Durant notre voyage en namibie, nous avons projeté de faire quelques Trails, nous sommes de bons marcheurs et équipés pour des ballades de 15 à 20km en tous terrains ( nous avons fait ce type de trail dans le bush australien sous 40° à l'ombre sans problème) par contre, compte tenu de nos ages entre 55 et 60 ans on évite les endroits scabreux où il faut du matériel spécifique pour assurer la montée et ou la descente.
Compte tenu de ceci, nous avons déjà prévu de faire l'olive trail que pouvez-vous nous conseiller d'autre dans la région de : Naukluft entre Walvis et sesriem Spitzkoppe Brandberg Twyfelfontein ou entre ces étapes
Merci de nous indiquer le temps nécessaire pour effectuer chaque ballade, sa localisation la plus précise possible et surtout, ce que vous en avez pensé.
Connaissez-vous un site qui communique les plans et itinéraires des trails en Namibie?
Bonsoir Jacou 13.
La Namibie ne nous a pas parue très riches en trails balisés. Rien à voir avec l'Europe ou les US.
Dans le Naukluft il y a aussi le Waterkloof Trail, plus long mais encore plus beau que l'Olive Trail. 18 km je crois (voir mon carnet de voyage en passant par mon profil)
Au Spitzkoppe, le seul trail un peu balisé est à ma connaissance celui qui mène à Bushman Paradise dans la partie est du site : courte grimpette sur des dalles rocheuses le long d'un câble (aucune difficulté) et on arrive en 15 minutes environ (peut-être 30) dans une sorte de cirque rocheux. A G, en arrivant en haut, à 100 ou 200 m, il y a le Bushman Paradise, sympa, bien qu'ayant été vandalisé.
Il y a de quoi faire plein de balades "au pif" dans tous les sens à Spitzkoppe. Si tu en as vu des photos, tu sais que le paysage est magnifique, un vrai labyrinthe, sans risque de se perdre vraiment et pas grand monde. Donc à ne surtout pas rater.
On a été déçus par le Brandberg, certes la White lady est très belle et le sentier pour y aller très bien balisé. Il est obligatoire de prendre un guide... Nous y étions de bonne heure le matin, et après avoir attendu en vain l'arrivée des guides, sommes montés tous seuls. Nous avons voulu monter plus haut pour essayer de trouver d'autres peintures, en vain, il n'y a aucun sentier identifiables (pour nous, "touristes") et c'est un chaos de rocs immenses. de plus il y faisait vraiment très chaud.
Donc bof, bof, bof, pour la rando au Brandberg.
On n'est pas allés à Twyvelfontein.
Tu peux aussi faire des rando sympa et balisées (discrètement) dans le petit parc près de Windhoek: Dan Viljoen Nat Park. Il n'y a pas d'animaux dangereux pour l'homme et pas mal d'oiseaux car il y a un petit lac. Ca permet de se dégourdir agréablement les jambes après un long voyage en avion et on est tout de suite dans le bain "africain" à 20 km de Windhoek.
Enfin et surtout, il faut se balader dans les dunes de Sossusvlei. Comme tout le monde on avait pris le 4X4 pour aller au coeur des dunes mais on s'était fait déposer entre Dead Vlei et la grande dune, si bien qu'il n'y avait personne. Par contre, mieux vaut avoir un GPS pour marcher avec insouciance et bien profiter du paysage. Il y a plein d'autres vlei que Dead Vlei, complètement vierges de traces de pas et de présence humaine. Nous étions ensuite retournés au parking du départ des 4X4 à pied, environ 5km en marchant bien au sud de la piste pour éviter les voitures : très agréable.
Il y a aussi Hidden Vlei, au Sud-est du parking, très beau aussi mais du sable très mou...
Au Spitzkoppe en plus de bushman paradise il est intéressant de crapahuter sur les rochers autour du "bridge": il y a plein de dalles rocheuses inclinées et très adhérentes. Au lever du jour les lumières étaient fabuleuses
Sinon nous avons fait une petite balade pour monter sur le plateau de Waterberg: c'est intéressant juste avant le coucher du soleil pour profiter de l'éclairage sur la falaise
Enfin, à Epupa il est sympa de randonner le long de la rivière Kunene en aval des gorges: on peut faire un tour en descendant le long de la rivière puis en revenant par les collines au dessus qui donnent une vue plongeante sur les chutes: superbe spectacle
Comme tous le monde ici, je conseille fortement Sptizkoppe, pas forcement le Bushman paradise mais autour du "Bridge" ou "Golden Snake". Le Spitzkoppe est vraiment incroyable, surtout au couché et levé du soleil, les roches sont d'une couleur indescriptive, en plus le site est grand pour peu de visiteurs, on peut poser sa tente n'importe où. Nous avons eu la chance d'avoir le "Bridge" pour nous seuls. Il n'y a pas de trail à proprement parlé, on se balade à son rythme et où on veut. A l'entrée, on donne un plan du site, simple, sans fioritures mais efficace.
Dans le même genre, il y a le Bloedkoppe, plus petit mais tres sympa aussi.
J'ai été décue par le Naukluft. Les paysages sont impressionnants dans le genre desertique. Selon la période où vous vous rendrez en Namibie, je ne conseille pas forcement l'arret 😐 Apres la période des pluies, les balades sont vraiment sympas car il y a des courts d'eau et cascades (selon le Lonely planet). J'ai fait l'Olive Trail, je crois, en plein moins de septembre et tout été plus que sec !!
A Twyfelfontein, on ne peut pas se balader librement dans le site propre. On doit suivre un guide. Par contre, au alentours du camping Aba-Huab, il y a un joli lit de riviere, fréquenté par des elephants du désert qui permet de faire un joli balade.
Mais ma plus belle promenade a été à Warmquelle, en remontant le cours de la petite riviere d'eau chaude. Il n'y en a que pour quelques heures mais suivre un cours d'eau apres n'avoir vu que des paysages désertiques, c'est la plus belles chose à faire 🙂.
Enfin, pour trouver des plans, du moins ceux du Nauklft, j'avais avec moi le Lonely planet en anglais sur l'Afrique Australe. Il est bourré de petites cartes tres utilies !! Avis aux Anglophones 😉
Mon carnet de route pour la Namibie
Mon carnet de route pour le Japon (en construction)
Bonjour Noémie.
Peux-tu me dire où se trouve cette Warmquelle? Je n'en ai jamais entendu parler.
Il y a aussi une (toute) petite balade à faire près de Popa falls entre Rundu et Mahango, le long de rapides sur l'Okavango. Végétation luxuriante au bord de l'eau, très différent du reste de la Namibie.
A propos du Naukluft, tu as raison de dire que ça doit être beaucoup plus beau avec de l'eau mais ça veut dire qu'à cette époque il fait aussi beaucoup plus chaud!
Je trouve que les balades valent quand même le coup : les occasions de randonnées en Namibie ne sont pas si nombreuses et il y a une végétation de rocailles vraiment très belle, quelques points de vue sur l'immensité africaine, des canyons, des ficus aux racines incroyables d'obstination, un parfum d'aventure. Toute la famille a vraiment apprécié ces balades.
Le Spitzkoppe est sans doute plus ludique et moins physique mais ce serait dommage de zapper le Naukluft, à mon avis...
Marie
Warmquelle se trouve pres de Sesfontein. C'est une source d'eau chaude qui tomba via une petite cascade dans un petit lac. C'est vraiment un endroit incroyable. (voir photo) Apres avoir vu le desert pendant 8 mois, voir cette eau, meme si ce n'est qu'un tout petit cours d'eau, c'était la plus belle chose que je n'avas jamais vu !!
Mon carnet de route pour la Namibie
Mon carnet de route pour le Japon (en construction)
Merci pour vos nombreux commentaires suite à ma demande sur le choix d'un opérateur. Nous fignolons notre circuit et sommes en train de chercher des infos sur…
Nous prévoyons au cours de notre périple en Namibie (environ deux mois) de faire le Fish River Canyon trail et le Naukluft trail. En lisant les commentaires et…
Je m'adresse spécialement aux voyageurs revenus récemment de Namibie. Nous partons dans un mois et nous avions appris que l'olive trail avait été fermé en mai.…
Nous projetons d'aller en Namibie fin nov-déb décembre et de faire une randonnée dans le désert. J'ai vu qu'il existait le Tok Tokkie trail, mais j'hésite à…
Les voyageurs, En mai je fais une petite escapade en Namibie et je souhaite faire la marche de l'olive Trail dans le Nakluft. Je désespère de trouver des infos…
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
hi there
I’m heading to Uzbekistan for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October 2026—a country I haven’t visited yet.
I’d love to do a few multi-day hikes in the mountains without going through a tour operator or hiring a guide. Has anyone here done this?
It doesn’t have to be all trekking; day hikes are great too.
I’m open to any tips!
Also, I see there are lots of train options if you book well in advance—does that only apply to the "fast" trains? Are there buses as well?
hi how can I get internet when I arrive at Haneda? I mean in areas without free wifi. Is it more interesting to buy a SIM card? If so, at the airport? thanks for your help
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!
We're planning to go at the end of November/beginning of December to visit (with a rental car) and hike on La Palma and El Hierro for 15 full days, including 1 day for inter-island ferry transfers. What’s the best split between the two islands—8 days on La Palma and 6 on El Hierro, or even more time for La Palma? Should we have one or two home bases on La Palma? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hello,
In mid-November, we’ll be in Mindelo and Santo Antão.
We’ve booked transportation with Kapverden Tours.
One trip is from Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol, including the hike from Corda to Coculi.
What’s the trail like?
Then we’ll be staying in Ponta do Sol,
Here’s what we’re planning:
A hike to Fontainhas—what’s the best direction, considering we’re not great with climbs? No problem with flat terrain or descents.
Take an aluguer to Ribeira Grande and continue along the coastal road.
With the agency:
An excursion to Cruzinha with a short walk.
Return to Porto Novo via the path from Cova to… I’m not sure where yet, to pick up the car for Porto Novo, since we’ll be taking the ferry that evening.
We’ll have a guide for this hike.
We’d love to spend a day in Tarrafal, but getting back requires a boat or taxi, and it’s really expensive!
We’re a couple, 78 and 76 years old.
What do you think of this itinerary?
Not very well known: Hokkaido Island has national parks that rival those in North America. Hiking there is free (even many mountain huts) and requires no formalities. These treks are described in the LP *Hiking in Japan* guide—you can just buy the Hokkaido PDF. It’s way better than Mount Fuji. Of course, everything depends on the weather, which is very unstable in the Japanese mountains (frequent strong winds). The trails are often obstacle courses.
The Daisetsu Zan traverse is a stunning hike through volcanic terrain with a remote section in the middle that requires at least one night of camping (there are basic huts for the rest, which is popular with Japanese hikers): 4 to 6 days.
The Shiretoko traverse takes 2 days with views including an island in Russia, but the ridge is brown bear territory—there are even more here than in Denali National Park in Alaska (brown bears and grizzlies are the same). I ran into 7 in just 6 hours of hiking!
Hi,
Since I can't take on long treks, I'd love to know if there are any nice hikes around Pokhara—or maybe in another region of Nepal. Day hikes or two-day trips would be perfect.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving on Monday, August 3rd for my very first long-distance trek: the GR223 from Coutances to Mont Saint-Michel, over 6-7 days (~11-14 miles/day), solo.
I’m looking for tips from people who know this section well (Coutances → Regnéville-sur-Mer → Hauteville-sur-Mer → Bréhal → Granville → Genêts → bay crossing):
Budget-friendly accommodations: I’m struggling to find affordable stopover lodgings (a lot of what I find online are expensive vacation rentals, not really suited for a solo hiker). If you have any great spots (hostels, hiker-friendly B&Bs, nice campgrounds), I’d love to hear them!
Bay crossing: Any feedback on guides/providers leaving from Genêts for the final crossing?
General tips for a first long-distance trek: What you wish you’d known before your first time, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
