Bonjour ,
J'ai prévus un voyage au Bhoutan en octobre prochain ( Trek et visite ) .I y en tellement d'agences locales que j'ai choisi un peu au hazard , elles offrent toutes plus ou moins les mêmes services et pour les mêmes prix.
Mes inquiétudes sont les suivantes :
Parmis ces agences il y en a forcement des "mauvaises" ( quelqu'un a-t-il une expérience sur la/les agences à éviter ?) .
I faut payer la totalité du coût directement et les comtes en banque sont souvent au USA (dans mon cas c' est city bank à NY sur un compte de la banque nationale du Bhoutan) , j'ai une appréhension de verser plusieurs milliers d'Euros sans savoir qui est derrière ce compte .
L'agence que j'ai choisie est répertoriée sur le site de l'office du tourisme du Bhoutan http://www.tourism.gov.bt/ ainsi que dans l'association des tour opérateurs du Bhoutan http://www.abto.org.bt/tour-operators/b/ ce qui me rassure un peu.
Toutes les informations sont bienvenues même en dehors des sujets ci-dessus.
"Toutes les informations sont bienvenues même en dehors des sujets ci-dessus."
Ben je te suggère de ne pas aller au Bhoutan (pays du phallus souriant) mais au Pakistan : c'est mieux pour marcher !
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Bonjour,
je suis allée au Bhoutan en mars et il n'y a aucun soucis à se faire concernant les agences "surveillées par l'état"
En ce qui nous concerne nous avons fait un premier versement à la reservation et un second 1 mois avant le départ via un compte à NY et tout cela sans problème. Le Bhoutan est un pays fiable, on ne va pas essayer de vous rouler.
Quelle agence avez-vous choisie? C'est vrai qu'elles ont toutes le même programme.
C'est un fabuleux voyage hors du temps, je voudrais déjà y retourner...
Bon voyage
Merci d'avoir pris le temps de me répondre cela me rassure un peu.
La seule différence est qu'il me demande de payer la totalité , mais peut-être est-ce du au fait que je m'y suis pris un peu tard (nous somme presque fin juin et le départ serait le 08/10) . L'agence c' est Bhutan Men-Lha adenture (http://www.trekkingbhutan.com/) .
Avez-vous simplement visité ou un trekking ou combiné les deux ? plus je parcours les sites et forums et plus j'ai hâte de partir.
Malheureusement, je ne connais pas cette agence mais je pense qu'il n'y a pas de soucis car ils sont tellement surveillés par le gouvernement.
L'essentiel, c'est surtout d'avoir un bon guide et vous pouvez, si vous voyagez en individuel changer votre programme comme vous le désirez (sauf bien entendu les hôtels).
Nous n'avons pas fait de trek car j'avais un peu peur d'avoir trop froid sous tente (- 10°c la nuit à 3000m à cette période) mais je pense que ça vaut vraiment la peine selon le récit d'autres touristes (10 jours, c'était un peu court pour tout faire).
Nous avons eu l'occasion de dormir dans une ferme traditionnelle et ce fut une expérience exceptionnelle.
Il est essentiel de bien préparer ce voyage et de lire les livres écrits sur ce pays dont celui de Françoise Pommaret.
Si vous le désirez, je peux vous donner les coordonnées de plusieurs livres. Je pense avoir lu tout ce qu'il existait en français !
Très bon voyage🙂
Je crois avoir assez de lecture , néanmoins merci pour votre proposition.
Moi j'ai prévus un circuit de 14 jours dont 8 jours de trekking , et effectivement ils demandent de s'équiper d'un sac de couchage -20°C.
Je serais intéressée par les livres sur le Bhoutan dont vous parlez, pourriez-vous me donner qqs titres ?
Ce pays me fascine depuis toujours !...
Autre question quel est le "trip" que vous avez choisi, j'ai cru comprendre que 10 jours c'était tout juste, est-ce qu'on a l'impression de courir à gauche à droite et de ne pas en profiter ?
Merci bcp !
Jill
"Pourquoi voyager ? Pour rien, juste par passion..."
Bonjour ,
personnellement je n'ai acheté en version papier que "Népal Bhoutan" dans la collection petit futé et j'ai surtout , et je continue, à me documenter sur le net.
Vous devriez adresser votre question à "faimes" qui dans sa réponse du 21/06 faisait référence à de nombreux ouvrages.
En ce qui me concerne j'ai organisé un trip 14 jours dont 9 jours de trekking (je crois que c'est le plus court avec quand même un passage à près de 5000m! , mais je n'ai pas osé les treks plus long pour mon premier trek de haute montagne) le reste c'est visite de Paro et le fameux monastère "Tiger nest" avant le trek et Thimpu après le trek.
merci bcp !
oui j'ai fait "répondre" à votre message alors que c'est "faimes" qui parle de lecture !😛 désolée !
merci bcp oui je continue à me documenter
bonne soirée
"Pourquoi voyager ? Pour rien, juste par passion..."
Bonjour,
voici ce que je peux vous proposer comme lecture:
1) commencer d'abord par : Le Bhoutan. Au plus secret de l'Himalaya. Françoise Pommaret. Très bonne introduction au pays à ses coutumes, à son histoire.
2) Bhoutan : forteresse bouddhique de l'Himalaya. Françoise Pommaret. Olizane 2010
Il s'agit ici d'un guide écrit par une Française (ethno-historienne)qui vit au Bhoutan.
Très différent et beaucoup plus intéressant qu'un Lonely Planet ou Petit Futé.
3)Bhoutan: royaume hors du temps. Robert Dompnier Ed.2010
Récit d'un photographe français qui se rend régulièrement au Bhoutan depuis 1990.
4) Le cercle du Karma. Kunzang Choden. 1ère femme du Bhoutan à publier des livres à
l'étranger. Roman qui traite de la condition de la femme (vers 1960) avec de nombreuses anecdotes sur les coutumes de son pays. Magnifique livre mais les conditions ont bien changé depuis!
5) La Citadelle des neiges. Matthieu Ricard. Roman pour mieux comprendre la vie des moines bouddhistes.
Voila!!! Il y en a encore d'autres mais c'est un bon début. Il faut savoir que ce que l'on raconte dans les livres n'est plus toujours d'actualité car c'est un pays qui évolue très vite.
J'ai fait un voyage de 12 jours au départ de Paro jusqu'à Bumthang et retour. C'est suffisant pour visiter le pays car il n'est pas plus grand que la Belgique mais on fait beaucoup de voiture (30km/h au max). On passe très vite d'une ville à l'autre et on n'a pas vraiment l’opportunité de bien communiquer avec la population même s'il parle presque tous anglais. En fait tout dépend de votre guide.
Si vous avez besoin d'autres renseignements, n'hésitez pas à me contacter: c'est un plaisir pour moi de parler de ce pays!
Bonne fin de journée
Souhaitant aller au Bhoutan au printemps prochain (mars, avril ou mai) qui peut a) me recommander un treck sympa (un peu physique) de 10-12 j et b) une agence…
J'ai une ambition, c'est de faire le fameux Snowman trek que vous connaissez sans doute au moins de réputation. Je sais que c'est un trek particulièrement…
Je souhaite visiter le Bhoutan en avril 2010. J'aimerais faire un trek mais l'altitude élevée n'exige-t'elle pas d'être très entraînée à la marche en montagne?
We're planning to go at the end of November/beginning of December to visit (with a rental car) and hike on La Palma and El Hierro for 15 full days, including 1 day for inter-island ferry transfers. What’s the best split between the two islands—8 days on La Palma and 6 on El Hierro, or even more time for La Palma? Should we have one or two home bases on La Palma? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hello,
In mid-November, we’ll be in Mindelo and Santo Antão.
We’ve booked transportation with Kapverden Tours.
One trip is from Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol, including the hike from Corda to Coculi.
What’s the trail like?
Then we’ll be staying in Ponta do Sol,
Here’s what we’re planning:
A hike to Fontainhas—what’s the best direction, considering we’re not great with climbs? No problem with flat terrain or descents.
Take an aluguer to Ribeira Grande and continue along the coastal road.
With the agency:
An excursion to Cruzinha with a short walk.
Return to Porto Novo via the path from Cova to… I’m not sure where yet, to pick up the car for Porto Novo, since we’ll be taking the ferry that evening.
We’ll have a guide for this hike.
We’d love to spend a day in Tarrafal, but getting back requires a boat or taxi, and it’s really expensive!
We’re a couple, 78 and 76 years old.
What do you think of this itinerary?
hi how can I get internet when I arrive at Haneda? I mean in areas without free wifi. Is it more interesting to buy a SIM card? If so, at the airport? thanks for your help
Not very well known: Hokkaido Island has national parks that rival those in North America. Hiking there is free (even many mountain huts) and requires no formalities. These treks are described in the LP *Hiking in Japan* guide—you can just buy the Hokkaido PDF. It’s way better than Mount Fuji. Of course, everything depends on the weather, which is very unstable in the Japanese mountains (frequent strong winds). The trails are often obstacle courses.
The Daisetsu Zan traverse is a stunning hike through volcanic terrain with a remote section in the middle that requires at least one night of camping (there are basic huts for the rest, which is popular with Japanese hikers): 4 to 6 days.
The Shiretoko traverse takes 2 days with views including an island in Russia, but the ridge is brown bear territory—there are even more here than in Denali National Park in Alaska (brown bears and grizzlies are the same). I ran into 7 in just 6 hours of hiking!
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