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'''The route between Diego Diégo-Suarez and Ambanja is suitable for biking throughout the year, even while the road is in a poor condition as it often is during the rainy season between December and April, but that's also when the landscapes are the greenest and most beautiful.'''

Start early, ideally around 6am to avoid the many passing cars and trucks between industrial facilities along the stretch from Diego to Arrachart Airport. Thereafter, the traffic along the RN6 gradually becomes less frequentand it gets better; on long stretches between the bigger cities traffic can be as infrequent as a single passing car only every ten or fifteen minutes.

Passing the French Mountain on the left, the route runs consistently but not steep uphill. After 60km, at the sign for Antsalaka and Park National d'Ambre, turn right and continue 6km to [[Antsalaka]]. From here, another 1.5km of mostly walking trail leads to accommodation at [[West Valley Lodge]], a farm and tropical garden on which countless flowers, fruit and vegetables grow.

Alternatively, stay on RN6 and continue for 13km of mostly uphill biking to [[Anivorano Nord]] where the best available accommodation option options in town is include [[La Reine d'Ankarana]]with rooms from 70,000 to 100,000 Ar p/night (2019) and [[La Refuge de Maeva]] with rooms from 15,000 Ariary to 40,000 Ariary (2019).

About one to two hours later you will pass the main entrance to [[Ankarana National Park]] and shortly thereafter a high point with great views in the direction of [[Ambilobe]], the coast and the Tsaratanana Massif. Thereafter, a long and beautiful downhill stretch awaits you.

Unfortunately, there are no particularly good hotels directly in the centre of Ambilobe. The two best available options as of 2019 are [[Noor Hotel]] and [https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Hotel/Hotel-National-Ambilobe-1262168603868135/ Hotel National]. Better accommodation can perhaps be found along the route just before or after the city. Who finds better accommodation options, [https://www.madacamp.com/index.php?title=Diego-Ambanja-Diego_by_bike&action=edit&section=2 please add them to this page].

Especially today, an early start is recommended, since it's best to get out of the city before most traffic starts along the fairly long stretch out of the city and because 105km lay ahead, the longest stretch distance of any day.

Before reaching the crossroad town of [[Madirofolo]] it's possible to take a shortcut by turning off the main road right onto a zebu cart road at [https://goo.gl/maps/zbmBHLHnyoZE32Wa8 13°37'32.5"S 48°28'15.5"E] to avoid much of the traffic along the final stretch into [[Ambanja]]. The route runs through cacao plantations parallel to the main road. However, at times of frequent rainfall , this route gets muddy and becomes partly or mostly impossible to bike. Then just continue the main road a bit further and turn left at Madirofolo.

There are several hotel options in Ambanja and the best as of 2019 must be [[Palma Nova]], which offer offers accommodation for all budgets from a dorm to doubles with en suite bathroom and a nice informal bar and restaurant. It's easy to get lazy here while exploring the area.

From Palma Nova to Ankify, part of the route through the cacao plantation is the most beautiful but which can get a bit tricky here and there during rainy periods. At other times, the many crosscriss-crossing trails are perfect for biking.

For those who haven't explored [[Sambirano]], between [[https://www.madacamp.com/Andranomandevy_(Ambanja)|one]] and [[https://www.madacamp.com/Beangona|three day]]'s bike ride along the river is recommended.

People often complain about the road conditions in Madagascar. While this is true if going by car, it's a lot easier to navigate circumvent the potholes by bike than by car.

=== Between Antsalaka and Diego Diégo-Suarez ===

Arrived in [[Diego-Suarez|Diégo-Suarez]] in time for an afternoon coffee at [[La Rosticceria]] on rue Colbert and followed by a picture show of the past days for the team at [[Kartiffa Hotel|Hotel Kartiffa]]in the evening. == Madabike == Bicycle rental: [http://www.Madabike.com Madabike.com]__NOTOC__