Nous venons d aller au Tibet il y a un mois donc voila des news fraiches j espere que ca vous aidera!
Depuis Nepal ou depuis chine:
Les deux sont possibles, maintenant le soucis depuis le Nepal est qu apres generalement dans le circuit ils vous envoient a chengdu et hop maison si vous voulez apres visiter la chine aller a pekin et tout je pense que c est impossible en tout cas nous n avons vu personne le faire. Les personnes que nous avons rencontre au tibet venant du nepal allaient toutes a chengdu pour quitter la chine. Aussi du Nepal a priori a la frontiere les chinois sont lourds et c est un peu a la gueule du client et ils peuvent vous saouler ou ne pas vous laisser passer, mais je pense que ca c est rare.
De chine, vous pouvez aller au tibet generalement vous irez par avion ensuite a chengdu pour sortir du territoire donc visitez la chine avant!. En bref les autorites font tout pour que apres la tibet soit tu pars au nepal soit tu quittes la chine via l aeroport international de chengdu
Histoire du permis et des agences:
Alors malheureusement je pense que ca vous ne pourrez pas y echapper que ce soit du nepal ou de la chine, pour aller au tibet il faut un permis et les seuls qui vendent ces permis sont les agences qui vous ne le vendront pas sans le package (elle n ont aucun interet a le faire elles se font plein de sous comme ca) A pekin oubliez completement d acheter un permis sans agence, je pense que c est vraiment impossible, on a pas mal tourne. De chengdu, c est un peu plus souple donc vous pourrez peut etre essayer de bidouiller mais bon, je pense que c est impossible on a rencontre personne dans ce cas. De toute facon, si vous rentrez au tibet sans permis a la gare il n y a pas de soucis c est apres que ca se complique puisque on vous demandera votre permis aux hotels et a tous les sites que vous irez visiter, y compris le pothala. Il y a egalement des barrages, on en a eu deux, ou ils demandent les permis. Un couple de personnes ayant ete a lhassa via une agence et au lieu de prendre le vol retour ont continue tous seuls la route jusqu a la frontiere du nepal, sans les permis qui avaient ete recuperes par l agence ont du apeller l agence car ils etaient bloques par les militaires chinois a la frontiere car ils n avaient pas le permis. ils ont fini par pouvoir passer a priori au bout de 6 heures. Bref si vous voulez tenter sans permis essayez mais je pense que ces tracasseries risquent de vous gacher le voyage et les flics chinois ils rigolent pas. Cela etant dit, les choses evoluent et se rensigner sur la situation avant de partir, La situation est telle que je vous l ai decrite depuis l ouverture du tibet apres les problemes des JO.
Le prix:
C est tres cher, le moins cher etant du nepal (meme si un peu plus complique) puis de chengdu puis de pekin. A priori (personnes rencontrees) du nepal c est environ entre 200 et 400 euros, de chengdu entre 300 et 500 euros et de pekin entre 500 et 800 euros. Ces prix sont par personne, pour environ une petite semaine, incluent l hebergement le chauffeur le guide la voiture, les formules comprenant l everest base camp sont plus cheres et partage rla voiture permet d ammoindrir les frais mais encore faut il trouver des gens qui partent en meme temps et de la meme ville. 2 dernieres choses: il y a des endroits en inde comme le sikkim ou darhamsala (ou vit le dalai lama et 250 000 tibetains) qui sont gratuits et a priori traduisent completement l athmosphere du tibet. Si vous allez au tibet dc via agence, refusez les hotels pourris a 10 euros ou ils font dormir les touristes pour se faire de la marge, il suffit de taper du pied et vous avez un palace a 70 euros ( sachant qu ils facturent presque 300 eur par jour et que les chauffeur et guide sont payes dans les 15 eur chacun par jour c est la moindre des choses)
Si d autres personnes ont partage des experiences differentes sur le tibet qui contredisent ce que j ecris, n hesitez pas a partager l information pour aider les voyageurs! Moi c est ce que j ai vu au travers de notre experience et des voyageurs rencontres ( nous sommes alles au nepal apres). Sinon le TIbet c ets merveilleux, du coup peu de touristes et pays authentique et spirituel.
Merci pour ces informations.
Je lisais le Routard tout à l'heure et j'ai cru comprendre qu'il était possible d'obtenir un permis TTB en achetant seulement quelques prestations auprès de l'agence.
Voila ce que je ne réussis pas tout à fait à comprendre :
Mon voyage :
- environs 3 semaines
- vers le mois d'août/septembre 2009
- avec 3 autres amis
Est-ce que je peux acheter un billet de train et une réservation d'hotel pour notre premier jours ainsi que le permis TTB ?
Et puis me débrouiller seul avec mes amis pour tout le reste du séjour et me ballader dans le payas à peu près comme je veux ?
Étant donné que je compte faire un peu de montagne, je peux éventuellement leurs acheter une semaine de trek (genre vers le camp de base de l'Everst ou un truc dans ce genre) et passer le reste de mon voyage tranquillement avec mes amis ?
Je pars cette nuit pour Beijing, voyage de 5 semaines, dans le but de faire grosso modo, Yunnan et Tibet!
Après toutes les heures que j'ai passé à lire sur ce forum pour l'histoire du "permis", j'étais rassurée en achetant une billet de train à Beijing pour Lhassa ou Chendgu en contournant le "permis"...que c'était possible....à la débrouille!!
Maintenant, ce n'est plus possible? Nous devons nous promener avec ce foutu permis dans nos poche actuellement, si l'on se promène au Tibet? Est-ce que massilia16 tu voyages sac à dos?
By the way...qqun peut-ill me dire combient coûte le billet d'avion entre Lhassa et Diqing? Et et à quelle fréquence?
De chine, vous pouvez aller au tibet generalement vous irez par avion ensuite a chengdu pour sortir du territoire donc visitez la chine avant!. En bref les autorites font tout pour que apres la tibet soit tu pars au nepal soit tu quittes la chine via l aeroport international de chengdu
Que se passe-t-il à Chengdu ? Avec le visa chinois en poche, comment les autorités peuvent-elles nous mettre hors du pays ? N'est-il pas possible de prendre un vol interne vers une autre destination ?
Comment ça, on ne peut pas continuer le voyage en Chine au retour à Chengdu ??????????????
Mais si c' est vrai toute la suite de mon voyage s' écroule.....😕
désolée si j ai semé un peu la pagaille, malheureusement nous on aurait vraiment aimé voyager sans agence et sans payer tout ca, nous voyageons effectivement en sac a dos, a la roots, et notre budget dans le reste de la chine etait de 30 eur par jour
pour ce qui est des informations "FIABLES" j essaie de faire de mon mieux je dis ce qu ej ai vecu et les experiences des voyageurs que j ai rencontré désolée si ca complique les choses et encore une fois il y plusieurs cas je n ai pas rencontre le cas de quelqu un qui est rentre au tibet avec un permis en poche sans formule d agence sans rien et qui a eu aucun probleme, les seuls que je connais qui sont rentres au tibet avec permis et agence mais qui ont lache l agence la bas ont voulu aller au nepal eseuls t se sont fait bloquer a la frontiere du nepal 6 heures. peut etre que le svoyageurs seuls se font plus discret, mais surtout en visitant les sites et temples, je n ai vu aucun voyageur seul sans guide, meme au camp de base de l everest.encore une fois, les choses evoluent vite il est possible que dans quelques semaines maintenant ce soit possible. comme indique dans mon post si quelqu un a un contre exemple, je m en fous d avoir tort ou raison, le but est d aider et d informer de facon actualisée donc n hesitez pas a faire part de vos experiences
pour la phrase sur chengdu, cela n est valable qu en allant au tibet du nepal, c est a dire que j ai entendu les agences a katmandou vous vendront une formule qui soit revient au nepal, soit va a chengdu puis vous sortez du territoire. si vous voulez apres visiter la chine, j ai entendu que c est tres difficile car l ambassade de chine a katmandou fdemande aux agences organisant le tibet de katmandou d annuler le visa chinois et de ne donner que le permis pour le tibet. encore une fosi s il ya des contre exemples, n hesitez pas!par contre si vous venez que du tibet (genre vol paris lhassa) bien sur vous pouvez visiter la chine apres, j ai rencontre de sgens qui l avaient fait donc si vous prevoyez d efaire le yunnan puis tibet puis reste de chine pas de soucis, pardon si je me suis mal exprimee..
désolée si tout cela parait flou et complique mais je vous promets que meme notre guide au tibet s est engueule avec un militaire chinois qui etait a la frontiere du nepal a propos de la reglementation sur le permis du tibet et sur la possibilite de l avoir seul ou pas, donc si meme un guide et un militaire au tibet ne connaissent pas bien le sregles, on ne peut pas voyageurs les savoir de facon simple et hyper sure! surout avec la chine!
désolée je viens de relire mon post et je m etais effectivement non seulement mal exprimee mais surtout melangé les pinceaux tellement cette histoire de permis est compliquée: donc oui vous pouvez visiter la chine apres le tibet, je me suis rappellée de personnes qui l avaient fait le probleme se présente en venant du nepal c est tout.
toutes mes excuses pour cette mauaise information et je vous confirme par contre que tout le reste est correct
Merci massilia, suis a Pekin et j<assaye d avoir des bons prix avec des agences pour aller au Tibet. Tout ce que j e sais pour l instant, c erst qu il sont pret (a Leo Hostel) a baisser le prix des forfaits car nus sommes que trois, ET, que depuis 2009, il dise qu on ne peur meme plus se promener seule au Tibet, donc, comme tu dis, guide obligatoir maintenant....
ciao
Le mieux si tu es dans cette M. c'est de télécharcher une copie sur le net, ce n'est qu'un vulgaire bout de papier en chinois ou ton nom apparait. un coup de photo shop et le tour est jouer, tu peux le trouver sur le routard , perso j'en ai une copie.
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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).
hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China?
Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?
