I’m heading to Nepal for two months in October/November, including a 20-day trek that I’m planning in Dolpo this time (after the Dhaulagiri Circuit and the Three Passes trek in the Khumbu region in previous years).
1/ Is it possible to organize a trek in Dolpo solo—that is, without going through an agency? (I know permits are mandatory, but I’ve heard conflicting info about whether a guide is required.)
I’m considering one of these two routes:
- Lower Dolpo loop + variations
- Dunai to Lo Manthang traverse (I’d love any tips if someone’s done this route, especially about resupply points)
2/ If it’s not allowed, are there guides or agencies in Dunai that might offer services? I’d appreciate any local contacts.
3/ Lastly, I’m looking for 1–3 trekking partners. Dates and route to be decided together. Experience with high-altitude trekking would be a plus, but simplicity, a thirst for adventure, and a good sense of humor are non-negotiable. Also, up for a self-sufficient experience (no guide or porters), depending on the answers to the points above.
I go on mountain hikes lasting about ten days with a backpack that doesn’t exceed 11 kg.
I’d like to switch to a different category of shoes now. Up until now, I’ve been using semi-rigid leather mid-height models, but I’ve had major after-sales service issues with them.
They’ve been sent back for repairs three times—5 months, then 6 months of waiting—because the toe cap came unstuck. It just doesn’t hold up.
I’m thinking of switching to mid-height or even low-cut models.
But I’m wondering if this change comes with any risks. Also, which category would be best suited: trail shoes, approach shoes, or mid-height?
Thanks in advance for your insights!
Hi,
I'd love to know where we can observe wildlife, birds, and nature in Colombia... Like going on a hike without a guide, immersing ourselves in the forest, far from tourist spots. I want to avoid places that are specially set up, since you usually don’t see much there.
Thanks in advance!
Bernard
Hi there,
I’m looking for a hiking guide for Quebec (Laurentides, Gaspésie, Saguenay).
Do you know any professionals for one or more of these regions?
This is for September 2025.
Thanks in advance!
Good evening everyone,
Can you advise me on this?
I’m looking for public transport between Le Hohneck and the village of Bonhomme, where I plan to leave my car.
I’m hiking between these two points.
Thanks so much for your help!
Yves
hi there
I live near Dole, so not too far away, and I sometimes go hiking (Camino de Santiago, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, etc.), and I’d love it if someone could suggest a trek in the Vosges—I really don’t know the area well. (Yeah, I know, I’m a little embarrassed about that.)
If you could recommend a nice route.
Arrival by car or train, doesn’t matter.
Thanks so much!
Hi there, I’m struggling to get back into hiking and I’m considering tackling the GR5 from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean shores in August-September.
Since I can’t plan daily distances in advance, I’ll be bringing gear to bivouac.
I’m not familiar with this route and wanted to get an idea of water resupply options before setting off: are sources and streams still flowing easily in late summer on this GR, or should I prepare for long dry stretches? 😐
Hi there, my friend and I are heading to Sichuan and the Kham region in August and we’d love to do a 4- to 5-day trek around Tagong. I’ve got a few questions:
1/ Is it possible to find a guide on the spot in Kangding, Litang, or Tagong at the last minute? Or better yet, do you have the contact details for a guide you’d recommend?
2/ I’ve found Chinese guides online, but no Tibetan guides. It seems to me that a Tibetan guide would be a better fit. What do you think?
3/ The listed prices are really high, especially because of the porter services (tents, cooking gear, etc.) and the fact that, on top of the high-mountain guide, there’s also an English-speaking translator. We’re used to hiking independently in the high mountains, we carry our own backpacks, and we don’t need a cook. Is it possible to hire a guide without porter services or with limited porter support?
I’d love to hear about your experiences! Thanks in advance! 😊
I’ll be in Nepal in October.
I’m planning to do the Annapurna trek and climb Mera Peak.
From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the most accessible 6,000m peaks and doesn’t require a mandatory guide?
The info I’ve found is pretty scattered—mostly just travel agency blogs. :-) Has anyone here already done this climb? I’ve heard you can find guides in Khare for just the final part of the ascent (which is way cheaper).
Hi everyone, let me introduce myself—I’m Claudy Georges, and I’m from Belgium. I’d like to take on the Camino de Santiago.
I’d love your thoughts on the type of gear to bring, especially smartwatches.
I’m torn between the Amazfit T-Rex and the Garmin Fenix 7.
I’m a total beginner and get lost easily, so having good gear is key.
Could you shed some light on this for me?
Thanks in advance.
Hi there,
I’m planning a short trek on the Haute Route des Pyrénées from Embalse de Baserca lake to Parzan.
I’ve seen there are cabins along the route. Do you know if it’s possible to sleep in them?
On the other hand, in Parzan, apart from a hotel, I can’t find anything else. And the hotel requires a minimum of 2 nights, whereas I only want to stay for one. So, do you know where to stay in Parzan?
We watched the show "Rendez-vous en terre inconnue" in Guizhou Province, China. Those stunning landscapes really made us want to go trekking in the region.
Do you have any valuable tips to share to help us plan this trip?
I wanted to share an incredible experience I had recently that really left an impression on me: hiking the Mercantour independently. It’s an absolutely stunning mountain range, with varied landscapes that go from lush forests to rocky ridges, passing through high-altitude lakes with unbelievable colors. I chose a one-week route, sleeping under the stars in a bivouac.
It was a pretty demanding adventure, with significant elevation changes and sometimes unpredictable weather. But every effort was rewarded with breathtaking views. I was lucky enough to spot marmots, chamois, and even ibex in the distance. It’s truly a total immersion in nature!
A little tip for those tempted by the adventure: plan your route and gear carefully. Independence requires good preparation. I particularly appreciated having a good water filtration system and lightweight cookware. And for safety, aside from a map and compass (or GPS), I never leave without my two-way radio. In these remote areas where there’s no mobile signal, it’s a real safety net in case of trouble or just to communicate with other hikers if you’re in a group. It can really make a difference!
If any of you have already hiked in the Mercantour or have questions about my experience, don’t hesitate to ask. I’d love to chat with you about this beautiful range or other hiking destinations.
A really nice nature walk at the entrance to the lake in the Natura 2000-listed nature reserve. It’s a great opportunity to see lots of bird species, plants, and the famous European pond turtle, as well as some beautiful medieval architecture remnants with Thomas II’s castle. The walk is slightly spoiled by the noise from the Savoie parachute club’s planes, which take off every fifteen minutes and dump fuel on the site non-stop, even after nightfall.
I’m planning the Tour du Queyras from August 2nd to 8th, 2025, starting from Ceillac.
6 days if all goes well, 5 days if I’m moving fast, 7 days if the climbs are too much.
If anyone wants to join me, we can form a small group.
I won’t handle bookings: I’ve got my tent, and if I can find a refuge, great—if not, no worries.
As you can see, I’m giving myself some flexibility to enjoy my hike without stress. I don’t walk fast: easy pace in the morning, not too quick in the evening.
Yo
Hi everyone, we’re heading to Java in August, specifically to KAWAH IJEN. I’ve seen that there are new requirements like a medical certificate since 2024—is this still the case? Can our 6-year-old daughter do the ascent? Can she go down to see the blue flames at night with gas masks? If not, is it better during the day? Thanks for your feedback!
I’ve planned a little day trip with my kids (12 and 16 years old) to Venice. The goal is to go for a walk through the city’s streets rather than visiting museums, which would take way too much time. We’d like to pass by the main landmarks, so I’ve put together a small 15 km hike... (thanks to Komoot and visioRando). Could you take a quick look and let me know if I’ve missed anything or made any mistakes?
1. Start at Santa Lucia Train Station
2. Ponte Degli Scalzi
3. Ponte dei Pugni
4. squero de San Trovaso
5 Le rio della Salute
6. Accademia Bridge
7. St. Mark’s Square
8. St. Mark’s Basilica
9. Ponte de la Canonica
10. Ponte de la Pietà
11. Ponte de la Tana
12. The Arsenale
13. Bridge of Sighs
14. Doge’s Palace
Then return to the Rialto Bridge via Marzaria dell’Orologio
Also, could you tell me if the Doge’s Palace courtyard is paid entry?
Thanks for your help and feedback!
Hi there,
My wife and I are heading to Norwegian Lapland for a week soon. We arrive in Tromsø on January 9th and plan to visit Senja Island. We’d love to go snowshoeing there and would appreciate some tips:
1. Is it possible to go snowshoeing without a guide this time of year on Senja Island? Are there well-marked trails? If not, could anyone recommend some good local guides?
2. We’d also love recommendations for great snowshoeing routes on the island if possible.
3. Is 5 days in Dovær in the northern part of the island too long at this time of year?
4. Renting snowshoeing gear in Norway is super expensive—does anyone know a good place to rent between Tromsø and Senja Island?
Thanks!
What do you think about visiting Tiger Leaping Gorge in Qiatou?
Is it really worth doing? Is it overrated? And how difficult is the trek to get there?
Thanks for your replies.
I usually travel abroad in the summer, but given the circumstances, I think this year I’ll be staying in France.
I’d love to know which places you’d recommend for the most stunning mountain landscapes and the best hikes.
Hi there,
My partner and I are planning to hike a section of the GR10 this summer, mostly staying in campgrounds. But at Col d'Ibardin, where we’ve planned a stop, there’s only one guest room that’s pretty expensive...
Does anyone know if there are any bivouac spots in the area?
Thanks
Hi there,
I’d like to hike The Narrows in mid-June. Has anyone done this hike and can share their feedback? I’ll be hiking up to the narrowing, and I saw there’s an outfitter that rents the right gear—I plan to get equipped. Though it depends on a lot of factors, what’s the average water level like at that time of year?
Thanks
Hi there,
Once again, I’m turning to VoyageForum to kick off my trip planning—this time, it’s Croatia!
I’m treating my 29-year-old daughter to a trip where we’d love to combine hiking and snorkelling. I’m not sure if we can focus on just one region, but that’d be ideal since we’ll only have 10–15 days in August this year.
Could anyone point me in the right direction for a first lead?
Are transport links easy to navigate? Is it better to go with Airbnb or a hostel?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Laurence from Bayonne
Hi there,
I’m planning a 6-day trip from Orléans to Tours.
There are very few detailed maps to figure out the main stages and what you’ll find along the way. Even though I’ve downloaded the Miam Miam Dodo app, it’s pretty tedious (everything is split into small map sections).
I’ve settled on the first leg: Orléans to Meung-sur-Loire, about 18 km. For the next one, I’m hesitating because I’d like to do around 20–25 km, but I see Beaugency is only about 10 km away, and Mer is almost 30 km. So, I’m stuck.
On top of that, I’m torn between taking the GR 3 route or the GR 655 (south).
If any of you know the area or have already done this hike/pilgrimage, I’d love to hear your tips for this section that goes through Blois and ends in Tours.
For the last legs, I’ve planned Blois -> ? Chaumont (no accommodations) -> Amboise -> Tours, knowing the final stage is about 30 km.
Hi,
We’re planning to spend 3 nights (4 days) in the Banaue area. We’ve booked 1 night in Banaue, 1 in Batad, and the 3rd back in Banaue. We’d like to get from one village to the other on our own (tricycle + hiking). Does that sound doable? Where can we find a hiking route so we don’t get lost (is Maps.me enough?)? The 2-day trek offered by guides is a bit tough and, above all, too expensive for us (83 €/person). Thanks for your feedback and experiences!
Hi there,
We’re heading to South Africa in August 2025 and planning a classic loop that I’d love to finish with the Drakensberg (I’m a big hiking fan) before returning to Johannesburg to catch our flight.
I’ve got 3 nights for this part of our trip. But I’m wondering if it’s actually a good idea to hike in the Drakensberg in August, since it’s the Southern Hemisphere winter (I’m from Réunion and we hike year-round there, but I don’t know what the climate’s like in South Africa, especially the Drakensberg).
I’m particularly worried about getting stuck because of snow and missing our flight... ;)
I’ve read so many different things that I’m totally confused!
If it’s okay to hike at this time of year, what would you recommend? I’m torn between Champagne Valley and Royal Natal National Park.
Thanks in advance for your firsthand tips!
Malijp
