So to sum up, it's better to add a stop between Lukla and Namche in Phakding, and likewise between Deboche and Dingboche in Pangboche. Plus, the detour to Ama Dablam Base Camp really appeals to me! 🙂
As for the stages on the way down—Lume, Thame, Namche—I listed those villages as examples. If I like a village along the route and the timing works out, I’ll stop there.
Next, is Kala Patthar to Dzonglha too long a stage? On the map, it looks pretty far apart.
So, to be safe, I’m planning 25 days between my outbound and return flights—20 days for the trek and 5 days as a buffer.
If I bring the equivalent of 1000 € in cash, do you think I can do the trek without depriving myself too much?
On a lighter note, is there a bar or a meet-up spot in Namche? Just to grab a beer, have a laugh before really diving into the trek.
Phakding is a trekker hotspot. It's better to push further if you're looking for peace and authenticity. For example, all the way to Bengkar, or even Chhumowa (just before Monjo). That said, Phakding has the advantage of being covered by EverestLink for internet wifi.
In Namche, there are likely more bars and hotels than Sherpa homes. That’s why I don’t recommend stopping there on the way back.
If it’s essential to your happiness, there’s a nightclub across from the Valley View Lodge, almost at the end of the main street. It closed around 10 PM when I stayed at the Valley View Lodge (rustic, reasonable prices, friendly didi, but the owner was unfortunately unpleasant).
Thame is a real village, even if the homes are spread out. Most of the Khumbu’s potatoes come from there, so prices are cheaper. It also has a gonpa where a team of monks lives. In Namche Bazaar, there’s only one resident lama to collect offerings from tourists 😒.
Between Thame and Namche, the village of Thamo has its charm. Nighttime lighting is powered by solar panels. I even saw an ad for tax optimization and wealth management—targeting Sherpas, not trekkers.
kala patthar->dzonglha sa fait pas trop long comme étape ? on the map it looks quite far.
That’s exactly what I did—at nearly 58, not athletic, solo, and without a porter. Once you leave the main trekking "avenue," it’s mostly a pleasant balcony trail. You only need to climb a bit near the lake (Chola Tsho) to reach Dzonglha.
So to be safe, I think I’ll plan for 25 days between my outbound and return flights, with 20 days of trekking and 5 days as a buffer.
Returning overland lets you avoid the hassles of return flights from Lukla.
Ground transport obviously has its own uncertainties, but they’re much less frequent than flights between Lukla and Kathmandu. This way, you don’t have to add too many buffer days in Kathmandu (I still planned for 2, which among other things let me revisit Bhaktapur, which I love).
If I bring the equivalent of 1000 € in cash, do you think I can do the trek without depriving myself too much?
With a rustic consumption (local meals, including breakfast, no soda, no alcohol, no tea, only water disinfected with Pyush, just 2 hot showers), I spent a total of 28,780 rupees (224 €) for 17 days, from Paiya back to Paiya (as shown in my itinerary). That includes the Sagarmatha National Park entry fee (3,000 Rs), the Khumbu local tax (2,000 Rs), and the 10 GB EverestLink package (2,000 Rs). It’s really all-inclusive.
Excluding transport, my 25 days of trekking cost me 276 €.
On top of that, I had to add my food purchases in Kathmandu:
- Nepalese muesli (500 g): 110 Rs (vs. 140 Rs in Thamel)
- Nak cheese (638 g): 890 Rs (1,400 Rs/kg)
- 3 x 200 g yellow raisins: 3 x 140 Rs, so 420 Rs total.
- Pyush (60 ml): 25 Rs. For purifying water.
Muesli and cheese were eaten as picnic food when crossing the passes, then as a supplement.
Note: You can find cheaper nak cheese in Namche Bazaar (I think 1,100 Rs), but I found it less tasty. So I didn’t buy it.
Fabrice
P.S.: I had to leave with 1,500 €, but my trekking budget was only 360 €.
add a stage (...) between Deboche and Dingboche at Pangboche, plus I’d love the detour to Ama Dablam base camp
Ama Dablam is THE stunning mountain of the Khumbu.
To avoid the crowds clogging the trekker highway, it’s better to go via Phortse village (a real village, not a trekker ghetto), staying on the right bank of the valley. Sure, you can’t visit the super touristy Tengboche gompa, but you get amazing views of Ama Dablam.
Between Phortse and Pangboche, there’s a lovely wild trail, usually a balcony path, but it’s "Nepali flat"—meaning ups and downs.
In Pangboche, the village and its gompa are in what’s called "Upper Pangboche." You arrive there directly when coming from Phortse.
They answered the questions I had, and now I’ve got an itinerary/plan that holds up thanks to you. Even if I don’t follow the stages to the letter, I’ve got an overall view of the trek and its steps.
For the walk back, it’s true that I’m pretty tempted, but it means I’d only book a one-way flight from Kathmandu. And if for some reason I don’t have the time or the chance to walk back, it’s apparently hard to get a return flight seat if it’s not booked in advance. I’m still undecided about this part.
Anyway, I really want to take a flight at least for the outbound—Lukla Airport’s reputation and uniqueness make me really want to experience it at least once.
Budget-wise, I’ll be well within my limits, and I’m really happy about that (glad to see my 55–60 hours a week at work aren’t for nothing and are paying off 🙂 ).
As for nightlife, I’m not looking for a nightclub (I can’t stand dancing, and loud music gets on my nerves), but if I understood correctly, there are still bars where I can go for a beer (or two ). That’s all I’m asking for.
I did specify “rustic consumption.” Generally, experienced Anglo-Saxon trekkers mention $30–40 per day.
Keep in mind that prices rise sharply with altitude, which makes sense when you realize everything is carried up from Phaplu or delivered by helicopter.
Expenses will therefore depend on how much time you spend at high altitude, beyond Pangboche, the last village inhabited year-round.
On the other hand, most prices in Namche Bazaar are excessive. So, except at the porters’ canteens at the village entrance, daal bhat costs more than the 500 Rs charged in Gokyo. Namche hotel owners take advantage of trekkers’ lack of price knowledge when they first arrive in the Khumbu.
The worst I saw was a hotel in Junbesi offering daal bhat for 700 Rs 😠. That’s exactly what I paid in Gorak Shep, even though Junbesi is now accessible by road.
Hi,
I did the Gorakshep - Base Camp - Dzongla route in a day... a bit long, though, with a lunch break in Gorakshep.
Regarding travel times, it's best to start early in the morning. Meals around 11 a.m., tea breaks... Dingboche to Namche or Gokyo to Namche can be done in a day, same for Namche to Lukla on the way back.
For flights, it's possible to find a flight for the next day if you book the evening before. By arriving early in Lukla (2 p.m.), you can leave at 7 a.m. for Namche... but not with Yeti or Tara airlines since groups get priority. The Kumbu Resort Lodge in Lukla is a place where they handle Yeti/Tara and sell and check in for Simrik. In any case, it worked for me.
Dominique
For the descent from Thame, you can skip Namche since you’ll have already done it on the way up.
There’s a trail on the right bank that goes via Kondge and comes out between Monjo and Phakding. You’ll need to check in Thame if it’s passable—depending on the season, there can be icy sections, which you sometimes see from Mamche.
Yeah,
But I wasn’t thinking of stopping at Kongde.
I did part of it in the opposite direction to acclimatize, starting from Monjo.
Going uphill, it’s probably long, and since you’re not necessarily acclimatized, I don’t recommend it—plus, at the start, the trail isn’t easy to find. On the other hand, on the way down, especially after doing the Three Passes, it’s doable.
Check out https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6328876;a=6328876 who did Thame -> Kongde -> Toktok (downstream from Monjo).
But reading their full Three Passes Trek account shows they're a really strong hiker. Personally, I ruled out that option and was happy with Thame -> Bengkar via Namche Bazar.
But before that, you’ll have to push hard to climb up to Kongde at 4,250 m from a low point of 3,400 m. That’s still a minimum positive elevation gain of 850 m. Even if it’s mostly downhill, you still have to ascend those 850 m. Not to mention the "Nepali flat" with its ups and downs.
Yeah, but I tried it from Thame. It’s not a direct climb—it’s a long traverse. And that north face stays in the shade the whole time. Result: icy patches all over the trail and the steps. So, I turned back.
Always be cautious with exported tracks. I've used them a lot and eventually figured out why some results varied so much for the same route.
1) Only 656 points over 7h31' of recording (1 point every 41'), which can miss small climbs/descents. The altitude difference is accurate, but the elevation gain is underestimated.
2) Moving time of just 1h18'. I'm really skeptical about that. The GPS device used might not be reliable.
On top of that, GPS can be a bit inaccurate when you're at the bottom of a valley, with steep slopes blocking the view of some satellites.
Anyway, my map shows the trail descends to 3,400 m (consistent with Namche Bazar) at its lowest point before the climb to Kongde.
Either way, 721 m or 850 m of elevation gain isn’t a casual stroll, even if you're acclimatized.
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?
I’m thinking of doing the O Circuit or the full W in Torres del Paine—I already did the W about ten years ago.
I’ve got a few questions:
- Do I really need to book everything well in advance?
- What’s the budget for overnight stays if I’ll have a tent and be on my own?
- What temperature rating should my sleeping bag have for comfort?
- Do I need any special gear for the hike? I’ve got low-cut shoes.
And finally, is there a place where I can leave my bike during the hike?
My partner, our daughter, and I are planning a walking trip to Madagascar in July-August 2027.
We’d love any tips or info you can share about this plan.
Which regions should we prioritize?
Is a local guide better than a well-established agency?
Where’s the best place to buy our flight tickets from Réunion?
Thanks for your input!
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
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
