Chiens errants sur l'Eurovélo 6: légende ou réalité?
by Sanoliv
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour,
J'ai pu lire sur différents sites ou posts que les chiens errants le long de l'euro velo 6 étaient un véritable fleau surtout en Roumanie.
Vous qui l'avez pratiqué, avez vous été vraiment embêté par ces chiens errants ?
Merci pour votre retour,
Olivier
Oui olivier, pour nous c'était une plaie en Roumanie, mais souvent il suffit de leur montrer un bâton ( pour moi un manche à balais de 100 gr) pour qu ils s'éloignent ou stop net. Quelque fois il faut utiliser ses mollets , mais en côte avec des vélos chargés ... Deux fois nous avons été obligé de descendre du vélo et cela a suffit . Notre seule nuit en camping sauvage le long du Danube il nous a fallut beaucoup de patience en attendant que la horde de chien s'éloigne et te laisse tranquilles.imagine que les odeurs plus la forme de la tente les a perturbé plus que nous.
Ceci dit après quelques jours nous avons compris qu il fallait voyager de jour avec la chaleur les toutou font comme les hommes ils somnolent et la nuit nous avons abandonner le camping sauvage pour des hébergement en dur.
Cependant Nous n'avons rencontrés une hollandaise ayant eu des problème avec des chiens qui avaient dévasté sa tente et l'avait rendue inutilisable, voyageur à vélo qui c'était fait déchirer sa sacoche en roulant mais il avait tenter de fuir et un couple qui n'avait eu aucun problème.
Voilà, pénible mais moins que certain humains dans des dit pays civilisés.
François
Ce n'est pas une légende. La Roumanie est un pays où les chiens sont partout, ils sont souvent à l'abandon bien que les gens s'en servent malgré tout our la chasse oul'agriculture. Mais on ne compte pas les carcasses de chien qui pourrissent au bord des routes. D'ailleurs, dés que tu passes la frontière, ton premier acceuil en tant que cycliste, je parie à cinq contre un que ce sera un chien qui te course en gueulant... Ils sont si nombreux qu'ils se sont entendus entre eux, ondirait, pour devenir les maitres de la route. La plupart du temps ils se jettent vers toi en groupe, ils veuent surtout faire peur, parce que tu traverses leur territoire. Les prendre de vitesse est le meilleur moyen de leur échapper. Les Roumains ne semblent pas se soucier de cette situation, qui n'inquiète que les cyclistes étranger, on dirait. J'ai souvent révé d'une armée de cuisiniers coréens pour faire taire ces cabots, mais c'est à l'arrivée à Constanta et aprés avoir pesté 5000 fois contre ces fourbes attaques, qu'un Roumain m'a donné le truc imparable:
Un pistolet à eau, toujours plein, avec une cuillère de vinaigre si on veut, et dès que les chiens foncent vers toi, tu lui envoies une belle giclée sur le museau. Ca les stoppe net, ils ont horreur de l'eau.
Le contraste avec la situation des chiens errants à Istanbul est saississant: dans cette ville, ils sont tous pucés. Je n'ai pas visité Bucarest, mais on m'a dit que les chiens errants y étaient un véritable problème. Il y a en tout cas matière à interrogation pour la recherche en ethnozoologie.
Bonne route à vous, au fil du Danube et du pays de Bohème...
www.cyclovoyageur.fr.nf
Bonjour,
J'ai testé à plusieurs reprises la bombe lacrymogène aux poivres, c'est très efficace. La première fois lors d'une attaque par trois chiens un berger allemand ne pouvaient même plus se relever.
A+
Perso, j'ai essayé et acheter un bras le dazzer 2 sa marche ......parfois mais les chiens roumains doivent être sourd, très sourd quand ils sont en vue de cyclistes .
j'ose même pas le revendre.
François
Oui les chiens sont présent un peu partout même en Hongrie ou en Ukraine. C'est la philosophie des pays de l'est, le chien sonnette.
Je me remémore des nuits insupportables sou la tente avec des chiens qui aboient. Grrrrrr.
Mais au final on oublie.
Le truc marrant aussi, c'est que même perdu au fond des bois pour la nuit, à 2h du mat t'as un gars qui sort de nul part et vient roder autours de toi. C'est hallucinant mais ils sont hyper sympa donc tout se passe bien.
Le truc marrant aussi, c'est que même perdu au fond des bois pour la nuit, à 2h du mat t'as un gars qui sort de nul part et vient roder autours de toi. C'est hallucinant mais ils sont hyper sympa donc tout se passe bien.
Mon Blog vélo : https://www.chaingang.fr/
que ce soit mes 3 voyages en bulgarie ou en roumanie, oui c'est clair y'a des chiens. Peu de dangers mais un peu de méfiance tout de même. Le truc c'est que les chiens sont souvent très affamés.
Ouai t'as des types qui peuvent sortir de nul part. en dormant toutes les nuits dans ma voiture, un mec à 1h du mat qui revient à pied avec son cheval, logique. ou le mec à mobylette à 4h du mat sur un chemin avec des ornières énormes perdu dans les bois. ou le type qui tape à ton carreau de voiture et tu dors, arghhhhh. T'as le mec qui ouvre son jardin pour garer ta voiture, il m'explique avec des milliers de gestes un certain danger, faut pas se garer sur le bord de la route. Le matin je comprend, des centaines et des centaines de chevaux qui apparemment traversent le village tous les matins à 6h du mat sur un nuage de poussière, du délire.Sinon, assez souvent on venait me payer un café ou même le repas directement à ma voiture sans que j'ai sympathisé avec la personne. Je crois que pour beaucoup ils se sentent honteux d'accueillir l'étranger chez eux, car ils ont hontes de leur intérieur modeste. Alors que c'est tout le contraire que je recherche. Mais n'ayant jamais forcé les choses, la voiture c'est très bien aussi. Quand tu donnes à manger au chien la veille au soir, parfois tu le retrouves au pied de ta voiture le lendemain matin, lol. Ambiance pays de l'est.
Ouai t'as des types qui peuvent sortir de nul part. en dormant toutes les nuits dans ma voiture, un mec à 1h du mat qui revient à pied avec son cheval, logique. ou le mec à mobylette à 4h du mat sur un chemin avec des ornières énormes perdu dans les bois. ou le type qui tape à ton carreau de voiture et tu dors, arghhhhh. T'as le mec qui ouvre son jardin pour garer ta voiture, il m'explique avec des milliers de gestes un certain danger, faut pas se garer sur le bord de la route. Le matin je comprend, des centaines et des centaines de chevaux qui apparemment traversent le village tous les matins à 6h du mat sur un nuage de poussière, du délire.Sinon, assez souvent on venait me payer un café ou même le repas directement à ma voiture sans que j'ai sympathisé avec la personne. Je crois que pour beaucoup ils se sentent honteux d'accueillir l'étranger chez eux, car ils ont hontes de leur intérieur modeste. Alors que c'est tout le contraire que je recherche. Mais n'ayant jamais forcé les choses, la voiture c'est très bien aussi. Quand tu donnes à manger au chien la veille au soir, parfois tu le retrouves au pied de ta voiture le lendemain matin, lol. Ambiance pays de l'est.
Ils ne savaient pas que c’était impossible, alors ils l’ont fait.
et oui Juju ...les chiens roumains une grande question lol,
deux conseils 1er ne pas en avoir peur, et le second, leur parler , même s'accroupir pour les flatter (pas de la main lol )mais de la voix il ne sont pas habitué, plus souvent caresser a coups de pierres ou de bâtons c'est incroyable comment ils change de comportement après ça j'ai peut être un dont comme le prétend mon collègue de randonnées, mais je n'ai jamais eu d'attaques en faisant ainsi, même des chiens de troupeaux.
ton anecdote du chien que tu retrouve le matin est vrais .je vais faire court pour raconter une histoire qui m'est arriver a Turda..je me prépare pour la nuit dans le camping improvisé près de la piscine de Turda une chienne maigre a faire pittier me tourne autour pendant le montage de ma tente .après un petit bain je monte sur la colline ou se situe le resto des cures, je mange et a mon retour la chienne est couché sous mon 4x4.il me restait quelques morceaux de poulet et des os du midi je ne jette rien lol je les lui donne quel bonheur pour elle .la nuit arrive je me couche et la chienne sous la voiture. au milieux de la nuit j'entend pleuré ma protéger je me lève et constate que la météo a brusquement changer.de gros nuages cache le ciel et le vent c'est lever, effectivement des gouttes commence a tomber je m'active a plier ma tente et me couche dans la voiture la chienne toute heureuse me fait une fête d'enfer et reprend sa place .a t'elle compris que cette pluie pouvais me tremper???
des voyages plein la tete
C'est la philosophie des pays de l'est, le chien sonnette.
Je pensais plutôt à l’absence de fourrière ?
Sinon, voilà un truc ( Airzound ) qui marche sur les chiens :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Yew1F0DVY
Je l'ai testé moi même sur un toutou à sa mémère un peu trop entreprenant, c'est radical ...
Accessoirement, ça fonctionne aussi sur les automobilistes un peu distraits.
Je pensais plutôt à l’absence de fourrière ?
Sinon, voilà un truc ( Airzound ) qui marche sur les chiens :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Yew1F0DVY
Je l'ai testé moi même sur un toutou à sa mémère un peu trop entreprenant, c'est radical ...
Accessoirement, ça fonctionne aussi sur les automobilistes un peu distraits.
You own a car, not the road !
a t'elle compris que cette pluie pouvais me tremper???
Si c'est la cas, la vie est vraiment géniale quand même ! 🙂
Si c'est la cas, la vie est vraiment géniale quand même ! 🙂
Mon Blog vélo : https://www.chaingang.fr/
bonjour, sans parler de l'Euro6 ou je n'ai jamais mis un pneu. et général sur les chiens: j'ai un chien et un peu d’expérience de la gente canine, je vois comment et pourquoi il réagit parfois de façon agressive, dans la plupart des cas il ignore totalement ce qu'il perçoit comme inoffensif, mais il y a des attitudes qui sont perçu par le chien comme des quasi attaques qui déclenche une réponse agressive. si vous avez toujours des soucis avec les chiens, que vous êtes persuadé que le chien que vous croisez va vous attaquer, que vous vous sentez en danger près d'un chien. je vous invite vivement à fréquenter les sites qui explique le comportement canin, je suis quasiment sur (sauf exception de réel chien dangereux qui est connu et en général toujours attaché et qui s'est sauvé) donc quasiment sur que vous êtes à l'origine de l'attaque: ex: regard insistant, faire face avec son corps en écartant les bras, cris, menace avec une pompe ou un bâton... Au pire vous apprendrez quelques attitudes à appliquer face à un chien pour qu'il vous considère comme "à ignorer". bonne route.
Bonjour,
Nous avons emprunté l'eurovelo 6 en Roumanie cet été. Avant de partir nous avons lu beaucoup de forum sur le sujet des chiens et étions relativement inquiet. Au final nous sommes partis sans sifflet, sans baton...Et nous n'avons JAMAIS eu peur. Les chiens étaient présent en effet. Mais souvent allongé dans les bas cotés et n'en avait rien à faire de nous.
Les seuls fois où des chiens nous ont suivi en aboyant ce n'était pas des chiens errants mais des chiens de ferme qui surveillait leur territoire. Mais cela n'est pas plus présent en Roumanie que dans d'autres pays.
Maud
Avoir peur de tous c'est une bonne justification pour ne pas partir. Le risque est possible, mais si tu dois te munir d'un baton et sifflet on en finit plus. Vous préférez vous encombrer, avoir chaud à remuer le tout, être fatiguer pour tout trimballer??
Une fois en Grèce et une fois en Bulgarie je suis tombé sur un chien dangereux, pas de bol on s'est croisé à quelques mètres de distance je n'avais rien vu. J'ai crié très fort l'air menacant et rebrousser chemin. Petite panique sans conséquence. Par contre attention au chien de berger. T'as franchement envie de les caresser, ils ont l'air sympathique mais ils tiennent à leur bétails comme la prunelle de leur yeux.
Une fois en Grèce et une fois en Bulgarie je suis tombé sur un chien dangereux, pas de bol on s'est croisé à quelques mètres de distance je n'avais rien vu. J'ai crié très fort l'air menacant et rebrousser chemin. Petite panique sans conséquence. Par contre attention au chien de berger. T'as franchement envie de les caresser, ils ont l'air sympathique mais ils tiennent à leur bétails comme la prunelle de leur yeux.
Ils ne savaient pas que c’était impossible, alors ils l’ont fait.
Bonjour
ça fait une semaine qu'on est en Roumanie et pour l'instant ils on plus peur que nous.
pourvu que cela dure.....
LE CYCLONAUTE BRETON SUISSE
http://www.warmshowers.org
Voici ce qu'il vous faut. Testé et approuvé par moi. Les chiens sont instantanément tétanisés et les "/?8$""$- d'automobilistes aussi. Légèrement encombrant, mais il faut ce qu'il faut pour se faire respecter...
http://www.loudbicycle.com/
Marc de Montréal
http://www.loudbicycle.com/
Marc de Montréal
La vie étant particulièrement imprévisible, vaut mieux manger son dessert en premier, et garder les navets pour la fin...
Bonsoir,
Je reviens tout juste de voyage, qui m'a fait passer par la Roumanie, et effectivement les chiens sont nombreux, et souvent agressifs quand ils ne sont pas en mode crêpe au milieu de la voirie.
Le premier chien, j'ai tenté de le semer, même en roulant a presque 40 a l'heure impossible... du coup, changement de technique :
Soit je vois le(s) chien(s) au dernier moment, et dans ce cas je me stoppe de suite et me positionne face à lui prêt à l'attaquer, ça fonctionne très bien,
soit je le(s) vois de loin, et là c'est moi qui m'amuse à le(s) chasser,
En fait ils ont surtout de la "gueule", mais ne sont pas très téméraire.. et pas bien gros non plus par rapport à ceux croisé en Turquie !
Je reviens tout juste de voyage, qui m'a fait passer par la Roumanie, et effectivement les chiens sont nombreux, et souvent agressifs quand ils ne sont pas en mode crêpe au milieu de la voirie.
Le premier chien, j'ai tenté de le semer, même en roulant a presque 40 a l'heure impossible... du coup, changement de technique :
Soit je vois le(s) chien(s) au dernier moment, et dans ce cas je me stoppe de suite et me positionne face à lui prêt à l'attaquer, ça fonctionne très bien,
soit je le(s) vois de loin, et là c'est moi qui m'amuse à le(s) chasser,
En fait ils ont surtout de la "gueule", mais ne sont pas très téméraire.. et pas bien gros non plus par rapport à ceux croisé en Turquie !
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claudio

Hi, I'm looking for a Pino tandem bike for sale in Quebec and I can't find any. Does anyone have any info, please? Thanks a bunch!
Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !
Hi everyone,
Happy owner of a Pegasus Estremo bike with a Rohloff hub, which is giving me trouble with the SF11-NCX-FT-E-LITE 700C TS 300/0 fork (serial number TD01329060). It’s starting to show its age, and I’d like to repair it to extend the life of my beloved bike.
The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Thanks for your help! Have a great day, Alexandre
The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Thanks for your help! Have a great day, Alexandre
Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info.
Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)?
Any info is welcome.
Cheers,
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
I’d love to start with a section of the Via Rhona to explore and share (route to be decided).
Looking forward to exchanging tips!
hey everyone,
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
Thanks in advance, Jérôme
A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
I'm passionate about Morocco, which I cycled through back in 2009.
Last year, my wife and I explored the High Atlas by tandem. Completely smitten, we're heading back in April (Anti Atlas) and May (High and Middle Atlas), still on our tandem.
Do you have any info on the track between Amezri and Ali Ait Nito? Are the river crossings in the Tessaout still there? It's not easy to navigate with a loaded tandem... especially if the river level is high due to this year's heavy snowmelt!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
A shout-out to a cycling colleague from Savoie
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php

The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes Here are his travels Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place Rural and quite peaceful A road cycling route created by Serge B...
N+1 reconnaissance trips on a loop of about 400 km This way, he avoids the SNCF and its troubles http://cbandiera.free.fr/vv/lacs-savoie/recos.php


The latest reconnaissance trip from April to May 2026 http://cbandiera.free.fr/recits/2026-grenoble-H/index.php

First of all... happy New Year! Wishing you great roads in 2017!
I’ve been traveling for a few years now with a high-quality mountain bike, but it’s equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. I live (pedal) with the constant worry of a breakdown (leak, air bubble, heat causing the fluid to...). My bike mechanic tells me it’s impossible to switch them out for V-brakes.
What do you all think? Am I taking a big risk continuing (alone) with these brakes? Thanks in advance for your great tips!
Hi everyone,
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025. It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border. We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
You’ve been warned.
Hi there,
I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner.
Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026.
In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically).
So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip?
Thanks in advance for your great tips.
Have a good evening.
https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection
Hi there,
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure! Thanks in advance.
Hi, has anyone recently bought Primus or Butagaz gas, possibly puncture-style, in Dubrovnik or the surrounding area? Same question for Albania... thanks. aichatou
Hi there,
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Coming from Laos (*), I’m planning to enter Thailand by bike via the Fourth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
Before this bridge was built, I’d already cycled the road from Louang Namtha to Houei Sai and crossed the river by boat to reach Thailand.
At the time, the condition of that road was impeccable, and most importantly, traffic was light.
So I’m wondering if anyone who’s taken it recently can tell me whether traffic has increased since the bridge opened.
Thanks in advance!
(*) I’m currently cycling in China (Yunnan)
Hi there,
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
Here’s the breakdown: Hekou -> Man Hao (94 km); Man Hao -> Yuanyang (64 km); Yuanyang -> Jianshui (bus); Jianshui -> Tong Hai (78 km); Tong Hai -> Chenjiang (85 km); Chenjiang -> Kunming (60 km); Kunming -> Kunyang (60 km); Kunyang -> Eshan (67 km); Eshan -> Yangwu (58 km); Yangwu -> Yuanjiang (59 km); Yuanjiang -> Pu'er (bus); Pu'er -> Dadugang (75 km); Dadugang -> Jinghong (80 km); Jinghong -> Menglun (67 km); Menglun -> Mengyuancun (51 km); Mengyuancun -> Mengla (43 km); Mengla -> Boten (67 km).
Otherwise, I’m currently in Thailand and just hoping my return flight with Qatar won’t get canceled.
Oh well... 😉
Hi! I’m planning to visit the Stockholm Archipelago by bike in early April.
Do you know if the boats will be running between the different islands at that time of year? For those who’ve already been, all your tips and recommendations are welcome—accommodation, etc. Also, do you know where I can rent a bike in Stockholm? Thanks so much in advance for your help!
Hello there, pedal-powered Young Boys!
Claudio (still from Faverges)
dreaming about a cycling getaway in Italy from Faverges (train all the way to Turin)
from Turin down to Venice along the Po River and back via the Padana (Alta Italia da attraversare – Northern Italy to cross)
The tricky part is getting from Chioggia to Venice.
I read it’s possible by hopping on a boat from island to island,
but it sounds a bit stressful.
Has anyone already tackled this route?
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio
Thanks, and cheers to all! http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/Padania/
Claudio
