Je prévois un voyage de 11 jours au Yunnan en juin.
Que pensez-vous de mon itinéraire?
1. Arrivée à Kunming dans la matinée - lac émeraude
2. La Forêt de Pierre
3. Vol pour Dali tôt le matin
- visite de la vieille ville de Dali
- Zhoucheng
- nuit à Xizhou
4. Weishan et montagne Weibaoshan
- nuit à Xizhou
5. Visite du marché de Xizhou
- Montagne Shibaoshan
- nuit à Shaxi
6. Route vers Lijang
- visite de la vieille ville et du parc de l'étang du dragon noir
- nuit à Shuhe
7. Balade à vélo dans la vallée de Lijang
- nuit à Shuhe
8. Lijiang - Gorges du Saut du Tigre
9. Saut du Tigre - Shangri La
10. Shangri-La - ????
11. Shangri-La - Visite de monastère, de la vieille ville et de la campagne
- vol en fin de journée pour Pékin
J'hésite à zapper Kunming et à prendre un vol Pékin-Dali tôt le matin.
La forêt de pierre vaut-elle vraiment le détour sachant que je dois passer les jours 1 et 2 à Kunming? Il me semble que le jour 1 est un peu une perte de temps sachant que je n'aime pas les grandes villes.
Si je supprime Kunming à quel endroit ajouteriez-vous les deux jours gagnés?
Que me proposez-vous de visiter le jour 10 à Shangri-La?
11. Shangri-La - Visite de monastère, de la vieille ville et de la campagne
Pour la vieille ville de Shangri La, ça va être difficile puisqu'elle a brûlé en janvier (mais pas le moulin à prières géant).
Par contre, selon moi, le monastère et la campagne valent le déplacement.
Je ne pensais pas supprimer Shangri-la. J'ai mis des points d'interrogation pour le jour 10 car je n'ai rien prévu de précis pour ce jour-là. Nous visiterons ce qu'il reste de la vieille ville à notre arrivée le jour 9, le jours 11 on ira au monastère et dans la campagne. Je ne sais pas s'il faut prévoir quelque chose de plus éloigné ou se promener un jour de plus dans la campagne et dans la ville le jour 10.
Ton programme est déjà bien dense pour 11 jours. A titre d'exemple, le 5e jour tu prévois
5. Visite du marché de Xizhou
- Montagne Shibaoshan
- nuit à Shaxi
Ton planning est tellement serré que tu n'auras pas le temps de te promener dans Shaxi et dans les petits villages alentours. Quel dommage ! la vallée est très belle (enfin, elle l'était en 2009... ) et mérite qu'on s'y attarde un peu.
Mon avis, si je peux me permettre, serait de ne rien ajouter mais plutôt de prévoir un peu de temps pour souffler.
Bonjour,
Moi je zapperai Kunming et la forêt de pierre pour passer plus de temps dans le reste du Yunnan et surtout dans la région de Shangri La, le monastère est très bien mais surtout va découvrir les endroits plus reculés du coin dans la montagne.
J'ai trouvé la forêt de pierre très touristique, nous nous sommes bien éloignés du circuit classique et nous avons passé une bonne journée, mais c'était moins bien que le reste du Yunnan
Tu peux regarder sur mon blog j'ai pas mal de trucs sur le Yunnan et Weishan et Weibaoshan sont super et aucun touristes, tu as raison d'y aller.
Pour voir plus d'infos, de photos et de bons plans direction mon blog. http://voyagista.fr/
Pour la ville elle-même de Shangri-La, à part le moulin à prières (encore accessible aujourd'hui ?) et le temple qui le borde, comme la vieille ville n'existe plus et que la ville moderne est sans grand intérêt (y passer en bus pour aller au monastère suffit largement), il faut vraiment profiter des environs…
Il y a effectivement pas mal de balades à faire dans les alentours (paysages, etc) en plus de la visite au monastère.
assez d'accord avec les message précédents, je zapperai Kunming afin de gagner 2 jours... Ces 2 jours je les utiliserais soit pour la journée Shibaoshan- Shaxi:
- Shibaoshan nous y avions passé une journée complète et franchement ce n'est pas de trop!
- Shaxi c'est mignon tout plein, mais le plus grand attrait c'est effectivement de partir se balader un peu à pied ou a vélo dans les villages alentours! Du coup une journée pleine à Shaxi (ou 2 demi journées) me paraitrait plus optimal
La deuxième journée cela dépend de ce que vous aimez, mais pour les gorges du saut du tigre je ne saurai que vous recommander le trek sur 2 jours (avec une nuit en chemin) qui surplombe les gorges! Le sentier est magnifique, et les paysages à couper le souffle! La descente dans les gorges (middle gorges) n'est pas de tout repos (surtout la remontée), mais cela vaut vraiment la peine!!!
salutations,
Fabienne
Voyage autour du monde en cours... en couple autour du monde pour 18 mois! http://www.novo-monde.com
Je vais supprimer Kunming et arriver directement à Dali.
Voilà mon nouveau programme
Jour 1 - Arrivée à Dali à 13.00 - visite de la vieille ville et nuit à Dali. La visite de Zhoucheng vaut-elle la peine ou est-ce un attrape-touriste?
Jour 2 - Weishan - Weisbaoshan - nuit à Xizhou
Jour 3 - Visite du marché de Xizhou - route vers Shaxi - promenade à Shaxi et nuit
Jour 4 - Shibaoshan - nuit à Shaxi
Jour 5 - Shaxi - visite des environs à pied ou à vélo
Jour 6 - départ Lijiang - visite de la vieille ville et du parc de l'étang du Dragon Noir - nuit à Shuhe
Jour 7 - balade à vélo dans la vallée de Lijiang vers les villages de Baisha et Yuhu
Jour 8 - Lijiang - gorges du Saut du Tigre - nuit dans les gorges
Jour 9 - gorges - Shangri-la - visite de la vieille ville (ce qu'il en reste)
Jour 10 - Shangri-la - visite du monastère -découverte des alentours
Jour 11 - campagne autour de Shangri La
Les balades dans les environs sont-elles plutôt à faire en voiture, à pieds ou à vélo?
Un guide est-il nécessaire ou peut-on facilement le faire soi-même?
POur les environs de Shangri la, nous avions pris une voiture à la demie-journée (en prenant un chauffeur donc puisqu'on ne peut pas conduire), cela pour un prix raisonnable, pour faire le tour du lac. Mais nous avons vu des touristes faire un bout du même chemin en vélo (peut-être pas tout le lac). A pied, cela me semble juste, par qu'il faut quand même s'éloigner un peu de la ville pour profiter des paysages.
Pour le monastère, le bus local est impeccable (1 yuan le trajet).
Weishan et Weiboshan se fait depuis la journee depuis Dali surtout si tu as un chauffeur, c'est à une heure de voiture de Dali. Nous l'avions fait sans problèmes.
Moi je passerai une nuit de moins à Shaxi, sauf si tu veux faire une randonnée d'une journée. Tu peux visiter Shibashoan en arrivant à Shaxi c'est sur la route et Shaxi même si tu n'est pas là un vendredi jour du marché, se visite très vite c'est minuscule.
Pour les villages vers Lijiang, Baishia pas de problèmes en velo mais Yuhu c'est loin et ca monte! De plus nous avions pas trouvé les gens du coin sympas dans ce village, nous nous balladions en famille et les enfants venaient embeter de manière mechante les miens.
Apres les gorges du saut du tigre demande à passer par l'ancienne route de Shangri la qui est magnifique et arrete toi à BaiShuitai (plus d'infos ici http://voyagista.fr/sautdutigre/). Par contre tu vas arriver assez tard à Shangri La, je pense que tu ne voudras pas visite rla vielle ville le soir même.
Bon voyage
Pour voir plus d'infos, de photos et de bons plans direction mon blog. http://voyagista.fr/
BaiShuitai a l'air magnifique et ça me fait vraiment envie. Mais est-ce vraiment faisable après les gorges du saut du Tigre? Je n'arrive pas à trouver sur google map. Il me semble que ça fait un grand détour.
Tu avais visité la vallée de Lijiang en voiture ou à vélo?
Tout dépend de comment tu aimes marcher... pour notre part nous n'avons pas de chaussures de marche à proprement parlé, mais plutôt des chaussures de trail (type salomon).
Lorsque nous avons fait la marche il y avait une fille qui a fait la marche avec une paire de converse, mais franchement elle a galéré! Le sentier est bien défini, mais il y a tout de même quelques passages où on marche sur des rochers, dans de la terre, etc... Moi je conseillerai quand même d'avoir des chaussures aux pieds dans lesquelles tu te sente à l'aise et qui ont une semelle suffisamment robuste afin de te donner un peu de stabilité!
Voyage autour du monde en cours... en couple autour du monde pour 18 mois! http://www.novo-monde.com
Bonjour
je suis en préparation d'un voyage de 3 semaines au Yunnan cet été. Je suis en train de faire un planning ... me manque une notion de la météo : la pluie est-elle type une rincée par jour, ou bien plutôt type un peu (voire beaucoup) de pluie toute la journée ?
Merci de votre aide
Fabyenne
Bonjour,
Moi je zapperai Kunming et la forêt de pierre pour passer plus de temps dans le reste du Yunnan et surtout dans la région de Shangri La, le monastère est très bien mais surtout va découvrir les endroits plus reculés du coin dans la montagne.
J'ai trouvé la forêt de pierre très touristique, nous nous sommes bien éloignés du circuit classique et nous avons passé une bonne journée, mais c'était moins bien que le reste du Yunnan
Tu peux regarder sur mon blog j'ai pas mal de trucs sur le Yunnan et Weishan et Weibaoshan sont super et aucun touristes, tu as raison d'y aller.
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We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
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).