A propos du trek dans les Alamut proposé (notamment) dans le Lonely Planet
Sur les conseils du Lonely Planet, nous avions choisi de randonner quelques jours dans la vallée des Alamut en août 2014. Ci-dessous quelques éléments de feedback pour ceux qui voudront nous imiter.
J-1: Qavzin: nous sommes arrivés tard le soir à Qavzin où nous avons passé une nuit et une matinée pour préparer la randonnée. A première vue, la ville ne présente pas un intérêt touristique particulier. Eviter absolument l'Hotel Iran: prix élevés, chambres bruyantes, draps sales et, chose inhabituelle en Iran, personnel particulièrement peu agréable.
J-2 Vallée des Alamut: départ à midi avec le guide (début du trek "Babayi"), installation dans un village, visite du château des Assassins et baignade de nuit au lac Evan. Très belle vallée, panoramas superbes depuis les routes à flanc de montagne, notamment le soir. La vue est magnifique depuis le château des Assassins (même si les ruines présentent un intérêt limité). L'ascension vers le château se fait facilement (30 minutes, il y a des fontaines sur le chemin). Nuit dans une maison d'hôte (confort rudimentaire).
J-3 Randonnée: nous avons démarré la randonnée le matin à Garmarud vers 10h (après 1h30 de voiture au milieu des rizières), déjeuner dans les pâturages à Pichebon (?). Pas de difficulté particulière. Nuit sous tente à côté du caravansérail (en ruines, impossible d'y dormir) sur une crête avec de belles vues sur la chaine des Alborz. Une camionnette est montée sur le lieu de camp le soir pour déposer nos backpacks.
J-4 Randonnée Descente le lendemain à flancs de montagne (très raide) puis le long d'un canyon. Paysages magnifiques, traversée du village de Salajanbar. Arrivée vers midi dans un village dont j'ai oublié le nom (Maran?) qui se trouve entre Salajanbar et Yudj) d'où un taxi nous a emmené vers la mer Caspienne. Le paysage change radicalement entre le versant Alamut (paysages secs, herbe brûlée par le soleil) et le versant Caspienne (forêts de noyers, chaleur humide etc).
A propos de la randonnée avec Babayi (guide recommandé par Lonely Planet). Babayi est un personnage atypique en Iran, entre le surfeur australien reconverti dans la randonnée "man versus wild" et le cascadeur hippy qui est resté trop longtemps au soleil. Babayi est sympathique, baragouine un peu l'anglais (une fois que le randonneur a compris que "maybe" implique un ordre, tout va pour le mieux) et chante de "l'opéra" au milieu des montagnes. Babayi connait bien la montagne, les fleurs, les sources d'eau potable etc.
Mais Babayi est un businessman... Pour un prix négocié à 400euros pour 6 randonneurs (prix initial: 500euros, deux autres touristes que Babayi a greffé à notre groupe ont payé 400euros pour deux...) pour le circuit décrit ci-dessus (début et fin à Qavzin), nous avons eu le droit à des repas très sommaires pour des randonneurs (du riz, des oeufs, du melon, du pain dur, pas de viande) et des tentes très peu confortables (installées au bord d'un ravin, sur des cailloux, sans tapis de sol, autant dire que nous avons peu dormi...). Les déplacements avant la randonnée se font dans la benne d'un pick-up (ce qui permet d'apprécier les paysages). Cela fait sourire quand on sait que le guide et les deux accompagnateurs (qui conduisaient la voiture portant tentes et backpacks) avaient droit, devant nous, à des triples portions de riz + du pain frais + des tapis pour dormir:). Le trek s'est terminé à midi alors que nous avions négocié deux jours de marche (il aurait été tout à fait possible de continuer à marcher dans la vallée jusqu'à Yudj). Enfin, déconvenue sur la fin quand Babayi nous a informé à Maran que le taxi n'était pas inclus dans le prix (alors que nous avions négocié un trek qui se terminerait sur la Caspienne plutôt que de revenir à Qavzin en voiture).
-> trek magnifique, tant du côté de la vallée des Alamut que du côté de la Caspienne. Un bon marcheur pourra faire la randonnée Garmarud-Maran en une bonne journée de marche je pense.
-> si vous choisissez de faire un trek avec Babayi, négociez bien le prix (65euros/personne ça reste cher pour ce que nous avons eu) et notez avec lui sur un papier ce que le prix comprend (durée du trek, lieux de départ et d'arrivée etc).
Super retour, merci beaucoup pour toutes ces précisions. De notre côté nous n'avons pas fait le trek, juste passé deux jours à Alamut et nous avons vraiment beaucoup apprécié.
Pour l'hébergement je confirme que l'Hôtel Iran à Qazvin est à éviter absolument, cher et accueil détestable, du jamais vu. Des voyageurs nous ont dit beaucoup de bien de l'hôtel Albroz.
A Gazhor Khan, nous avons dormi au "Golestan Inn" qui se trouve au pied du rocher d'Alamut. Nous étions plus précisément à celui de gauche, de Mr Savari (oui, parce que 3 "hôtels" sont placés les uns à côtés des autres) et nous avons été enchantés aussi bien par le cadre, l'accueil, que le prix (1 000 000 rials incluant chambre double avec petite cuisine, très propre, trois fois deux repas et petit dej).
Enfin, le trajet Qazvin-Gazhor-Khan en savari semble être à 250 000 rials par personne.
Des voyageurs nous ont dit beaucoup de bien de l'hôtel Albroz.
Et je confirme. Très bon accueil, un mec à la réception (j'ai oublié son nom, mais il assure les journées) parle très bien anglais, donne de bons conseils, organise des balades d'une journée dans la vallée (50€ pour 3, partis à 8h et revenus 10h plus tard avec un chauffeur super sympa lui aussi) et peut même vous donner un coup de main pour vos étapes suivantes en appelant des hôtels. Particulièrement appréciable pour Esfahan, où se loger est parfois difficile. Les chambres sont basiques, mais propres et avec douche, le petit déj est basique lui aussi, mais bon. Tout ça pour 30$. Vraiment très bien cet hôtel, en plus avec un grand lobby idéal pour se poser.
Je confirme également ces infos.
L'Iran Hotel est à fuir. Non seulement le type a été très désagréable à mon arrivée, mais lorsque j'ai illico repris mon sac à dos et lui ai dit que je ne resterai pas une minute de plus chez lui et encore moins une nuit ... il est devenu limite agressif.😕 Je suis partie très vite ...
Seule expérience humaine de ce genre en Iran.
C'était en 2013, mais ça ne s'est visiblement pas arrangé ...
Quant à l'Alborz, ils sont adorables, mais souvent complets car très prisé par les visiteurs des pays environnants.
"On croit qu'on va faire un voyage, mais bientôt, c'est le voyage qui vous fait, ou vous défait". In" l'Usage du Monde" de Nicolas Bouvier
Nous envisageons un trek dans la vallée d'Alamut au mois d'octobre: savez-vous si le climat permet encore de randonner dans la région à cette période ?
Je recherche des infos sur le desert de Shahdad en Iran vers Kerman. Je voudrais y trekker ou rester dans un camp et partir en exploration la journée! vous…
Nous souhaitons faire un trek de 3 jours dans la vallée de Alamut en faisant appel à un muletier pour nous guider, porter nos bagages et nous introduire chez…
Je pars pour 3 semaine en Irqn avec ma soeur samedi 11 juillet autant dire demain. Tous les 2 passionnes de montagne avec une bonne condition physique…
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.
hi there
I’m heading to Uzbekistan for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October 2026—a country I haven’t visited yet.
I’d love to do a few multi-day hikes in the mountains without going through a tour operator or hiring a guide. Has anyone here done this?
It doesn’t have to be all trekking; day hikes are great too.
I’m open to any tips!
Also, I see there are lots of train options if you book well in advance—does that only apply to the "fast" trains? Are there buses as well?
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
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!
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?
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?
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 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.
