Bonjour , j' aurai aimé savoir si a PADUM je peux trouver Guide , horse , horseman et cuisinier afin de faire la traversée Padum- Lamayuru . En effet j' essaye de trouver tout ce staf au depart de LEH mais c' est vraiment la galere : soit les prix montent , montent jusqu' a 65 euros /jour /pers /base 3 pers avec le tres cité PHUNCHOK ( soit la modeste somme de 3000 euros pour 15 jours ) soit d' autres donnent un prix plus correct , on echange des mails , tout va bien les trajets en jeep a l' aller et retour sont compris ;cela parait parfait mais lorsque l' on insiste pour avoir toute la liste des prestations incluses :changement de programme .On vous rajoute 250 euros pour le trajet LEH/PADUM .Ils sont a mourir de rire ces LADAKHIS 😏
... par expérience, je sais qu'il est beaucoup plus facile de trouver sur place qu'à distance ... et que l'apparence de sérieux dans les contacts pris à distance se transforme rarement en réalité une fois qu'on est sur place
... les prix qu'on t'annonce sont des prix gonflés et avant négociation, et tes interlocuteurs ne prendront au sérieux ta demande que si tu leur verses un acompte ou si tu es sur place !
... à leur décharge, ils en ont peut-être un peu marre aussi de ces touristes qui demandent des prix ou même s'inscrivent sans tenir leurs engagements, et ils profitent de la haute saison!
... le mieux est de se pointer sur place à Leh ou Lamayuru et trouver toi-même ton staff (le muletier suffit, voire le cuisisinier si vraiment tu n'as pas envie de t'occuper de la bouffe et si le muletier ne s'en charge pas moyennant supplément ... en revanche, je ne vois pas l'utilité du guide !)
... depuis quelques années, le nombre d'"agences" ou prétendues telles s'est développé à Leh de façon exponentielle ... très peu sont professionnelles !
Si vous n'êtes pas plus de quatre, et si tu fais ce trek avant fin août, ne te casses pas la tête.
Va à Padum en bus (pour 500 Rs). Ce n'est pas toujours facile. Depuis Leh, il n'y a que deux bus directs (en 2 jours) par semaine. Sinon si tu ne peux pas attendre, tu fais Leh-Kargil (bus tous les jours) puis Kargil-Padum (bus tous les deux jours, ou peut-être taxi collectif s'ils acceptent les touristes cette année).
A Padum, il y a l'agence Zanskar-trek dans la rue principale, un peu chère à mon goût.
Si vous avez vos tentes et vos duvets, demandez des horsemen au restaurant, à l'épicerie, partout, tout le monde se connaît, et on t'indiquera quelqu'un. En dernier recours, si tous les chevaux sont partis sur des treks, ils sortiront les ânes. Les Zanskaris et les Ladakhis trouvent que les ânes ne vont pas assez vite, mais ils sont les seuls à s'en plaindre !
A Pishu, les habitants font l'élevage de chevaux pour les treks. On peut maintenant y aller en voiture. C'est le début du trek, alors tu peux y aller avec tout ton matériel et trouver des ânes sur place. Avec les chevaux, je suppose qu'ils préfèrent attendre à Lamayuru ou à Darcha.
Pour la nourriture, il y a un restaurant à chaque étape : cabane ou parachute-tente. Dans les endroits très isolés, ce restaurant ferme fin-août. En juillet-août, le guide et les cuisiniers sont inutiles.
Autrement, si vous êtes dix, le gardien-cuisinier de la tente-restaurant risque d'être débordé. Et, trouver à l'improviste 6 ou 7 chevaux libres sera plus difficile, ou au moins plus long. L'agence sera nécessaire pour organiser le tout.
Suite à un accord avec une agence connu de Manali pour faire la grande traversée du Zanskar cet été 2010; nous avons versé le 1/3 du prix comme acompte au mois d'avril; avec un contrat clair de prestation au départ de Delhi. Aujourd'hui alors que nous sommes à 8 jours du départ , cette agence nous demande 18% de plus pour cause de baisse de l'euro par rapport au dollars.
Quelqu'un peut il me conseiller pour la suite à tenir ? cela représente une somme importante .
Merci d'avance
si tu n es pas partie, c est que tu n as pas traité sur place, donc attends d etre a leh pour faire les agences, toujours beaucoup plus cher par internet où les prix sont standards...aichatou
Je viens mêler de ce qui ne me regarde pas, mais :
Est-ce que le prix avait été fixé en euros ou en dollars ?
Si c'est en euro, il n'y a aucune raison de changer quoi que ce soit.
Sur ce graphique : http://fr.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=EURINR=X&t=3m&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=
on voit que le change entre l'euro et la roupie est remonté au même niveau qu'en avril.
En attendant encore un peu, il peut même devenir meilleur, et tu pourras faire baisser le prix. (il est toujours permis de rêver, c'est la réalité de demain)
Si c'est en dollar, la courbe n'est pas favorable. Il faudra discuter.
le prix a bien été fixé en euro , et j'ai aussi regardé la parité euro- roupie indienne qui est même plus favorable pour l'agence aujourd'hui. entre temps l'agence à monté ces tarifs; plusieurs semaine aprés nos accords. quelle pourrait être la solution pour régler ce litige
Merci d'avance
Il y a peut-être une solution, mais je ne la connais pas.
Le dialogue.
Lui montrer les courbes de change euro-roupie et lui dire qu'il y gagne par rapport au mois d'avril.
Dire que vous étiez d'accord pour un montant, mais que ça ne vous intéresse plus si c'est trop cher.
Lui dire qu'il ne peut pas changer son prix en cours de route, sinon vous pouvez vous aussi le changer à la baisse.
Vous avez versé un acompte, il vous tient en otage.
Autrefois la règle était de payer la moitié au départ et l'autre moitié à l'arrivée.
Maintenant, ils se sont habitués à ce que les touristes occidentaux paient tout avant le départ.
... moi j'attendrais d'être sur place à Manali pour discuter, en me faisant aider si possible ...
... en n'hésitant pas si besoin à menacer d'utiliser les grands moyens !
... mais devant ce genre d'attitude, je me demande si je n'irais pas jusqu'à exiger le remboursement de l'acompte et organiser mon voyage sur place auprès d'une des nombreuses autres agences de Manali !
... car même si elle laisse tomber l'augmentation de 18 %, elle risque de vouloir se refaire d'une autre façon sur la qualité des prestations ou le nombre de mules, le nombre de jours à vide des muletiers, les pseudo-suppléments ou le montant des taxes de camping ...
... d'un autre côté, tu nous dis toi-même que tu n'es "pas tout net", alors ... 🤪😇
Il semble d'accord pour ajuster le tarif, fixé au départ en Euro, par rapport à une valeur de roupie de: 65 roupie pour 1 €; ce qui était peut être le cas au moment de la parution de leur catalogue. c'est déjà mieux . mais à la lecture du réglement il n'y a aucune allusion à une modification de tarif après contrat.
Pour le nom de l'agence , c'est une des 2 importantes de Manali ( voir Routard); et je vous donnerais des nouvelles à mon retour sur le sérieux et la satisfaction de cette agence avec cette fois son nom. Nous sommes un peu en éclaireur pour un groupe plus important été 2011
je suis confrontee a la meme problematique que toi a quelques semaines d'intervalle. Comment cela s'est-il passe pour toi ? Tu es parvenu a trouver horseman et poney/donkey a padum ?
pour ma part le sac est trop lourd pour me passer de portage aussi je pense le faire sans guide/cuisinier et tout le tralala mais avec uniquement le horseman
A Pishu c' est le depart des chevaux tu devrais pouvoir trouver facilement .Essaye de voir avec lotussonam@yahoo.com il a une petite agence (prix tres correct ) a LEH et est originaire de Pishu , son pere et autres cousins font office d " arrieros" au depart du village . Bon voyage , ce trek est magique 😉
J'aimerais savoir qui a déja fait ce trek. Si il est réalisable en partant à deux? mais comme je crois qu'il est beaucoup plus intéressant de prende un…
Quelqu'un pourrait-il me renseigner sur les conditions de ravitaillement en cour de treek sur la section qui va de padum à darcha, celle de manali à darcha et…
Je voudrais faire un trek qui pars du Zanskar (vers Phuktal) jusqu'au Tsomoriri. Il y a visiblement peu d'agence qui le propose. Connaissez vous des agences…
Je voudrais faire un trek au ZANSKAR et comme je suis seul, j'aimerais savoir si vous connaissiez des agences local qui propose des départs en constituant elle…
Hi,
Since I can't take on long treks, I'd love to know if there are any nice hikes around Pokhara—or maybe in another region of Nepal. Day hikes or two-day trips would be perfect.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving on Monday, August 3rd for my very first long-distance trek: the GR223 from Coutances to Mont Saint-Michel, over 6-7 days (~11-14 miles/day), solo.
I’m looking for tips from people who know this section well (Coutances → Regnéville-sur-Mer → Hauteville-sur-Mer → Bréhal → Granville → Genêts → bay crossing):
Budget-friendly accommodations: I’m struggling to find affordable stopover lodgings (a lot of what I find online are expensive vacation rentals, not really suited for a solo hiker). If you have any great spots (hostels, hiker-friendly B&Bs, nice campgrounds), I’d love to hear them!
Bay crossing: Any feedback on guides/providers leaving from Genêts for the final crossing?
General tips for a first long-distance trek: What you wish you’d known before your first time, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
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?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
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)?
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?
