Bonjour à tous. Je viens tout juste de rentrer du Xinjiang où nous sommes restés avec ma copine pas loin d'un mois.
Je voulais vous faire partager quelques bonnes et surtout mauvaises experiences.
je vous donne les infos en brut.
Au lac Tianchi pres de Urumqi, evitez d'aller chez Rashit de Rashityurt qui est dans le Lonely planet. Comme c'est l'unique contact dans le lonely planet on a reserve par sms (il n'a pas repondu pour confirmer si oui ou non il pouvait nous acceuillir) pour etre sur d avoir de la place car on nous a dit que le site etait tres frequenté par les touristes chinois. La tres grande majorite des touristes chinois viennent en excursion à la journee, du coup très peu dorment sur place. Pour les occidentaux, on en a vu aucun le premier jour et juste un couple le deuxieme. Du coup au campement où sont installeés les yourtes on etait tout seul. Rashit est plutot sympa mais on ne l'a vu qu'à l'arrivée et au départ. C'est son fils qui était présent et la femme de Rashit. Ils ne se sont pas interesse à notre presence en fait. Nous devions tout leur demander pour les questions pratiques. Le soir il a commence à faire froid et nous devions leur faire savoir qu'il faudrait mettre du feu chez nous (eux, dans la cabane à coté avait du feu, je l'ai senti quand je suis alle leur demander). Le fils ne donne aucune information fiable. On lui a demande si il connaissait quelqu'un pour jouer un peu de musique. Il nous a repondu que ce soir son frere viendra mais finalement ni il est venu ni il nous a dit qu'il ne viendra pas. Le prix affiche sur le lonely planet à 50 yuans la nuit avec les trois repas est depasse, c est 100, par personne et la "carte" n'a surement pas été améliorée. En fait on ne les interessait pas car nous étions que 2 pour des yourtes pouvant contenir jusqu'à 10 personnes. A l 'arrivee on n'a pas pu rentrer tout de suite dans la yourte car ils attendaient un groupe de touristes chinois venant manger. Du coup on est parti directement se ballader. On nous a demander combien de nuits on voulait rester alors que les proprietaires ne nous donnent aucune infos sur les choses à faire et à voir, qu'ils ne font rien pour qu'on se sentent bien et qu'en plus me demande de leur faire de la publicite sur le reste de notre voyage!!!
Bref, l'endroit regorge de yourtes avec certainement des personnes bien plus aimable. Il suffit d'arriver à l'arret des bus sur le site et ne vous inquiétez pas, les gens sauront vous trouvez. Le jour du depart je croisais une yourte avec plein de touristes avec de la musique à l'interieur, des grillades, des demonstartions avec les rapaces, bref, tout ce qu'on a pas eu. Rashit acceuillait juste apres nous une dizaines de touristes, il etait present pour eux.....
A Urumqi, évitez le Pea Fowl mansion qui est indique sur le lonely planet. On a ete constamment derange par le telephone de filles nous proposant des massages et cela meme à 23h30!!! Alors qu'on est en couple dans la chambre. Et cela à peine en entrant dans la chambre ca se mettait à sonner. Et les chambres voisines aussi!! Nous avons debranche le telephone et le lendemain apres etre rentre de ballade, il etait rebrenché par le personnel. Du coup à l'appel suivant j'ai crié à l'oreille de mon interlocuteur et raccroché le combiné puis debranché. Ca n'a pas arreté de sonner dans la chambre à coté innocupé, certainement pour nous ennuyer davantage.
Le lendemain, les femmes de la reception faisait la tete en nous voyant quand on voulait faire le check out bien avant l'heure pour pouvoir aller au marché. On leur a donner nos bagages comme ca se fait pour un hotel mais elles ont refuse de les mettre en consigne.Du coup on a recupere immediatement notre cle et garder la chambre jusqu'au bout. De toute facon, c'est un hotel mediocre comme beaucoup dans la meme gamme.
Pour l'hostel indique dans le lonely, le Maitan youth hostel, c'est pas terrible non plus. Tout est ecrit en anglais mais personne ne le parle. les sanitaires sont salle et ils ne sont d'aucune aide. Le staff fait du bruit le soir alors qu'il y a un panneau d'interdiction de faire du bruit. Allez chercher votre bonheur ailleurs.
A Kashgar, Le Kashgar hostel indique dans le lonely planet est moyen. Il faut courrir apres le staff pour prendre l'excurion sur deux jour sur la Karakorum highway. Du coup on est alle voir ailleurs. L'agence Abdul Wahab Old Road Tours est bien plus serieuse. Le gerant, Abdul Wahab parle tres bien anglais, tres sympa, prend le temps d'expliquer et surtout ne nous met pas de pression pour acheter chez lui. Il nous a dit d'aller comparer ailleurs pendant la journee et de le prevenir ensuite si nous voulions prendre le tour avec lui ou pas. Le chauffeur parlait anglais. Pour information, nous n'avon vu aucun autre vehicule qui pouvait nous faire penser que le Kashgar hostel aurait maintenu son excursion. On nous aurait fait perder une journee inutilement je crois si nous avion voulu passer par le Kashgar hostel. Les coordonnées de Abdul Wahab sont aussi dans le Lonely, et son agence se trouve dans le Seman hotel ou nous sommes restés (100 yuans pour la chambre). Il y a le John's café dans le perimetre de l'hotel.
A hotan, si vous etes un peu perdu et que vous voulez savoir quoi faire aller au Marco'dream café indique dans le lonely planet. La gerante est une chinoise de Malaisie et vit ici avec son mari. Elle parle tres bien l'anglais et elle dispose d'un cahier avec pas mal de choses qui pourraient vous aider. Elle est tres gentille.Et en plus, la cuisine est tres bonne!!!Le steak au poivre est un delice. Encore plus apres un regime laghman et brochettes kawab;, ).
Au lac Kanas, allez voir Banzan (indique dans le lonely planet). C'est une maison sur le coté gauche du vieux village touvan à environ 200 metre apres l'ecole. Demandez à chaque maison en faisant le signe de jouer de la musique, ca devrait marcher pour reperer les personnes. Nous n'etions que deux car la plupart des touristes chinois logent avec les tours dans les hotels pres de l entree du parc.
nous avons paye 50 yuans par personne pour avoir un peu de musique et chant!!!Tres bien. Le jeune qui jouait avait un ami qui passait par la et il s'est mis lui aussi à chanter, excellent j'ai tout filmé. Ils ont été tres sympa et en plus vous font participer à la fête!! Ils chantent en touvan, mongol, kazakh et chinois et cela parfois dans la meme chanson.
Pareil, ici pour trouver un logement pas trop complique. Des gens attendent l'arrivée des bus. S'il n'y a personne, dirigez vous vers le vieux villages juste à cote et sondez. Sinon, je crois que Banzan aussi propose des hebergements. Nous nous étions dans les derniers maisons un peu en hauteur avec les veaux. un peu froid, normal mais tres sympa pour l atmosphere. Par contre laissez tomber les repas et apportez vous meme votre nourriture ou mangez ailleurs si possible. Pour le prix et avoir juste du riz avec du persil, ca fait juste.
Voila, pour les quelques recommandations. Sinon, le voyage s'est bien passé;, )
J'espere que ces quelques renseignement pourront en aider certains pour leur prochain voyage.
Je n'avais pas envie de faire un recit car d autres personnes l'ont deja fait et bien. J'avais juste envie de donner les infomations utiles sur justement les infos données par le lonely planet pour mettre tout ca un peu à jour...
Bon voyage
Merci beaucoup d'avoir pris la peine de nous informer. Nous aimerons voyager à deux aussi cet été sur la route de la soie avec 15 jours au Xinjinag.
Tu ne donnes pas d'informations sur tes hébergements dans d'autres sites du Xinjiang, est-ce parce que tu n'y est pas allé ou parce que tout s'est bien passé ? M'intéressent aussi Tashkorgan, Aksu, Kuqa, Turpan et Yarkand, y avez-vous dormi ?
Et tu ne parles pas des transports, mais ça m'intéresse beaucoup. As-tu pris le train, l'avion, le taxi ou un véhicule d'agence pour aller d'une ville à l'autre ? En particulier combien as-tu payé pour votre excursion à deux sur la KKH ? Et avez-vous traversé le désert du Taklamakan ? (j'ai mis un fil sur ce dernier thème mais sans réponse de voyageurs qui y sont allés récemment).
Merci d'avance pour ton aide. Et bonne rentrée.
Salut Pasqualina. Oui, en effet je n'ai voulu mettre que les quelques elements qui m'ont semblé importants car present dans le guide lonely planet.
Nous avons pas mal voyage dans le Xinjiang. Si tu le desire je peux te repondre aussi en message prive ou par telephone, ca sera plus facile que de tout ecrire!!!!!mon voyage est encore frais et je peux te donner quelques informations pratiques.
a bientot
Bonjour.
Je suisse pleine préparation de mon itinéraire entre pékin et kashgar.
J ai lu un article qui disait que la Chine est en train de raser au bulldozer la veille vile soit disant pour moderniser.
Qu'elle a été ton impression de la ville? Y reste t il encore un peu d authenticité ?
Merci.
C'était déjà presque trop tard en juin 2012 pour visiter la vieille ville de Kashgar : la plus grande partie a été démolie. J'ai vu des quartiers partiellement en ruine, toujours habités mais dont la vie telle qu'elle était décrite "pré-modernisation" avait disparu, et une zone payante "disneylandisée", en évitant le guichet via un chantier. C'est triste, mais les Chinois détruisent méthodiquement leur patrimoine pour en reconstruire des pastiches touristiques, dans tout le pays de Pékin à Kashgar.
Effectivement j'avais lu aussi ce genre de choses au sujet de la vieille ville.
Malgré tout il reste encore quelques quartiers facile d'accès, certains payant mais qu'il est possible de contourner par une autre rue.
On peut bien voir l'ampleur des degats au sein meme de la vieille ville et à ses alentours immediats.
D'ailleurs, pour voir des vieux centres assez preservés il faut pousser dans le sud vers Yarkand et Karghilik. Tu seras je pense le seul touriste occidental la bas, presque sur. Nous on a vu aucun occidental entre le depart de Kashgar et Hotan puis la traversée du Taklamakan jusqu'à Aksu et Urumqi!!En gros pendant presque 8 jours et cela avec juste une femme allemande...
N'hésite pas si tu as d'autres questions.
De retour d'un voyage à vélo en Asie Centrale qui s'est terminé dans le Xinjiang (Kashgar, Karakoram Highway, N du Taklamakan, Montagnes des Tien Shan, Turfan,…
Voici le récit d'un voyage de 15 jours au Xinjiang, une région très particulière en raison de la très forte pression mise depuis quelques années par le pouvoir…
Un petit retour sur 19 jours en Chine, itinéraire classique, demi-famille: père et fils de 13 ans, aout 2025 Arrivée a Shanghai, l'idee est de voir Shanghai le…
Nous sommes un couple de retraités français. Nous venons de passer 4 semaines en Chine: -1 Découverte du Yunnan en groupe (12 personnes) ; un périple qui nous…
On envisage de retourner en Chine à l'automne prochain. Destination Shanghaï, suivie d'un périple dans le Gansu, puis le Hunan. J'avoue que la question des…
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
---
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.
---
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.
---
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).
---
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.
---
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?