Désolée, prise dans mon travail, je pars pour la Mongolie le 7 sept, et je n'ai vraiment pas eu de le temps de réfléchir à ce voyage organisé.
Résultat, il me manque une foule de détails techniques concernant la vie sous la yourte :
- équipement électrique (branchement prise électrique batterie appareil photo) ?
- douche/sanitaire ?
- quel équipement : drap, couverture, serviette ?
- les repas ?
- l'hygiène en général ?
Si quelqu'un peut répondre à mes interrogations, un grand merci par avance
Désolée, prise dans mon travail, je pars pour la Mongolie le 7 sept, et je n'ai vraiment pas eu de le temps de réfléchir à ce voyage organisé.
Résultat, il me manque une foule de détails techniques concernant la vie sous la yourte :
- équipement électrique (branchement prise électrique batterie appareil photo) ?
- douche/sanitaire ?
- quel équipement : drap, couverture, serviette ?
- les repas ?
- l'hygiène en général ?
Si quelqu'un peut répondre à mes interrogations, un grand merci par avance
😏tu parles de voyage organisé, renseigne toi auprès de ton voyagiste(fatalement il y a une check list)
😏Les autres aussi sont pris par leurs activités personnels.
🏴☠️Comme d'hab en cherchant un peu :http://www.e-mongol.com/voyages_conseils.htm
La vie chez les nomades est... tranquille!! Pas de stress!! 😉
Si tu part en voyage organise, comme j'ai cru comprendre, sera tu loge chez l'habitant ou en Camp de touriste?
ca fait une grande difference. Les deux proposent un hebergement en Ger (Yourte c'est du cote Russe!) 🙂
Et combien de temps pars-tu?
Chez les familles nomades :
- Pour dormir, je te conseilles un duvet, ca suffit amplement. Et Ils pourront toujours te fournir des couvertures en plus si tu es frisquette!
- Les ''sanitaires'', ha! Grand moment ca!! Ben chez les nomades y a pas de douche, deja! Si tu as de la chance, tu pourra te laver a
la riviere, en general ils montent leur Ger pas tres loin d'un point d'eau. Attention! Ne pas mettre de savon dans l'eau afin de
ne pas polluer les cours d'eau, tres importants!!
Sinon, je te conseille de prendre des lingettes, c'est tres pratique, et, bien sur, ton rouleau de PQ!
Les toilettes sont a l'ecart, un trou creuse dans le sol, dans une cabane en bois, ou derierre trois briques!!
Une serviette en micro fibre est tres pratique aussi!
- Les repas te seront offert par la famille, mais la encore, je ne peux rien t'assurer, renseignes toi aupres de ton agence c'est plus sur.
C'est toujours apprecie d'amener un paquet de bonbons par exemple, les Mongols adorent!
- L'hygiene en general? Ben, ca c'est perso, les mongol disposent toujours d'un robinet (un seau d'eau) a l'exterieur, pour te laver les dents par
exemple...
Si tu pars en Camp de touristes, par contre, la c'est ''confort'': douche, resto, draps fournis... tout le tralala!
Bon courage pour la prepartion de ton sac, si tu as d'autres questions je suis dispo!
bonjour
nous venons de passer 8 jours en Mongolie. Pour vous répondre il faut savoir ce qui est prévu par l'agence ger, tente ou yourte dans tourist camp
mais pas d'angoisse la Mongolie est un pays formidable et on oublie très vite les douches et toilettes occidentales...
Sinon nous sommes revenus avec des tugrik, la monnaie locale (pas eu le temps de les changer à la gare quand nous partions pour Pekin) Si cela vous interesse je peux vous les vendre au taux normal
dites le moi en message privé J'habite en région parisienne
pas mal d'infos du genre pratique en parcourant mes pages www.terramongolia.com, certes si votre travail vous en laisse le temps...
ensuite sous la yourte on ne branche aucun de nos appareils energivores car leurs panneaux solaires ne supporteraient pas et on en va pas voler toute leur énergie non?
donc emportez pas mal de recharge de batteries pour vos appareils notamment l'appareil photos, de toute façon ne part jamais sans en avoir 2 batteries ou que l'on aille, une peut aussi tomber en panne!¨partout!
les toilettes sont dans la nature
on ne lave quand on peut mais cela ne cause aucun souci comme dit par autre personne
un sac de couchage est suffisant, pour septembre un encore pour été c'est bien
qq vetements chauds car les nuits ne sont pas tjs bien chaudes
les repas: dans les villes et capitale il y a des restaurants, le marche pour acheter de quoi et des magasins. dans les bourgades cela se complique un peu plus car le choix est moindre...
ensuite en tour cela depend de ce que vous faites et comment et avec qui!
chez les nomades on vous donnera à manger: pages, soupes, fromage, produits à base de lait, peu d e viande en été... avoir avec soi un peu de reserves...
ensuite tout dépend de ce que vous allez faire ou pas: voyage super organisé depuis la france? sur place? seul? à per? a vélo? en bus? en jeep privée? chez une famille faire un long séjour?... tout cela va influencer sur équipement à emporter ou pas... difficile donc de répondre avec plus de précisions
si pas encore de contact sur place vous pouvez contacter mejet69@yahoo.com en anglais que nous connaissons depuis plus de 10 ans: il viendra vous prendre à votre arrivée, vous logera dans sa modeste guest house et ensuite vous verrez que faire, comment découvrir ce magnifique pays...
esperant que tout cela peut vous aider en plus de toutes les réponses données
bon voyage
un mongol nait sous la yourte et meurt à cheval (proverbe mongol)
En fait c'est un circuit organisé : 10 nuits sous la yourte, 1 nuit en bivouac dans le désert de Gobbi, et puis hôtel à Ullanbattor et Pékin.
Je vous remercie tous pour ces précieux renseignements, car honnêtement je pars sans vraiment avoir réfléchi.
Je souhaiterais juste savoir, si on peut recharger les batteries des appareils photos quand on loge dans un camps de yourtes ? dans la yourte "restaurant" ? dans la yourte "nuit" ?
juste emporter 2 ou 3 batteries pour votre appareil!! on ne part jamais sans avoir au moins un double de batterie nulle part!! cela ne coute pas si cher que cela et sauve de toutes mauvaises situations comme être en vadrouille et se retrouver sans batterie pour continuer sa journée de photos sans devoir revenir à la case hôtel!
et si c'est tout en super organisé alors pas de soucis pour recharger...
un mongol nait sous la yourte et meurt à cheval (proverbe mongol)
Voila quatre mois que l'on est parti, et nous n'avons pas
pris de batterie en plus.
On voyage beaucoup et on en a jamais eu besoin, en se débrouillant on y arrive!
Dans les camps de touristes, pas de soucis
Dans une famille nomade, il n'y a aucun souci non plus, toute la famille fait ca, ils sont super sympas, et surtout ça ne consomme pas des milles et des cents , faut pas abuser! Les panneaux solaires supportent largement!! Et c'est du solaire donc le lendemain en principe c'est oublie 😉
Surtout si tu reste 10 jours, une recharge suffira!
Enfin, les guides ont en général un transformateur dans la voiture, donc encore une fois, pas de souci!
Tu peux aussi profiter d'etre en Chine pour acheter une deuxieme batterie moins chere, si vraiment tu a peur de tomber en rade!
Merci beaucoup pour ta réponse, tu m'enlèves une épine du pied, parce que franchement ce serait une énorme déception si je ne pouvais pas prendre de photos.
Je vais essayer de profiter au maximum des bienfaits des grands espaces.
Petit résumé de ce périple en terre mongole, chargée d'histoire et de
culture, aux paysages renversants, peuplée de gens rudes,
travailleurs, discrets mais fondamentalement tournés vers l'accueil de
l'étranger.
Après un court aperçu de la capitale Oulan Baatar : ville en pleine
construction made in china, où une pollution acre due aux usines de
chauffage au charbon ternit l'air, nous avons pris un vol direction le
sud, direction le désert de Gobi.
Premier choc visuel avec la découverte de la steppe, puis des dunes à
perte de vue. On se fait plaisir, on descend du mini bus pour
apprécier à pleins poumons/yeux écarquillés cet espace à perte de vue,
propice à la méditation, à l'oubli, et au bonheur simple mais
tellement intense.
Ce qui frappe c'est le silence...et puis l'immensité, ces distances
d'un point A à un point B qui n'en finissent pas.
Et puis aussi, ce sera la réconciliation avec les couleurs
authentiques : celles de la terre, des rochers, du ciel au couchant,
de l'aube glacée.
En quinze jours on passera de la dune ivoire, aux rochers rouges, en
passant par la steppe grillé et parsemé de cailloux verts/gris/orange,
sans oublierl le blanc immaculé de la neige dans la forêt de résineux
où l'on observera les traces des loups.
Les animaux font partie du décor mi Lawrence d'Arabie/mi Western : des
troupeaux de chameaux, de yacks, de chevaux, de chèvres et moutons.
Leur troupeau est leur principale richesse, l'homme guide le troupeau,
lui cherche le meilleur paturage. On a pu assister à la traite des
juments et des chamelles, on a guidé les chèvres à cheval. L'harmonie
est tellement forte entre l'homme, les animaux et la nature qu'elle
vous éclabousse de sérénité.
Autre expérience sans précédent : la vie sous la yourte (avec
plusieurs nuits bien en-dessous de zéro).
Toutes les yourtes sont agrémentées d'un poèle mais il n'y a pas
forcément du bois pour l'alimenter, donc il faut superposer les
couches pour créer un semblant de chaleur ; mais quel bonheur, quand
le feu crépite, et que les flammes dansent sur le feutre. Il n'y a pas
plus bel écran de cinéma pour s'endormir.
En résumé : très belle expérience, sorte de retour aux sources, des
images plein la tête, et un retour difficile dans une société de
consommation bien terne.
Je vous conseille fortement de partir à la rencontre du peuple nomade,
pour votre enrichissement personnel car il est clair qu'on rentre
différent de cet échange long ou court, souvent sans dialogue mais
était ce toujours nécessaire de parler ?
L'oeil pétillant de l'enfant mongol courant dans l'immense prairie,
après un papillon ou à la recherche d'une grenouille, les joues
écarlates, le poing vigoureux est une image qui n'a pas de prix. Si ça
c'est pas du bonheur "authentique", et des enfants rieurs et malins on
en a croisé une sacrée brochette.
Par contre, une petite mise en garde pour les fragiles du dos, les
pistes sont vraiment très mauvaises, et c'est pas toujours évident de
passer la journée plus que secoué.
A bientôt sur ce forum pour de nouvelles aventures...
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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
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
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Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
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Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
