Bonjour tout le monde,
Je prepare un voyage au tibet avec une amie et nous ne souhaitons pas le package complet proposé par les agences mais simplement un guide afin d etre dans les regles et limiter les frais, et un vehicule afin de faire nous meme notre itineraire.
D avance merci pour vos bons plans 🙂
salut
c est pas possible, il faut le pack complet, c est la regle...si tu veux respecter les regles!!!!!
a mois de le faire en independant, mais en 2012 ce sera encore plus difficille
regarde de nombreux posts a ce sujets
oliwen
salut
c est pas possible, il faut le pack complet, c est la regle...si tu veux respecter les regles!!!!!
a mois de le faire en independant, mais en 2012 ce sera encore plus difficille
regarde de nombreux posts a ce sujets
oliwen
Bonjour,
Ca veut dire quoi, le pack complet ?
Quand je suis allé au Tibet en été 2010, je suis passé par une agence qui m'a fourni le minimum, à savoir le guide, le permis, la voiture avec chauffeur pour sortir de Lhassa. Le tout à un tarif logique, vu le prix de la main d'oeuvre en Chine. Tout le reste (hôtel, restos, billets d'entrée), je le payais directement.
OK, c'était le guide tibétain qui téléphonait aux hotels au fur et à mesure du trajet et négociait les tarifs, car son mandarin et son carnet d'adresse était mille fois meilleurs que les miens, mais c'était la catégorie que je voulais et un tarif que j'aurais pu raisonnablement obtenir aussi. Je ne sais pas s'il se négociait une retrocommission en douce parce qu'il était meilleur négociateur que moi, mais cela ne me changeait rien pour moi.
Salut Marathon !
Pourrais tu me dire combien tu as payé par jour pour un guide et une voiture avec chauffeur ?
Et par quelle agence tu es passé ?
Merci :)
alala, si j avais le temps , j irai bien faire un pti tout au tibet...cet hiver, mais je n ai qu un mois et je dois etre de retour a date fixe imperative (le 18fev)
et ce sera justement LE jour ou tous les etudiants de chine voudrons rentrer...
donc pas assez de temps pour lhasa!!!!
dommage
finalement, je pense y partir le 23.
le billet depuis shanghai (T164) en couchette dure couchtte du milieu est de 780 yuans
auquels je dois rajouter le prix du billet HZ SH (une heure et surement pas cher)
voila, apres bien des hesitations quant au bien fondé ou non d aller a lhassa pour une ou deux semaine grand max...je me dis que pourquoi pas...le seul truc qui me derange en fait c est de me retrouver dans le rush de la nouvelle année...je le subit tous les jours depuis une semeine dans le bus etc..mais je pense que le 23 il y aura beaucoup moins de monde et comme je ne dois etre de retour que les 18, et bien ce sera aussi juste apres les gros retour...
Je suis en train de contacter des agences et de négocier le prix. Combien estimez vous le prix pour une semaine avec un guide, un groupe de 5, une voiture, hors repas, à peu près? nous avons déjà obtenu -27% par rapport au prix de départ, compte tenu des prix pratiqués habituellement dans le reste de la chine, ça me paraît toujours relativement cher, mais dans le reste de la chine la négociation est de mise donc je me demande jusqu'où on peut aller ... auriez vous des indications de prix? (restaurant, prix moyens...) ou une idée du niveau de prix comparé au reste de la chine? (beijing, xian, shanghai... ?)
le cout de la vie locale est le meme que partout ailleurs... (a peu pres le meme qu a pekin)
bien sur moins cher qu a hangzhou etb shanghai (mais la aussi on trouve des gargottes pas cher)
bien que tout au augmenté en quelques années...parfois prix multilpiés par 3...mais la encore c est normal.
un petit exemple;l auberge de jeunesse doncuo a lasa. en 2009, c etait 10 yuans pour un lit en dortoir.
maintenant (je suis en train de reserver car je pars a lanzhou et lhassa le 23) ca coute 45 yuan en janvier (festival oblige) et 35 en fevrier...
oui, tout a augmenté, mais cela reste encore moins cher que dans les grandes villes du centre sud (shangai, hangzhou etc...)
Voici le dernier devis que j'avais recu fin 2009, debut 2010 (ca pourrait te donner une idee sur les prix, je ne dit pas que c'est la meilleure offre, ....)
ITINERARY AND QUOTATION (valid until April 2010)
So here's a suggested itinerary:Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa, pickup service.Day 2: Lhasa for acclimatization, relax (suggested sights: Sera Monastery, Tibet Museum)Day 3: Lhasa (suggested sights: Potala Palace, Barkhor Circuit and Jokhang)
Day 4: Lhasa - Samye Monastery, stay at Tsedang
Day 5: Tsedang - Yamdrok Lake - Gyantse, stay at GyantseDay 6: Gyantse - Shigatse - Everest Base Camp, stay at Rongbuk Monastery or Tingri TownDay 7: Everest Base Camp - Shigatse, stay at ShigatseDay 8: Shigatse - LhasaThis quotation is designed for a two-person group, but I will include the price for more people at the end of this email.
To break it down, the cost for the above tour should be around: Tour guide salary for 7 days (no tour guide for the first and last day)The tour guide rule is strange but necessary, however it doesn't mean that you can't travel alone... you just have to hire one, but you don't need one on the first and last day of your trip.You can ask your tour guide to stay at home and you can do whatever you prefer.
There are only a few places that you must be accompanied by your tour guide to enter, you can ask your tour guide to bring you in the places in the morning, then have your own freedom in the afternoon.Permit(s) for two peopleHotel price for 4 nights in Lhasa (double room with private shower room) Land cruiser for 5-day tour as stated above.The salaries, meals and accommodation of both the tour guide and driver are already included. Transportation from the airport or train station to Lhasa City Transportation from Lhasa City to the airport or train station The following items are not included in the package, please understand that I don't include the following items in the package because I believe that it will give you much more freedom. I would also like to make sure you know how much you should pay extra, so I list all the possible items below, please choose
Here are the referenced prices: Not included: Flight or train tickets to and from Lhasa are not included. A flight ticket from Chengdu to Lhasa or Lhasa to Chengdu is around RMB 1550 including tax per person. I can help you to arrange the air tickets if necessary. Note that air tickets are electronic, you just need your passports and a printout of the e-ticket to board the plane, the procedure is very straightforward. A train ticket from Chengdu to Lhasa or Lhasa to Chengdu should cost RMB 712 for a hard sleeper or RMB 1104 for a soft sleeper, reservation fee expects to be around RMB 100 to a few hundred yuan per ticket, depending on the season. High seasons include all major Chinese holidays and May to September.
A train ticket from Xining to Lhasa or Lhasa to Xining should cost RMB 523 for a hard sleeper or RMB 810 for a soft sleeper, reservation fee expects to be around RMB 100 to a few hundred yuan per ticket, depending on the season.A train ticket from Beijing to Lhasa or Lhasa to Xining should cost RMB 813 for a hard sleeper or RMB 1262 for a soft sleeper, reservation fee expects to be around RMB 100 to a few hundred yuan per ticket, depending on the season. Not included: Accommodations outside Lhasa.Bed price for a night in Everest Base Camp = RMB 40 per bed per night Hotel price in bigger towns = around RMB 180 per double room (2-people) per night
You are allowed to stay at the hotels of your own choice, provided they have the necessary "Foreigners Staying License", almost all hotels listed in the Lonely Planet should have this permit. Not included: Meals are not included. I guess you don't want us to "decide" where you want to eat... you can eat wherever you want, budget or high end. But the meals and accommodation of the tour guide and driver are already included, you don't have to pay for their meals unless you feel happy to do so. Not included: Entrance fees = Potala Palace Y100, Norbulingka Y60, Jokhang Monastery Y60, Sera Monastery Y55, Ganden Monastery Y55, Ramoche Monastery Y20, Tibet Museum free, Namtso Lake Y100, Tashilunpo Monastery Y55, Sakya Monastery Y45, Shalu Monastery Y40, Pelkhor Choede Y40, Tsong Burg Y30, Samye Monastery Y40, Trandruk Monastery Y40, Tomb of Tibetan Kings Y30, Pasong Lake Y50, Kingdom of Guge Y100 The above price is for your reference only, it does not mean that you will go to all places, please check your itinerary for the tourist spots that you are going to visit. Not included: Entrance fee of Everest Base Camp = Y400 for a 4-wheel car plus Y180 per each tourist (driver is free to enter, tour guide isn't free to enter) = RMB 400 + (RMB 180 * 3) = RMB 940Not included: Tippings for the driver and tour guide, not compulsory. Not included: In-city transportation in Lhasa, you can take a taxi to almost all spots. A taxi is around RMB 10 per ride only. We decide not to include in-city transportation in our tour package because most people want more freedom in Lhasa. It's easy for you to arrange your itinerary within Lhasa. If you rent a van in Lhasa, you will have to tell them a fixed schedule and it costs around RMB 300 per day, not a good investment and not really necessary to have this trouble.
By giving you a all-included package would actually give me more profit, but I think it would be fairer to tell you exactly what you may have to pay outside Lhasa and what you may have to pay for the entrance fees, but still leave you some rooms and spaces to choose what to pay after you arrive.
Please read carefully what is included and what is not included. I think this setup is actually better as you may want more freedom to tour around Lhasa by yourself. Please understand I tend not to include everything in the package because I think it will give you more freedom, by no means that I tried to make our package look "cheaper".
And the total cost of this tour for a two-person group is RMB 10096.
You can get it cheaper if you can find some partners to share the cost (especially the cost of the jeep and tour guide). We can help other travelers to hook up with each other, but to be frankly, successful rate is still not so high because of the rather turnout rate. I suggest you to find some partners in Chengdu or on some internet forums.
Here's a referenced price of this tour package for more people:
1 person: RMB 9016 (RMB 9016 per person)
2 people: RMB 10096 (RMB 5048 per person)
3 people: RMB 11536 (RMB 3845 per person)
4 people: RMB 12616 (RMB 3154 per person)
Procedures of getting the permits:
To start your application of permits, I will need to have the following documents:Scanned copies of the passport information pages of all group members. If you don't have a scanner, a clear photo taken by a digital camera will be acceptable.
Scanned copies of the Chinese visas (tourist visa) of all group members.For business visa holder (F visa), please send me a letter of recommendation from your company.For working visa holder (Z visa), please send me a letter of recommendation from your company, your resident permit and your working permit.For student visa holder (X visa), please send me a letter of recommendation from your school.Your address in China, you can send me this information later (better be a guesthouse or hotel reserved under your name).Your phone number in China (optional).
The application of the permits will be started once I receive the payment of deposit, plus the documents stated in number 1 and number 2 of the above list. It will usually take around 7 days, plus 3 days to send it by EMS to any domestic address. It may take up to 6 days to send the permits to Shangri-la in Yunnan.
Payment:
If you decide to join the tour with us, please pay 30% as a deposit, pay the remaining 70% on the day of your arrival in Lhasa. Please understand that we can only start the tour preparation and permit application after receiving your deposit, this deposit is non-refundable.
A+
John
"Certains pensent qu'ils font un voyage, en fait, c'est le voyage qui vous fait ou vous défait." N. Bouvier
Bien sur, pas de probleme, (note que les prix donne, date de 2010, verifie avec eux si ils n'on pas augmente les prix pour ce que tu souhaites faire au Tibet voila:
Pazu Kong
Spinn Cafe, Lhasa, Tibet
====================
Spinn Cafe, Lhasa, Tibet
"Best place to hang out in Lhasa!" (Commented by one of our customers.)
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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).
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 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?
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