après une expérience de vacances très réussie en Mecklembourg Poméranie (visite des villes hanséatiques + séjour à Rügen ) je pense aller à Usedom en juin pour continuer - en vélo - la visite de cette région . Je suis preneur de tout conseil /bon plan / info et retour d'expérience de même que le nom d'un camping bien sympa où se poser pour plusieurs jours .
Cyclotourisme dans l'île d'Usedom (Allemagne)
by Padre25
This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.
Original post
Bonjour à tous ,
après une expérience de vacances très réussie en Mecklembourg Poméranie (visite des villes hanséatiques + séjour à Rügen ) je pense aller à Usedom en juin pour continuer - en vélo - la visite de cette région . Je suis preneur de tout conseil /bon plan / info et retour d'expérience de même que le nom d'un camping bien sympa où se poser pour plusieurs jours .
après une expérience de vacances très réussie en Mecklembourg Poméranie (visite des villes hanséatiques + séjour à Rügen ) je pense aller à Usedom en juin pour continuer - en vélo - la visite de cette région . Je suis preneur de tout conseil /bon plan / info et retour d'expérience de même que le nom d'un camping bien sympa où se poser pour plusieurs jours .
padre25
Bonjour Patrice,
Il y a une piste cyclable tout du long, entre la frontière polonaise et Peenemünde (d'où tu peux prendre un bateau pour rejoindre le continent, juste en face dans un port qui s'appelle Freeze). Elle longe plus ou moins les plages de la côte, souvent un chouilla en retrait de la plage (du coup on n'aperçoit pas toujours la Mer depuis la piste). Par moments elle est vraiment super agréable, dans les sous-bois de pins. A d'autres, elle emprunte les fronts de mer des stations balnéaires, c'est là qu'il te faudra poser le vélo pour libérer tes deux mains : une pour le sandwich au poisson, l'autre pour la glace au chocolat. Il y a pas mal de logements, et des campings très agréables, entre autres du côté de Trassenheide : sous les pins, tout près de la plage. Beaucoup de monde en plein été, du coup je pense qu'en Juin, ce sera juste PARFAIT !
Bonne balade !!!
Il y a une piste cyclable tout du long, entre la frontière polonaise et Peenemünde (d'où tu peux prendre un bateau pour rejoindre le continent, juste en face dans un port qui s'appelle Freeze). Elle longe plus ou moins les plages de la côte, souvent un chouilla en retrait de la plage (du coup on n'aperçoit pas toujours la Mer depuis la piste). Par moments elle est vraiment super agréable, dans les sous-bois de pins. A d'autres, elle emprunte les fronts de mer des stations balnéaires, c'est là qu'il te faudra poser le vélo pour libérer tes deux mains : une pour le sandwich au poisson, l'autre pour la glace au chocolat. Il y a pas mal de logements, et des campings très agréables, entre autres du côté de Trassenheide : sous les pins, tout près de la plage. Beaucoup de monde en plein été, du coup je pense qu'en Juin, ce sera juste PARFAIT !
Bonne balade !!!
Merci Pepsy , tu réponds exactement à ma question et comme tu
connais le coin je te demande qqs précisions au cas zou !
- intérêt de la visite du site de Peenemünde ?
- si on prend le bateau pour l'autre côté (Freest) , on retrouve des
pistes cyclables ?
- es-tu passé du côté polonais ( Swinoujscie , voire Stettin) , si oui ,
intérêt ?
merci à toi
merci à toi
padre25
Hello !
Bon, en fait je ne connais pas super méga bien : j’y suis juste passée l’été dernier parce que c’était sur mon chemin à vélo, mais sans faire de visite vraiment poussée (on a passé 3 jours en tout sur l'isthme d'Usedom).
Du coup, concernant l’intérêt de la visite du site de Peenemünde, je ne peux pas trop te répondre : j’y ai juste débarqué… j’ai aperçu le sous-marin, qui doit se visiter j’imagine.
Si tu prends le bateau pour Freest, et que tu continues vers l’Ouest il y a bien des pistes cyclables... mais pas toujours praticables : au départ ça va, et puis tout d’un coup (entre Greifswald et Stralsund), la piste se transforme en un chemin pavé ! A cheval c’est peut-être cool… à vélo c’est infernal. Cette piste longe la grande route, qui est très passante, donc pas top non plus à vélo. Le mieux est sans doute de sauter cette partie-là et de mettre ton vélo dans le train à Greifswald pour rejoindre Stralsund (je te laisse vérifier ça : c’est ce que la dame de l’office de tourisme de Stralsund nous avait conseillé, mais nous on a voulu tout faire à vélo… on est têtu ou on ne l’est pas). Mais cette ville-là, Stralsund, vaut vraiment le coup : très jolie ville à visiter, surtout si tu apprécies les cités hanséatiques. Pour moi c’était un véritable coup de cœur ! Je recommande chaudement.
Et si tu continues encore vers l’ouest (les pistes cyclables redeviennent normales après Stralsund), tu trouveras d’autres villes très chouettes : Rostock, superbe, et encore plus loin, Lübeck, admirable (et en plus capitale du Marzipan !!).
Côté polonais : Swinoujscie, j’ai juste traversé donc je n’ai pas d’avis. Ensuite j’ai continué vers l’est, le long de la côte en grande partie : à mon avis il n’y a rien de notable, en plus la route après Swinoujscie est plutôt dangereuse pour les vélos, on n’a pas trouvé de piste cyclable par là. Plus loin vers l’est, il y a quelques pistes cyclables, notamment entre Dziwnow et Kolobrzeg, et encore le long de la côte après Kolobrzeg. Pour être honnête, je n’ai pas trouvé extraordinaire cette partie du voyage… mais c’était en plein été, y’avait trop de monde à mon goût. Comme tu y vas en Juin, ce sera certainement beaucoup plus agréable pour toi, sans la foule estivale.
Voili voilou… Bonne route et n’oublie pas ton maillot de bain ! (en laine)
Si tu prends le bateau pour Freest, et que tu continues vers l’Ouest il y a bien des pistes cyclables... mais pas toujours praticables : au départ ça va, et puis tout d’un coup (entre Greifswald et Stralsund), la piste se transforme en un chemin pavé ! A cheval c’est peut-être cool… à vélo c’est infernal. Cette piste longe la grande route, qui est très passante, donc pas top non plus à vélo. Le mieux est sans doute de sauter cette partie-là et de mettre ton vélo dans le train à Greifswald pour rejoindre Stralsund (je te laisse vérifier ça : c’est ce que la dame de l’office de tourisme de Stralsund nous avait conseillé, mais nous on a voulu tout faire à vélo… on est têtu ou on ne l’est pas). Mais cette ville-là, Stralsund, vaut vraiment le coup : très jolie ville à visiter, surtout si tu apprécies les cités hanséatiques. Pour moi c’était un véritable coup de cœur ! Je recommande chaudement.
Et si tu continues encore vers l’ouest (les pistes cyclables redeviennent normales après Stralsund), tu trouveras d’autres villes très chouettes : Rostock, superbe, et encore plus loin, Lübeck, admirable (et en plus capitale du Marzipan !!).
Côté polonais : Swinoujscie, j’ai juste traversé donc je n’ai pas d’avis. Ensuite j’ai continué vers l’est, le long de la côte en grande partie : à mon avis il n’y a rien de notable, en plus la route après Swinoujscie est plutôt dangereuse pour les vélos, on n’a pas trouvé de piste cyclable par là. Plus loin vers l’est, il y a quelques pistes cyclables, notamment entre Dziwnow et Kolobrzeg, et encore le long de la côte après Kolobrzeg. Pour être honnête, je n’ai pas trouvé extraordinaire cette partie du voyage… mais c’était en plein été, y’avait trop de monde à mon goût. Comme tu y vas en Juin, ce sera certainement beaucoup plus agréable pour toi, sans la foule estivale.
Voili voilou… Bonne route et n’oublie pas ton maillot de bain ! (en laine)
Bonjour Pepsy,
tu as l'air de connaître les bords de la Baltique entre Lübeck et la presqu'île de Rügen... Beaucoup de monde en été, c'est comparable à quelle côte française en été ? parce que, du monde en été au bord de la mer c'est banal...mais parfois, quand c'est "beaucoup beaucoup", tout devient compliqué et désagréable... les plages sont elles en accès payant parce que ça c'est un truc que je conçois pas: j'habite en Bretagne et payer pour aller sur la plage, c'est juste impensable .... Si tu as des impressions à partager, des conseils à donner sur cette région, je prends ! Merci ++
tu as l'air de connaître les bords de la Baltique entre Lübeck et la presqu'île de Rügen... Beaucoup de monde en été, c'est comparable à quelle côte française en été ? parce que, du monde en été au bord de la mer c'est banal...mais parfois, quand c'est "beaucoup beaucoup", tout devient compliqué et désagréable... les plages sont elles en accès payant parce que ça c'est un truc que je conçois pas: j'habite en Bretagne et payer pour aller sur la plage, c'est juste impensable .... Si tu as des impressions à partager, des conseils à donner sur cette région, je prends ! Merci ++
Salut Bikonaute !
Pour les parties Lübeck-Wismar et Rostock-Stralsund, on a fait tout droit, pas par la côte : du coup je pourrais pas te dire s’il y avait du monde ou pas sur les plages. Nous on a pris des pistes cyclables dans les terres (tout droit), le paysage n’est pas passionnant… Entre Wismar et Rostock par contre, on a voulu longer les bords de mer, mais la majeure partie de la piste cyclable ne permet pas de voir la Mer, y’a juste le petit rideau de végétation qui cache bien le paysage. Au bout d'une trentaine de kilomètres on découvre enfin la plage : peu de monde à ce niveau-là. Un peu plus loin, quand tu arrives dans les villes, c’est l'atmosphère « station balnéaire ». La plage est parsemée de Strandkorben, ces petits abris de rotin où on s'assoit à deux côte à côte, c’est choupinet, et très photogénique. Là, il y a pas mal de monde… En fait on est loin de l’ambiance « serviettes cote à cote sur le sable » : t’auras la place pour trouver où bronzer (avec peut-être la trace de ton pull à col roulé 🤪), et t’en auras encore plus pour te baigner ! Par contre c’est pour rouler à vélo sur la piste cyclable (qui sert aussi de front de mer) que ce sera vraiment pénible : en Juillet, tu devras zigzaguer entre les familles avec parasols, les mamies à petit pas, les mômes en débuts de rollers, et les amoureux main dans la main avec un cornet de glace dans l’autre. Bref : c’est pas la foule hystérique, mais pour avancer à vélo, c’est pas fluide-fluide… J’ai pas vu de plage payante, par contre : à priori c’est gratos. En termes de paysages marins, je dois avouer que je n’ai pas été bluffée par ces lieux. C’est surtout les villes hanséatiques qui m’ont impressionné, et puis cette petite ambiance sandwich au hareng / entrepôts de brique… ça a son exotisme, on finit par tomber sous le charme de cette poésie...
Pour les parties Lübeck-Wismar et Rostock-Stralsund, on a fait tout droit, pas par la côte : du coup je pourrais pas te dire s’il y avait du monde ou pas sur les plages. Nous on a pris des pistes cyclables dans les terres (tout droit), le paysage n’est pas passionnant… Entre Wismar et Rostock par contre, on a voulu longer les bords de mer, mais la majeure partie de la piste cyclable ne permet pas de voir la Mer, y’a juste le petit rideau de végétation qui cache bien le paysage. Au bout d'une trentaine de kilomètres on découvre enfin la plage : peu de monde à ce niveau-là. Un peu plus loin, quand tu arrives dans les villes, c’est l'atmosphère « station balnéaire ». La plage est parsemée de Strandkorben, ces petits abris de rotin où on s'assoit à deux côte à côte, c’est choupinet, et très photogénique. Là, il y a pas mal de monde… En fait on est loin de l’ambiance « serviettes cote à cote sur le sable » : t’auras la place pour trouver où bronzer (avec peut-être la trace de ton pull à col roulé 🤪), et t’en auras encore plus pour te baigner ! Par contre c’est pour rouler à vélo sur la piste cyclable (qui sert aussi de front de mer) que ce sera vraiment pénible : en Juillet, tu devras zigzaguer entre les familles avec parasols, les mamies à petit pas, les mômes en débuts de rollers, et les amoureux main dans la main avec un cornet de glace dans l’autre. Bref : c’est pas la foule hystérique, mais pour avancer à vélo, c’est pas fluide-fluide… J’ai pas vu de plage payante, par contre : à priori c’est gratos. En termes de paysages marins, je dois avouer que je n’ai pas été bluffée par ces lieux. C’est surtout les villes hanséatiques qui m’ont impressionné, et puis cette petite ambiance sandwich au hareng / entrepôts de brique… ça a son exotisme, on finit par tomber sous le charme de cette poésie...
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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!






