Run, do not walk, to sign up with Helinirina Tours!

Jun 2023 • Friends

I cannot tell you wonderful an experience it was visit Madagascar with Helinirina Tours. Nirina (Helinirina) was attentive and answered all of my questions during the planning process with patience. He worked with me to create an itinerary that both myself and my friend loved. Madagascar is beautiful, diverse, and surprising. There is also a lot of poverty which cannot be ignored. This too, is why I felt it very important to go with a local tour company so that the money could find it’s way back to the community.

The island is BIG and we chose to only explore the lower part over 14 days. The roads are BAD and some travel days were long. I actually wish I had paid more attention to the travel time between destinations as I would have likely requested we leave a few stops out. No doubt Nirina would have accommodated that request without hesitation. But keep this in mind as the rough roads might do a number on your body if you’re prone to that. LOTS of bouncing around.

While the Baobob trees blew my mind and broke open my heart (honestly, a dream come true to lay hands on them), the landscape surprised with it’s stunning diversity, and the animals of course were everything one could have hoped for, the absolutely best part of the trip was our guide Princie and driver Raoul! They were professional, hard working, funny, and kind, going above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and well taken care of. Raoul drove through situations I was 100% convinced we’d never make and Princie entertained us with history, information, music, poetry, and friendship.

Do not worry about wiring money. This place is legit. The only other thing we wished we had known to ask before coming was what we could bring from the States that kids/people might need in the villages. It’s hard to travel through so many with nothing to offer.

Loved, loved, loved this experience overall and would highly recommend it!