voila j'aimerais passer un mois cette été au Japon, le probléme est que je ne sais pas du tout quel budget je dois préparer!!!!
J'ai entendu dire que le Japon est un pays relativement cher, donc je ne sasi pas a quoi m'attendre niveau budget.
Et étant donné que je ne suis jamais encore aller au Japon j'ai envie d'en profiter un maximun, en visitant par exemple les grandes villes tel que Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, le mont Fuji ....
Donc m'a question est combien d'argent dois je préparer pour aller au japon (billet d'avion, hotel, transport férroviére, métro, etc.)?
J'ai entendu dire que le Japon est un pays relativement cher
Salut,
Alors deja ca c'est faux!! C'est un mythe. Le Japon est moins cher que la France, en comparant ce qui est comparable. Environ 20-30% moins cher pour la bouffe, et les hotels sont mieux lottis qu'en France pour un prix qui est moins cher!
Pas le temps de te répondre plus longuement pour l'instant, je continue ce soir! Mais avant de parler budget il faut que tu te fixes un programme des villes ou tu veux aller et de ton mode de transport (certainement train) et du niveau de confort que tu recherches dans le logement! Sinon on va pas avancer!
Ben écoute, j´ai passé 17 jours sur place en août 07 en voyagant avec le Japan Rail Pass 14 j, un billet d´avion à 1000 €/personne, en allant dans les ryokans les moins chers (on a marché ma foi 😉) et sans faire de resto cher (dommage, j´ai peut etre raté de très bonnes choses à manger)
Je pense avoir été aux principales villes (Tokyo, Hiroshima, Hakone, Kyoto, Sendai, Miyajima, Nikko, Himeji)
On s´en est sorti pour 4200 € pour tous les 2 (tout compris)
Maintenant, si tu voyages seul, les hotels seront sans doute plus chers.
Un pays vraiment sympa, je n´ai pas regretté.
Finalement, ce n´est pas aussi cher qu´on le dit (l´€ aide aussi)
On en a déjà souvent parlé sur ce forum, mais le japon n'est pas un pays cher.
Dis nous ce que tu veux faire comme voyage, quel lieux tu veux visiter. On pourra certainement te donner de bonnes adresses.
Perso, je tourne toujours autour de 2200 Eur pour 17 jours tout compris (avion, train, hôtel, repas, visites). J'ai un style de voyage où je bouge beaucoup, En ayant moins la bougeotte, je pourrais encore réduire le prix.
Est-il possible de trouver un vol singapour-Japon pour moins de 430 euros?
Que faut-il ne pas rater au japon? Que peut-on zapper? (nous aimons la nature, les animaux et pas trop les grandes villes.)
Idees d'itineraire? Nous avons entre trois semaines et un mois sur place.
Je me posais la question de zapper tokyo.
Le nord du pays (au nord de Tokyo) est-il interessant? (nous n'avons pas de vetements pour temps froid avec nous).
Je pensais peut-etre aller de tokyo a fukuoka. Fukuoka vaut-elle la peine?
J'ai entendu parler des forfaits train. Cela vaut-il le coup? Certains semblent penser que non... ou pour une partie du voyage seulement... Combien cela coute-il? Est-ce degressif?
On hesite a partir entre le 17 mars et le 10 avril ou alors entre le 27 mars et le 20 avril. Qu'en pensez-vous? J'ai une preference pour la deuxieme solution mais j'ai peur de rater le cherry blossom, qui etait tot en 2007.
Beaucoup de questions, desole, pouvez-vous m'aider svp?
J'attends avec impatience ce soir votre réponse car nous avons le projet de passer trois semaines à un mois au Japon dernier trimestre 2009.
A ce soir!
Mimi
Hello,
je pars en juillet du 11 au 31 (donc 20 jours...près de 3 semaines). et je suis devenu un pro des calculs.
Je ferai Osaka, Kyoto et Tokyo ...et leurs environs. Note que le JR pass, pour ces 3 destinations, si tu ne fais que passer de l'une à l'autre et de faire des excursions autour de ces 3 pôles n'est pas utile car pas valable pour tous les métros et bus dans Kyoto, Tokyo.
Le JR pass est intéressant si tu traverses le Japon de bout en bout où que tu voyages "back pack" 2 jours par-ci, 2 jours par là. Sinon, pour aller de Kyoto à Nara ou de Tokyo à Yokohama il faut compter autour de 10€ par personne l'aller retour. Donc inutile d'avoir un JR pass pour des petites excursions à quelques euros l'aller-retour.
Pour l'alimentation il y a apparemment plein de "konbini" (petites superettes) qui vendes des plateaux repas à quelques euros. Les restos semblent aussi meilleur marché qu'en France et bien meilleur marché qu'en Suisse (vu que je suis Suisse).
Nous on va faire du shopping, des parcs d'attraction, mais aussi tout le japon traditionnel avec plein de temples (quelques euros l'entrée à chaque fois) et des excursions d'1 jour autroue de Kyoto et Tokyo avec à chaque fois un budget de 10-15€ par excursion pour les trajets.
Donc, si tu es un voyageur non Back-pack, qui veut dépenser au Japon sans se priver, faire des excursions et ne pas compter il faut probablement compter 3000€ vol compris. Si tu bouges, que tu es moins regardant avec les hotels, que tu as juste un JR pass et que tu manges bon marché ...tu peux réduire à 2200-2500€ comme disait "serow" plus haut dans la discussion...
Bon voici plus ou moins ce que je souhaiterais visiter (je dit ça suite au question précédente): le mont Fuji; Tokyo, en particulier le temple yasukuni, le palais impérial, shinjuku, shibuya, odaiba, ikebukuro; Osaka; nagoya, avec notamment le chateau d'hideyoshi; Hiroshima; kyoto et ses nombreux temples;
bon voici une liste non exhaustive, je peux toujours modifier la liste .
Un trajet de Osaka à Hiroshima coûte près de 1000Yen soit environs 60€... Si tu comptes faire ce type de distance alors il faut t'arranger pour placer ces destinations dans une même semaine ou la première 15aine de jours....de sorte que tu puisses prendre un JR Pass ...7 ou 14 jours.
La meilleure solution c'est de procéder pas à pas:
1. faire la liste de toutes les villes et lieux que tu veux voir.
2. ensuite localise les grâce à une carte, un guide, ou le web ....et trouve le nom de la station de train la plus proche de l'endroit.
3. choisis le point de départ et la gare d'où tu partiras pour y aller
4. rends toi sur l'un de ces 2 sites pour calculer le prix de l'itinéraire:
5. regarde si les itinéraires sont faisables avec le JR Pass ...car ce pass ne couvre pas tout.ensuite tu n'as plus qu'à agencer ton voyage de manière à rentabiliser un JR pass ...exemple: faire Hiroshima, et la région en 7 jours avec un JR pass avant de te poser à Kyoto et y rester 1 semaine pour faire toutes les ballades et les temples.
Moi je reste 1 semaine à Kyoto et 1 semaine à Tokyo ....pour ces 2 villes et pour le TGV (shinkansen) de Kyoto à Tokyo ..le JR est inutile et bien trop cher. à toi de voir à quel moment de ton mois tu veux voyager de ville en ville et à quel moment tu veux te stabiliser et évoluer dans la ville à pieds et en métro (quelques euros à chaque fois).
Pour ce qui est de NAgoya apparemment tu peux t'y rendre depuis Kyoto pour moins de 20€ l'aller. Donc regarde bien si tu veux aussi faire Hiroshima...peut-être un JR pass est utile sur 7 ou 15 jours.
on part à trois au japon pour un mois, à partir de mi-avril; au vu du cours de l'euro-yen, ça aide beaucoup pour le budget et j'en suis certain que le japon va continuer à etre un peu moins cher dans les prochains mois.
on a pris un JR pass pour les 21 premiers jours soit 361 euros (tokyo, kyoto, hiroshima, kyushu) et on passe la dernière semaine (sans le Jr pass) à tokyo; pour le logement ça nous coutera à peu près 600 euros par personne (on est 3 donc on partage : ryokans, temples, auberges de jeunesse) le billet d'avion AF Paris-tokyo nous a coutés 930 euros AR mais notre ami a pris British airways à 750 euros AR paris-tokyo avec escale à londres
pour le reste, la nouritture, les sorties, et le metro à tokyo, ça c'est le mystère. donc on planche sur un budget japon (avion compris) de 2500€ min - 3000€ max pour un mois
Voila... Mon dossier de Visa pour 1an en working Hollidays m'a été refusé à l'Ambassade du Japon ce matin parce que dans le projet de mes activités aux Japon,…
Mon conjoint et moi partons a Tokyo tout le mois de septembre, j'aimerai juste savoir si mon budget est suffisant. Nous avons pris nos billets d'avion 696…
Enfin!!!!!!!!!! je trouve un forum ou je vais pouvoir avoir des réponses a certaines questions qui me trôte dans la tête.J'espère que certains d'entre vous…
J'ai le projet de faire un voyage au Japon dans la préfecture de Nagano et j'aurais aimé savoir quel budget je dois prévoir pour me Loger, Manger et le…
Bon mon idée c'est aller au japon avec mon petit ami, un mois... commencer par okinawa et finir a hokaiddo... pendant ce temps là passer au moins par kioto,…
je demande vos avis de connaisseurs sur un voyage de env 1 mois au Japon.
De fin octobre à fin novembre 2026.
Nous voyageons souvent en Asie du Sud-Est mais avons jamais fait le Japon.
D'après mes diverses lectures j'aimerais bien que vous me dites si :
- voyager du jour au jour, sans avoir pris les hôtels, ni le train en avance...est possible au Japon.
(j'ai lu plein de carnets de voyage ou blogs qui indique que tout a été réservé longtemps en avance .. mais ce n'est pas notre façon de voyager habituellement).
- le Japan Rail Pass sera favorable pour nous ?
(d'après un simulateur (vieux ??) je suis à environ 400 euros de train par rapport à 570 pour JRP)
Voici notre circuit prévu en gros lignes (qui peuvent bouger) :
- Arrivée Osaka 3 nuits avec Nara
- Hiroshima et île de Miyajima 3 nuits
- Kurashiki ou Naoshima 2 nuits
- Himeji 1nuit
- Kyoto 4 nuits
- Kanazawa 2 nuits
- Takayama et Shirakawa go 3 nuits
- autour Mont Fudji 3 nuits
- Tokyo avec Nikko 6 nuits (sans aucun parc d'attraction)
départ Tokyo
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple