J'ai fait le trek du Parang La (de Karzok à Kibber) début Août 2017. J'avais un peu peiné à trouver des infos, alors voici un petit compte rendu.
PROFIL - SENS DE PARCOURS : c'est un trek de 7 jours environ, et le profil altimétrique de la rando est très simple : de Karzok (4550m), on monte tranquillement 4-5 jours jusqu'à arriver au Parang La (5600m, ça monte raide sur le glacier de la fin), puis on redescend sur Kibber (4270 m) en deux jours (il y a tout de même deux bons petits raidillons (200m de déniv ?) pendant la descente sur Kibber). Pour l’acclimatation, je dirais qu'il vaut mieux faire le trek dans le sens Karzok-Kibber, et comme ça, les sacs sont plus légers lors des montées.
CARTES : il y a des traces GPS sur wikiloc, on trouve des cartes au 150 000e pour la partie Nord du trek (Olizane Ladakh Sud), ou des cartes soviétiques au 100 000e (qu'on peut trouver sur www.gigapan.com/gigapans/130227), sur maps.vlasenko.net/...ary-topographic-map/ ou sur loadmap.net/en ). Le trek est parfaitement décrit dans le livre "indian himalaya trekking guide, edition terra quest, Katarzyna & Andrzej Mazur Kiewicz). Il y a aussi des vidéos sur Youtube et Vimeo qui présentent le parcours.
TRANSPORTS : des bus vont à Karzok depuis Leh, le 10, 20 et 30 de chaque mois d'été. Ils ne passent pas par le Tso Kar, mais par Chumathang. Il faut des permis pour accéder à ces zones (se fait à Leh en un jour, faire au moins 3 photocop). Ne pas vraiment compter sur Karzok pour le ravitaillement (on vend des trucs, mais peu de choix). De Kibber, on peut trouver des véhicules pour aller à Kaza, et de Kaza, il y a des jeeps qui vont à Manali, et un bus par jour.
ITINERAIRE : assez évident, le chemin est plutôt bien marqué. De Karzok, on longe le Tso Moriri 22km vers le Sud, le long de la rive Ouest. De là, on continue vers le Sud, à travers une vaste pleine caillouteuse (17 km je crois). On atteint une confluence (Sumdo). Optionnel : y'a un petit sommet (300m de déniv plus haut) assez évident duquel on a une magnifique vue sur la confluence, j'étais pas le 1er à y aller, il y avait un cairn au sommet.
Ensuite, il faut s'engager dans la vallée qui part vers le Sud Ouest. C'est la 1ère difficulté : il faut traverser la rivière, pour aller sur la rive droite. Mieux vaut attendre le matin, pour que le niveau d'eau soit plus bas. Il y a plein de bras, j'ai traversé un peu au pif, et j'avais de l'eau jusqu'en haut des cuisses (je mesure 1m80), il y avait pas mal de courant, eau à 8°, mais en cas de chute, on ne s'éclate pas sur des rochers, on dit "juste" adieu à son sac à dos et on peut nager sans problème. Après avoir traversé, il faut longer la rivière pendant environ 40 km (2-3 jours). Pas de difficulté, très peu de déniv. On finit par voir le col et le glacier, il faut alors retraverser la rivière (mais là c'est facile), et on atteint finalement le pied du glacier du Parang La. Il y a un endroit où camper, on peut pas le louper, y'a des gros cairns, des murets, et plein de détritus (...), et y'a une source un peu au-dessus en s'éloignant de la rivière (5 minutes à pied). Ensuite, grosse étape : se lever tôt, puis il faut aller vers le glacier, on reste sur le rocher un moment avec le glacier à notre gauche, puis on finit par y monter dessus, il est pas très pentu, ça se fait sans crampons (on glisse un peu parfois, mais ça va !). Passage du col, on redescend de l'autre côté, on atteint un canyon, on longe la rivière (rive gauche), on traverse un pont et ça se met à monter raide. On atteint un plateau où il y a moyen de camper, il y a de l'eau. Il suffit ensuite d'une demi-journée de marche pour atteindre Kibber (du plateau, on descend jusqu'à une rivière, on traverse sur un petit pont, dominé par un gros pont pour les voitures, dernière montée de 30', route goudronnée et on y est).
EAU : je n'ai jamais marché plus de 2h sans trouver de source, mais attention, j'étais peut-être là une année où il y avait beaucoup d'eau... Attention : le Tso Moriri est salé, et la grosse rivière qu'on longe ensuite est trop boueuse pour boire (sauf avec un filtre j'imagine), mais on trouve régulièrement des petits affluents à l'eau claire. Attention le jour du glacier, y'a pas d'eau pendant un moment dans la redescente après le col.
FREQUENTATION : parti seul, j'ai rattrapé un couple de Polonais, puis deux Français accompagnés d'un guide, un horseman et 4 chevaux. On a vu personne d'autre dans notre sens, et on a croisé un groupe avec chevaux puis un groupe de militaires dans l'autre sens. Aucune route, aucun troupeau, pas de civilisation tout le long du trek.
REMARQUES :
- étant donné les contraintes "franchir la rivière le matin à Sumdo" + "partir le matin pour l'ascension du glacier", il est difficile de réduire ce trek à moins de 6j. Je l'ai fait en 7 (1j pour longer le lac, 1j pour aller à Sumdo, 3j à longer la rivière, étape du col, demi journée pour aller à Kibber), on peut réduire à 6 en ne longeant la rivière que sur 2j.
- le poids du sac se fait vraiment ressentir dans ce trek (altitude toujours autour de 5000...).
- isolation totale : pas de réseau, pas de civilisation.
- il pouvait faire très chaud en journée, et la nuit, la température restait positive. Il pleuvait quelques gouttes presque tous les jours, en fin d'aprem, et il y avait pas mal de nuages tout au long de la journée.
J'ai beaucoup aimé ce trek, n'hésitez pas si vous voulez plus d'infos ! :)
Merci pour ton retour d' expérience, peut être quelques photos de paysage entre Korzog et Kibber pour avoir une idée des paysages ?
Est ce aussi "désolé " qu' entre tso Kar et tso Moriri ?
Salut ! Oui, c'est désolé dans le sens où il y a très peu de végétation, c'est très rocailleux. Mais le Tso Moriri est magnifique, les sommets qui nous dominent dans la vallée aussi, j'ai bien aimé le glacier, et le canyon de la redescente change des paysages rencontrés jusqu'alors. Voici quelques photos !
Plutôt nuageux, il pleuvait un peu presque tous les jours, mais jamais longtemps. Chaud la journée, frais voire froid le soir, mais températures toujours positives.
Belgarath écrivait "le poids du sac se fait vraiment ressentir dans ce trek", j'en déduis donc qu'il a fait ce trek en totale autonomie, ce qui demande une très bonne expérience de la montagne vue l'isolation...
Pour trouver un horseman à Korzok, il vaut mieux passer par une agence à Leh et s'y prendre à l'avance. Korzok est un tout petit village et les horsemen sont très sollicités par les agences l'été (Rumtse-Tsomoriri, Markha-Tsomoriri...).
Pour info, les dénivelés du trek de Korzok à Kibber :
Effectivement, je n'avais pas de mule. J'étais parti avec un ami, et nous avions deux sacs très lourds : comme le trek ne forme pas une boucle, et que Kibber et Korzok sont trèèèèèèèès loin en transports en commun, nous avions avec nous TOUTES nos affaires de tout notre voyage en Inde (y compris donc des choses inutiles pour le trek). Après 2 km, mon ami s'est bloqué le dos, et est rentré à Korzok ; moi j'ai choisi de continuer seul, et mon sac était d'autant plus lourd (tente 2 pers, popote 2 pers, gaz, trousse de secours etc.).
Finalement, je n'ai pas été seul pendant ce trek. Comme je le disais, le 1er jour j'ai rattrapé deux Polonais, qui étaient aussi en sac à dos (trekkers très expérimentés). Et j'ai aussi rattrapé une Française et un Suisse (j'ai encore leur contact si vous voulez), qui avaient des chevaux/mules (je sais plus), un guide + un horseman.
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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?
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I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
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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.
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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,
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 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.
