Members' personal websites

Hello everyone,

First off: before posting, I took the time to contact the moderation team to check if this message complied with the forum rules. Since I didn’t get a response and didn’t want to go against them, I’m posting without naming the site, including links, or any promotional intent.

For the past two years, I’ve been working solo on a website project designed to help organize a trip from A to Z, whether traveling alone or with others.

The idea is to make trip planning easier by bringing together all the useful elements in one place (regions, accommodations, activities, restaurants, hidden gems, etc.).

With development nearing completion, I’m now looking for a few people interested in joining a beta testing phase and giving me honest feedback on the experience, how clear the concept is, and what could be improved.

This isn’t a promotional effort: I’m not representing a company, I’m developing this project on my own, and I’m only looking for constructive input from fellow travelers.

A few details: — No payment is required; — No banking information is needed; — It’s simply a test to gather user feedback.

If anyone wants to know more or is up for testing, feel free to reply here or send me a private message.

Thanks so much to those who take the time to read this.

Hello,

Well, this trip to Tanzania in the southern parks—Ruaha and Nyerere (formerly Selous)—finally happened in late February to early March.

It was a bit more complicated to organize than usual, with a few hiccups. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere (link), the ban on booking domestic flights in Tanzania through a French agency made things a little tricky.

However, my friend Vincent Beccaro from Objectif Nature found a solution by having a local ground operator step in—one I’d recommend if you run into similar issues.

With flight tickets secured through Kenya Airways (after Rwandair canceled our outbound flight), we easily made it to Dar es Salaam on February 22. Side note: my dealings with Rwandair to get a refund for the flights they canceled are still ongoing. This airline is dragging its feet, constantly pushing back the refund date every time I check in (which is about once a week). I won’t back down.

Back to our 10-night trip: we spent our first night in Dar es Salaam before heading to Ruaha with Auric Air.

We stayed in some incredible lodges—4 nights at Ikuka Safari Camp in Ruaha, then 4 nights at Laba Siwada in Nyerere, before returning to Dar es Salaam.

Before I share a full recap with photos, I’ve just finished editing a video I’d like to show you.

You’ll see beautiful lodges, rainy safaris, and some amazing wildlife encounters, like wild dogs and bat-eared foxes.

Sorting and identifying all the animals (especially the birds) from the thousands of photos I took will take a bit of time. Bear with me!

Watch the video here

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share my experience from a trip to Amsterdam. Spring is coming, and it’s one of my favorite destinations for this season, especially with the Keukenhof in bloom.

There are so many museums to visit and places to see, like Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Museum Square, the Red Light District... Some spots, like the Anne Frank House, require reservations. You can also take walks along the canals or even go on canal cruises.

For museums, I really enjoyed the Rijksmuseum for works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as the Van Gogh Museum (combo tickets are available).



For more nature-focused outings, there’s Vondelpark, Keukenhof Park, and the windmills at Zaanse Schans... You can find all my photos and details about my trip budget on my travel journal for Amsterdam.

we just got back from 3 weeks in Cambodia with a custom trip organized by the Siem Reap agency; from the start, the agency understood our way of traveling and created an itinerary perfectly tailored to our needs. Of course, we visited tourist spots, but we also stayed with locals, met artisans, and explored markets where not a single tourist goes. We were pampered from beginning to end—the agency responded quickly to our questions throughout the trip. The French-speaking guides were fantastic: attentive, highly knowledgeable, and always accompanied by punctual drivers with little thoughtful touches. The hotels they chose matched our preferences, and the pace we wanted was respected, with some more relaxed days. If you'd like to check out my blog, here's the link: https://www.myatlas.com/blogueusedesbaous/le-cambodge-une-immersion-en-indochine. And don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything!

Honestly, taking the train in Sri Lanka is no walk in the park. Between tickets disappearing in minutes, platforms that aren’t always very clear, and that infamous “full” sign displayed weeks in advance, you quickly feel like you’re playing the lottery. There’s even a real black market for tickets on the island: some seats are resold at higher prices through middlemen or agencies, which makes things even trickier. Everyone knows someone who knows someone who sells tickets. But we learned the hard way that this isn’t the safest way to get them, and we had to find another solution at the last minute.

We definitely went through a bit of an obstacle course to manage the booking. But once on the train, riding through the tea plantations between Kandy and Ella, we understood why everyone raves about it. Tea plantations, misty mountains, little bridges, and breathtaking valleys. To make the most of the scenery on the Kandy → Ella route, it’s best to sit on the right side of the train (and on the left if you’re going Ella → Kandy). As for the class, 2nd class reserved is, in our opinion, the best compromise: authentic vibe, open windows and doors, but with a guaranteed seat. Remember to pack enough water, snacks, and toilet paper for this 7-hour journey that somehow flies by.

I’ve gone into more detail about all this in the article for those who’d rather plan a bit better than we did. https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/prendre-le-train-au-sri-lanka-guide-complet/ Happy travels! :)

Hello 😊 If you're planning 10 days in Madeira and feeling unsure about the itinerary, my first tip would be: don’t try to “tick everything off.” The island is compact, but the roads are winding and hikes take time. For 10 days, I’d structure the trip into 3 zones:

East (Ponta de São Lourenço + Pico do Arieiro) for spectacular volcanic landscapes

Central (levadas + Fanal forests) for hiking

West (Porto Moniz, cliffs, sunsets) for raw panoramas And save Funchal for early mornings or late afternoons.

A car is essential, and checking the weather ahead is key—it changes quickly with altitude. I’ve broken all this down (optimized route, travel times, parking spots, hike difficulty, what to do based on weather, mistakes to avoid…) in this post: 👉 https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/visiter-madere-1-semaine/ Even though it’s built for a week, it adapts easily to 10 days by adding more hikes or slowing the pace. If you’re looking for a balance between breathtaking nature, hiking, and quieter moments, Madeira is a real safe bet.

Here are my two blogs dedicated to travel, especially in France.

If you have any topics you'd like me to cover, I'm all ears!

Villes.fr Top-Vacances.com

Thanks, and have a great day

Hello everyone!

To learn all about Argentina, over 1,000 articles are already waiting for you on my site.

https://www.petitherge.com/ See you soon!

Herge!

Hi there, I often travel solo, and like many women, I get asked the same questions over and over: “Aren’t you scared?” “Do you feel safe?” “Do you really dare to go that far alone?” Recently, during a trip along the Kenyan coast, I had an experience that made me think differently about solo female travel. At Wasini Kenya, on paper, everything seemed simple: a boat ride, then some snorkeling. But on the boat, the sea was rough. It was rocking hard. And then that familiar little inner voice came back—the one that doubts, that overthinks, that wants to stay in control. Traveling solo is often like that too: being responsible for yourself, your decisions, and your limits. Then, once underwater, everything changed. The noise disappeared. There was nothing left to prove, nothing to control. Just breathing, trusting your body, and letting yourself be carried. That moment reminded me that solo female travel isn’t just about destinations or external safety. It’s also an inner journey: learning to listen to yourself, to recognize your fears, and sometimes to overcome them without forcing it. I took the time to share this experience in more detail here, for anyone it might help or reassure: 👉 https://noirenvoyage.com/wasini-kenya-apprendre-a-faire-confiance-sous-leau/ And I’d love to hear your thoughts: 👉 For those of you who travel solo, has travel ever taught you something about yourself? 👉 And for those who are still hesitant: what’s holding you back the most right now? Looking forward to chatting! 🌊

I just got back from a week in Mirleft, south of Agadir, and I felt like I’d stumbled upon an "off-the-beaten-path" Morocco: a raw Atlantic coastline, cliffs, endless beaches... and that slow pace that helps you unplug within 24 hours.

We had a house with a pool (the perfect combo when the wind picks up and the ocean cools the air), and then we alternated between: - Wandering the souk and alleyways (local vibe, regional products, and the big Monday souk if you can make it) - Surf sessions / scouting spots (depending on the swell and wind, it makes all the difference) - Wild beaches + viewpoints where you can settle far from the crowds - Legzira at sunset: the orange rock, the deep roar of the Atlantic, and that natural arch that seems to hold "by magic" - A little detour to Tiznit (45 min away): medina, silver craftsmanship, and an unexpected blue spring in the heart of the city - The mandatory "reset": hammam + massage after salt, sand, and road trips

I especially noted a bunch of details to avoid hassles: when to go (wind/weather), how to get around (a car is pretty much essential), what to watch out for on the road at night, and even super practical tips for summer accommodations.

If you want the full article with all the practical info + must-sees (and our tips to avoid mishaps), it’s here: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/que-faire-mirleft-au-maroc-en-7-jours.html

Happy reading and/or safe travels! :)

Hi there, I just got back from a week-long trip to Marrakech, Morocco, with a stop in Essaouira, and I’ve put together my itinerary, some great tips, and my thoughts on the trip. Hope this helps you plan your own adventure and get excited about it! https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/visiter-marrakech-en-1-semaine.html

Happy travels! :)

The Great Jura Crossing on foot is a long-distance hiking trail (GR) that winds through the Jura Mountains, from Mandeure, near Montbéliard (in the north), to Culoz in the Ain region (in the south). The GTJ fully crosses the Haut-Jura Regional Nature Park and offers a detour into neighboring Switzerland. Inaugurated in 2004, the GTJ on foot follows the GR GTJ long-distance trails and sometimes the GR 5 and GR 9.

The full GTJ hike takes 15 to 20 days. Since my vacation time isn’t unlimited, I opted for a 10-day trek from Pont-de-Roide to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, covering nearly 320 kilometers (so about 60 kilometers short) with 10,000 meters of elevation gain—and just as much descent. The route is classic, except for the must-do variant via the Colomby de Gex (Balcon du Léman).

Accommodations include mountain huts, step lodges, and guest rooms with tables loaded with Morbier cheese gratin, Morteau sausages, rösti, and michons... Oh, and I almost forgot: I’m hiking solo...

http://lerandonneurfou.blogspot.fr/2014/05/la-grande-traversee-du-jura-gtj.html

Hi everyone, I just published an article with our itinerary for visiting Copenhagen in 4 days during winter (December): day-by-day schedule, practical info (budget, weather, transport, Copenhagen Card), where to stay, plus our thoughts on the must-sees (Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid, Amalienborg, contemporary art museum, botanical garden) and a balanced take on Christiania. If it can help those planning a city trip: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/visiter-copenhague-en-4-jours-que-faire.html Happy planning, and if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer! !

Hi there, We went on a 10-day road trip through Andalusia in October 2024, traveling independently. Our itinerary took us through Seville, Ronda, Guadix, and Granada, with a few nature detours and manageable driving distances. We took the time to put together our day-by-day route and some feedback (pace, distances, what we’d do again or skip) in an article, in case it helps other travelers: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/andalousie-itineraire-road-trip-10-jours.html Happy planning to those heading out soon!

Hi there, We just got back from a 7-day trip to Malta in winter 2025, organized independently. Itinerary: Valletta, Mdina, Mellieħa, cliffs, and natural sites, with generally pleasant but sometimes changeable weather. We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary and some practical feedback (pace, getting around, what’s really worth it in winter) here: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/malte-hiver-itineraire-7-jours.html Happy travels to those planning their trip!

Hi there, We just got back from a 2-week trip to Sri Lanka in April 2024, organized independently. Our itinerary took us to: Sigiriya (sunrise from Pidurangala), Kandy, Ella (train), Udawalawe, and Tangalle. We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary, our experiences from this trip, and some practical tips here: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/sri-lanka-itineraire-2-semaines.html Happy travels to those planning their trip! !

Hi, We just got back from a two-week independent trip to China in April 2025. The country can seem intimidating at first (language, transportation, payments), and the language barrier is very real, even in big cities. Our itinerary took us to Beijing, the Great Wall (Mutianyu), then to Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces (Dazhai), and Wuhan. All travel was by train, subway, and DiDi (local Uber). We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary and some practical tips based on our experience in this post—hope it helps for a first trip to China: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/chine-itineraire-2-semaines.html Happy travels to those planning their trip!

Hi everyone.

Even though my blog has been online for nearly 18 years, I wanted to tweak the navigation a bit. The homepage still features a selection of "miscellaneous" photos on various wildlife subjects I’ve photographed or trips I’ve taken. https://www.toucan-photo.com/fr/

Toucan’s photos

From each photo, you can navigate to the selection for that country, a specific category (birds, night skies, etc.), or the year the photo was taken.

And of course, from the main menu, you can access an interactive map with articles or different selections from the site, all plotted on a map.

What do you think? Does the map work properly for you? Any navigation issues on smartphones and/or tablets?

Thanks in advance for your feedback

Hi there, I just published a 2025 retrospective on NoirEnVoyage: “when travel becomes an inner journey”. I’ve grouped the articles by major stages (Rajasthan, nature, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya) and the most commented-on content. 📖 If you had to pick just one destination from 2025, which would it be and why? https://noirenvoyage.com/retrospective-2025-quand-le-voyage-devient-un-chemin-interieur/

GR20 Experience – North to South

Hey there, I’m sharing a video recap of our GR20 trek here. We set off to do both the North and South sections, but I got injured and had to stop at Vizzavona while my brother carried on to complete the full traverse.

It’s a vlog, not a technical guide: landscapes, vibes, exhaustion, moments of doubt, and the reality on the ground. If it can help or give a concrete glimpse of the GR20 to those planning the trek, here’s the link:

👋 https://youtu.be/-zxLWzGXyCc?si=s-6STr98p9dSrDnR

Enjoy the watch! !

Hi there! There are so many valleys to discover in Cappadocia—it’s hard to figure out which ones to visit and in what order before you’re actually there. So, I put together a 3-day itinerary after my trip in October, packed with useful info: the cost of visits, how to book a hot-air balloon flight, which valleys to explore, and more. Here’s the link: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2023/10/3-jours-pour-visiter-la-cappadoce.html

Hope this helps! :)

Hi there, if you're looking for info on a 2-week itinerary in Albania, I’ve detailed everything in this post: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2025/09/itineraire-de-15-jours-pour-faire-le.html

> how to do the Theth to Valbona hike and return via Lake Koman > what to visit across the country > our favorite spots and what we don’t recommend > the budget > where to rent a car

PLUS tons of other useful tips!!

Hi everyone, So glad to be back on this amazing peer-to-peer travel forum! I used to keep travel journals after trips, but I’ve switched to video—here are two from our 2024 and 2025 travels. If you have any questions about rentals (car, hotels, excursions, etc.), don’t hesitate to ask! Mauritius is a fantastic island where I dream of retiring one day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcaugcfGLX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il9Ee-nvCSk

After crossing South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and covering 8,496 km in a camper van—including 1,500 km of dirt roads!!—we invite you to check out our photo albums. https://sites.google.com/site/photosvoyagega59/albums-photos/2018-southern-africa

It was an amazing trip, especially because of the wildlife we saw roaming freely in the parks. The landscapes were also stunning and varied across the different countries we visited: bush, deserts, sand dunes, the bushveld, mountain regions, coastal areas, canyons, and more...

We also had wonderful encounters with diverse populations and ethnic groups: Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaners, Bushmen, Himba, Herero, Bantu, and others... For more info, visit our site: https://sites.google.com/site/nosperiples/2018-southern-africa-1

🌏 Here’s a little glimpse of my exploration in Malacca! To check out all my adventures across Malaysia, my full itineraries, and travel tips—got any questions? I’m here for ya! https://www.instagram.com/trave.lflow/reels/

Hi there! Here’s an itinerary for Egypt if you want to combine beach time, snorkeling/diving, and cultural visits. Hurghada is a great base for getting your PADI certification or just snorkeling—but that’s not all! There are plenty of other activities to do, and you’ll find all the details in this article: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/10/hurghada-le-paradis-de-la-plongee-egypte.html After that, you can head to Luxor by minibus from Hurghada. Luxor is a cultural gem and the perfect spot for a hot-air balloon ride. I’ve covered all the sights and info in this article: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/10/louxor-en-2-jours-avec-un-guide-prive.html Finally, take a flight to Cairo to visit the famous pyramids. Here’s an article to help you plan your stay in this massive city: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/10/le-caire-que-visiter-en-1-jour-et-demi.html

Hi there, In September/October 2018, we toured Albania with a quick detour into Macedonia and another into northern Greece (Lefkada Island, the Zagoria region, and Vikos Gorge) in our fitted-out van. First, the drive to Albania (crossing France, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Montenegro), then Shkodër and Valbona, Lake Koman, Krujë and Elbasan, Lake Ohrid, the thermal springs of Përmet, Gjirokastër, Ksamil and Butrint, the Albanian Riviera, Zvërnec, Berat, Karavasta, and back via Venice. We wrote a travel journal of this trip, including our stopovers, on our website here: https://www.unendroitoualler.fr/albanie-2018/

Hope this helps future travelers to this country... Anne

✈️ One-month itinerary idea for Laos 🇱🇦

We’re sharing this trip from July 2024—a pretty classic route for a first visit to Laos. An amazing country that’s still authentic and just starting to embrace tourism. Hope this gives some ideas to anyone thinking of heading to Southeast Asia!

You can check out our day-by-day adventure on our travel journal. There are plenty of photos there too.

Hi everyone,

I had a hard time finding clear info before my trip to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, so I’m sharing a quick summary here in case it helps:

Toll road from Misurina: 30 € per car, daily quota

Parking at Rifugio Auronzo is regulated and fills up fast

Shuttles available from Dobbiaco and Misurina

Easy hike around the Tre Cime with incredible views

I’ve compiled all the up-to-date practical info in an article with webcams, schedules, prices, and tips: 👉 https://www.dolomitestyrol.fr/acces-et-stationnement-dans-les-dolomites-conseils-pratiques-pour-eviter-les-galeres/

Happy hiking! Christian from the Dolomites

Hi there, Bali was a huge crush for me: the kindness of the local people, the culture, the rice terraces, the volcanoes, the beaches... Everything comes together for a dream trip. Even the crowded sites and the crowds don’t take away from its charm. A few tips: - visit the very famous sites as early as possible - don’t book everything in advance so you can adapt your itinerary based on your mood - enjoy Bali and the islands south of Bali—don’t waste one or two travel days heading to the Gili Islands, there’s already so much to discover

I wrote a post with my 16-day itinerary, detailing visits and activities day by day: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2023/05/itineraire-de-16-jours-pour-decouvrir.html

And if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate! :)