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Double · Twin · SingleSignature
Honeymoon Overwater Bungalow
Overwater bungalows on Lake Sahambavy. Spacious 2.20 m × 2.20 m bed, private bathroom with hot water, terrace with lake view.
from360 000 Ar · 72 € / night
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Charm & Comfort
in the Heart of Nature
Madagascar's only tea plantation, overwater bungalows, and pristine nature awaiting you.
An exceptional eco-lodge facing Lake Sahambavy
If there is a true sanctuary on Earth, this is where it is found… Stretching over 5,000 km of coastline, Madagascar is bordered by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and the Mozambique Channel, where silver-crested waves meet pristine shores. The land of “mora mora” (the Malagasy philosophy of taking life slowly) invites you to embrace a gentler pace and experience the legendary warmth and hospitality of its people. Madagascar, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, opens its heart to you. Its very name evokes a sense of magic, blending exotic fragrances, vibrant colours, and breathtaking landscapes that awaken the senses and inspire the imagination.
An essential stop on your journey through Madagascar, Lac Hôtel enjoys an ideal location halfway between the island's north and south along the famous RN7 route. Nestled on the shores of Lake Sahambavy and at the foot of lush green hills, the hotel offers breathtaking views over Madagascar's only tea plantation, which extends across more than 520 hectares.
Set within a luxuriant tropical garden, our charming traditional bungalows on stilts provide a peaceful retreat where nature, comfort, and authentic Malagasy hospitality come together. Captivating guests with beautifully landscaped surroundings and attentive, personalized service, Lac Hôtel is designed for total relaxation. Here, every detail matters. As a family-run hotel, our ambition is to offer you much more than just accommodation: we want you to feel truly at home. From the moment you arrive, you will be welcomed with genuine care, warmth, and hospitality.
Ideally located for exploring the many attractions of the region, the hotel also offers an authentic introduction to the traditions and rich cultural heritage of the Betsileo people.
Charming bungalows50+
Tea plantation520 ha
Family hospitality28 yrs
Our house
A family story, turned into a place of welcome
It was by pure chance that Leong and Olga discovered the shores of Lake Sahambavy in 1998. Their original plan was simple: to purchase a piece of land by the lake and build a modest cottage where they could enjoy a peaceful retirement. But inspired by Olga's vision and passion, this quiet retreat soon blossomed into a true Garden of Eden. Over time, travellers stepping off the train in Sahambavy would pause, intrigued by the beauty of the surroundings, thinking they might find a stopover lodge… This is how the idea was born to open the doors of this corner of paradise and turn it into a hotel. Fate later brought generations together when their eldest daughter, Maggie Leong, returned from Canada to take over the family venture. In nearly 28 years, the estate has grown to welcome around fifty bungalows today, nestled in the heart of unspoiled nature.
“And the adventure is far from over…”The Leong family
Accommodation · Rates
Our rooms & bungalows
From standard bungalow to overwater experience: around fifty units for every journey
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Superior room
Superior Lake View Room
8 rooms facing the pool and lake. High-end European comfort with precious wood parquet and terrace.
from300 000 Ar · 60 € / night
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Double · Twin · Single
Standard Bungalow
Bungalows in a tropical garden. Double, twin or single, authentic Malagasy comfort with private bathroom.
from150 000 Ar · 30 € / night
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Unique experienceUnique
1930 Honeymoon Wagon
Renovated 1930 Swiss wagon, 30 m long. Room service, mini-bar, private terrace and lake view.
from360 000 Ar · 72 € / night
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Kids bungalow
Tarzan Treehouse Bungalow
Perched bungalow for kids, single or double. A unique adventure in the tropical garden trees.
from150 000 Ar · 30 € / night
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"Le Repos" Extension
Low Villa with Kitchenette
4 fully equipped duplex houses for extended stays. Kitchenette with hob, fridge and crockery. Ideal for families.
from250 000 Ar · 50 € / night
BookThe destination
Three experiences around the lake
Eco-tourism
Sahambavy Tea Plantation
Madagascar's only tea plantation (520 hectares). Factory tour, walk through the tea rows, tasting. Book at reception.
Railway adventure
FCE Train, the last corridor train
Fianarantsoa → Manakara, 8–12 hours through primary forests, cliffs and remote villages. Micheline, Draisine or Classic Train. We handle your booking.
Hotel extension
Le Repos, villas with kitchenette
4 fully equipped duplex houses for extended stays and families. Kitchenette, terrace and preserved natural setting.
Gastronomy
Awaken your taste buds
For those wishing to discover local flavors, Malagasy cuisine is served alongside a selection of European dishes and grilled specialties. Enjoy your meal in our panoramic dining area or outside on our shaded lakeside terraces.
All our dishes are prepared using fresh, organic, and carefully selected ingredients. And for everything else? Homemade with care. From fresh bread, yogurts, artisanal cheeses, jams, honey…
Breakfast40,000 AR
Menu70,000 AR
In pictures
Lac Hôtel in thirty-one photographs
The overwater bungalows, the rooms, the table, the gardens, the tea plantation and the village of Sahambavy.
Testimonials
They lived the experience
“The setting is perfect for recharging. The overwater rooms are nicely decorated and give off an unfailing serenity. The food is excellent and the team really looks after you throughout the stay”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, July 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
5 out of 5“A superb Lac Hôtel at Sahambavy, only 16 km from Fianarantsoa and 30 minutes from the RN7: the ideal pause on an RN7 tour. An excellent welcome. The overwater rooms are a delight: vast, with top-quality bedding and refined decoration... and as a bonus, a magnificent painting of the sun setting on the water. An unforgettable experience in a unique place. Go!”
A Google review, July 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“The finest hotel we stayed in during our four-week road trip through Madagascar. A true haven of peace, with very well equipped and very comfortable overwater bungalows, letting you enjoy the terrace as the sun sets over the lake, all in the middle of a lovely botanical park where every species is labelled. The standard is excellent and the restaurant is faultless, with plates as varied as they are generous. A special mention for the attentive staff, extremely kind and highly professional.”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, September 2025 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“A paradise, an "end of the world" place in an enchanting setting. Maggie or Olga give you a warm welcome and all the staff are extremely kind. Delicious cooking made with vegetables from the garden, walks around the lake or through the tea plantations, pedal boats, the pool or simply rest: it is the ideal place to recharge. I live in the region and it is my favourite hotel! Thank you to the whole Lac Hôtel team!”
A Google review, March 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“Very beautiful rooms, comfortable beds, excellent food, excellent spiced rum and, above all, staff who look after everything, smiling and full of kindness. Our friends from Fianarantsoa, who came to see us, were also very well received. The setting is exceptional, with a lake you can pedal-boat on and a lovely 8 km walk around it. Finally, I recommend visiting the tea plantation right next door. A real highlight of our stay!”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, July 2025 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“It is not really shareable! Every experience is unique: first the welcome, very personal without being heavy, then the menu, a real temptation... a special mention for the duck in all its forms, the ginger duck confit in particular. And the place lends itself just as well to a bucolic walk in the surroundings as to contemplation, and to treatments too, with a wonderful masseuse. In short, the Lac Hotel: you must go, whatever your wishes, the experience will be your own!”
A Google review, May 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“Superb hotel in an enchanting setting. A very warm welcome. A large, comfortable bungalow with a lake view, pretty decoration and a vast bathroom. A lovely swimming pool. A large wooded park, faultless service. Very good restaurant. An excellent memory!”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, December 2024 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“A paradise not far from Fianarantsoa! The rooms are vast and comfortable, the staff very welcoming, the garden is an enchantment of flowers and plants (budding botanists will wear out their cameras!), the tea plantations nearby make for peaceful walks, the pool lets you cool off pleasantly in a soothing setting, and then you eat deliciously (I recommend the duck dishes: a killer! And the ice creams too!)... in short, this heavenly place is worth the detour! I warmly recommend it”
A Google review, March 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“A soothing weekend just outside Fianarantsoa. Magnificent bungalows decorated with taste. An uninterrupted view over the lake, plants, plants and more plants, a real pleasure to wander the grounds. We were also able to enjoy the pool and the pedal boat on the lake as a family! The team listens and is full of attention for every person, the service is spotless! A serene, restful parenthesis, guaranteed. Thank you”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, February 2024 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“We had a feast... Everything is very good! The food, the juices, the wines, the sangria, and much more. Nowhere in Fianarantsoa comes close. A fabulous place, very well kept. Great luxury, every comfort, magnificent decoration, a very spacious room, a big hot shower. Nothing to fault... It really is worth it!”
A Google review, March 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“Here is a very pleasant lakeside hotel. Pretty, spacious overwater structures making for very comfortable rooms. A welcome of great kindness. Very good food. Good value for money A stop where you can also discover the only Malagasy tea plantation. I strongly recommend it”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, January 2024 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“A magnificent stay at the lac hôtel, in a deliciously old-fashioned setting. The rooms in the overwater chalets are splendid, as is the garden. The food is good and the welcome warm. A restful change of scene an hour from Fianarantsoa, and a very good stop reachable from the RN7.”
A Google review, June 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
“Magnificent hotel, a dream setting. The staff are extremely kind and attentive to every detail. The bungalows are magnificent (we took the honeymoon bungalow plus a family bungalow). Idyllic decoration facing the lake, and the garden and the restaurant are of the same standard. The dishes and drinks on offer were very good, enjoyed in a very beautiful setting. We also recommend visiting the tea plantation, where we were very well received too. Don't wait to go to this address, with faultless value for money.”
A Tripadvisor traveler review, July 2023 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“The staff at this hotel are particularly friendly, very welcoming, full of smiles, and efficient! The meals are delicious and very generous. In July it is cold, and the fire in the hearth warmed us up! The rooms are on stilts facing the lake, truly photogenic!! Thank you to the whole team!”
A Google review, August 2025 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“A true haven of peace. Very comfortable rooms. Exquisite food.”
A Google review, July 2026 · Translated from French · Read the review
- 5 out of 5
“I love the owner, so kind and friendly, and the staff too! Wonderful food!”
A Google review, July 2026 · Translated from Spanish · Read the review
Reviews copied word for word from Tripadvisor and Google, untouched, spelling included. We publish none of our own writing. Those carrying a reservation are not reproduced here: they can be read, with all the others, on the hotel’s listings.
Contact & Booking
Book your stay
We reply within 24 hours · Zero commission · Payment on arrival
Reservations
booking@lachotel.comWhatsApp / Phone
(+261) 034 99 161 76Access
By train: 2 min from Sahambavy station · By road: 40 min from Fianarantsoa · RN7: turn left at Ambalakely (Shell station)
A paid hotel shuttle is available for your transport.