellied lemurs and broad-nosed gentle lemurs.

The park entrance and Angap office are at Ambodiamontana village. Permits are compulsory and are available at the Angap office.
Guided walks range from two to four hours, try a nocturnal walk for the chance to spot the fanaloka, or Malagasy civet, and the dainty brown mouse lemur.

It is all too easy to believe there are few unexplored areas of the world left to be discovered, but anyone with a true sense of adventure should visit the more remote parts of Madagascar.

Typified by stunning landscapes, wildlife and plants, the opportunity to combine adventure and view nature close up is a must. Parts of Madagascar, away from the tourist spots, offer the chance to do something extraordinary such as on the first ever organised descent of the Matsiatra River combined with a four day trek inside the isolated and wild Makay Canyons which is only offered by Pioneer Expeditions.

Travelling by river in Madagascar opens up a world inhabited by crocodiles, birds and reptiles, that boasts dense vegetation and unusual fauna, and at times will take visitors into traditional villages, isolated retreats, clear freshwater springs and vineyards dotted across hillside settings. The Matsiatra river is mainly unexplored and its source starts in the central highlands and heads west through increasingly isolated terrain towards the Makay range before joining the ever changing Mangoky river. This expedition by Pioneer Expeditions leaves in May 2008 and is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a unique adventure.

The island's west and southwest get searingly hot during summer (November to March), which can make moving around difficult, particularly if you're travelling by bush taxi. By contrast, the winter months in these regions are pleasant, with blue skies, cooler temperatures and essentially no rain. In the east and northeast, be prepared for rain and overcast skies at any time, although rain showers don't usually last long during the winter months.

Hotels, popular tourist attractions and all forms of transport, including planes and buses, fill up during European holiday periods, ie July to August, Christmas and Easter. Prices also go up at these times. The period between June and October is vanilla season on the east coast, so flights between towns such as Maroantsetra, Mananara and Antalaha often fill up far in advance. Avoid January to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas of the country makes many roads muddy and impassable, limits outdoor activities and the risk of cyclones (particularly in the east and northeast of the country) is high.