How to successfully travel independently in Egypt

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a tour of the light trails in Paris and Île-de-France this winter. I’ve compiled the events still running or coming up for the 2026–2027 season, with dates, times, and prices. Maybe this’ll help others!

In Paris L’Odyssée Lumineuse — Parc floral, Paris 12th From November 14, 2026, to January 24, 2027. 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM, last entry at 9:30 PM. Note: several closures during the week. Dated ticket: 13 € adult / 11 € child aged 3 to 12; free for under 3s. On the program: giant lanterns, illuminated fountains, and northern lights effects.

Nuits Indiennes — Jardin d’Acclimatation, Paris 16th From November 27, 2026, to February 21, 2027. 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, last entry at 9:00 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays outside Zone C school holidays. Announced prices: 18 € adult / 12 € child. A trail around India, with around 2,000 lanterns and light sculptures.

In Seine-et-Marne — 77 Lumigny Safari de Lumières — Lumigny-Nesles-Ormeaux From October 15, 2026, to January 3, 2027. 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, last entry at 8:30 PM. Thursday to Sunday outside school holidays, with more dates during the holidays. Closed December 24, 25, and 31, as well as January 1. Night trail only: 16.90 € for ages 11+ / 14.90 € for ages 3 to 10; free for under 3s. Lanterns on themes of the deep sea, animals, and fantastical creatures.

Le Grand Noël de Vaux-le-Vicomte — Maincy From November 14, 2026, to January 3, 2027, according to the schedule. Generally from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM, with some evenings until 9:00 PM. Reduced hours on December 24 and 31; closed December 25 and January 1. Château + gardens: from 25.90 € adult / 20.90 € child aged 3 to 17. Higher prices on weekends and during holidays. This isn’t a lantern festival *per se*: more of a visit to the decorated château and gardens, with illuminations and projections on the façade.

In Yvelines — 78 Thoiry Lumières Sauvages — Thoiry From October 17, 2026, to March 7, 2027, according to the schedule. Generally from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, last entry at 8:00 PM, but hours vary by date. Night trail only: 23 € adult, or 25 € from December 19 to January 2; 19 € child aged 3 to 10. Nearly 3 km of walking among light sculptures, on the theme “In the Footsteps of Pachamama.”

La Nuit des Géants — France Miniature, Élancourt From November 28, 2026, to January 3, 2027, according to the schedule. Entry slots from 5:30 PM, with last entries at 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM depending on the period. Tickets start at 18 €; prices vary by date and category. A new light trail among miniature monuments, showcasing Christmas traditions from French regions.

One extra one-off event Parade lumineuse des Allebrilles — La Villette, Paris 19th December 5, 2026, free. Check the time. A procession of light creatures and puppets, rather than a trail open all winter.

Prices are based on the info I gathered, but it’s best to check the schedule and session prices on each official site before heading out.

I’d also like to film these outings to prepare a recap video for YouTube. If anyone’s already done these trails with a camera or stabilizer, I’d love your feedback: how was the equipment welcome, crowd levels, ability to stop and film? I’m also checking with the organizers about broadcasting permissions.

Know any others like this in Île-de-France, or have feedback on these?

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to finally announce the launch of a big project, exploramatours.com, an original site to help you plan your next trip. For now, there's only one guide on Bali, but more are coming. Feel free to check it out and explore! Happy travels!

I’ve just returned from a trip to northern Vietnam, a mountainous region with stunning landscapes and plenty of hiking trails.

I opted for a tour organized by an agency that offers fair and community-based travel experiences in Vietnam. This trip will remain a wonderful memory for me. I usually travel solo, occasionally using guides, but not as part of an organized tour. For Vietnam, I made an exception—and it was a smart one! Without this agency and their excellent French-speaking guide, I would’ve missed out on some incredible discoveries due to the language barrier and the difficulty of accessing breathtaking off-the-beaten-path sites. We also had an excellent driver who took us to very remote villages via some pretty challenging roads. At each stop, we went on hikes that allowed us to take in stunning scenery and connect with the local people—something that would’ve been impossible without our French-speaking guide. Depending on the stop, we stayed with locals, in lodges, or in hotels. Here’s the itinerary:

Hanoi – 2 days in a hotel Tu Le – 2 days in a lodge Mu Cang Chai – 2 days with locals Sapa – 2 days in a lodge Bac Ha – 1 night with locals Hoang Su Phi – 2 nights in a lodge Ha Giang – 1 night in a hotel Tam Coc (land Halong) Halong Bay – 1-night cruise

You can check out the full details of this tour and photos on my blog: Exploring Northern Vietnam

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Philippe

Hi everyone, Last July, we crossed the Isle of Beauty from north to south along the famous GR 20. We chose to complete it in 16 stages, finishing with a relaxing day in Porto-Vecchio. It’s certainly a physical challenge but also a wonderful human adventure. We’d dreamed of doing it, we did it, and we really don’t regret taking the plunge. I won’t go into detail about each stage or all the preparation because I’ve already covered it here: GR 20 recap in 16 stages. But I wanted to share a few photos with you and maybe inspire you to take the plunge like we did. If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them as best I can.

The northern stages (the toughest ones): lots of elevation gain, rocky landscapes, beautiful lakes, breathtaking viewpoints, and technical sections. Every minute counts—time feels thicker in the north! The southern stages: less rocky, lower altitude, more forested, but still with their own challenges.

A few photos to give you an idea:

The title isn't very catchy, I'll admit, but isn't that often the case? Many people share their trips to this beautiful country. This was my 5th visit not long ago, and as I'm about to move there, I'm updating my latest trip, which I invite you to check out.

http://www.my-thailand-and-me.com

Hi there, I’ve just finished putting together a little article with my notes, photos, impressions, and feelings from my two-week trip visiting Ethiopia: Abyssinia, Erta Ale, and Dallol. You can read it at the link below:

http://voyagesalain26.over-blog.com/2019/04/ethiopie-abyssinie-erta-ale-dallol.html

Happy reading and safe travels!

Forget the usual tours! 🇲🇦 Get away from the crowds and discover the real Morocco through its most beautiful hidden small towns. 🌿✨ Secret gems off the beaten path that you absolutely must see on your next trip. 🗺️ Save this post for your future trip to Morocco! 📌

Link to the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/FkgOQCR7GYY

I took advantage of my season in Saint-Malo to do two day trips to Guernsey. The crossing takes just under 2 hours, and the change of scenery is total: English is spoken, you pay in pounds, but the street names sound very French. After testing it out, here’s my ideal itinerary:

An English breakfast when you arrive, then a tour of the island by bus (two lines, one in each direction, with stops wherever you want). Cobo Bay and L’Ancresse Bay are my two favorite beaches. In the afternoon, a stroll through Saint Peter Port—a real favorite—with Victor Hugo’s house, Candie Gardens, and a few English shops.

Is it doable in a day? Yes, but I was left wanting more: next time, I’ll plan for 3 or 4 days.

The full itinerary is detailed here: https://lemondeavecandrea.com/visiter-guernesey-en-une-journee/

Hi there! As a big travel enthusiast, I’d love for you to check out my blog: https://allegria750110.wixsite.com/pascalevoyage https://allegria750110.wixsite.com/pascalevoyage/blog

Feel free to leave a comment! !

Hey there, community!

I wanted to share my experience of sleeping in a rental car for a road trip in vanlife mode but on a tight budget.

Before doing it, I looked for feedback and wanted to know if it was possible, but I didn’t really find much, so I’m sharing mine in case anyone wants to do the same.

The context: I was living in Barcelona and wanted to explore the Costa Brava, but I didn’t have the budget to rent a van, so I chose a car where I put an inflatable mattress and hit the road.

What I prepared:

I picked a rental car that was big enough to lie down in the back seat. I brought an inflatable mattress and a good sleeping bag. I wanted to find safe and tolerated parking spots: I found everything on Park4night. I had a headlamp and a sheet to cover the windows (I made do with what I had).

The highlights:

Super flexible: I could adjust my route based on the weather or my mood. Budget-friendly: huge difference in nightly costs. Nature immersion: I slept in quiet spots with the sounds of nature. Easy to set up: no need for a converted van.

If the topic interests you and you’d like more tips (checklist, gear, scouting spots, etc.), I invite you to read my full article on my blog Le Monde Avec Andréa.

Don’t hesitate to ask me your questions—I’d love to chat!

Happy travels to all those setting off on an adventure! Andrea

Hey everyone, Just sharing my experience after my road trip in a van around New Zealand: if you're looking to save on activities, I really recommend checking out Bookme. At first, I was a bit skeptical (discounts up to 50%—sounds almost too good to be true 🤪), but after 3 bookings, no issues at all. Everything went super smoothly. My experience:

Lots of activities available at reduced prices I got into the habit of checking the site before each booking Best deal: 40% off a cruise to Milford Sound booked 2 days in advance

My tips:

Always check Bookme before booking elsewhere The best prices are often 2 to 4 days before Not all popular activities are necessarily on there

In my opinion, it’s a real great tip for saving money without any hassle during a trip to NZ! I actually detailed my experience and all my tips in this article if you're interested: https://lemondeavecandrea.com/mon-avis-sur-bookme-nouvelle-zelande/ If any of you have tried it too, I’d love to hear your feedback 🙂 Happy travels!

Namibia forever—or our 4th trip to this stunning country. A few surprises this year: brown hyenas, lots of rhinos, and a desert that was almost lush with oases. From Okonjima to the Ongava Reserve, through Damaraland, the incredible lights of Spitzkoppe, the dunes of Sossusvlei with water, the nearly green NamibRand Reserve, and ending in the Kalahari. That’s the hearty journey we just completed between August 26 and September 14, my wife and I, with 3,500 km of tracks in this amazing Namibia. We’re regulars and totally crazy about stays in Southern and South Africa, and we’ve returned to Namibia for the 4th time. Not sure this will be the last! We’ll present two parts. The first part is a video showcasing our trip, hosted on our travel channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lolodetoul54 Namibia 2026 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db9StdkERPs&t=4404s The second part will recount the journey day by day once my wife finishes sorting through our thousands of photos from our two cameras and our smartphones. So many photos! Gone are the days of film when we shot sparingly. Today, it’s a photographic feast. Our Namibia 2026 journey: We decided to switch things up by doing a counterclockwise loop around Namibia. Okay, it’s not a groundbreaking choice since you start with more wildlife-focused areas and end with landscape regions. Our itinerary: Frankfurt-Windhoek with Discover Airlines, direct flight, then 18 nights: - Okonjima: 2 nights - Mushara, east of Etosha: 2 nights - Okaukuejo in Etosha: 1 night - Ongava: 2 nights - Damaraland at Grootberg: 2 nights - Damaraland at Spitzkoppe: 2 nights - Namib: 1 night - Sossusvlei: 2 nights - NamibRand: 3 nights - Kalahari: 2 nights Then back from Windhoek to Frankfurt. Very soon, I’ll share this Namibian journey day by day. Patience!

For wildlife photography lovers, I’ll remind you about the 29th International Festival of Wildlife and Nature Photography in Montier-en-Der (52) from November 19 to 22: https://www.photo-montier.org/

Hello everyone,

I’d like to introduce you to Locus & Lore, our travel film project dedicated to the stories, symbols, and traditions of the places we visit.

Our film about Wutai Shan, in Cavan-Monaghan near Peterborough, Ontario, starts with a few simple questions: Why is water poured over a small Buddha statue? What does Manjushri represent? Why does the sound of a bell linger long after it’s been struck?

For about 11 minutes, our on-site footage guides you through the statues, rituals, and Chinese Buddhist heritage of this place. Illustrations and animated characters enhance some of the historical sections. The film is written and directed by Nilesh.

I’m sharing our film here, which is available on our YouTube channel Living Canada Life: https://youtu.be/04lwZMuqxgs

Watch the film directly on YouTube

French narration and subtitles are available. If another language starts, open the player settings, then select "Audio Track" and "French." Subtitles can be chosen separately under "Subtitles."

Have you ever visited Wutai Shan or come across a statue or ritual elsewhere that you wished you understood better?

Dr. Anuradha — Locus & Lore

Hi everyone,

It took us a long time to readjust after our last trip—the contrast with our daily life was just so stark.

Everything felt so simple and natural there... We were in this green paradise at the end of May 2026.

Our itinerary included: Manuel Antonio National Park and its beaches, Quepos and its marina (with a beautiful pair of scarlet macaws along the way), a photo stop at Crocodile Bridge on the way back to San José, and then the Caribbean coast with Cahuita National Park (an 8 km trail with caimans, sloths, and a tour with a local guide). We wrapped up with Tortuguero, accessible only by boat, before a final stop in the tropical rainforest of Sarapiquí and its stunning Selva Verde Lodge.

Our daily itinerary: |15/05/2026 Day 1|✈ Arrival — Juan Santamaría Airport, San José |16/05/2026 Day 2|🏠 San José |17/05/2026 Day 3|🚗 Road → Monteverde |18/05/2026 Day 4|🌳 Monteverde — Cloud Forest |19/05/2026 Day 5|🚤 Road → Manuel Antonio / Quepos |20/05/2026 Day 6|🦜 Manuel Antonio National Park |21/05/2026 Day 7|🏝 Manuel Antonio — Water activities |22/05/2026 Day 8|🌿 Manuel Antonio — Free day |23/05/2026 Day 9|✈ Juan Santamaría Airport |24/05/2026 Day 10|👨🌾 Road → Cahuita National Park |25/05/2026 Day 11|🐊 Cahuita National Park |26/05/2026 Day 12|🏝 Cahuita — Caribbean culture |27/05/2026 Day 13|🐢 Road → Tortuguero |28/05/2026 Day 14|🐊 Tortuguero — Canals & Jungle |29/05/2026 Day 15|⛺ Road to Sarapiquí |30/05/2026 Day 16|✈ Departure — Juan Santamaría Airport

We documented every step in detail (itinerary, practical tips, animals we spotted) in our travel journal: https://studiodurhone.blogspot.com

Feel free to ask if you have questions about any part of the trip!

Hi everyone, my irlfriend Laura and I have decided to launch a channel around a pretty simple idea: we see so much content telling us where to go, what to visit, where to sleep, or how to pay less.

But in the end, there’s not much content about what travel does to us.

Why do some places bring us peace? Why do we sometimes need to leave without really knowing what we’re looking for? Why can a journey touch us more deeply than a destination?

That’s the approach behind Explora: destinations, guides, and experiences from a new perspective, with the idea that the place itself is just a pretext.

To kick things off, we’ve posted a video explaining this approach, and we’re curious to hear from travelers here: what’s missing for you in today’s travel content?

If this philosophy of travel resonates with you, the channel might be just what you’re looking for. Feel free to check it out and share your thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/@alexlauraexplora

Best regards, Alex.

Cycling from Dargoire in the Loire all the way to Bamako in Mali without a phone, just IGN maps and a compass https://voyage-vtt.linked.fr

Hello

The site Les Soay de Picardie was created to promote and raise awareness about our Soay sheep and to showcase our region, Picardy, as well as other regions through travel articles. There are also tourist events, like the current "Le Souffle de la Terre" in Ailly-sur-Noye in the Oise. The Traditional Camping category is linked to the site CampingTraditionnel.fr, featuring regional maps of campsites with at least 50% bare pitches, along with articles about the camping world. In the Miscellaneous Topics category, you’ll find subcategories: 1) Travel tips, including travel insurance, visas, health, and advice from fellow travelers 2) Travel articles from around the world—Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, and North America

Hi there,

We're finding it harder and harder to locate campsites with non-serviced pitches for tents, caravans, or motorhomes. To help fellow travelers, I’ve put together maps by region showing campsites with at least 50% non-serviced pitches. I’ve also mapped out farm campsites, which are often small, charming setups. You can find all these maps in the category here: https://lessoaydepicardie.fr/cartes-des-campings-traditionnels-en-france/. Click on the maps to visit the "Camping Traditionnel" site, which is a subdomain.

Hi everyone,

Thinking about this famous hike but have too many questions? Then read THIS:

https://blogs.crespel.me/grr2/

It’s my son’s blog, written with a buddy, covering their North-to-South trek in 12 days, from June 26 to July 7, 2026.

Happy reading. Jean.

Hi everyone, we got back from our vacation in Indonesia two weeks ago, and I’d love to share my travel journal with some great tips for keeping costs down. Here’s the link to my travel journal: https://www.myatlas.com/Dri31/java-bali-lombok

Hi there,

I’m the creator of the site RandoCamping. A new hiking-planning feature has just been added to the site. It might interest anyone who likes to prepare their hike or trip in advance, in France, whether on foot or by bike.

https://randocamping.touteslatitudes.fr/ma-rando

How it works... Upload a GPX file, choose your number of days and effort level, and the app automatically splits your route into daily stages with accommodation searches based on your criteria. The calculated stages can be manually adjusted, and once you're happy with your breakdown, all that's left is to select the accommodations that suit you for each night. The route for each stage can also be fine-tuned using the Route Editing and Calculation tool. The final itinerary, with your customized stages, can be exported in GPX format to take with you on your navigation device. Your hike can be retrieved and modified at any time once you’ve saved it in GPX format.

More info on this page: https://randovelo.touteslatitudes.fr/randocamping-planifier-ma-rando/

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.

Hi there, Why not explore Honfleur, supposedly well-known, but do you know about these hidden gems?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrf0ESKxud8

I’ve had the chance to visit friends in the Aude region—Cathar country—several times and explore this area between Leucate and Carcassonne, including the famous Corbières Road 20 and the Cathar Castles Road.

Check out my article for a list of the castles and abbeys to visit along this route. Read the full post soon, and I look forward to hearing from you! Post

Hi there! After browsing VoyageForum, I noticed there isn’t much info about Bulgaria and North Macedonia, where I’m currently traveling. So, I’m sharing my blog if it can help you plan your Bulgarian or North Macedonian trip... https://bulgaria2026yan.blogspot.com/

My blog is meant to inform and introduce these destinations—please spare me the comments! But I’m available here on VoyageForum for any questions. Happy travels!

https://fouderg.eu — spans several decades of travel, mainly in Africa and vast desert landscapes.

I share my travel journals, photographs, anecdotes, and encounters, from the Sahara to the Ennedi, from Niger to Sudan, as well as many other horizons.

The site focuses on firsthand accounts, historical and geographical curiosity, and memories of regions that have sometimes become difficult to access.

It’s neither a tourist guide nor a commercial site, but a personal travel memoir, richly illustrated, for those who love remote trails, the people they meet, and long-term adventures.

Buenos Aires' oldest book temple opens its doors to you! (11-minute video) What if we traveled back in time right to the heart of the colonial period? In this new video from Studio Petit Hergé, we take you for a stroll through the legendary "Librería" de Ávila, hidden just steps from Plaza de Mayo and right across from the city’s very first Jesuit college. Between dangerously sloping basement shelves and the scent of old paper with my guest François, it’s the very soul of Buenos Aires that unfolds! Come get lost with us in the stacks right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz-hwhIZ_FA I’m looking forward to your comments—and your ideas if you’d like me to explore another spot in the capital!

Hey fellow travelers! For those of you drawn to Mexico, I put together this little site to share our 49-day trip in January 2026. (Give it a few seconds to fully load—you’ll see there are tons of photos, tips, and more!) Happy travels! https://noemarphil6.wixsite.com/voyagesdenoemarphil

We went on a safari in Tanzania from February 7th, 2026, to February 17th, 2026. It remains a wonderful memory. There were six of us in the group. Here’s the itinerary and the images that are still etched in our minds: 02/07/2026 – 6:40 AM – 8:30 PM – Flight from LYON to ARUSHA 02/08/2026 – Day 2 – MATURENI Waterfall – Coffee making and tasting at a plantation – Day 2 video (you may need to click "BROWSE YOUTUBE") 02/09/2026 – Day 3 – Maasai village of BOMA – https://youtu.be/9lwBONmBIVU Visit to local schools and the dispensary – Donation of school supplies. 02/10/2026 – Day 4 – TARANGIRE National Park – https://youtu.be/OPpTgUECj0Q 02/11/2026 – Day 5 – Lake Manyara National Park – https://youtu.be/ZFt3tLtum5A 02/12/2026 – Day 6 – SERENGETI Park – https://youtu.be/5TYJE-3IO4w and https://youtu.be/t08g-XJlmdY 02/13/2026 – Day 7 – SERENGETI National Park (continued) – https://youtu.be/ZQkD1YmPzY0 02/14/2026 – Day 8 – Access to Ngorongoro National Park – https://youtu.be/1F__NeCRxhg 02/15/2026 – Day 9 – Ngorongoro Crater – https://youtu.be/BFw7tbjuO5s, then https://youtu.be/WdbHtPcYu8o and https://youtu.be/RBp_H9OMJxY 02/16/2026 – Day 10 – Visit to Arusha 02/17/2026 – Day 10 – 1:30 AM – Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport

FINANCIAL SUMMARY FLIGHTS 1,500 €

SEJOUIR PACKAGE 1,526 €

TIPS AND MISC. 100 €

TOTAL 3,126 €

Trip duration: from 02/07/26 to 02/17/26 => 11 days total, or 9 days excluding travel time.

1- FLIGHT DURATION WITH AIR FRANCE OUTBOUND: from 6:40 AM to 8:30 PM => 12 hours (plus 2-hour time difference in Arusha) RETURN: from 2:45 AM to 2:00 PM => 13 hours 15 minutes (not including a 1-hour 15-minute departure delay)

This city has been described a thousand times, but never in such an irreverent way.

Daring to drop Christian Lacroix, his *arlésiennes*, his boleros, his matadors, and the baroque style of his native Camargue right into the heart of Hoi An—it took some guts to draw that parallel.

https://thefabworld.com/hoi-an-en-christian-lacroix/

The second article on Hoi An is just as punchy:

https://thefabworld.com/hoi-an-en-robe-de-chambre/

Happy reading! !

Hi there! I’m Simon, and for years I’ve been exploring some of Europe’s most beautiful and well-equipped bike paths. My passion for cycling led me to start a blog where I share my travel impressions, practical tips, and photos taken along the way. I ride both well-known routes like the Alpe-Adria, the Loire à Vélo, and the Rhein Route, as well as lesser-known but equally charming regions.



In my stories, I pay special attention to the quality of infrastructure, cyclist safety, and route accessibility—for young and old, experienced riders and beginners alike. I love discovering and sharing spots that are truly welcoming for cycle tourists: well-marked, with rest areas and easy train access.

On the blog, you’ll find ready-to-follow route suggestions, tips for preparing your bike trips, and plenty of inspiration for your next adventures. I travel with my panniers, a camera in the front bag, and always keep an eye out for what’s around me. Feel free to check out my blog, Cycling Thread—you might find some ideas for your next bike getaway! :-)

* * *

I hope this won’t just be a one-off post—I’ll try to share our bike trips with you here regularly. To start: our May trip on the Elberadweg, the queen of German bike paths, between the stunning city of Dresden and Magdeburg. I invite you to visit:

Elberadweg in Germany – From Dresden to Magdeburg

The Elbe bike path is about 1200 km long, following the river from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to its mouth in Cuxhaven, on the North Sea. The route crosses a variety of landscapes: mountain valleys, vineyards, open plains, and coastline. As is often the case in Germany, the signage is excellent and the route easy to follow.

But what surprised us was the number of cobblestone sections! Sure, the cobblestones are well-laid and fairly smooth—but they’re still cobblestones. And when they disappear, they’re often replaced by concrete slabs, typical of river dikes. That’s just part of the face of this 30-year-old "queen"—a heritage that’s hard to replace entirely with fresh asphalt.

Along the way, don’t miss the many cultural highlights. Dresden impresses with its restored old town, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terraces along the Elbe—it’s one of Germany’s most elegant cities. In Meissen, you can visit the famous porcelain factory and its Gothic cathedral. Wittenberg is a must-stop to follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps, with its castle church and Reformation Museum. And to finish, in Dessau-Roßlau, besides the Bauhaus, don’t miss the stunning Dessau-Wörlitz landscape gardens—one of the oldest English-style parks in Europe.

A few photos to give you a feel for the route and inspire you to check out our blog! :-)











Happy cycling!

Simon