Madagascar Tours & Holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

MADAGASCAR:

• Australia: Yes - Visa required
• Belgium: Yes - Visa required
• Canada: Yes - Visa required
• Germany: Ye - Visa required
• Ireland: Yes - Visa required
• Netherlands: Yes - Visa required
• New Zealand: Yes - Visa required
• South Africa: Yes - Visa required
• Switzerland: Yes - Visa required
• United Kingdom: Yes - Visa required
• USA: Yes - Visa required

All nationalities require a visa for Madagascar. If you have an embassy in your home country you can obtain the visa prior to departure. 30-day tourist visas are also available for most nationalities, and can be applied for online at evisamada.gov.mg or obtained on arrival at Antananarivo airport. Currently the visa fee has been suspended. Visa and other entry and exit conditions change regularly so we recommend that you contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Madagascar for the most up-to-date information. 

Minors travelling to Madagascar with only one parent are required to carry a legal document signed by any non-travelling parents, giving approval for the child to travel, or other applicable documents, such as custody orders.

Tipping isn’t mandatory, but a little generosity will be received positively especially when considering the low wages that most service workers are typically paid. Setting aside a small amount for porters, guides and drivers is wise, as is leaving spare change or rounding up the bill at restaurants.

Cyber cafes are found in some of the larger cities like Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa and Antananarivo. Smaller towns and remote areas will have far less access, so prepare to disconnect when travelling out of urban centres.

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Madagascar's large cities and towns, but less so in rural areas and on remote islands. Ensure you have global roaming activated before leaving home if you wish to use your mobile phone.

Squat/pit toilets are the standard in Madagascar except for western-style flushable toilets that are sometimes available in large hotels and other modern buildings. Carry your own supply of soap and toilet paper, as this is rarely provided.

• Short city bus ride = 300 MGA
• Snack at a market = 200-500 MGA
• Bottle of beer in a restaurant or bar = 4,000 MGA
• Basic meal in a café or restaurant = 8,000-12,000 MGA

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Madagascar. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found, some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Major credit cards like Visa are usually accepted by large hotels and western-style restaurants in the capital but not by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

ATMs that accept foreign cards can be found in large cities and the airport, although they're often unreliable or out of service. Be sure to carry a back-up method of payment in case ATM access becomes difficult.

• 1 Jan New Year's Day
• 29 Mar Martyrs' Day
• Easter*
• Easter Monday*
• 1 May Labour Day
• 25 May Ascension Day
• 4 Jun Whit Sunday / Pentecost
• 5 Jun Whit Monday
• 26 Jun Independence Day
• 15 Aug Assumption Day
• 1 Nov All Saints' Day
• 25 Dec Christmas Day

*Please note these dates may vary. See the current list of public holidays in Madagascar.

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

From Canada?

Go to: https://travel.gc.ca/

From the UK?

Go to: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

From New Zealand?

Go to: https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/

From the US?

Go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance