A 4-month travel journal of a family with two kids aged 9 and 11 across the Americas, spring-summer 2025.
US, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil.
link to our blog
More of a journal with descriptions, encounters, light reflections, and photos than a travel blog featuring photos of a young woman in shorts on a dune or by the side of a road, shot from behind with a hat and a mug.
Hi there! I’m Simon, and for years I’ve been exploring some of Europe’s most beautiful and well-equipped bike paths. My passion for cycling led me to start a blog where I share my travel impressions, practical tips, and photos taken along the way. I ride both well-known routes like the Alpe-Adria, the Loire à Vélo, and the Rhein Route, as well as lesser-known but equally charming regions.
In my stories, I pay special attention to the quality of infrastructure, cyclist safety, and route accessibility—for young and old, experienced riders and beginners alike. I love discovering and sharing spots that are truly welcoming for cycle tourists: well-marked, with rest areas and easy train access.
On the blog, you’ll find ready-to-follow route suggestions, tips for preparing your bike trips, and plenty of inspiration for your next adventures. I travel with my panniers, a camera in the front bag, and always keep an eye out for what’s around me. Feel free to check out my blog, Cycling Thread—you might find some ideas for your next bike getaway! :-)
* * *
I hope this won’t just be a one-off post—I’ll try to share our bike trips with you here regularly. To start: our May trip on the Elberadweg, the queen of German bike paths, between the stunning city of Dresden and Magdeburg. I invite you to visit:
Elberadweg in Germany – From Dresden to Magdeburg
The Elbe bike path is about 1200 km long, following the river from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to its mouth in Cuxhaven, on the North Sea. The route crosses a variety of landscapes: mountain valleys, vineyards, open plains, and coastline. As is often the case in Germany, the signage is excellent and the route easy to follow.
But what surprised us was the number of cobblestone sections! Sure, the cobblestones are well-laid and fairly smooth—but they’re still cobblestones. And when they disappear, they’re often replaced by concrete slabs, typical of river dikes. That’s just part of the face of this 30-year-old "queen"—a heritage that’s hard to replace entirely with fresh asphalt.
Along the way, don’t miss the many cultural highlights. Dresden impresses with its restored old town, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terraces along the Elbe—it’s one of Germany’s most elegant cities. In Meissen, you can visit the famous porcelain factory and its Gothic cathedral. Wittenberg is a must-stop to follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps, with its castle church and Reformation Museum. And to finish, in Dessau-Roßlau, besides the Bauhaus, don’t miss the stunning Dessau-Wörlitz landscape gardens—one of the oldest English-style parks in Europe.
A few photos to give you a feel for the route and inspire you to check out our blog! :-)
Happy cycling!
Simon
In my stories, I pay special attention to the quality of infrastructure, cyclist safety, and route accessibility—for young and old, experienced riders and beginners alike. I love discovering and sharing spots that are truly welcoming for cycle tourists: well-marked, with rest areas and easy train access.
On the blog, you’ll find ready-to-follow route suggestions, tips for preparing your bike trips, and plenty of inspiration for your next adventures. I travel with my panniers, a camera in the front bag, and always keep an eye out for what’s around me. Feel free to check out my blog, Cycling Thread—you might find some ideas for your next bike getaway! :-)
* * *
I hope this won’t just be a one-off post—I’ll try to share our bike trips with you here regularly. To start: our May trip on the Elberadweg, the queen of German bike paths, between the stunning city of Dresden and Magdeburg. I invite you to visit:
Elberadweg in Germany – From Dresden to Magdeburg
The Elbe bike path is about 1200 km long, following the river from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to its mouth in Cuxhaven, on the North Sea. The route crosses a variety of landscapes: mountain valleys, vineyards, open plains, and coastline. As is often the case in Germany, the signage is excellent and the route easy to follow.
But what surprised us was the number of cobblestone sections! Sure, the cobblestones are well-laid and fairly smooth—but they’re still cobblestones. And when they disappear, they’re often replaced by concrete slabs, typical of river dikes. That’s just part of the face of this 30-year-old "queen"—a heritage that’s hard to replace entirely with fresh asphalt.
Along the way, don’t miss the many cultural highlights. Dresden impresses with its restored old town, the Frauenkirche, and the Brühl Terraces along the Elbe—it’s one of Germany’s most elegant cities. In Meissen, you can visit the famous porcelain factory and its Gothic cathedral. Wittenberg is a must-stop to follow in Martin Luther’s footsteps, with its castle church and Reformation Museum. And to finish, in Dessau-Roßlau, besides the Bauhaus, don’t miss the stunning Dessau-Wörlitz landscape gardens—one of the oldest English-style parks in Europe.
A few photos to give you a feel for the route and inspire you to check out our blog! :-)
Happy cycling!
Simon
We decided to leave.
To drop everything and try the adventure. The real deal? Not quite. We did some planning, skimmed through travel guides, and booked 4 nights.
But most importantly, we have a return flight.
The adventure has an end date. Like in any neat story, the parenthesis will close. The memory-making machine will run, feeding us for a while. For a long time, we hope. Helping us grow. But we know the machine will stop, leaving its faint scent lingering in our orderly lives, like a footprint in the sand.
Read more here: our blog
To drop everything and try the adventure. The real deal? Not quite. We did some planning, skimmed through travel guides, and booked 4 nights.
But most importantly, we have a return flight.
The adventure has an end date. Like in any neat story, the parenthesis will close. The memory-making machine will run, feeding us for a while. For a long time, we hope. Helping us grow. But we know the machine will stop, leaving its faint scent lingering in our orderly lives, like a footprint in the sand.
Read more here: our blog
Hi everyone,
At the end of October 2024, we were lucky enough to spend a little over a week in Turkey—heading to Antalya. We then set off on a 6-day road trip exploring southern and western Turkey! Since planning a trip isn’t always easy, we’re sharing our itinerary and feedback on the different places we visited.
With a few photos, we hope to wow you 😎!
Here’s our loop itinerary starting from Antalya (a packed schedule, but it let us see so much):
Day 1 - Antalya (Kaleiçi, the historic center of Antalya) and Lara Beach
Day 2 - The Lycian site of Myra and the port of Kaş
Day 3 - The Turquoise Coast: Kaputaş Beach, the beach and dunes of Patara, the Saklıkent Canyon, the “ghost village” of Kayaköy, the ruins of Telmessos, and the Tomb of Amyntas
Day 4 - The Iztuzu Beach and the village of Şirince
Day 5 - The ancient city of Ephesus and the rural village of Birgi
Day 6 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis, then the seaside resort of Side before returning to Antalya (Day 7 in the morning).
So, does this make you want to take a little road trip in Turkey or what 😉?
For each visit, we’ve shared on our personal blog https://ideesdevoyage.fr (type it directly into your address bar) the practical info you need to know (hours, prices, etc.), but most importantly, tips to make the most of your visit (where to park for free, how to avoid crowds, the best time for great lighting, must-see photo spots, and more).
We hope this itinerary and our tips will inspire you and help you plan your future trip to southern and western Turkey.
If you’d like to react or have any questions, don’t hesitate!
At the end of October 2024, we were lucky enough to spend a little over a week in Turkey—heading to Antalya. We then set off on a 6-day road trip exploring southern and western Turkey! Since planning a trip isn’t always easy, we’re sharing our itinerary and feedback on the different places we visited.
With a few photos, we hope to wow you 😎!
Here’s our loop itinerary starting from Antalya (a packed schedule, but it let us see so much):
Day 1 - Antalya (Kaleiçi, the historic center of Antalya) and Lara Beach
Day 2 - The Lycian site of Myra and the port of Kaş
Day 3 - The Turquoise Coast: Kaputaş Beach, the beach and dunes of Patara, the Saklıkent Canyon, the “ghost village” of Kayaköy, the ruins of Telmessos, and the Tomb of Amyntas
Day 4 - The Iztuzu Beach and the village of Şirince
Day 5 - The ancient city of Ephesus and the rural village of Birgi
Day 6 - Pamukkale and Hierapolis, then the seaside resort of Side before returning to Antalya (Day 7 in the morning).
So, does this make you want to take a little road trip in Turkey or what 😉?
For each visit, we’ve shared on our personal blog https://ideesdevoyage.fr (type it directly into your address bar) the practical info you need to know (hours, prices, etc.), but most importantly, tips to make the most of your visit (where to park for free, how to avoid crowds, the best time for great lighting, must-see photo spots, and more).
We hope this itinerary and our tips will inspire you and help you plan your future trip to southern and western Turkey.
If you’d like to react or have any questions, don’t hesitate!
Hi there,
We traveled to Norway in early March 2024 for a 10-day winter trip and visited Tromsø, Kvaløya, Sommarøy, part of Senja, and then spent 6 days in the Lofoten Islands.
Here’s my feedback, on my blog Hellolemonde:
- A practical guide and tips for seeing the northern lights without a guide: https://hellolemonde.fr/10-jours-tromso-aux-iles-lofoten-en-mars/
- Articles on each stop here: https://hellolemonde.fr/tromso-lofoten-en-hiver-articles/
Don’t hesitate if you have any questions—I’d be happy to answer! ;)
- A practical guide and tips for seeing the northern lights without a guide: https://hellolemonde.fr/10-jours-tromso-aux-iles-lofoten-en-mars/
- Articles on each stop here: https://hellolemonde.fr/tromso-lofoten-en-hiver-articles/
Don’t hesitate if you have any questions—I’d be happy to answer! ;)
✈️ One-month itinerary idea for Laos 🇱🇦
We’re sharing this trip from July 2024—a pretty classic route for a first visit to Laos. An amazing country that’s still authentic and just starting to embrace tourism. Hope this gives some ideas to anyone thinking of heading to Southeast Asia!
You can check out our day-by-day adventure on our travel journal. There are plenty of photos there too.
We’re sharing this trip from July 2024—a pretty classic route for a first visit to Laos. An amazing country that’s still authentic and just starting to embrace tourism. Hope this gives some ideas to anyone thinking of heading to Southeast Asia!
You can check out our day-by-day adventure on our travel journal. There are plenty of photos there too.
Hey fellow travelers! For those of you drawn to Mexico, I put together this little site to share our 49-day trip in January 2026. (Give it a few seconds to fully load—you’ll see there are tons of photos, tips, and more!) Happy travels! https://noemarphil6.wixsite.com/voyagesdenoemarphil
we just got back from 3 weeks in Cambodia with a custom trip organized by the Siem Reap agency; from the start, the agency understood our way of traveling and created an itinerary perfectly tailored to our needs. Of course, we visited tourist spots, but we also stayed with locals, met artisans, and explored markets where not a single tourist goes. We were pampered from beginning to end—the agency responded quickly to our questions throughout the trip. The French-speaking guides were fantastic: attentive, highly knowledgeable, and always accompanied by punctual drivers with little thoughtful touches. The hotels they chose matched our preferences, and the pace we wanted was respected, with some more relaxed days. If you'd like to check out my blog, here's the link: https://www.myatlas.com/blogueusedesbaous/le-cambodge-une-immersion-en-indochine.
And don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything!
Hi there, my partner and I did a road trip in Oman in January 2025 with a 4x4 and a rooftop tent. We only slept in free spots out in nature. It’s essential to have a 4x4 to experience this. The *Oman Off Road* book was a huge help—we bought it locally. I’ve written up our whole adventure and shared all our tips on my blog, including GPS coordinates to help you find campsites or even cross the desert on your own. Here’s the link: https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2025/02/notre-itineraire-de-10-jours-oman-en.html
✈️ One-month Vietnam itinerary from North to Central 🇻🇳
We’re sharing this trip from July 2019—our first time traveling around like this. It’s pretty classic, but it’s a great way to start discovering this amazing country that is Vietnam. Hopefully, it’ll give some ideas to those who’d like to head to Southeast Asia!
Our little adventure is detailed in our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos there.
We’re sharing this trip from July 2019—our first time traveling around like this. It’s pretty classic, but it’s a great way to start discovering this amazing country that is Vietnam. Hopefully, it’ll give some ideas to those who’d like to head to Southeast Asia!
Our little adventure is detailed in our travel journal, written day by day. You’ll find lots of photos there.
We went on a safari in Tanzania from February 7th, 2026, to February 17th, 2026. It remains a wonderful memory. There were six of us in the group. Here’s the itinerary and the images that are still etched in our minds:
02/07/2026 – 6:40 AM – 8:30 PM – Flight from LYON to ARUSHA
02/08/2026 – Day 2 – MATURENI Waterfall – Coffee making and tasting at a plantation – Day 2 video (you may need to click "BROWSE YOUTUBE")
02/09/2026 – Day 3 – Maasai village of BOMA – https://youtu.be/9lwBONmBIVU
Visit to local schools and the dispensary – Donation of school supplies.
02/10/2026 – Day 4 – TARANGIRE National Park – https://youtu.be/OPpTgUECj0Q
02/11/2026 – Day 5 – Lake Manyara National Park – https://youtu.be/ZFt3tLtum5A
02/12/2026 – Day 6 – SERENGETI Park – https://youtu.be/5TYJE-3IO4w and https://youtu.be/t08g-XJlmdY
02/13/2026 – Day 7 – SERENGETI National Park (continued) – https://youtu.be/ZQkD1YmPzY0
02/14/2026 – Day 8 – Access to Ngorongoro National Park – https://youtu.be/1F__NeCRxhg
02/15/2026 – Day 9 – Ngorongoro Crater – https://youtu.be/BFw7tbjuO5s, then https://youtu.be/WdbHtPcYu8o and https://youtu.be/RBp_H9OMJxY
02/16/2026 – Day 10 – Visit to Arusha
02/17/2026 – Day 10 – 1:30 AM – Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport
FINANCIAL SUMMARY FLIGHTS 1,500 €
SEJOUIR PACKAGE 1,526 €
TIPS AND MISC. 100 €
TOTAL 3,126 €
Trip duration: from 02/07/26 to 02/17/26 => 11 days total, or 9 days excluding travel time.
1- FLIGHT DURATION WITH AIR FRANCE OUTBOUND: from 6:40 AM to 8:30 PM => 12 hours (plus 2-hour time difference in Arusha) RETURN: from 2:45 AM to 2:00 PM => 13 hours 15 minutes (not including a 1-hour 15-minute departure delay)
FINANCIAL SUMMARY FLIGHTS 1,500 €
SEJOUIR PACKAGE 1,526 €
TIPS AND MISC. 100 €
TOTAL 3,126 €
Trip duration: from 02/07/26 to 02/17/26 => 11 days total, or 9 days excluding travel time.
1- FLIGHT DURATION WITH AIR FRANCE OUTBOUND: from 6:40 AM to 8:30 PM => 12 hours (plus 2-hour time difference in Arusha) RETURN: from 2:45 AM to 2:00 PM => 13 hours 15 minutes (not including a 1-hour 15-minute departure delay)
✈️ One-month Thailand itinerary idea 🇹🇭
We’re sharing this trip from July 2023—a pretty classic route from Bangkok to northern Thailand. A great circuit for discovering this amazing country. Hope it gives some ideas to those who’d like to head to Southeast Asia!
You can check out our day-by-day adventure on our TRAVEL JOURNAL. There are lots of photos there.
We’re sharing this trip from July 2023—a pretty classic route from Bangkok to northern Thailand. A great circuit for discovering this amazing country. Hope it gives some ideas to those who’d like to head to Southeast Asia!
You can check out our day-by-day adventure on our TRAVEL JOURNAL. There are lots of photos there.
For our first post-COVID trip outside Europe, we’ve chosen a North African destination: Morocco.
I’ve already visited this country four times, but my partner has never set foot there.
Since we both prefer wide-open spaces over even imperial cities, our itinerary will focus on nature and villages.
Starting point: Casablanca, easily accessible with a direct flight from Lyon.
Our ride: a Dacia Logan, perfect for navigating roads turned into Swiss cheese by corruption and the weather.
Stops: Demnate, Aït Ben Haddou, the Dadès Gorges, N'Kob, Zagora, the Todhra Gorges, the Merzouga dunes, Tinejdad, Agoudal, Lake Bin El Ouidane, the Vallée Heureuse, the Ouzoud waterfalls, and finally El Jadida.
Season: November, when there’s no tourist pressure. Sure, it can be chilly, but what peace and quiet!
You can find the details of our journey beyond the Rif here.
Happy reading!
And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!
I’ve already visited this country four times, but my partner has never set foot there.
Since we both prefer wide-open spaces over even imperial cities, our itinerary will focus on nature and villages.
Starting point: Casablanca, easily accessible with a direct flight from Lyon.
Our ride: a Dacia Logan, perfect for navigating roads turned into Swiss cheese by corruption and the weather.
Stops: Demnate, Aït Ben Haddou, the Dadès Gorges, N'Kob, Zagora, the Todhra Gorges, the Merzouga dunes, Tinejdad, Agoudal, Lake Bin El Ouidane, the Vallée Heureuse, the Ouzoud waterfalls, and finally El Jadida.
Season: November, when there’s no tourist pressure. Sure, it can be chilly, but what peace and quiet!
You can find the details of our journey beyond the Rif here.
Happy reading!
And if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate!
During our stay in Lanzarote, we spent a few days in Fuerteventura. We particularly loved:
- The short hike up Volcán Calderon Hondo
- The center of the island, with a stop in Betancuria while driving along the stunning FV30 road
- The unmissable Cofete, a real end-of-the-world vibe. Everyone seems to get there at their own risk in a rental car, by the way.
- The Mirador de Sicasumbre is our favorite viewpoint on Fuerteventura
For the beaches, I’d say you can sum it up like this: the east coast is windy with calm waters, while the west coast is less windy but has big waves.
- East coast beaches: Sotavento and Corralejo - West coast beaches: La Pared and Cofete
No issues bringing our rental car from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura.
For more info, check out my blog (click the link)
Feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Send
- The short hike up Volcán Calderon Hondo
- The center of the island, with a stop in Betancuria while driving along the stunning FV30 road
- The unmissable Cofete, a real end-of-the-world vibe. Everyone seems to get there at their own risk in a rental car, by the way.
- The Mirador de Sicasumbre is our favorite viewpoint on Fuerteventura
For the beaches, I’d say you can sum it up like this: the east coast is windy with calm waters, while the west coast is less windy but has big waves.
- East coast beaches: Sotavento and Corralejo - West coast beaches: La Pared and Cofete
No issues bringing our rental car from Lanzarote to Fuerteventura.
For more info, check out my blog (click the link)
Feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Send
Hi there! In this post, you’ll find our 15-day itinerary in Sicily, including 2 days spent on the Aeolian Islands. It’s packed with info: our visits, favorite spots, hikes, volcanoes, and more!
https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2023/10/notre-itineraire-de-15-jours-en-sicile.html
Feel free to ask if you have any questions! :)
Our long-term travel road trip continues in Africa... Our 3rd country will be Rwanda. I invite you to discover and visit this country over 2 months through these few lines and photos that will follow as the days go by and as I find time to write. The goal won’t be safaris or gorillas, but rather getting to know the Rwandan people and their environment.
For tips or questions about Rwanda, don’t hesitate to reach out.
I’m opening this new thread with this first step...
Km 88281 - Rwanda intro
Rwanda is just a tad smaller than Brittany, so we should be able to explore it, delve into its heart, and understand a bit of what’s happening here... When we entered the country on January 2nd, we didn’t think it would become somewhat of a center of international news with a bit of turbulence... Over the coming weeks, we’ll learn to share the lives of Rwandans, grasp their history that still shapes their daily lives, and discover what lies behind these 1,000 hills... In France, over 2 centuries have passed since the Revolution, but here, it’s been just 30 years since the chaos of the genocide. Inside Rwanda...
More details and photos here: https://www.magicargol.fr/carnet/rwanda/t/1649539
:arrow: More details and photos here: https://www.magicargol.fr/carnet/rwanda/t/1649539
#Rwanda #Cargol #Magirus #170D11 #nomad #VanLife #RoadTrip #Travel #OnTheRoadAgain #Travelling #Campervan #Overland #ExploreWorld
For tips or questions about Rwanda, don’t hesitate to reach out.
I’m opening this new thread with this first step...
Km 88281 - Rwanda intro
Rwanda is just a tad smaller than Brittany, so we should be able to explore it, delve into its heart, and understand a bit of what’s happening here... When we entered the country on January 2nd, we didn’t think it would become somewhat of a center of international news with a bit of turbulence... Over the coming weeks, we’ll learn to share the lives of Rwandans, grasp their history that still shapes their daily lives, and discover what lies behind these 1,000 hills... In France, over 2 centuries have passed since the Revolution, but here, it’s been just 30 years since the chaos of the genocide. Inside Rwanda...
More details and photos here: https://www.magicargol.fr/carnet/rwanda/t/1649539
:arrow: More details and photos here: https://www.magicargol.fr/carnet/rwanda/t/1649539
#Rwanda #Cargol #Magirus #170D11 #nomad #VanLife #RoadTrip #Travel #OnTheRoadAgain #Travelling #Campervan #Overland #ExploreWorld
Hi there,
Here’s a post about our 4-day trip to Naples. Hope it gives you all the info you need for a great stay in this amazing city. Don’t hesitate! https://confidencesdevoyages.com/4-jours-a-naples-et-pompei/
Hi there,
We passed through Guilin during our trip to China, arriving by train from Beijing. The journey is quite long, but it actually became part of the experience: watching the landscapes gradually change, taking the Chinese high-speed train, and getting a better sense of the country’s vast distances. It was already a step of the journey in itself.
Once there, Guilin seemed like a nice place to catch our breath between big cities. The city isn’t huge, and there isn’t an endless list of things to see, but the atmosphere around the lakes, the Li River, and the karst mountains is really special.
In 3 days, you can already see the highlights without rushing: the Sun and Moon Pagodas, walks around the lakes, Seven Star Park with its monkeys, and possibly Elephant Trunk Hill—though we were a bit disappointed by the latter. Guilin is also a good base for heading to Yangshuo or the Longji rice terraces if you have more time.
We’ve put together our feedback, prices, visit times, and what we’d do (or skip) next time in this article, in case it helps you plan your stop: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/que-faire-a-guilin-en-3-jours/
We passed through Guilin during our trip to China, arriving by train from Beijing. The journey is quite long, but it actually became part of the experience: watching the landscapes gradually change, taking the Chinese high-speed train, and getting a better sense of the country’s vast distances. It was already a step of the journey in itself.
Once there, Guilin seemed like a nice place to catch our breath between big cities. The city isn’t huge, and there isn’t an endless list of things to see, but the atmosphere around the lakes, the Li River, and the karst mountains is really special.
In 3 days, you can already see the highlights without rushing: the Sun and Moon Pagodas, walks around the lakes, Seven Star Park with its monkeys, and possibly Elephant Trunk Hill—though we were a bit disappointed by the latter. Guilin is also a good base for heading to Yangshuo or the Longji rice terraces if you have more time.
We’ve put together our feedback, prices, visit times, and what we’d do (or skip) next time in this article, in case it helps you plan your stop: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/que-faire-a-guilin-en-3-jours/
Hi everyone,
I just published an article with our itinerary for visiting Copenhagen in 4 days during winter (December): day-by-day schedule, practical info (budget, weather, transport, Copenhagen Card), where to stay, plus our thoughts on the must-sees (Nyhavn, The Little Mermaid, Amalienborg, contemporary art museum, botanical garden) and a balanced take on Christiania.
If it can help those planning a city trip: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/visiter-copenhague-en-4-jours-que-faire.html
Happy planning, and if you have any questions, I’m happy to answer! !
¡Hola everyone! 🇪🇸✨ We dared to leave everything behind to make our dream come true: a new life in Spain! 🌍🔥 If you're curious to discover our adventure, our challenges, and our first steps under the Andalusian sun, come join us!
👉 Tips, struggles, magical moments—we’re sharing it all here: https://youtu.be/QEDXWU_TyOA?si=b3q__rspjjKp39LW
If you’ve got any advice or you’re also on this journey, don’t hesitate to connect with us! We support each other as adventurers! 😉💪
¡Gracias a todos and see you soon! 🎥✨
👉 Tips, struggles, magical moments—we’re sharing it all here: https://youtu.be/QEDXWU_TyOA?si=b3q__rspjjKp39LW
If you’ve got any advice or you’re also on this journey, don’t hesitate to connect with us! We support each other as adventurers! 😉💪
¡Gracias a todos and see you soon! 🎥✨
Hi there,
We’ve just returned from 2 weeks in Madagascar, and I wanted to share our experience since we struggled quite a bit to plan our itinerary before leaving. The country is huge, the journeys are long, and with only two weeks, you really have to make choices.
For our part, we opted for a fairly realistic itinerary for a first-time visit: Antananarivo, Andasibe, Île aux Nattes, and then Sainte-Marie. The idea was to mix a bit of nature, lemurs, tropical forest, and then a few quieter days by the water—without trying to cross the entire country.
In Andasibe, we spent several days between the Analamazaotra Reserve and Mantadia Park. We were able to spot lemurs, especially the indris, went on a night walk to see chameleons, geckos, and other small animals, and then did a wilder hike in Mantadia. This was probably the stop that felt the most exotic to us, with that humid forest atmosphere, animal sounds, and dense vegetation.
After Andasibe, we headed back to Antananarivo to catch a flight to Sainte-Marie, then took a boat to Île aux Nattes. It’s a tiny car-free island where you get around on foot between beaches, sandy paths, villages, and coconut trees. We mostly slowed down the pace: walking around the island, snorkeling in front of the hotel, meals at Fafana and Coco Sud, swimming, and much simpler moments. It was one of our absolute highlights of the trip.
We wrapped up with a few days in Sainte-Marie, in a more comfortable setting. The island is larger and more developed than Île aux Nattes, with more accommodations and activities. For us, it was mostly about relaxing, enjoying the pool, biking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and a few short walks. Looking back, we might’ve spent a little less time in Sainte-Marie and a bit more on Île aux Nattes, which left a bigger impression on us.
I’ve tried to break down our itinerary day by day, including travel times, budget, accommodations, transportation, our thoughts on each stop, the pros and cons, and what we’d change if we did it again. I also cover arriving in Antananarivo, the road to Andasibe, the domestic flight to Sainte-Marie, returning to Tana, and our airport experience—where it’s best to allow plenty of extra time. Here’s the link if it helps with your planning:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/madagascar-itineraire-pour-2-semaines-de-voyage/
In short, our main advice would be not to try to see everything in two weeks. Madagascar requires time, flexibility, and some breathing room. It’s better to pick fewer stops but really enjoy them.
In Andasibe, we spent several days between the Analamazaotra Reserve and Mantadia Park. We were able to spot lemurs, especially the indris, went on a night walk to see chameleons, geckos, and other small animals, and then did a wilder hike in Mantadia. This was probably the stop that felt the most exotic to us, with that humid forest atmosphere, animal sounds, and dense vegetation.
After Andasibe, we headed back to Antananarivo to catch a flight to Sainte-Marie, then took a boat to Île aux Nattes. It’s a tiny car-free island where you get around on foot between beaches, sandy paths, villages, and coconut trees. We mostly slowed down the pace: walking around the island, snorkeling in front of the hotel, meals at Fafana and Coco Sud, swimming, and much simpler moments. It was one of our absolute highlights of the trip.
We wrapped up with a few days in Sainte-Marie, in a more comfortable setting. The island is larger and more developed than Île aux Nattes, with more accommodations and activities. For us, it was mostly about relaxing, enjoying the pool, biking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and a few short walks. Looking back, we might’ve spent a little less time in Sainte-Marie and a bit more on Île aux Nattes, which left a bigger impression on us.
I’ve tried to break down our itinerary day by day, including travel times, budget, accommodations, transportation, our thoughts on each stop, the pros and cons, and what we’d change if we did it again. I also cover arriving in Antananarivo, the road to Andasibe, the domestic flight to Sainte-Marie, returning to Tana, and our airport experience—where it’s best to allow plenty of extra time. Here’s the link if it helps with your planning:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/madagascar-itineraire-pour-2-semaines-de-voyage/
In short, our main advice would be not to try to see everything in two weeks. Madagascar requires time, flexibility, and some breathing room. It’s better to pick fewer stops but really enjoy them.
Hi there,
After a trip to Brazil, I wrote an article about our stay in Rio. You’ll find all the tips for visiting this city in it: where to stay, what to see and how, and our thoughts on safety compared to everything we’d heard. We loved Rio and will definitely go back one day to experience Carnival. We visited in September, which seemed like the ideal time in terms of weather and tourist numbers (which were still reasonable). Our favorite: the Pedra da Gavea hike.
https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/09/rio-de-janeiro-nos-conseils-securite.html
Hi there,
We went on a 10-day road trip through Andalusia in October 2024, traveling independently.
Our itinerary took us through Seville, Ronda, Guadix, and Granada, with a few nature detours and manageable driving distances.
We took the time to put together our day-by-day route and some feedback (pace, distances, what we’d do again or skip) in an article, in case it helps other travelers:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/andalousie-itineraire-road-trip-10-jours.html
Happy planning to those heading out soon!
Hi there,
After a road trip along the Costa Verde, I wrote an article with our itinerary, our favorite spots, hikes, accommodations, and plenty of other tips. I hope it can help future travelers:
https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/09/la-costa-verde-de-sao-paulo-rio-bresil.html
The Costa Verde was a real favorite—stunning nature and such a welcoming local community.
The Costa Verde was a real favorite—stunning nature and such a welcoming local community.
Hi,
We visited Iguazu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides over a couple of days. I wrote a post to share our experience and give details about how we organized the trip. Hope it can help other travelers:
https://worldseenbymathilde.blogspot.com/2024/09/chutes-diguacu-cotes-bresil-argentine.html
We loved both sides and really recommend crossing the border to experience both.
We loved both sides and really recommend crossing the border to experience both.
Hi there,
We took a trip to Peru in 2022—probably one of the most amazing of our lives!
It took me a while to write up all the details of our journey, but if it helps, you can find the full itinerary, my favorite spots, and my tips here.
Hi there! 😊
We just got back from two weeks in Madagascar, and before we left, we had *so* many practical questions. Between the sometimes contradictory info online and the lack of recent updates on certain topics, it wasn’t always easy to know what to expect for a first trip there.
So, after returning, I put together an article with all the info I wish I’d had before heading to Madagascar—just concrete tips based on our experience there.
I cover: • Visa and arrival at Antananarivo airport • Currency exchange, withdrawals, and payments on the ground • Transportation and real travel times • Health and trip prep • SIM cards, budget, and general organization • Mistakes and little hassles you can easily avoid on your first trip
The goal was to create a practical, honest guide to help people planning their trip and avoid a few unpleasant surprises once they’re there! 😊
If this can help some of you: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/preparatif-pour-un-voyage-a-madagascar/
Happy travels! !
So, after returning, I put together an article with all the info I wish I’d had before heading to Madagascar—just concrete tips based on our experience there.
I cover: • Visa and arrival at Antananarivo airport • Currency exchange, withdrawals, and payments on the ground • Transportation and real travel times • Health and trip prep • SIM cards, budget, and general organization • Mistakes and little hassles you can easily avoid on your first trip
The goal was to create a practical, honest guide to help people planning their trip and avoid a few unpleasant surprises once they’re there! 😊
If this can help some of you: https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.com/preparatif-pour-un-voyage-a-madagascar/
Happy travels! !
Hi there,
We just got back from a 7-day trip to Malta in winter 2025, organized independently.
Itinerary: Valletta, Mdina, Mellieħa, cliffs, and natural sites, with generally pleasant but sometimes changeable weather.
We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary and some practical feedback (pace, getting around, what’s really worth it in winter) here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/malte-hiver-itineraire-7-jours.html
Happy travels to those planning their trip!
Hi there,
We just got back from a 2-week trip to Sri Lanka in April 2024, organized independently.
Our itinerary took us to: Sigiriya (sunrise from Pidurangala), Kandy, Ella (train), Udawalawe, and Tangalle.
We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary, our experiences from this trip, and some practical tips here:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/sri-lanka-itineraire-2-semaines.html
Happy travels to those planning their trip! !
Hi,
We just got back from a two-week independent trip to China in April 2025. The country can seem intimidating at first (language, transportation, payments), and the language barrier is very real, even in big cities.
Our itinerary took us to Beijing, the Great Wall (Mutianyu), then to Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces (Dazhai), and Wuhan. All travel was by train, subway, and DiDi (local Uber).
We’ve put together our day-by-day itinerary and some practical tips based on our experience in this post—hope it helps for a first trip to China:
https://aventures-sans-mesaventure.blogspot.com/2026/01/chine-itineraire-2-semaines.html
Happy travels to those planning their trip!
