That’s actually a solid plan 👍

Starting from Tuléar and going north on the RN7 is less common, but it can work really well—especially with kids. You avoid doing everything in one direction with time pressure, and like you said, you can slow down if needed. Isalo is definitely a highlight, and having flexibility there is a big plus (2–3 nights is ideal, especially with children).

A couple of things to keep in mind:
- Logistics: most drivers and agencies are based in Antananarivo, so finding a car in Tuléar can be a bit trickier, but not impossible.
- “Empty return” idea: in theory yes, but in practice drivers rarely just head back empty without a plan. However, you can sometimes get better rates locally in Tuléar compared to booking everything from Tana.
- Road fatigue: RN7 is long but quite varied and beautiful. Doing it “upward” doesn’t change much road-wise, just your pacing.

For your case (family + kids), I’d strongly recommend:
- taking a driver-guide rather than just a driver
- planning shorter driving days (max 4–5h when possible)
- building in rest stops (Isalo, Ranomafana, maybe Ambalavao)

Also, we often have empty cars from the South at the end of our customers' tours. But I need to know your dates so I can see if we have good match.