Noted for solo without a guide. Just need to get my companion to read your advice now.
I love the phrase "In August, snakes are rare."
Well, with all that, I guess I just have to go for it... and buy some fleeces, jackets, and beanies😛 We can always reuse them in Mafate next July!!!
Malijp
I took a look at the site
Sure enough, you can see a chimney
There are heated blankets
No guided hikes apparently
But book the little guided walk to see the San paintings
And ask the guide if he remembers a group of French people with one who spoke Zulu
Thanks Michel for all this info! An electric blanket....awesome.....if there’s electricity (that’ll bring back childhood memories!)
And yeah, I won’t forget to bring up that anecdote I remembered from your travel journals! There can’t be many French people who speak Zulu
Would you share a few Zulu basics (hello, thank you, please, goodbye...)?
Malijp
Coming from Réunion in terms of hikes in the Drakensberg, you might be a bit disappointed.
Here’s what I recommended a few years ago...
Just so you know, my favorite was the "Chain Ladder Hike" or "Sentinel Peak" for its fun side, starting from the "Sentinel Car Park." Then there’s the Krack (The Crack and the Mudslide), which starts from Thendele Camp if I remember correctly.
The easiest one is the Tugela Gorge (still from Thendele), a nice little walk if you take the trouble to continue with the ladders when you reach the "Tunnel."
Here’s the list of hikes:
https://www.royalnatal.info/hiking-royal-natal-national-park
Check out my old post about the hikes I did at Thendele:
Thanks for the tips and the links.
I’d already found the one for Royal Natal NP. I’ll check out the forum where you talk about the hikes you’re recommending.
I think I’ll skip Sentinel Peak in August to avoid freezing on the spot! !😄 And skiing at Afriski… not even a consideration!
After that, I’m really going there to soak in the views, not necessarily to exhaust myself, so I think we’ll find plenty to dream about!
MaLijp
It's impossible to predict the weather conditions you'll have in August during the days you're there... All we can say is that, according to stats, rainfall is very low in August and the sky is often clear, which seems most important for hiking. Negative temperatures are quite rare (expect averages between 8 and 13°C). The chance of snow is very low... since you're planning day hikes, you just need to check the weather forecast the day before. No risk of getting stuck on the road if you don't take high-altitude passes like Sani Pass. Thendele Camp isn't at high altitude (around 1,200m if I remember correctly), so snow there must be exceptional! For reference, the Afriski ski resort in Lesotho, which peaks at 3,000m (8 to 10°C cooler on average), has been relying solely on artificial snow for years.
I don’t know your hiking levels, but the "Crack and Mudslide" trail doesn’t go very high and isn’t physically very difficult. It offers beautiful views and a equipped section (cables, ladders) in the cliff, so it’s not very dangerous. I recommend this hike—it’s more spectacular than the others around Thendele Camp.
PS: No worries about critters... snakes, etc. You’ll just see monkeys that won’t let you get close.
This is just my opinion, but I don’t see the point of staying at the Upper Resort, which is only about a hundred meters higher (you pass it when you start hiking) than the Lower Resort where we stayed. The Lower Resort is great...
I'd like to hike in Blyde Canyon (Leopard Trail or another), with a guide or without? What do you think?
There’s really no risk of snow there...
No need for a guide on the Leopard Trail. The path is perfectly marked with signs... (featuring the animal if I remember correctly). It’s impossible to get lost! That said, it’s not exactly thrilling (though that’s subjective).
Yes, the Drakensberg is a really beautiful region.
Except where it's mandatory (like the rock art sites), you don’t need a guide for the classic hikes.
Just a heads-up—unless you're an experienced hiker, always add two difficulty levels to what Djalma rates.
Warning, unless you're an experienced hiker, you should always add two levels of difficulty to the level stated by Djalma.
I’ll admit I might be the hiking superhero😕, but in the Drakensberg, I hiked with my wife who’d never done any sport in her life. She’s the perfect example of an average hiker... The hikes we did together in South Africa are suitable for all average hikers—even very average ones.
I’m part of a hiking club in France (I’m a mid-mountain guide) and in my club, there are people of all ages, including some octogenarians who regularly hike in the Vercors on routes with much greater elevation gain and difficulty than what I recommend in the Drakensberg.
If I’m suggesting these hikes here, there’s a good reason.
Malijp mentions hiking in Mafate... No matter the starting point (Maïdo, Canal des Orangers, Col des Boeufs, Taïbit, etc.), hikes in the Mafate cirque are more challenging than those in the Drakensberg, which are offered at Thendele by the park authorities (see the hiking map given out by park staff before setting off).
You said yourself you’re not a hiker in a message I can find...
PS: We went to the rock art sites about 1 hour’s walk (with little elevation) from Thendele without a guide. Once there, we explored the site—the gate was left open—and we respected the place.
P.S.: My wife was over 60 when we did the 4 or 5 hikes in South Africa.
Thanks Atila for the advice about guides. Now I just need to convince my partner!
By the way, I just came across a worrying list of things that happened to travelers in South Africa on the Routard forum. So now I’m stressed, even though I wasn’t really worried before.
We’re doing a loop: Johannesburg, Gaskrop, Kruger (Phalaborwa gate, exiting via Malelane), Eswatini, St. Lucia, Umhlanga (we’re visiting the aquarium in Durban for my daughter), Drakensberg, and back to Johannesburg.
Is it really that risky? Should I try to reassure myself?
Thanks for your reply.
Malijp
Thanks for the tips. It reassures me about the snow side, even if one year never looks like another...
For the hikes, I’ll study things more closely, but I think decisions will be made once we’re there based on the weather and the fatigue built up from the road (we’re finishing with the Drakensberg).
Oops, typo: *fonction* not *focntion*!
Malijp
For the hikes, I’ll study things more precisely, but I think decisions will be made once we’re there based on the weather and how tired we are from the road (we finish in the Drakensberg).
At Thendele, we decided on the route the same morning after getting up and checking the schematic map provided by the park staff. In the evening after the hike, since the weather was perfect, we decided to do another hike the next day (Tugela Gorge) and booked another night at the camp for that.
Safety-wise (that’s just my feeling), I was more on edge on the road. I barely avoided a cow (near Durban) and on a hill, I found myself face-to-face with a truck!
Over there, on the "hard shoulder" of the "highways," cyclists and pedestrians (Black people, not white) ride and walk against traffic... to see the danger coming! 😏
On secondary roads in poor condition where in France we’d be limited to 80 km/h, white people in their big cars happily drive at 110 or even faster!
Well, it’s a classic route
That makes sense
I’ve done it again and again this year (partially and more or less)
I know all these spots
Seriously, the risk of problems is very low
Except for Durban, which remains a no-go zone for me, especially part of the beach area
When I’ve heard stories from travelers or South Africans…
It was in Durban or Joburg or in central Cape Town near the big hotels
About hikes
When a South African says "easy"
It’s not going to be that easy
"Medium" means it’s going to be complicated
"Hard"… I’m not going
RNNP, if I understand your mindset and your hiking level
You’ll find hikes of a few hours or less without much difficulty
If you want some extra tips for your trip
Just to put your mind at ease… I’m here if you need to ask…
A few clarifications
There are no motorways in Afs.
There are national roads, some with tolls and separated traffic.
The yellow strip along the road isn’t an emergency lane but a usable space (not for all vehicles—it’s actually indicated on the back of the vehicle) to facilitate overtaking.
It isn’t present everywhere.
You’ll find the same system in Crete!
As for the comments about whites in big cars and Blacks on foot or by bike (bikes are rare in Afs) on this space…
It’s just the kind of remark someone who doesn’t know the country would make.
Sorry,
Painting that picture is false and caricatured.
It’s much more complicated…
That’s a good principle.
I’d add that speed cameras are getting more and more common, as are speed bumps and other traffic calming measures.
It’s really great, especially around schools.
Hitting a pothole (or "ostrich nest" as they call them here) on the road sure slows you down!
Keeping some cash in the car isn’t a bad idea either.
Aroundaboutcars, for example.
Hi everyone!
I’m planning the Cape Town part of our trip and would love to hike up Table Mountain via Platterklip Gorge and take the cable car back down.
Is it safe to hike this trail in early January without a guide (there are 4 of us: 3 adults and a teen)?
If a guide is highly recommended, do you know a good one?
If we end up taking the cable car both ways, is it safe to hike the summit without a guide (Mc Lear's Beacon trail)?
Same question for Lion’s Head: with or without a guide?
We’re used to hiking technical trails (Réunion Island), so my question is more about the risk of mugging on these trails.
Thanks for your feedback!
Malijp
I did these two treks in Himachal Pradesh in September 2026. The Pin Parvati trek absolutely must be done before mid-September to have favorable weather conditions, while the Bara Banghal trek can be done until the end of September. In both cases, the weather window is limited because these treks are only feasible between the post-monsoon period (early September) and the more or less early arrival of the first snowfalls (mid-October or even earlier). I chose to do these two treks back-to-back with just a few days in between, taking a welcome break in the village of Kasol, which is really pleasant with its German bakeries on every corner, set in the stunning Parvati Valley—much better than the unremarkable village of Barsheni. From Kasol, there are plenty of bus connections to the Kullu Valley, but they’re long due to the narrow, winding, and sometimes badly damaged roads. From Kullu, Manali is very close and easy to reach.
Stay tuned for trip reports from a series of 5 treks between Zanskar and Ladakh from early August to early September 2026, always solo and fully self-sufficient with around 20 kg of gear. Make sure to bring good equipment for cold nights at high altitude, even in summer, a sturdy tent to handle thunderstorms and hail, and a solid pair of sandals for crossing the many glacial streams. If you don’t fly directly into Leh but, like me, come from Kargil, you won’t find gas canisters... In that case, I used a small alcohol stove with thinner bought locally since denatured alcohol is impossible to find in India. The thinner worked perfectly as fuel, even at high altitude—it’s sold for just 120 rupees per liter in paint shops.
Completed the trek in 6 days from October 23 to October 28, 2026, fully self-sufficient (pack around 18 kg at the start), starting from Phalyagaon and ending in Marpha. Approximately 90 km and 5,000 m of elevation gain.
For transportation, take a bus from Pokhara to Beni (400 NRP), then a bus or shared jeep from Beni to Phaliyagaon (700 NRP by bus or 1,000 NRP by jeep after negotiating...). Allow a full day for the journey.
Homestay in Phaliyagaon at the village entrance and before the suspension bridge to reach Mauri.
Most agencies start from Mauri, but it's hard to find public transport...
The trail currently extends to Boghan because of a massive hydroelectric project under construction, which is altering the valley.
Phaliyagaon to Boghan is 27 km with quite a bit of elevation gain, but doable in one long day for an experienced hiker.
From Boghan, the real trail begins under forest cover up to the Sallagari lodge, then the high mountain starts. Camping is possible at Italien Campsite, but it's a real factory. If you've got the energy, you can continue to Swiss Campsite in about 2 hours, but with a steep climb. Plan for water.
Above the Swiss camp, the glacial moraine and then the snow cover begin.
Base camp at 4,600 m before crossing the French Pass, often crowded but plenty of space (on the snow!). Freezing temperatures at night. I was lucky with little wind, which isn’t always the case!
The ascent of the French Pass is fairly steady, with a trail easy to follow in the snow unless there’s been recent snowfall! Beautiful views of Dhaulagiri...
Polar temperatures and freezing nights in the Hidden Valley with violent winds that make it even colder. Impossible to heat water in the morning because it was frozen and the wind was too strong. This wind continued during the entire ascent of the Dhampus Pass, then the long traverse of a plateau descending but still around 5,000 m (8 to 10 km), always in the snow, before finally starting the final descent to Marpha.
Last night recommended at Alu Bari at 3,800 m rather than Yak Karka, with a stunning view of the Annapurna range if the weather is clear, of course! From Alu Bari, an easy trail leads to Marpha, 1,000 m lower and about 5 km away...
Note that at the various camps, you can get hot water from the agency cooks if you ask politely, of course! It’s a great help, especially since the available water is usually freezing and takes a long time to heat with just a stove...
The trek doesn’t present any technical difficulties if you’re well-acclimatized and in good physical condition to handle high-mountain conditions. Perfect weather is imperative, which was the case for me.
The trek is doable without agencies or mandatory guides; only the ACAP permit is required for the Dhampus Pass (3,000 NRP), but no one ever asked me for it. Issued in 10 minutes in Pokhara.
An interesting trek, far from the crowds of the Annapurnas or Everest Base Camp.
After Seoul, I’m back on the forum again 😏, to talk about Inwol in Jirisan. I’ve planned to stay there for 3 nights to hike the Jirisan Dulle-gil trail—two sections, partly... I’m really struggling to find accommodations in Inwol that are close to the trail. I know it’s early and not all options are listed yet, but even when I set dates closer together, it’s still not obvious... If you know the area, I’d love any tips! My whole itinerary depends on finding a place to stay...
I know there are plenty of discussions on VF about the Poon Hill trek, but most seem outdated and/or don’t provide info specific to February. That’s why I’m bringing this topic back up.
Here’s my plan:
- Spending about two weeks in Nepal in the first half of February.
- Maybe extending by a few days to a week if needed.
- Heading to Pokhara—first time for my partner, second for me (I was there in September/October 1982!).
- Doing a relatively easy 4- to 5-day trek. We’re not exactly spring chickens anymore (though we’re in pretty good shape for our age).
- We don’t want to go above 3,000–3,500 meters, deal with difficult sections if there’s too much snow, or face daytime temperatures below 10°C. No problem if it drops to 0–5°C at night since we’ll be sheltered somewhere.
So, I’m wondering if the Mardi Himal trek might be too demanding for us, and if we’d be better off sticking with Poon Hill.
What do the experts think?
I’m thinking of doing the O Circuit or the full W in Torres del Paine—I already did the W about ten years ago.
I’ve got a few questions:
- Do I really need to book everything well in advance?
- What’s the budget for overnight stays if I’ll have a tent and be on my own?
- What temperature rating should my sleeping bag have for comfort?
- Do I need any special gear for the hike? I’ve got low-cut shoes.
And finally, is there a place where I can leave my bike during the hike?
My partner, our daughter, and I are planning a walking trip to Madagascar in July-August 2027.
We’d love any tips or info you can share about this plan.
Which regions should we prioritize?
Is a local guide better than a well-established agency?
Where’s the best place to buy our flight tickets from Réunion?
Thanks for your input!
Hi everyone, we’re traveling by bike, but the same question comes up for hiking: what simple products can we find in towns or villages to eat/cook and get enough nutrition for physical effort, all while keeping costs affordable? Otherwise, where can we find inexpensive dietary supplements? Since I’m on cortisone, I have to be careful about what I eat. Thanks in advance, Aichatou
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
Hi there,
We’re planning an 8-day backpacking trip on the island of São Nicolau. We’re torn between taking the boat from São Vicente or an inter-island flight. I’ve heard the boats don’t always run?
We’d like to make three homestay stops to travel in a star pattern from each of the three points.
First stop around Juncalinho, second stop near Cachaco, and finally a third leg near Tarrafal. We’re looking for simple but authentic guesthouses (no hotels). Any suggestions?
Thanks
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?
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!
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
Hi there,
I’m planning to cross the Gourgs Blancs Pass at the end of the month, from La Soula Refuge to Portillon Refuge. On this section near the pass, I don’t have any trail marked on my IGN map. Is the path well signposted, or should I use a compass?
Also, beyond the physical effort, are there any technical, exposed, or vertigo-inducing sections on this part?
Since I’m finding very little info, I’m being thorough with my questions.
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.
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 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!
