Nous sommes un couple actuellement en voyage au Vietnam. Nous arriverons sur Hanoï dans quelques jours (nous remontons le Vietnam du Sud au Nord) afin de visiter la ville et ses alentours.
Nous cherchons surtout à pouvoir accéder à la magnifique région de Hà Giang. En effet après avoir lu pas mal de commentaires sur ce forum au sujet de cette région ainsi que des photos, cette dernière a l'air sublime. Pas besoin d'expliquer donc les raisons de nos envies de découverte à son sujet. De plus elle à l'air d'être encore authentique et sans trop de touristes ( bien que s'il y a des touristes, c'est que quelque part le site est joli. Et cela ne nous dérange pas de partager les beautés de ce monde --> Stop au nombrilisme !).
Nous aimerions donc trouver un trek de 3-4 jours afin de visiter cette région avec un guide (ça à l' air de ne pas être chose aisé que de s'y rendre seul, voir même impossible avec les histoires de permis...). Nous aimerions aussi rencontrer les minorités ethniques et dormir chez l'habitant.
La question est : Où peux-t'on se renseigner (quelle ville) afin de trouver ce genre de trek, sans que cela nous coûte un bras ?
Nous voyageons depuis 7 mois et il nous en reste encore 4, donc le budget est limité. Forcément nous aimerions trouver un trek avec un guide local (qui parle 2-3 mots d'anglais tout de même), plutôt que de passer par les grosses agences à touristes qui se font un gras pas possible sur les tarifs.
Nous n'arrivons pas à trouver d'informations précises sur ce sujet. Nous savons que nous pouvons nous rendre en bus sur Hà Giang assez facilement depuis Hanoï, y faire un trek... Mais nous ne savons pas où trouver quelqu'un qui les organise, quels prix sont pratiqués...
Peut-on le trouver directement sur place une fois arrivés à Hà Giang ?
Si vous avez des retours d'expérience sur la question on est preneur.
En espérant avoir était précis dans notre demande, nous attendons vos lumières sur ce sujet épineux.
Est-ce que d'autres on un retour d'expérience sur ce sujet ?
Doit-on trouver un guide sur place ( nous partirons certainement de Hà Giang pour des raisons de pratiques) ou à Hanoï ? En sachant qu'on privilégie le "sur place" en général car toujours moins cher.
Quels itinéraires proposent-ils en général pour 3-4 jours ?
Le problème est qu'il n'y a aucun trek dans la région la plus fabuleuse, celle entre Dong Van et meo Vac, à part une journée autour de Dong Van, car pas de maisons d'hôtes. Hoang Su Phi est complètement à l'opposé de Ha Giang par rapport à Dong Van, avec du trekking sans grand intérêt ; Quang Ba est mieux, mais ce n'est toujours pas Dong Van, et les trekkings immédiatement autour de Hag Gaing ne sont pas mieux que ceux de HSP. La seule solution que je vois pour vous est de faire un trekking de4 jours au départ de Ha Giang, en précisant bien que vous voulez aller à Dong Van et Méo Vac, pas HSP ou tout près de Ha Giang !
Quant au "sur place moins cher", c'est tout le contraire ; les agences locales sont plus chères car peu nombreuses et elles savent que vs êtes "coincés"
Le problème est qu'il n'y a pas de trekking autour de Dong Van-Méo Vac (sauf 1 j Dong Van). Certaines agences publient des "trekking Ha Giang" mais en fait, c'est loin de là, du côté du Pan Ou Village et Hoang Su Phi, ou autre. La seule agence que je connaisse (mais pas personnellement) qui va à Dong Van dans le cadre d'un trekking est
Ce tour de 3 jours est bien ! Vous pouvez toujours leur demander le prix pour ajouter un jour Dong Van-Lung Cu-Sa Phin (palais de roi des h'mongs)-Dong Van, donc 2 nuits à Dong Van
Oui, c'est vrai que faire un treck aux alentours de Hagiang reste une belle option! Je vais vous envoyer les details ulterieusement. En fait, un ami a moi, qui vit sur place. il est de l'ethnie de Tay Noir qui serait alors votre guide local. Il parle un petit peu l'anglais et vous aurez alors vous comprendre facilement par les gestes que l'on appelle " body-language".
Vous prenez alors le bus de nuit publique Hanoi - Hagiang ~7 heures de route, puis lendemain, vous serez dans le centre de la ville, mon ami Quyen va vous chercher a la station pour vous amener chez lui, dans un village qu ise trouve a 5 km de la ville et puis dela, vous pouvez commencer le treck.
C'est super, on serait ravis de partager ce genre d'expérience avec votre ami et les différentes ethnies.
On attend vos informations avec impatience afin de connaître tous les détails. Je pense que nous serons sur Hanoï d'ici une petite semaine.
Et même si ce n'est pas le plus beau des treks du Vietnam, on ne peut pas tout avoir dans la vie et il faut parfois savoir se contenter du "très bien" quand "l'exceptionnel" n'est pas accessible ! Puis vu qu'on ne connait pas le reste, on n'aura donc pas la possibilité de comparer --> pas de regrets. 😏
Nous sommes ravis et reconnaissants pour votre réactivité et attendons les futures instructions.
Merci beaucoup Larsay pour ces informations précieuses.
Mais en lisant le programme du site on s'aperçoit que l'on fait plus de voiture que de trekking et on dort ( si je ne me trompe pas) dans des hôtels.
Or nous recherchons vraiment le partage et le côté "aventure".
Je pense que c'est pas simple à trouver, mais vu les prix pratiqués par ces agences cela ne correspond pas à nos envies.
On est encore jeunes (26 et 29 ans) et un peu d'inconfort ne nous fera pas de mal si le jeu en vaut la chandelle.
On aura tous le loisir de se prélasser dans notre sofa en rentrant en France 😛
Merci beaucoup quand même pour la réactivité, ça fait chaud au coeur de trouver cette entraide gratuite et pleine de bon sens.
Désormais nous serons plus acteurs qu'observateurs sur ce merveilleux forum. Amennnnn....😇
Au passage, on va profiter de vos connaissances pointues sur le Vietnam car une autre question nous taraude : On prévoit de faire aussi le trek de 2 jours 1 nuit sur Sapa ( plus touristique mais accessible et très joli des retours qu'on a pu avoir).
--> Est-il facilement accessible de rejoindre Ha Giang en provenance de Sapa par bus ( ou inversement ) ?
Je comprends mais être dans le coin et rater Dong Van-Meo Vac est vraiment dommage ! Plutôt que d'aller à Sapa, pourquoi ne faites-vs pas le trek autour de HG et ensuite aller à Dong Van ou le contraire (avec le trek un jour Dong Van) ?
Il y a des bus LAO CAI-Ha Giang ; pour le trekking hors-foule, la femme dao ou une copine dao ou hmong de notre ami Olivier Sapa vs emmène chez Olivier en pleine montagne à 45 mn de marche de Ta Phin. La maison est très simple (eau dans citerne, toilettes à la Turc, etc.) mais authenticité garantie et aucun touriste en vue autour à partir du petit pont de Xa Xeng
Je n'écrirais pas la même chose ! La région de HSP est belle, mais n'est pas aussi spectaculaire que celle de Sapa et de Bac Ha, où les possibilités de trekkings sont infinies. En fait, le plus spectaculaire c'est entre Ha Giang et Meo Vac mais hélas possibilités de trekkings limitées pour l'instant
Bonjour Joel,
Nous essayons 'organiser un trek avec une amie dans cette région. Mais on n'arrive pas à trouver un guide ! Nous ce qui nous intéresse ce serait 3 jours au depart de meo vac et autour de Ha giang au milieu des pitons de pierre.
Par quelle agence es tu passé? quelqu'un aurait-il un contact à nous donner? On part dans une semaine et on commence à stresser !
merci d'avance pour votre aide
Sandra
Trek 3 jours autour de Meo Vac inconnu au batáillon car rien n'est vraiement organisé pour, en particulier aucune maison d'hôtes en montagne ; de plus, Meo Vac - Hgaiang, c'est une journée de route, donc pase trek allant de Meo Vac à HG ; c'est donc 1 jour trek autour de MV, 1 autour de Dong Van, minibus pour HG et 1 jour trek autour de HG
Following your recommendations, I’m starting this thread because I’m planning to do the Central Circuit in 5 days in the Rwenzori Mountains, aiming to reach Margherita Peak.
I’ve been in touch with Rwenzori Mountaineering Services, who’ve offered me a deal for $1300 with 2 guides, 1 cook, and 3 porters.
A bank transfer is required upfront.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s done this trek or others in these mountains.
Hi everyone, we’re traveling by bike, but the same question comes up for hiking: what simple products can we find in towns or villages to eat/cook and get enough nutrition for physical effort, all while keeping costs affordable? Otherwise, where can we find inexpensive dietary supplements? Since I’m on cortisone, I have to be careful about what I eat. Thanks in advance, Aichatou
I know there are plenty of discussions on VF about the Poon Hill trek, but most seem outdated and/or don’t provide info specific to February. That’s why I’m bringing this topic back up.
Here’s my plan:
- Spending about two weeks in Nepal in the first half of February.
- Maybe extending by a few days to a week if needed.
- Heading to Pokhara—first time for my partner, second for me (I was there in September/October 1982!).
- Doing a relatively easy 4- to 5-day trek. We’re not exactly spring chickens anymore (though we’re in pretty good shape for our age).
- We don’t want to go above 3,000–3,500 meters, deal with difficult sections if there’s too much snow, or face daytime temperatures below 10°C. No problem if it drops to 0–5°C at night since we’ll be sheltered somewhere.
So, I’m wondering if the Mardi Himal trek might be too demanding for us, and if we’d be better off sticking with Poon Hill.
What do the experts think?
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 looking for a family-run guesthouse in Cachaco. I read that the Monte Gordo guide service provides addresses. Does anyone have any guesthouse addresses or contact info for the natural park’s visitor center?
Thanks
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
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
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,
