Back in the "travel journal" section to share our 15-day discovery of Kenya in November 2024. It was pretty much our first time in East Africa (since Zanzibar doesn’t really count 😅).

Hello everyone,

I’d like to invite you to discover Kenya with us again.

Back in 2010, my husband Ben and I fell in love with Kenya, and we’ve been traveling there regularly ever since. This new safari in 2025 marked the first weeks of a major milestone in my life: retirement.

This was my first time returning to Japan since the COVID lockdown. My trips are always intense. We're not here to relax. We're here to explore, mingle with locals, be welcomed into associations and museums, and discover things most people wouldn’t even suspect exist on the other side of the world.

So, off we go on a somewhat adventurous trip with three domestic flights (two on the first day and one on the last day), two overnight bus rides to make short hops, several car rentals, the services of multiple drivers to improve travel comfort, and even a tour operator for crossing the Salar...

This monastery is stunning and houses immense treasures. It’s located at the tip of the peninsula near the Mekong. It’s one of the most beautiful in Luang Prabang. The temple walls are covered in mosaics. Its façade is gilded on a richly decorated red background.

It’s time to catch up with the VF buddies and wish you all my best for 2026—a year I obviously hope will be full of travel for you, since, as the saying I just made up goes: "If travel’s good, everything’s good" 😄.

So to celebrate, I’m inviting you to my new "travel journal," the one from our last trip in November 2025, which lasted a couple of weeks.

Nisyros is a stunning little Greek island, and luckily, it’s well hidden. Located a good twenty hours by boat from Athens, its distance from the Greek mainland puts most tourists off visiting. That’s what makes it such an off-the-beaten-path destination.

Travel is, above all, a story of encounters. Those that inspire us, guide us, and make us dream. That’s why we’re happy to announce a partnership between Petit Futé and VoyageForum—two worlds that share the same passion: travel as lived and told by those who truly set off.

While planning a trip to the LOFOTEN for summer 2023 using the excellent guide *"Randonner aux Lofoten"*, we discovered this trek.

Sure, it’s rated as difficult, but it lets you cross the LOFOTEN on foot from north to south in 11 stages, covering 160 km and 9,193 m of elevation gain (or the reverse, of course).

So, it’s a multi-day hike, with wild camping, and no need to rent a car. Awesome...

February 9th is a pivotal day during my trip to Thailand. Up until that date, my focus had been on cities, temples, and other urban landmarks. Starting February 10th, I’ll finally leave the city behind for the outskirts—places with a different pace of life, farther from tourism, more genuine, more authentic... Then comes the idyllic surroundings of Chiang Mai, nature, the countryside, the mountains...

The setting is gorgeous—a stunning, well-maintained tropical garden with a lovely pool. You can also book massages. The cottages have a tropical style with living roofs, simple and no frills.

Traveling is so much more than just moving from point A to point B. It’s about immersing yourself in a culture, discovering unique places, and living authentic experiences. With the Henri Trip app, every destination unfolds in a new light thanks to guides crafted by local experts 😉

These guides offer a unique approach to travel:

A thoughtfully designed itinerary: Whether you want to visit the must-see classics or venture off the beaten path, each destination is presented with the perfect balance between must-sees and hidden gems. Total immersion: With built-in audio guides, listen to the stories behind the places, uncover their secrets, and let yourself be carried away by captivating narratives. No more reading signs or searching for explanations—you’re guided step by step. Stress-free travel: Say goodbye to endless research and on-the-spot hesitation. With practical tips and local recommendations, your trip becomes smoother and more enjoyable. You’ll know where to go, when to go, and how to make the most of it.

Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, the Henri Trip app is the perfect travel companion to turn every adventure into a rewarding and unforgettable experience🌍. henritrip

Autumn is the perfect season to visit Corsica: fewer tourists, ideal temperatures around 25°C, and most importantly, less stress on the roads. You can feel it everywhere. Servers and shopkeepers are more relaxed and have time to chat...

A difficult period came to an end in 2022. Many of us started taking big trips again after only making small ones—or none at all. The joy of traveling again probably brought back smiles that some vacationers hadn’t dared to show before!

Hello everyone,

We’re thrilled to officially announce the reopening of VoyageForum, now under the MyAtlas Group banner (click here to learn more about the acquisition of VoyageForum)! After four long years of closure, VoyageForum and its community are finally coming back to life! 🙂

Starting next week, we’ll begin sending out the newsletter announcing the forum’s reopening to all registered members, gradually over several weeks. This approach will give us enough time to train the new team while ensuring the new site server runs smoothly. So, please bear with us a few more weeks before the forum returns to its pre-2020 levels of traffic and participation.

We have plenty of ideas to not only grow VoyageForum further but also make it more financially stable. It’s important to note that the forum’s closure in 2020 was due to a lack of profitability following the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. We’re committed to doing everything we can to prevent this financial situation from happening again, while ensuring a good balance between user experience and displaying our partners’ offers on the site.

We’d also like to publicly thank François Boucher, the founder of VoyageForum, for not only creating VoyageForum in 2002 and managing it for so many years with his team, but also for recognizing the skills within MyAtlas Group to ensure a smooth transition and continued development of the site. François will continue to collaborate with us for at least a few more months, mainly handling the technical aspects (programming and server management) and training the new team. Thanks again, François, for everything! 🙂

We can’t wait to see VoyageForum come back to life, with thousands of travelers helping each other, sharing great tips, and celebrating their passion for travel! Dear VoyageForum members, it’s now your turn to breathe new life into the forum by coming back regularly to share your travel experiences. Welcome back to your travel forum, and we look forward to seeing you all in large numbers! 🙂

Happy travels,

Hervé Degauchy, President of MyAtlas Group

Majorque est décrit comme un écrin naturel, à base de criques turquoises, montagnes plongeant dans la mer, petits villages, plantations d'agrumes... Et de très beau coin à plongée, notamment pas mal de grottes autour du Cap de Formentor. Destination parfaite pour allier plaisir des enfants et des parents.

Here we go, the big day has finally arrived. A trip eagerly awaited by the whole family (my two kids, my husband, and me). To keep it short, we left Nice and arrived in Namibia on June 25, 2025, then left again on the 21st—so four weeks later.

Hi everyone!

That was about all the Spanish I could say before we left... Luckily, Tom, 15 and in high school, gets by really well! And Caroline did a year of Duolingo before we left... Anyway, after 55 days in the American West three years ago, it’s Mexico’s turn for this second long trip.

Ah, Iceland and us—it’s a long story, or rather, a long wait... The first time we considered going was already 7-8 years ago, after reading travel journals describing breathtaking landscapes, countless active or dormant volcanoes, glaciers, and endless waterfalls with extraordinary flows.

Hello everyone. Because that’s also what sparks the desire for any traveler (well, for me at least) to set foot on Australian soil: discovering a new continent.

Dear Voyage Forum members,

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of François Boucher, founder of Voyage Forum.

Like many, Iceland has been a real love affair for me for many years now. My first trip was in February 2016, when there were five of us—including our three daughters, who were 1, 6, and 5 at the time. It was a very short stay with just one accommodation north of the capital.

We explored the south, from Vik to Grindavik, and of course, I was left wanting more.

The Empire State Trail is a 900 km route specifically designed for biking, with 75% on dedicated bike paths. First, it follows the Erie Canal to Albany, then heads down the Hudson Valley all the way to the tip of Manhattan.

This autumn 2025, I’m off on my 11th trip to Japan. I’ve neglected the south for too long, so like last year, it’s my main destination. After the 2017 and 2024 travel journals, I’m heading to the Japan most tourists don’t see—all by public transport, of course.

New landscapes, a radically different climate, unknown dishes... Is it really surprising that I associate all these elements with the urge to travel?

As we’ve said many times, 10 days is pretty short for Brazil! But it’s still enough for a “little introduction.” My very recent experience (April 2025) with a 2½-week itinerary might give you some ideas.

Bonjour à tous,

En tant que fondateur de VoyageForum, c'est avec une immense joie que je vous fais part du communiqué de presse ci-dessous.

Amiens - 28 août 2024

MyAtlas Group poursuit ses acquisitions en rachetant le plus grand forum de voyage francophone, VoyageForum.com

MyAtlas Group, une startup amiénoise spécialisée dans les sites communautaires de voyage, annonce l'acquisition du site VoyageForum.com, un vaste forum avec une communauté de 1,3 million de membres, 550 000 discussions, 6,1 millions de messages et des guides voyage contenant 14 000 lieux à voir. Cette opération, réalisée grâce à une augmentation de capital et au soutien de Bpifrance et FranceActive, permet à MyAtlas Group de renforcer considérablement sa communauté de voyageurs, qui passe de 200 000 à plus de 1,5 million de membres francophones. La réouverture officielle du forum est prévue courant septembre 2024, après quatre ans de fermeture due aux impacts de la pandémie de covid-19.

Lancée en 2016, MyAtlas.com est une plateforme communautaire permettant de créer des carnets de voyage que les utilisateurs peuvent ensuite transformer en livres photo. En 2021, le site a été racheté par Hervé Degauchy, un utilisateur passionné et globe-trotter, afin de le sauver de la fermeture. Son ambition est de dynamiser le secteur du tourisme en donnant davantage de place aux voyageurs, transformant ces derniers en contributeurs actifs plutôt qu'en simples spectateurs.

Avec cette acquisition, MyAtlas Group vise à devenir le plus grand carrefour de services et de guides voyage communautaires, offrant une riche plateforme d'échanges et de partages pour les passionnés de voyages du monde francophone.

Cliquez ici pour lire l'acticle au sujet de l'acquisition de VoyageForum sur le site MyAtlas.com.

C'est une excellente nouvelle pour VoyageForum, car MyAtlas Group apporte non seulement des fonds qui permettront de rouvrir le forum d'ici quelques semaines, mais aussi une fantastique équipe de passionnés de voyages qui dispose déjà d'une solide expérience dans la gestion de sites communautaires sur les voyages. Honnêtement, nous n'aurions pu espérer mieux pour la continuité de VoyageForum! 🙂

C'est vraiment formidable de pouvoir vous annoncer que VoyageForum a réussi à survivre à sa longue fermeture et qu'il reprendra vie très bientôt. Il nous reste à changer le serveur du site et, si tout se passe bien, nous serons prêts à rouvrir le forum au cours du mois de septembre!

J'en profite pour remercier encore une fois tous ceux qui ont participé à la collecte de fonds de novembre 2020. Vous avez contribué de manière significative à la survie de VoyageForum, car les fonds amassés ont permis de couvrir une bonne partie des frais d'hébergement du site pendant sa longue fermeture. Merci encore! 🙂

Je tiens à remercier également du fond du coeur tous les membres qui ont participé aux discussions sur VoyageForum depuis tant d'années. Je repense aux superbes échanges que j'ai lus sur le forum, à tous ces magnifiques carnets de voyage postés sur le forum, à tous ces moments partagés virtuellement et parfois en personne lors des rencontres VoyageForum à travers le monde. Que de merveilleux souvenirs! Je remercie aussi infiniment tous les membres de l'ancienne équipe de VoyageForum; vous avez été absolument formidables et ce fut pour moi un immense plaisir et un honneur de travailler avec vous au quotidien pendant autant d'années. Merci infiniment, chers collègues! 🙂

De mon côté, je me suis engagé à accompagner et à former la nouvelle équipe pendant les prochains mois afin que la transition se fasse en douceur. Après cette période, je ne sais pas encore quels projets et aventures la vie me réservera.

Voilà donc, après 22 ans à créer, programmer, gérer et administrer VoyageForum, c'est avec une grande confiance et beaucoup d'enthousiasme que je passe le flambeau à l'équipe de MyAtlas Group et plus particulièrement à son propriétaire, Hervé Degauchy, ainsi qu'à sa femme, Domie. Un grand merci à tous les deux d'avoir autant à coeur la continuité de VoyageForum!

Bien cordialement,

François Boucher, fondateur de VoyageForum

La Côte-Nord, reconnue pour sa nature grandiose, est l'endroit idéal pour les amateurs de plein air puisque l'on peut y pratiquer plusieurs activités telles que la randonnée pédestre, l'observation de la faune, le kayak de mer ainsi que la pêche et la chasse (pour n'en nommer que quelques-uns).

It's hard not to be charmed. The historic center is compact, so you can wander around, get lost (well, sort of—it's on a grid layout ;)), all on foot or by bike. There's plenty to keep you busy for several days if you want to take your time and slow down a bit.

Here’s my feedback from my trip to Slovakia this summer. It’s a really great destination, still off the beaten tourist track, and perfect if you love historic sites and hiking. Budget-friendly too!