Voila je fais appelle à vous car j'ai besoin d'aide concernant mon premier voyage en Asie.
Pendant 6 mois, je vais pouvoir découvrir de merveilleux pays tel que Hong Kong (Ou je ne reste que 5 jours), le Vietnam, la Thaïlande, la Malaisie et l'Indonésie.
Je voudrais me rajouter une dernière petite destination qui me fait rêver depuis toujours mais qui est malheureusement ... un peu cher pour moi 😕
Il s'agit du Japon. En effet, je rêve de partir visiter ce pays (et surtout Kyoto et Osaka) depuis mon enfance et je serais un peu déçu de faire 6 mois en Asie et de ne pas pouvoir faire un petit tour au pays du soleil levant (même si je suis très conscient que j'ai déjà une chance énorme de faire tout ce que je vais faire).
Donc voici le problème que je rencontre. Nous sommes 2 amis à partir avec un budget de 12 000-13 000 euros (pour 2)pour les 6 mois. Il faut savoir que nous n'allons pas faire tous ces magnifiques pays pour dormir dans des hôtels de luxe et faire la fiesta tous les soirs (Nous n'aimons pas les boites, ni l'alcool). Ce budget me servira donc à dormir dans les hôtels (je compte 8 à 15 euros pas nuit et par personne selon les pays), à manger, à faire des excursions et forcément à me déplacer.
Vu que je place le Japon durant le dernier mois de mon périple car toutes les autres destinations sont déjà réservées au niveau des billets d'avions, j'aurais aimé savoir si avec 12 000 - 13 000 euros pour deux (Moins les 5 mois de dépense dans les divers pays que nous aurons déjà effectués), je pourrais me faire mon petit plaisir en passant 15 jours au Japon ou si ce budget qui me parait correct est malheureusement trop juste.
J'ai vu, en faisant quelques recherches, qu'on pouvait trouver des petits hôtels "pas cher" à environ 50 euros la nuit, mais le problème, c'est que les douches sont communes. Et vu que je suis extrêmement timide et réservé (j'espère d'ailleurs que ce voyage me fera le plus grand bien pour ça) je déteste me doucher à la vue des autres (Ne me critiquez pas S.V.P).
Bref, ma première question aurait été de savoir si déjà j'avais une petite chance de pouvoir trouver un hôtel à des tarifs de 50-60 euros environs la nuit (pour deux ce serait le cœur) ou il y aurait des douche privées ou ce n'est même pas la peine d'y penser 😐 ?
Ma deuxième question est : Combien devra être le budget pour deux personnes sachant que (comme je l'ai dis plus haut) nous ne sortons pas dans les pubs ou boites de nuits, mais voulons juste nous nourrir, boire un petit jus de fruit à une terrasse de temps en temps, voir les monuments, se reposer au bord d'un jolie lac japonais et circuler ?
J'ai lu dans certains forum que certains disent "Le japon, ce n'est plus si cher que ça. Tu peux y rester plusieurs jours avec un tout petit budget" et d'autres qui écrivent "Le japon avec un petit budget c'est comme allé à Paris une semaine avec 100 euros en poche".
Alors je ne sais plus comment faire ... Ou donner de la tête ... HEEEEEEEELLLLLLP 🤪
Merci à tout ce qui prendront le temps de me répondre 🙂. See you 😉
Pour avoir une idée des prix, je te conseille le site de l'Office National du Tourisme Japonais. Par contre, le taux de change n'est pas à jour. Ou bien ce site qui donne plus de détails sur les prix de différents postes de la vie quotidienne.
Personnellement, durant les 15 j que j'ai passés au Japon (en mars 2009), j'ai dépensé en moyenne et par jour (sans faire de folies), 3000 yens pour l'hébergement (AJ principalement) et 2000 yens pour la nourriture. En gros et au taux de change d'aujourd'hui ca fait 50 € / j. A cela il faut ajouter le transport (qui peut être conséquent) et les dépenses de loisirs (entrée temples par ex).
ceci etant juste un detail qd tu parles de douches communes ce n'est pas tous à poil ensemble 😉
ce sont des douches communes mais tu es seul dedans
à ne pas confondre avec les bains publics ou là tu te laves en commun (hommes et femmes separés)
coté nourriture tout depend de ce que tu manges (c'est pour ça que tu as plusieurs avis differents)
si tu ne veux pas depenser beaucoup tu oublies : les fruits , la viande , l'alcool , les produits importés comme fromage cereales ...
l'interet de se loger en auberge de jeunesse (il y a des chambres doubles je te rassure) c'est d'avoir acces à une cuisine commune tu peux y cuisiner ou faire rechauffer des plats tout prets
sinon c'est pique nique dans la chambre : valable aussi pour le petit dejeuner car il y a toujours du the du cafe et une bouilloire d'eau chaude à disposition
Pour les douches et bains, je vous rassure tout de suite: "communs" ne signifie pas systématiquement "utilisés par tout le monde en même temps". La plupart des établissements même très bon marché proposent des salles de bains/douches "sur le palier" mais utilisés individuellement, chacun son tour. Le pire qui risque de vous arriver est de devoir vous laver les dents en même temps que quelqu'un d'autre se lave les mains, mais pas dans le même lavabo ... ;-). Evitez bien entendu les onsens (spas) et sentos (bains publics), où là tout le monde est tout nu en même temps (mais où personne ne pense à mal - ceci étant je comprends que l'idée vous "défrise", ne vous forcez jamais si vous n'êtes pas à l'aise).
Regardez sur www.itcj.jp pour une idée de l'offre, sur hostelworld.com aussi. Tout est en général très propre et sûr.
Pour les budgets, le site de l'office du tourisme donne une première bonne indication.
Si vous venez d'Asie du Sud-Est, pensez à arriver soit à Osaka (aéroport d'Itami), soit à Hiroshima, et limitez votre périple à la partie Ouest du pays (de Hiroshima à Kyoto, en gros), en privilégiant les transports lents donc moins chers (= en évitant le Shinkansen) et surtout en vous posant plusieurs jours d'affilée à Hiroshima et Kyoto, à explorer à fond en vélo de location (plein d'hôtels et AJ en louent ou prêtent).
Merci beaucoup pour votre réponse (On voit que je débute dans le monde du voyage). Ça me rassure un peu et ça m'ouvre un peu plus à l'idée de me trouver des hôtels à bas prix avec douche commune. J'ai peut-être du également mal me renseigner en mélangeant les piscines ou tout le monde est tout nu et les douches.
En tout cas, merci ^^
A 50-60 euros par nuit, tu trouveras sans problème des hôtels très corrects dont les chambres ont leur propre douche. Tu peux aller voir sur des sites discount comme expedia ou booking, tu en auras confirmation. Sur ces sites, le fait de rester 4 jours ou plus permet parfois d'avoir accès à des réduction supplémentaires... Fais des simulation de réservation, tu verras.
Concernant ton séjour, je comprends que tu aies envie de découvrir Kyoto... En revanche, je vois peu l'intérêt d'Osaka... Prends le temps de passer quelques jours à Tokyo surtout ! En 15 jours, tu as largement le temps de bien découvrir Tokyo et Kyoto.
Le yen est en ce moment assez cher. Mais au quotidien, un séjour au Japon reste raisonnable... du point de vue français. Évidemment en revanche, ce sera, de très loin, le pays le plus cher que tu visiteras pendant ton périple (même si, pour le logement, Hong Kong est équivalent).
Je me rends au Japon pour la 2eme fois ave mon fils de 20 ans. Lors de notre premier voyage nous avions fait Tokyo et Kyoto (+ alentours) sur 2 semaines. Cette…
Voilà ce qui se passe! Ma fille Aurélie est à Tokyo en semi-organisé (logement et hébergement et quelques excursions). Le début s'est très mal passé. Elle a…
S'il y a un (e) Japonais (e) dans la salle, pourrait-il (elle) m'aider SVP???? J'aurais besoin de savoir le sens et les connotations du mot "bakayaro" en…
Je prépare un circuit au Japon avec 3 grands enfants adultes qui n'ont pas forcément envie d'enchaîner les visites et les déplacements avec valises. J'ai…
J'appelle à l'aide tous ceux qui habitent ou qui ont des contacts au Japon. Nous serons au Kansai du 7 août au 11 août. Nous avons passé plus de 6 heures…
I’m looking for advice from seasoned travelers about a roughly one-month trip to Japan.
From late October to late November 2026.
We often travel in Southeast Asia but have never been to Japan.
Based on what I’ve read, I’d love to hear your thoughts on:
- Is traveling day-to-day, without booking hotels or trains in advance, possible in Japan?
(I’ve read many travel journals and blogs that say everything was booked way in advance… but that’s not how we usually travel.)
- Will the Japan Rail Pass be worth it for us?
(According to an old simulator, I’m looking at around 400 € for trains compared to 570 € for the JRP.)
Here’s our rough itinerary (which may change):
- Arrival Osaka: 3 nights with Nara
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Island: 3 nights
- Kurashiki or Naoshima: 2 nights
- Himeji: 1 night
- Kyoto: 4 nights
- Kanazawa: 2 nights
- Takayama and Shirakawa-go: 3 nights
- Around Mount Fuji: 3 nights
- Tokyo with Nikko: 6 nights (no theme parks)
Departure from Tokyo
I booked my trip from May 5 to 26, 2027. I’m starting to plan my itinerary and look for hotels (I know it’s early!). While I’ve found some in Seoul and Busan, I’m noticing that elsewhere—like Yeosu—most hotels aren’t available (on Booking.com, for example, almost all are unavailable). AI tells me not to worry because hotels in South Korea only open bookings 6 months in advance, so it’s normal to see most of them unavailable on booking sites.
Could you confirm this for me and, of course, reassure me (!)? Thanks so much.
philippe
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
