Posts by Brunomoncel

Hey Traveler,

Thanks for the info.

Bruno.

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?

Thanks

Cat, Bruno.

Hi there, we’re heading to Oman at the end of December for ten days. We’d like to do some star-shaped hikes—what would you recommend? We weren’t planning on renting a 4x4. Is it possible to reach the trailheads with a regular car? Also, where can we find the hiking guide you’re referring to? Thanks! Bruno and Cat

Hello, we’re planning to leave in late December/early January, and we’ve roughly mapped out the same itinerary as you. Could you let us know what transportation you used and which airline? Thanks.

hi there,

we’re planning a trip to OMAN at the end of December/beginning of January (around 12/13 days). we usually travel by public transport to get from one place to another, but we’re also hikers once we’re on site. we do star-shaped hikes independently. would anyone have any info to share about traveling under these conditions in OMAN? thanks for your feedback

Hi Xavier, No, bus 187 doesn’t run at night—it starts at 5:30 AM. If you search "bus 187 airport Sri Lanka," you’ll find info on airport transport. We didn’t do the full Pekoe Trail—26 stages, I think. Out of our 4 stages, there were indeed viewpoints, one of them goes via Ella’s Rock, for example, and no tourists (well, except at Ella’s Rock...). You can download the app. There’s also the option to hike in the Knuckles Range—it seems tough without a guide. That’s what hikers who’d been there told us. Searching "hikes KNUCKLES RANGE" will give you the details. That’s all. Sorry for killing your vibe... If you’ve got other questions, don’t hesitate.

Bruno

Hi Nicole,

Sri Lanka has a lot of tourists, but it was in Ella where we felt the tourist presence and the "commercialization" the most. It’s a village full of shops, accommodations, and Ayurvedic massage parlors. It’s a bit unavoidable since it’s the endpoint of the beautiful train ride from Kandy. The view from Ella’s Rock is lovely but not a must-see—don’t plan too much time there. Haputale in the same region is more authentic; you can also visit tea plantations there, and it’s less crowded. In this mountainous area, if you really want peace and quiet, there are the hikes on the Peako trail.

Sigiriya is also a bit "over-touristed," but Lion Rock is worth the visit. You can watch the sunrise or sunset over Lion Rock from Pidurangala Rock. We didn’t do it, but we met people who went—so many people that some couldn’t even go up. We went in the afternoon, and it was really beautiful and very quiet.

For sightseeing spots, to avoid crowds, it’s best to go early or during the midday break.

The beaches on the south coast, especially Tangalle, aren’t "swimmable" this time of year due to currents from the monsoon, but they’re still very beautiful. We had great weather, and there were hardly any people. We also went to the east coast, Trincomalee—no monsoon there and not too many people either.

Hope I’ve answered your questions!

Don’t hesitate if you have any more.

Bruno

Hi, We usually travel using local transportation. In Mongolia, that seems a bit complicated—has anyone tried this kind of trip there? Thanks.

Hi there, We’re just back from a three-week trip to Sri Lanka, from July 15 to August 11. A few random tips—if you’ve got more specific questions, just ask. If we know the answer, we’ll be happy to help!

What an amazing country! I had a small bias at first, wasn’t totally convinced, but that disappeared fast. Stunning coastal and mountain landscapes, cultural visits, hikes, and such a warm welcome.

Here’s our itinerary in order: Colombo-Anuradhapura-Trincomalee-Polonnaruwa-Dambulla-Sigiriya-Kandy-Haputale-Ella-Tangalle-Galle-Negombo.

Whenever we can, we travel only by public transport, and in Sri Lanka, it’s totally doable. Trains, of course, and buses all the time—everywhere and super cheap. We’d head to the bus station to get a seat, but they also stop along the route. From the airport to Colombo Fort, take bus 187—it’s parked on the right as you exit.

Weather-wise, despite it being the less favorable season for some regions, we only had two half-days of rain. That was one of our worries, but maybe we just got lucky.

For hiking, beyond the well-known climbs in all the guidebooks and blogs (which are great too), there’s a long-distance trail in the mountain region (Kandy, Ella, etc.) that’s really well marked. It’s called the Pekoe Trail, and there’s an app you can download (Pekoe Trail) that gives you the full route and details for each stage—25 in total, I think, ranging from 9 to 15 km. We did 4 of them, not in a row, but starting from our different accommodations. They’re not loops, but you can always find a bus, train, or tuk-tuk to get back or to reach the end of a stage and return. The landscapes are beautiful, the encounters plentiful, and tourists are rare—which is nice sometimes.

Happy travels!

Thanks for all this info. We’re going to rethink our plan.

Hi there, we’re planning a trip to Namibia this summer and we’d love to know if it’s possible to get around without our own vehicle? Thanks.

Hey Nico, no train or bus from Abu Simbel to Cairo or Alexandria. You have to go via Aswan. We took the bus to Aswan in the early afternoon, then hopped on an overnight train to Cairo. Officially, there are no buses from Aswan for tourists to Cairo or Alexandria... but they still offered it to us outside the station. How safe is that? There *is* a train from Aswan to Alexandria.

Hi Nico, Yes, the distances are doable by bike. We were there at the end of December. The route between Luxor and Aswan with visits along the way is a classic. Your accommodation can arrange that for you, or a specialized tour agency. Bruno

Hi Nico, Three days for the tombs in Luxor is good in our opinion. We spent two 5-hour sessions there for the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Nobles and Artisans, and the Temple of Hatshepsut. We took a private taxi, but it’s totally doable by bike—you’re in control of your time and it costs less. There are bike rental places. We went to Aswan, stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo by taxi for 70 €, but we’re not great negotiators. Bruno

Merci.

Bonjour,

Nous voudrions faire la randonnée du sentier haut dans les cinq terres. Elle semble faisable en 2 jours. Quelles sont les solutions possibles pour dormir? Merci.

Bonjour Marie-Line,

J'ai déjà répondu à votre question concernant Trinidad, mais je ne la voie pas apparaître. Je réitère ma réponse, désolé si vous l'avez déjà reçue. Je vous disais que Baracoa vaut surtout pour sa situation géographique et les excursions environnantes, même si le village ne manque pas de charme. Trinidad est, elle, une très belle ville qu'il serait dommage de ne pas visiter malgré l’afflux de touristes.

Merci. Avez-vous fait aussi l’ascension du Mt Fuji?

Bonjour Marie-Line, Baracoa est plus remarquable par sa situation géographique et les excursions environnantes que par son architecture, même si elle ne manque pas de charme. Trinidad est une des plus belles villes de Cuba. Malgré le "flot" de touristes il serait dommage de passer à côté. Donc oui nous avons aimé.

Merci. Je pense que nous ferons plutôt des randonnées à la journée ou 2 jours maximum. Quel point de chute noous conseillez-vous?

Bruno.