Bonjour!
Je prévois partir cet automne pour le Pérou, ce sera mon premier voyage et je serai seule avec moi-même! J'ai lu quelques conseils et je constate que plusieurs recommandent le nord du Pérou plutôt que le traditionnel chemin des gringos. Je ne sais pas encore pour combien de temps je serai partie: un mois ou deux, dépendant des coûts (je veux voyager à petit prix). Ai-je le temps de tout visiter? Sinon, que me conseillez-vous?
Merci 🙂
Si tu as deux mois, tu peux faire le nord et le sud.
Si tu as 1 mois, tu fais soit l'un soit l'autre. A toi de choisir suivant tes gout.
Après, si tu nous dis ton budget (sur place), on peut peut-être te dire le temps que tu peux rester.
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
D'accord! Et serais-tu capable de me faire une estimation du coût moyen par jour pour le logement et la nourriture? Je compte loger dans les auberges jeunesse, chez les couchsurfers et autres endroits peu coûteux... même chose pour la bouffe. Bref, je veux faire un voyage économique pour rester un maximum de temps!
Merci 🙂
Le truc au Pérou, c'est d'aller au marché :
> hostal pour 10 à 25 soles et resto pour 2,5 à 5 soles
(c'est de 2010, les prix ont pu un peu évoluer depuis. A l'époque, 1€ = 3,7 soles environ).
Le Pérou n'est pas très cher si tu vas dans ce genre d'endroit. Les bus ne sont pas chers non plus et les entrées de la plupart des sites touristiques n'atteignent pas 5€. (Evidemment le Machu Picchu, c'est différent)
Les sites les plus intéressants au Nord sont :
- sur la Costa : les ruines des Mochicas et Chimus (Huaca de la Luna et Chan chan près de Trujillo, Museo Tumbas Reales près de Chiclayo...)
- dans la Sierra : Cajamarca est une petite ville sympa à grande valeur historique, et les sites du côté de Chachapoyas. Il y a aussi Chavin, plus au Sud, d'une grande importance pour les civilisations péruviennes ultérieures.
- l'Amazonie (pourquoi pas les environs de Yurimaguas où je n'ai fait que passer mais qui m'avait attirée)
N'hésite pas à voir différents musée, je trouve que certains sont très bien au Pérou. Le must c'est le Tumbas Reales sur les Mochicas, à Lima il y a le Museo Nacional de Antropologia e Arqueologia que j'ai bien aimé, à Cuzco le musée d'art précolombien avec une approche artistique plutôt qu'historique m'avait agréablement surpris.
Le truc au Pérou, c'est d'aller au marché :
> hostal pour 10 à 25 soles et resto pour 2,5 à 5 soles
(c'est de 2010, les prix ont pu un peu évoluer depuis. A l'époque, 1€ = 3,7 soles environ).
Les prix on bien augmenté.
En décembre c'était plutôt 10 Sol minimum le menu du jour. J'ai trouvé d'une seul fois moins (8 sol) à Nazca (et c'était super bon et grosse quantité). Avec 1€ = 3.3 sol
Un lit en dortoir c'est vers les 20~25 Sol.
En te débrouiller bien, tu peux faire la journée (+nuit) pour 60 Sol (sans les billet des site).
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
Le truc au Pérou, c'est d'aller au marché :
> hostal pour 10 à 25 soles et resto pour 2,5 à 5 soles
(c'est de 2010, les prix ont pu un peu évoluer depuis. A l'époque, 1€ = 3,7 soles environ).
Les prix on bien augmenté.
En décembre c'était plutôt 10 Sol minimum le menu du jour. J'ai trouvé d'une seul fois moins (8 sol) à Nazca (et c'était super bon et grosse quantité). Avec 1€ = 3.3 sol
Les prix des menus aux marchés continuent entre les 3 et 7 soles, apres dans les restos sont entre 5 et 10 soles. et oui pour les dortoirs c'est entre 20 et 30 soles.
Dans les auberges de jeunesse il y a de cuisines ou tu peux te faire a manger et eviter d'aller au resto.
Le couchsurfing au Perou est bien développé, surtout a Cusco, ca peut t’économiser pas mal d'argent.
Saludos
Zuri
Guide et chauffeur francophone au Pérou / Pompier
"Si vous pensez que l'aventure est dangereuse, essayez la routine… Elle est mortelle".
Si tu sais t'organiser tu peux faire le nord et le sud en 1 mois, au nord pour t'echaper un peu des gringos va a Chachapoyas et les autres villes/villages de la région Amazonas (Tarapoto par exemple).
Sur la Cordillere Blanche il y a des coins superbes loin des sentiers batus; apres vers le sud tu es forcée a passer pas des villes tres touristiques et tu ferras des tours "classiques" mais apres ca tu peux aller dans des endroits pas trop visités, des villages autour de lac Titicaca qui ne sont pas visités par les touristes mais qui sont magnifiques et surtout pas chers car pas bcp de monde y va.
Apres si en Cusco tu veux faire des randos, il y en a un paquet des treks qui ne sont pas tres connus alors pas fréquentés par les gringos ;)
Le Perou c'est un pays pas chere pour se loger et manger mais c'est different pour les visites, les prix d'entrées pour les visites touristiques sont un peu chères comparés au coût de vie d'ici (surtout à Cusco).
Saludos
Zuri
Guide et chauffeur francophone au Pérou / Pompier
"Si vous pensez que l'aventure est dangereuse, essayez la routine… Elle est mortelle".
Nous serons dans la région de Huaraz fin mars: pourrais-tu me préciser les lieux que tu envisages lorsque tu parles de "coins superbes hors des entiers battus"?... Et dans la région de Cusco?
Merci pour tes conseils! Mais je suis aussi curieuse d'en savoir plus sur ces fameux coins magnifiques hors des sentiers battus... as-tu des exemples? :)
Les prix montent effectivement en Flèche au Pérou et au delà du touriste ce sont surtout les Péruviens eux mêmes qui en soufrent...Pour vous donner un exemple tout bête il y a 6 mois on payait 1 kg de sucre 70 Cent d´euro, aujourd´hui c´est quasiment toujours plus d´un Euro, j´avoue que la montée des prix m´a fait tournée la tête cette année en particulier a Lima. Apres sur les hôtels et les Restau des fois il y a de l´abus, il faut savoir bien chercher...
salut, jai passé un mois au perou et au debut on allait au marché pour faire des sandwitchs mais au final ca reviens moins cher de manger dans des resto dans les quartiers pas touristique et on manger un menu pour 1sole et on a jamais eté malade. en plus il y a toujours plein de personnes qui vendent dans la rue des grillades, patates farcies(une tuerie)....
les resto le soir mettent des menus a prix attractifs et au final une fois installé il te donne une carte ou il n'apparait nulle part alors insister pour l'avoir.
Manger pour 1 sol faut quand même pas exagérer.... Pour ce prix tu n´as même pas la turista...La nourriture est excellente au Pérou, sa vaut franchement le coup de mettre un petit peu plus pour manger mieux et peut être se priver un peu plus sur d´autre chose, mais bon chacun ses petits plaisirs.
cest sur que tu peux te faire un super resto pour l'equivalent de 10euros mais la personne qui pose la question veut voyager avec peu de moyen et nous on a manger des menus de 1sole oui et en plus les assiettes etaient bien garnie et on a jamais eu de soucis de santé. on a manger la ou mange les peruviens on etait les seul touriste, je parle du midi le soir cest plus rare. La cuisine est exellente en tout cas
Je ne dit pas que tu mens, mais je connais bien le Pérou et je n´ai jamais manger pour 1 sol. Je comprend bien que un petit budget est un petit budget, je dit juste que faire ne serait ce que une seule fois le sacrifice de payer un peu plus cher vaut vraiment le coup au Pérou. Quand on paye un billet d´avion pour le Pérou je pense qu´on peu se permettre de mettre 10 eu de plus une fois pour découvrir une part importante de la culture du Pérou qu´est la gastronomie, mais encore une fois c´est juste un conseil que je donne, je sais que tout le monde n´est pas amoureux de la bonne bouffe comme moi....Rien a voir avec des arnaques a touriste, au contraire les Restaurants de qualités sont toujours uniquement fréquenter par des Péruviens.
Déjà que 6~7 sol c'est bas alors ok pour un menu à 5 sol dans un restaurent au fin fond d'une ruelle mais 1 Sol 😮.
Dès recherche que j'ai faite sur le net, en 2008, un menu dans un petit restaurent en dehors des lieu touristique était déjà à 4 sol mini.
"Un bivouac c'est un peu comme le dépucelage et la première cuite, une espèce de rite qui fais de toi un homme" (MonsieurHenri du site randonner-léger.org).
Ouaip sa me semble un peu bizarre a moi aussi... Franchement pour 10 Soles..Je crois que c´est ce qu´il faut compter a peu prêt partout pour un Menu au Pérou, sa reste quand même abordable...
Si tu as 2 mois tu peux faire le nord-sud sans problèmes, après les chemins de Gringo...Le Pérou est un pays très touristique, faut pas rêver a peu prêt partout où tu iras il y aura des touristes, les seuls coins du Pérou où je n´en ai pas vu je ne te recommanderais pas d´y aller surtout si tu voyage seule.....🤪 Je te rassure sa ne gâche pas le plaisir et si tu te débrouille en Espagnol le contact avec les Péruviens est facile. Après que te dire...Tous dépend de ce que tu aime, tu es plutôt sport, farniente, culture?? Il y en a pour tous les goûts au Pérou...
Désolée pour cette réponse tardive! J'avais pas vu ce message...
Finalement, je m'enligne pour partir un mois et faire le sud; je me sentirais trop mal de manquer les fameux incontournables! Et la culture Inca m'intéresse beaucoup, alors n'importe quoi qui s'y rapporte risque de m'intéresser! Sinon je m'enligne aussi pour un trek à Cabanaconde, recommandé par mon guide de voyage.
Petite question: je pars au mois d'octobre, devrais-je réserver 6 mois d'avance pour le trek au Machu Pichu? Comme ce n'est pas dans la haute saison touristique... et combien ça coûte, approximativement?
Et question sécurité: tout le monde me déconseille constamment de pas partir seule, me dit que c'est dangereux, surtout avec le profil que j'ai (une Occidentale aux cheveux blonds, blablabla...). Outre les traditionnelles précautions à prendre, est-ce que je dois vraiment m'inquiéter et devenir parano? Ou je ne risque pas de me faire sauvagement attaquer en pleine rue?? C'est que toutes ces mises en garde sont lourdes, à la longue...
Enfin: des suggestions pour des billets d'avion pas chers? (En partance du Québec)
Ouaip sa me semble un peu bizarre a moi aussi... Franchement pour 10 Soles..Je crois que c´est ce qu´il faut compter a peu prêt partout pour un Menu au Pérou, sa reste quand même abordable...
Nous sommes actuellement au Pérou à Cusco, venant de Huaraz; nous y avons vu, en effet, des menus à 1 sol, mais n'avons pas osé essayer. Notre menu était à 8 sols: correct. Un groupe nous a parlé de menus à 4 sol, sans problème par la suite!
A part ça, nous sommes au Pérou depuis 3 grosses semaines... Une découverte ontinuelle!
Je confirme: menu à 1 sol, ça se trouve encore! Mais franchement, c'est dans mon top 3 des pires choses que j'ai mangées au Pérou. Sinon, entre 5 et 10 soles, on s'en sort très bien. Effectivement ça vaut la peine de se payer de la bonne bouffe, comme le meilleur ceviche du monde que j'ai mangé dans un resto à Miraflores dont je ne me rappelle plus le nom, évidemment. Que rico!
I contacted several agencies in Madagascar to arrange this 4x4 trip along the coast.
Always the same answer: a tailor-made trip with at least 2 participants.
Since I don’t want to travel alone and a friend isn’t available, I’m looking for a woman to share this trip with the agency Mahay Mada, which offers a 12-day, 11-night tour of southern Madagascar. I’m available from August 23 to September 14.
Thanks for your direct response at 0784659791. See you soon, Mireille
I’d love to settle around Da Nang for about a month and explore the surrounding areas in Vietnam.
I’ve already been to this country and don’t feel like rushing around every day like I used to a few years ago.
I’d really like to find some company to stay for at least a month, and then maybe spend a month in Cambodia...
Given that I’m now 76, I don’t want to run around like I used to, trying to see everything...
I enjoy calm people... Those who love life and with whom I can share a beer... And meet people to create a great atmosphere—la dolce vita....
Hi everyone,
I’m a 67-year-old woman who loves to travel, and for my third solo trip, I’ve decided to explore Indonesia.
I’ll be there from September 1st to October 5th, and I’m really struggling to plan my itinerary.
I’d love any advice you can share—I’ll read it all carefully.
So far, I’ve booked my first two nights with a local host in Jakarta, and then I’m heading to Borobudur. That’s all I’ve got planned for now.
Do you think I should book accommodations and transport tickets in advance? It seems really complicated, or could I just decide day by day based on how I feel?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a solo trip to Mongolia this summer, without an agency. However, I’d like to have a guide accompany me for certain parts of my journey.
From my research, I understand that most "activities," accommodations, and transportation are best arranged day by day, depending on opportunities and encounters. Without an agency, everything is organized on the spot.
I’d love to hear more opinions on this, especially regarding the Orkhon Valley.
Here’s the itinerary I’m planning:
* UB -> Mörön (flight) -> Khatgal (local buses)
A few days at Lake Khövsgöl
* Khatgal -> Mörön -> Jargalant -> Tariat (local buses)
A few days at the White Lakes
* White Lakes -> Tsetserleg -> Kharkhorin (4x4 with driver)
A few days in the Orkhon Valley
+ the Eight Lakes (horseback trekking with a guide)
* Return to UB
From what I’ve gathered, the first part should be fairly straightforward, but I have questions about the Orkhon Valley.
Here are my questions:
-> Tsetserleg to Kharkhorin route:
Have any of you made this trip by booking a driver on the spot when arriving in Tsetserleg? Was it easy to find an available driver? And did you find it easy/difficult/impossible to find other travelers to share the ride with? Ideally, I’d like to share this leg with fellow travelers.
-> The Eight Lakes: Could you share your experience with the Eight Lakes? Did you easily find a guide directly on site? Were you able to share this experience with other travelers?
Last question for women who’ve traveled solo in Mongolia:
-> How did you experience it? Do you have any specific tips or recommendations?
I’m considering a road trip (rental car) to explore the Canadian Rockies in September 2026, starting in Calgary and ending with about 10 days in Vancouver and the surrounding area. (Two weeks in the Rockies and a little under two weeks in Vancouver and nearby.)
I’d like to say that being a woman traveling alone doesn’t really bother me. That’s not the issue. Being a woman is just how it is, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, but traveling solo is something I could fix by finding travel companions. However, I had a not-so-great experience in India with two girls who were total strangers at first and turned out to be quite annoying, so I’m a bit put off by the idea now.
My question is simple, assuming I do this trip alone: is it worth sticking *only* to driving? I have **zero** sense of direction—with a map, I’m hopeless. So, is it realistic to think, "With my GPS, I’ll just drive from Calgary to Vancouver and see what I see," since I don’t see myself hiking alone? I’m not easily scared, but I wouldn’t feel confident doing that solo. Unless all the sightseeing is done with a guide (but then, hello, the cost—my budget isn’t exactly overflowing).
What do you all think?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Take care and happy travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
After a week of sports south of Bergen, I’m not sure what to visit during the following week between Bergen and Oslo.
I haven’t planned to rent a car.
I’d love your suggestions. Thanks
Hi everyone, I’m really keen to visit Iran for three weeks in mid-March 2015.
What worries me a bit isn’t so much traveling alone—I’m used to it and know the Middle East well—but rather the current events (Islamic State) that could potentially become dangerous.
Flights are pretty cheap at the moment, and I’d like to book before prices go up.
Any advice from people who know the ground situation and Iranian current affairs better than I do would be much appreciated! :)
Hi there! I’m in the middle of planning my first solo trip (as a woman). Do you have any ideal destinations with activities like hiking, diving, sightseeing, and easy ways to meet locals—all on a small budget?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s had this experience before! :)
Hi there,
Who could recommend a reliable agency for visiting several islands, including the parks around Komodo? I’m traveling solo as a woman.
Thanks for your great tips!
Hi everyone,
I’m often in transit in Tokyo and I stay at the hotel because Japanese people speak little English and the signs are almost always in Japanese!
Any ideas for getting from Narita to a nice park or an onsen? I wanted to try Hokkaido, but apart from renting a car, it’s all trains! Any suggestions for a car with a driver? Or is it too expensive? Small group tours in Hokkaido? I read about the Explorator group’s offer—way too expensive!!!
I’ve got a maximum of 8 days. I’d just like a nice Japanese break.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
my friend, with whom I traveled to Iran, Myanmar, and India, really wanted to take a one-month trip to Armenia and Georgia. So we booked our flights (June 21 to July 19), but disaster struck—she can’t travel anymore due to serious family reasons.
Now I’m heading off on this adventure alone. It’s not that I’ve never traveled solo before—I spent three months exploring Southeast Asia by myself last year—but I still have a few questions, and I’d really appreciate your input.
* I don’t think traveling alone in these countries is very risky—what do you think?
* Maybe I could hire a driver? What would that cost, since some places seem tricky to reach by public transport. Do you have any driver recommendations?
* I don’t want to rent a car—the driving seems too unpredictable, especially in Georgia.
* I’d love to do some nice hikes—are there any guides available?
Here’s my rough itinerary:
YEREVAN and surroundings
YEGHEGNADZOR for Noravank
GORIS and TATEV
LAKE SEVAN
DILIJAN
HAGHPAT
TBILISI and surroundings
The CAUCASUS toward Mestia
UPLISTSIKHE
VARDZIA
Return to Yerevan for my flight
Thanks to anyone who can share their experiences or answer my questions!
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a few tips that really helped me better prepare my carry-on luggage. After a few trips (and some mistakes too!), I’ve finally found a way to organize myself that makes life a lot easier. Maybe this can help other travelers here.
1. Choose a practical and sturdy bag
A good bag is the foundation. I’ve noticed that a model with a solid structure, sturdy wheels, and a well-thought-out interior really changes the experience. Hard-shell suitcases hold up better, especially when you’re hopping between flights. Personally, I use a Lambert suitcase because the interior is super well-divided, but the important thing is to find a model that works for you.
2. Rolling your clothes really works
It’s simple, but it saves so much space. Plus, it wrinkles less. I do this now for almost everything, especially lightweight clothes.
3. Keep everything in a small kit
100 ml liquids, toothbrush, cream, mini first-aid kit… Having all of that in one clear toiletry bag makes going through security much easier. It saves you from having to take everything out and put it back in a rush.
4. A pouch for essentials
Passport, headphones, charger, phone… I keep all of that in the same pouch. It saves so much stress when you need to find something quickly, especially on the plane.
5. Traveling lighter makes all the difference
Since I started choosing versatile clothes that mix and match well, I travel with a lot less. Less weight, fewer decisions to make, fewer things to lug around. It honestly makes traveling so much more enjoyable.
From the conversations I’ve had with other travelers (and several customers too), I’ve realized you can really simplify your trip just by organizing a little better and choosing good accessories.
If you have other tips or methods that work for you, I’d love to read them. We always learn from others on this forum.
Looking forward to exchanging with you all!
Hi,
Has anyone recently taken the boat to Casamance from Dakar and could share their experience?
From France, is it possible to book online, or do you need to go through an agency? How far in advance?
Boarding/disembarking: how does it work? Do we have to check in our luggage and then pick it up on arrival?
What’s the vibe like on the boat in the seating area?
Has anyone ever stopped over in Carabane? Accommodation options there?
Thanks so much if you have any recent info!
Exploring India by road is all about having a good driver. I highly recommend the one I’ve traveled with for 5 "safe" trips—Rajasthan 3 times over 16 years, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. He’s been driving tourists for 25 years now and is more than just a driver. He knows how to talk about his country, the cities you visit, and suggests alternative routes.
He’s well-connected with real local guides who don’t just ramble (as he puts it himself) or drag you into shops claiming to be run by their "so-called family." Depending on your preferences, he can suggest well-tested itineraries and recommend typical hotels like Havelis.
For dining, he oversees meal prep based on your spice-level preferences. He’s Sikh and deeply respectful of his passengers.
He speaks English better than French, but one of his daughters is studying French at university.
Hi,
We’d like to spend about twenty days in Albania next July. We’re two women traveling together and we’re thinking of renting a small car. Does that sound reasonable, or should we avoid it?
Thanks for your advice.
Hi there,
I’m spending a week in Morocco (Rabat - Meknes - Fes).
I’ll be traveling solo—is it safe for a woman over 60?
For transportation, I’m planning to take the train. I was thinking of buying my ticket last minute, but it’s around the end-of-year period…?
I’ll be in Meknes on December 31st—any suggestions on how they celebrate New Year’s Eve there?
Is anyone visiting these destinations? Maybe we could meet up…?
Thanks in advance.
Hi there,
After hearing so much about Djerba, especially the GO clubs, is it risky for a young, pretty newly-retired woman to visit the island alone?
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
Does anyone know how late the buses run from Cusco Airport to the city center? I land at 9:30 PM, plus time to clear customs, pick up my luggage, and exchange some money—figure an extra 30 to 45 minutes. Though, come to think of it, I still have 5 sols from last time—maybe that’ll be enough for the bus?
Thanks.
Brigitte
Planned arrival on Sunday evening, November 16, 2025, in San José. Staying 3 nights, then taking a bus to Tortuguero for 2 nights. Looking for a shared shuttle to La Fortuna for 2 nights, then a van-boat-van combo to Santa Elena for 2 or 3 nights. Heading to Quepos for 4 nights for day trips using local buses—Jaco, San Antonio, Uvita. After that, a full-day bus ride to Cahuita. I’m booking hotels as I go, which gives me the flexibility to stay longer in places I like. I’m looking for accommodations in city centers near restaurants and not too far from the bus station. Budget: 50 € for a room with a private bathroom (if you’ve got any great tips!). For my finale, I’ll cross the land border to Panama City for 4 days. Thanks for your suggestions! 😉
As I mentioned before, I’m heading to Istanbul next summer, and I’ve heard there have been quite a few attacks by Kurds in Turkey recently, which is making me hesitate about my trip.
What do you all think? :( I’m wondering if it’s really a good idea to go...
Hi everyone,
I’m 66 and just discovered solo travel in Uzbekistan—I loved it! So I’ve decided to explore Africa, starting with Senegal. I’m just beginning my research, but if anyone can give me advice on which month to go, what to see, and whether this destination is safe—or maybe suggest another African country—I’d really appreciate your tips!
Hi there!
We’re leaving in early November for a month.
Here’s our itinerary:
Arrival in Takhmau, then heading to:
Kampong Cham
Kratie – 2 days
Mondolkiri – 3 days
Ratanakiri – 3 days
Stung Treng – 1 day
Siem Reap – 4 days
Battambang – 1 day
Kampong Chhnang – 3 days
Kampot – 2 days
Islands (WE’RE HESITATING WHICH ONE?) – 4 DAYS
Phnom Penh – 2 days
That’s it! 😊
We’re backpacking… and we love spots that aren’t too touristy. If you’ve got any tips, we’re all ears!
Thanks
Hi there,
We’d like to stay in Switzerland for five days.
There are two of us (women).
We don’t know this country at all.
What cities or affordable spots would you recommend for visiting?
Cheap accommodation.
Looking for community-based options.
And being close to public transport.
Thanks for your tips and experiences!
Best regards.
Hi there,
I was wondering if anyone has taken a Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon Airport to Lagos, and if so, where exactly at the airport you need to board it? I’m worried I’ll get lost and miss my bus...
Hi again,
I’m adding more details to my info request. Here are two proposed itineraries. We’re hesitating:
Colombo - Unawatuna 2 days - Sinharaja 1 day - Bandarawela 2 days - Kandy 3 days - Dambulla 2 days - Wilpattu Park 1 day - Kalpitiya 3 days - Negombo 1 day
What should we change or add a day for to include Jaffna?
Or:
Negombo 1 day - Anuradhapura 2 days - Jaffna 2 days - Sigiriya 2 days - Dambulla 1 day - Kandy 2 days - Ella 1 day - Galle 3 days
For your advice.
Is it better to finish in Galle or Kalpitiya?
Thanks in advance!
Nicole
This is a warning message! I’d like to address it especially to young women traveling alone for the first time in India. Other travelers may react to my post based on their own experiences, but I think what I’m about to say shouldn’t be taken lightly—unless that’s what you’re looking for!
Last July, I traveled to Northern India. I stopped in Khajuraho to see the famous tantric temples. I stayed one night, and that was more than enough. Khajuraho is very touristy, but you should know that 80% of young Indian men there are "gigolos." Locals call these young men (aged 18 to 30) "playboys" or "Lapka" (which means "capture the woman" in Hindi)!!!
They approach tourists with kindness and politeness, offering tea or a motorcycle ride (which they’ve often gotten from generous Western female tourists) to waterfalls a few kilometers from Khajuraho or other tourist sites. After befriending you, they charm you—be careful, these are professionals who are very skilled at this; it’s all they do, and they do it well. They’ll offer you food, drinks, and even temple entry to confuse you. They’ll suggest spending the evening or even the night with them. **Refuse (unless you’re into local flings and that’s why you came)!!!!**
At first, you’ll be seduced by their generosity, let your guard down, and then they’ll make you believe in *true love*. They won’t leave you alone and will keep in touch via email or phone if you give them your details. The lines they use to soften you up and scam you include: *"I’m the only one taking care of my family, my brother is sick, I don’t know what to do..."* All of this is to manipulate you into offering them money. They’ll never ask for it outright (to avoid being exposed) but will wait for you to suggest it.
If you receive emails from them, they’ll never be signed, and their name won’t appear in the email address (to avoid leaving traces). They use fake names to avoid being reported. If you believe their sob stories and offer help, they’ll give you a bank account number to send money via Western Union. These young men make a living from this—selling their bodies and scamming people! They’re very skilled, charming, manipulative, and *big-time cheaters*!
(Especially one young man who goes by the alias *Tony*—apparently the most skilled. He lives in a hotel near the lake, *Krishna Cottage*, and is in regular contact via Skype with Western women he’s tricked into believing he loves them while shamelessly scamming them. He even opened an internet café on the roof of the hotel with money he stole from women who fell for his charm.)
So, young romantic women craving love, sensitive singles, or anyone emotionally vulnerable—**don’t let yourself be scammed!!!** This behavior is becoming more common in India and is still relatively unknown. Male prostitution is on the rise, and cases of romantic scams and financial fraud by gigolos are increasing.
hi everyone! I’d like to visit Montreal and the surrounding areas in August, and I’ve got 3 weeks of vacation. I’m traveling alone and will be visiting my daughter, who recently moved there. She’ll be working and only available in the evenings! So I’m torn between spending a week in Montreal, then taking a flight to Cuba, and returning to France from Havana—or staying in Montreal and exploring the nearby areas alone.
For my first idea—going to Cuba—is it feasible in terms of administrative formalities and legality? And for my second idea, is it possible to take buses? If so, is it too expensive? And are there many places served by them?
From FES, I’d like to spend a few days in:
MEKNES
CHEFCHAOUEN
TETOUAN
and then return to FES.
I’m planning this trip in November.
Thanks for your tips!