Et bien voilà, craqués nous avons...
- "Rashel, j'peux prendre ta cb ?
- 'moui, pourquoi ?
- Y'a des billets pas chers pour l'Islande !!
324€ par personne, dix minutes d'attente, et le e-billet nous arrive..
- Mais, euh, on a rien prévu ??
- T'inquiètes, on a deux mois pour ça !"
Vous l'avez tous compris, ma petite soeur and I partons en ce mois de novembre prochain pour l'Islande, à pied, bus, (cheval ?) pour un mois..
J'ai déjà pas mal écumé les divers sites, blogs, carnets de voyage à droite, à gauche, virtuellement, à la bibliothèque..
Et j'en reviens à poster ici, sur VF, pour glaner encore de précieux renseignements, apprendre de vos expériences que vous voudrez bien nous partager.. Du coup, j'éditerais ce post au fur et à mesure de mes "découvertes", bons plans, itinéraires...
Première question.. Le Budget
Le budget.. Chose impossible à prévoir quand on ne connaît pas un pays.. J'ai gardé quelques mauvais souvenirs en Norvège concernant mes habitudes de drogué (tabac et alcool je vous rassure ^^).
- Transport :
Nous allons voyager majoritairement à pied, prendre parfois le bus pour gagner du temps, et faire du stop. Je n'envisage pas pour l'instant la location d'un véhicule (sauf si je dégote des lieux impossibles à accéder autrement.. à voir ultérieurement)
- Hébergement :
Nous allons camper tous les jours, soit en camping, soit en bivouac.. En me renseignant sur les tarifs, j'estime à 10€/nuit/personne (douche comprise). Le bivouac ayant l'air pas mal toléré dans la plupart du pays, autant en profiter que d'être au plus proche de la nature
- Nourriture :
Je n'ai, pour l'instant, pas trop cherché les prix pratiqués dans les commerces islandais.. Je prévois une alimentation basée sur des pâtes, des pâtes et encore des pâtes, assortis de fruits et légumes.. Je me doute qu'en ces terres, le prix des fruits et légumes doit être relativement élevé..
- Loisirs :
Mise à part quelques locations de vélos, ou d'un guide pour les glaciers...
Mes premières questions sont donc :
- mieux vaut-il prendre le buspass pour un mois, ou est-ce plus intéressant de payer au trajet ?
- avez vous des prix à nous donner concernant la nourriture et autres extras ? (prix de la viande, légumes, tabac, céréales...)
- avez vous des campings à déconseiller, des endroits où le bivouac est déconseillé ?
J'éditerais ce post au fur et à mesure des réponses !!
Cordialement,
Dams&Rash
Avec de bonnes chaussures, nous pouvons aller où bon nous semble..
Avec un bon esprit, nous pouvons braver toutes les tempêtes..
Avec un bon coeur, nous pouvons apprécier le peu de temps sur cette planète..
Tout d'abord excellent choix de destination. L'Islande est un pays magnifique.
Mais une chose m'interpelle dans ton post. Tu veux camper en Novembre là-bas ?
Pas certain que tu trouve un seul camping ouvert à cette période. J'ai cru comprendre que les campings étaient globalement ouvert de Mai à Septembre, ce qui n'est pas totalement incompréhensible pour un pays se situant au dessus du 60eme parallèle. ( http://www.visiticeland.com/Accommodation/Camping/ )
Je pense qu'il va falloir pas mal compter sur les auberges de jeunesse...
Concernant le budget alimentaire. Les prix m'ont semblé à peu près équivalent à ce qu'ils sont en Suisse, soit 30-40% plus cher qu'en France. Mais sur un budget "pâte", c'est pas ce qui va vous coûter le plus au final...
Autre problème, en Novembre, je ne connais pas exactement la durée d'ensoleillement, mais il est possible qu'il ne fasse réellement jour que 5 ou 6 h dans une journée.
En effet meme remarque que Pitimerguez. J'y ajouterai que, les lignes de bus sont moins denses a cette periode la, de meme que tout ce qui est location de velo etc.. Et puis Novembre en Islande ca veut dire aussi que certaines routes sont fermees et donc certains sites sont fermes, je pense notement au Landmannalaugar qui ferme en septembre.
Il me semble dans ces conditions que l'option location de voiture n'est pas a sous-estimee, elle peut vous permettre de pallier en partie aux inconveniants du mois de Novembre. Il va aussi commencer a neiger et faire froid (je veux dire vraiment froid).
Ceci dit vous serez pas embete par les touristes et le paysage peut-etre superbe avec ces 1r gels et chute de neige.
Oui oui, nous comptons camper ^^
Je sais que l'Islande n'est pas si froid que ça, en tout cas, ce sera bien moins pire qu'en savoie dans 15cm de neige au mois de mars !
Je compte pas mal sur le bivouac, et si le temps est vraiment pourri, filer en AJ.. Mais on compte bien rester le max de temps en extérieur, enfin sous tente..
Pour les heures d'ensoleillement, en effet on n'aura que 6 à 7 h/j.. mais ce sera suffisant je pense.. L'intérêt est aussi de pouvoir capter des aurores boréales, donc plus de nuit devrait être propice.. je l'espère !
Avec de bonnes chaussures, nous pouvons aller où bon nous semble..
Avec un bon esprit, nous pouvons braver toutes les tempêtes..
Avec un bon coeur, nous pouvons apprécier le peu de temps sur cette planète..
Ah mince pour le Landmannalaugar.. je vais du coup me renseigner tout de suite !
Avec de bonnes chaussures, nous pouvons aller où bon nous semble..
Avec un bon esprit, nous pouvons braver toutes les tempêtes..
Avec un bon coeur, nous pouvons apprécier le peu de temps sur cette planète..
En l'occurence c'est le camping qui ferme en Septembre, la route peut-etre pas encore, mais du coup si le camping ferme, ca veut dire qu'il n'y a plus de bus pour y acceder.
Tu as trouvé ton info où ? Tu pourrais me donner le lien svp ??
J'ai pas mal cherché, mais je ne vois pas les dates d'ouverture de cette route !!
Avec de bonnes chaussures, nous pouvons aller où bon nous semble..
Avec un bon esprit, nous pouvons braver toutes les tempêtes..
Avec un bon coeur, nous pouvons apprécier le peu de temps sur cette planète..
Pour le moment toutes les routes sont ouvertes, mais à partir d'Octobre, toutes celles où il y a marqué 4x4 ferment jusqu'à Mai-Juin.
Par contre, on doit pouvoir se rendre quand même au Landmannalaugar l'hiver si j'en juge aux offres faites par certaines agences de voyages Islandaises. Par exemple :
Je prépare un voyage d'environ 12 jours sur place au mois de juin, en Islande, pour faire de la rando à la journée et camping. On pense opter pour une location…
Peut-on envisager de faire par soi-même une randonnée d'une journée sur glacier avec le matériel nécessaire: crampons, piolet, corde, éventuellement baudrier,…
Nous partons en Islande pour la 1ère fois pendant la 12ème quinzaine d'août avec location d'un petit 4x4. Nous envisageons de le laisser quelques jours à…
Sur la carte Mich. (en attendant d'acquérir une carte plus détaillée au VC ou sur place) il y a au bout de la F235 un chemin qui part vers le sud en direction…
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
Hi there! We’re a couple setting off to walk the Porto to Fisterra trail on September 15th… We’re torn between the coastal route and the inland path—apparently, the latter has a lot of roadside sections. We’d love to hear about your experiences if you’ve done either! 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
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,
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!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
