Bonsoir,
Jai decouvert de stupefiantes photos du parc naturel geologique de Zhangye Danxia dans la province du Gansu . Ces paysages ont ete classés au patrimoine de l'humanité en 2010.
Comment fait-on pour s'y rendre à partir de Zhangye?
Peut-on y faire des randonnées ou est ce limité aux petites passerelles que l'on peut voir sur les photos?
Y-a -t-il des agences qui font faire la ballade?
Beaucoup de questions pour ce site exceptionnel.....Allez voir les photos...
Et merci pour les réponses
CDT
Dommage que je n'aie pas lu ton post il y a un an ! Je suis passée par là sans m'arrêter lors de mon voyage de l'été dernier. J'avais visité un autre parc géolégique du Gansu, celui de Yadan (qui a servi de décor au film Hero de Zhang Yimou), à partir de Dunhuang. J'avais un taxi à la journée, mais arrivée à Yadan, ils nous ont forcées à monter dans un grand car évidemment plein de touristes chinois, qui s'est arrêté 2 ou 3 fois pour des photos rapides. Au 3ème arrêt qui devait durer un peu plus longtemps, 1/4 d'heure ou une 1/2 heure, nous nous sommes enfuies et avons marché entre les formations rocheuses hors de la vue du bus. Le spectacle dans cette solitude était superbe. Nous sommes rentrées 1 heure après et avons pris un autre bus, je pense qu'ils n'ont pas aimé mais comme nous ne pouvions pas comprendre leurs reproches en chinois ... A l'entrée, près du parking pour les taxis, voitures individuelles et autocars, et près de l'officine vendant les tickets, il y avait une sorte de petit musée avec des explications et des photos et une grande salle d'attente pour regrouper les gens et remplir les bus locaux au maximum. Tourisme à la chinoise, c'est rarement une promenade solitaire dans la nature !
Je pense que la visite de Zhangye Danxia doit y ressembler, même si sur les photos, les bus me semblent plus petits. Tu peux trouver des témoignages sur Trip Advisor, dont notamment celui d'un Italien qui l'a visité en octobre 2012 et qui écrit :
"“bello, ma non aspettatevi i colori pubblicati” : Con Photoshop si fanno miracoli! Il luogo è comunque bello e di indubbio interesse geologico e vale la visita. La località è valorizzata da poco, dopo essere comparsa in un film. La visita è ben organizzata con autobus che fanno tre soste, particolarmente belli i primi due posti. La visita dura poco più di 2 ore.
Visitado el Octubre de 2012"
Je traduis sommairement : "Beau, mais ne vous attendez pas aux couleurs publiées. Avec Photoshop on fait des miracles ! Cependant le lieu est beau, d'un intérêt géologique certain et vaut la visite. Le lieu a été valorisé depuis peu, après être apparu dans un film. La visite est bien organisée, avec un autobus qui fait trois arrêt, les deux premiers endroits sont particulièrement beaux. La visite dure un peu plus de deux heures"
A côté du témoignage tu peux cliquer et réduire une carte de google qui montre que ce lieu est entre Zhangye et Jiuquan qui sont deux arrêts sur les lignes de train qui vont de Lanzhou vers le Xinjiang (Urumqi), peut-être à 100 km de Zhangye ? Zhangye est aussi fameux pour le monastère suspendu Mati Si (Ragamuffin de ce forum y est allé), cela fera donc une raison de plus de s'arrêter à Zhangye.
J'espère t'avoir été utile, bonne continuation de tes recherches.
bonjour j ai effectivement découvert Zhangye et le parc de Danxia près de Linze sur Tripadvisor
j ai pour projet pour cet été d' aller à Dunhuang Jiayuguan Zhangye puis Lanzhou et le plateau tibétain xiahe langmusi etc.. jusque Chengdu.
J ' ai également cherché des infos mais pas trouvé grand chose je crois qu il faudra se débrouiller sur place !
On reste en contact si on a des infos?
... cela fera donc une raison de plus de s'arrêter à Zhangye.
J'ai trouvé les femmes de Zhangye particulièrement jolies 😊
Mais il n'y avait pas que cela, bien sûr 😉
"Nous ne sommes plus une communauté d'être humains qui se parlent mais un conglomérat de grappes de consommateurs en niches, séparés les uns des autres par des obsessions diverses et innombrables. Nous sommes de l'ère de la désintégration." Marc Moulin (1942-2008) in Humoeurs
A côté du témoignage tu peux cliquer et réduire une carte de google qui montre que ce lieu est entre Zhangye et Jiuquan qui sont deux arrêts sur les lignes de train qui vont de Lanzhou vers le Xinjiang (Urumqi), peut-être à 100 km de Zhangye ?
Ayant moi aussi recherché le lieu, je pense l'avoir trouvé plus près de Zhangye, du côté de Hongshanwan.
Sur Google Map, ce serait aux coordonnées 38.967217,100.034245
Soit à environ 40 km du centre-ville de Zhangye.
En sélectionnant l'affichage des photos, on constate une grosse concentration de photos de Danxia Forms dans les environs immédiats.
Mais je ne suis pas encore allé voir sur place pour valider cette localisation. Un jour peut-être...
J'y étais l'an dernier. C'est tout près de Zhangye. Lors de notre visite les couleurs étaient très belles puisqu'il avait plus la veille pour la première fois depuis un mois. Je présume qu'après une longue période de sécheresse ça peut être plus fade.
Pourrais-tu nous donner un peu plus de précision ?
Ne serait-ce que la direction à suivre, Est, Ouest ?
Car d'après l'article indiqué, il y a 3 sites présentant des Danxia Landforms autour de Zhangye, plus ou moins vaste, et plus ou moins équipé pour les touristes.
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
Il y a des danxia à plusieurs endroits en Chine. À Zhangye il n'y en a qu'un accessible aux touristes. Je n'ai aucune idée si c'est au nord, sud, etc., ce n'est pas moi qui conduisait. Pas besoin de suivre de direction, simplement dire au chauffeur (en mandarin) où vous allez.
Êtes-vous allée à Zhangye? Les montagnes colorées du Danxia Park sont-elles aussi belles que sur les photos?...
Presque. Cela dépend de plusieurs facteurs. D'abord la météo. S'il a plus récemment c'est mieux. Le soleil: c'est mieux en fin de journée quand le soleil reflète sur ces monts. Il y a aussi vos habiletés avec la caméra.
J'effectue un tour du monde en septembre prochain (oui oui, je suis chanceux je sais:p) et je prévois aller grimper à getu durant le voyage...j'ai lu sur un…
Voici un retour sur Zhangjiajiè Attention la ville est à 35min du village et des portes d'entrée du parc. Des bus y vont. Le taxi nous a coûté 19€. J'aurai…
Nous partons du 4 Septembre au 2 Octobre en Chine Voici mon ébauche d'itinéraire que j'aimerai partager entre visite et randonnée - 3 jours Pékin - 2 jours…
Je cherche des infos sur les randonnées autour de Guilin, j'ai trouvé celle qui va de Dazhai à Tiantouzhai mais les avis sont différents d'un blog à un autre.…
J'aimerais passer une journée sur la grande muraille et y faire une petite randonnée de 5 ou 6 kilomètres. J'avais pensé à Jianshanling? Je lis que c'est…
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July.
I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route.
Can anyone give me some info on this?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Morocco in August and we’ll start with a stop in Chefchaouen (we’re driving).
My question: can anyone suggest a 5-to-7-day loop hiking route from Chefchaouen in Talassemtane Park, ideally passing by the God’s Bridge? Or a paper guidebook that covers a few options?
We prefer wild camping and guesthouses.
Thanks in advance
Hi there, for those who’ve been recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport or room costs? It doesn’t seem easy to travel on a budget.
If you have any recommendations for simple lodgings or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them.
For those who’ve done multi-day treks while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about itineraries you’ve done without a guide, just with a map and GPS.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Hi everyone!
We’re planning a 15-day road trip to Scotland this summer, specifically to explore and hike on Lewis and Harris—places we’ve never been before. We’ve visited other islands on previous road trips in Scotland (we usually go in April for a week). This would be our first time in Scotland in the summer and for 15 days. We’re looking at late August to early September.
I’m currently drafting the itinerary. We’d be crossing from Ullapool and were thinking of spending 3 nights on Harris and 4 nights on Lewis.
Does that sound balanced to you? Is it better to keep the same accommodation on Harris and the same on Lewis to explore the area? I’d love to hear about any past experiences you’ve had on these islands.
Thanks!
Hi there, I’m trying to leave for 15 days very soon to São Vicente. I’m either looking to join an agency or figure things out on my own to go hiking on one of these islands or both. From what I’ve seen, it’s not easy to organize with local transport, so it gets expensive. Can I use the services of a small local agency? I’m looking for the simplest way to hike for several days. Also, how do you get from São Vicente to São Nicolau? Thanks in advance and have a great day!
Aichatou
I’ve been wanting to do this for several years, and this year’s the one. Next September, I’ll be trekking in Tusheti (Georgia), from Omalo to Shatili.
Of course, I won’t be renting a vehicle that’d just sit unused. No problem getting to Pshaveli, but from there to Omalo, it’s a dirt road (still the case?)
There must be some form of public transport since there are so many guesthouses, and not all travelers come in a 4x4.
If any of you have been to Omalo, could you confirm that these shared transports exist and how often they run?
we’re planning a trip to Yellowstone and hoping to do a three-day backcountry hike if we get a permit.
if any of you have done this before, could you let me know if it’s possible to find water along the way? And if we can transport it, are we allowed to use a stove?
Hello,
I’ll be in Nepal from March 6th to 29th (we’re flying into Kathmandu via Varanasi and leaving via Delhi).
I’m a bit confused about the regulations requiring a guide.
My wife and I (we’re 63 and 64) aren’t experienced trekkers—we’re more used to walking on terrain with very moderate elevation changes. I’m looking for fairly easy hikes, possibly day trips.
Here are my questions:
- Does the Poon Hill trek from Pokhara require a guide, or is it better to go through a local agency? (I’ve seen a lot of them offering 4-day packages)
- I’d like to do a few multi-day hikes around Jomsom (Kagbeni, Mukitinath, Lupra, Marpha)... Do you need a guide for those, and can you find accommodations easily without booking in advance?
Last question—I’m really hesitant to lug around a sleeping bag or down jacket during our 6 weeks in India. Can you easily find these kinds of items at reasonable prices in Pokhara?
Thanks in advance for any tips you can share!
Yann
I’m a 56-year-old man who’s done several treks in Nepal and elsewhere. Also passionate about photography.
I’m looking for one or more people to form a group for a trek in Nepal. The trek is the Annapurna and Manaslu circuit (24 days), including a stop at Tilicho Lake. I’ve got a great itinerary and the local company seems solid. The price is around $1600.
I’ll be in Nepal from April 5 to May 12, 2026, so the trek would need to happen within those dates.
