Hi there, for those who’ve been recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport or room costs? It doesn’t seem easy to travel on a budget.
If you have any recommendations for simple lodgings or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them.
For those who’ve done multi-day treks while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about itineraries you’ve done without a guide, just with a map and GPS.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Hi Aichatou,
I went to Santo Antão on a solo trip, and it’s truly an incredible island for hiking. The easiest way if you want to walk for several days is to sleep directly in the villages along the way: Cruzinha, Cha d’Igreja, Fontainhas, or Ponta do Sol. You’ll find plenty of small family-run guesthouses—often simple but very welcoming.
I did three days of hiking. The Paul Valley on the first day, then one of the most beautiful (and accessible) hikes is the coastal trail between Cruzinha and Ponta do Sol. The landscapes are spectacular—sleeping in Ponta do Sol. And the last day was the Ribeira da Torre loop.
If it helps you prepare, I wrote a full recap here: Santo Antão hikes
Solo, I always felt safe on the island, and Cape Verdeans are very helpful with hikers.
Voyager Autrement est Possible
Un Voyage à votre image
Voyages en immersion et éco-responsables
Hi Kris,
Since March is peak season, there are quite a few tourists around, so you might run into some. Whether you can share transport and accommodation depends on the person, I guess, and their itinerary.
You should know that Cape Verde isn’t the budget destination you might expect (not like some countries in Asia or mainland Africa, for example):
Because it’s an archipelago, *everything* is imported and expensive (food, accommodation, fuel, transfers...)—and that goes for Cape Verdeans too. 😉
Even flights used to be pricey. Now low-cost airlines have entered the scene (good? bad?), but before, it was crazy!
On São Vicente, I think there’s a kind of youth hostel (you should be able to find it on Booking), and in Ponta do Sol, there’s a new budget place that just opened with a shared kitchen, so you can cook and avoid restaurants (MeloMar).
Otherwise, in small mountain guesthouses or homestays, you’re looking at around 30 € per person (night + breakfast + dinner). For a basic room in a guesthouse, it’s between 25 and... € (depending on the place). That should give you an idea.
Marie
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
Hi Kris,
I was there as a couple in January, so I can’t really say what the crowd is like in March.
With age, we’ve been traveling with suitcases for a few years now... My wife can’t carry a backpack for several days to do multi-stop trips, so we had to have our luggage transported from guesthouses to hotels, and with taxis, it wasn’t cheap. We also didn’t stay in the most budget-friendly guesthouses most of the time, which really blew our budget.
If you’re doing a multi-stop trip without transporting your luggage, use *collectivos* and stay in guesthouses run by Cape Verdeans (many are run by foreigners—Dutch, Americans, etc.). That way, you can easily stick to a small budget (though it’s still a bit more than in Nepal).
Short on time, no computer...
I’ll come back later to give you some route ideas and addresses—some villages have accommodations (pensions) that aren’t online, and if some are full, you’ll always find somewhere to stay in villages or small hamlets. Housing is pretty spread out in the west.
Otherwise, a sleeping bag is unnecessary—they have blankets if needed...
For transport, you can often take *collectivos* to leave the main "towns"—it’s super cheap. Just check the map for where you want to stop, either to start your hike or reach your guesthouse. They stop on demand, but when you’re heading back, passing *collectivos* are always full! You’ll have to walk or take a taxi (10 times the price of a *collectivo*).
Hi Jean-Michel,
I kinda get why you’d encourage people to go to places run by Cape Verdeans… but foreigners who’ve settled here also have the right to work. 😉
Just like foreigners in Europe can do. Would you tell someone to eat at a Parisian restaurant run by a French person instead of the local kebab place? That’d probably go down pretty badly. 🤪
I’m not trying to start a debate at all—quite the opposite. But I live here in Cape Verde as a foreigner, and like any expat anywhere in the world, it’s not always easy to find your place… even though I firmly believe there’s room for everyone, as long as you feel good where you choose to be. 🙂
Marie
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
I kind of understand encouraging people to go to places run by Cape Verdeans... but foreigners living here also have the right to work. 😉
Just like foreigners in Europe can do. Would you tell someone to eat at a Parisian restaurant run by a French person rather than at the local kebab place? That would probably go down pretty badly.
I don’t quite get what you’re saying. I’m only chiming in here to help someone spend less on trekking... the rest doesn’t matter much to me.
For info, in Cape Verde, we pretty much (unintentionally) stayed with foreigners: Dutch, English, Belgian, American, and even a German/American couple where the wife, who’s been living in Tarrafal de Monte Trigo for over 20 years, didn’t speak a word of Portuguese (great integration!). Just to clarify, we weren’t exactly on a tight budget.
If I were alone, I wouldn’t have booked anything at all (I’m not big on planning) and would’ve stayed only with Cape Verdeans—first to soak up the simple local life, and second because the prices are lower. (The comfort is also more basic, that goes without saying.)
I didn’t stay long enough in Cape Verde to judge, but I did notice that all the places we stayed (mostly run by foreigners) were more expensive than those run by Cape Verdeans... The main reason being that the latter often have less comfort.
If someone asked me about France and a foreign backpacker asked me for cheap hotel recommendations in Paris, I’d probably say the opposite... to head to the poorer neighborhoods (18th or 19th arrondissements) and stay in hotels run by foreigners (Algerians, Moroccans, etc.).
No worries. Like I said, no controversy—just sharing ideas and feelings.
So, I’ll confirm that in Cape Verde, you can also find accommodations run by foreigners at lower prices (not the majority, admittedly)... and, conversely, places run by Cape Verdeans at higher prices (though there are actually quite a few of those now!).
But it’s true that in the mountains, during treks, most places are run by Cape Verdeans who own the land and their homes (so either small family-run guesthouses or homestays in their actual houses). 😎 Still, it’s not exactly cheap compared to other destinations—around 30 € per night per person (including night, breakfast, and a meal). It’s still a budget to consider.
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
Hello, for those who’ve been there recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport costs or a room? It seems like traveling cheaply isn’t easy.
If you have addresses for simple accommodations or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them.
For those who’ve done multi-day hikes while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about your itineraries that can be done without a guide, just with a map and GPS.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Hi Kris,
And since you mentioned coming these next few days, here’s the current weather update: it’s raining, raining, raining!!
Pretty "unusual" for this time of year.
Hooray for Santo Antão, the plantations, and the water reserves—but watch out for slippery paths.
Normally, it should calm down tomorrow or the day after, though it’ll stay cloudy.
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
It’s still not exactly cheap compared to other destinations: on average 30 € per night per person (night + breakfast + meal). It’s still a budget.
Do you know the average price of meals in restaurants...
For example: Once we ate at Pico da Cruz, a small eatery in the village. I paid 1.90 € for a catchupa with eggs.
To sum up how we went about hiking...
First, we asked for a quote from Nobai, a trekking agency based in Mindelo.
With daily luggage transport, some guided starts to hikes, and accommodations and meals booked in mid-range/good guesthouses and hotels, it came to 840 € for just 4 days.
We used their itinerary as inspiration and first did our own 4-day trek, booking the accommodations ourselves and using taxis and collectivos for transport.
The following days, we made 3- or 4-day stops in 3 different places and hiked in a star pattern (loop hikes).
Hi there,
I was talking about the evening meal. It’s usually included in the half-board option at mountain accommodations.
Otherwise, you can grab a daily special for 200-300 escudos or a cachupa for cheap. Or a full midday meal at mountain lodgings typically runs 700-800 escudos.
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
To sum up how we went about hiking...
First, we asked for a quote from Nobai, a trekking agency based in Mindelo.
With daily luggage transport, some guided starts to hikes, and accommodation and meals booked in mid-range/good guesthouses and hotels, it came to 840 € for just 4 days.
We used their itinerary as inspiration and first did our own 4-day trek, booking accommodations ourselves and using taxis and collectivos for transport.
The following days, we made 3- or 4-day stops in 3 different places and hiked in a star pattern (loop hikes).
Hi Jean-Michel,
Just curious—was that 840 € per person or for how many people?
Thanks,
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
It was for 2 people and 2 meals weren't included. One at noon (at Isabel's?) in a village halfway between Cruzinha and Ponta do Sol, and another in the evening in Ponta do Sol (we were staying at Música de Mar).
So there was 1 night at Quinta Cochete (Ribeira das Patas), 1 night at Luz do Sol (Cidade das Pombas), and 2 nights at Música de Mar (Ponta do Sol), totaling 4 nights.
Apart from the 2 meals, everything was included: breakfast, dinner, and the night, plus all transportation, of course, and the price of the Mindelo–Santo Antão ferry.
During our stay in Santo Antão, we actually stayed:
2 nights at Quinta Cochete (Ribeira das Patas)
1 night at Luz do Sol, in Cidade das Pombas (so Cape Verdean!)
3 nights at Música de Mar (Ponta do Sol)
3 nights in Tarrafal de Monte Trigo (Mar Tranquilidade, run by a German-American couple)
1 night at Suzeth’s in Cha da Morte (so Cape Verdean!)
1 night at Alto Mira 3: Amadeu de Dos Ramos (Cape Verdean!)
4 nights at Altea Panorâmica (Paul Valley)
Total: 15 nights.
Thanks so much for the info!
So, for two people, that actually seems like a more reasonable price, even if it’s still a budget, of course. But in the end, it works out to 105 € per person per day for accommodation, meals (not fully covered but still a good amount), transfers, ferries, and some guided activities...
If you organized it yourselves, did you manage to spend less on average?
Yes, Luz do Sol in Vila das Pombas is a great family-friendly spot and really nice! It’s a bit tucked into the bend, but it’s fine in the end.
Faites que le rêve dévore votre vie afin que la vie ne dévore pas votre rêve.
By organizing it yourself, did you manage to spend less on average than that?
About 25% less (estimate)—it’s hard to say exactly since we stayed an extra night at Quinta Cochete (Aluguer after getting off the ferry) and arrived later at our destination, so we didn’t do the planned hike on the first day (just a short walk) but did it on the second. We had plenty of time, so what we were supposed to do in 4 days, we actually did in 6.
Taxis really blow the budget! There’s quite a bit of waiting for taxis, just like for collectivos. With a dedicated driver, we would’ve “wasted” less time.
Yes, Luz do Sol in Vila das Pombas is a great family-friendly spot and really nice! A bit tucked into the bend, but it works out.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but the inside is fine. The staff is friendly, and the comfort and food are very decent.
Thanks for all your info! Since the flight ticket I was interested in is no longer available, I’ll take my time planning this trip instead and would love to meet up with you. Have a great day!
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving on Monday, August 3rd for my very first long-distance trek: the GR223 from Coutances to Mont Saint-Michel, over 6-7 days (~11-14 miles/day), solo.
I’m looking for tips from people who know this section well (Coutances → Regnéville-sur-Mer → Hauteville-sur-Mer → Bréhal → Granville → Genêts → bay crossing):
Budget-friendly accommodations: I’m struggling to find affordable stopover lodgings (a lot of what I find online are expensive vacation rentals, not really suited for a solo hiker). If you have any great spots (hostels, hiker-friendly B&Bs, nice campgrounds), I’d love to hear them!
Bay crossing: Any feedback on guides/providers leaving from Genêts for the final crossing?
General tips for a first long-distance trek: What you wish you’d known before your first time, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July.
I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route.
Can anyone give me some info on this?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Morocco in August and we’ll start with a stop in Chefchaouen (we’re driving).
My question: can anyone suggest a 5-to-7-day loop hiking route from Chefchaouen in Talassemtane Park, ideally passing by the God’s Bridge? Or a paper guidebook that covers a few options?
We prefer wild camping and guesthouses.
Thanks in advance
Hi everyone!
We’re planning a 15-day road trip to Scotland this summer, specifically to explore and hike on Lewis and Harris—places we’ve never been before. We’ve visited other islands on previous road trips in Scotland (we usually go in April for a week). This would be our first time in Scotland in the summer and for 15 days. We’re looking at late August to early September.
I’m currently drafting the itinerary. We’d be crossing from Ullapool and were thinking of spending 3 nights on Harris and 4 nights on Lewis.
Does that sound balanced to you? Is it better to keep the same accommodation on Harris and the same on Lewis to explore the area? I’d love to hear about any past experiences you’ve had on these islands.
Thanks!
Hi there, I’m trying to leave for 15 days very soon to São Vicente. I’m either looking to join an agency or figure things out on my own to go hiking on one of these islands or both. From what I’ve seen, it’s not easy to organize with local transport, so it gets expensive. Can I use the services of a small local agency? I’m looking for the simplest way to hike for several days. Also, how do you get from São Vicente to São Nicolau? Thanks in advance and have a great day!
Aichatou
I’ve been wanting to do this for several years, and this year’s the one. Next September, I’ll be trekking in Tusheti (Georgia), from Omalo to Shatili.
Of course, I won’t be renting a vehicle that’d just sit unused. No problem getting to Pshaveli, but from there to Omalo, it’s a dirt road (still the case?)
There must be some form of public transport since there are so many guesthouses, and not all travelers come in a 4x4.
If any of you have been to Omalo, could you confirm that these shared transports exist and how often they run?
we’re planning a trip to Yellowstone and hoping to do a three-day backcountry hike if we get a permit.
if any of you have done this before, could you let me know if it’s possible to find water along the way? And if we can transport it, are we allowed to use a stove?
