madagascar tour

This site wil help you and your wife to choose the best places for visiting for you and also other info, which can help you on your trip to Madagaskar:
http://www.placesonline.com/africa/madagascar/places.asp
wish you and your wife good trip....

Hi,
1) 12 days is unfortunately not a lot. If by "the tours" you mean organized tour than please note that the ready itineraries are for 8-15 days each way. However, get in touch with tour providers and tailor one for yourself. If you want to see a lot you would have to fly a lot which heightens the price.
South is a a very good idea - count two days for the ride fom Tana and some stops on the way. Ambostra& surroundings, Ranomafana, Anja, Fianarantsoa, Isalo and finally beaches near Tulear. Then you can fly from there to save two days avoiding backtracking. Then you can go To Miandrivazo via Antsirabe to do the Tsiribhina river, fly east to east to the St. Marie or North to Nosy Be to have some good beach-time. Or fly to Maroantsetra to hike and visit some secluded beaches... Possibilities are countless. I'd start with a guidebook or do internet researches to find out more about these places and decide which ones are best for you... You have plenty of time. It all depends what you like and want...

2) Didn't use, but I rented a bike from the owner of http://www.madagascar-tour-operator.com/ and it was perfect service. So was the opinion of tourists who went with them for tours and his staff I spoke with were also very knowlegeable and trustworthy. Highly recommended

3) from the beaches I visited the most picturesque was definitely Ile aux Nattes closeby to Ile St. Marie. However, I liked the beaches on Nosy Be also, as they were the only ones with pure sand bottom (in Ifaty, St Marie& Nattes, Sambava,...had to wear sandals or get foot injured) I encountered.
Have fun;-)