Ces dernières années ont été développés plusieurs treks destinés à renouveler l'attrait de la région des Annapurnas, pénalisée d'une part par la progression des routes (tant côté Manang que côté Jomsom), d'autre part une surfréquentation (cf. ABC, Poon Hill...).
Ainsi, en sus des treks de Khopra Danda, Mohare Danda, Mardi Himal Base Camp, viennent désormais s'ajouter :
- le (court) trek de Lalupate / Poinsettia, entre Besisahar et Tal tout en évitant la route, décrit in www.trekwithpremrai.com/...upate-poinsettia.htm. Plusieurs modalités possibles, dont une boucle.
- le trek des 7 cols des Annapurnas, de la Vallée de la Dudh Khola (fin du Tour du Manaslu) à la Vallée de la Kali Gandaki via le Naar Phu et le Mesokanto La, présenté in honeyguideapps.com/...na-seven-passes-trek, et décrit in www.trekwithpremrai.com/...s-trail-is-very.html. Citipati (VoyageForum) a réalisé 2 fois les segments Naar Phu + Mesokanto La, cf. voyageforum.com/...anto-nepal-d6414982/.
- le trek du camp de base Nord de l'Annapurna (NABC Trek, aussi baptisé Maurice Herzog), reprenant en grande partie l'itinéraire suivi par l'expédition Herzog de 1950. Décrit in www.trekwithpremrai.com/...a-base-camptrek.html.
Textes en anglais seulement.
A ce jour, autonomie requise pour le trek des 7 cols et pour le trek du NABC.
N'ayant fait aucun de ces 3 treks, je ne peux indiquer plus que ces sources qui me semblent de qualité.
A noter que le rédacteur du blog référencé, Prem Rai, est le co-auteur du guide NATT (Natural Annapurna Trekking Trails, 4e édition en 2019) avec Andrées de Ruiter. Ses descriptions des treks de Khopra Danda et du Mardi Himal BC m'avaient suffi pour réaliser ces 2 treks par moi-même, d'autant que le marquage y était plutôt de qualité. Temps indiqués à peu près en ligne avec mes propres réalisations, donc représentatifs d'un trekkeur ordinaire.
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
Il y aurait aussi le Namun Bhanjyang (4900 ou 5560 selon les sources), pas un nouveau trek (il me semble avoir lu sur tripadvisor qu'il était assez emprunté avant les années 60) mais quasiment aucun retour de trekkers sur le net https://www.himalaya-info.org/namun_bhanjyang.htm la vue a l'air sympa en tous cas 😉
Premier message sur ce forum pour rebondir sur une discussion qui date un peu mais un retour me semblait intéressant. Un grand merci d’emblée à Fabrice pour ses propositions de treks !
Nous étions au Népal pour deux mois en octobre/novembre avec mon compagnon (première dans ce pays) et ne sachant trop vers quel trek nous tourner - ni vers quelle agence ! - nous avons décidé de contacter Prem Rai, le co-auteur du guide NATT. Ce qui l’a surpris : nous n’étions apparemment que le 3e « groupe » de Français à faire appel à lui depuis le lancement de son agence - il travaille essentiellement avec des Allemands et des Hollandais.
On a un peu discuté de deux des treks cités ci-dessus : le trek des 7 cols et le trek du camp de base Nord (« Herzog-Lachenal »). Pour Prem, en octobre dernier, le trek des 7 cols n’était pas encore tout à fait au point et relevait plutôt du trek de reconnaissance. Il conseillait de le faire par tronçon et non en totalité à ce stade. Pour ce qui est du second trek, il le jugeait beaucoup plus abordable, bien que plus technique que la majorité des treks classiques dans les Annapurnas. Il avait l'air franchement emballé par ce dernier itinéraire !
On a hésité un moment à choisir cette option et puis on a finalement opté pour… un trek classique justement : 10 jours entre Mohare et Khopra Danda. Résultat, même si on a un peu regretté l’aspect sauvage et aventure qui nous avait tant plu au Zanskar en août (désolée par avance pour la comparaison approximative, les deux régions n’ayant rien à voir, mais on découvrait l’Himalaya en 2019 !), on a malgré tout été très content de notre choix. Nous n’avons pas été guidés par Prem directement mais c’est lui qui a assuré l’organisation du trek.
Bilan : même sur un itinéraire fréquenté, nous avons presque toujours réussi à slalomer entre les groupes en passant par des itinéraires bis ou en faisant arrêt dans des lodges moins courus (à part à Mohare et Khopra, mais c’est normal !). Le contact est vraiment bien passé avec le guide, et on était content de l’avoir avec nous, mais comme expliqué par Fabrice, il est tout à fait possible de réaliser le trek en indépendant avec les infos fournies par Prem. Par contre si vous êtes de bons marcheurs, sur 10 jours, mieux vaut enchaîner avec le segment Mardi Himal - on mettait systématiquement 2 h de moins que les temps annoncés…
N’hésitez donc pas joindre Prem Rai (« Prems Nepal Trek ») pour obtenir plus d’informations sur les itinéraires alternatifs dans les Annapurnas, c'est un type passionnant.
Dans l'attente d'une prochaine virée népalaise vers le camp de base Nord… ou les 7 cols - parce que forcément, ça nous a donné sacrement envie cette histoire... !
Je ne connais pas Prem Rai, mais ses descriptifs sur son blog sont bien faits. Celui du Mardi Himal BC m'avait pleinement suffi pour le faire en indépendant.
Ce qui l’a surpris : nous n’étions apparemment que le 3e « groupe » de Français à faire appel à lui depuis le lancement de son agence - il travaille essentiellement avec des Allemands et des Hollandais.
Cela s'explique sans doute par la présence de plusieurs agences de trekking francophones, souvent fondées ou épaulés par des français. Comme ces agences bénéficient d'un bon bouche-à-oreille, il est logique qu'elles captent l'essentiel de la clientèle francophone.
D'autant que les français ne sont pas réputés par leur maîtrise de l'anglais. Encore moins du népalais. 😉
Sa clientèle allemande s'explique sans doute par sa relation avec l'allemand Andrées de Ruiter (cf. http://www.nepal-dia.de/), co-auteur du guide NATT.
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
J'ai effectue le trek du camp de base nord de l'Annapurna en septembre dernier.
Je dois d'ailleurs en faire un recap.
Pour info, je suis passe par Kalte danda (au sud du Thulobugin Pass) et suis revenu par la voie dite "classique", par la jungle entre Thulobugin et Lete.
Pour faire simple, la periode n'aidait pas vraiment, debut-septembre, on avait de la pluie quasiment tous les jours, un double-orage terrible au camp de base, mais meme sans le pluie, le parcours n'est pas si evident.
Sur les differents points de passages :
De Lete a Thulobugin Pass : chemin tortueux en pleine jungle (humidite +++) et deniv + important. Avec de la boue un peu partout, c'est pas le plus plaisant a monter ou a descendre.
Au Thulobugin : larges paturages, aucune difficultes notables sinon que l'altitude indiquee sur toutes les cartes est fausses. Le Pass est a 4450.
Du Thulobugin a Nilgiri BC : sentier "de chevre" peu marque dans hautes-herbes en balcon. Quelques passages tendus.
Du Nilgiri BC a Miristi Khola : sentier "de chevre" tres peu marque, traversees de rivieres perilleuses (voire franchement dangereuse) sur roches +/- humides selon la saison. Choisir entre humide et glacee...Il faut vraiment bien tombe dans la saison pour eviter l'un ou l'autre.
Idem pour les traverses de rivieres, plusieurs voies possibles, mais aucune n'est franchement engageante et facile. Le debit de l'eau est parfois problematique.
A Miristi Khola : si le pont tient le coup (il est un peu malfoutu et deja en piteux etat), le point de passage est evident et assez facile. Si le pont lache, la riviere sera franchissable uniquement le matin en periode seche. Le debit de l'eau et les courants sont impressionnants.
Le long de la Miristi au BC : sentier trace et facile, sauf a franchir une riviere affluente a la Miristi Khola qui coupe le sentier de facon nette. Impossible a traverser en septembre, mais en remontant son cours, elle traverse un petit plateau ou il est possible de traverser a gue.
Le BC est OK, zone de camping, toilettes, batiment ouvert principal construit en meme temps que le pont en aval.
Bref, ca ne reste pas un trek facile. Je deconseille fortement l'itineraire de Kalte Danda en partant de Gadpar... C'est hyper-dangereux (pentes herbeuses fortement marques, passages fortement exposes, sentier quasiment absent, glissant a souhait avec un peu d'humidite, plantes coupantes et marijuana partout).
J'ai effectue le trek du camp de base nord de l'Annapurna en septembre dernier. Je dois d'ailleurs en faire un recap.
Ce retour est déjà une première sur VoyageForum, et je n'ai encore rien vu sur TripAdvisor ou sur ThornTree qui évoque ce camp de base nord de l'Annapurna I, ne serait-ce qu'en rapporter l'existence.
Bravo et merci !
Fabrice
S'exposer à l'Etranger lointain amène à mieux connaître et comprendre sa propre Culture.
Le site de l'ambassade de France signale une nouveauté sur les certificat de trek au Népal depuis le 1er janvier 2008. Tout trekkeur doit se procurer une carte…
Le site de la FFME de même que Nepal Mountain News annoncent que le Népal imposera désormais à tous les trekkers de demander un certificat d'enregistrement de…
Comme en 2012, TAAN (les agences de trek) annonce a nouveau que le trek sans guide (et sans passer par une agence officielle) va etre interdit au Nepal. Lire…
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 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 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?
