Things to do & places to visit in Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar

Fianarantsoa Province #4 destination in Madagascar 2023. The average rating score is 4.31 based on 2.178 traveler reviews, of 29 attractions. Timezone: Indian/Antananarivo, current date and time: Saturday, May 04, 2024, 5:52.

Fianarantsoa Province Weather Statistics view more »

General weather summary in May

72°F - 56°F

Temperature Highs - Lows

Mildly cool with a gentle breeze

Feels like

26%

Chance of rain

151.0 millimeters

Amount

10.8 mph

Wind speed

92%

Humidity

11.1

Daylight length

6:14 AM

Sunrise

5:21 PM

Sunset

69%

Cloud cover

Sweater

What to wear

Top things to do (33)

Top destinations in Fianarantsoa Province 13

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Top places to visit (29 attractions)

5.0 Sudmadatrek Voyages (27 reviews)
- Great tour - Discover South of Madagascar
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

I was very satisfied with this tour. It is was great plan, everything went smooth and we were on time. It is really great option how to discover the south of Madagascar. My guide was Fana and through all trip he shared with me many interesting facts and information about culture, religion, habits, nature (fauna&flora). I really enjoy it and learn a lot. As a driver I had very nice guys Mami who was safe to drive with specially when we sometimes were on unpaved roads. In addition it is very safe for solo female. Overall I recommend this tour :) See more..
5.0 Mada Diary Tour (26 reviews)
- Fantastic Trip
Saturday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Multi-day Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Eco Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Photography Tours

We had a great trip. All well organised, good value for money and Tita is great help for everything. We did a three week tour of the South. See more..
5.0 Alefa Tours (4 reviews)
- 4 day, 3 night trek in Parc National de l'Andringitra with Mario at Alefa Tours
Hiking & Camping Tours

My husband and I did a hike led by Mario at Alefa tours through the Parc National de l'Andringitra in September 2018. We could not have asked for better hosts--Mario and his team are FANTASTIC, and I mean seriously FANTASTIC. They are extremely knowledgeable about plants and animals; they are excellent (really, really awesome) camp chefs; they are great musicians (yes, music at the camp!); they are all-around fun, nice guys with a very professional, well-managed tour operation. We would absolutely recommend them. This is the contact information I used for Mario: [email protected], +261 3461 74187 / +261 33 71 85101 See more..
5.0 Varibolo Resto and Kayak Tours (3 reviews)
- Nice Kajak-Tour after visiting the Ranomafana Reserve
Kayaking & Canoeing

I did the Kajak-Tour after visiting the Ranomafana Reserve, it takes bout 2h, the river is rather smooth, no strong current. Very nice english-speaking guide. Recommended for beginners, as well. See more..
5.0 Cooking Lessons With Julienne and Patrick (2 reviews)
- Great times!
Spent 2-3 hours Cooking Classes

Patrick welcomes you in kitchen to show you how to prepare malagasy meals. Starters, main courses, deserts. Everything is possible! When you call us, you can arra how many and what kind of dishes you want to make. Starter, main, desert? Or three different mains? A mix? You can do the shopping with Patrick, or else we can prepare everything for you. Translator in english or french! See more..
4.5 Isalo National Park (660 reviews)
- Nice hike in Isalo National Park
Spent More than 3 hours National Parks

Distinguished by a canyon and beautiful, rolling plains, the Parc National de Isalo is an attractive reserve of Madagascar's land and wildlife. See more..
4.5 Anja Reserve (336 reviews)
- Anja reserve
Nature & Wildlife Areas

This was slightly SOUTH of Finarantsoa, one of the biggest towns in the country. I'd wanted to re-visit Anja for a while and it was fun to discover Andigrinta. Having been to Madagascar so many times before, only the Tsingy of Bemahara and Andigrinta were new to me. I definitely want to stay at Camp Catta again in 2023 for 2 or 3 nights. SO much to see there... Anyone interested in joining me, let me know and I can start planning another cracking (but far less hectic) itinerary. I could also easily spend 3 nights at the Palmarium as it was sooo relaxing there and we could have all happily stayed a bit longer there too. Thanks again Bruno, Fanou, Elisee and our drivers (Hery & Manitra) for ensuring we had the best possible time in spite of countless Covid related challenges. See more..
4.5 Canal des Pangalanes (152 reviews)
- Two days blissed out float upstream
Bodies of Water

2 days of obscene relaxation between Manajary and Mahanoro... Stopping off half way along at lakeside hostel in Nosy Varika. THIS IS A MUST DO... avoid 200 euro bill and take the local freight/cargo barge for 3 euros (10,000 AR) Stay at Le Patio in Mananjary, a french speaking hostel run by a bloke from Belgium! Rooms are adequate and 'cool' catering for back packeres/independant travellers. Food and service excellant. Hostel is 5 mins from beach near the tall white church!! Perfect See more..
4.5 Parc National de l'Andringitra (127 reviews)
- Best trekking in Madagascar
National Parks

The trekking in Andringitra is one of the top memories of my trip in Madagascar. The park is really beautiful. You go through very different landscapes during the trekking to Pic Boby, from lush vegetation near the Fils and Fille waterfalls to rocky views closer to the summit. All the way up to the summit is well conditioned which makes it easy to climb up, even given the big elevation gain during some of the days. It's actually like doing a very long stairs. Make sure to start from one of the entrances and come out from the other (east and west) so you can enjoy different areas of the park. I'm so happy I did the trekking with Mi (00 261 34 18 309 66, facebook Zafinarivo Ravolananahary). He has a lot of experience as a guide, knows the park and takes care of everything. He made the whole trekking more enjoyable and fun, and he speaks both English and French See more..
4.5 Black pool (66 reviews)
- Idyllic natural pool
Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • National Parks

My group and I trekked for about an hour from a campsite to get here, the walk itself was interesting and made the outcome even more special. There were fewer tourists crowding this particular pool in comparison to the blue pool, making this one slightly more peaceful and refreshing. Perfect for a dive and a swim, make sure to keep an eye of your belongings when in the water. Worth the visit! See more..
4.5 Labo photo Pierrot Men (36 reviews)
- really worth visiting
Spent < 1 hour Art Galleries

Pierrot Men is the most famous photograph of Madagascar. He's also worldwide recognized as a major photograph. You can discover all his pictures and, for most of them, you can buy them directly at the Labo Men. The Labo Men is also able to organize guided tours in the Fianarantsoa area where you will discover some of the places where Pierrot Men's pictures have been captured. See more..
4.5 Il trekking del Camaleonte (16 reviews)
- Great day hike
Spent More than 3 hours National Parks • Hiking Trails

This is a great day hike to do, start early morning to try beat the heat a bit. The walk goes through the sacred forest, where there is a small natural pool, ideal place for picknick. The other way is down (or in our case up) the steeper and bare slope of the mountain. From some angles the top of the rock really look like a chameleon, hence the name. Throughout the hike, which is not too difficult, one has stunning views of the surrounding valley. Once on top you also have great views over the other valley and the Tsaranora mountain, for which there is a complicated legend. See more..
4.5 Centre ValBio Research Campus (12 reviews)
- good research facility
Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Zoos • Educational sites

Very good research facililty (with a microbial lab and lecture rooms, and residential hall) with a lot of ongoing research projects. Several overseas universities from the US, Europe (to name a few, Cornell U, Helskin U) bring college students here for summer course. They also run community outreach and education program to promote conservation and sustainable livelihood. See more..
4.5 Natural pool (12 reviews)
- Great place to swim after climbing or trekking
Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • National Parks • Parks

Safe cool and clean fresh water. A perfect way to relax after a long climb. take a few beers to chill in the cool water... See more..
4.0 Ranomafana National Park (437 reviews)
- Great experience!
National Parks

I traveled to Ranomafana with my girlfriend for New Year's Eve 2017, and we had a wonderful time. I found the national park to be a great experience, and we saw lots of lemurs, chameleons, and other wildlife. A few quick learnings... 1. You need a driver to get here. You can take a taxi brousse from Tana, but lordy that's a commute. Our driver Maheen was outstanding, probably the best part of our trip. His number is 034 91 923 71, or you can reach him on FB at jaona.mahenina. 2. Wear long socks!!! The leaches are brutal if you don't have long socks. They drove my girlfriend and me crazy, and they are relentless. With long socks, it goes away. 3. I'd really recommend going into the primary forest for an overnight stay. It's so much less crowded there, and it's really a different experience. Overall, we really enjoyed Ranomafana but didn't consider it to be essential. Our favorite stops were the Allees des Baobab, Tsiribihina river cruise (not for the weak of heart!), trekking in the Zafimaniry villages, and Morondava (way underrated IMO). See more..
4.0 Blue pool (68 reviews)
- Natural Madagascan beauty
Spent < 1 hour Bodies of Water • National Parks

My group and I trekked for about an hour from a campsite to get here, the walk itself was interesting and made the outcome even more special. There were quite a lot of tourists there as expected, therefore it wasn’t as idyllic as I’d have hoped. Perfect for a dive and a swim, make sure to keep an eye of your belongings when in the water. Worth the visit! See more..
4.0 Ranomafana Arboretum (18 reviews)
- So much cool wildlife I almost forgot about the trees
Gardens

I took some persuasions (as I am a biologist) to get the rest of the family to visit this place. I was one big positive surprise. We learned a lot about (palm)trees, ofcourse. But there were so many birds and other animals that the guide could spot, that it felt more like a trip to the wild zoo. See more..
3.5 Fianarantsoa Cote Est (FCE) (104 reviews)
- Fun but LONG train journey
Saturday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Scenic Railroads

We did the train on a Tuesday. My hotel booked it by phone the day before but I think we must have got the last first class seats, book earlier if you can (also book your accomodation as you will be getting there late). The train left just 10 minutes late (scheduled departure is at 7am). The train is a lot of fun as each village comes out to meet the train and it is great to watch everything happening but you need to have a good book with you for the delays - we didnt get to Manakara until 12.30am. It gets a bit tedious when it is dark as there is little to see. However, overall it is a great experience. ) See more..
3.5 Cattedrale Di Ambozontany (32 reviews)
- Caught in the middle of nowhere
Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

The imposing Ambozontany Cathedral, built at 1890, dominates the slyline of Fianarantosa. Walk through the Haute Ville to discover narrow streets with European-Style houses next to new typical Malagasy buildings. But above all the atmosphere of the streets on Sunday with people well dressed up, to go to Mass o simpli celebrate holiday. It's also the day that young people are in town to find a partner. See more..
3.5 Station Thermale (30 reviews)
- Relax after Park Visit
Spent 2-3 hours Thermal Spas

It is a nice place to relax after you have visited the National Park. The water is warm. Entrance fee of 5000 Ar is a good value for money. See more..
3.5 Carved balconies (6 reviews)
- Defining feature of the town
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings

Ambositra is renowned for its wood carving - there are a fair few shops, where they may let you watch the carver at work out back. Many of the often brightly painted houses have elaborately carved wooden balconies - a stroll through the town will reveal this. I had to smile when I saw this was the number one rated thing to do in Ambositra, but it really does define the town and there isn't much else here specifically for tourists as it's a place people pass through on their way to and from Tano. See more..
3.5 Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (4 reviews)
- Big infrastructure
Spent < 1 hour Churches & Cathedrals

This is one of the big religion infrastructure of Ambositra. It is important to say that the development of the city was lead by christian and religion all along the year. They used to produce chees and nowadays they just sell it. It is impossible to visit the process of the production. The convent is often close for the visit. I consider my visit as contribution to the center and it is a good place to make a donation if you feel like doing it. See more..
Amor Karak's (0 review)
Bars & Clubs
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KASIA (0 review)
Saturday: Taxis & Shuttles

KASIA is a tourist transport provider throughout Madagascar. We offer several services to ensure your means of travel. See more..
Michel Baobab Tour operator Officiel (0 review)
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Night Tours • Boat Rentals • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Speed Boats Tours

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Anja hotel jacaranda Ambalavao 303 (0 review)
Saturday: 5:30 AM - 10:30 PM Multi-day Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Bike Tours • Climbing Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Day Trips

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Laurel Robbins (0 review)
Multi-day Tours • Eco Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

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Tour Guide Ambalavao (0 review)
Saturday: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Bike Tours • Motorcycle Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals • Day Trips

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Anthonis Gasikara Tour Guide (0 review)
Multi-day Tours • 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Day Trips

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