Hotel Le Jardin du Roy

The architecture of Le Jardin is truly astonishing - its beautiful stone walls and patios elegantly compliment the natural scenery. A chic restaurant and bar, sitting at the centre of the hotel grounds; here, chef Gaetan whips up some fabulous Euro-Malagasy dishes with fresh, organic ingredients from the garden. And breakfast outside on the terrace? Unforgettable. A large pool surrounded by lounge chairs and umbrellas is the best place to while away the midday hours; the more ambitious will enjoy breaking a sweat at the tennis court or the bowling lawns.

The 40 rooms - 16 double, 16 triple and 8 family - are distributed across the lawns, contained in 8 beautiful stone chalets. Each room is spacious and light and tastefully decorated with bright (pink!) accents. All have air-conditioning, and a bath or a shower and most all the mod-cons you'd like, though wi-fi can be found at high speeds in the bar.

The proximity of the beautiful Isalo National Park makes it an absolute must-see. Venture here via horseback for a few hours, or on a half-day tour. Take a guided walk and seriously consider scaling the massif for the most staggering views around. A tour of a precious stone mine (sapphires, amethysts, tourmalines) provides a peek into the geology, history and economy of the region, as does a village tour. Stay as busy or as low-key as you like.