Merci Larsay pour ta réponse. Finalement on voudrait opter pour un tour Ha giang - Dong Van - Meo Vac avec des randonnées à la journée à Meo Vac et Dong Van. Retour à Ha giang puis Bac Ha puis Hanoi. Dans ce cas là, on aimerait bien faire la boucle en moto mais avec mon amie. le problème, c'est qu'on n'en a jamais conduit. Penses-tu qu'on est folle de s'aventurer sur une motot sur ces route sans experience?
Si c'est trop risqué, l'autre solution pour se déplacer c'est :
- Arrivé bus de nuit hanoi - Ha giang. Faire Ha Giang - Dong Van en mini bus touristique au hi like café (vu sur le lonely mais c'est assez mal expliqué et fouilli) ou bien en bus normal. Tu sais si y'a souvent des bus? En plus je ne pense pas qu'on puisse s'arreter pour faire des photos... On irait faire une rando et visiter les alentours de Dong van le lendemain. Soit 2 jours (mardi et mercredi)
- Ensuite, on repartirai de Dong Van à Meo Vac en moto taxi pour pouvoir prendre des photos et s'arrêter régulièrement. As-tu une idée de combien ça pourrait couter? On prendrait un jour pour faire des randos autour. Soit 2 jours (jeudi et vendredi)
- De Meo Vac: soit on repart à Direction ha Giang pour ensuite rejoindre Bac Ha pour le marché puis repartir à Hanoi par le bus de nuit. Ou bien on repart de l'autre côté direction Cao bang puis Hanoi. Mais cette seconde solution me parait plus compliquée étant donné qu'il y a peu de bus et que c'est long.
Nous devons être à Hanoi le lundi matin au plus tard pour partir sur la baie d'along et Ninh Bin.
Troisième et derniere solution : on fait tout ca avec chauffeur mais c'est moins routard et c'est très cher.
Qu'en penses-tu? Option moto ou transport public ou chauffeur? SI option transport publique, quel est le meilleur moyen de retourner à Hanoi?
Depuis qu'on organise notre périple au viet nam, on te voit dans toutes les discussions sur le nord du viet nam et tes conseils et reco valent de l'or :-) Un grand merci pour tous ceux que tu aident à découvrir cette région magnifique mais peu connue.
Sandra (et yohana qui t'as aussi écris via le forum)
La route Ha Giang-Dong Van-Meo Vac est très bonne donc pas de pb en moto ; sinon vous prenez un minibus public HG-Dong Ban et vs louez 2 motos-taxi pour vous balader (l'hotel peut vs arranger ça)
Il y a des bus réguliers HG - Cao Bang
Pour HG-Bac Ha, le plus simple est un bus Hg-Lao Cai et ensuite LC-Bac Ha (bien que vs puissiez demander au chauffeur de vs arreter au cioin de la route de Bac Ha et attendre qu'un minibus pour BH passe
Je connais une excellente agence locale qui organise des treks avec nuits chez l habitant dans ce secteur, plus precisement dans les massif du Phu Ta Ca et du Si Cu Ti.
Je viens de rentrer de Haq Giang ; la Ha Giang Resort (Tuong Xuan) organise un très chouette trekking d'une journée (14-16 km 5-6 heures) dans des villages Tay et Dzao
Départ à 9h de l’hôtel Truong Xuan (Ha Giang resort) et transfert de 11 km en voiture sur la route Ha Giang-Ha Thanh, un grand village Tay où les habitants vivent dans de spacieuses maisons en bois sur pilotis. Début du trekking par une montée à travers des forêts de palmiers, plantations de thé et rizières en terrasses, pour arriver 3 heures plus tard dans le village dzao Noirs de Lung Vai ; visite du village, de maisons et de l’école, et déjeune., suivi d’une descente de 30 mn sur le village dzao Noirs de Khuay Mi, avec ses beaux panoramas sur la vallée de Na Toong. Descente pendant 2h30 jusqu’au village Tay de Ban Tha. Retour à la resort en voiture.
génial! très bonne info, on y sera la semaine prochaine. On va se prévoir une journée. Faut il réserver à l'avance ou la veille sur place est suffisant?
Salut larsay, nous sommes actuellement sur la route entre Ha giang et Dong van. Grâce à tes conseils nous avons fait une super rando et dormi chez l 'habitants avec le contact que tu nous avait donné. Merci!!
Nous aimerions refaire la même chose en partant de Meo Vac ou Dong van. Aurais tu un contact à nous donner? Afin de pouvoir les contacter un peu en avance. Pour info, nous avons payé 28 euros par personne pour la rando à la journée avec repas du midi inclus. Est ce un prix juste?
Merci encore
Nous sommes actuellement à Dong Van ( nous avons fait la route en moto entre Hà Giang et Dong Van).
Nous aimerions continuer notre route, mais nous hésitons entre se rendre sur Ba Be pour visiter le parc national ou se rendre à Cao Bang pour voir les chutes.
Dans tous les cas nous devons être de retour sur Hà Giang d ici lundi prochain( tjs via la moto que nous avons loué).
Est-il plus simple pour le retour de faire :
Cao Bang - Hà Giang ou Ba Be - Ha Giang ?
Cela vous semble t il faisable d ici lundi ?
Ni l'un ni l'autre car pour Bang Gioc seulement, il faut une journée ; pour les 2, en principe, de DV, il faut passer une nuit à Bao Lac donc vs n'avez pas assez de jours. Profiter plutot de la splendeur de la région où vs etes : un trek d'une journée, la trés belle balade d'une journée sur Lung Cu et Sa Phin, le col du Ma Pi Leng, 1 nt à Meo Vac ; la belle route de MV à Sin Chai tt près de la frontière chinoise ; retour à HG de MV par la route sud
selon , il est possible de faire Babe car c'est vraiment realisable, si vous etes en ligne vous pouvez lire mon message et ma proposition:
19 Nov: Dong Van - Mapileng - Bao lac
20 Nov: Bao Lac - village des lolo noirs - Babe
21 Nov: Babe et ses alentours
22 Nov: Babe - Bac Me
23 Nov ( Lundi): Bac Me - Hagiang.
Hello,
Merci pour les suggestions et conseils à toi et larsay.
Nous avons finalement fait le trajet Don Vang Ba Be ( ou plus précisément Pac Ngoi) en une journée, en profitant un maximum des paysages. Ce fut une looooongue journée avec de la superbe route et à contrario des routes avec des nids de poule ( poule mutante de 300 kg).
Heureusement notre petite mopette à tenu le coup et notre derrière aussi :)
Nous sommes donc à Pa Ngoi depuis avant hier et nous y passerons 3 nuits au totale.
Pour le retour sur Hà Giang on va le faire plus safe et faire ça en 2 jours :)
Après en route pour Hanoï et le reste du Vietnam,
Merci encore pour les conseils.
Merci pour cette alternative plus qu'intéressante.
On attend vos infos en message privé🙂.
Bonjour Jonathan ! Ce post date un peu mais un retour d'expérience sur votre vadrouille dans le nord Est serait particulièrement intéressant car je me pose exactement les mêmes questions que vous vous êtes posées avant votre départ ^^
Avez-vous finalement trouver un guide local qui vous a amené dans des lieux sympas et fait rencontrer / dormir chez des locaux ? Avez-vous fait ce trek autour de la ville Ha Giang ?
Il y a des treks d'une journee OK sans plus dans des villages de minorites autour de Ha Giang. Quant a "un jour Dong Van", vous pouvez oublier : ca prend au moins 5 heures sans rien visiter en route (pas de village de tisserands hmong de Lung Tam, pas de Sa Phin) pour faire HG-Dong Van et vous ratez le plus beau, une balade autour de Dong Van (Lung Cu, l'epoustouflant le col du Ma Pi Leng, le chateau du roi de hmong de Sa Phin) ; ma recommandation si vous etes pressee par le temps : pas de trek autour de HG et 2 jours a DV !
Bonjour,
J'ai bien lu ces échanges car j'arrive dans la région
Je pense aller de Ha Giang à Dong Van en bus puis louer une moto pour profiter de la région. Quel hébergement recommandes-tu ?
Ensuite par quel moyen puis-je rejoindre Cao Bang (Bus ?)
Merci d'avance de ta réponse
Adeline
Ensuite par quel moyen puis-je rejoindre Cao Bang (Bus ?)
Merci d'avance de ta réponse
Adeline
Je réponds à ma propre question : il n'y a pas de bus à partir de Dong Van vers Meo Vac.
Pour rejoindre Cao Bang, j'ai pris une moto-taxi à Dong Van jusqu'à Bao Lac où j'ai récupéré le bus Ha Giang-Cao Bang. Nous avions pris une bonne marge et j'ai bien pu profiter de la route et des sublimes paysages.
Désolé, je n'ai pas répondu à ce message, ce qui est exceptionnel, car je vadrouillais sdans ordi entre le parc de Pu Luong et Mu Can Chai-Nghia Lo ; en arrivant à Hanoi, 82 messages m'attendaient et le votre est passé au bleu par erreur.
Effectivement, pas de bus publics DV-Meo Vac (mais il y en a pour HG-DV), ce qui m'a toujours étonné
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,
