ANTANANARIVO DAY TOUR | 1 DAY TOUR

Available languages: English, French (German, Italian, Russian and Mandarin are with a supplement cost)

INCLUSIONS & EXCLUSIONS

ITINERARY DETAIL

Pick up at 08:30 AM and drop off at 05 PM

Pick up at your hotel/home address and then depart to Ambohimanga Kings Palace also known as Blue Hill, located about 17 km from Antananarivo main city. Built on one of the twelve sacred hills surrounding Antananarivo, the Hill of Ambohimanga is the birthplace of the Merina kingdom, which is as a sacred city by the veneration of the royal tombs, different places of worship such as royal pools, sacrifice stones, was prohibited to foreigners and pigs. On the top the hill which is a walled enclosure containing the box where lived the King Andrianampoinimerina from 1788-1810 whose aim is the reunification of Imerina. It has a commanding view of Antananarivo city and even the international airport. This fortress consists of fourteen stones portals which seven are outside and seven are located inside the village. This large stone wheel is still visible at the entrance of the village of Ambohimanga, which was opened and closed by at least a dozen men from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. The enclosure wall was covered with a coating based on egg white. It is found in the royal city, the original palace that you will find all objects used during these times and the winter palace built by Jean Laborde and all gifts from other countries. There is as well an enclosure for beef, two sacred pools, four royal tombs and the public square. Ambohimanga is the only site which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It retains its atmosphere of spirituality and sacredness through ancestor worship and traditional rituals.
After the visit, drive back to Antananarivo city for lunch in a local restaurant. Drive to the old town and visit The Queen's Palace located on the top of the hill “Analamanga”. You will find the new palace that was home to the rulers of Imerina also called "Rova Manjakamiadana"(Destroyed by fire on November 6th, 1995) but already rebuilt and re-opened from June 10th, 2023, that you will discover all objects used saved during the Kings and Queens kingdoms and saved from the fire in 1995. You will see the royal tombs, two old palaces, one sacred pool with a stele describing the list of the 20 first Malagasy students studied in London, a status of the best beautiful girl and then a protestant temple belonging for the royal family. Beautiful spot view 360° of Antananarivo city. Continue to the justice palace and the prime minister office or Andafiavaratra Palace which become the museum that you will discover all objects saved from the fire at the queen palace. Reach Andohalo which is a place for public of speech, passes by to the Catholic Cathedral. Drive down to Anosy Lake which is decorated with jacaranda trees. In the middle of the lake is the status of the Black angel which is a monument to honor the soldiers who died during the First World War. Continue the tour throughout the Antaninarenina Palace in Antaninarenina which was the old France Embassy in Antananarivo and later became the presidential palace. Antaninarenina is an incredibly quiet administrative area that given way to shops, jewelry stores, hotels, night clubs, banks, and bordered by a long staircase that joins Anakely city and faces the stairs Ambondrona. Then continuation to Analakely market or the old "Zoma" market set up by the King Andrianampoinimerina as zebu, wood and stone trading center and has become the largest market for fresh local and bio products. The Independence Avenue of 1960 is only a few minutes from the market illustrated by arcades and on the place of May 13th, 1972, which is the date of the revolution 12 years after the Independence is the town hall which newly built. And in the background is Soarano railway station built in 1908 by the French architect Fouchard. Reach Lisy Art Gallery for souvenirs, you will find the vanilla, spices, Malagasy chocolates, Malagasy Rhums and diverse types of handcrafts (woodcarving baobabs, things made by zebus’ horn, aluminum, raffia, precious stones, painting and so on) and then drop off at your hotel.

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