De Yellowstone à Disney World - juillet 2018
FR

De Yellowstone à Disney World - juillet 2018

by Fay2

in Between trips › Travel journals

This discussion is in French, the community’s main language.

Original post
FA
Fay2
Veteran1,903 posts
Pourquoi Yellowstone – Disney World?

Après un voyage multi-générationnel dans l’ouest américain en 2015 puis un retour en tête à tête avec mon fils T en 2017 (voir liens en bas de page), nous avions très envie de découvrir le Yellowstone! La lecture des différents carnets et les louanges de Thibaut sur ce parc, y sont pour beaucoup. Notre envie de découvrir des paysages complètements différents des voyages précédents et la possibilité d’observer la vie animale, nous ont naturellement amené à construire ce voyage. Comme pour nous les États-Unis ne se résument pas uniquement à la grandiosité des parcs naturels mais comprennent aussi d’incroyables parcs d’attractions, nous avons pris l’habitude de conclure nos voyages par un parc d’attraction! Nous avions déjà fait 2 fois Universal Studio à L.A (la deuxième fois pour découvrir le nouveau land Harry Potter). Mais cette année, envie de changement, une nouvelle découverte nous tendait les bras… Le monde de Pandora à Disneyworld !



Et honnêtement on s’est pris 2 grandes claques, une à Yellowstone et une autre dans le monde d’Avatar… mais je détaillerai ça plus tard !

Avant d’aller plus loin, petite place aux remerciements : Encore une fois un grand merci à tous pour m’avoir conseillé, orienté dans mes choix, rassuré lors de mes questionnements. Préparer un voyage avec l’aide des forumeurs de VF est toujours un réel moment de plaisir et de partage ! Voici donc en guise de remerciements, notre retour d’expérience! Un voyage encore une fois inoubliable, riche de perceptions visuelles et olfactives, riche en émotions et découvertes ! Des paysages grandioses avec des phénomènes incroyables, des palettes de couleurs surréalistes et un petit paradis pour rencontrer les animaux.

Constances de nos voyages aux USA : Encore une fois nous avons apprécié les paysages extraordinaires, la gentillesse des américains lors de multiples rencontres chaleureuses, la conduite toujours aussi facile et agréable (et Alamo toujours sans problème), le confort des lits, des hôtels!

Inquiétudes avant départ : Je craignais que l’on se lasse des geysers et des pools… mais il n’en a rien été, ils ont tous des couleurs, des formes, des environnements ou des particularités différentes, donc on s’émerveille à chaque fois sans sentiment de lassitude ! Je craignais aussi de moins apprécier les paysages car je suis plus sensible aux roches rouges et paysages désertiques, mais la variété des paysages rencontrés m’a comblé ! La foule, était également un point qui m’inquiétait. Mais agréablement surprise, hormis autour du Grand Prismatic et du Geyser Old Faithfull, on n’a pas eu ce sentiment de foule, et on a toujours réussi à se garer sans problème ! Chance ou bon timing ? Telle est la question ! Dernière inquiétude : Comme pour tout voyage : la météo est un paramètre aléatoire. Mais en ayant prévu suffisamment de temps sur place, nous avons pu refaire certains points découverts dans un premier temps sous les nuages, d’autres non faits à cause d’averses… Un planning non chargé laisse toute la souplesse nécessaire pour modifier les plans en fonction de la météo et réguler les visites !

Grand Prismatic sous les nuages... puis un autre jour sous le soleil!



Choix du parcours :

14 jours soit 10 jours pour Yellowstone et ses environs + 4 jours pour Disneyworld.

Arrivée et départ de Bozeman. Avantages : billets moins chers que pour Jackson et route plus rapide que depuis Salt Lake City.

Nous avons décidé de varier les plaisirs en mixant Yellowstone et ses alentours, voici les grandes lignes de notre voyage :

J1: Arrivée BOZEMAN. Nuit Bozeman J2: MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS. Nuit 1 Gardiner J3 : LAMAR VALLEY – GRAND CANYON Y South Rim. Nuit 2 Gardiner J4 : HAYDEN VALLEY – CODY. Nuit 1 Cody J5 : CODY - BIGHORN CANYON. Nuit 2 Cody J6 : WEST THUMB - GRAND TETON. Nuit Jackson Hole J7 : GRAND TETON –YELLOWSTONE. Nuit 1 West Yellowstone J8 : NORRIS – GRAND CANYON Y North Rim. Nuit 2 West Yellowstone J9 : BASINS + OLD FAITHFULL. Nuit Old Faithfull cabin J10: YELLOWSTONE fin - Nuit Bozeman J11 : Vol pour ORLANDO. Nuit 1 Disney's All-Star Music Resort J12 : REPOS – PISCINE – DISNEY SPRINGS Nuit 2 Disney's All-Star Music Resort J13 : DISNEYWORLD - ANIMAL KINGDOM Nuit 3 Disney's All-Star Music Resort J14 : DISNEYWORLD - MAGIC KINGDOM Nuit 4 Disney's All-Star Music Resort J15 : REPOS – PISCINE – RETOUR EN FRANCE arrivée en J16

Hébergements : La question s’est effectivement posée, comme souvent quand on prépare un voyage à Yellowstone : loger à l'intérieur ou en dehors du parc ? Passer toutes les nuits aux mêmes endroits ou changer d’hôtels pour faire les différentes portions du 8 de Yellowstone?

En fait, impossible de conseiller telle ou telle solution, tout dépend de ses priorités et ses envies personnelles. Nous avons essayé de privilégier 2 nuits par hôtel quand cela était possible ! Le choix de dormir en dehors du parc s’est vite imposé car sur le parc, pour le même prix, il n’y a ni la Wifi, ni la TV (difficile avec un ado) le confort est moindre, les services, restaurations sont plus limités… J’ai quand même réussi à négocier une nuit sur le parc (et heureusement car après la dernière éruption de geyser au coucher de soleil, j’aurai eu des difficultés à reprendre la route !). Au final, aucun regret !

Voici nos hébergements par ordre de préférence pour la partie Yellowstone et environs

ANTLER INN Jackson Hole : très grande chambre avec cheminée, 3 grands lits, 2 entrées (une côté couloir central, une côté couloir extérieur pour accéder aux voitures), salle de sport, jacuzzi… Chambre payée en partie avec nuit gratuite hotel.com gagnée lors des précédents voyages

ALPINE MOTEL West Yellowstone : souvent conseillé sur VF, à juste titre ! Accueil super chaleureux et très bon rapport qualité-prix ! Excellent choix ! ABSAROKA LODGE Gardiner : belle chambre avec terrasse donnant sur la Yellowstone River. Très agréable pour y prendre son petit déjeuner ou y manger le soir en compagnie des marmottes! BIG BEAR MOTEL Cody. On a beaucoup aimé l’ambiance chaleureuse du bois et la piscine (c’est bien agréable de finir la journée par un petit plongeon pour se détendre😎). OLD FAITHFULL CABIN. Idéal pour profiter des geysers tard le soir et tôt le matin! seul intérêt! Confort sommaire !

SUPER 8 BOZEMAN - AIRPORT. Grande chambre propre et confortable. Hôtel équipée de piscine, sauna, salle de sport…. Navette gratuite pour l’aéroport (pratique). Petit bémol : bruit des trains qui klaxonnent, à éviter si on a le sommeil léger ! SUPER 8 BOZEMAN. À éviter, chambre pas propre (heureusement le seul hôtel critiquable du voyage et en début de séjour)

Pour Disneyworld : DISNEY'S ALL-STAR MUSIC RESORT : chambre très confortable, super complexe hôtelier avec décorations sur le thème de la musique (génial pour T qui a l’âme d’un musicien) ! Magnifiques piscines en forme de guitare et de piano ! Une nuit payée en partie avec nuit gratuite hotel.com gagnée lors des précédents voyages



Avantages d’un hôtel Disney : - Disney Magical Express gratuit pour le trajet entre hôtel et aéroport ! - Les navettes gratuites pour accéder aux parcs d’attractions, à Disney Springs - Les bracelets MagicBand qui servent à ouvrir la porte de chambre, pour entrer dans les parcs, pour enregistrer les FastPass, pour payer… - La possibilité de prendre les FastPass 60 jours à l’avance (contre 30 sinon) et donc obtenir les FastPass les plus difficiles à avoir - Avoir des heures d’accès aux parcs en plus (pouvoir faire plein d’attractions sans faire de queue) - Le tout superbement bien organisé ! Et non, je ne suis pas payé par Disney pour en faire la publicité !😉

Et pour finir, quelques constats : - Comme pour chaque voyage, je me suis inscrite sur Ariane https://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fildariane/dyn/public/login.html Jusqu’à présent je n’avais jamais rien reçu pendant nos voyages ! Cette année 2 alertes : une concernant l’éruption volcanique et tremblements de terre sur Big Island-Hawaii. L’autre concernant les feux de forêt en Californie, et Yosémite. Je n’étais pas personnellement concernée par ces 2 alertes, mais cela montre bien l’utilité de ce service! - Pour parler du téléphone portable, c’est la première fois que nous rencontrons un tel désert concernant les réseaux téléphoniques. Impossible de recevoir ou d’envoyer de simples SMS ni avec Orange, ni avec Free, ni avec Bouygues même dans les villes (Orlando, Bozeman…). Le seul endroit où cela a été possible, c’est au Visitor Center de Mammoth (et uniquement avec Bouygues). Heureusement que la wifi fonctionnait bien dans les hôtels! - Retour sur le chargeur secteur usb acheté, suite à cette discussion : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9043071;a=9043071 Super pratique, faible encombrement, fait bien son job ! Rien à dire !

À bientôt pour la suite !
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
ZI Zitounet Globetrotter ·
Hi Fanny Pour le chargeur, ne pas oublier une prise américaine

Bern
USA 2018 - Arizona, chez les indiens... https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9061068;#9061068 USA 2014 – Là où vous n'aviez pas pensé aller https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6769327;#6769327 USA 2012 "Au long du Rio Grande" https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5290732;#5290732
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Bern Oui, tu as raison de le préciser, j'avais emporté un adaptateur... Mais sinon, ils en vendent aussi avec adaptateur amovible.
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
VA Van69 Regular ·
Bonjour Fanny, Ravie de te suivre pour un nouveau carnet qui sont toujours aussi intéressant et détaillé. Je vais te suivre avec intérêt notre voyage à Yellowstone est prévu en 2020, ça va être long 🙁, les différents carnets de VF nous font patienter 😉 Belle soirée !
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Voyage aller :

Vols avec Delta Airlines au départ de Paris CDG avec une escale à Minneapolis. Escale un peu stressante car, alors que nous n’avions déjà qu’une petite escale de 2h30, tous les éléments se sont réunis en notre défaveur 😕! Pour commencer nous sommes partis avec 45mn de retard, puis dans l’appareil, nous étions placés en queue, sinon ce n’aurait pas été drôle… À l’arrivée, plusieurs avions se sont présentés en même temps au passage de l’immigration et pour couronner le tout, le passeport de mon fils n’était pas lisible aux bornes (2 agents sont venus nous aider et tenter en vain de le faire lire)! Alors que nous aurions pu prendre la queue la plus rapide (c’était ok pour moi) nous voilà à prendre la fameuse queue interminable, avec 2 seuls guichets pour tout ce monde !… Et le sort continua à s’acharner sur nous… alors qu’au bout d’une heure, il ne restait plus qu’une dizaine de personnes devant nous (on avait encore espoir de passer à temps), l’un des 2 guichets ferma ! Malédiction, c’était mort cette fois ! Côté information, pas de souci : dans la queue nous avions été renseigné gentiment sur notre porte d’embarquement… sur le prochain vol si on le loupait (6h plus tard, ça ne faisait pas spécialement rêver avec la fatigue du voyage…) Et puis voilà que miraculeusement, j’entendis soudain une femme parler devant nous en français, elle semblait ne pas avoir d’escale… alors j’ai osé lui demander si elle et ses amis pouvaient nous laisser passer car on risquait de manquer notre correspondance ! Et heureusement, ils ont gentiment accepté… ce qui nous a permis d’attraper notre correspondance, non sans devoir courir… tout finissait bien 🙂 !

BOZEMAN –MAMMOTH : le début du voyage !

Arrivée vers 16h à Bozeman, nous récupérons rapidement notre voiture sans faire la queue et sans avoir besoin de prendre de navette car l’aéroport est petit, tout est sur place ! On est surpris par la chaleur, il fait plus de 32°C!

10mn plus tard on récupère la chambre, puis on laisse ma maman se reposer et on file avec T, mon fils de 15 ans, faire les premières courses au Walmart! Quel horreur, j’avais oublié comme ces supermarchés pouvaient être gigantesques ! Même en France, j’ai depuis longtemps déserté les carrefours ou autres grandes surfaces, je déteste ça…Mais là, ça bat tous les records ! Bon, on ne m’y reprendra plus… J’ai apprécié de retrouver pour la suite du séjour les petites supérettes comme celle de Gardiner ou de West Yellowstone, même si les prix sont plus élevés, c’est tellement plus agréable et tellement plus rapide ! De retour, alors que je me rabats sur la file de gauche pour tourner à l’hôtel, je manque de rentrer dans une voiture 🤪 ! Je me dis oh la, la, j’avais pourtant regardé dans mon rétro, ça doit être la fatigue du voyage, je n’ai peut-être pas fait attention à l’angle mort, j'ai peut-être un temps de réaction plus lent… mais au final pas du tout, c’est un fou qui a accéléré volontairement pour passer… et qui ne s’est même pas arrêté et est rentré dans la voiture de devant immobilisée au feu rouge ! Il s’en est fallu de peu !

Pour dormir, cette fois je décide d’assurer, je prends un euphitose-nuit avec mélatonine, car j’ai constaté son efficacité au retour de notre dernier voyage! Un seul au début du voyage et je serai calée pour tout le séjour … C’est bien la première fois que je dors aussi bien aux USA sans subir le décalage horaire et sans me réveiller toutes les nuits à 4h du matin 😎 !

En route pour Mammoth :

Le lendemain, après un petit déjeuner avalé à l’hôtel (le seul compris du séjour), nous voilà sur la route pour Bozeman… Route rapide (1h40) et belle : on longe un bon moment la Yellowstone River, les chaines de montagnes Absaroka et Gallatin, on passe devant des ranchs…







On s’arrête au panorama du site de pêche MALLARD, à 13 miles au sud de Livingston : D’ici, on a une vue sur la rivière Yellowstone faisant un virage en fer à cheval, avec les hauts sommets de la chaîne Absaroka en arrière-plan.



Avant de prendre une photo, j’ouvre le coffre et sors notre valise pour récupérer le fil de DS de mon fils, qui peste car j’ai oublié de lui laisser… Alors que j’ai la tête enfouie dans la valise, voilà qu’un américain passe par là et s’arrête pour me demander si j’ai besoin d’aide… Incroyable tant de gentillesse, et ce fut ainsi tout le long du voyage… bien loin de l’agressivité et de l’individualisme parisien !

Ensuite on fait un arrêt pour observer la formation rocheuse DEVIL’S SLIDE :

Passage par le VISITOR CENTER de Mammoth, et comme nous l’avions lu de nombreux elks sont présents dans le coin…et ce à chaque passage, impossible à manquer !















Petit passage amusant par la Silver Gate Road, arrêt pour admirer les magnifiques panoramas sur la route puis pause déjeuner à SHEEPEATER CLIFF : belle aire de pique-nique sous les pins, avec falaises, plein d’écureuils et la possibilité de se promener au bord de l’eau. Endroit paisible avec en bonus la bonne odeur des pains !













Une constante qui nous aura bien fait rire pendant le voyage, ce sont les pique-niqueurs des parkings des picnic area : grimpés à l’arrière de leurs pick-ups, ils semblent préférés leur coffre au cadre pourtant magnifique à 10 mètres de là! (désolée pas de photo à l'appui 😉)
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
TI Titou14 Regular ·
Bonsoir Fanny,

Chouette, vous voilà de retour...Je vais lire ce carnet avec attention qui me rappellera de bons souvenirs de juillet 2017. Bonne continuation pour l'écriture et le téléchargement des photos...

Bonne soirée.
Sylvie
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS est l’objectif de cette première journée, et ce sera notre première claque du voyage ! Un lieu magique, magnifique, fabuleux, indescriptible... les mots me manquent ! Des couleurs incroyables, des filés d’eau qui scintillent au soleil, des paysages désertiques avec arbres morts… on se croirait sur une autre planète. Et tant de beauté alors que nous n’y sommes même pas au meilleur moment de la journée, ça laisse rêveur ! Subjugués par ces paysages, nous décidons de revenir plus tard, dans 2 jours, tôt le matin, lors de notre départ de Gardiner ! Nos coups de cœurs sont inévitablement pour PALETTE SPRING et CANARY SPRING.



Arrêt ensuite en fin d’après-midi à ROOSEVELT ARCH puis repos à notre hôtel ABSAROKA Lodge à Gardiner où nous nous installons à notre grande joie pour2 nuits. Nous finissons la soirée sur la terrasse en dinant avec le bruit apaisant de la rivière et avec les marmottes comme compagnie !









Une première journée magique !
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Vanessa

Ravie de te suivre pour un nouveau carnet qui sont toujours aussi intéressant et détaillé. Je vais te suivre avec intérêt notre voyage à Yellowstone est prévu en 2020, ça va être long 🙁, les différents carnets de VF nous font patienter 😉 Belle soirée !

Merci d'être là! Et si tu as des questions n'hésite pas! Comme toi, J'adore lire les carnets en attendant de voyager... on y puise plein d'idées et de conseils et ça fait rêver en attendant! Là entre la rédaction de ce carnet, le tri des photos, la réalisation d'un album, ça prend pas mal de temps... et j'ai pris du retard dans la lecture de carnets qui pourtant me passionnent... Heureusement je suis encore en vacances pour un mois, ça me laisse du temps... A bientôt. fanny
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Sylvie

Chouette, vous voilà de retour...Je vais lire ce carnet avec attention qui me rappellera de bons souvenirs de juillet 2017. Bonne continuation pour l'écriture et le téléchargement des photos...

Merci, c'est vrai que le téléchargement prend du temps! A bientôt pour la suite😉
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
IN Inc59 Regular ·
Bonsoir Fanny,

j'embarque aussi pour ton CR, qui me rappellera des souvenirs de 2015 et me fera patienter pour notre probable retour au Yellowstone en 2019. Mammoth est une vraie claque en effet ! Bon courage pour la suite 😛 !
DI Disneydiddl Veteran ·
Bonjour Fanny . Eh bien tu ne perds pas de temps. Merci de m'avoir envoyé le lien. Je vais bien sûr suivre ton carnet qui commence déjà tellement fort. Magnifiques photos surtout de Mammoth Hot Springs. J'ai adoré aussi. A bientôt
carnets: https://voyageforum.com/discussion/ouest-usa-retour-quand-citadins-se-prennent-randonneurs-d7619497/ https://voyageforum.com/discussion/merveilleuse-decouverte-red-rocks-boucle-autour-las-vegas-juillet-2015-d7123568/
AR Arnaudbu Globetrotter ·
Comment j'ai pu loupé ce debut de carnet ? 🙂 allez hop, lecture.
Roadtrip USA 2017: https://goo.gl/vtYH6H Roadtrip USA 2018: https://goo.gl/Aig8RN Roadtrip USA avril 2020: reporté cause Covid Roadtrip USA Octo 2020: en éloignement .... https://www.instagram.com/travelingtousa/
ZI Zitounet Globetrotter ·
Hi Fanny

Je suis étonné que tu n'avais pas visité Yellowstone plus tôt, mais je vois que tu en a bien profité.

A propos, ces bestioles que l'on voit partout, du Canada au Mexique et dans tous les carnets de voyage, ce ne sont pas des écureuils, mais des shipmunks, beaucoup confondent



Bern
USA 2018 - Arizona, chez les indiens... https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9061068;#9061068 USA 2014 – Là où vous n'aviez pas pensé aller https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6769327;#6769327 USA 2012 "Au long du Rio Grande" https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5290732;#5290732
SO Sonia67 Veteran ·
Hi Fanny. Voilà encore un récit à suivre...... C'est drôle mais l'an passé nous n'avions pas accroché avec Mammoth hot springs, sans doute à cause de la météo : pluie, neige, le cheminement en bois verglace et tout ça en septembre..... Et voilà lorsque je vois tes photos, je me dis qu'il faut y retourner. ...pfiou..... Sonia
KA Kast13 Regular ·
Je me joins aussi à ton carnet, ce début est super, hyper détaillé, magnifiques photos ...et ça rappelle des souvenirs encore frais... En plus je suis aussi intéressée par la partie Disney World vu que c'est une de nos envies avec les filles pour les prochaines années.
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Bern

Je suis étonné que tu n'avais pas visité Yellowstone plus tôt, mais je vois que tu en a bien profité.

oui, en effet, on n'avait pas encore réussi à l'inclure. Mais rien ne sert de courir... on a préféré attendre, pour pouvoir le faire correctement😉!

A propos, ces bestioles que l'on voit partout, du Canada au Mexique et dans tous les carnets de voyage, ce ne sont pas des écureuils, mais des shipmunks, beaucoup confondent

oui ce sont des chipmunks, ( tamias) et ils font parties de la famille des écureuils! On les appelle Suisse aussi parfois😉! : https://grandquebec.com/faune-quebecoise/suisse-ou-tamia/
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Cyril

Bonsoir Fanny, j'embarque aussi pour ton CR, qui me rappellera des souvenirs de 2015 et me fera patienter pour notre probable retour au Yellowstone en 2019. Mammoth est une vraie claque en effet ! !

Merci de me suivre! Retour en 2019, super😎! Avec quel programme? A bientôt Fanny
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Françoise,

eh bien tu ne perds pas de temps. Merci de m'avoir envoyé le lien.

C'est tout naturel, toujours contente d'avoir de tes nouvelles et on se suit depuis un petit moment maintenant 😉! J'espère que vous avez apprécié Grand Teton!

Je vais bien sûr suivre ton carnet qui commence déjà tellement fort. Magnifiques photos surtout de Mammoth Hot Springs. J'ai adoré aussi.

Hâte de voir tes photos aussi, elles transmettent la vue d'une passionnée! A très bientôt Fanny
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Arnaud

Comment j'ai pu loupé ce debut de carnet ? 🙂 allez hop, lecture.

Pas de souci, tu n'es pas en retard, je n'ai écrit que le premier jour😉... j'essaye de poursuivre demain! Fanny
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Sonia

Voilà encore un récit à suivre......C'est drôle mais l'an passé nous n'avions pas accroché avec Mammoth hot springs, sans doute à cause de la météo : pluie, neige, le cheminement en bois verglace et tout ça en septembre..... Et voilà lorsque je vois tes photos, je me dis qu'il faut y retourner. ...pfiou..... Sonia

On a toujours une bonne raison pour y retourner😉... mais c'est vrai que la météo, mais d'autres facteurs aussi parfois (foule, fatigue...), peut modifier notre perception d'un endroit...
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour katia

Je me joins aussi à ton carnet, ce début est super, hyper détaillé, magnifiques photos ...et ça rappelle des souvenirs encore frais... En plus je suis aussi intéressée par la partie Disney World vu que c'est une de nos envies avec les filles pour les prochaines années.

Oui c'est sympa de confronter nos souvenirs de Yellowstone😉... Pour Disneyworld, je ne saurai que t"encourager à y aller, nous avons adoré., même si je l'ai fait en boitant (j'ai trainé une tendinite depuis le dernier jour de Yellowstone🤪)... faudra attendre encore un peu, la partie Disneyworld ne sera pas pour toute suite... 10 jours bien rempli autour de Yellowstone à rédiger avant😉 ... Je continue à suivre ton carnet aussi... A bientôt
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
LE Leeloo75 Veteran ·
Coucou,

moi aussi j'ai embarqué en toute discrétion 😎
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Merci 😎
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
IN Inc59 Regular ·
Bonjour Cyril

Merci de me suivre! Retour en 2019, super😎! Avec quel programme? A bientôt Fanny

Bonjour Fanny,

au programme il y aura de la roche rouge, LA, LV et SF, du South Dakota et 6 jours au Yellowstone. Du coup, tu imagines que je suis à l'affût😉

Vivement la suite !

Cyril
PE Peggy16 Globetrotter ·
Bonjour Fanny, Toujours prompte à dégainer la plume (ou plutôt le clavier 😉) pour nous raconter vos aventures ! De mon côté, je n'ai toujours pas commencé la rédaction de notre séjour fin avril... J'ai donc embarqué avec beaucoup de plaisir dans ton récit ! Belle idée d'arriver directement à Yellowstone pour éviter de la route en voiture ! Les billets revenaient chers ?
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Peggy! Oui je me disais bien que que ça faisait un moment que je n'avais pas lu un de tes carnets 😉! Moi, je préfère écrire tout de suite quand les souvenirs sont encore frais, et puis une fois le boulot repris, on a beaucoup moins de temps 😉! Pour les billets, c'est la 1ere fois qu'on paye aussi cher 🤪, 900 et quelques... mais jamais trouvé moins chers pour juillet pour Yellowstone (forte demande je pense)... même les mois après avoir pris nos billets! Peut-être qu'en passant par Salt Lake city on aurait pu avoir un peu moins cher (ce n'est même pas sur) mais honnêtement, entre les 2X5h de route + 2 jours de location voiture et hôtels supplémentaires juste pour le trajet aller-retour, je ne suis pas sûre que cela en valait le coup! Là, c'était cool, sans fatigue, sans perte de temps 😎, on a beaucoup apprécié! A bientôt, et préviens moi quand tu commenceras ton carnet!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
PE Peggy16 Globetrotter ·
Moi, je préfère écrire tout de suite quand les souvenirs sont encore frais, et puis une fois le boulot repris, on a beaucoup moins de temps 😉!

C'est tout à fait ça !😉 On est rentré le samedi 5 mai puis c'était la reprise de l'école... avec toutes les contraintes liées à la fin de l'année et à un changement d'école pour moi. En juillet on est parti en vacances... donc j'ai bon espoir de pouvoir démarrer mon récit au mois d'août !😉

Pour les billets, c'est la 1ere fois qu'on paye aussi cher 🤪, 900 et quelques...

Je trouve que ça va encore ! On avait payé bien plus cher en 2014 (1150 € par adulte), sûrement parce qu'on était resté bloqués sur Air France et un retour de Tucson (on a bien changé depuis !). Et puis tu as raison, vous avez gagné en fatigue et en argent (nuits d'hôtel et location de voiture et puis SLC est un aéroport souvent cher).

A bientôt, et préviens moi quand tu commenceras ton carnet!

Pas de souci !
MI Mimigale Regular ·
Bonjour Fanny, Je me fais un plaisir de lire ton carnet... tu me donnes plein d'idées pour notre prochain voyage prévu du coté de Yellowstone. Patrick
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
En juillet on est parti en vacances... donc j'ai bon espoir de pouvoir démarrer mon récit au mois d'août !😉

Super😎
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour Patrick

Je me fais un plaisir de lire ton carnet... tu me donnes plein d'idées pour notre prochain voyage prévu du coté de Yellowstone.

C'est un juste retour des choses 😉, tu m'as bien aidé pour Disneyworld!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
deuxième jour : LAMAR VALLEY et route jusqu’à Canyon Village

Aujourd’hui notre objectif est d’aller à la rencontre des animaux du parc ! J’ai négocié avec T, le seul lever très matinal de ce voyage, mais il est motivé donc pas de souci…Il fait encore nuit quand nous nous levons pour avaler un café sur le pouce, puis nous partons à la première lueur du soleil…



En passant à Mammoth, pas d’elks ce matin, mais de bien belles rencontres nous attendent sur la route…







Et notre premier ours !







Et nos premiers bisons !





Mon rêve était de voir des bisons dans leur milieu naturel, donc je suis toute excitée, même si je savais que j’avais de grande chance d’en croiser sur le parc ! Entre l’imaginer, le rêver et le vivre… il y a une grande différence ! Mais cette rencontre n’était rien avec ce qui nous attendait ! Nous étions loin de nous imaginer que plus loin, dans la Lamar Valley, ce serait des milliers de bisons qu’on allait suivre !









Les bisons, leurs petits, les reflets dans l’eau, la luminosité matinale… Waouh ! Je suis submergée par l’émotion, ce qui fait bien rire T. au passage ! La seule fois où j’ai ressenti une telle émotion, avec quelques larmes de bonheur, c’était à Monument Valley, alors que le parc semblait nous appartenir, visite privilégiée sans personne pour troubler notre quiétude ! Là aussi, on se sent bien, on reste un long moment à observer les bisons, à les écouter … à suivre leur déplacement, on est émerveillé !













Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
KA Kast13 Regular ·
waouh, je reconnais exactement ce qu'on a vécu il y a un mois (je pense d'ailleurs que c'est au meme endroit entre Mammoth et Tower Roosevelt qu'on a dû voir l'ours noir!), ce calme du petit matin, la brume, et cette vallée superbe avec tous les bisons...comme tu dis, grande emotion...
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
suite de Lamar Valley

On repart en voiture pour s'enfoncer un peu plus dans la Lamar Valley, mais attention, plein d'écureuils fous- fous traversent sans arrêt la route... et je ne voudrais pas en écraser un 😉!











Il est déjà tard, nous faisons demi-tour... les bisons s’éloignent… on reprend la route pour Canyon village !





On va directement au parking d’Artist Point car le reste de la South Rim est en travaux ! On arrive vers les midis. Il y a beaucoup de monde, mais on trouve une place de suite ! Super ! On décide de marcher un peu sur le sentier qui mène à point sublime mais je ne suis pas rassurée lors des portions qui longent la rime (le 1er passage vertigineux me coupe les jambes !). Il fait très chaud, les passages dans les parties boisées sont agréables. Nous décidons de faire demi-tour sans aller jusqu’à Point Sublime car j’avais lu que ce n’était pas le plus impressionnant !





Nous partons ensuite pour Brink of Lower Falls !



Après la descente et la remontée sous le soleil qui tape de plus en plus, nous décidons d’aller pique-niquer à Cascade Lake Picnic Area. Lieu très agréable sous les pins, mais nous sommes vite attaqués par les moustiques… Donc on ne s’éternisera pas !

Sur la route de retour (nous dormons encore à Gardiner ce soir) nous faisons différents arrêts.

Tower Fall :Belle cascade mais il est maintenant interdit d’accéder à sa base ! T. a envie de se dégourdir un peu les jambes… alors on décide de prendre tous les deux le sentier qui permet de descendre sur les bords de la Yellowstone River ! Petit moment en tête à tête très agréable, mais ensuite pour remonter, j’aurai du mal à suivre son rythme !





Et encore une rencontre : une maman et son ourson !





Petrified Tree et de belles fleurs dans les parages !





Derniers arrêts : Undine falls



Bilan du jour : Nous n’avons pas pu faire Boiling river (fermé pour cause d’eau trop haute !) Mont Washburn était fermé également mais je l’avais enlevé du programme avant même de prendre connaissance de la fermeture (on a écarté les randonnées trop longues pour ma maman) donc pas de regret… Une journée bien pleine se termine ! La rencontre avec ces milliers de bisons reste pour moi le meilleur moment de ce voyage!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Hello Katia!

waouh, je reconnais exactement ce qu'on a vécu il y a un mois (je pense d'ailleurs que c'est au meme endroit entre Mammoth et Tower Roosevelt qu'on a dû voir l'ours noir!), ce calme du petit matin, la brume, et cette vallée superbe avec tous les bisons...comme tu dis, grande emotion...

Faut l'avoir vécu pour comprendre ce que l'on peut ressentir... je vois qu'on a éprouvé les mêmes émotions😉
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
ZI Zitounet Globetrotter ·
Hi Fanny

Je vois que la magie des animaux du Yellow a fait son effet pour toi aussi. Tu as eu de la chance avec les ours, en 3 séjours je n'en ai vu qu'une fois. Et les bisons à portée de main, ou presque. Plusieurs fois j'ai été arrêté sur la route pour les voir traverser.

Bern
USA 2018 - Arizona, chez les indiens... https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9061068;#9061068 USA 2014 – Là où vous n'aviez pas pensé aller https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6769327;#6769327 USA 2012 "Au long du Rio Grande" https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5290732;#5290732
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Bern

Je vois que la magie des animaux du Yellow a fait son effet pour toi aussi. Tu as eu de la chance avec les ours, en 3 séjours je n'en ai vu qu'une fois.

... on en a vu aussi à Grand Teton, une maman qui a traversé en courant suivi de ses 3 oursons... mais trop rapides pour les avoir en photo... juste un derrière😉!

Et les bisons à portée de main, ou presque. Plusieurs fois j'ai été arrêté sur la route pour les voir traverser.

les bisons, on en a croisé tous les jours sur le parc, on ne sortait presque plus l'appareil ensuite, quoi que😉... mais c'est vrai que les voir dans ces gigantesques troupeaux , a un tout autre effet!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FR Franchie Veteran ·
Bonsoir Fanny, Je termine mon voyage à Terre-Neuve, je regarde toujours les messages VF sur les USA. Ton récit m'intéresse car j'ai envie d'aller à Yellowstone (les photos du carnet de Mimimicha étaient extra et m'avaient déjà donné l'idée d'y aller). Quelques questions : A quel moment as-tu fait les réservations d'hôtels ? en direct ou sur booking ou hotels.com ? quel était environ le prix des chambres ? J'ai hâte de lire tes autres journées. Michèle
l'Ouest Américain mai 2016 http://https://voyageforum.com/discussion/retour-boucle-21-jours-dans-ouest-americain-en-mai-2016-d7509458/
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Michèle. J'ai réservé dès que j'ai eu les billets en poche 😉, en octobre. C'est un peu tard pour les logements sur le parc, mais il y avait encore des disponibiltés puisqu'on avait hésité entre mammoth et gardiner, et on a pu prendre une nuit à Old Faithful... Pour l'alpine motel à West Yellowstone, on a réservé plus tard, j'avais pris contact avant, mais Brian ouvrait plus tard les réservations... J'avais quand même réservé ailleurs pour pas me retrouver sans rien, et J'ai annulé une fois que j'ai eu confirmation pour l'alpine motel. Pour la majorité des hotels ( sauf sur le parc, ou alpine motel), j'ai réservé sur hotels.com, avec leur programme de fidelité, on gagne des nuits et ça sert à chaque nouveau voyage... Et puis j'utilise igraal ou poulpeo pour le cashback ( en fonction du % Qu'il propose au moment de la réservation)
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
En route pour CODY

Ce matin petit déjeuner sur la terrasse, bercé par la Yellowstone River et par les drôles de bruits de notre voisin en pleine séance de méditation !

7h30, nous sommes sur le départ !



On s’arrête une nouvelle fois à Mammoth, car on a vraiment adoré, pour profiter de Palette Sping et Canary Spring avec une luminosité différente et sans personne (je ne remets pas de photos) !

Sur la route, il y a des travaux, mais juste un peu d’attente pour passer (les voitures passent à tour de rôle dans un sens puis dans l’autre) mais pas de bouchon !

Arrêt à Frying Pan Spring, je ne l’avais pas noté, mais sympa comme première approche, avec ce bruit qui évoque bien une poêle à frire !



Nous avions prévu de nous arrêter à Virginia Cascade et faire Ice Lake Trail… mais les moustiques ont eu raison de nous ! On repart très vite !

Arrêt à la Hayden Valley, là aussi les paysages sont splendides !



SULFUR CALDRON, avec sa terrible odeur d'œufs pourris, j’avais prévenu T. que ce serait la pire du parc, et c’est très bien d’avoir commencé avec celle-là, car après, toutes les autres odeurs ont paru insignifiante !



Secteur MUD VOLCANO avec des bisons autour des sources !







En voulant repartir voilà que mon volant est bloqué ! J’ai dû activer le Neiman sans faire exprès, mais je n’arrive pas à le débloquer ! Au secours, c’est une fournaise dans la voiture quand la clim ne fonctionne pas ! Je pars vite à la recherche de quelqu’un pour m’aider. Le premier homme qui sort des toilettes, je lui tombe dessus (un peu cliché, mais je me dis qu’un homme sera plus à même de m’aider !) Il me suis gentiment jusqu’à ma voiture et , je ne sais pas comment il a fait, mais après avoir secoué violemment le volant dans tous les sens, il a réussi à le débloquer…

Prochain arrêt : Le Hardys Rapids, une portion de la rivière Yellowstone où le débit s’accélère provoquant des remous.



Encore un passage de route en travaux au niveau de FISHING BRIDGE, mais toujours aucun bouchon, ouf !

Nous pique-niquons à côté du Visitor Center et nous profitons de la vue sur le lac ! Mais les nuages sont là !

Pelican Creek, pas besoin d’aller bien loin pour voir les pélicans!





Storm Point Trail était prévu au départ, mais voilà T. ne descend pas de voiture, il a mal au cœur ! On hésite à partir randonner toutes les deux avec ma maman mais trop de points font pencher la balance du côté du Non : On s’inquiète de laisser T. tout seul, alors qu’il est malade ! Nous ne sommes que deux (il préconise des groupes de 3 minimum) et sans bear Spray… euh, on n’est pas du tout dans les clous des consignes de début de trail qui rappelle que nous sommes dans un coin à ours ! et puis un panneau nous indique que le trail et partiellement fermé, impossible de faire la boucle ! Alors on repart… mais quand nous repasserons ici, deux jours plus tard, nous ne pourrons pas faire le trail non plus, car cette fois ci, il sera fermé complètement !





Petit aparté sur le bear spay ! On a hésité a en acheté un, mais cela paraissait encombrant et pas sûre que dans la panique on réussisse à s’en servir de toute façon ! Donc on a abandonné l’idée… j’aurai préféré une petite clochette pour faire du bruit, mais j’ai oublié en France, celle que ma maman m’avait offerte de retour du Canada, dommage, ils n’en vendent pas sur le parc !

Le coca, boisson miracle, semble faire son effet sur T., il a repris des couleurs et se sent un peu mieux !

De belles roches sur la route, comme Window Rock Arch :



Puis Holy City: avec cet impressionnant groupe de roches volcaniques derrière la Soshone River Un petit sentier longe la rivière.



Et avec Goose Rock : Et une étrange maison dressée sur une colline, une maison qui ne ressemble à aucune autre : SMITH MANSION Buffalo Bill Dam avec une belle vue du Visitor center et son barrage.





OLD TRAIL TOWN : La bonne surprise du jour. Je ne savais pas si on allait le faire, car j’avais lu des avis négatifs sur cette visite ! Mais, comme quoi, les gouts et les couleurs…

Le coin est envahi de lapins!

Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Comme OLD TRAIL TOWN est juste à côté de notre hôtel, on décide d'y aller à pieds !





Le côté authentique, bien loin du côté commercial de Calico, nous plait beaucoup ! Et tout est admirablement bien meublé, de l’école à l’épicerie, sans parler du magnifique saloon avec ses impacts de balles !





























Après cette visite bien dépaysante, un petit plongeon dans la piscine s’impose ! C’est ça aussi les vacances ! Et puis il fait très chaud !





Bilan de la journée : Encore une journée bien différente des deux premières, avec une grande surprise pour Old Trail Town
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
KI Kissimmee ·
Je me joins aussi à ton carnet, ce début est super, hyper détaillé, magnifiques photos ...et ça rappelle des souvenirs encore frais... En plus je suis aussi intéressée par la partie Disney World vu que c'est une de nos envies avec les filles pour les prochaines années.

Ce qui est amusant c'est que Disney s'est inspiré de Yellowstone pour le décor du petit train de la mine, au Magic Kingdom!!
IN Inc59 Regular ·
Hello Fanny !

Je continue à suivre ton carnet très bien documenté, et du coup j'ai découvert plein de choses à voir entre Lake Yellowstone et Cody, donc un grand merci.

Quant au Bear Spray, tu me remets le doute, j'étais décidé à en prendre cette fois-ci 😉

Cyril
CH Chabe37 Regular ·
Bonjour,

J'avais suivi tes préparatifs donc c'est évident que je vais maintenant suivre ton récit. D'autant plus que Yellowstone devrait être au programme en 2020. Très belles photos et récit toujours aussi agréable.
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Ce matin, réveil matinal pour moi et ma maman. Dehors, la luminosité est chaleureuse, je décide de partir faire un petit tour toute seule, j’ai envie de marcher un peu et COLTHER’S HELL TRAIL est à 2 pas de l’hôtel ! Cette petite boucle me faisait envie, et comme il y avait de fortes chances, que T. et ma maman ne soient pas motivés, je me dis, c’est le moment de le faire !



Alors j’ai adoré ! Seule, dans cette petite boucle qui serpente à travers la prairie, avec des dizaines de lapins qui bondissent de tous les côtés, avec les bâtiments d’Old Trail Town en fond et avec les panneaux informatifs... Super intéressant!







Mais voilà, ma petite balade a pris plus de temps que prévu, faut dire que je me sentais bien et la lecture des panneaux m’a pris du temps (lecture moins rapide en anglais qu’en français). Ma maman m’attend avec impatience pour prendre un café, elle se demandait ce que je faisais ! T. dort toujours !

On part acheter un café en face de l’hôtel, mais voilà au moment de payer ma maman se rend compte qu’elle a oublié de remettre des sous dans son porte-monnaie ! Et moi, je n’ai pris que mon appareil photo 😉! Elle repart à la chambre pendant que j’explique à la dame, que nous n’avons pas assez de monnaie, qu’elle revient de suite ! Un homme, qui vient de terminer son breakfast, se lève pour payer l’addition et là, la serveuse, me dit « c’est bon, il a payé pour vos cafés ! » Je suis super gênée, je refuse dans un premier temps, mais c’est déjà fait ! Alors je le remercie chaleureusement en voulant lui donner ce que j’ai sur moi, mais il refuse, me souhaite une bonne journée, et de bien en profiter !

Incroyable autant de gentillesse ! Un tel élan de générosité inattendu, une promenade sereine aux premières heures, et voilà que la journée commence déjà très bien ! Un sentiment de bienêtre m’envahit !

Après un petit déjeuner sur la terrasse, nous partons pour BIGHORN CANYON, visite que j’ai ajoutée au programme sur les conseils de Laure (Calisson94) et de Thibaut (Itat) ! Et je ne le regrette pas, un véritable coup de cœur pour ce parc !



Il faut compter une petite heure de Cody ! Sur la route, on s’arrête au Subway de Powell pour prendre des sandwichs pour midi ! Puis petit arrêt au Visitor Center de Lovell pour prendre des infos sur Hidden Arch ! Sur FB, j’avais demandé où elle se trouvait, mais ils m’avaient répondu de passer lors de notre visite, peut-être ne souhaitent-ils pas trop divulguer l’info sur internet ! Là, une Ranger très sympathique nous donne toutes les indications pour nous aider à la trouver !

On souhaitait commencer par STATE LINE TRAIL, mais on passe trop vite, et on rate le minuscule parking ! Ce n’est pas grave, on s’y arrêtera au retour !



Premier arrêt : DEVIL CANYON OVERLOOK, on est seuls ! Grandiose, magnifique ! Et ce sentiment d’avoir ce paysage rien que pour nous, waouh !











Avec les indications données au Visitor Center, on trouve facilement HIDDEN ARCH ! Bon, ma maman s’inquiète de nous voir descendre au pied de l’arche, elle n’est pas rassurée ! Mais nous sommes prudents et nous ne sommes pas à flanc de falaise, sinon je n’aurai pas pu y aller comme je suis sujette au vertige !







Quand nous repartons, 2 voitures arrivent ! Il n’y a pas foule !

SULLIVAN'S KNOB TRAIL : quel plaisir de retrouver les randonnées sans personne, comme on aime, et le plaisir de retrouver les roches… ! Ce parc en plein milieu du séjour, est une vraie bouffée d’oxygène ! Un petit bonheur inexprimable!









Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Suite de Bighorn Canyon

TWO EAGLES INTERPRETIVE TRAIL, une petite boucle intéressante pour ces cercles de pierres utilisés par les familles tribales pour maintenir les bords des tipis. Quand ils partaient, ils roulaient simplement les pierres et les laissaient en place pour leur prochaine visite…



Mais aussi, c’est dans le coin que nous rencontrerons des chevaux sauvages !





STATE LINE TRAIL :















Pique-nique au Visitor Center de Lovell puis retour à Cody pour VISITER BUFFALO BILL HISTORICAL CENTER OF THE WEST. Ce musée 5 en 1, très grand, très aéré, sera la seule déception du voyage ! J’avais lu beaucoup d’éloges sur ce musée et j’en attendais beaucoup… peut-être trop! Très Cher, trop pour le bénéfice retiré ! J’ai mille fois préféré la visite d’Old Trail Town alors que nous avons bien failli ne pas la faire… Comme quoi tout est question d’appréciation personnelle !

Voici les différentes parties :

- NATURAL HISTORY: faune et flore du parc Yellowstone, la partie que T. a préféré ! J’ai bien aimé aussi, mais les différents Visitor Center déjà visités avaient déjà apporté plein d’informations sur la faune de Yellowstone !

- BUFFALO BILL: avec des objets, affiches, photos liés à Buffalo Bill. La partie que j’ai le plus apprécié (bon comme quoi tout n’est pas négatif)!

- PLAINS INDIANS: consacré aux Indiens (Natives) des plaines, vêtements, armes, peaux tendus, tipi… la partie que j’attendais le plus, mais qui m’a le plus déçu ! Faut dire que je ne pouvais m’empêcher de comparer cette partie à la magnifique exposition "Indiens des plaines" vu en 2014 au Quai Branly, qui était beaucoup plus riche !

- WESTERN ART : peintures et sculptures sur l’Ouest, nous n’avons pas accroché !

- CODY FIREARMS: armes à feu de tous les côtés… des vitrines à n’en plus en finir ! Insupportable pour moi, j’ai laissé T. et ma maman finir seuls !

Pendant notre visite, j’entends un groupe parler français, je leur demande s’ils ont les résultats du match de foot de ce matin… et là nous apprenons que nous sommes CHAMPION DU MONDE ! On rentre à l’hôtel, on sort notre écharpe bleu blanc rouge qu'on accroche sur nos chaises en bois et puis petit tour à la piscine !

En fin de soirée nous allons faire un tour en ville ! Dans une boutique, une vendeuse me parle et reconnait mon accent français ! Elle me félicite alors pour le match de ce matin et me demande si nous l’avons vu… c’est vrai que nous aurions pu, il y avait un bar à Cody qui assurait la retransmission du match !



Pour manger, nous ne savons pas trop où aller… l’hôtel Irma nous semble trop touristique et trop bondé, on se rabat sur Granny's, un restaurant familial avec de nombreux habitués, des repas séniors au menu… Excellent rapport qualité-prix, nous nous sommes régalés, nous avions l’impression de manger des petits plats maison ! Une belle découverte !

Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonjour daniele

Ce qui est amusant c'est que Disney s'est inspiré de Yellowstone pour le décor du petit train de la mine, au Magic Kingdom!!

Oui, tu veux parler de Mammoth en particulier?
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Cyril

Je continue à suivre ton carnet très bien documenté, et du coup j'ai découvert plein de choses à voir entre Lake Yellowstone et Cody, donc un grand merci.

ça fait plaisir de pouvoir aider à mon tour😉

Quant au Bear Spray, tu me remets le doute, j'étais décidé à en prendre cette fois-ci 😉

Alors, j'ai juste expliqué pourquoi je ne l'ai pas pris, mais je pense que c'est plus raisonnable d'en avoir un, et on a rencontré beaucoup de monde qui en portait un à la ceinture...
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Charlene

Bonjour, J'avais suivi tes préparatifs donc c'est évident que je vais maintenant suivre ton récit. D'autant plus que Yellowstone devrait être au programme en 2020. Très belles photos et récit toujours aussi agréable.

Merci Charlene, c'est super gentil! Si tu as des questions pour tes préparatifs, n'hésite pas😉!
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
DI Disneydiddl Veteran ·
Bonjour Fanny ( en direct de Moab...en attendant l'orage qui s'annonce). Toujours aussi enthousiaste je vois. Quel plaisir de lire ton carnet. Bighorn canyon est magnifique. Nous avons vu des chevaux sauvages au même endroit...mais moins que toi. Par contre pour Hidden arch...nous n'avons pas eu d'infos (ranger nettement moins sympa que la tienne) donc pas trouvée. Ah...les balades en solitaire au petit matin...J'adore. Quels beaux trails tu as faits. Je prends note...si on décide un jour d'aller à Cody. A bientôt
carnets: https://voyageforum.com/discussion/ouest-usa-retour-quand-citadins-se-prennent-randonneurs-d7619497/ https://voyageforum.com/discussion/merveilleuse-decouverte-red-rocks-boucle-autour-las-vegas-juillet-2015-d7123568/
FA Fay2 Veteran ·
Bonsoir Françoise,

en direct de Moab...en attendant l'orage qui s'annonce

Ah Moab, c'est un endroit où j'aimerai bien retourner aussi 😉! Les orages de fin de journée passent assez vite généralement! Vous avez prévu quoi dans le coin? Des nouveautés?

Toujours aussi enthousiaste je vois. Quel plaisir de lire ton carnet.

merci... bon j'ai été un peu moins enthousiaste pour le musée de Cody... mais comme c'est la seule déception du voyage, et toute relative... ça va😉,

Bighorn canyon est magnifique. Nous avons vu des chevaux sauvages au même endroit...mais moins que toi. Par contre pour Hidden arch...nous n'avons pas eu d'infos (ranger nettement moins sympa que la tienne) donc pas trouvée.

Mince 🤪, si on avait su, je t'aurai donné le infos !

Ah...les balades en solitaire au petit matin...J'adore

- oui, moi aussi😉 Bonne fin de voyage et à bientôt! Fanny
Ouest américain : road-trip multigénérationnel : https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=7117430;#7117430 - tête-à-tête mère-fils, avril 2017 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=8104174;#8104174 - De Yellowstone à Disneyworld juillet 2018 https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9104079;a=9104079
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Attila 23 hours ago · Kate
Amazing Kyrgyzstan!
This trip had been on my mind for about fifteen years.

But the discomfort of overnight stays, the difficulty of communication, and the prices of the few car rentals kept making me postpone the project.

And then, everything fell into place—I told myself, now’s the time!

Preparations took longer than usual; the destination is still far from mainstream.

A bit of Kazakhstan? Not in the end.

The south or not? Yes, in the end.

Pre-book or play it by ear? Only two stops were a leap into the unknown.

To help me find the ideal route, I made great use of this forum (thanks to everyone for patiently answering my questions!), pored over travel journals and blogs (Christian, Jeff), zoomed in on Google Maps and Yandex, and bought the guide published by OunTravela on this destination (the guide has been updated since).

---/---

You’ve got your passport, international driver’s license, bank cards, and euros?

Off we go to Lyon—just one night left before our early morning flight.

Tomorrow night, we’ll be sleeping in Bishkek! (‘Beefsteak’ for my partner’s mischievous nephews...)



You’ll find here a post with some practical info.
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Aleph240758 23 hours ago
Villages around Hazaribagh in West Bengal
Wednesday, April 1st

Hazaribagh I’ve got a meet-up with Adam Iman, a guide and painter. He picks me up from the hotel at 10 AM. Another traveler from Bangalore is supposed to join us, but while we wait for them to arrive, Adam takes me to see the paintings done by his mother and sister at Hazaribagh station. The town became famous thanks to these murals, which you can also find in several nearby villages. This art form has earned a recognition label and is now protected, a sign of its cultural importance. Once the visit is over, we go pick up the other traveler and then hit the road to our first village: Belwara, where Sohrai art is practiced. At the entrance, a sign proudly announces that we’re entering an artists’ village, where this art is created by women organized into micro-enterprises. Some even offer workshops for those who’d like to learn this tradition.



Sohrai art is tied to the harvest season, from October to mid-November. The motifs, in natural colors, celebrate fertility and abundance. The artists use pigments from the earth: red oxides, ochre, white kaolin, and black manganese. On the walls, you’ll see animals, fish, birds—all symbols of life and prosperity. Looking closer at the murals, I gradually realize that each motif tells a story. The large animals, like cows or bulls, often take center stage. Their bodies are filled with intricate, almost hypnotic patterns. They symbolize wealth and prosperity for the household, as well as the deep respect for cattle, which are essential to daily life. On some facades, elephants stand out, massive and decorated with the same precision: they evoke quiet strength and a form of protection. But it’s when I stop in front of one of the houses that I really take the time to look. The wall, a soft ochre, is entirely covered in murals. Two large animals stretch out on either side of the door, their elongated bodies fitting the length of the wall. Their silhouettes are filled with geometric patterns and incredibly fine curved lines, as if every space had been patiently filled. Around them, stylized plants, flowers, and small decorative elements fill every gap. The dark, worn door becomes almost the silent center of the composition, framed by these living, protective forms. To the right, a more colorful motif catches the eye—a flower or a stylized lamp—like a touch of light on the earth. The whole thing gives an impression of perfect balance, between the rigor of the patterns and the freedom of the gesture.



Elsewhere, birds and freer forms bring movement. Peacocks, recognizable by their stylized silhouettes, embody beauty and vitality, while fish symbolize water, fertility, and the continuity of life.

On some paintings, the scenes become almost narrative: you can make out figures, everyday gestures, like a memory of the village inscribed in the walls. The decorative frames around the doors aren’t left to chance either—they symbolically protect the house, like a boundary between the inside and the outside world.







During the Sohrai festival, cattle are taken into the jungle early in the morning. Meanwhile, the women finish the aripans—those floor paintings—and continue the wall murals. Around noon, the animals return to the village; their horns are then coated with oil and vermilion in a gesture of gratitude, amid the vibrant colors adorning the houses. We visit several artists, including Parvat Devi, a renowned woman who has received many awards. Her arms are adorned with intriguing tattoos, which I’ll take the time to talk about in more detail later.



On another wall, the style changes completely. Here, no massive animals—just birds occupying the space, light and slender, as if caught in mid-movement. Two silhouettes face each other, their long necks arched almost like mirrors, while their spread wings seem to vibrate with the patterns that compose them.



The drawing is more graphic, almost airy. The lines are smoother, more fluid, as if traced in a single confident stroke. The birds’ bodies aren’t solid—they’re filled with repetitive motifs—scales, stylized feathers, spirals—that give an impression of continuous movement. Around them, everything comes to life: flowers burst open, arabesques swirl, and even the simplest shapes seem alive. What strikes me here is the sense of lightness. Where the large animals evoked stability and grounding, these birds bring something freer, almost joyful. They seem to embody movement, the circulation of life, like a breath passing through the village.



The colors remain the same—deep reds, intense blacks, and chalky white—but the rhythm is different. Faster, more spontaneous. As if each wall had its own personality, while still speaking the same language. On another wall, the style changes completely. Here, no massive animals—just birds occupying the space, light and slender, as if caught in mid-movement. Two silhouettes face each other, their long necks arched almost like mirrors, while their spread wings seem to vibrate with the patterns that compose them. The drawing is more graphic, almost airy. The lines are smooth, fluid, as if traced in a single stroke. The birds’ bodies are filled with repetitive motifs—scales, stylized feathers, spirals—that give an impression of continuous movement. Around them, everything comes to life: flowers burst open, arabesques swirl, and even the simplest shapes seem alive. What strikes me here is the sense of lightness. Where the large animals evoked stability and grounding, these birds bring something freer, almost joyful. They embody movement, the circulation of life, like a breath passing through the village. The colors stay the same—deep reds, intense blacks, and chalky white—but the rhythm is different. Faster, more spontaneous. As if each wall had its own personality, while still speaking the same language. That’s maybe why I’m so touched. I’d heard about these paintings from my friend Raja, and last year, I saw an exhibition in a village near my home. That first encounter made me want to come here. But seeing them in person is a whole different experience. These paintings are unique. This ancient art is passed down from mother to daughter, or mother-in-law to daughter-in-law, in a silent yet deeply alive continuity. At first glance, it might seem almost childlike in its simplicity and pared-down forms. And yet, everything is thought out, balanced, mastered. Nothing is left to chance.



This apparent simplicity, combined with such rich symbolism, moves me deeply. There’s something sincere and essential in these walls—and that’s probably what touches me so much.
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Montagnard74 23 hours ago · Muriel18
Turkey 2026: Riviera, Antalya, and Cappadocia
Hi everyone!

If you're looking for great tips and offbeat spots, if you love exploring uncharted parts of a country, if the exotic is your adrenaline, then move along!

Our 15 days in early May in this part of Turkey (a country I first discovered during a city trip to Istanbul in 2017) will only tread well-worn paths and revisit popular routes. Simply because I kept hoping until the very end that our flight to Jordan wouldn’t be canceled. Events in the Gulf proved me wrong, so we left with: Zero preparation. Not a single hotel booked (well, except the first one), no visits planned, just a flight ticket bought three weeks earlier. No guidebook, no app—just the desire to explore southern Turkey and Cappadocia, whose images and the chance to stretch our legs had caught my eye.

Oh, wait—I did bring along a new guide: Gemini! Yes, my friends, generative AI was my chief advisor throughout the trip for sites to visit, accommodations, routes, and even restaurants! An experiment I wanted to try to form my own opinion on using this new technology. And what better way to test it than a Turkish getaway?

The verdict? You’ll have to wait for the trip recap to find out!

The main idea of the trip is also relaxation.

So, the plan is Antalya for a few days, the Turkish Riviera for a few more, Cappadocia as the highlight, and a return via Antalya to wrap up the trip. And it was all planned by AI!

So, if you're ready, fasten your seatbelts—cabin crew, doors to automatic and cross check—boarding for Turkey now!

A little sneak peek?
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MirandaMouse 3 days ago
Mice in Switzerland, the Other Cheese Country!
I'm starting my first travel journal since VF reopened!

This will mostly be to share my impressions and some photos, with a few days' delay, but I'm starting this journal while I'm still here.

First, I'd like to thank those who helped me prepare for this trip.

I was able to organize this stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world thanks to the home-exchange principle. Not necessarily a direct swap, but through a points system, which is more practical for choosing where you want to go without it having to be a reciprocal exchange.

For this trip, there will already be two different accommodations. We'll see how it goes after that.

The first place is near Yverdon-les-Bains, close to Lake Neuchâtel.

So, we're going to explore this area!

We arrived under capricious weather that won’t leave us for the next few days!

We had dinner at a pizzeria recommended by *Le Routard* in Yverdon, then took a little nighttime stroll through the town center before heading inland to settle into our accommodation.

We discovered a very large, quiet house—and especially the cat that stayed behind! Funny for a couple of mice! He’ll be sleeping with us 😹
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GeorgesOZ 4 days ago · Hypnos
Langtang – Trekking in the Rain
We did the Langtang trek (hike) from September 10th to 17th, with the first and last days being the trip from Kathmandu and back—so 6 days of actual walking. It’s a fairly well-known trek but certainly not as famous or crowded as those in the Annapurna or Everest regions, which is why we chose it.

In theory, it’s mandatory to have a guide for this trek. In reality, it seems there are ways to bypass the regulations: we met at least two people hiking without a guide—a South Korean, a New Zealander, and possibly also a couple of English women and an American couple, though we’re not sure if they had a guide.

The agency we booked with had told us it was an affordable trek for relatively older people in good shape—which is our case (I’m 72 myself). I have to say upfront that we found it quite challenging, maybe because we didn’t have good weather—it was the end of the monsoon season. To be clear, no matter your fitness level, I’d say doing this trek in the middle of the monsoon season would be suicidal.

Day 1 – Journey from Kathmandu to Syapru Besi

On Monday, September 8th, there had been violent protests in Kathmandu against the government, which had, among other things, blocked access to social media and been accused of nepotism and corruption. There were 19 deaths. The situation was very tense on the day of our departure, Wednesday the 10th. The agency warned us that public transport was very unreliable. So, we decided to take a jeep, at an additional cost of $100 ($160 minus what was already budgeted for the bus).

We left a little before 7 a.m. and it took us a good hour just to reach the outskirts of Kathmandu. Along the way, we saw several houses and vehicles set on fire by protesters.

The road to Syapru Besi is only 120 km, but it’s frankly awful. It’s always narrow, winds through endless mountains, and the shoulders range from bad to confusing to nonexistent. Several sections are just dirt tracks. We didn’t regret opting for the jeep, as we could stop several times at our convenience—if only to let Y (my Thai partner) throw up everything she had. She’d taken her usual motion sickness medication, but the constant turns, accelerations, and braking eventually made her terribly carsick.

In Nuwakot, we stopped for breakfast at a nice little restaurant, Jimbu. It was around 8:30 a.m., and we’d barely covered 60 km. The restaurant has a lovely garden overlooking the Trishuli Ganga, the river flowing down from Syapru Besi. First photo: the river in the bottom right corner, mist and clouds over the mountain on the other side.

An hour later, my second photo: the hills along the Trishuli Ganga. You can see the different crops—lush green rice paddies in the lower right and corn, already yellowed and likely harvested, in the foreground on the left. And of course, the mist and clouds through which you can glimpse the mountain on the other side of the river.
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Bibouns51 4 days ago
Off on a winter adventure in the American West!
Day 1 – February 14

We all have two lives. And the second one kicks off the day you realize you only have one, with the determination to spend the time you have left on what truly adds sparkle to your life, Kevin! I like to elegantly introduce a trip with a philosophical quote. First, it gives you the illusion that I’m some kind of deep thinker, and second, it lets me fill up the first few lines of my blank page when I don’t know how to tell you I’m diving back into what really lights up my life: another adventure beyond the horizon! And nearly every other year, like a toxic relationship, my horizon tends to take shape in Uncle Sam’s backyard. And this, despite his cousin Donald calling the shots. Speaking of which, it was partly that impulsive guy who pushed us to be just as impulsive and snag our four flight tickets at a ridiculously low price—a direct result of foreign tourism taking a hit from BetaMax’s repeated antics... Four tickets? Who are the other lucky ones? In this case, our lucky ones are actually lucky ladies: My Flo, always up for exploring the world with me on foot, camelback, or scooter, is obviously in on the fun. The other two seats went to our daughters, Sasha and Luna, both thrilled to be part of this new American adventure...

But what’s the American West like in February?... A gamble. Let’s call it Russian roulette since we’re not landing during peak weather season. That’s why we encouraged our transportation and accommodation to get cozy and produce a little camper van, so we can stay ultra-flexible in the face of any weather tantrums. We’ll be roaming in Kara the van with the motto "Follow the sun!" Bad weather? We bolt. Snow? We speed up. Sunny? We act like it was the plan all along and soak it up.

"Okay, but why keep coming back to the same corner of the globe? After ten American adventures, you must be tired of seeing the same things, right?" But I’m not crazy, you know!... The American West is like making love to your gorgeous wife over and over, always enjoying it just as much. And contrary to what you might think, the American West isn’t just the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, and Bryce Canyon. Proof is, after ten trips to the U.S., my retinas are still untouched by three-quarters of the places I scribbled on a napkin for this adventure... Oh, and add to that my wife, who I’ve easily converted to my religion, and boom... relapse is even easier! Because yes, we’ve landed in Los Angeles after a sunny flight over Greenland, still under Danish flag for now. And we’re already heading east through the XXL traffic of L.A.’s eight-lane highways, eager to dive into our first discoveries. But first, night is taking over the sky, and second, we’ve been officially awake for 24 hours, so I suggest wrapping up this intro. I’ll tell you more tomorrow morning. Sound good?



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Calisson94 5 days ago
Back to Swedish Lapland: Trekking the Kungsleden and Crossing Sarek
Summer 2022 left me with a sense of unfinished business, so here I am back in Swedish Lapland for summer 2024, ready to attempt the Sarek crossing again—and this time, tackle part of the Kungsleden too.

After much hesitation, my partner Jean Marie and I decided to start with the Kungsleden, which is, from what we’ve read, stunning but very busy (and it really is!!), and finish with the wilder option: SAREK! This park is known as Europe’s last true wilderness—sounds like a dream, right?! The downside of this plan is that there’s no way to resupply in Sarek, and the Kungsleden isn’t exactly set up for long-distance trekking either, so we’ll have to carry a lot of food for the first part of the trip with Sarek in mind. Oh well, we’re motivated!

Our plan is to start in Abisko (the classic route), head to Vakkotavare (also classic, but with some variations to avoid the official trail and the crowds), then continue the Kungsleden from Saltoluokta. Before reaching Aktse, we’ll set off on an east-to-west crossing of Sarek (weather-dependent, since aside from the Skarja hut in the center of the park, there’s no shelter if conditions turn bad). At least we’ll be on the right side of the park to climb Skierfe and enjoy the jaw-dropping view of Rappaladen if we have to bail on Sarek.

All in all, that’s 17 days of trekking, including 1 rest day and 1 buffer day for weather delays.

So if you’re interested, I invite you to follow our fully packed backpacks!

08/03 - Abisko – 5km before Abiskojaure Some info (guides we used for prep, SFT map, sending food to Saltoluokta) 08/04 – 5km before Abiskojaure - on the east shore of Lake Alisjavri 08/05 – East shore of Lake Alisjavri – just before Tjaktja 08/06 – Just before Tjaktja – above the Salka hut via Nallo 08/07 - Salka – just past Singi + side trip to Djalson Lake 08/08 - Singi – Teusajaure 08/09 - Teusajaure - Vakkotavare (end of the first section of the Kungsleden) 08/10 – rest day in Saltoluokta + round trip to the Sámi village of Pietjaure 08/11 – Saltoluokta – Sitojaure 08/12 - Sitojaure - Skierfe - Sarek or no Sarek? 08/13 – Skierfe – somewhere above Rapadalen 08/14 – Somewhere above Rapadalen – above the Skarki hut 08/15 – Above the Skarki hut - Skarja 08/16 – Camping at Skarja 08/17 – Ruohtesvagge 08/18 – Ruohtesvagge - Padjelantaleden 08/19 – Padjelantaleden - Ritsem – End of the trek 08/20–24 - End of the trip (Lullea - Stockholm) And of course, the recap
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Aleph240758 5 days ago
New adventures from Perpignan to Ranchi (Jharkhand)
March 2nd — Departure by bus from Latour at 6:50 AM. The journey isn’t direct: we pass through Elne then Corneilla. In Perpignan, I switch to a BlablaBus heading to Barcelona’s northern bus station. Before reaching Le Perthus, French police stop us to check IDs. Several people aren’t in order, but after about fifteen minutes, we’re on our way again. We’re checked again at La Jonquera: this time, the wait lasts almost forty-five minutes while police identify those in violation and wait for a vehicle to pick them up. The driver then tries to make up for lost time; we finally arrive at our destination half an hour late.

I quickly head to the Arc de Triomphe metro station, located 200 meters away: you have to cross the bridge along the bus parking lot, then walk through a large garden; the station is on the right before the garden entrance. The trip to the airport isn’t direct: I have to change at Tomasso and take the line to the airport, where I arrive at 1 PM.

At the Emirates counter, I learn my flight was just canceled due to the war in Iran; they offer me another flight for the next day. I have to wait at the airport until 7 PM before being taken to a hotel; the next morning, I’ll take a flight to Vienna (with an 8-hour layover), then an Air India flight to Delhi, and finally a flight to Kolkata. I agree: I don’t know Vienna, so it’ll be an unexpected discovery.

At 7 PM, a small group is taken to the hotel, 35 minutes from the airport, where we’re served a light dinner upon arrival.

March 3rd — A taxi picks me up at 6:30 AM; the flight to Vienna takes off at 9:30 AM and arrives at noon. I’m free until 7 PM; the metro is direct to the city center. The weather is pleasant and not too cold, luckily, since my clothes are light.

When I exit the metro, I spot the St. Stephen’s Cathedral tower in the distance and approach it: the roof, made of glazed tiles, is remarkable.



Entry is free, and the interior, a mix of Gothic and Baroque styles in the center, is stunning.



Not far from there is St. Anne’s Church



, also Baroque, adorned with beautiful frescoes



—a music concert adds an enchanting atmosphere to the visit. I continue my walk at random through the pedestrian streets lined with magnificent buildings: I’m charmed by the city.







Before heading back to the airport, I stop at a lovely tea salon. My flight will eventually leave with a delay.

Wednesday, March 4th — Delhi and a little luggage scare We arrive in Delhi shortly after noon. Immigration is quick, and good news: my bag was checked through from Barcelona to Kolkata. I head to the connecting terminal and arrive half an hour before boarding: the flight goes smoothly. Upon arrival, the luggage comes out quickly… except mine. After filing a report, I’m told my bag is in Delhi—I have to retrieve it before taking another flight. I didn’t know (or had forgotten): with the delays, I wouldn’t have had time to pick it up and make the connection.

I take a taxi to the Ichamati Hotel. The welcome is warm, and the room is clean but very small. Without my bag, I feel a bit lost—I have nothing to change into.

Tonight, I’m dining with Raja and his friends at a beautiful restaurant, an old colonial house turned into a hotel.





We’re happy to see each other and have a comforting evening together.
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RichardXI 5 days ago
Page by Page on the Assisi Way – 1,200 km on Foot
Preamble

June 2024. While hiking with my brother on the GR 36 Tour du Morvan, I catch sight now and then of strange rectangular markers fixed to tree trunks. Against a bright orange background, a deep black Greek tau topped with a white dove. My first encounter with the Assisi Way. The Way of St. Francis: a pilgrimage route linking Vézelay in Burgundy to Assisi in Italy, covering nearly 1,800 km. It felt like an obvious next step—I immediately knew I’d take it on, attempt the adventure solo.



In the months that followed, I talked about my project to everyone—family, friends, my partner. An avalanche of comments, more or less the same but varying depending on each person’s character and life experiences. But deep down, it all boiled down to one legitimate question: why?

And the answers? Hesitant, awkward, partial, even confused. I quickly realized they weren’t so easy to find. It was as if my project seemed more like a whim, a kind of intimate caprice, rather than a well-thought-out plan. Of course, I knew the reasons that pushed me to leave—you always have to give some. Loved ones need to understand to feel reassured, and that’s understandable. But I fear that when I list them, they’ll sound like the same old checklist anyone embarking on this kind of journey might give. Of all the reasons I could mention, I’ll highlight just one here: the call of the road, the solo adventure that brings a powerful sense of freedom. A bit like Monsieur Seguin’s goat, who from her comfortable pen gazes longingly at the unconstrained horizon of the mountain. But if I’m being honest, I think I didn’t really know what I was looking for—or, more importantly, what I’d find. Deep down, when I reflect on it, one word keeps coming up that explains nothing and everything at once: desire.

Now well past sixty, I know that when I ask myself who I am or where I’m going, two things bring me fully back to myself: hiking and writing. And my intention was also to anchor this adventure through words, day by day. Writing down my feelings, emotions, discoveries, and reflections each evening. The famous travel journal that grounds the daily experience in reality. When I discovered the app "Polarstep," which was initially just meant to keep my loved ones updated and reassured, inform them of my progress, and maintain a connection, I found an opportunity to do it a little differently than usual. No retrospective notes polished up after returning, but spontaneous writing—recounting everything that crossed my mind during the day and publishing it immediately. A journey lived in real time.

This text is the exact transcription of my daily writings. Rereading them, I didn’t change a thing—just corrected a few mistakes and tweaked some awkward phrasing here and there. Short texts, fitting the format imposed by this kind of app. Writing as if addressing others.

Now, all that was left was to walk. April 18, 2026 – Vézelay.

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Jojoone1 7 days ago
All Over Thailand
You can post your personal photos in the following thread: https://voyageforum.com/forum/quelque-part-en-thailande-d10655574/

This travel journal is therefore intended solely for my photos, to present a consistent style. All the shots were taken with a simple Samsung Galaxy smartphone and with whatever was at hand.

All stays combined, I’ve spent the equivalent of a year at most in Thailand, and I’m no great expert. However, after many trips, lots of reading on VoyageForum and other sites, and conversations with many locals as well as expats, my view of the country is becoming clearer, though it’s constantly evolving. You never stop discovering and learning.

I guess I wanted to deliver a puzzle, mainly for those who want to get an idea of the country here and for those who feel nostalgic about it. I don’t know if this minimalist sharing will interest anyone, but it’ll do me good to put it together. After so many months without traveling and then these other long months with VF closed, there’s plenty of material available.

There’ll be a mix of places, periods, and subjects, but it might well be intentional.



I suspect many Thais have dogs because they make excellent guardians for the home. Nothing better to deter burglars or to signal the presence of a snake. You’ll often see Thais tapping the top of their dog’s head, but don’t be fooled: it’s a sign of affection from them. Judging by the dogs’ reactions, they’re used to it.

Thailand is one of the countries on the planet where rabies is still present, so keep that in mind. It’s not just bites that can be dangerous, so don’t let just any dog lick you. Especially on a wound, of course. Even though dogs often fear humans—this dangerous and unpredictable predator—we still need to stay cautious. Be careful when walking into alleys because the dog will defend its master’s big yard. Be careful at night, and be careful when they’re in packs. It sometimes crosses our minds that Thailand isn’t all that made for walking around, and dogs are one of the reasons. That said, it’s not uncommon to see them chasing bikes or scooters. Cars, though? Much rarer—they’re too big.

It seems Thais prefer to give their dogs freedom by not locking them behind gates. Though sometimes the gate is closed, the little side door is wide open. Oh, and sometimes there’s no gate in front of the property, or it’s been full of holes for years.

You’ll often see dogs sleeping on the roadside, sometimes right on the road. When you approach, they move aside nonchalantly—or not at all. It’s less funny when they suddenly appear from thick vegetation, reminding visitors not to drive too fast. As a result, you’ll notice that dogs with injuries or missing legs aren’t that rare.

Since they believe in reincarnation and respect for all forms of life, they don’t chase dog packs away too much, and they don’t sterilize them enough. When you see a small pack roaming freely in the countryside, you think twice about running into them at the edge of a field. A darker side of this is that euthanasia isn’t often practiced. Twice, we saw dogs at death’s door in temples, enduring terrible suffering with no one to help. The image (and the smell) of one of them, agonizing and exuding the stench of death, still comes back to me sometimes.

Some of you may have seen the YouTube vlog of a French woman living in Phuket who was given a little pig by her Thai friends. The animal, well-fed, quickly became a happy and enormous beast with its own garden. Yet it didn’t take long for it to fall seriously ill and become incurable. In her video, the French woman described how difficult it was to find a vet willing to perform euthanasia.

You’ll often see bowls by the side of the road. Thais leave food and water there for stray cats and dogs. Overall, they have a big heart for animals.

If you ever pop into a shopping mall, you might see people pushing their small dogs in strollers. It’s not just for fun—these strollers are provided for customers to put their pets in, otherwise you can’t bring them inside. It looks a bit odd when you expect to see a baby.
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Zigomar67 last week · Puma2A
Argentine and Chilean Patagonia from El Calafate to Ushuaia
This travel journal summarizes a trip I took in March to Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. It starts in El Calafate and ends in Ushuaia. During my planning, I considered looking into the Australis cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, as well as the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park. In both cases, I was put off by the prices. Instead of the cruise, I found two interesting wildlife excursions from Punta Arenas: whale watching in the Strait of Magellan and observing king penguins in Tierra del Fuego. The journey to Ushuaia was by bus. For Torres del Paine, things were a bit confusing, so I reached out to two agencies. In the end, I went with a rental car option, overnight stays on-site, and day hikes. I shared my full itinerary with the agency and ended up being taken care of by a local Argentine agency and a Chilean one. So, here we go...
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Nathalie971 2 weeks ago
From Southern Shikoku, between land and sea, to the blue waters of Miyakojima and finally the Tokyo metropolis
From Southern Shikoku, between land and sea, to the blue waters of Miyakojima and finally Tokyo’s megacity

Hi everyone,

I have to admit, I really hesitated before deciding to write this travel journal... Writing one takes a lot of time and energy, and since this is my 4th trip, I wondered if it would even interest anyone other than myself (both for the discovery and the writing). But after a few people asked, "Are you going to write a journal?" and especially after rediscovering the joy of reading other travelers’ journals about Japan or elsewhere on this forum, I’ve decided to share my 4th installment in the Land of the Rising Sun here.

The itinerary: 27 full days, from late May to late June 2025, right in the middle of the rainy season, including:

-->13 days in Shikoku, from Kochi (Kochi Prefecture) to Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture)



-->7 days in Miyakojima (Okinawa Prefecture)



-->7 days in Tokyo



The trip was decided on fairly last-minute again this year.

Since I regularly check flight prices to track fluctuations for this destination even without concrete plans, stumbling upon a slightly cheaper direct flight (900 €) than what I’d seen in previous months (around 1,200–1,400 € on average) for a Paris-Tokyo route with Japanese airline ANA was too tempting to resist the urge to return to this enchanting country. After much hesitation between exploring the San’in region (Matsue, Tottori, Yamaguchi) and Southern Shikoku, the decision was made—I took the plunge! The ticket is booked: Paris to Kochi with a layover in Tokyo, all with ANA, the airline I’d been dreaming of... for 1,120 € per person. Okay, it’s not cheap, but it’s better than in 2023.

Departure in 2 weeks! Now I just have to get everything ready!

Intense prep work over these next 2 weeks to:

finalize a more precise itinerary and reach an agreement—yep, because even though we both love Japan, our preferences differ slightly, and we have to choose between exploring new places or revisiting beloved spots... decide how much time to spend in each area without rushing while still exploring research places that might interest us and watch videos about Japan book accommodations: yes, it’s possible to do this on the spot, but last year, we realized that last-minute options were pretty expensive, so we’re booking ahead—though we’ll keep a few options open in case better deals pop up later reserve rental cars order yen check the weather regularly and wonder if choosing the *tsuyu* (rainy season) was really a good idea—are we going to be drenched the whole time???

"What hard work," you might say! Going to Japan for a month—what a tough life! Despite this being my 4th trip, the excitement is just as intense as the first time.

The only small downside is that when we booked the flight, there weren’t many seats left, so we’re only sitting together on the international return flight. Plus, on the way there, we have middle seats. Another lingering question: what French-language films will be available? According to the internet, the selection seems limited. Oh well, these are just minor details—it’s already time to fly! PS: I’ll be posting slowly and irregularly... so for those interested, be patient, and maybe set an alert...
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Cendryon 2 weeks ago · Eole34
Kattegat Tour and Norway’s Majestic Fjords – 32 Days (Denmark, Sweden, Norway)
Kattegat isn’t just the name of the village in the TV series *Vikings*—it’s also the stretch of water separating Denmark from Sweden... the sea, basically! And further north, you’ve got Norway and its fjords! Originally, I’d planned to just do a loop around Kattegat, with the *Under* restaurant in Lindesnes as our anniversary treat... but along the way, we thought, why not "push" a little further north, keeping an eye on the budget since we’d chosen to travel by car in June 2025 through Scandinavia.

Why by car when most travelers opt for a camper van, while others prefer the comfort of cruises? Well, because we don’t own a camper van, renting one is pricey, and then you’ve got to add fuel costs (those things guzzle gas!), ferry fees, and other "tolls." All things considered, we went for mostly rentals—especially since there were four of us at the start of the trip. We spent the first week in Denmark with our daughter and son-in-law. Then they flew back to Belgium, and we continued our adventure as a couple. For accommodation, we mainly booked Airbnb apartments, which helped keep costs down and, most importantly, let us prepare our own meals (diet, diet!). In this travel journal, you’ll discover (or rediscover, for those who followed my older ones) our unbridled love for theme parks, museums, unique experiences, and—especially in Denmark—Legos! Unfortunately, we didn’t do any hikes this year because the unpredictable weather had made the trails slippery, and since I’d already taken three tumbles during the trip, I didn’t want to risk another! In the end, we traveled for 32 days, covered 6,200 km, and most importantly, discovered the charming country of Denmark, marveled at Norway’s breathtaking fjords—all without suffering the heatwave that hit France and Belgium that June! If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
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Servanel 2 weeks ago · Vandfaure
Two weeks in Malaysia in September 2017
Hi there,

Here’s our account of our trip to Malaysia from September 11th to 27th. I hope our tips can help others as much as this forum has helped us!

Day 0:

Departure from Nantes with a transfer in Amsterdam via KLM (720 €).

Day 1:

We arrive at KLIA1 in the early afternoon. First challenge: figuring out where to pick up our luggage. Turns out the answer is right under our noses—we need to take the airport’s internal metro! Once we’ve got our bags, we withdraw some cash from a Maybank ATM right there. Next up: SIM card! Just outside the arrivals hall, several kiosks offer them. We go for a Celcom 5 GB card (70 RM). Then it’s taxi time to get to KL, in the Bukit Bintang area—about 85 RM in a slightly old taxi with weak air conditioning. We check into our Airbnb apartment, which is clean, more spacious than a hotel room, and—best of all—has a charming balcony with a gorgeous nighttime view!



We end up hanging out on that balcony, reviewing our plans for the next day. After dark, we take the monorail just a short walk away to enjoy our first evening on a rooftop at the 34th floor: Hélipad (Raja Chulan station—you have to enter the Menara Tower at the base of the station) with a panoramic view of the city and its iconic towers.





Finally, we head to Jalan Alor to grab a bite in this super busy street. Big sleep ahead! 😴
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Muriel18 2 weeks ago · Puma2A
Two weeks under the Puglia sun
After a pretty disastrous weather-wise trip to Gran Canaria, we’re hoping this time the sun will shine in Puglia. It’s not a sure thing, though—the weather’s been awful all over Europe in early May.

For those who’d like to (re)read the story without the digressions, it’s here.

Saturday, May 16: This time we’re flying out of Charleroi (Brussels South): the ticket prices, flight times, and proximity all worked for us. The airport (Ryanair) was recently renovated... but it’s still not very well organized. There are hardly any seats in the boarding areas, and... the restrooms cost money!!! The flight goes smoothly, though, and we land in Bari a little late.

We quickly pick up our rental car, a very local-looking Pandina (even more so than the Fiat 500 in this region), and hit the Italian roads... and their unique driving quirks (like the fact that the countless road signs along the streets and in towns are purely decorative 😏, and that Italian cars don’t have turn signals 😮... except for rental cars).

About an hour later, we arrive at our first accommodation, right in the middle of the countryside near Monopoli. The owner isn’t there, but they’ve left us a ton of info via messages and even turned on the space heater, which is a nice touch. We explore the property:



And the next morning before breakfast, its immediate surroundings:





Sunday, May 17: After our "seaside" experience in Gran Canaria last weekend (packed with people and locals), we decide to start inland. After a hearty breakfast,



we head toward Alberobello, a super touristy village famous for its trulli—those stone houses with conical roofs. We easily find a free parking spot on a street near the Aia Piccola district, where some trulli are still lived in year-round.





We almost immediately come across the Trullo Sovrano (the only two-story one), which you can visit (but we skip it—it’s opening time, and there’s already a line).



From there, we head down toward the Basilica of Cosma e Damiano... but we don’t go in because there’s a mass.



Now we’re on the main Piazza del Popolo, which connects the two districts of Alberobello: Rione Aia Piccola and Rione Monti, the more touristy one.
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Fabhyène 2 weeks ago · Chrisfenua
3 weeks in Laos, stress-free
Come along, I'm taking you to this country where it's so nice to wander and slow down...

This trip was in 2023, but when I wanted to write my travel journal, VF was still closed to contributions... So, now that I've just finished my Japan travel journal here, I figured it was high time to honor this destination we came back from so enchanted. Disclaimer 1: This is a written travel journal. There’ll be text! Too much, for some! Disclaimer 2: This is an illustrated travel journal. There’ll be photos! Too many, for some!

I have to say, every time I try to discipline myself, to keep it shorter, to include fewer photos... I end up adding more. It feels like my dear Aunt Nicole, who exhausted us with her slide-show evenings in the 70s/80s, decided to take her revenge. The upside for you, readers, is that you can slip away anytime without offending Aunt Nicole. I won’t even notice!

Anyway, since I love maps, here’s one to give you an idea of where I’m taking you. As you can see, we only saw a tiny part of Laos (the areas circled in red); we only had 3 weeks for ourselves (my husband’s newly retired, I still work), and we prefer taking our time over rushing around like crazy.



In broad strokes, it was very classic:

First, we “settled in” at Luang Prabang (8 days), because we wanted and needed to. From there, we took three days to venture a little further north—not far in kilometers, but as we know, distances aren’t just about km! Then we flew south to Paksé, letting ourselves drift down to the 4,000 Islands while stopping by the pre-Angkorian archaeological sites. We wrapped up with the Bolaven Plateau.

A few practical notes: We arrived via Bangkok, then took a Bangkok-Luang Prabang flight, having picked up our luggage in Bangkok to check it in for Luang Prabang. No issues—the Bangkok airport, which many of you know, is very well organized. We got our visas on arrival in Luang Prabang. Quick, but to be fair, we were on a “small” plane, and the big flights had arrived earlier, so we weren’t too crowded in line! At the end of our trip, we didn’t fly out of Paksé but from the nearby airport in Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani (a 2.5-hour drive from Paksé), then Bangkok and Paris. You’ll notice we skipped Vientiane to stay longer in Luang Prabang. That said, there’s now a high-speed train between Vientiane and Luang Prabang—good to know—and soon the (Chinese) train will go all the way to Bangkok and even Kuala Lumpur!

With that intro out of the way, let’s dive into the heart of the matter. To be continued: Slowing down the pace... in Luang Prabang
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Torpan 3 weeks ago · Tulipe57
Japan: First Discovery!
Here’s a little story about my first trip to Japan with my partner. We went for our first visit from October 29 to November 13, 2024.

I had planned this entire trip back in November 2020, but given the health situation at the time, I had to cancel...

Here’s the classic route we took:

We booked everything ourselves and got a regional pass for the area from Kyoto to Hiroshima. The hotels were reserved 3 months in advance on Book... and Agod... (1030 € for 2 people for 13 nights = 80 €/night). For the flight, we chose a Qatar Airways flight with a layover to break up the long journey (950 € per person). We also got a pass on the same site (Japan-Experience) to take the train connecting Narita Airport to Shibuya Station (the N'EX Narita Express). Since the airport is 75 km from central Tokyo, we opted for this mode of transport, even though there are cheaper alternatives. After reading various posts on VoyageForum, I understood how important it was to have a Welcome Suica card to pay for public transport (subway, tram, bus, boat throughout the country), and we were able to buy one at Narita Airport. It turned out to be super useful! After a long but smooth journey, we found ourselves at Narita Airport in the evening. Even though we had a pass for the Narita Express, we had to go to a counter to make a reservation for the train (mandatory). Then, once we arrived at Shibuya Station, we took the subway for 2 stops and finally reached our hotel, exhausted (Hotel Asia Center of Japan – 270 € for 3 nights with breakfast included).
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Fabhyène 3 weeks ago · Tulipe57
Draw Me Your Japan...
Hi there!

I’m inviting you on a stroll through my drawings—a completely subjective, far from exhaustive, and totally personal take, since it’s based on my own sketches. I put this travel journal together after returning in late 2024, mostly using felt-tip pens and pencils, with a few collages thrown in. I worked from our personal photos.

Let’s start with the shotengai...



Our first "wow" moment came as we stepped out of the subway in Asakusa, the Tokyo neighborhood where we’d booked our hotel for our first five nights. Exhausted after our long flight, we finally arrived and took an exit that led straight into a shotengai—one of those covered shopping streets that pop up in city centers and flourished between the 1950s and 1980s.

It was an instant aesthetic shock, like a close encounter of the third kind between the modern city, a typical Asian market with its street stalls, the vintage vibe of the arcade, the sheer abundance of goods, and the bustling crowd—a mix of tourists, pilgrims (thanks to nearby Senso-ji Temple), and locals (it’s a very working-class area). In the end, it set the tone for a feeling we’d experience throughout the trip. Wherever we went, shotengai turned out to be fantastic spots for finding little restaurants, shops, or even fresh produce. Some are like real mazes, like in Kyoto, where we spent ages trying to relocate a restaurant we’d loved ;-)

In Kanazawa, the Omicho Market: And in Kyoto, Nishiki Market:

To be continued...
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Holigirl 3 weeks ago · Solene40
South Africa in safari mode: February/March 2026
Hi everyone,

With my girlfriend Christelle, we’ve chosen South Africa for our first trip to Southern Africa, focusing on safaris—after a long debate with a Cape Town/Kruger combo. But that would’ve meant cutting out St Lucia, which would’ve been harder to fit into another trip. And St Lucia—thanks to Michel and all those travel journals—we really wanted to go there.

So our 11-night itinerary ended up like this, mostly shaped by school holidays: - 3 nights in St Lucia - 1 night in Hluhluwe - 1 night at Mkhaya Game Reserve (Eswatini) - 1 night at Hlane Royal National Park (Eswatini) - 3 nights in Kruger (Berg en Dal / Satara / Tamboti) - 1 night at Shindzela Tented Camp in the Timbavati private reserve - 1 final night in Kruger at Lower Sabie

All of this in the off-season and rainy season, just a month after catastrophic floods that killed over 150 people and seriously damaged Kruger’s infrastructure.

I’ll jump straight to St Lucia and skip the loooong journey to get there (with a layover in Frankfurt, landing in Johannesburg, a domestic flight to Durban, and the rest by rental SUV—First Car Rental, perfect, no complaints).

To motivate readers—especially some familiar faces here—I’ll drop in a first photo.

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Caroki 3 weeks ago
Three weeks in Albania with two older teens
We went to Albania in August 2025. Our itinerary included adventure (sporty activities, site visits), naps on the beach interspersed with swims, incredible natural sites, and a bit of culture.

I booked all our accommodations on Booking.com. Note: almost all places ask to be paid in cash!! You can obviously withdraw from banks, but the fees are pretty high. Luckily, we had plenty of cash, and the country is very safe. You can pay in euros most of the time, which avoids exchange fees. We started in Tirana. I’d read a really interesting post about Albania’s bunkers (link in my profile). We chose to visit Bunk’Art with a guide from the agency that wrote the post. It was fascinating—not only to better understand the country’s history but also because her grandfather was repressed by the regime, and she shared her family’s experience with us.

Bunkers are everywhere! In Tirana, Bunk’Art is the most interesting and largest. You’ll see the dictator Enver Hoxha’s office, where he would’ve taken refuge in case of an attack on the country. Bring a sweater—it’s really cold in the underground tunnels and their huge corridors. You can visit other bunkers around the country, in Tirana and elsewhere. Almost all are just abandoned. The cable car up Mount Dajti is right next to Bunk’Art. The view is stunning—you realize Tirana is so close to the mountains and the sea... But otherwise, it’s not that exciting for older teens (17 and 19) and their parents. We picked up a rental car in Tirana—it’d be ours for the next three weeks. We used Goalbania’s agency to avoid any hassles. First, there aren’t many cars available in Albania in summer. Second, French credit cards can be a nightmare abroad. So we preferred to sort that out in advance. After Tirana, we headed to Permet. Just a heads-up: the roads are in great condition except in the mountains. And Albanian drivers aren’t stressful to deal with. Though you might suddenly encounter a herd of goats crossing the road—haha—but if you’re not going too fast, it’s fine. In Permet, I’d been dreaming of rafting on the Vjosa, one of Europe’s last wild rivers. And we did it with a local agency! It’s beautiful, accessible to everyone, not too physical but still a bit lively—just how we like it. You can even jump into the river in some spots. In Permet, we also hiked through a canyon and visited a lovely little church.



And we took a workshop to make their local culinary pride: gliko. It’s a jam with whole fruits inside. We’d seen it on Goalbania’s site, and it was really fun. We were with a family where the secret to making gliko has been passed down for generations... Next, we headed to Gjirokastër. A city we loved: its old traditional houses (Skendulli and Zekate), its grand castle, the Ali Pasha Bridge. Along the way, we stopped for artisanal ice cream at a little shop run by a grandmother who’s been making it herself for ages.



One afternoon, my husband *had* to go to the coast in the south, to Ksamil (he’d read it was better than Sarandë). Verdict: we didn’t like it. Parking is a nightmare, the beaches are super noisy and crowded. The sea is packed with jet skis, boats, pedalos, and ropes. Avoid it.

On the other hand, we really liked Himarë, where we went next. We stayed at a campsite where we rented tents with mattresses and sheets inside. Right by the sea, on a low cliff (about 2 meters high). You can hear the waves at night... Magical!! To swim, you either jump straight into the sea (almost from the tent) or climb down a ladder, which you’ll need to climb back up to get out.



I was a little worried the campsite wouldn’t be very comfortable, so afterward, I’d booked a small place in Gjilek. Turns out, the place was really tiny (one room for four, no kitchen) and pretty expensive (over 100 € a night). We’d drive to the beach or restaurants—it’s on a steep slope, so not very accessible. Parking near the sea is tricky. But the (private) beaches were nice—we’d rent an umbrella not too close to the music and spend the day there. We also went to a wilder beach, harder to reach, via a long path. Behind the beach, there’s an amazing canyon where we’d sometimes climb using ropes (already in place, no need to bring your own) over big boulders rolled around by the stream, which must swell a lot in spring. So, the sea in Albania: it’s nice if you like swimming and relaxing, but it’s not the most interesting part of the country. There are so many other amazing things to see and discover—so many stunning sites! Maybe an agency could’ve helped us find more practical accommodations and avoid Ksamil and its surroundings. We left the coast to head to the beautiful city of Berat and its "thousand windows." We explored the city, its fortress, and its icon museum.



Then we discovered the Osum Canyon—it’s incredible. The view from the top is breathtaking. And at the bottom, it’s magical. There’s little water in summer, so rafting isn’t an option. We weren’t tempted by the big-tube descent offered by an agency—it looked fun, but the group had 40 people. We preferred hiking on our own as a family of four. We scouted the area on Google Maps... and found where to descend. We walked in the water, then it rose to our waists, then our shoulders... We weren’t moving fast. And how to get back up?? Eventually, we followed a group with a guide—the path was hard to find.



After that unforgettable hike, we visited the Bogovë Waterfalls. It’s pretty, and we swam, but the water was *really* cold. We passed through Tirana again and then headed to Shkodër. We explored a bit—its charming little streets, the Rozafa Fortress. There’s a tiny museum where you can see *huge* Ottoman stone cannonballs. And they tell you the (charming) story of the young woman who was walled alive in the castle’s foundations to ensure its strength... Shkodër is mostly a stopover to head into the mountains and discover Theth. Our goal: hiking in the Valbona Valley, from Valbona to Theth. We organized the trip ourselves, without an agency, but it took some time to figure everything out. So I’ll save you the trouble—haha. Book your tickets on the Komanilakeferry website. The ticket includes: 🙂 minibus transfer from downtown Shkodër to Koman 🙂 ferry ticket from Koman to Fierze. This ferry ride is *gorgeous*—between mountain slopes covered in pine trees, and sometimes a little house with a few fields...



🙂 minibus ticket from Fierze to Valbona. Now you’re in the mountains! The minibus drops you off near your accommodation—pick one as close as possible to the start of the hike (if that’s your goal!). The ones at the far end of the village add up to 1.5 hours of walking. Our choice: Guesthouse Dioni. The host is really lovely, it’s in the woods, and it’s basic but great. After a day of hiking, we arrived in Theth. What beautiful mountains! Then we explored Theth and the surrounding area. It’s pretty busy, but you can still enjoy the Blue Eye of Theth and its swim. It’s *so* cold! But so beautiful!



🙂 minibus ticket from Theth back to Shkodër. After a night in Shkodër, we drove to Kepi i Rodonit. A guidebook (I forget which one) raved about its beauty. And it *is* beautiful!



But the view is ruined by plastic bottles and other trash in the bushes, along the paths, and of course on the beaches. The only peaceful spot: the private beach at Kepi i Rodonit, which is cleaned. You can rent an umbrella and have lunch there. That’s where we spent our last few days—very relaxing. In short... Albania turned out to be perfect for us and our teens!
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Attila 3 weeks ago · ReneVoyageur
Albania in Autumn Colors
A new work assignment means our vacation dates can't stay the same.

We had planned to go to the Canary Islands, but flight prices are skyrocketing with this new holiday schedule.

So, I’m looking for an alternative to Gran Canaria and El Hierro and found two round-trip flights with Wizz Air to Tirana.

398 €, including baggage and seats—perfect!

Plus, the departure and return times are great, which is pretty rare for a low-cost flight!

All that’s left is to rent a car, plan the route, and book accommodations.

With two weeks, we’ll have to make some choices!

Here’s the final itinerary: Shkodra (2 nights), Valbonë (3 nights), Tirana (1 night), Lake Ohrid (1 night), Korçë (1 night), Përmet (1 night), Gjirokastër (1 night), Himarë (2 nights), Berat (2 nights), and Krujë (1 night).

A mix of countryside and small towns, a bit of the Mediterranean, and some mountains!

Late October isn’t the best season, so let’s keep our fingers crossed for the rest...

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6cha38 3 weeks ago
Our family trip from Denver to Yellowstone – a recap
Hi there,

I’m diving into a recap of our loop—pretty classic, really—Denver-Yellowstone-Denver this past summer, from July 24 to August 17. Given the sheer number of trip reports already out there (or in the works), and since I don’t have the writing chops or the photography skills of many of you, I’ll keep it practical—well, I’ll try, at least—to share our take on some of the less-visited parks and spots.

First off, a huge thank you to everyone whose trip reports, blogs, websites, comments, and more helped us put together this itinerary. Looking back, it could’ve been even better optimized: a few disappointments when we missed out on some great discoveries, often because we were short on time. Plenty of reasons to come back to the area!

We’re traveling with our four (almost) teens—18, 16, 14, and nearly 12 years old. To keep the trip enjoyable for everyone, we had to make compromises on both sides: cutting a visit short to spend more time swimming, waking up at dawn, and so on. But logistics also played a big role—things like laundry, grocery shopping, and keeping luggage organized could’ve quickly become time-consuming without a little planning. And honestly, I think we visited every Walmart along the way! Blame it on the lack of fridges in some accommodations and, more importantly, the *very* limited space in the car, which made it impossible to bring a proper cooler. I’ll come back to the car saga later.

For accommodations, this year we alternated between basic cabins in KOA campgrounds and Yellowstone (when staying more than one night in the same place) and hotels. Always with a pool (except in Yellowstone, of course), which let the kids burn off energy—because they always have reserves, even after packed days!—and, let’s be honest, gave us a chance to relax. No Wi-Fi issues either; we all had plans with 25 GB of data (a big thanks to Gilles for the amazing deal at 0.99 €). It worked perfectly, even for texts and calls between phones—no extra charges.

Now, onto our route: as I mentioned, a classic Denver-Yellowstone-Denver loop. To avoid rushing through the parks or spending all our time on the road, we prioritized staying as close to them as possible, with at least two nights in each place. And I’ve got to say, it’s really nice to settle in, even if it’s just for two nights. It also helped us deal with the weather, which wasn’t always great during this trip. The trade-off? With vacation time being limited, some driving days ended up being long. We knew that going in, but since we kept a relaxed pace with no time constraints (don’t ask me for timings—I don’t keep track of the clock on vacation, except in the morning to get everyone up before noon!), we sometimes ended up with marathon days.

With that said, I’ll dive into the trip itself in the next post.
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Attila 4 weeks ago
Storm in the Canary Islands
15 days across Gran Canaria, El Hierro, and a dash of Tenerife under the storm Thérèse!

The planned itinerary will be slightly disrupted...

(The version without discussions is here)
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Montagnard74 4 weeks ago
CAPE VERDE 2025: 3 weeks, 4 islands.
And we still haven’t seen everything! Before setting off for new horizons at the end of this year, it’s time for me to share my trip to Cape Verde this summer 2025.

I particularly love these spontaneous trips, and our stay in Cape Verde is one of those because it was only at the beginning of April that we decided on this getaway, which had been catching our eye for a while, given our love for the mountains.

As always—well, when it’s open—I turned to VF, and I want to immediately thank Marie, aka ptitortue, who helped me a lot in planning this trip through her travel journals and our exchanges!

Because Cape Verde is both small and vast! We decided not to rush from one airport to another, to enjoy the places and the people, but also to relax, since the work backlog from being stuck in May (see my previous travel journal 😅) had to be caught up on in June.

So, 4 islands will be our winners from 06/28 to 07/19:

Santiago first for logistical reasons, as round-trip flights from the capital Praia were the cheapest (650 €/person from Lyon via Lisbon with TAP, still!)

São Vicente, because it’s the gateway to the next one but ultimately more than that...

Santo Antão, pretty much the main goal of the trip since Marie (and the photos) had really sold it to me.

And finally, Sal Island, for some rest—a non-negotiable condition for my other half—and we’ll see that I should’ve listened to Marie...

That said, what a chatterbox I am—buckle up, flight attendants at the doors, off we go on new beautiful escapes! (Thanks to Sophie for the easy loan)

Last note for my eager fan club 😏: yes, there will be alcohol—how could there not be in the land of grogue!

It starts here:

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=10790234;a=10790234

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Songsam 4 weeks ago
Far from the daily grind*
Hello, Since I enjoy not only the countryside but also everything related to rail travel, I’m starting this photo thread dedicated to trains in Thailand (I’d guess most of us have taken one at some point...). Feel free to post your pictures here as long as they fit the theme: rolling stock**, stations**, platforms, tracks (even without a train on them), technical equipment, engineering structures (bridges, viaducts), etc.—all in Thailand. For each photo, I’ll (or you can) note the station or line where it was taken. Comments and questions are welcome.

* train ** interiors or exteriors

All aboard!
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Jojoone1 4 weeks ago
From the Awakening to Travel to Morocco in the 90s
As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I inherited my love of travel from my parents and some of my grandparents. A strong passion, but one that was unfortunately limited by our family’s modest resources. Back then, living in northern Alsace, a simple trip to the southern part of the region—with the Wine Route as our destination—felt like an extraordinary journey to a land of plenty for the little boy I was in the late 60s and early 70s. Everything seemed so huge when you were still just a kid. Back then, I was overwhelmed by countless sensations—I was already highly sensitive, with a keen mind and a nose and taste buds that were developing like a pro’s. Which, as I’d later realize, wasn’t always an advantage.



Those magical days always began with a gentle late-spring or midsummer morning. The interior of the white Peugeot 404, license plate 210 LZ 67, had already soaked up the sun before the engine purred to life, and the cabin gave off a scent I could still recognize today—a fragrance I found so pleasant. Back then, I had no idea it was just the smell of warm plastic from the car’s interior. Yes, the scents of the 404 on sunny days became my madeleine de Proust... What’s more, the whole family was unusually cheerful because those moments of relaxation and leisure were rare. Everyone worked, and no one had an easy job or was well paid. Without the *Trente Glorieuses*, these experiences might never have happened.



Once we crossed the canton’s borders, I felt like I was light-years away from my everyday surroundings, and every kilometer plunged me deeper into *terra incognita*. It was thrilling. Far from my so-called "medium-sized" town, wheat fields, cornfields, and cabbage patches stretched out, punctuated by tall poles connected by long wires and topped with vegetation—like giant clotheslines without laundry, where magical beanstalks might grow to touch the sky. Back then, I was still far from tasting their product, which was simply beer. At the time, there was still a significant local hop production. Fun fact: it wasn’t until 2002 that Anglo-Saxon scientists proved hops and cannabis belong to the same biological family.

After the fields, the landscape took another step up as it rolled past the little boy’s eyes, often glued to the windows. First came modest hills, then a succession of rolling slopes that soon formed an unbroken chain. Their 700 meters in altitude felt like Himalayan peaks to me—impressive, inert giants, a whole new world. Gazing at them, an intense emotion welled up somewhere between my stomach and lungs, nearly taking my breath away. What mysteries, what treasures did these heights hold? And then there were the cherries on top—the crowning touch that made the scene even more magical: proud, majestic castles perched on the summits like impassive sentinels. Monuments from the past, yet firmly rooted in the present on their rocky spurs. The little boy’s eyes sparkled—he’d been given a castle for Christmas, complete with battlements, towers, a drawbridge, and fully armed knights. He’d watched and lived *Ivanhoe* on the only French TV channel that existed back then.

Only once did my paternal grandfather join us on one of these trips. A tall, intelligent man with a face that could shift from stern to mischievous, clearly full of humor and charisma. Sadly, his relationship with alcohol had taken a toll on his life and, by extension, those of his loved ones. He had a strong personality—if his boss crossed the line, he wouldn’t hesitate to punch him, which meant he went through a lot of different jobs. Back then, you could quit one job and easily find another. It was quite something to see him in his final stages, hallucinating pink elephants and even drinking perfume when he had nothing else left. The last time I saw him, he’d slipped away from the doctors and nurses while hospitalized in pretty bad shape—at least, I assume his liver was the issue. We were sitting down for a family lunch when the door burst open, and there he stood in his pajamas, eyes twinkling with mischief, clearly pleased with the dramatic entrance. That theatrical moment didn’t spare us from burying him a few months later at the age of 71. One day, my mother told me the family doctor had quietly remarked that it was a shame—with his robust constitution, he could’ve lived to be a hundred. Yes, the family doctor—this was the man who’d come treat you any day, at almost any hour, just for a phone call. It really existed, it’s not a myth!

That day, his wife—my paternal grandmother—was also along for the ride. Everyone agreed that Jeannette was a good woman. She worked as a waitress at *Le Tigre*, the biggest brasserie in town, right in the center. Most customers preferred to be served by her, including local dignitaries and even the mayor. As a kid, I didn’t find her very fun, open, or warm—she seemed a bit stern. Back then, women in their fifties already had the face and build of grandmothers. Same went for men, don’t get me wrong. I had no idea about the struggles she faced because of her husband. I didn’t know that 30 years earlier, she’d had to flee Alsace while pregnant, under threat from Nazi fighter-bombers. I didn’t know she’d had several miscarriages, and that my father—her only surviving child, born prematurely in March 1940 at the other end of France—weighed less than a kilo at birth and was so tiny he could fit in a shoebox. Hard to imagine he’d grow into a strapping man nearly 1.80 meters tall, tipping the scales at 100 kilos. When you come back from summer camp in early August and ask why she didn’t pick you up with your parents, and they gently tell you she’s "in heaven," you don’t realize she passed away at 54 after suffering greatly from stomach cancer that had spread.

Back to that family outing, that enchanted parenthesis. I even remembered where we’d had lunch when I passed through Dambach-la-Ville decades later. One of those charming, flower-filled towns Alsace produces in abundance—and preserves so well. This one sits high on a hill, and I was a bit stunned on the parking lot because the view stretched far, revealing the Alsace plain below—its fields, villages, hills, and forests. The world seemed so vast and enticing that day, even though I was only glimpsing a tiny fraction of it.



The region was already very touristy, but I wouldn’t notice the downsides until much later. That Sunday noon, I discovered a large restaurant filled with diners. I can still see the enormous piece of meat they served me, decorated with a little wooden skewer topped with a flag. I kept that one for a long time. Those were the golden days of rich, flowing, thick sauces—so flavorful—and the era of the world’s best fries, made on the spot with the best potatoes. To top it off, I was *exceptionally* allowed a small bottle of apple juice, Orangina, or—even better if possible—Sinalco. Yes, Sinalco—like Orangina, but better. A brand that must’ve disappeared in the 70s, but why, and what a shame! Since then, Orangina’s little bubbles have taken the brand to the other side of the planet—it’s now Japanese.

Year after year, I’d eagerly await that ecstatic moment when the most beautiful castle in Alsace, the Haut-Koenigsbourg, appeared in my field of vision. The perfect model, the archetype that blended into the landscape at the height of a child’s dreams. The trip home always felt like a reality check—less jarring than an alarm clock, but more diffuse and melancholic. From then on, there was only one wish: *When do we leave again?*
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Elis 4 weeks ago · Djalma
9-Day Trek in the Balkans
Hi there, Here’s a recap of a trek through the Balkans covering three countries: Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo. I was with a friend, and we didn’t do the full route (only one day in Kosovo). It was a wonderful trek through snow-capped mountains and vast flower-filled meadows, meeting incredibly welcoming people. At the end of the travel journal, I’ll share what I loved and what I liked less.

Day 1: Flight from Paris-Beauvais to Tirana with Wizz Air. Since Albania isn’t part of Europe when it comes to phone service (at least not yet! :-)), we had to buy a physical SIM card—otherwise, the bill would’ve been sky-high if we’d used our French plan! We got one from Vodafone AL at the airport. You can buy online before leaving with a virtual SIM (e-SIM) for compatible phones, so you don’t have to swap cards. But given the uncertainty about choosing a plan online, we preferred buying one directly at Tirana Airport. Cost: 31 € for 100 GB. That’s way too much—100 GB is overkill. For 40 GB, it’s 27 €, and the plan lasts 21 days. The price difference isn’t huge, and it was cheaper than online. This plan covers all the countries along the Balkan range. Money tip: All guesthouses and accommodations accept euros. The local currency in Albania is the LEK. In Montenegro, it’s the euro. Bank fees for withdrawing money from an ATM in Albania are pretty steep: 8 € for a withdrawal of 600–700 LEK (about 200 €)! So it’s better to withdraw cash (euros) in France. Oh, and we booked all our accommodations before leaving, but payment is always in cash. Budget around 400–500 € for 9 days of trekking.

Then, a transfer the same day to Shköder, about a 2-hour bus ride. Cost: 10 € per person. Tickets bought directly on the bus. We spent the night in Shköder at a very clean guesthouse, Open Doors B&B. It had a small balcony overlooking the city. I really liked Shköder, especially its pedestrian street lined with restaurants and lit up at night. It’s a great place to stroll and eat. The food isn’t expensive—two big salads and two beers: 14 € :-) . Fruit prices are also very reasonable: 3 € for a kilo of cherries, compared to 9–10 € in France. Religions coexist peacefully in these countries—Catholics and Muslims. From our balcony, my friend heard the call to prayer for the first time, coming from one of the city’s mosques.

Day 2: Bus ride to Theth, about 1,100 meters in elevation gain, the starting point for our hike the next day.

The trip took 2 hours and 40 minutes with a break in the middle. The bus was affordable, but taxis also make the trip—though they’re very expensive.



We slept in the heights of Theth at a new guesthouse, "Mountain Vista Shkafi," with an amazing view.

The family was adorable. The husband is a handyman and built almost everything himself. Their baby is named "Sky"—such a cute name, right? :-) Throughout the trek, I found the guesthouses very clean, and the hosts think of everything—no need to bring soap or shampoo; they provide it. Lunch in Theth at a traditional restaurant on the main road. We tried "Tave Dheu," an Albanian dish with beef, cabbage (very common), and cottage cheese. Delicious but not quite filling enough. For dessert, a honey cake that was perfectly moist—such a treat! Desserts like this are rare; sometimes they serve watermelon instead. We took a small private bus for 5 € to the "Blue Eye" parking lot, then walked for about 45 minutes to reach a stunning natural site—a kind of lagoon with incredibly blue water. The bravest can swim, but the water’s freezing!







That evening, we dined at "La Montagne Blanche"—excellent! A delightful mix of grilled meats with potatoes and grilled peppers. Some watermelon slices (which I’m not a fan of) and the famous Raki, a brandy served in Turkey and the Balkans! It was my first time drinking brandy "bottoms up." 😉

To be continued... 😉
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DrCarter 4 weeks ago · Djackx67
Two-week family trip to Colombia in August with 8-year-olds
Hi everyone,

I’d like to share my family trip to Colombia with kids aged 8. After spending hours browsing the forum and only having two weeks there, we decided to focus on two regions: the Coffee Zone for one week and the Caribbean coast for another. We traveled from August 8 to 23.

Day 1 – First stop: Bogotá

We arrived in Bogotá in the evening on an Air France flight—nothing to complain about, decent service, comfortable, and on time. However, the first night was a miss. We’d booked a hotel near the airport (Abitel Prime) for convenience, but the soundproofing was almost nonexistent; we heard planes as if we were on the runway. Luckily, exhaustion helped us sleep well anyway.

Day 2 – Off to the Coffee Zone and Salento

The next morning, we headed to the airport for a domestic flight to Pereira with LATAM. No issues: punctual and efficient, and in 30 minutes, we landed in Pereira. The landing already set a different mood: lush valleys, endless plantations, and humid air. We picked up our rental car from Localiza. Unfortunately, the experience wasn’t smooth—the paperwork took forever, and the wait tested our patience. Finally free, we hit the road to Salento, one of Quindío’s gems. We arrived in the late afternoon and discovered a colorful village bustling with artisan shops and cafés. Our first stroll helped us soak in the atmosphere before dinner at Bambú restaurant—a great surprise with careful cooking and local flavors. We spent the night at Casa Serafín, a charming little hotel, nicely decorated and well-located… but unfortunately very noisy.

Day 3 – The magic of Cocora Valley

This was one of the trip’s highlights. We set off early for Cocora Valley, famous for its giant wax palms, Colombia’s emblem. We chose the 12 km loop recommended by the *Routard*. The landscapes were spectacular: towering palms, rivers, suspension bridges. It felt like walking through a postcard. The weather was perfect. That evening, we dined at Barnabé restaurant—pleasant setting, decent food, but the bill was a bit steep for what it was. Back to Casa Serafín.

Day 4 – Coffee and panoramic views

The plan was a visit to Finca El Ocaso. For 1.5 hours, we followed a passionate guide who explained the entire coffee process, from harvest to cup. Very educational, accessible for both kids and adults, all in a stunning setting. The tour was in English for us, and we translated for our kids, who aren’t bilingual yet. In the afternoon, we climbed to Salento’s viewpoint. The valley view was superb. That evening, we ate at Veggie Garden, a simple and pleasant spot that was a nice change from the heavier meals of previous days.

Day 5 – Horseback ride to Santa Rita Waterfall

We booked a horseback ride with Cocora Magic. It was a real success: calm horses, a beautiful trail, mountain and meadow landscapes, and finally the refreshing and wild Santa Rita Waterfall. Without a doubt, one of the best moments of our time in the region. We even got a bonus ride up a 300-meter hill. We then headed to Filandia, less known than Salento but just as charming. We spent the late afternoon enjoying the pool at MuchoSur Filandia. The hotel is beautiful, in an idyllic setting. However, we also had soundproofing issues and could hear our neighbors.

Day 6 – Rainy detour through Filandia and Manizales

Rain caught up with us in the early morning: torrents of water made it impossible to go out. We stayed at the hotel, reading quietly. By noon, the rain let up: a quick walk in Filandia, a quick lunch, then off to Manizales. We chose to stay at El Otoño hot springs. Great choice: as soon as we arrived, we plunged into the hot pools, perfect after hours on the road.

Day 7 – Hiking and hot springs

In the morning, we hiked the Camino de Super Coco (found somewhat randomly on Google). A pleasant trail with mountain views and a peaceful atmosphere. The afternoon was spent in the hotel’s thermal pools, with a short marked hike down to the river. Dinner on-site at the hot springs’ restaurant. A simple but very relaxing day.

Day 8 – Rain, jacuzzi, and games

We continued to Finca Los Alpes. The rain greeted us again, but this time it turned into an asset: nothing like a steaming jacuzzi with a view of the misty mountains. The kids enjoyed the facilities too: mini-golf, ping-pong, billiards. Dinner and night at the hotel, cozy vibes.

Day 9 – Off to the Caribbean coast

Back to the airport to return the car (still a bit long). Flight to Cartagena with Avianca: punctual and comfortable. Upon arrival, we picked up another car and headed straight to the Hyatt Regency, a modern hotel with a pool. That evening, we dined at the hotel—practical after a travel day.

Day 10 – Colonial Cartagena

We set off to explore Cartagena’s old town. It was enchanting: colorful facades, flowered balconies, colonial charm—just magical. However, the heat was stifling and very humid. Afternoon relaxation by the pool. Dinner at Gestlani, a good restaurant in town.

Day 11 – Road to Barú

A hearty breakfast, then one last swim in the pool before heading to Barú. We checked into Las Islas Hotel. The setting was enchanting: wooden cabins nestled in the vegetation, a private beach, turquoise sea, impeccable service. Dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Day 12 – Beach and relaxation

A full beach day in Barú. Warm water, white sand, coconut trees, peace and quiet. A real postcard scene with iguanas and birds.

Day 13 – On to Santa Marta

Another morning at the beach before hitting the road to Santa Marta. The drive was a bit long (6 hours), especially with traffic jams in Barranquilla. It was the longest car ride of the trip. We spent the night at Villa María Tayrona, a beautiful place near the park.

Day 14 – Tayrona Park

We left early for Tayrona Park. We entered through **El Zaino**, parked the car, and set off on a hike to La Piscina (about 2 hours). We stopped along the way at Playa Arenilla, a stunning little beach, to rest. Lunch on-site, a swim, then back by 4 PM. The hike was a bit tiring, but the nature was spectacular: dense jungle, the sound of waves, and even a monkey encounter along the way. Evening and dinner at the hotel.

Day 15 – Last swim and return flight to Bogotá

Our last morning was split between the pool and the beach (the hotel has direct access via a 7-minute trail through vegetation and flowers)—hard to leave this paradise. We drove to Santa Marta’s airport to return the car, then flew back to Bogotá. We spent the night at Casa Dann Carlton, a comfortable hotel. We simply ordered room service, arriving too late to go out.

Day 16 – Bogotá and the end of the trip

Our last day in Colombia. After a good breakfast, we explored La Candelaria. Its cobbled streets and colorful houses were worth the visit. We visited the Botero Museum (free) and the Gold Museum, both fascinating. Back to the airport for our 11:55 PM Air France flight.

That’s a wrap on a varied trip—lush mountains, colorful villages, dream beaches, and tropical jungle. The pace was pretty relaxed, well-suited for our kids. They absolutely loved the trip to Colombia. Driving in Colombia was very easy, and we didn’t regret renting a car at all—it gave us more freedom to get around.

If I were to do it again, here’s what I’d change: - I’d spend less time in the Coffee Zone to stay a bit longer on the Caribbean coast, which was more relaxing for the kids. Or I’d head to Medellín, but I didn’t think the city was very kid-friendly. - Bogotá is a city that deserves a day’s visit, but it’s not a must-see. Maybe I’d have taken the KLM flight from Cartagena to Amsterdam instead.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate!

Antoine
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Gaura 4 weeks ago · Fabhyène
Visiting Bologna in Photos
Since I didn’t have time to write a proper travel journal, I thought I’d share a few photos of Bologna—a really lovely city I discovered in 2017 while stopping on my way to Tuscany. Around Piazza Maggiore, which was packed with a stage and chairs for a show, stands the Basilica of San Petronio, massive and Gothic in style, with an unfinished façade (a common sight in Italy).





Another building near the square:

But Bologna’s real charm lies in its porticoes, which were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2021: 62 km of arcades running along buildings, letting you walk sheltered from the sun or rain. Back in 1288, the city required houses to include private arcades for public use. In the city center, you can stroll under 32 km of porticoes in all sorts of styles—some plain, some ornate—with a strong presence of red tones.
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Muriel18 4 weeks ago
Gran Canaria... a trip that wasn't exactly thrilling
Okay, it wasn’t a total disaster either. Actually, I hesitated before starting this travel journal: is it even worth writing about a holiday that won’t leave an unforgettable memory? In the end, I went for it (there aren’t many recent travel journals about this destination). So, read on... or don’t .

Every time we’ve been to the Canary Islands, it’s been by default (basically: where can we go in winter or early spring when we only have a week—so not too far, not too much jet lag, but with decent weather?).

This time, we had two weeks, but the winter plan kept changing: first Thailand (dropped for personal reasons), then Martinique (dropped because of work leave dates that weren’t up to me), and finally, the Canary Islands.

We’ve already been to Tenerife (which we really liked) and Lanzarote (which we liked a little less). This year, two options: Gran Canaria or one of the smaller islands west of Tenerife (La Palma, or even La Gomera or El Hierro). We chose Gran Canaria... not sure it was the right call! Whose fault is it? Storm Thérèse’s! Yes, Storm Thérèse followed us on arrival, and its effects lasted quite a while. We had to adapt, cancel visits, change activities...

But even without Thérèse...

Saturday 21/03 Departure from Orly at 6:10 AM with Transavia. The plane took off on time and landed a little early, tossed around by strong winds before touching down. It had just rained, but it was (almost) no longer raining.



We quickly picked up our luggage and then the car at the Cicar counter. We got a Seat Arona instead of the Corsa we’d booked. Well, while the driving position didn’t feel great at first (I got used to it), the engine’s smoothness and power were much appreciated on the island’s winding and sometimes steep roads.

It was only 10 AM, and we couldn’t theoretically check into our accommodation until 3 PM (the owner promised to message me if it was ready earlier). So, we headed to the (big) *Jardín Botánico Viera y Clavijo*, where we planned to spend a few hours. We found a huge parking lot... empty. The passenger in the car in front of us (yes, we weren’t the only ones at the closed gate—there was a car in front and one behind) went to ask for info: it was closed due to the storm 😕. So, we calmly headed toward Puerto de las Nieves, on the northwest coast of the island.

The plan: go to a restaurant, visit the village, and do some shopping while waiting for early afternoon. As soon as we got out of the car, it started raining... we took shelter under the awning of a shop, waiting for it to pass. But the rain turned into a downpour, and within minutes, awning or not, Gore-Tex or not, we were soaked!

Since we were already wet, we might as well go to the restaurant—they weren’t far! But here’s the thing: contrary to what Google Maps said, they all opened at 1 PM, not noon! Back to the car, wading through 5 cm of water because all the village streets were flooded . The rain let up, we did some shopping, went to eat, and I got a message from the owner saying the accommodation was ready 🙂.

So, off we went to La Suerte, a few kilometers north of Agaete. The downside of the place, especially with luggage, is that you have to climb several flights of stairs via an outdoor staircase (after parking more or less far away on a steep street) to get there 😛). Of course, on the way from the car to the apartment, it started pouring again—the bags got soaked! Enough rain for today! We settled in quietly, and by late afternoon, we could (finally!) go admire the view from the terrace.

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