je suis cheftaine scoute et cet été nos jeunes ont choisi de partir en Islande pour 3 semaines. Ils travaillent d'arrache pied pour financer le projet, et parmi leurs attentes, il y a une semaine de rando à pied...
Je pense que niveau chemin de randonnée on ne devrait pas avoir trop de mal à trouver notre bonheur, mais voilà, en tout nous serons une bonne vingtaine...
D'où mes quelques questions :
- est-ce qu'une semaine de randonnée à vingt au coeur de l'Islande est faisable? (je pense particulièrement à l'hébergement...)
- quel coin nous recommanderiez-vous, parce qu'entre le Landmannalaugar, le vatnajökull et le reste on ne sait plus trop où donner de la tête...
- est-il indispensable d'avoir un guide avec nous ou est-ce que notre sens de l'orientation et une bonne carte suffisent? Si un guide est nécessaire, comment peut-on en contacter un? Pour le moment je n'ai trouvé que des treks organisés, dont le prix dépasse largement nos moyens...
Bonjour,
Je vous recommande le trek du Laugavegur : relier Landmannlaugar à Skogar, c'est le plus varié et le plus beau à mon goût. C'est aussi le plus fréquenté du pays. J'ai fais un topo sur ce trek de 6 jours sur mon site : http://trek.uniterre.com/Islande/
Pour l'hébergement : il y a des refuges, mais avec un si grand groupe, ce n'est pas forcément évident. Réserver très très à l'avance en tout cas, prenez contact dès maintenait pour savoir si c'est possible (ça doit l'être). Pour réduire votre budget (la nuit en dortoir en refuge est de 3500 à 4500 ISK), je ne peux que vous conseiller d'opter pour le camping. Une belle expérience, rude parfois selon les conditions météorologique.
Le guide... je n'aime pas conseillé sur ce point, c'est à vous de décider. Mais pour le Laugavegur, franchement, c'est pas du tout nécessaire. Comme beaucoup de gens, j'ai fais ce trek sans guide (et sans carte, mais ça c'est pas très malin. Il est évident qu'il faut que vous vous en procuriez une). Le chemin n'est pas toujours indiqué mais il y a toute de même beaucoup de cairn et de traces rouges pour vous aider. Avec une carte on doit bien sans sortir puisque même sans on ne s'est pas perdu. Le trek est très fréquenté mais isolé : vous êtes loin de toutes routes, en pleine nature. Pas de ravitaillement possible, sauf à Phorsmok où il y a deux ou trois petits trucs à vendre. Magnifique, mais engagé. Il n'y a aucun passage technique ou difficile. Franchement, un guide est inutile. Surtout que les scoots sont quand même réputé pour se débrouillé dans la nature ;)
Après je sais pas du point de vu de votre responsabilité en tant que chef. Avec un grand groupe comme ça, cela vous rassurais peut-être d'en prendre un. Mon ressenti sur l'inutilité d'un guide concerne les voyageurs individuelles qui ont l'habitude de la randonnée.
N'hésitez pas si vous avez d'autres questions,
Julien
Pour des topos de treks et des informations précises sur les pays que j'ai visités, rendez-vous sur mon blog : https://treketvoyages.com/.
Il fonctionne comme un modeste guide de voyage et non comme un récit de voyage.
Merci beaucoup pour cette réponse qui est très complète! :-)
Il est possible, si nous ramenons nos tentes, de camper à côté des refuges ou ils sont situés dans des coins trop escarpés? Si on choisit cette solution il y a un prix à payer ou c'est gratuit?
Je pense que le transport de nourriture pour 6 jours pour 22 va être sympa ^^ il va falloir qu'on s'organise par rapport à ça... Mais un grand merci en tout cas ça nous aide déjà beaucoup!
Si quelqu'un a un témoignage sur les trek autour du langisjor je suis preneuse aussi...
Merci beaucoup pour cette réponse qui est très complète! :-)
Il est possible, si nous ramenons nos tentes, de camper à côté des refuges ou ils sont situés dans des coins trop escarpés?
Si on choisit cette solution il y a un prix à payer ou c'est gratuit?
Oui, et il y a même des endroits exprès pour ça. C'est payant, et vous avez le droit d'utiliser les services. Douche chaude souvent payante en plus, que l'on soit avec sa tente ou qu'on dorme au refuge.
Je ne me souviens plus, mais je crois qu'étonnamment interdit de faire du camping sauvage sur ce trek (en tout cas jusqu'à Phorsmok) car c'est un parc national. Maintenant, cela me semble étonnant, étant donné que l'Islande fait partie de ces pays où la plus belle loi du monde existe : l'allemansträtt ;)
J'explique cette loi dans la partie Norvège de mon blog. Mais en gros, c'est une loi qui donne libre accès à la nature : dans ces pays nordiques (hormis le Danemark), tu peux camper où tu veux, même si c'est sur la propriété de quelqu'un. Mieux encore, tu peux pêcher ou ramasser des champignons sur la propriété des gens (sauf jardin et champs cultivé). Les zones sans propriétaire (la majorité donc) sont bien sûr libre d'accès : tu peux y planter ta tente pour plusieurs jours sans problème.
Je l'ai un peu étudié dans le cadre de mes études en géographie, cette conception de la nature comme un "bien" qui ne peut pas être entièrement privatisé me fascine ! Il y a toutefois des limites normales et évidantes :
- Laisser l'endroit dans l'état ou tu la trouvé : pas une trace de ton passage !
- A distance raisonnable d'un habitation (150m en Norvège et Suède)
- En cas de dommage (destruction d'arbre, cueillette de plantes protéger etc.), vous serez juger au nom de l'intérêt général et non comme dommage à la propriété (même si vous êtes dans une zone qui appartient à quelqu'un)
Bref, je m'égare ^^, désolé.
En Norvège et Suède, tu peux aussi faire du camping sauvage dans les Parcs Nationaux ou dans les réserves protégée, ça m'étonne que ça soit différent en Islande mais pourtant je crois me rappelé d'un panneau à Landmannlaugar le disant. Pas moyen d'avoir un souvenir net, c'était en juillet 2011.
Je pense que le transport de nourriture pour 6 jours pour 22 va être sympa ^^ il va falloir qu'on s'organise par rapport à ça... Mais un grand merci en tout cas ça nous aide déjà beaucoup!
Oui évidemment, c'est pas toujours facile de partir avec 6 jours de nourriture. Il faut bien répartir entre vous tous, mais au final que l'on soit 1,2, 4ou 22... on porte la même chose par personne pour la nourriture. Voir moins, vu que quand on est seul on ne peut pas partager le matériel en commun (gaz, réchaud, ustensiles etc.)
Pour des topos de treks et des informations précises sur les pays que j'ai visités, rendez-vous sur mon blog : https://treketvoyages.com/.
Il fonctionne comme un modeste guide de voyage et non comme un récit de voyage.
soit en furetant dans les discussions du forum soit/et en posant tes questions : concentration de grands trekkeurs devant l'éternel, et beaucoup dans cette région.
Pour ce qui est du matériel normalement il ne devrait pas y avoir de souci, Quechua va nous sponsoriser avec des tentes adaptées et niveau transport on négocie dur comme fer avec les compagnies de bus en ce moment même ^^
Je vais aller faire un tour sur tous les sites que vous avez cité, ça devrait être bien constructif!
Départ pour jeudi! N étant pas certaine de pouvoir effectuer un trek ds le Land ma... je m oriente vers des rando en étoile... Qu'elle compagnie faut il…
Chers Voyageurs, Je sais qu’il y a déjà eu beaucoup de post à ce sujet mais je ne trouve pas réponse à toutes mes questions... J’envisage donc de partir en…
Je prépare le fameux trek fin aout, et j'ai quelques questions, à tous ceux qui l'ont déjà fait. Bon j'ai fait le plan pour aller de huts en huts, mais je sais…
Mon copain et moi allons faire la célèbre randonné du Laugavegurinn (20 au 23 août) et ayant notre tente, nous allons devoir payer le camping situé à proximité…
Nous souhaitons partir une semaine en Islande cet été pour réaliser un petit trek qui rejoint rapidement le classique trek du Landmannalaugar. L'itinéraire est…
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.
hi there
I’m heading to Uzbekistan for three weeks from mid-September to mid-October 2026—a country I haven’t visited yet.
I’d love to do a few multi-day hikes in the mountains without going through a tour operator or hiring a guide. Has anyone here done this?
It doesn’t have to be all trekking; day hikes are great too.
I’m open to any tips!
Also, I see there are lots of train options if you book well in advance—does that only apply to the "fast" trains? Are there buses as well?
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?
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,
Since I can't take on long treks, I'd love to know if there are any nice hikes around Pokhara—or maybe in another region of Nepal. Day hikes or two-day trips would be perfect.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
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?
