Hi everyone,

I’m finalizing my trip plans for Sumatra in June. I’m trying to lock in a trek (around 5 days), but I’m not really finding what I’m looking for.

The idea is to really go "off the beaten path" (I’m not a fan of the phrase since it’s lost all meaning, but anyway...). However, I’m struggling to find destinations or programs that are even slightly original.

We’re leaning toward a jungle trek starting from Ketambe—it seems nice in itself, but it feels a bit repetitive. All the guides offer the same packages: stops at fixed camps, you settle in, walk around the camp, eat, sleep, then move on the next day for 2-3 hours with the same routine. After all my research, I feel like I’ve already seen it all because every guide and tourist posts the same photos (hollow tree, hot springs, etc.).

Anyway, do you know of a guide or agency that offers a *real* trek (meaning you walk all day until you find a spot for the night, from a starting point A to an endpoint B) in an area that’s a little different from where everyone else goes? (Gunung Leuser or similar, though for transport and time reasons, I’d ideally like to stay in northern Sumatra.)

Thanks, and if you have any good tips about anything related to Sumatra, I’m all ears.

Have a great day,

Hi everyone. I’m planning a trip to Thailand for November. We loved the treks we did in Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar so much that we’d like to repeat the experience in Northern Thailand. Most travelers who go trekking do it around Chiang Mai. But wouldn’t it be better to do it somewhere else (Chiang Rai?) to get a bit more authenticity? Any tips would be welcome (agency, guide, route, etc.). Thanks for your feedback!

Hi there, I’m planning to do the full Cañón del Colca trek in 3 stages (Cabanaconde/Llahuar/Sagalle/San Juan/Cabanaconde), if the weather allows it, of course. Are trekking poles allowed in Peru? I don’t want to carry them unnecessarily. (I don’t have rubber tips since they’re trail-running poles.) Do you have any tips on accommodations? Should I book in advance, or is there always somewhere to stay? (I’ll be there at the end of October or in November.) All advice and tips are welcome! Thanks

Hi there, I’m ready to set off on the Peaks of the Balkans trek from June 18 to July 3. I’m used to long distances, elevation gain, and self-sufficiency. The last thing holding me back is overcrowding. Have any of you done it recently? Could you give me some insight on that and any other tips that might be useful? I’ll be arriving in Tirana, and any advice on getting to Theth would be a huge help too. Thanks for your replies. Alain

Hi everyone!

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)?

Thanks in advance for your advice! 🙂

Hello, We’re heading to Laos in December 2025, and we want to do a multi-day trek—maybe even a week—to really take our time and make stops in villages since we’ll have our 3-year-old daughter with us.

We’re torn between the Luang Namtha region or Phongsaly for our big trek. We’re looking for the least touristy spot possible, we love mountains, so we’d like an area with varied landscapes, including rice paddies, and a chance to really connect with local ethnic groups. We’re after authenticity and only want to stay with locals. Which of the two should we prioritize? Any advice would be welcome to help us decide—it’s tough when you don’t know the area! Maybe there are other spots in the north worth considering for a beautiful week-long trek.

Thanks, fellow travelers

I’m heading to Nepal at the end of April 2026 with my brother, the two kids, and my mom. My mom is 75, in good shape, she walks but isn’t a big sports enthusiast. My daughter is 16, she’s not really into hiking but with the right vibe, she’ll step up. I’m looking for a 5-6 day trek that’s not too difficult—around 4-5 hours of walking and 500-600m of elevation gain per day. What’s our goal? Well, like everyone, we’d love something not too crowded. We want to experience Nepali village life away from the main routes—terraced fields, all that. Some encounters, authenticity, sharing... And if we can catch a glimpse of some high peaks, even better. Any suggestions?

Hello, We’re planning a family trip (4 strong hikers, all adults) to Kashmir-Ladakh in August 2026! We’d like to explore and do some treks—challenging but without technical difficulty (we’re not mountaineers).

To start, do you have any tips or recommendations for 4- to 6-day treks in Himalayan landscapes? Which town or village should we start from? We’ll figure out how to get there later. Should we hire a local guide?

We’re just starting to organize, so we’re open to all your advice. Is it possible to spend a few days in a monastery?

Thanks so much for your replies! See you soon,

Laurent

Hi there,

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,

Hey everyone!

I’d like to explore the northeast of Madagascar, using bush taxis, boats, and my own two feet.

I already have an ideal itinerary in mind, but I’d love to know if it’s doable at a relaxed pace in one month. The goal, of course, is to avoid being constantly focused on time and days and to travel spontaneously.

I’m aware that the roads are rough and there are a lot of unexpected delays, which isn’t a problem in itself. I just struggle to estimate the *time* it takes to get between stops.

Potential itinerary:

Tana – Sainte Marie Island (4 days) – Maroantsetra (3 days) – Masoala Park (8-day trek?) – Antalaha – Marojejy Park (3 days) – Ambilobe – Nosy Be (5 days) – Tana

The days listed are just rough averages. Cities don’t interest me, and I don’t plan to visit Tana.

I’d really appreciate any info or tips from you all! 😊

Thanks in advance,

Romain

Hello,

I'm planning to travel from Matsumoto to Tsumago to hike to Magome. Is it reasonable to leave early in the morning from Matsumoto by train, stop in Narai for a stroll (knowing we'll have our big backpacks, I hope there's a luggage locker at the station), and then continue to Tsumago to do the hike to Magome?

Or is it better to stop and sleep halfway in Kiso-Fukushima? (I looked for accommodations in Narai but couldn't find any.)

Thanks in advance for your advice.

hi everyone, and so glad Voyage Forum is back up and running! my partner and I, along with some friends, are planning a trip to Peru in May 2025. I’ve got some questions about the Machu Picchu excursion. we’re in our 60s and 70s, and while we’re pretty fit at European altitudes, I’m a bit worried about hiking above 2,500 m! that’s why we didn’t hesitate to skip the 4-day Inca Trail trek. but I’m wondering about the 2-day "short Inca Trail" offered by some agencies—basically one day of hiking with visits to a few sites, and the second day, the classic Machu Picchu visit. has anyone done it? do you need to be in top shape? thanks for your tips

Hello, I’m heading to Réunion in early October with my girlfriend for two weeks. Out of the 15 days, we’d like to do about 5 days of hiking—maybe a 3-day/2-night trek and two day hikes.

I’ve seen tons of hiking options online, but I’m a bit overwhelmed when it comes to choosing. Hikes like the Tour de Mafate trek, Piton des Neiges, Piton de la Fournaise… we’d love to do those too.

We’ll have a rental car if needed. No problem walking for 6 hours a day (we’re pretty active).

Which hikes would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

We’re planning a 3-week trip to Laos, focusing solely on the north. Our main goal is to do two 4-day treks in two different areas of Northern Laos.

We land in Bangkok on December 12th and will head straight to Chiang Mai before crossing into northern Laos at Huay Xai. Our journey will start there, ending in Vientiane, with a stop in Luang Prabang and the surrounding area. We’ll then take a night train from Udon Thani on December 30th to catch our flight back in Bangkok.

Right now, we’re mainly looking for reliable contacts to organize our two treks. From what we’ve read so far, trekking options exist around Luang Namtha, Phongsali (if it’s not too cold during that period, since we’ll have our 3-year-old daughter with us), or near Muang Ngoi and Nong Khiaw, as we’ve seen there are possibilities in that area too.

If we can organize both treks with the same contact, that would be perfect.

We’d prefer to avoid big agencies with a high-street presence and instead work directly with a local who knows their stuff and can give us good advice. We want to combine stunning landscapes (we love hiking) with cultural encounters in local villages.

We’d love to hear your tips and experiences—maybe some areas are better than others, less crowded, or more challenging (though we’re keeping in mind our 3-year-old, who’s used to hiking but we don’t want to put her in any danger).

That’s the gist of our plans for now! Looking forward to hearing from you, fellow travelers

Hello, A few years ago, I visited Nepal. I have wonderful memories of it. My friend (77) and I (73) would like to go back. We’re still in good shape! But let’s not exaggerate either. So, we’re looking for a relaxed trek in the mid-mountains, in touch with the local people, passing near monasteries, and with beautiful views of the peaks. And no agencies! Can you give us some tips? Thanks a million

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

Hey everyone! I’m heading to Morocco in 2 weeks to climb M'Goun. Which side is the most practical for logistics, please? I’ll be hiring a muleteer/cook. I’m torn between starting from the Happy Valley (Agouti, Aït Bouguemez) or the southern slope (Skoura, Kalaat El M'Gouna). I tried to go 5 years ago, 2 weeks before COVID, and ended up switching to Siroua based on Willempsie’s advice, given the season... but mid-May should be fine now, right? Thanks for your help, Pacoloco

Hi there, This August, I hiked the Vosges section (Vosges massif) of the GR5 (Lauterbourg-Wissembourg-gr53-gr5-Belfort) using the TopoGuide "Traversée du Massif des Vosges" (ref 502, April 2024 edition). My experience was partly ruined by a few things I feel I should share here to help others avoid the same pitfalls—or at least disappointments.

Having used "TopoGuide" books before, I’d always trusted them for organizing treks lasting several weeks, or even months.

Beyond the satisfactory mapping (reproductions of IGN 1:25,000 maps), these guides include route descriptions that are usually enough to find your way. On that point, I have no serious criticism of the Vosges crossing guide.

In addition to the route details, the guide provides "average" time estimates for traveling from point A to point B—useful info for gauging effort and planning likely stages. However, I eventually realized I couldn’t rely on these time estimates. I’d assumed they were calculated by the FFRP, considering that 100m of positive elevation gain roughly equals 1km on flat terrain, with an average walking speed of 4km/h. So, I’d recommend anyone using this guide to recalculate all the time estimates to avoid nasty surprises on tight stages. 🤪

Another key feature of the guide, in my opinion, is its info on accommodation options—especially budget-friendly ones suited for long-distance hikers on a tight budget. A section called "préparation des étapes" includes a table with a column meant to highlight "refuges" and "gîtes d'étapes." That column had me feeling optimistic: these budget accommodations were listed as plentiful along the route. After all, we were in the territory of the famous Club Vosgien—it made sense there’d be plenty of hiker-friendly lodging options. The reality on the ground was quite different. The TopoGuide wasn’t really to blame here, except that a serious warning wouldn’t have hurt. First, regarding the "refuges," most were run by associations. With rare exceptions, the volunteers only opened them on weekends. You can’t really blame people for not volunteering on weekdays, but it makes things tricky when the info about weekend-only openings often turns out to be wrong. As for the "gîtes d'étape," I was mostly disappointed when I was told that a place was booked for weeks: the vast majority of what was listed as a "gîte d'étape" turned out to be "gîtes ruraux." The advice here? If you don’t want to—or can’t—camp, double-check all the accommodation details before you set off. It’s time-consuming and tedious, but if you can, camping is still the best option. 😐 On a brighter note, during the first part of my trip, I came across several cabins that offered alternatives to camping. 🙂

P.S.: Even the youth hostel in Saverne was closed in the middle of August... 😕

Hi everyone! We’re planning a 15-day road trip to Scotland this summer, specifically to explore and hike on Lewis and Harris—places we’ve never been before. We’ve visited other islands on previous road trips in Scotland (we usually go in April for a week). This would be our first time in Scotland in the summer and for 15 days. We’re looking at late August to early September.

I’m currently drafting the itinerary. We’d be crossing from Ullapool and were thinking of spending 3 nights on Harris and 4 nights on Lewis.

Does that sound balanced to you? Is it better to keep the same accommodation on Harris and the same on Lewis to explore the area? I’d love to hear about any past experiences you’ve had on these islands. Thanks!

Hi there. I’ve hiked the GR trail mentioned in the title from Wissembourg all the way to Menton. Now I’ve got the section from Wissembourg to Rotterdam left. But I can’t find any maps for this route—I’m looking for someone who’s done this part of the trail. Thanks in advance! 😊

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Rwanda with a focus on hiking and using local transport. Could anyone share or confirm the entrance fees for the national parks? - Volcanoes National Park: Is it possible to visit without the $1,500 gorilla trek? - Nyungwe Forest National Park - Akagera National Park: $100 per person per day + $40 for a car

Is there an entrance fee for the Congo Nile Trail? If anyone has great tips or recommendations for this trail and other hikes in the country, I’d love to hear them. Thanks so much!

Hi, I’d like some advice on doing the Camino de Santiago—or part of it—from the Basque Country. Best,

Hi there, I’d love some tips for visiting the Chocó region near the Pacific in Colombia. I’m assuming I’ll fly in... Where should I stay? Where can I walk in the forest (without a guide)? Where can I see wildlife, go diving, hiking, and what are the best places to stay? Also, how do I get around, etc.? Thanks in advance! Bernard

Hello,

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

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!

hi there,

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

Hi everyone,

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?

Thanks in advance!

Caro

Hi there, my partner and I want to hike the GR34 over several years, in stages of 8 to 10 days of walking during May or June. We're 53 and 55, pretty fit, and used to hiking. Our goal is to complete the whole trail starting from Mont Saint-Michel, but maybe some sections aren’t worth it? So I’ve got a few questions about logistics: - backpack size and what essentials to pack - where to sleep affordably (camping, hotels, or a mix?) Thanks for your tips!

Is wild camping possible? Are there campsites and places to restock along the way, and is water available? Thanks for your answers! Pierrick

Hi there, We’re planning a two-week hiking trip to Santo Antão. We’ve been before three years ago through an agency, but this time we want to organize the trip ourselves. Regarding homestays, especially places like ex Casa Luciano or Cha de Feijão at Dona Antona’s—is it possible to book ahead? I can’t find any contact details. If not, what happens if there’s no availability? Do we pay in euros or escudos? Also, is it possible to get meals and a packed lunch for the next day? We’re heading to Cha de Morte first, then want to visit the volcano, and continue toward the northeast of the island (we prefer the green areas!). Thanks for your tips! 😊