J'ai réservé mon billet A/R Kuala Lumpu Bota Kinabalu. J'arrive le jeudi 13 déc. et je repars le mercredi 19 déc.
Voilà ma réflexion: MULU: A la base j'aurai aimé aller à Mulu Cave vu voir les pinnacles et les envolées de chauve-souris. Mais l'aventure me semble compliqué notamment à cause des transports car il faut impérativement que je ne râte pas mon vol retour. Je me trompe? MONT KINABALU: J'aime bien faire de la marche mais dans les faits je n'ai pas l'allure d'une sportive. FAUNE: Araignées, serpents, scorpions et moustiques ne sont pas mes amis même si paradoxalement j'adorerai jeter un coup d'oeil dans la jungle. PLONGEE: Tuba Palme m'aurait bien plus car j'ai pas trop envie de passer des exams de plongé pour mes vacances et une petite nage avec les tortues aussi. Cela ne semble pas la saison. Je me trompe? SANTE: J'ai donc quand même la moustiquaire, les sprays contre les moustiques sur la peau et les vêtements. J'ai aussi prévu le vaccin contre le Tiphus et les médicaments contre la malaria. Un peu peureuse la fille ;) SEULE: Par ailleurs, je voyage seule sur Bornéo. Donc, j'ai envie de me rabattre sur des sorties à la journée ou sur 2/3 jours avec retour à Bato Kinabalu. Peut-être partir en tour organisé ? Mais quel opérateur est fiable et abordable ? Quand pensez-vous ? Avez-vous des idées de programmes possibles ?
Bonjour
J'haite à Kota Kinabalu (pas Bato kinabalu! 😉) depuis quelques temps alors je me permets de te renseigner.
POur le Kinabalu, il faut s'entraîner un peu en courant dans des escaliers, ou prévoir 5 jours de courbatures. Il faut réserver une place à laban Rata http://www.suterasanctuarylodges.com.my/labanrata.htm, prévoir la pluie en emballant bien tes vêtements, et pour éviter de trop peser sur tes genoux à la descente, il faut prendre des batons (baton en bois, 10RM l'un en bas ou à Laban Rata). moi je fais moins d'un footing par semaine et au moins 2km de piscine, et bien j'ai morflé, surtout à la descente de Laban Rata aux headquarters du parc (6h pour descendre, 4h30 pour monter). Prévois aussi de quoi te couvrir contre le froid et le vent en haut.
La "jungle", j'adore il y a des moustiqaires en général, moi j'ai passé 2 semaines là bas, et à part les moustiques et les cafards, les coqs et les chats domestiques je n'ai rien vu de terrifiant ... sauf dehors!
C'est sur la kinabatangan qu'on voit leu plus d'animaux sauvages: élépants, hornbills, orag outans etc....Pour la Kinabatangan, prévoir 3 jours de voyages au moins. Il existe des packages vendu par les agences de voyages de wisma Sabah à Kota Kinabalu ou à Sandakan, mais il est aussi possible de se pointer dans un village et de loger chez l'habitant pour 20RM la nuit. Tu peux y aller en bus à partir de KK (6h) ou en avion (KK sandakan, air aisia) . Des bateaux et des bus (2h) relient Sandakan à Sukau. Les lodge les moins chers sont à 100RM la nuit, tu peux faire des "rivercruise" pour voir les animaux sauvages (autour de 50 à 80 RM) en demandant aux habitants qui ont des bateaux, tout dépend du nombre de personnes par bateau.
La plongée c'est toute l'année! Tu peux faire Snorkelling au Tunku abdul raman park face à kota kinabalu en préférant Manukan (ou il y a moins de touristes en groupes) tu verras de très jolis petits poissons. Le baptême de plongée vaut le coup, je crois qu'on a fait 3 sorties pour 100 euros l'année dernière, mais ce n'était pas à Sabah. Pour voir les tortues dans l'île aux tortues, il faut réserver à l'avance mais je ne sais pas sur quel site
POur les moustiuaire, il y en a en général, prends bien tes anti moustiques, ceux d'ici sont peu efficaces, essaie les une fois avant de partir pour être sure de ne pas être allergique, et prévois des vêtements à manche longues et bien légers. Moi j'ai toujours une genre de cheich paréo. Les draps sont pas toujours très propres et souvent il n'y a qu'un drap housse sur les lits, je voyage avec un "sac à viande" (drap, pas sac de couchage) .
Les medoc contre la malaria sont inutiles. Je connais des gens qui vivent ici depuis 10 ans (des blancs) qui n'on jamais vu un cas de malaria, j'ai aussi demandé à des malais qui vivent sur la Kinabatangan, pas de malaria... Par contre, au sarrawak, peut-être que c'est utile
Si tu es seule, je pense qu'il n'y aura pas de problème. Ne te ballade pas tard toute seule et dis toujours à ton hotel, ou à quelqu'un ou tu vas. Par sécurité, tu peux t'acheter une carte de téléphone malaysienne (DIGI ou HOTLINK), commet ca, en cas de problème, tu pourras toujours appeler quelqu'un.
Pour ton circuit, tu peux tout booker par internet, si tu es motivée pour faire le mont Kinabalu, réserve vite sur le site que j'ai inscrit plus haut.
Bonsoir et merci pour toutes ces informations. Je vais m'y plonger ce week-end. Y a-t-il un moyen pour échanger par mail directement si j'ai d'autres questions ou des précisions ? Mon email est veronique.bourcier@laposte.net
Par rapport a la plongée, je me permets de te conseillé les petites iles au large de KK qui pour certaines peuvent offrir des spots de snorkeling assez sympathiques. Ces iles se nomment MANUKAN, MAMUTIK et il y en a une troisieme dont j'ai oublié le noms. Ces petites iles sont vraiment charmantes et dépaysantes malgré leur fréquentation touristique parfois excessive. Sur MANUKAN, non seulement tu pourras faire un peu de snorkeling (même si ce n'est pas le meilleur endroit) mais en plus tu pourras aussi te faire une petite promenade en empreintant le sentier qui traverse toute l'ile dans sa jungle (environs 1.2 km) pour arriver a l'extremité de l'ile ou tu pourras descendre sur la rive faite de rochers et peuplée d'énorme varans (gros lézares) qui peuvent mesurer pret de 2m, le premier que j'ai vu m'avait vraiment surpris et m'avait même fait peur, mais en fait ils ont plus peur que toi et partent en sprint dés qu'ils te voient. Les meilleurs endroits se trouvent sur les plus petites iles pour ce qui est de la plongée, cependant je doute que tu puisses y voir des tortues. tu seras certainement choquée de voir l'état des coraux... mais de rares endroits offrent la possibilité de voir queques beaux coraux encore en vie. NE PAS Y TOUCHER.
Voila, je n'ai pas fait le Mt K ca je trainais des pieds, mais apres coups je regrette vraiment.
Si tu as des questions n'hésites pas
Bye
Grég
L'idée d'aller sur Manukan me plaît beaucoup. Par contre vu que le premier ferry part à 7h30 et dernier à 17h30, c'est un peu râpé pour le levé et le couché de soleil. Sur place, il semble n'y avoir que la possibilité de louer un chalet complet. Je me trompe ? Une idée pour alternative ?
Je n'ai pas d'indication d'hébergement sur Mamutik avec lonely planet. Il faut vraiment que j'achète en plus le guide du routard avant de partir. Dommage qu'on ne puisse pas acheter le LET'S GO en France. J'ai bien vadrouillé en europe avec lui. 😛
éffectivement tu ne trouveras pas de logements sur MAMUTIK et seule l'ile de MANUKAN offre cette possibilité. Cependant je te déconseille d'y rester pour la nuit car tu risques e t'y ennuyer sévérement une fois la nuit tombée. Quant au coucher de soleil, tu pourras l'admirer depuis le bord de mer aménagé juste avant le marché. Ce bord de mer a été aménagé récemment avec restos et bars en tous genres et permet de faire une petite ballade le soir pendant le coucher du soleil et de choisir le resto de son choix (ca va de la cantine en plein air étouffée de vapeurs au mac do et starbuck coffee). N'hesites surtout pas à entrer dans le marché en plein air aprés la tombée de la nuit, même si en y entrant tu t'y sentiras obligatoirement étrangere. Tu y trouveras une multitude d'épices, fruits et légumes en tout genre et du poisson que tu pourras consommer sur place... (faut oser).
En ce qui me concerne je restais à l'hotel PROMENADE pour une trentaine d'euros par nuit. Un hotel avec un trés bon rapport qualité/prix et un personnel agréable. Je ne sais plus sur quel site je l'avais réservé mais pourrai te le dire si tu y tiens. Mais bon, je ne connais pas on budget...
Toujours dispo pour d'autres infos...
Merci pour tout. Mon train part à 7h demain matin. Je ne pense pas avoir accès internet après. Je vous enverrai le feedback peu après mon retour en janvier.
La nouvelle version du guide du routard (2008-09) inclus bornéo. Mais là je crois que je vais être trop juste au niveau temps pour sortir l'acheter.
J'ai une forte envie daller visiter des villes en malaysie autre que kuala lumpur mais un ami Indonesien me dis de pas trop visiter seule. Qu'en pensez vous?…
Une amie me propose de l'accompagner en Malaisie. nous y feterons nos 60 ans. Qui peut me dire ce qui est intéressant à visiter; Quel est le budget à prévoir…
Je voudrai partir 8jours en Malaisie. Seule! Est ce que ça "craint"? Et pouvez vous me conseiller sur des hôtels, bon rapport qualité prix, sur les choses à…
I’d love to settle around Da Nang for about a month and explore the surrounding areas in Vietnam.
I’ve already been to this country and don’t feel like rushing around every day like I used to a few years ago.
I’d really like to find some company to stay for at least a month, and then maybe spend a month in Cambodia...
Given that I’m now 76, I don’t want to run around like I used to, trying to see everything...
I enjoy calm people... Those who love life and with whom I can share a beer... And meet people to create a great atmosphere—la dolce vita....
hi there
I’m leaving on October 1st for Rio, which I’ll be exploring over 10 days while staying in Copacabana and Ipanema.
After that, I’m heading to Ilha Grande, Paraty, and finally a flight to Iguaçu.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on Rio. Is it possible to walk around and explore without constantly worrying about getting my phone snatched?
I’m traveling alone and don’t speak Portuguese.
I need GPS to get around.
I love walking and don’t really like taking taxis, which is why I’ve booked two places to stay in Rio to experience different neighborhoods.
But is this doable given the security concerns there?!
In short, can you travel peacefully?
Thanks for your feedback if you’ve been to Rio!
Best,
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to travel solo to Oman in December 2025, renting a vehicle that allows me to camp in certain areas. For those who’ve already explored the country this way, could you share your experiences or tips?
I’d also like to visit the Wahiba Desert, but in that area, I’d prefer a guide for driving and, most importantly, not to sleep in those luxury desert-edge camps but rather have a "wild" escape under the stars. Any guide recommendations? Thanks in advance – Clem
Hi there, I’m Brigitte, 66 years old, fairly active and in great shape. I split my time between the Tarn region and Nantes, have a youthful spirit, and am very easy-going. I’m looking for a woman with a similar profile for a road trip in Southeast Asia—half humanitarian work and half free travel. The trip starts in October 2026 in the Philippines on the island of Panay, then moves on to Indonesia and Malaysia. The journey could last up to 4 or 5 months, as I have no fixed schedule. If you’re cool and friendly, feel free to message me. See you soon!
I’m traveling solo to Armenia in mid-September for three weeks, and I’ll be using public transport. I have a few questions:
- Does Yandex work everywhere, even in villages?
I’m looking for:
- Nice guesthouse addresses in the north (national park) and the south, including the village of Ararat,
and a simple but clean hotel in Yerevan that’s convenient for getting to the bus stations later.
- Any great tips or advice you can share.
Actually, I’m a bit worried I’ll be stuck only visiting tourist sites without a car. What do you think?
Thanks for your help
I’m arriving in Tana on 9/10/26 as a solo female traveler.
Which hotel in Tana is good for the first night since I’ll get in at 10 PM?
What’s worth seeing around Tana?
I’m planning 2 nights in Tana,
then 2 nights in Andasibe? After that, Lake Itasy.
Any suggestions? Thanks
I contacted several agencies in Madagascar to arrange this 4x4 trip along the coast.
Always the same answer: a tailor-made trip with at least 2 participants.
Since I don’t want to travel alone and a friend isn’t available, I’m looking for a woman to share this trip with the agency Mahay Mada, which offers a 12-day, 11-night tour of southern Madagascar. I’m available from August 23 to September 14.
Thanks for your direct response at 0784659791. See you soon, Mireille
Hi everyone,
I’m a 67-year-old woman who loves to travel, and for my third solo trip, I’ve decided to explore Indonesia.
I’ll be there from September 1st to October 5th, and I’m really struggling to plan my itinerary.
I’d love any advice you can share—I’ll read it all carefully.
So far, I’ve booked my first two nights with a local host in Jakarta, and then I’m heading to Borobudur. That’s all I’ve got planned for now.
Do you think I should book accommodations and transport tickets in advance? It seems really complicated, or could I just decide day by day based on how I feel?
Thanks in advance for your replies!
Hi everyone,
I’m planning a solo trip to Mongolia this summer, without an agency. However, I’d like to have a guide accompany me for certain parts of my journey.
From my research, I understand that most "activities," accommodations, and transportation are best arranged day by day, depending on opportunities and encounters. Without an agency, everything is organized on the spot.
I’d love to hear more opinions on this, especially regarding the Orkhon Valley.
Here’s the itinerary I’m planning:
* UB -> Mörön (flight) -> Khatgal (local buses)
A few days at Lake Khövsgöl
* Khatgal -> Mörön -> Jargalant -> Tariat (local buses)
A few days at the White Lakes
* White Lakes -> Tsetserleg -> Kharkhorin (4x4 with driver)
A few days in the Orkhon Valley
+ the Eight Lakes (horseback trekking with a guide)
* Return to UB
From what I’ve gathered, the first part should be fairly straightforward, but I have questions about the Orkhon Valley.
Here are my questions:
-> Tsetserleg to Kharkhorin route:
Have any of you made this trip by booking a driver on the spot when arriving in Tsetserleg? Was it easy to find an available driver? And did you find it easy/difficult/impossible to find other travelers to share the ride with? Ideally, I’d like to share this leg with fellow travelers.
-> The Eight Lakes: Could you share your experience with the Eight Lakes? Did you easily find a guide directly on site? Were you able to share this experience with other travelers?
Last question for women who’ve traveled solo in Mongolia:
-> How did you experience it? Do you have any specific tips or recommendations?
I’m considering a road trip (rental car) to explore the Canadian Rockies in September 2026, starting in Calgary and ending with about 10 days in Vancouver and the surrounding area. (Two weeks in the Rockies and a little under two weeks in Vancouver and nearby.)
I’d like to say that being a woman traveling alone doesn’t really bother me. That’s not the issue. Being a woman is just how it is, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, but traveling solo is something I could fix by finding travel companions. However, I had a not-so-great experience in India with two girls who were total strangers at first and turned out to be quite annoying, so I’m a bit put off by the idea now.
My question is simple, assuming I do this trip alone: is it worth sticking *only* to driving? I have **zero** sense of direction—with a map, I’m hopeless. So, is it realistic to think, "With my GPS, I’ll just drive from Calgary to Vancouver and see what I see," since I don’t see myself hiking alone? I’m not easily scared, but I wouldn’t feel confident doing that solo. Unless all the sightseeing is done with a guide (but then, hello, the cost—my budget isn’t exactly overflowing).
What do you all think?
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Take care and happy travels.
Cheers,
Régine
Hi,
After a week of sports south of Bergen, I’m not sure what to visit during the following week between Bergen and Oslo.
I haven’t planned to rent a car.
I’d love your suggestions. Thanks
Hi everyone, I’m really keen to visit Iran for three weeks in mid-March 2015.
What worries me a bit isn’t so much traveling alone—I’m used to it and know the Middle East well—but rather the current events (Islamic State) that could potentially become dangerous.
Flights are pretty cheap at the moment, and I’d like to book before prices go up.
Any advice from people who know the ground situation and Iranian current affairs better than I do would be much appreciated! :)
Hi there! I’m in the middle of planning my first solo trip (as a woman). Do you have any ideal destinations with activities like hiking, diving, sightseeing, and easy ways to meet locals—all on a small budget?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s had this experience before! :)
Hi there,
Who could recommend a reliable agency for visiting several islands, including the parks around Komodo? I’m traveling solo as a woman.
Thanks for your great tips!
Hi everyone,
I’m often in transit in Tokyo and I stay at the hotel because Japanese people speak little English and the signs are almost always in Japanese!
Any ideas for getting from Narita to a nice park or an onsen? I wanted to try Hokkaido, but apart from renting a car, it’s all trains! Any suggestions for a car with a driver? Or is it too expensive? Small group tours in Hokkaido? I read about the Explorator group’s offer—way too expensive!!!
I’ve got a maximum of 8 days. I’d just like a nice Japanese break.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
my friend, with whom I traveled to Iran, Myanmar, and India, really wanted to take a one-month trip to Armenia and Georgia. So we booked our flights (June 21 to July 19), but disaster struck—she can’t travel anymore due to serious family reasons.
Now I’m heading off on this adventure alone. It’s not that I’ve never traveled solo before—I spent three months exploring Southeast Asia by myself last year—but I still have a few questions, and I’d really appreciate your input.
* I don’t think traveling alone in these countries is very risky—what do you think?
* Maybe I could hire a driver? What would that cost, since some places seem tricky to reach by public transport. Do you have any driver recommendations?
* I don’t want to rent a car—the driving seems too unpredictable, especially in Georgia.
* I’d love to do some nice hikes—are there any guides available?
Here’s my rough itinerary:
YEREVAN and surroundings
YEGHEGNADZOR for Noravank
GORIS and TATEV
LAKE SEVAN
DILIJAN
HAGHPAT
TBILISI and surroundings
The CAUCASUS toward Mestia
UPLISTSIKHE
VARDZIA
Return to Yerevan for my flight
Thanks to anyone who can share their experiences or answer my questions!
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a few tips that really helped me better prepare my carry-on luggage. After a few trips (and some mistakes too!), I’ve finally found a way to organize myself that makes life a lot easier. Maybe this can help other travelers here.
1. Choose a practical and sturdy bag
A good bag is the foundation. I’ve noticed that a model with a solid structure, sturdy wheels, and a well-thought-out interior really changes the experience. Hard-shell suitcases hold up better, especially when you’re hopping between flights. Personally, I use a Lambert suitcase because the interior is super well-divided, but the important thing is to find a model that works for you.
2. Rolling your clothes really works
It’s simple, but it saves so much space. Plus, it wrinkles less. I do this now for almost everything, especially lightweight clothes.
3. Keep everything in a small kit
100 ml liquids, toothbrush, cream, mini first-aid kit… Having all of that in one clear toiletry bag makes going through security much easier. It saves you from having to take everything out and put it back in a rush.
4. A pouch for essentials
Passport, headphones, charger, phone… I keep all of that in the same pouch. It saves so much stress when you need to find something quickly, especially on the plane.
5. Traveling lighter makes all the difference
Since I started choosing versatile clothes that mix and match well, I travel with a lot less. Less weight, fewer decisions to make, fewer things to lug around. It honestly makes traveling so much more enjoyable.
From the conversations I’ve had with other travelers (and several customers too), I’ve realized you can really simplify your trip just by organizing a little better and choosing good accessories.
If you have other tips or methods that work for you, I’d love to read them. We always learn from others on this forum.
Looking forward to exchanging with you all!
Hi,
Has anyone recently taken the boat to Casamance from Dakar and could share their experience?
From France, is it possible to book online, or do you need to go through an agency? How far in advance?
Boarding/disembarking: how does it work? Do we have to check in our luggage and then pick it up on arrival?
What’s the vibe like on the boat in the seating area?
Has anyone ever stopped over in Carabane? Accommodation options there?
Thanks so much if you have any recent info!
Exploring India by road is all about having a good driver. I highly recommend the one I’ve traveled with for 5 "safe" trips—Rajasthan 3 times over 16 years, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. He’s been driving tourists for 25 years now and is more than just a driver. He knows how to talk about his country, the cities you visit, and suggests alternative routes.
He’s well-connected with real local guides who don’t just ramble (as he puts it himself) or drag you into shops claiming to be run by their "so-called family." Depending on your preferences, he can suggest well-tested itineraries and recommend typical hotels like Havelis.
For dining, he oversees meal prep based on your spice-level preferences. He’s Sikh and deeply respectful of his passengers.
He speaks English better than French, but one of his daughters is studying French at university.
Hi,
We’d like to spend about twenty days in Albania next July. We’re two women traveling together and we’re thinking of renting a small car. Does that sound reasonable, or should we avoid it?
Thanks for your advice.
Hi there,
I’m spending a week in Morocco (Rabat - Meknes - Fes).
I’ll be traveling solo—is it safe for a woman over 60?
For transportation, I’m planning to take the train. I was thinking of buying my ticket last minute, but it’s around the end-of-year period…?
I’ll be in Meknes on December 31st—any suggestions on how they celebrate New Year’s Eve there?
Is anyone visiting these destinations? Maybe we could meet up…?
Thanks in advance.
Hi there,
After hearing so much about Djerba, especially the GO clubs, is it risky for a young, pretty newly-retired woman to visit the island alone?
Thanks in advance.
Hi,
Does anyone know how late the buses run from Cusco Airport to the city center? I land at 9:30 PM, plus time to clear customs, pick up my luggage, and exchange some money—figure an extra 30 to 45 minutes. Though, come to think of it, I still have 5 sols from last time—maybe that’ll be enough for the bus?
Thanks.
Brigitte
Planned arrival on Sunday evening, November 16, 2025, in San José. Staying 3 nights, then taking a bus to Tortuguero for 2 nights. Looking for a shared shuttle to La Fortuna for 2 nights, then a van-boat-van combo to Santa Elena for 2 or 3 nights. Heading to Quepos for 4 nights for day trips using local buses—Jaco, San Antonio, Uvita. After that, a full-day bus ride to Cahuita. I’m booking hotels as I go, which gives me the flexibility to stay longer in places I like. I’m looking for accommodations in city centers near restaurants and not too far from the bus station. Budget: 50 € for a room with a private bathroom (if you’ve got any great tips!). For my finale, I’ll cross the land border to Panama City for 4 days. Thanks for your suggestions! 😉
As I mentioned before, I’m heading to Istanbul next summer, and I’ve heard there have been quite a few attacks by Kurds in Turkey recently, which is making me hesitate about my trip.
What do you all think? :( I’m wondering if it’s really a good idea to go...
Hi everyone,
I’m 66 and just discovered solo travel in Uzbekistan—I loved it! So I’ve decided to explore Africa, starting with Senegal. I’m just beginning my research, but if anyone can give me advice on which month to go, what to see, and whether this destination is safe—or maybe suggest another African country—I’d really appreciate your tips!
Hi there!
We’re leaving in early November for a month.
Here’s our itinerary:
Arrival in Takhmau, then heading to:
Kampong Cham
Kratie – 2 days
Mondolkiri – 3 days
Ratanakiri – 3 days
Stung Treng – 1 day
Siem Reap – 4 days
Battambang – 1 day
Kampong Chhnang – 3 days
Kampot – 2 days
Islands (WE’RE HESITATING WHICH ONE?) – 4 DAYS
Phnom Penh – 2 days
That’s it! 😊
We’re backpacking… and we love spots that aren’t too touristy. If you’ve got any tips, we’re all ears!
Thanks
