Nous sommes actuellement dans le nord de la Thailande, et recherchons le meilleur moyen (et le plus sympa) de rejoindre la Chine (region du Yunnan). Je precise que nous voyageons a velo, et avons nos visas chinois. Apres recherches, trois possibilites se presenteraient dont nous souhaiterions SVP, avoir quelques precisions :
1. passer la frontiere Mae Sai (Thailande) Tachileck (Birmanie), rejoindre Kengtung avec un permis special de sejour obtenu a la frontiere (parait-il ?), puis aller jusqu'a Dalau (frontiere avec la chine)... quelqu'un l'a t-il deja fait, en indivuduel ou avec agence ? Il existerait une Guesthouse (Harry's GH) a Kengtung qui s'occuperait des formalites pour la partie Kengtung vers la chine ?
2. Aller a Chiang Saen ou Chiang Krong (Thailande) et de la prendre un bateau-cargo chinois (grandes barges) pour remonter le Mekong et arriver a Jinghong en Chine. Quelqu'un connait-il le tarif et la duree du voyage ? A negocier direct avec le capitaine du bateau ou passer par une agence ?
3. Passer par le Laos et aller jusqu'a Boten pour rejoindre Mengla (Chine). Mais quel est l'etat de cette route du NO Laos (Fin aout, debut septembre) ?
Si quelqu'un peut nous renseigner sur ces possibilites, ou bien a une autre solution a nous proposer (pas l'avion, merci).... merci d'avance
salut!
j'etais entre au yunnan depuis le laos (boten) et ma foi c'etait plutot sympatoche. par contre le nord du laos est un peu montagneux, pour moi le faire en velo est impensable, mais je ne suis franchement pas un bon exemple haha... le simple fait que vous bougiez en velo signifie que vous devez plus assurer que moi...
prendre le bateau pour jinghong me semble etre une bonne idee, je n'ai aucune idee du prix, mais ne passez pas par une agence, negociez plutot le billet au guichet.
a+
le permis special a la frontiere birmane j ai jamais entendu parler de ca, si tu reussis a l avoir ca srait sympa de me le faire savoir mais franchemment ne compte pas dessus, normalement ce st en avion une fois la frontiere passee.
de birmanie jusqu en chine ce st pas possible.
le nord laos c est tres joli.
la route il y a quelques annees n etait pas goudronnee et en saison ds pluies c est la misere mais va t en savoir s ils ne l ont pas asphaltee depuis, la derniere fois que je suis passe par la c etait il ya 4 ans.
Par le Myanmar tu oublies ne serais ce que ton passeport restera au poste frontieres de Tachilek...
Nord Laos effectivement c'est montagneux maus le Yunnan egalement... je suis passe par la voici quelques semaines.. sans encombre.
Par Le Mekong, tres bonne idee le bateau te deposes a Jinghong en 2 a 5 jours en fonction de la crue du Mekong.. 1.5 jours en ce moment.
Karolus.
Ps Les lieux que tu evoques tu les retrouveras illustres sur mon blog...
Ton premier choix n'est pas possible!
Le 2 eme en bateau pas de soucis.
Le 3 eme tu trouveras un tronçon bitume et ressent en plus de Muang Xay à Louang Namtha et de Muang Xay - Mengla. Ce sont les 2 seuls routes à peu prêt potable du nord Laos! Le reste lol surtout en cette saison!
La saison Août est la plus pluvieuse good luck!
Merci pour tous ces renseignements. J'ai un peu tarde a repondre, mais depuis que nous sommes en chine nous avons parfois, souvent, qques soucis pour atteindre certains sites (!?).
En fait, nous avons pris un bateau cargo chinois (barge de marchandises avec cabines) depuis Chiang Saen (Tahilande) jusqu'a Jinghong (Chine, ville portuaire sur le Mekong). Pour ceux que ca interresseraient, nous avons mis 3 jours et 3 nuits pour remonter le Mekong (fin aout, saison des pluies, hautes eaux), et le prix etait de 2000 btahs/personne tout compris, nourriture, boisson. Voyage tres sympa.
Est il possible de faire la traversée du Mékong en sens inverse, ce qui prendrait logiquement moins de temps.?
Le Mékong est il navigable toute l'année à cet endroit?
C'est une idée géniale en tout cas, je n'y avais jamais pensé, je ne savais pas que le mékong avait des eaux internationales.
Bonjour,
Comme je suis aussi interessée, je me suis un peu renseigné. Un ami qui vit en Chine m'a dit qu'on le prend directement à Guanlei, c'est à la frontière de la Birmanie il me semble( désolée mais la carte ou je l'ai noté est sans doute dans un bateau entre la Chine et la France)
Normalement j'ai un ami japonnais qui l'a pris début septembre pour rejoindre la Thailande. J'attends de ses nouvelles pour les précisions. En tout cas je sais que c'est pas cher directement à Guanlei. On peux aussi partir de Jinghong. On peut passer par le Mei Mei Café à Jinghong pour les billets, mais c'est bcp plus cher
J'ai trouvé ces infos sur le bateau en attendant http://www.iguide.com.cn/en
Depuis septembre 2006, apparemment, il est interdit de prendre les "cargos boats" dont le prix pour le transport, la cabine et la nourriture était de 300 yuans pour 2 ou 3 jours de voyage de Guanlei ( Chine) à Chiang saen ( Thailande) à une heure de bus de Chiang Rai .
Les bateaux rapides, mettent 8h pour rejoindre la Thailande et le prix est de 700 yuans
800 à partir de Jinghong . Je vous mets la photo. Ca donne pas envie 🙁
Cependant les bateaux lents circulent toujours.
Depuis Yuanyang sud est du Yunnan on peut suivre la route suivante
"Yuanyang-(4:30h)-Luchun(change bus)-(5h)-Gian cheng(1 night stay here)-(6h)-Meng lun(1 night stay here)-(5h)-Guan Lei has 4-5 guest houses. very far! if take a route from Jing hong only 7h to Guan Lei."
🙂 ça y est, je peux enfin répondre. Désolée pour cette réponse tardive, mais beaucoup de problemes en Chine via Internet, beaucoup de flitrages. Nous sommes toujours en Chine, et c'est depuis le Wifi chez des amis que je fait une tentative de réponse.
Donc pour répondre à tes questions sur notre pasage en Chine depuis la Thailande : Oui, au port maritime de Chiang saen (port pour transport de marchandises), il y a un bureau des douanes qui tamponnent ton passeport (aussi bien si tu entres en Thaïlande que si tu sors, via le Mékong). Pas besoin de Visa Laotien. Quand tu quittes la thailande pour embarquer vers la Chine, tu navigues entre 2 eaux !! (c'est au niveau du triangle d'Or) . Le Mékong est la frontière naturelle entre Thailande, Laos, et Birmanie puis entre Birmanie et Chine. Tant que tu ne poses pas pied à terre, tu navigues sur une sorte de "no man's river". Au premier port Chinois du nom de Guanlei (là le mékong n'est plus une frontière, elle devient rivière chinoise), le bateau s'arrête (contrôle marchandises et passagers oblige), et là le capitaine t'accompagne au PSB (Public Security Bureau) du port pour faire tamponner ton passeport et remplir le formulaire d'entrée en Chine, simple formalité (tu dois avoir au préalable ton visa chinois). Et là, ça y est tu es en Chine. Si tu avais convenu d'aller jusqu'à Jinghong en bateau avec le capitaine, tu réembarques, et 4-5 heures après tu es à Jinghong. Tu peux aussi t'arrêter à Guanlei (1500 baths au lieu de 2000 depuis Chiang Saen), mais saches que pour rejoinde Jinghong, c'est 5 heures de piste minimum en transports locaux (minibus, je crois).Petits compléments par rapport aux autres messages (en réponse à Egoak) : oui, le trajet peut se faire en sens inverse et oui ça met moins longtemps car dans le sens Jinghong ou Guanlei vers Chiang Saen (ou Chiang Kong aussi, un peu plus au sud de Chiang saen), on descend le Mékong (En 2 jours, période hautes eaux). c'est donc un tarif moindre aussi. Non, le Mékong n'es pas navigable toute l'année. Qques mois avant la saison des pluies, donc à la fin de la saison sèche, il est souvent trop bas. Je crois me rappeler qu'il est principalement navigable durant 8 mois à partir de la saison des pluies(En réponse à Suisiya) : Nous avons pris le bateau le 20 aout 2006, et ça ne semblait pas poser de problemes. ça paraissait complètement coutumier. Nous étions plusieurs étrangers dans le même cas. Je n'ai pas d'info sur cette interdiction depuis septembre 2006. Peut-être est-ce une histoire de business avec les agences qui proposent les bateaux rapides (à mon avis, beaucoup moins sympa que les bateaux cargos, et pas du tout plaisant étant donné à la vitesse à laquelle ils vont. Pour les amateurs, ou ceux qui sont en manque de sensations fortes, oui c'est surement un bon trip!! tout dépend du temps dont tu disposes, et de ton budget aussi. Qques jours sur un bateau à partager la vie des marins chinois, c'est chouette aussi). A Chiang Saen, il y a une Guesthouse (ils y parlent très bien Anglais) qui propose ses services, et s'occupe de te trouver un bateau cargo chinois pour 2300 baths. Elle s'appelle la Gin's GH je crois (enfin un truc comme ça, voir dans le guide LP), elle est à l'écart du centre ville, sur l'avenue qui longe le Mékong, en remontant vers le Nord (peut-être à 2-3 km du centre). Sinon, autres petits conseils pour trouver un bateau, et du reste correct : si tu ne veux pas passer par une agnce ou une GH, mieux vaut s'adresser direct aux controleurs et douaniers du port, du reste forts sympathiques, car ils parlent un peu anglais et chinois, et te disent réellement quels bateaux partent pour la Chine, quand, et quel est leur port d'arrêt (Guanlei ou Jinghong). Ils peuvent t'accompagner sur le bateau pour le visiter, puis choisir ta cabine et négocier le prix avec le capitaine (qui lui ne parle que le chinois). Tu dois absolument voir et négocier avec le capitaine, mais au jour d'aujourd'hui, ils pratiquent tous le même tarif (2000 baths, tout inclus nourriture et eau). Au moment de partir, quand le bateau est chargé, le capitaine vient pour déclarer ses pasagers et c'est à ce moment là qu'on te tamponne le passeport pour sortir de thailande. L'état des bateaux + cabines sont certes rudimentaires, mais ça va quand même, c'est le minimum nécessaire propre. Tu survis, on a rien trouvé de rebutant. Pour peu que tu aies le choix du bateau ou le temps de choisir, il y en a tous les jours qui partent, surtout en début de semaine. En ce qui nous concerne, la bouffe était excellente, et nous avons pu rendre une douche sur le bateau. Allez, sur ce bon voyage. si besoin d'autres infos ne pas hésiter, mais temps de réponse incertain!!!
Au plaisir.
🙂 ça y est, je peux enfin répondre. Désolée pour cette réponse tardive, mais beaucoup de problemes en Chine via Internet, beaucoup de flitrages. Nous sommes toujours en Chine, et c'est depuis le Wifi chez des amis que je fait une tentative de réponse.
Donc pour répondre à tes questions oui, le trajet peut se faire en sens inverse et oui ça met moins longtemps car dans le sens Jinghong ou Guanlei vers Chiang Saen (ou Chiang Kong aussi, un peu plus au sud de Chiang saen), on descend le Mékong (En 2 jours, période hautes eaux). c'est donc un tarif moindre aussi. Non, le Mékong n'es pas navigable toute l'année. Qques mois avant la saison des pluies, donc à la fin de la saison sèche, il est souvent trop bas. Je crois me rappeler qu'il est principalement navigable durant 8 mois à partir de la saison des pluiessi besoin d'autres infos, voir l'ensemble des réponses du message d'origine, je viens à l'instant de le compléter.
Sawatdee krap les vfistes,
Suis a Chiang sean...
grace aux infos cite precedement demain je prend le bateau pour Jingong...
depuis oct 6 (date de chgt pour les visas thai) plus le droit d'emprunter les cargo marchandise...
Donc les bateau passager passe ici 3 fois par semaine mais compte 4000baht 87euro (arghh).
Plus 100 bajt pour l'immigration qui est ferme a 6h du mat qd le bateau part...(prix du tampon de sortie en dehors des heure d'ouvertures)
Voici 2 contact:
Agence lambda (parle pas anglais) qui se trouve pres du mekong meme trotoire que la police a 300m vers le nord.
Hu Zong Mei 08 53 65 11 36 yhlemon@hotmail.com ou huzhmei@163.com
ou
celle que je recommande (plus sympa et parle anglais)
Gin's Touriste information (ramification de la Guest house mais en pleine ville pratiquement en face de la police.
Julie la femme du boss m'a fait cadeau des 100bhat pour l'emmigration et m'a donne un tas de bon conseils...gratuitement...
Julie tel 08 15 68 07 23
Voila, depart demain a 6h je recupererais mon visa sur le bateau par le capitaine...arrivee prevue a 19h..
(remonte du courant) Julie m'obtient meme de la monaie chinoise a 5baht par yuen...
Que cela vous inspire...en principe les tarif devraient baisses avec le temps...car today no concurrence et not much tourriste...on m'a prevenu aussi que les paysages sont superbes...le mekong est tout de meme asez bas.
do you know what...i'm happy!
entendu en afrique: l'argent est un bon serviteur mais un mauvais maitre...
John, 22 ans, d'avignon...esoin d'aide s'ilvousplait... est ce que quelqu'un sait si y'a moyen de passer en chine depuis le vietnam (ou ailleurs)avec sa moto…
J'arrive lundi prochain à Hong Kong et je voudrais rejoindre Yangshuo via Guilin, quelqu'un sait il si c'est jouable de rejoindre Shenzhen et d'y trouver un…
Je cherche a savoir quels sont les moyens de transports par mer possibles entre les trois villes de hong kong, taipei et shanghai. Y a t il que l'avion pour…
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
We’re flying to China in a few days for a four-week trip—our first time in this fascinating country! 🇨🇳
We’ll be sharing our adventure live on our travel journal, with photos and daily updates. Our itinerary, though classic, will let us discover the wonders of this vast country:
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
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Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
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Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
The info I found on the forum is a bit outdated, so I’m asking again!
1) What budget should I plan for 15 days, given that hotels with breakfast, transfers, and transport are already paid for? I know it depends on the person, but I’d love a rough idea. For meals, we’re thinking simple street food or small local restaurants.
2) I’ve heard that credit cards (we each have a Revolut + 1 Visa Premier) aren’t widely used and that it’s better to have cash. Can you confirm?
3) Are foreign credit cards still not accepted at bank ATMs? Still 7-Eleven or the Post Office? And what about American Express?
I'm planning a 19-day itinerary in Japan this summer.
For a first trip, Kyoto seems like a must. For the rest, I'm torn between:
- Matsumoto, Takayama, Kanazawa for 5 to 6 days
- Kyoto 4 days
- Nara 2 days
- Koyasan 1 day
- Hakone/Mount Fuji 2 to 3 days
- Tokyo 3 days
Or dedicating the first 6 days to Kyushu.
Maybe there’s less traditional Japan in Kyushu compared to the Japanese Alps?
Maybe Kyushu is less crowded?
Thanks for your thoughts!
I’ll be in Hong Kong from December 31 to January 3, 2027.
Any recommendations for things to see or do?
I’ll be staying in the Kowloon district.
I’d love to visit Lantau Island—what’s the best way to get there? And would you recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket for the cable car? Also, is there an entry fee for the Big Buddha?
I’m heading to Taiwan soon and would love some up-to-date info on Wi-Fi.
From what I’ve gathered, Taiwan offers it for free, but I’ve heard it’s not secure since it’s not protected by a "password." Since I’ve been traveling outside the EU for years without a local SIM card, I only use Wi-Fi in hotels, restaurants, and cafés. For me, that’s more than enough. So, my question is: Do these places secure their Wi-Fi with a "password"? If not, does buying a SIM card or eSIM seem like the only alternative?
Also, if any of you have recommendations for budget-friendly hotels in the main "cities," I’d love to hear them!
We’re planning a trip to China for two at the beginning of April and want to spend 2 nights in the Longji Rice Terraces—either in Dazhai, Tiantouzhaï, or Ping'an. I’ve seen that most of the hotels are made of bamboo, and you can hear every little noise. Since my husband is a very light sleeper, he’d really like to be sure he’ll get a good night’s rest. Can you recommend any quiet, well-soundproofed hotels in the area?
I’m reaching out to you because I’m planning our next big trip (Japan is really tempting us for the autumn!) and I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
My husband and I have always loved traveling, and at 75, we have no intention of stopping... But I find that everything’s getting so complicated. I try to be "modern" by booking online, but as soon as there’s a problem, we hit a wall.
A friend nearly missed her departure last year because of a visa issue that wasn’t explained properly on a website... and no one to call for help, just automated messages.
It makes me a little nervous to be alone in front of a screen so far away, especially since at our age, we like knowing there’s real support if our health takes a turn while we’re there.
Anyway, I’m tired of seeing my file passed from one person to another without ever having the same contact... Do you know of any small, trustworthy agencies or people who still work the "old-fashioned" way and really look after their clients? I love my independence, but I need a real face behind my project.
Thanks in advance for your advice, and I look forward to reading your replies,
Catherine
I’m planning our trip to Japan from March 21 to April 11, 2026. We’re planning to travel by plane for long distances (Okinawa) and by train for the rest. I’d like to know if renting a car is easy and, most importantly, if driving with road signs written in Japanese isn’t too complicated. For trains, are there any tips to save money?
hi everyone, and first of all, I wish you all a happy new year and good health!
This coming October or November, we’re planning our first trip to Japan. The only downside is we’ll only have two weeks off.
For this first visit, I’m thinking of sticking to the Kyoto and Osaka area… saving Tokyo for another trip. Do you think that’s a good choice for a first-time visit?
I’ve put together a little itinerary below to get some feedback from those in the know. I’m only counting the days we’re actually there, not travel days.
Day 1: Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji – Philosopher’s Path with stops at a few shrines
temples Eikan-dō and Nanzen-ji
visit to the Samurai Ninja Museum in the late afternoon
Day 2: Kyoto
Fushimi Inari (allow 4 hours for the hike through the park)
visit to Sanjūsangen-dō temple
Shōseien garden
participate in a tea ceremony
Day 3: Kyoto
Kiyomizu-dera temple
stroll through the historic district up to Kennin-ji temple
visit Kennin-ji temple
Yasaka-jinja shrine and Gion district in the late afternoon
return to the hotel via Pontochō Street
Day 4: Kyoto
visit Kinkaku-ji and Nijō Castle
visit the Imperial Palace gardens
end the day in the shopping streets (Shibkyogoku and Teramachi, among others)
Day 5: Kyoto
Arashiyama area
Togetsukyo Bridge, walk along the river, visit the Bamboo Forest
explore the area up to Otagi Nenbutsu-ji temple
Day 6: Kyoto
hike from Kibune to Kurama
Day 7: Kyoto
day trip to Nara (full day)
Day 8:
stroll around Kyoto before heading to Osaka
Day 9: Osaka
Katsuo-ji temple, then head to Minoh Falls and hike back via the Minoh Trail
end the day in the Osaka Castle area
Day 10: Osaka
Himeji Castle and an afternoon in Osaka
Day 11: Osaka
Osaka and return to the airport in the late afternoon for the flight home
Do you think this itinerary is doable? Are some days too relaxed or too packed?
I was thinking of adding a trip to Lake Biwa and Uji, but in that case, I’d have to cut some things. Are those places worth dropping some of the planned spots? And if so, which ones would you recommend cutting or shortening?
Thanks in advance—I’m all ears for both positive and negative feedback!
stephane
