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'''The incredibly scenic bike route from Sambava to Andapa can be a challenging one, not because of the road condition or necessarily the approximately 110-kilometre distance, but because of the gradually increasing intensity and regularity of uphills, especially along the final 20 kilometres. The rough stone tarmac road is in perfect condition and passing cars are few and far between.'''

<HTML5video type="youtube">playlist?list=PL2PUMu_dznnbof7FC8-Kh0ob-IuclSb_N</HTML5video> Throughout much of the ride, impressive views of the Marojejy massif with its 2,132 metres peak is a part of the regular scenery.

Every few kilometres there are villages but none of which offers high standard accommodation, so it's best to complete the entire stretch in one a single day, perhaps aiming to arrive at the higest highest point of the road close to Andapa shortly before Andapa by sunset.

Foreign visitors Tourists usually come to this part of Madagascar to visit [[Marojejy National Park]], which also offers a stopover for bikers wishing to break divide the ride into journey in two parts.

Marojejy has camp tents at three different elevations. The park office can be found shortly before [[Manantenina]] where bikes may be stored during park visits to the park. Information about available possible circuits is available here as well as guides to the park.

After Manantenina, in the village of [[Ambohimanarina]], Mr Kakao has a restaurant (at S 14°30.457' E049°49.027'), which over halfway to Andapa makes a good lunch stop before embarking on the remaining and challenging uphills. If necessary, call to preorder at 032 47 376 11.

Above the road to the left at an altitude of 500 metres, stands a futuristic monument , built in tribute to the porters who carried equipment and materials for the road construction between Andapa and Sambava in the mid-sixties. The monument is visible when looking up exactly at [[Andapa_road_construction_monument|S 14°37.968' E049°42.404404‘]].

Andapa Basin, named so in reference to its surrounding mountain range and frequent rainfall, will be in view shortly after the highest point of the road at an altitude of 737 metres.

|colspan="3" | <HTML5video type="youtube">CpAmW_LFD48</HTML5video>[[File:Sambava_to_Andapa_by_bike_464.jpg|600px|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Sambava_to_Andapa_by_bike_464.jpg]]

When having reached the higest point of the road at 737mThereafter, only a 10-minute downhill roll until the finishing line remains, where the best accommodation in town, [[Hotel Beanana]], is located shortly before the town hall and figurehead statue. Hotel Beanana offers hot water as it gets chilly at night in this region. There is no restaurant. Meals, including breakfast, can however be preordered.

Hotel Beanana offers hot water as it gets chilly at night in this region. There is no restaurant but meals, including breakfast, can be preordered.  [[File:Andapa_206.jpg|600px|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Andapa_206.jpg]] The Andapa Basin itself offers bike and trekking opportunities in all directions. Except for in Andapa town, there are no tarmac tarred roads, only countryside roads and trails.

[[File:Andapa_to_Ampontsilahy_bike_map_001.jpg|link=Andapa_to_Ampontsilahy_by_bike|600px|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Andapa_to_Ampontsilahy_bike_map_001.jpgAndapa to Ampontsilahy by bike]]

Alternatively, stay overnight at the basic hotel accommodation in Ampontsilahy and thereafter continue by foot along the less bikable routes at higher elevations, such as [[Tanambao (Andapa)|Tanambao]], [[Tsaramandroso]] and further.

Combining the uphills and downhills along the route between Sambava and Andapa, the total ascent is 1,536 metres and the total descent is 1,054 metres. Towards the latter part and for For most people except the athlete biker, a good few uphills parts will require leading the bikeuphill.

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The return part to Sambava with fewer uphills than downhillswill be relatively easier, especially along the first kilometres, is an all-scenic rollercoasterfirst few kilometres following the peak.

Day: 1st August 2022<br>Distance: 108.4 kilometres<br>Duration: 11 hours, 10 minutes<br>Average speed: 9.7 km/h<br>Minimum elevation: 15 metres<br>Maximum elevation: 734 metres<br>Total climb: 1,536 metres<br>Total descent: 1,054 Day: 3rd August 2022<br>Distance: 109.4 kilometres<br>Duration: 11 hours, 5 minutes<br>Average speed: 9.9 km/h<br>Minimum elevation: 9 metres<br>Maximum elevation: 736 metres<br>Total climb: 1,069 metres<br>Total descent: 1,550 metres View all Discover more bike routes at [[Sambava to Andapa by bike photosMadabike#Preloaded_GPS_routes|MadaBike]].com