Tu as de la chance, je viens de me connecter pour la premiere fois en plusieurs semaines... 🙂 En galere de visa - ferry - avion, bloque depuis une semaine dans un bled sans interet. Mais passons.
- Où as-tu pris le bateau (il me semble que la rivière Sékong passe seulement à quelques kms à l'est de la ville) ?
- Quel type de bateau était-ce (il peut contenir combien de passagers environ) ?
- Penses-tu que c'est un trajet régulier ? Ou bien est-il effectué seulement lorsqu'il y a suffisamment de passagers qui se pointent au départ ?
- Quel prix as-tu payé de Sékong à Kaleum ? Et combien (environ...) y avait-il de passagers à bord (ceci afin que j'estime le coût total si je dois affréter seul l'embarcation) ?
- Sais-tu si ça continue à naviguer après Kaleum ? Ca t'a semblé encore navigable en amont ? Peut-être avec des embarcations plus réduites ?
Il y a un petit village dont j'ai oublie le nom pres de Sekong au bord de la riviere. Ca prend environ 30 minutes en Tuk Tuk. Il y a quelques rares liaisons le matin mais quand j'y etais j'ai du charteriser le tuk tuk (bon, c'etait une somme ridicule). Pour le nom du village, demande a n'importe qui a Sekong, on pourra te renseigner.
Le bateau etait une grande pirogue a moteur, 4 ou 5 metres de long, environ 8-10 passagers, plus les poules et les sacs de riz. Quand j'y etais, au mois de mai, le bateau partait tous les 2 jours de Sekong, retour le lendemain de Kaleum a Sekong. Le trajet prend environ 4 heures. Le prix etait prix local, ridiculement bas. Je ne pense pas qu'il y ait besoin de le charteriser, car la pirogue s'arrete dans tous les villages le long de la riviere pour debarquer et embarquer des villageois. Ni a l'aller ni au retour je n'ai du attendre, ca s'est rempli tres vite.
Je ne peux cependant pas etre sur de la situation a une autre periode de l'annee. Quand j'y etais, c'etait tout juste naviguable (il a fallu descendre 5 ou 6 fois et marcher pendant que le batelier halait la pirogue entre des recifs apparents). Avec un peu moins d'eau, je pense par exemple entre janvier et avril, ca ne doit pas etre possible.
Pour continuer apres Kaleum, je ne crois pas qu'il y ait de service regulier. Il y a des pirogues de pecheurs a Kaleum qu'il doit etre possible de chateriser, mais pour quelle somme, je ne sais pas.
- Tu dis : "Il y a une piste qui part sur la rive est de la rivière et qui semble remonter vers l'est". Où l'as-tu repérée cette piste ? A Ban Kaleum même ?
Juste en face de Kaleum, sur la rive opposee. Il n'y a qu'a traverser la riviere et tu es dessus. Je ne sais pas jusqu'ou elle va cependant.
- Es-tu revenu de Kaleum par le même trajet (bateau) ? Je te demande ça car il semble y avoir une piste reliant Kaleum à la route Salavan/Sékong (si oui, ça m'éviterait de descendre jusque Sékong-ville).
Oui, il y a une piste qui part pres de la "tour" de telecommunications de Kaleum et qui remonte vers Salavane. C'est celle que je voulais prendre a l'origine mais elle ne m'a finalement pas semblee tres interessante (Kaleum etant bien plus "moderne" que je ne l'imaginais - il y a meme une sorte de mini "guesthouse", deux chambres cradingues et trop cheres apparemment destinees aux ONG - nombreuses dans la region - quand elles s'arretent dans le coin), et je suis donc revenu en bateau. La piste est passable en camion, et il doit y avoir des convois ou des camions de bucherons qui y passent de temps en temps, donc ca doit etre possible de remonter en stop.
Voila, j'espere que ca t'a aide.
Pour ma part, j'explore les iles recules d'Indonesie, il y a vraiment beaucoup a faire ici, les dernieres semaines etaient intenses... J'ai decouvert deux ou trois endroits qui plairaient sans doute beaucoup a un amoureux des villages tribaux loins de tout tel que toi... mais tu connais peut etre deja ?
Bref.
Cette discussion commence a etre serieusement hors-sujet...... 😉😉😉
Tiens, à propos de Kaleum, figure-toi que le bled va être entièrement déménagé sous peu (prévu à la fin de l'année). L'autre jour je suis tombé sur un article à ce sujet. Ca a été officiellement décidé fin 2009 : un des projets de barrage sur la Sé Kong va nécessiter l'inondation de cette zone. Le nouveau site d'implantation du village se situerait à environ 90 kms au nord.
J'ai lu aussi que le typhon Ketsana d'octobre 2009 (en provenance des Philippines, puis du Vietnam) avait provoqué des crues gigantesques sur la Sé Kong (jusque 20 mètres de hauteur de crue par endroit, selon certains témoignages !).
Bref, rien de bien réjouissant, alors stoppons définitivement là les hors-sujets...!
Bonnes routes !
A +
321
PS. Non je ne connais pas grand-chose de l'Indonésie. J'y ai passé 4 mois en 2002 mais, à l'époque, revenant tout juste de quelques mois un peu ardus au Laos puis dans l'hiver sud-chinois, je me la suis plutôt coulé douce (3 mois à Nord-Sumatra puis une traversée expresse de Java en 1 mois). Je ne doute pas que les îles perdues doivent receler de trésors. C'est le genre de coins que je n'envisage pas de pouvoir visiter avec seulement quelques semaines de congés payés... Alors plus tard peut-être, si je parviens à arracher quelques mois sabbatiques à mes patrons...!
Voilà, juste un mot pour te dire que j'en suis reviendu !
Aucun autre passager au départ de Sékong pour une pirogue partant vers Kaleum (probablement dû à cette période de moisson où la majorité des villageois passent la journée aux rizières). J'ai donc dû affréter seul : USD45 pour l'aller et USD40 pour la redescente quatre semaines plus tard. Par contre, à cette saison, on n'a pas dû descendre une seule fois sur les berges, il y avait partout suffisamment d'eau. Puis de Kaleum, je suis donc bien parti vers l'est. Au bout de trois jours les premiers beaux villages traditionnels apparaissent. J'ai posé quelques autres photos > ICI si ça t'intéresse.
Hi everyone.
I’m planning a trip to Colombia in 2027.
The idea is to arrive in May.
From what I’ve gathered, that’s the start of the rainy season.
Can anyone confirm that it’s already raining a lot during that period?
I know the climate can obviously vary from one region of the country to another.
I’d really like to go straight to Leticia in the Amazon.
Any info on the weather at that time?
I’m also looking for a plan for an Amazon tour.
Specifically, a good, conscientious agency that does things right in terms of environmental respect.
I already did a tour in Peru 10 years ago in the Pacaya Samiria reserve, and it was amazing.
The simple reason was that the tour was on a motor-free canoe—we made no noise, so the immersion was total.
Is it possible to find a tour in Leticia that offers a motor-free boat excursion?
Thanks in advance for your answers, and fair winds to everyone!!
Hi! I’m on vacation from 10/31 to 11/7 and want to go somewhere sunny. I’m leaving from Toulouse and the flight can’t be more than 5 hours.
Any ideas?
Thanks for your help
We want to do a few safaris, visit villages, the mountains, see tea plantations, etc. But we also want to see turtles. We love snorkeling but aren’t experts—we’re just happy to see colorful fish and coral. We’ve always wanted to see turtles too, so the idea is still to see *something* underwater 😊
Can you tell us which regions to prioritize and which to avoid given the climate at this time of year? Thanks a million!
Hi,
We're leaving on June 19th for an 8-day road trip in South Iceland. I've heard that even in summer, it's cold and the weather can change several times a day. Should we mainly pack winter gear, like a K-Way, fleece, down jacket, beanie, etc.?
For those who’ve experienced it, what’s the weather like in Shanghai at the end of December?
I’ve heard it’s cold, but coming from France, is the winter milder than in Lyon, for example?
I’m tempted to spend the Christmas holidays in Shanghai and the surrounding areas (Nanjing, Suzhou) with my family—kids are 11 and 2. It’d be a bummer if the little one catches a cold over there.
Generally, is this a good time for simple family visits to the main spots, restaurants in the city, indoor heating, and outdoor walks?
Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Mauritius—anyone have advice on when to go? I’m thinking April, May, or June for my stay. Which month would you recommend for the best beach weather, sunbathing, and exploring the island? Thanks!
Hi,
we’re planning to travel through Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) in February and March 2027.
From a seasonal and weather perspective, at that time of year and with hiking as our main activity, is it better to explore Patagonia from south to north or the other way around?
Thanks in advance.
Anne Marie
I’ve planned a three-week itinerary for this summer, from August 9 to 27, in Sri Lanka:
Negombo – 1 night
Sigiriya and the Cultural Triangle – 4 nights
Kandy – 2 nights
Ella – 3 nights
Tangalle – 6 nights
Colombo Airport – 1 night
I know this isn’t the ideal time for the south since the beach conditions aren’t great, but we’ve booked a hotel with a pool and won’t be swimming in the sea. We want to relax after all the travel since we’re bringing our two kids, aged 6 and 8.
I know the east would be better, but (i) I’m struggling to find suitable accommodation, and (ii) it adds a lot of travel time, and my kids can only handle about 3 hours at a stretch.
I looked into Arugam Bay, but it’s a 7-hour trip back to Colombo from there.
I’ve checked every weather site imaginable, but they don’t all agree. Do you think we’ll spend our whole trip in the rain, or is the monsoon in the south mostly limited to the sea, as I’ve read?
I’m worried about ending up in the middle of a natural disaster with my two young kids, given recent events.
hi
After reading quite a few posts and buying a guidebook, I’m still struggling to finalize my suitcase.
Given that we’ll be visiting both islands during our road trip and suitcases aren’t exactly expandable,
I’ve noted that temperatures can be changeable—but should I pack more winter clothes than summer ones?
Thanks for your help
We’ve decided to go to Skopelos for 2 weeks at the end of April. What kind of weather should we expect? Any special things to know about this remote island?
Thanks for your tips
Hi there. On my itinerary from São Luís to Jericoacoara, I’ll be passing through the Lençóis. Is there any point stopping there this time of year? Apparently, the lagoons are dry, but aside from the lagoons, is the surrounding landscape still interesting enough to warrant a 1- or 2-day stop? Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi,
We’ve booked our flight tickets and we’re leaving from October 29th to November 13th for Mauritius.
I just reserved our accommodation in Cap Malheureux.
We’re used to hot and especially very sunny destinations like Oman, Jordan, Uzbekistan...
If you can reassure me about the period—can we expect sunny weather? I’m really dreaming of discovering Le Morne Brabant under beautiful sunshine...
Thanks
Hi everyone,
I need to go to Sri Lanka at the end of January.
I’ve seen that many roads, hotels, and parks were closed after the cyclone, which unfortunately caused a lot of damage.
Does anyone have more information?
Would it be wiser to postpone our trip?
Thanks, Alain.
Hi,
I’m planning a trip to Oman, probably the first half of February to avoid the extreme heat and Ramadan.
But after checking various weather sites and reading accounts, I’m a bit worried about rain, which can apparently be frequent and heavy in February. I’d love to hear from travelers or locals who’ve been there recently.
What would be the ideal month to explore Oman without extreme heat or rain? November?
Also, it’s best to avoid visiting the wadis on weekends—does that mean Saturday and Sunday?
This year, 2026, I can only get away in April and May. I never travel during these months usually, and from what I know, they aren’t the best for India. But in such a big country, there are always spots that are better than others weather-wise.
Which region would you recommend?
Given that I’ve already traveled quite a bit in this country, and in any case, I’ll be discovering places I don’t know yet. No need for a major tourist hotspot or luxury comfort.
Hi everyone,
We’d love to return to India next year for 3 weeks (we visited Rajasthan about fifteen years ago). Unfortunately, we’re tied to traveling in September, and our initial plan was to explore Himachal Pradesh. However, it seems like that might not be the best month for this region.
Could you share your experiences from that time of year in Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, or even the Spiti Valley—in short, anywhere in Himachal Pradesh? Otherwise, which region of India would you recommend for a September trip?
Thanks so much!
Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip from mid-January to the end of February but I just can’t make up my mind 😕
I’ve looked into a few different options: Brazil, Cambodia, and Ecuador. The last one really appeals to me, but what’s making me hesitate is the risk of our trip being a bit too rainy (literally ),
We’re more drawn to the Andes, exploring colonial cities, typical villages, markets, and a bit of the coast. We’ve already gotten a taste of this in Bolivia, Colombia, and Chile. Plus, we’d love to do part of it by car since we’re used to driving at our own pace and stopping whenever we feel like it. Anyway, time’s running out, and I need to decide so I can finalize a route and book the tickets!!
Can anyone help me make up my mind or decide to postpone it for later? But for this year, I don’t have any other time slot to travel. Thanks for reading this far! !
I’ve planned a trip to Asia for the first half of November.
I’ll arrive in Singapore at the start of November for about 3 days, and I’ll leave from Bangkok in mid-November.
In between, I’d like to gradually head north to visit some less touristy islands on the Thai coast.
Since the weather is a big risk during this period, I’d love to hear your recommendations.
I’m looking for: sunshine, snorkeling, beaches, nature / jungle in places that are easily accessible without too much transport to make the most of my trip.
Hi there,
We’re planning a trip to Chile this coming August and would love to head down to Chiloé. We’ve heard that as we go further south at this time of year, the weather gets pretty rough.
What’s the weather like in Chiloé in late August/early September? What activities can we do? And which ones become really tricky because of the weather?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Marie
So great to be back on this forum after being away for—I don’t even know what!
I’m planning a trip to Malaysia in July with my 5-year-old son. The thing is, I’m not sure which coast to choose. AI keeps telling me east one minute and west the next. Which spot is least affected by rain during this time?
Hey everyone! 🙂
Just giving you the quick context: A group of friends and I are planning a trip to South Korea (Seoul/Busan) at the end of June/July next year. It falls right in the middle of the monsoon season, but we don’t really have other availability options.😕
I’d love to hear from people who’ve visited the country and these cities during this period—basically, is it not as bad as it sounds, or should we just cancel our tickets (we don’t mind the heat, it’s mostly the rain that scares us).
I know there are plenty of indoor activities, but do you think we’ll still manage to get a few sunny days, or will it be torrential rain for our entire 2-week trip?
The only other country we’ve visited during the rainy season is Brazil (in the northeast) around the same time, and honestly, aside from a few really annoying downpours, we had sunshine most of the time and it was awesome. That said, the climate is totally different, so I’m not sure how relevant the comparison is.
Thanks in advance to anyone who takes the time to read or reply to this post! 🙂
Hi everyone.
Not sure if guidebooks, agencies, and other tour operators are keeping up by changing their visiting hours and offerings.
Personally, I see a promising opportunity here—jumping on this adaptation to extreme climates before others do, since they’re inevitably coming.
From my own travel experience, I’ve met a few guides so far who are starting to adjust, like in Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, and elsewhere.
They avoid crowds and the hottest hours by starting their tours around 6–7 AM, when it’s cooler.
Yeah, you’ve gotta wake up early, but the payoff is so worth it. 😴
If you’ve got any great tips like this, why not discuss them in this thread and share addresses or websites where the people in charge have realized climate change is real and are adapting? 😊
Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Namibia in 2026.
I’m torn between visiting the Fish River Canyon and the Caprivi Strip / Victoria Falls.
I’d also love your advice on the best time to travel for wildlife viewing and pleasant weather.
I haven’t chosen a tour operator yet... since I’m traveling solo, I’d prefer a small-group escorted trip. Has anyone traveled with a local agency and what’s your feedback or advice?
Thanks so much!
I’m taking a month-long trip to northern Argentina throughout September. Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Salta, Humahuaca, Cafayate, and if time allows, La Rioja. I’m unsure about what clothes to pack. What are the temperatures like in September?
Thanks for your great tips!
Dominerja