Bonjour,
mon ami et moi partons au Pérou pour 3 semaines en septembre-octobre. Au départ très motivés pour faire le chemin de l'inca, nous commençons à nous demander si celà vaut vraiment le coup. En effet, nous avons peur de ne pas pouvoir suffisamment profiter du site du Machu Picchu si nous faisons ce trek, et celà pour plusieurs raisons. Je m'explique: tout d'abord, les randonneurs du chemin de l'inca arrivent sur le site plus tard que les personnes qui dorment à Aguas Calientes la veille et prennent le premier bus de 5h30 pour arriver au Machu Picchu à l'ouverture, quand les touristes se font encore rares, non? Ensuite, est-ce qu'on n'est pas trop fatigués après 4 jours de randonnée pour monter au sommet du Huayna Picchu, qui parait-il offre une très belle vue sur le site? Enfin, certaines personnes conseillent aussi de rester jusqu'à la fermeture pour profiter pleinement du site lorsque tous les touristes doivent reprendre le train les ramenant à Cuzco, et apparemment, quand les agences du trek nous réservent le billet de retour, on n'a pas vraiment le choix concernant l'heure...
Bref, d'un côté nous avons peur d'être un peu frustrés et de ne pas profiter pleinement de ce site si nous faisons le chemin de l'inca. De l'autre, cette randonnée a l'air vraiment exceptionnelle... Les agences proposent de réserver une entrée supplémentaire pour le site et une nuit à Aguas Calientes afin de passer plus de temps au Machu Picchu, mais cette solution ne nous convient pas trop, d'une part à cause du prix, et d'autre part car ça nous laissera moins de temps pour visiter la vallée sacrée...
Merci donc de nous faire part de vos expériences et de nous éclairer un peu sur la question!
Le chemin de l'inca est une superbe rando, et surement le trek le plus reputee du Perou. C'est un trek de difficulte moyen, je ne connais pas ta condition physique mais je pense que tu seras en bonne forme en arrivant sur le site inca, de plus il y a la joie de decouvrir cette cite mythique. tu ne seras pas toute seul a randonner, des centaines de trekkeurs parcourent ce chemin, les peruviens en costumes traditionnelles t'attendront en haut des montees pour te vendre des boissons et des objets artisanaux, c'est le contre coup de son succes, mais cela n'enleve pas le charme de cette rando. Je ne sais pas par quelle agence tu passes car il y en a des dizaines qui proposent ce trek, mais renseigne toi aupres d'eux sur l'heure d'arriver sur le site du Machu Picchu car si tu arrives tard dans la matinee tu ne pourras pas monter au Wayna Picchu, entree limitee a 400 personnes. C"est vrai que la vue de Wayna Picchu offre une tres belle vue sur le site inca. Une journee complete sur le site est suffisante pour profiter du site, prends un guide directement sur place car ils sont largement moins cher que ceux proposes par les agences ou a Aguas Calientes.
Voyager au Perou est super facile, tu n'as pas besoin de l"agence pour reserver ton billet de retour, le train n'est pas donne soit dit en passant.
Une semaine dans la region de Cuzco est suffisante, c'est vrai que j'ai bien aimer la ville meme si c'est super touristique meme la ville vibre de vie et l'architecture lui apporte beaucoup de charme.
SI tu decides de ne pas faire ce trek, tu peux toujours faire celui de Choqueriau, cite Inca vraiment paume et accessible qu'a pied et tu peux la faire sans passer par agence juste en louant du matos... J'espere t'avoir un peu aider, Bon Voyage
Merci pour ta réponse, tu nous redonnes envie de faire cette rando!
On pensait passer par www.chemin-inca.com, j'ai vu plusieurs avis favorables sur cette agence. En regardant le site ils disent qu'on arrive assez tôt (au lever du soleil) au Machu Picchu, qu'ensuite il y a une visite guidée de 2h30 (de 8h à 11h en comptant large) et qu'après c'est temps libre pour se promener ou monter au Huayna Picchu. 11 h ça me parait un peu tard vu que le nombre de personnes est limité... Ensuite le train de retour vers Cuzco est compris dans le prix, je ne suis pas sûre qu'on puisse choisir l'heure. Aurais-tu une agence à me conseiller?
Heureusement qu'on a encore du temps pour se décider car je t'avoue qu'on a vraiment du mal à se décider!
C'est vrai que les premiers montent à 5h30. Mais la porte qui ouvre sur la dernière partie du Chemin de l'Inca ouvre à 4h30 (enfin il y a quelques années maintenant je ne sais pas). Mais obligé de prendre une agence, de réserver plusieurs mois à l'avance, etc ...
Les guides qui montent les premiers à Machu Picchu font la queue pour leurs clients à l'inscription pour la montée au Huayna Picchu et en général si tu n'es pas dans les premiers à y aller quand tu es en individuel tu as toutes les chances de la râter.
Pour moi je crois que ça vaut le coup de payer une bonne agence qui t'organise la visite de Machu Picchu avec un bon guide, essaye de voir sur le forum s'il y a des gens qui pensent partir à la même époque que toi pour constituer un petit groupe de personnes, ça réduit les coûts en général si tu t'adresses à une agence.
POur choquequirao je te conseille www.pasionandina.net.
Sinon avec 5 potes nous avons fait une semaine dans la région de Cusco et nous avions organisé tout avec www.transhumancias.com.
J1 et J2: Trek de 2 jours avec campaement dans la résidence des souverains incas au dessus de la Vallée Sacrée : Huchuy Qosqo.
J3 Chinchero, Moray, Maras en VTT cool (beaucoup de descentes sympas, pas trop dure). Ollantaytambo et nuit à Aguas Calientes.
J4 Visite de Machu Picchu tôt le matin avec un guide francophone fantastique, Raúl, qui vit à Aguas Calientes et qui est vraiment génial pour les explications. On a pas regretté. Retour fin d'AM à Ollantaytambo et nuit dans la campagne de la Vallée Sacrée.
J5 J6 et J7 : Trek Lares. 3 jours de trek merveilleux avec une nuit chez l'habitant dans une communauté indigène de la cordillère d'Urubamba. Fin de trek aux bains thermaux de lares, dix fois mieux que ceux d'Aguas calientes qui sont un peu crades. Retour dans la Vallée Sacrée.
J8: marche dans les chemins de la Vallée Sacrée jusqu'au système monumental de terrasses incas de Yucay que personne ne visite et fin de journée visite de Pisaq aux heures où il n'y a plus personne et retour Cusco.
Vraiment mes amis n'ont pas regretté leur séjour à Cusco et ils se sont éclaté, visité tous les sites dans de super conditions et ils ont aimé les deux treks. Programme nickel que je te recommande si tu peux le faire. Et là pas de vendeurs de coca sur les sentiers 😉
Bonne chance et bon voyage, si tu veux plus d'infos pas de problèmes.
"Si vous pensez que l'aventure est dangereuse, n'essayez pas la routine, elle est mortelle !!"
Merci pour tes infos et les détails sur ton séjour!
Cependant ce circuit sort un peu trop des sentiers battus pour nous et me parait un peu trop compliqué à organiser! Après mûre réflexion et nombreuses lectures sur le site nous avons décidé de renoncer au chemin de l'inca pour profiter pleinement du Machu Picchu, de Cuzco et ses environs. Nous pensons que nous aurons largement l'occasion de marcher à l'occasion de nos visites dans la région.
En tous cas merci!
Julie
Pas vraiment connu des français mais pas vraiment hors des sentiers battus quand même. Mais en tout cas hors des sentiers hyper battus et archi rebattus ;-)
Bon voyage
"Si vous pensez que l'aventure est dangereuse, n'essayez pas la routine, elle est mortelle !!"
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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!
hi how can I get internet when I arrive at Haneda? I mean in areas without free wifi. Is it more interesting to buy a SIM card? If so, at the airport? thanks for your help
We're planning to go at the end of November/beginning of December to visit (with a rental car) and hike on La Palma and El Hierro for 15 full days, including 1 day for inter-island ferry transfers. What’s the best split between the two islands—8 days on La Palma and 6 on El Hierro, or even more time for La Palma? Should we have one or two home bases on La Palma? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi there,
I’m planning to cross the Gourgs Blancs Pass at the end of the month, from La Soula Refuge to Portillon Refuge. On this section near the pass, I don’t have any trail marked on my IGN map. Is the path well signposted, or should I use a compass?
Also, beyond the physical effort, are there any technical, exposed, or vertigo-inducing sections on this part?
Since I’m finding very little info, I’m being thorough with my questions.
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.
hi there
I’m heading to Uzbekistan for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October 2026—a country I haven’t visited yet.
I’d love to do a few multi-day hikes in the mountains without going through a tour operator or hiring a guide. Has anyone here done this?
It doesn’t have to be all trekking; day hikes are great too.
I’m open to any tips!
Also, I see there are lots of train options if you book well in advance—does that only apply to the "fast" trains? Are there buses as well?
Hello,
In mid-November, we’ll be in Mindelo and Santo Antão.
We’ve booked transportation with Kapverden Tours.
One trip is from Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol, including the hike from Corda to Coculi.
What’s the trail like?
Then we’ll be staying in Ponta do Sol,
Here’s what we’re planning:
A hike to Fontainhas—what’s the best direction, considering we’re not great with climbs? No problem with flat terrain or descents.
Take an aluguer to Ribeira Grande and continue along the coastal road.
With the agency:
An excursion to Cruzinha with a short walk.
Return to Porto Novo via the path from Cova to… I’m not sure where yet, to pick up the car for Porto Novo, since we’ll be taking the ferry that evening.
We’ll have a guide for this hike.
We’d love to spend a day in Tarrafal, but getting back requires a boat or taxi, and it’s really expensive!
We’re a couple, 78 and 76 years old.
What do you think of this itinerary?
Not very well known: Hokkaido Island has national parks that rival those in North America. Hiking there is free (even many mountain huts) and requires no formalities. These treks are described in the LP *Hiking in Japan* guide—you can just buy the Hokkaido PDF. It’s way better than Mount Fuji. Of course, everything depends on the weather, which is very unstable in the Japanese mountains (frequent strong winds). The trails are often obstacle courses.
The Daisetsu Zan traverse is a stunning hike through volcanic terrain with a remote section in the middle that requires at least one night of camping (there are basic huts for the rest, which is popular with Japanese hikers): 4 to 6 days.
The Shiretoko traverse takes 2 days with views including an island in Russia, but the ridge is brown bear territory—there are even more here than in Denali National Park in Alaska (brown bears and grizzlies are the same). I ran into 7 in just 6 hours of hiking!
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?
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 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.
