A country of 587,041 km² with just under 30 million inhabitants, Madagascar is an island that is much appreciated for its sides, its vegetation and its wildlife. How can you discover the island at a lower price? How can you meet Madagascar’s lemurs for less? How can you make Madagascar your travel destination of choice? How can you travel to Madagascar for less?

In this article, we’ll tell you all about it. We’ll take a look at the cheapest ways to travel to Madagascar and turn your budget into a real travel asset.

Firstly, we’ll look at the means of transport to use on the island, then we’ll look at how to find cheaper accommodation, and thirdly, we’ll look at where and when to choose your plane tickets.

Means of transport on the island.

Public transport.

Public transport is available on a budget for less than €5, provided you have proof of identity. Public transport is ideal for backpackers and globetrotters. Seating is limited to 3 people per bench, or 5 for shorter journeys. All roads on the island are served by transport, so it’s worth knowing.

Car hire.

Car hire is another way of travelling around the island. Prices vary and depend on the type of vehicle hired. Generally speaking, 4x4s are hired, as they are better suited to the island’s winding, intoxicating roads. Cars can be hired with or without a driver. When hired with a driver, the chauffeur’s job is to take you to your travel destination.

By train: the Dia Soa train, the Trans Lemuria Express, the Micheline Viko-Viko.

You can travel to Madagascar by train. The train serves the east coast of the island and is accessible from the capital and stations in medium-sized towns.
To take the train, our advice is to check your departure times and the times of any connections, as the locomotives are often diesel-powered and take a long time on the tracks. Train tickets are affordable.

Two-wheeled transport.

It is possible to travel by two-wheeler on the roads of Madagascar, with standard travel agencies offering this service. This mode of transport is inexpensive compared with organised safari trips. It requires a good level of motorbike experience and a fairly large number of bikers. Malagasy roads allow motorbikes to travel in convoys.

Non-polluting means of transport.

Standard travel agencies organise trips using non-polluting means of transport such as bicycles and mountain bikes. This type of trip takes place around the capital and is very inexpensive. Trips using non-polluting means of transport use secondary roads to ensure the safety of travellers, and cost around €20 to €50.

Low-cost accommodation.

Booking a hotel.

First aid hotels.

Madagascar is an island where you’ll find plenty of hotels to stay, with nightly rates starting at less than €10. At this price, you’ll get the bare minimum of bed and bathroom facilities and hot water. For budget travellers, these are the best choices. Reservations for entry-level hotels can be made by telephone or e-mail.

Luxury hotels.

Luxury hotels have rooms from €50 upwards, and the price generally includes private bathroom and toilet facilities, bedding and a swimming pool. Reservations for these hotels are generally made by e-mail, and it is advisable to book in advance for these establishments.

By accommodation application.

It is also possible to stay in private accommodation in Madagascar. To do this, you can use accommodation apps and get a bed and breakfast for around €50. This price generally includes breakfast.

By spontaneous or prepared request.

Malagasy hospitality is no myth, and with good reason: on the island, you can stay with a local by spontaneous request. If you’re travelling by eye, this is important information to know. Note, however, that this practice should only be used in an emergency.

Accommodation in the open air.

Another practice you should try in an emergency is to sleep under the stars, as this is one way of finding accommodation on a tight budget. To do this, we advise you to ask local people about safe areas to pitch your tent.

When to choose your plane tickets.

When to travel.

Airline tickets should be booked between March and December. In this period you can avoid the cyclone season. December and the months of March, April and May are particularly interesting because this is the low season. These months offer the lowest fares.

Airline companies.

To get to Madagascar, you have a choice of several airlines, the most popular of which are air austral, air madagascar, air france and ethiopian air lines.
In this article, we naturally recommend these airlines for travelling and avoiding flight congestion and baggage delays.

At Explurt, we help you reduce your budget by cutting out the middleman travel direct with us.