Hi there, for those who’ve been recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport or room costs? It doesn’t seem easy to travel on a budget. If you have any recommendations for simple lodgings or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them. For those who’ve done multi-day treks while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about itineraries you’ve done without a guide, just with a map and GPS. Thanks, and have a great day!

Hi there, We’re heading to South Africa in August 2025 and planning a classic loop that I’d love to finish with the Drakensberg (I’m a big hiking fan) before returning to Johannesburg to catch our flight. I’ve got 3 nights for this part of our trip. But I’m wondering if it’s actually a good idea to hike in the Drakensberg in August, since it’s the Southern Hemisphere winter (I’m from Réunion and we hike year-round there, but I don’t know what the climate’s like in South Africa, especially the Drakensberg). I’m particularly worried about getting stuck because of snow and missing our flight... ;) I’ve read so many different things that I’m totally confused! If it’s okay to hike at this time of year, what would you recommend? I’m torn between Champagne Valley and Royal Natal National Park. Thanks in advance for your firsthand tips! Malijp

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!

Thanks! :-)

Hi, I’ll be arriving in Nice from Quebec on June 20th. I’m planning to rent a car for 7 days to do day hikes in Mercantour Park. Which village would be best to stay in? Saint-Martin-Vésubie? Barcelonnette? Or split my time between both to access different areas of the park and avoid too much driving? Also, are there hikes in lush, flower-filled valleys (like alpine meadows)? Thanks, Sylvie

Hi there, I’m looking for organizations that specialize in walking safaris, but not at the price points I’m seeing online. I’m after a truly immersive experience in the wild, with the option to sleep in very basic tents and help prepare meals... Ideal duration: 7 to 10 days. I’d rather avoid the super touristy destinations (Kenya, Tanzania, etc.). Thanks for any tips you can share! !

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, I was wondering if this forum is still active. The last discussions seem to be from several years ago?... If so, I’m looking for information on these hikes—the **Tour de l'Aubrac** in 8 days and the **Chemin de Stevenson** in 12 days... Lists of accommodations with: - Locations - Prices - Capacity (how many people they can host)

The stages— I’d like to do these routes with a group of 8 to 10 people. Thanks in advance... Jean-Claude BOULET Email: marcheur117@gmail.com Phone: 06 67 49 28 22 Residence: Royan 17, Charente-Maritime

Hi everyone, and happy New Year! Can you find screw-on gas canisters for camping stoves in Turkey? Thanks in advance, and safe travels! David

Hi there,

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, We’re planning to spend 3 nights (4 days) in the Banaue area. We’ve booked 1 night in Banaue, 1 in Batad, and the 3rd back in Banaue. We’d like to get from one village to the other on our own (tricycle + hiking). Does that sound doable? Where can we find a hiking route so we don’t get lost (is Maps.me enough?)? The 2-day trek offered by guides is a bit tough and, above all, too expensive for us (83 €/person). Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

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,

I’m just at the very beginning of my research, so I’m coming straight to you for some info. I’d like to visit Morocco to discover a bit of the country. I’ve just found out about the Toubkal circuit, which I’d love to do in January/February. I’m open to going independently with a tent, food, etc., and also open to whatever other possibilities this circuit offers that I don’t know about yet... Could you share any random tips or info? I’d also love to hear your opinions? What I like about this circuit is that it’s fairly accessible and seems interesting for many reasons. I’ll leave it to you to share your thoughts—thanks in advance for your help! 🙂 Wishing you all lots of exciting plans for the new year ahead!

Nicolas

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

My husband and I are planning a 10-day trip to Northern Vietnam in November, traveling independently (no agency organizing everything) and using local buses. We’d like to spend at least 3 days in each place (including Meo Vac). We’re wondering if it’s possible to find local guides for day hikes, and if so, in which towns/villages (Meo Vac plus one or two other spots to explore the surrounding area). Thanks!

Good evening everyone, Can you advise me on this? I’m looking for public transport between Le Hohneck and the village of Bonhomme, where I plan to leave my car. I’m hiking between these two points. Thanks so much for your help! Yves

Hi there,

I’ll be in Nepal in October. I’m planning to do the Annapurna trek and climb Mera Peak. From what I’ve heard, it’s one of the most accessible 6,000m peaks and doesn’t require a mandatory guide? The info I’ve found is pretty scattered—mostly just travel agency blogs. :-) Has anyone here already done this climb? I’ve heard you can find guides in Khare for just the final part of the ascent (which is way cheaper).

Thanks for your feedback!

Can’t wait to be there! :-)

hi there I live near Dole, so not too far away, and I sometimes go hiking (Camino de Santiago, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, etc.), and I’d love it if someone could suggest a trek in the Vosges—I really don’t know the area well. (Yeah, I know, I’m a little embarrassed about that.) If you could recommend a nice route. Arrival by car or train, doesn’t matter. Thanks so much!

Hi there, I’m planning to stay in Mae Hong Son for 4 days and Pai for 3 or 4 days to explore both towns and their surroundings. I’m not renting a car or scooter—I like to travel at a relaxed pace...

I’d love to know if it’s possible to do quite a few walks on foot from both towns and if it’s easy to find a tuk-tuk for the day to go a bit further.

I’ve heard that biking is really only for brave cyclists, which definitely isn’t me!

Thanks for your tips

Hi there! Discussions are rare and not recent, so I’m giving this a little bump—hope some folks are still around! ;-) I’d love to head to Wamena and trek south through the Valley over 5-6 days on foot. From what I’ve seen, finding your way isn’t exactly straightforward, and it seems best to hire a guide. I’ve never done that before because the encounters just aren’t the same...

Has anyone here explored the area? Is it feasible to trek down along the Baliem River, from Sogokmo to Kulise, then to Wamerek, cross over, and head back up along the river?

I’ve heard you should bring supplies to offer your hosts, which I’m happy to do!

What do you all think? The carefree spirit of my 20s is long gone, but I’d love to find it again, even just for a little while. ;-)

Thanks so much in advance for any tips or advice! Juliette

Hi there, I’m struggling to get back into hiking and I’m considering tackling the GR5 from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean shores in August-September.

Since I can’t plan daily distances in advance, I’ll be bringing gear to bivouac.

I’m not familiar with this route and wanted to get an idea of water resupply options before setting off: are sources and streams still flowing easily in late summer on this GR, or should I prepare for long dry stretches? 😐

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?

Hi everyone. I’ve been dreaming of this trek since my first trip to Nepal: either joining an existing group (I’m 70, so the pace will be adjusted accordingly...), or organizing it myself with the same guide who accompanied me on the Annapurna Circuit and in Mustang (putting together a group of 2 or 3 people). Who’s interested??? Jules. Agnes

Hello everyone,

We’re planning to spend 15 days in early May in La Gomera, solely for hiking and exploring the island. We like to take our time and not rush to see everything. We’ve booked small hostels or hotels, and our itinerary will be: San Sebastian -> Playa Santiago -> Valle Gran Rey -> Vallehermoso -> back to San Sebastian

We’re hesitating about renting a car—it would certainly give us more flexibility compared to buses, but it also comes with a budget and responsibilities (parking, getting back to the car after a hike, driving fatigue, distances, etc.). Since hiking is our main focus, the ROTHER guidebook shows mostly hikes that are accessible by bus. Is the bus network reliable? Is it restrictive to go without a car, with 2 or 3 nights in each location?

Thanks for your feedback—we can’t decide!

Best, Thomas

I'd like to do all or part of the GR 11 in June or July. Spain.

What shoes would you recommend, given it'll be hot and it's a mountain hike?

Regular hiking shoes or sandals?

Thanks

Hi there, My wife and I are heading to Norwegian Lapland for a week soon. We arrive in Tromsø on January 9th and plan to visit Senja Island. We’d love to go snowshoeing there and would appreciate some tips: 1. Is it possible to go snowshoeing without a guide this time of year on Senja Island? Are there well-marked trails? If not, could anyone recommend some good local guides? 2. We’d also love recommendations for great snowshoeing routes on the island if possible. 3. Is 5 days in Dovær in the northern part of the island too long at this time of year? 4. Renting snowshoeing gear in Norway is super expensive—does anyone know a good place to rent between Tromsø and Senja Island? Thanks!

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 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, I’ll be in Nepal from March 6th to 29th (we’re flying into Kathmandu via Varanasi and leaving via Delhi). I’m a bit confused about the regulations requiring a guide.

My wife and I (we’re 63 and 64) aren’t experienced trekkers—we’re more used to walking on terrain with very moderate elevation changes. I’m looking for fairly easy hikes, possibly day trips. Here are my questions: - Does the Poon Hill trek from Pokhara require a guide, or is it better to go through a local agency? (I’ve seen a lot of them offering 4-day packages) - I’d like to do a few multi-day hikes around Jomsom (Kagbeni, Mukitinath, Lupra, Marpha)... Do you need a guide for those, and can you find accommodations easily without booking in advance?

Last question—I’m really hesitant to lug around a sleeping bag or down jacket during our 6 weeks in India. Can you easily find these kinds of items at reasonable prices in Pokhara?

Thanks in advance for any tips you can share! Yann

Hi everyone,

I’ve planned a little day trip with my kids (12 and 16 years old) to Venice. The goal is to go for a walk through the city’s streets rather than visiting museums, which would take way too much time. We’d like to pass by the main landmarks, so I’ve put together a small 15 km hike... (thanks to Komoot and visioRando). Could you take a quick look and let me know if I’ve missed anything or made any mistakes?

1. Start at Santa Lucia Train Station 2. Ponte Degli Scalzi 3. Ponte dei Pugni 4. squero de San Trovaso 5 Le rio della Salute 6. Accademia Bridge 7. St. Mark’s Square 8. St. Mark’s Basilica 9. Ponte de la Canonica 10. Ponte de la Pietà 11. Ponte de la Tana 12. The Arsenale 13. Bridge of Sighs 14. Doge’s Palace Then return to the Rialto Bridge via Marzaria dell’Orologio

Also, could you tell me if the Doge’s Palace courtyard is paid entry? Thanks for your help and feedback!

Stéphane.

Hi there, I’m planning a 6-day trip from Orléans to Tours. There are very few detailed maps to figure out the main stages and what you’ll find along the way. Even though I’ve downloaded the Miam Miam Dodo app, it’s pretty tedious (everything is split into small map sections). I’ve settled on the first leg: Orléans to Meung-sur-Loire, about 18 km. For the next one, I’m hesitating because I’d like to do around 20–25 km, but I see Beaugency is only about 10 km away, and Mer is almost 30 km. So, I’m stuck. On top of that, I’m torn between taking the GR 3 route or the GR 655 (south). If any of you know the area or have already done this hike/pilgrimage, I’d love to hear your tips for this section that goes through Blois and ends in Tours. For the last legs, I’ve planned Blois -> ? Chaumont (no accommodations) -> Amboise -> Tours, knowing the final stage is about 30 km.

Thanks in advance for your help! 😉