Bonjour à tous,
nous sommes un groupe d'étudiants qui traverse l'Europe avec interrail. La dernière escale de notre voyage est en Roumanie, où nous souhaitons découvrir la Transylvanie.
Je vous sollicite donc, sachant que nous ne resterons que 4 jours sur place, pour que vous me conseilliez une ville accessible en train, de laquelle nous pourrions démarrer une petite randonnée. Notre but est de nous éloigner le plus possible des villes, on souhaiterait donc trouver des coins où la nature est dans son droit, tout en sachant que nous allons faire de camping sauvage, et qu'on souhaiterait éviter les mauvaises rencontres avec des ours par exemple... Auriez vous un coin particulier à nous conseiller ?
Je résumé donc : accessible en train, proche de la nature, loin des ours :D et magnifique... D'après ce que j'ai entendu sur la Roumanie, ça ne devrait pas être impossible !
Merci à vous et bonne journée !
Accessible en train (et rapide) + vite en montagne (monts Bucegis) = Brasov, mais Ours ... au moins un ... 😉 ... mais tu dois pouvoir planter ta tente à coté des "refuges" c'est plus rassurant ... même si c'est peut être là qu'il y a plus d'ours ... 🙁
Vite en montagne (monts Paring ) + moins d'Ours (?) = Petroshani , mais pas rapide en train (même s'il y a une gare ... c'est un peu loin de Bucarest, via TarguJui)
Justement au niveau des ours je pensais à Brasov, vu tout ce qu'on en dit...
Mais est-ce vraiment risqué ?
Sinon je vais me renseigner pour Petroshani, sachant qu'on viendrait surement de Pologne ou de Croatie avant, je vais voir la durée du trajet...
risqué ? je ne sais pas. j'en ai rencontré un et y'a pas eu de souci ... évidemment j'ai pas cherché à l'embéter ...
et je dormais en dur ...
je pense que le risque c'est surtout le soir ou la nuit ... d'après ce que j'ai compris ils s'approchent de plus en plus des villages le soir pour récupérer la nourriture laissée par l'homme ... dans des poubelles non adaptées (comme y'en a au Canada) ...
Rimail est un survivor, il n'a pas peur des ours.... Seulement des renards 😛
(j'en ai vu un autre ce week-end à Fontainebleau.. De renard, pas d'ours 😄)
Le truc c'est qu'en général, c'est la NUIT qu'on dort ! Si c'est ce moment le plus risqué, et qu'il correspond avec celui où nous sommes le moins sur nos gardes ça peut être embêtant...En même temps, on sera un groupe de 7, peut être que ça peut l'impressionner 😎
En tant que survivor, quelques conseils pour ne pas les attirer ? Ou mieux : les repousser ? (à part le fusil d'assaut)
Il ne faut pas manger là où tu bivouac et la nuit il faut mettre la nourriture loin de ton bivouac accrocher à une branche (haut en hauteur avec une corde) dans un sac de préférence étanche aux odeurs
MDR ... je ne suis pas un survivor ... juste un petit randonneur qui se balade sur le gros caillou ... 🙂
Sinon je suis d'accord avec Simon:
- manger ailleurs que là où l'on dort (faire son diner puis marcher une heure avant de se coucher)
- éviter le réchau si possible (les odeurs de bouffe seront plus "dicretes")
- ne pas dormir avec sa nourriture, dentifrice (ect ...) dans sa tente ou près de soi et le suspendre en hauteur
La meilleur technique avec les ours c'est de les éviter ... ça marche d'ailleurs avec bcp de choses ... 😉
la region de petrosani est beaucoups mois frequantee par les ours tout depend a quelle altitude vous monter .il y a une belle balade a faire de petrosani a brezoi, par pasul lotru, lac vidra voinesa train a petrosani et a brezoi. distance 80 km route sauvage posibilitee de camping sauvage tout le long du parcour. suivant vos posibilitee financieres des petits comerces et auberges a 5 euro le repas env/ et en cas de gosse fatigue le stop marche bien en zone de montagne par petit groupes bien-entendu suivant une petite contribution de 1 euro pour 50 km comme c'est la coutume dans les pays de l'est.
ou la region de rimnicu-valcea, val oltului des balades d'une journee dans diferantes directions mont, vallee, monasteres et votre serviteur pour vous aider a choisir vos destinations amitie daniel
Donc toi tu me conseillerais plutot Petroshani ?
Y'aurait moyen que tu me traces ton circuit de randonnée sur un petite map en jpeg que je vois un peu ? (si c'est exigeant laisse tomber !)
Pour les dates, je sais pas précisément vu qu'on va rester plus ou moins longtemps dans les pays où l'on se sent bien et que c'est l'avant dernier de notre voyage (après la pologne et avant la croatie) mais disons qu'on y sera surement aux alentours du 19 au 23 Aout.
malheureusement je n'ai pas cette posibilitee conection en petite vitesse imposible d'envoyer des photos ou des cartes j'ai dejas beaucoups de problemes dans mes montagnes avec la conection internet entre 1/4 d'heure et 1 heure. le 21 aout je suis de mariage dans la region de petrosani dans un chalet sur la route que je vous ai indiquer si tu a un atlas regarde petrosani a l'est il y a une route qui serpente dans la montagne vers un grand lac, lac vidra. ce sera la plus mauvaise periode pour moi je ne serais pas disponible pour vous aider ma niece se marie et je suis premier temoin de mariage une tres grande responsabilitee ici. si vous avez des changement dans les dates, cela seras avec plaisir pour un coup de main amitie shadock
Grande (et belle) ville facilement accessible en train : Cluj-Napoca. Les montagnes (Monts Apuseni) se trouvent à quelque 15-20 km à l'ouest et au sud-ouest de la ville. Les Monts Apuseni ne sont pas majestueux (altitude maximale : 1849 m), mais ils sont pleins de charme. A visiter la Vallée de l'Aries au sud-ouest de Cluj-Napoca (prononcez "arièche" ; en roumain : Valea Ariesului) où on y trouve des beaux paysages sauvages (forêts, gorges, grottes), architecture traditionnelle, mines d'or bimillénaires (dont on peut visiter les galeries - voir Rosia Montana). On peut s'y rendre en bus (à prévoir environ 3 heures afin de se retrouver au beau milieu des montagnes). Beaucoup de villages parsèment la vallée, donc il ne faut pas s'inquiéter pour les courses etc.
Il y a aussi la zone de Padis (prononcez " 'padiche"), à l'ouest de Cluj-Napoca - c'est l'une des plus belles régions karstiques de l'Europe (plusieurs centaines de grottes, dont "Scarisoara" et "Focul Viu" qui contiennent deux des plus grands glaciers souterrains du continent; gorges; dolines etc etc). C'est une région encore plus sauvage (donc plus difficilement accessible), au milieu de la chaîne des Monts Apuseni, à quelques 80 km de Cluj-Napoca. Vous vous y rendez en bus jusqu'à Ic Ponor - j'espère ne pas me tromper 🤪 - et ensuite il ne vous reste qu'à faire 10-15 autres km, soit à pied en prenant une route en terre battue à travèrs les forêts, soit en auto-stop si vous aurez de la chance 😄. Dans la région peu habitée de Padis vous trouverez 2 ou 3 cabanes qui ont ausi des petites épiceries (pour les bières qui tombent bien le soir, à la lumière d'un bon feu 😉) ainsi que, au moins dans certaines zones de la région, pas mal d'amoureux de la montagne.
Il y a sans doute d'autres petits coins plus proches de la ville, mais peut-être moins connus.
A ce que je sais il n'y a plus d'ours dans ces régions. Peut-être quelques loups, renards, hiboux etc 😉
J'aimerais randonner en Roumanie fin octobre. L'idée serait de trouver un endroit où il y a des cabanes ou des refuges ouverts en cette saison pour faire de…
Je pars une dizaine de jours en Roumanie, j'aimerais faire de la randonnée ; j'aime au passage les monastères, les villages typiques. et je cherche la partie…
Bien le bonjour à toutes et à tous, Alors voilà je fais appel à vos expériences diverses pour mon prochain trek. J'ai 2 mois pour randonnée au coeur des pays…
Nous partons de début à mi-avril 2018 en Roumanie. L'itinéraire est quasiment bouclé. Nous aurions aimé randonner quelques heures, peut être maximum 20 km en…
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?
