toujours en mongolie ou nous allons d'emerveillement en emerveillement...
dans un mois c'est au tour de la chine puis du tibet et a ce propos je suis preneur d'infos recentes concernant l'entre au tibet par la chine:
1/ est ce qu'il est possible de se rendre a lhassa depuis la chine sans prendre l'avion ? si oui d'ou (chengdu uniquement) ? euh...combien ca coute ??
2/ il y aurait il des infos actualise sur cette histoire de permis ?? est il encore necessaire ??? ca ne me pose pas de probleme de rentrer illegalement au tibet, mais en cas de controle qu'arrive t'il et surtout au porte monnaie ???
3/parait qu'on peut trouver des voitures individuelles pour nous amener a lhassa depuis la chine ?? quelqu'un aurait il deja essaye?? ca ce passe comment??
merci pour vos reponses, j'ai bien lu les infos sur le forum mais elles datent un peu...
C'est vrai que le plus simple et le plus rapide est bien par Chengdu d'autant que la concurrence est rude pour les billets (essaye d'aller voir la Sim's Cozy Guesthouse - pas la Sam guesthouse !!!!), tres sympa et en principe le moins cher de la ville !
Sinon, tu peux aussi passer par Kashghar et le Pakistan puis Ali, en principe c'est ouvert .
Bon periple, c'est superbe !
A+
Il est important de percevoir combien votre propre bonheur est lié à celui des autres, il n'existe pas de bonheur individuel totalement indépendant d'autrui.....(Dalaï-Lama)
les voitures individuelles c est tres cher, surtout si tu es seul.
le plus simple tu vas a golmud et passes en fraude, faut pas le payer ce fouttu permis.
n oublions pas que les chinois ont envahi le tibet et fracasse la culture locale, on va pas les remercier en leur filant des sous pour qu ils nous octroient le droit de visiter leur colonie quand meme!!!
Autre solution, tu vas à Xi'an et tu dessant dans une GH dont j'ai perdut le nom, mais dont je peut retrouver l'adresse trés facilement (c'est la seul en face de la tour de la cloche)...
Tu leur réserve un tour pour 2750 rmb, avec le permit, le billet depuis xi'an et 3 nuit d'hotel, plus un guide, mais je ne suis pas sur à 100%
Pour le permit, il est malheureusement obligatoir, sous risque d'un retour à la frontière de la province voir pire, la frontière de ton pays d'origine ...
Si tu veut plus d'infos sur xi'an hésite pas ...
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
Je suis bien daccord avec toi, mais il faut quand même que chaqu'un sache a quoi il s'expose ...
après moi non plus je pense que je pairais pas le visa et que je passerait par les trains du nord pour entrer, non pas pour eviter la police, mais par ce que c'est le chemin le plus jolie ....
Bon retour dans ton pay ... le voyage ?
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
Avant tout ce titre m'effare !! Comment se rendre au Tibet depuis la Chine serait comme "Comment se rendre à paris depuis la France".
Le Tibet est bien une province chinoise (après, en ce qui concerne leur indépendance, c'est autre chose) contrairement a Taiwan qui est bien un Pays a part entière par exemple.
La Chine détruit la culture tibétaine comme l'a fait la France avec ces colonies. Il est tellement plus facile de critiquer ce qui se passe ailleurs qu'ici. Mais ceci est un tout autre débat.
Pour le permis, deja faut il faut un visa chinois, quand à ce permis, il est en principe obligatoire. Il est plutot recommandé si tu arrives par voie aérienne de Chengdu (tout les vols des grandes villes font escale a Chengdu). Par train ou auto, il est possible de passer sans permis mais attention car les chinois sont tout sauf diplomate si tu te fais prendre - ça risque d'etre un peu musclé, pas de privilège même pour un étranger ! (un baksish ça peut marcher mais ce n'est évident). A toi de voir.
Je me voie mal dire a un chinois de Shanghai que Taiwan est un pay a part ... a moin de vouloir passer 2h a ecouter sont discour emprunt au livres de propagandes ... lol
Pour lindependance, j ai peurt que sa soit rapper pour les prochain siecle, le tibet n est plus habiter par une majoriter de tibetin, mais par des han ... et bonjour la ligne ouverte en 2006 ... Deplus si c est pour retablire une tehocratie corompus et inhumaine, j aides doutes ... enfin ca c est mon pure avis apres 1 ans d endoctrinement ...
Philo
"J'ai refait tous les calculs, notre projet est irréalisable, il ne nous reste plus qu'une chose à faire, le réaliser". Latecoere
dyslexique
Je me voie mal dire a un chinois de Shanghai que Taiwan est un pay a part ... a moin de vouloir passer 2h a ecouter sont discour emprunt au livres de propagandes ... lol
C'est normal c'est la propagande !! Mais c'est facile de dérouter un chinois !!! Exemple facile : Hong Kong ! Je dis souvent que HK n'est pas vraiment en Chine puisqu'elle a sa propre monnaie et ses lois (pas de limites pour la conception). Les chinois me répondent (propangande oblige) que c'est en CHINE avec la réunification (Hand over) depuis 1997. Je leur réplique, vous les "mainland" chinois, vous ne pouvez y rester plus de 7 jours sans visa à Hong Kong qui est pourtant chez vous, en Chine alors que moi, un simple étranger, je peux y rester 90 jours sans visa !!!!
Mais j'avoue avoir perdu la patience d'argumenter. J'ai des amis de chine communiste qui s'entête a dire que taiwan est un province rebelle et des amis tawainais qui se disent être chinois mais taiwanais avant tout !! Le nationalisme exacerbé existe de part et d'autre du détroit - de quoi donner mal à la tête (chose qui n'existe pas avec les coréens sud ou nord).
J'avoue que Taiwan m'étonne par sa propreté et son civisme (aidez les vieilles personnes dans les transports), chose qu'on ne trouve pas en Chine où les gens sont assez rustre et où c'est chacun pour soi! D'autant plus étonnant que le premier a une doctrine capitaliste et la seconde communiste en apparence, seulement !
Quand au Tibet, il restera chinoise ad vitam eternam. Nul pression interne ou étrangere ne peut bousculer la puissance chinoise en terme d'économie (pas d'embargo / beaucoup de contrats à la clé) ou militaire (ça risquerait de créer une 3e GM) vis à vis des autres pays. Le tibet ne pourrait sauver son salut que par une révolution pacifique mais il ne faut guerre se faire d'illusion face à une chine libérale économique mais une adminstration communiste très hiéarchisé où les militaires y jouent un rôle propondérant.
Pourtant que bien hiéarchisé, la Chine me fait penser à un géant aux pieds d'argiles. Les entrepreneurs chinois ont tres vite compris la liberalisation du marché mais le régime resistera-t-il au fossé riches-pauvres qui se forme de plus en plus vite dans cet immense pays communiste, et la question ouiguirs reste en suspens. Quand à Taiwan, je ne vois aucune possibilité de réunification si ce n'est par la force, mais même dans ce cas là, la Chine y perdrai beaucoup sur le plan international.
et bien je te trouve bien survolte... si je differencie la chine du tibet c'est simplement la reconnaissance de la culture tibetaine a part entiere bien qu'actuellement en pleine dillution... voila mais bon je suis pas la pour polemiquer...
merci tout de meme pour vos renseignements les gars, je ne compte pas prendre d'avion (c'est un periple par la terre) donc je vais sans doute privilegier le bus...
Je rentre de Guangzhou et en passant devant une agence de voyage j'ai vu qu'il y avait un vol direct Guangzhou > Lhassa. Je le connaissais dans l'autre sens mais la surprise! Seconde surprise quand j'ai demandé le prix du permis, réponse "pas besoin de permis!" 🤪
Il y a également un vol direct Beijing > Lhassa
Bref, Chengdu est le piège à GOGO 😛 tant mieux pour la Chine ....
Au fait, Taiwan (ex : Formose) est une province Chinoise, pour être un pays à part entière il faut être reconnu par les Nations Unies ...
Quant au Tibet, lisez les livres d'histoires vous verrez que les Chinois sont au Tibet déjà depuis plusieurs siècles .... la Chine ne s'est pas faite en 1 jour et les frontières ont souvent changées de place. Regardez la France ... sachez que Nice n'est Francaise que depuis 1860 et cela ne dérange pas trop!
Par ailleurs il existe 56 "minorités" en Chine et cela ne vous offusquent pas trop de les voir se diluer .. je vous reconnais bien la les francais, marchant au son de la propagande de vos institutions... no comment!
autre possibilite : passer par Kashgar !! Quand j y etais, il y avait un petit nombre de voyageurs, routards ou a velo, qui echangeaient des infos sur la fameuse "route 201", qui traverse le plateau de l Aksai Chin - via Ali et les environs du Kailash. Route pourrie, ouverte qques jours par mois, seulement des camions, la plupart du trajet autour des 5000m : pas la voie facile, mais ca se fait !!
Beaucoup d infos contradictoires quand a la faisabilite, tout ce qui en ressort est qu ilfaut etre bien equipe (tres tres tres froid), que c est pas gagne d avance, qu il faut passer des check points de nuit... en general, tu trouveras un max d infos sur les sites webs des cyclistes : plusieurs sites tres tres bons, j ai plus les adresses en tete.
C'est la voie d'entree "aventure" pour le tibet de l ouest. Apres, encore des aventures pour atteindre Lhassa, mais ca doit etre genial !!!
as-tu plus de billes sur le vol Pékin - Lhasa (quelle compagnie ? quelle fréquence ?) ?
Comment se procure t-on les papiers nécessaires, car je croyais qu'il faut passer par un agence ?
As-tu des adresses de guesthouses à Lhasa ?
Merci. A bientôt sur nos ondes.
Salut loic,
Nous habitons en Chine (Shanghai) et souhaitons organiser un voyage au tibet durant la 1ere semaine d'octobre. Un ami nous rejoindra depuis la France et il arrive en Chine le 26/9.
Je n'ai pas vu bcp de reponse a ton post, mais peut-etre as-tu trouvé des infos autre part, ou probablement accompli ce voyage ?
Si tu as des infos (tel d'agences locales, ou infos sur temps et distance) ca nous interesse enormement.
Merci et bon voyage
Manu
Hello a tous,
Je ne vois pas bcp d info sur un passage possible par le Yunnan, alors qu il semble que cela soit possible. Qq un a t il tente l exp ou a des infos a ce propos? Merci d avance...
Nico
l'humanité est divisée en deux : ceux qui comprennent que l'homme peut tout risquer pour aller découvrir ce qui se passe au-delà des horizons du rêve, et ceux pour qui, le rêve en fait ne devrait sans doute même pas exister(Tolkien)
Dans le cadre du tout du monde que je suis en train de préparer, je voudrais en venant de Chine, me rendre au Tibet puis au Népal et en Inde. J'ai lu de long…
Je parcours comme je peux le forum et je commence à être desespéré... Il n'a donc vraiment aucun moyen de se rendre au Tibet par le Nepal autrement que par ces…
Projetons de nous rendre au Tibet via la Chine mais je n'arrive pas avoir d'infos très claires sur l'entrée au Tibet. L'idée est d'arriver par Pekin, de rester…
Je compte me rendre en Thailande et j'aimerais savoir s'il est possible de se rendre au Tibet de Bangkok? Si oui, quel itinéraire me conseiller-vous, comment…
We’re arriving as a group of three in Tokyo on Saturday, October 17th, then heading straight to Kyoto by direct train.
On Sunday and Monday, we’ll explore Kyoto, and in the evening, we’ll take a train to Osaka to spend the night.
On Tuesday, we’ll pick up a rental car at Itami Airport for a 6-day/5-night road trip around Shikoku:
- 2 nights in the Iya Valley
- Thursday morning, we’ll head to Matsuyama for 2 nights.
- Saturday, we’ll visit Mima (town, a few temples + overnight stay) and return on Sunday to drop off the car in Osaka.
We’ll leave very early on Monday the 26th by plane for Aomori in northern Honshu, where we’ll pick up another rental car at the airport for a 5-day/4-night trip:
- Day 1: Tsugaru Peninsula (Takayam Inari, Cape Tappi, Kanita); overnight in Kanita
- Day 2: Ferry transfer to the Mutsu Peninsula (cliffs, Lake Usori); overnight in Shimofuro
- Day 3: Head to the Hakkoda Mountains and onsens galore; overnight TBD
- Day 4: Return the car in Aomori by noon and explore the city before taking the train to Tokyo in the evening
We’ll spend Friday night in Tokyo, wander around on Saturday, and head home on Sunday.
Thoughts on the road feasibility of this trip? We’ll be there right in the middle of Koyo season, so it’ll be busy...
I know it’s a lot of driving, but there are two of us who can take turns. We’re not afraid of driving, even in the mountains and on the left side! Just wondering, are we going to be rushing, or is this manageable? AI says it’s all good, but it’s not the one driving...
Any tips for booking accommodations in the Iya Valley? Not many places have email addresses or websites (I know Booking.com exists, but not all listings are on there... and given the season, I think it’s better to book ahead!). Same question applies for northern Honshu.
For the rental car, I’m thinking of going with Alamo since at least it’s in French and straightforward, but are there any direct rental companies with user-friendly websites (Toyota Rentacar, ugh... 🏴☠️)?
Another question: With so many trains, is it even necessary to book them in advance? Can we just go to the ticket counter and grab seats on the spot?
For paying for the rental car, do we need a credit or debit card?
I’m starting to look at neighborhoods in Seoul, and I’m leaning toward staying in a hotel in Insa-Dong—I’ve spotted one really close to Unhyeongung.
Is this a good area—nice and convenient for exploring the city?
Otherwise, I’ve also found another hotel in Yongsan-Gu, right near the station of the same name. Is that station useful for getting around Seoul?
Since I’ll be in South Korea for nearly two months, I plan to spend at least a week in Seoul to recover from jet lag (it takes me a while to adjust...). So, I’d love a neighborhood that’s pleasant and a hotel not too far from a subway station.
Hi,
My departure is coming up soon—two months backpacking in Taiwan, so much to discover! I’d love to hear about your travel experiences.
My main interests are meeting people, understanding how things work, hiking, and nature in general. I’ve also done a lot of reading about Taiwan’s complex situation.
I do stone sculpture.
I also want to visit Orchid Island for its history.
Marie
We’re back from a one-month trip to China and wanted to share our itinerary. Hopefully, this can give future travelers some ideas for exploring this beautiful country.
Beijing → Temple of Heaven / Forbidden City
Jinshanling → Great Wall
Zhangjiajie → Tianmen Mountain and Heaven’s Gate
Wulingyuan → Avatar Mountains / sandstone pillars
Fenghuang → riverside houses
Ping’an → terraced rice fields
Tiantouzhai → village / rice terraces
Yangshuo → Li River / karst mountains
Shanghai → skyline with the Oriental Pearl Tower
Our travel journal is available on our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos and some travel tips there.
I could really use your help to finalize our trip to Japan.
We’re heading there for three weeks with my partner, starting November 10th. Our plan was to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, and a few stops in between (nothing too original so far…).
However, we’re more into nature and hiking, so even though we do want to explore Tokyo and Kyoto, we’d like to maximize nature stops between the two. Initially, we’d considered places like Kamikochi, but I understand it’s not accessible this late in the season.
Hi there,
I’d like to do this cycling route over 2 or 3 days. I’m struggling to figure out and find a (good) bike rental that lets me start in Onomichi and drop off in Imabari. Can anyone help with great tips for rentals and accommodations along the route? How do I get back to Onomichi afterward?
Next year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage (and travel 🙂), and we’re looking for something new, pretty legendary, and something the teens will enjoy too.
The family council has settled on Japan for now. And it’d have to be a summer trip—no choice there.
The catch: I keep reading that August isn’t the right season for southern Japan. It’s hot, humid, and there’s a risk of typhoons… Okay, but what does that *actually* mean in practice? Are there any travelers who’ve been there during this time? Is it *that* unbearable?
We’re pretty familiar with Southeast Asia—last year, we dealt with scorching heat in Vietnam and insane humidity, plus a typhoon we experienced from a distance, and visiting Angkor in the blazing sun. Is it worse than that?
I’m back with my detailed itinerary for 20 days in South Korea—it’s my first trip to the country. Our idea is to experience a more rural and cultural Korea. Here’s the rough plan: Seoul for 4 nights at the start and 1 night at the end, Gurye for 4 nights, Suncheon for 4 nights, Namhae for 4 nights, and Gyeongju for 2 nights. The goal is to pick a base and explore the surrounding areas. What do you think of this itinerary? Anything you’d change?
thanks
hi everyone, we're heading out for a 12-day trek in the Japanese Alps. We're bringing freeze-dried meals like we always do. We just found out that importing meat is banned, even freeze-dried. Is that true? We already bought them. They're commercially made freeze-dried meals. Online, it's not specified that they have to be "commercially made" because you can make your own freeze-dried food. And since we've heard they're really strict in Japan, can anyone confirm this for us? thanks
I haven’t found what I’m looking for despite my searches!
For a 15-day trip next spring, I’d like to buy a card (preferably an eSIM, but a physical SIM is fine too) that also lets me make calls in the country (to contact a hotel, a tourist spot, etc.).
You can easily find options just for data, but I haven’t come across any that include calls, texts, or even MMS.
Could you recommend something?
hi there
I’m planning a trip in September—here’s my rough itinerary. What do you think? Is it easy to rent a car to get around between my stops? Thanks so much!
Philippe
StopNightsFull daysSeoul44Gurye (Jirisan)43Suncheon43Namhae43Gyeongju21Seoul1—
Hi,
July 2026: I’m writing to you from Dali.
First, I got scammed on Booking—AI-retouched photos. No tourists at this hotel (Yishanju Designer Hotel), and the reality was horrible: dirty, with a disgusting breakfast. It’s better to use Trip.com here.
Next, the old town was an infernal cacophony, packed with tourists who shoved past without a care. Some vendors harassed you to buy things. All the stalls sold the same cheap plastic junk or other uninteresting stuff. The beautiful scenery was ruined by vendors lining 100% of the alleys. Impossible to walk, crushing heat, nothing good to eat except fresh fruit. Horrible experience.
Day 2: We went to Cangshan Mountain by cable car—the ride was short and nothing spectacular. We were at 2,600 m.
My plan was to see Erhai Lake. Unfortunately, I followed the advice of an AI chatbot: take the boat at Langkan Dock. The Didi dropped us off in the nearest area, which was full of charming little alleys but packed with Chinese tourists. The three-wheeled yellow cabs zoomed through the narrow streets, forcing you to hug the walls, on top of the scooters and other pedestrians to deal with. Crossing the neighborhood was hellish and suffocating. Once out, we hit the "corniche," which was also packed with Chinese tourists. The lake’s edge was all pebbles, and everyone was standing around taking photos. I was with my 5-year-old son. I would’ve liked to sit down and let him play with stones by the water, but it was clear we didn’t belong. They were even shoving each other for a shot! There were no boats in sight. In short, we’d had enough, and there was nothing interesting there either.
On the way back, we had to cross that maze again under the scorching sun. My son was braver than me—I even had a little dizzy spell from all the chaos. Add to that Dali’s altitude (2,200 m), so altitude insomnia, fatigue, and vulnerability during the day...
The restaurants weren’t inviting—the staff served sticky rice in a little bucket. The dishes were wrapped, and you had to figure it out yourself. After that, they ignored you completely, even if you were the only tourist.
On the 3rd day, it was time to leave for Shaxi. I hope to see beautiful villages. But honestly, I’m exhausted by this atmosphere where everything is complicated, communication is never smooth, noise is everywhere, and the behavior of some Chinese people is abusive...
Silver lining: not a drop of rain in 4 days and blue skies.
I couldn’t visit the villages in southern Yunnan because of rain and storms there...
But I was expecting to see a few more tourists.
We’re planning a 17-day trip to South Korea in October 2026 with my husband and our daughters, who’ll be 9 years old.
I’d love to get your thoughts on our draft itinerary.
First, some key details:
1/ Jeju Island is a must for us. I’ve personally dreamed of going there for years after reading a novel about it.
2/ Our girls are used to road-trip style travel since they were born, so this kind of trip won’t be an issue for them.
3/ We plan to travel by train, except on Jeju where we’ll rent a car (we already have an international driver’s permit).
Itinerary:
Seoul: 1 arrival day at 10 AM + 4 full days
Gyeongju: 2 days
Busan: 3 days
Jeju: 4 days
Seoul: 2 days
Hi there,
My girlfriend (23) and I (24) are heading to Japan for the first time from October 20th to November 6th. Here’s our itinerary:
6 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Hakone (ryokan already booked)
4 nights in Kyoto (hotel already booked)
2 nights in Osaka
4 nights back in Tokyo
I’d like to book hotels for Tokyo (both stays) and Osaka, but I’ve gotten so many different recommendations.
I’ve read that Shinjuku is the place to be for its huge hub, accessibility, and things to do, but I’ve also heard about Shibuya, Asakusa, and Ueno.
I’ve looked at hotels, and first off, I’m surprised by the prices compared to what I’ve seen on forums (I guess inflation’s hit here too… and maybe I’m late to the booking game?). I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the options.
For our first stay in Tokyo, I’d prefer a hotel (not a residence or Airbnb) since we’ll be arriving at night, and it’s our first time in Japan. It’d be great to have a place with a reception, staff who speak at least a little English, and can give us some guidance. For the second stay, we could consider other options if it’s better.
Budget-wise, we can go up to 150–180 € per night, but if we can save some money to spend elsewhere, that’d be amazing!
I’m open to all recommendations, hotel suggestions, or any other tips for Tokyo (first stay), Osaka, and Tokyo (second stay).
Hi there,
I’m getting ready for a classic tourist trip to China in May 2026.
The "Terres Lointaines" itinerary looks good to me, and the price is interesting.
Has anyone traveled with them before? Any feedback?
Is there a better option?
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences on this!
Michel
I just booked my hotel in Seoul—it’ll be near Unhyeongung, on Samil-Daero 30-Gil—and I’m wondering if there’s public transport from the airport to this address (bus or subway)? If not, what’s the taxi fare? I read it’s around 50 or 60 €.
I’m traveling to Japan with a young adult with autism (ASD) from July 28 to August 8, following a pretty classic route: Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo. I’m looking for a schedule of the most spectacular fireworks displays during that time. So far, the dates for the major *hanabi* events aren’t available online yet. If anyone has them, I’d really appreciate it if you could share!
We’ll be doing a self-drive trip using public transport in May 2026.
On Day 6, we’ll arrive in Hakone by train from Tokyo in late morning. We’ll spend the night in Hakone before heading to Kyoto.
The main goal of this stop is clearly the view (no hiking) of Mount Fuji, not so much exploring Hakone, where the sights seem limited.
I’ve read on the forum that the view is great from Gotemba, but it also takes a good hour by bus to get there. And, apart from that view, there’s nothing else to see in Gotemba!
So, I’m not sure what to choose. Any thoughts? Or alternatives to suggest?
Maybe some spots in Hakone or Gotemba for a great view?
Hi everyone, I’m Julien!
This summer, from late June to late July, I’m planning a one-month solo trip to Japan—my first time!
I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice on the itinerary I’ve put together to explore this amazing country.
Here are the routes I’m considering:
**Option 1: More mountain and nature-focused**
Tokyo: 8 nights, with day trips to Nikko and maybe the Izu Peninsula
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi/Mt. Fuji): 1 night. The place looks stunning, but I’m worried Mt. Fuji might not be visible due to the weather
Kyoto: 6–7 nights (including a trip to Nara)
Osaka: 1–2 nights, where I’d like to drop off my things to make the Kumano Kodo easier
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights—an experience I haven’t seen much elsewhere, but I thought it sounded really interesting
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Takayama: 3 days
Kanazawa: 3 days (From what I understand, the Osaka–Takayama–Kanazawa–Tokyo route is convenient for transport)
Tokyo: 1 night (return)
**Option 2: More varied but a bit vague in parts**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Kobe + Himeji: just passing through—I’m not sure if it’s worth a night
Naoshima: 1 night—still pretty unclear for me
Takamatsu: 2 nights. An interesting city, but I’m not sure how long to stay
Shimanami Kaido: biking from Imabari to Onomichi, then heading to Hiroshima
Hiroshima: 2 nights
Miyajima: 1 night
Kyushu road trip (Aso + onsens + Fukuoka): 5 nights (also pretty vague—I could fly from Fukuoka back to Tokyo)
Tokyo: 1 night
**Option 3: More balanced/simplified**
Tokyo: 8 nights
Kawaguchiko: 1 night
Kyoto: 7 nights (+ Nara)
Osaka: 2 nights
Koya-san: 1 night
Kumano Kodo: 3 nights
Takayama: 3 nights
Kanazawa: 3 nights
Tokyo: 1 night
A few key points:
I haven’t made any reservations yet, except for the flight tickets.
I know my plans are too packed and will need to be adjusted.
I’m specifically looking for advice on which stops to cut or shorten.
Hello everyone,
Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips.
I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Day 2 to 4: Beijing
Day 5: Datong
Day 6 & 7: Pingyao
Day 8 to 10: Xi'an
Day 11: Luoyang
Day 12: Dengfeng
flight
Day 13 & 14: Chongqing
flight
Day 15 & 16: Lijiang
Day 17: Dali
Day 18: Kunming
Day 19: Jianshui
Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang
Day 22: Travel via Guilin
Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo
Day 25: Guilin
Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie
flight
Day 28 & 29: Shanghai
Day 30: Departure from Shanghai
But to do this itinerary independently:
1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think?
2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
I’m planning a 5-week trip between Yunnan and Sichuan from mid-October to the end of November 2026:
Arriving in Kunming, I’ll do a loop in the far south of Yunnan via Thonghai, Jhiansu, Zhemi, Yuanyang, Nafa, Jinping, Mengzi, and Shilin (visiting markets, villages, and hiking), then head to northern Yunnan/southern Sichuan on the same theme (passing through Kunming again) via Dongchuan, Huize, Qiaojia, Puge, Xichang, Lanba, Butuo, Huolie, Dimo, Riha, Niuniuba, Meigu, Mabian, and Leshan, before arriving in Chengdu (where I’ll take my return flight to Paris).
This would be a trip with a strong ethnic/rural focus. Since I’ve never traveled in China, I’d love to hear your thoughts on doing this solo. Are there public transport options in the region? What tips do you have for traveling through this area as smoothly and enjoyably as possible? I’ve done quite a bit of backpacking in the mountains of northern Vietnam and really enjoyed using local motorbike drivers. Is something like that available in this region (through local tourist agencies or hotels)?
What should I be cautious about? Are local tourist agencies (or hotels) offering tours and guides reliable? If you know of any specialized sites sharing tips or experiences, or names of local agencies, hotels, etc., please don’t hesitate to share them! :)
In short, all your advice (on any topic that comes to mind!) is very welcome.
Thanks so much!
While researching South Korea, I came across the term "templestay," which refers to a Korean program that lets you stay in a traditional temple to discover Buddhism and Korean culture by living like the temple residents and doing activities like making lanterns.
A templestay isn’t just for foreign tourists—on the booking site, I saw that some temples are more geared toward foreigners, with English-speaking monks.
I was wondering if it’s still worth it, especially in temples where the monks don’t speak English?
I'm 69 years old and heading to China, where most tourist sites are free or discounted for me. However, trip.com either refuses to let me book because the sites are free or doesn’t apply the discount. Does WeChat apply this discount if I book through them? How can I just reserve without paying and pay on-site? Is that possible?
I’d love to get some feedback on our 30-day / 29-night itinerary in China. We’ll be there in September as a family with two kids (6 and 10 years old).
Do you think I should cut a few nights between Wulingyuan (Avatar Mountain) and Yangshuo? I’ve planned 15 nights total there.
We’ll be on a round-the-world trip starting May 2026 and will need to do schoolwork with the kids. Hoping to fit it in during train rides!!
Ever since I started planning this China itinerary, I’ve been discovering completely mind-blowing places I’d never heard of before—30 days feels way too short for China!!!
Here’s our itinerary:
Beijing - 4 nights
Forbidden City
Great Wall of China
Temple of Heaven
Xi’an - 3 nights
Terracotta Army
Muslim Quarter & Great Mosque
Chengdu - 3 nights
Zoo - Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Wenshu Yuan Temple
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to China as a couple, and before we left, the budget was the hardest thing to picture concretely. We found plenty of info on visas, apps, transport, and itineraries, but way fewer detailed breakdowns of what you *actually* spend on the ground.
So, we took the time to share our real budget for 14 days. In our case, we spent around 1,800 € per person, with a big chunk of that going toward round-trip flights at about 600 € per person. We were also pretty surprised by how affordable China can be once you’re there—transport is often cheap, and a lot of everyday expenses stay reasonable.
The trickiest part, in the end, was figuring out how to pay while you’re there, since it’s not always obvious if you’re not prepared. But once everything’s set up and you get the hang of it, it’s really smooth.
If this can help other travelers get a better idea before they go, we’ve broken it all down here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/budget-2-semaines-de-voyage-en-chine/
Hi everyone,
I’ve been planning several itineraries for a trip to Japan with my wife but would love your insights before we start booking!
In short, we want to go during Golden Week, see late-blooming cherry trees, and have the freedom to get around with a rental car.
Here’s the plan:
18-day itinerary in Japan (April 25 → May 12)
Goal: freedom, late cherry blossoms, culture & nature
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Days 1–3: Tokyo (April 25–27)
Arrival and adjustment (no car needed yet).
Neighborhoods to visit: Shinjuku, Asakusa, Meiji Jingu, Shibuya, Odaiba.
Suggested activities: Ghibli Museum, Sumida River cruise, izakaya meals.
Late cherry blossoms (yaezakura) possible at Shinjuku Gyoen.
Pick up the rental car on the morning of April 27.
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Days 4–5: Mount Fuji & Hakone (April 27–28)
Route: Tokyo → Kawaguchiko/Hakone (~2 h).
Activities:
Lake Kawaguchi, Chureito Pagoda (Fuji views + late cherry blossoms)
Onsen baths, Hakone Open-Air Museum.
Stay: ryokan with onsen and views of Mount Fuji.
Activities:
Preserved old town, sake breweries, UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go.
Stay: traditional minshuku (thatched-roof house).
Cherry blossoms are finishing at this altitude — beautiful mountain/nature contrasts.
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Days 8–10: Kyoto & Nara (May 1–3)
Route: Takayama → Kyoto (~4 h 30).
Activities in Kyoto:
Fushimi Inari (red torii gates), Golden Pavilion, Arashiyama, Gion (geisha district).
Day trip to Nara:
Free-roaming deer in Nara Park, Todai-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Stay: Kyoto (3 nights).
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Day 11: Osaka or Himeji (May 4)
Route: Kyoto → Osaka (~1 h) or Himeji (~1 h 30).
Option 1: Osaka → modern vibe, street food, castle.
Option 2: Himeji → stunning UNESCO-listed castle.
Stay: Osaka.
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Days 12–13: Kanazawa (May 5–6)
Route: Osaka → Kanazawa (~4 h 30).