Results for "Parc+Corse+ou+GR20+|+127"

bonjour a tous je serai en thailande tous le mois de novembre et je me demande ou passer cette fameuse nuit de la pleine lune..au sud(party au bord de leau) au nord a chang mai (fete speciale) eclairer moi svp😉

Hello

Nous terminons un periple de 5 semaines, nous sommes a la recherche d une formule de plusieures jours dans la baie

Voir 2 jours en baie along dont une nuit sur bateau ou jonque departe de Hanoi ou non

j ai entendu parlé d une petite agence avec 1 nuit a bord et balade en Kayac

Peu dinfos sur le net

Avez vous des experiences a ce sujet...

Je veux partir 1 mois et demi en bolivie

Au menu velo de montagne, trekking et je voudrais faire quelques sommets (2-3)

Devrais-je réservé à distance avec une agence (pour les trekking peaks) ou est-ce possible de booker de La Paz (comme on fait à Kathmandou au Nepal) ? A-t-on vraiment besoin d'agence pour les sommets ??

Connaissez-vous des agences recommendables (sans être les pls cher) ?

Merci

V

Bonjour a tous, je suis presentement au Mexique, je vais passer la nouvelle annee au Paradis du surf a Puerto Escondido et ensuite je me rend au Guatemala et je traverse tout l amerique centrale.

Je voulais avoir des informations sur hotels a prix modique ainsi que des info sur les differents organismes volontariat ou touristique.

Merci d avance

Marianne xxx

Bonjour, apres avoir vu vos impressions a tous je viens de changer mon itineraire, qu'en pensez-vous? est-ce faisable au niveau transports, et interets en 13 jours et demi etc...? 1 et 2 PNH depart en fin d'apres-midi en bus ou taxi collectif pour kompong thom (est-ce possible? où la fin sera obligatoirement de nuit?) 3 visite du marché de Kompong Thom, visite dans la journée des temples de sambor prei kuk et en fin d'apres-midi, depart pour Siem Reap (encore une fois est-ce possible?) 4, 5, 6 a visiter les temples principaux des deux circuits en deux jours, et le 3 eme le bantey srei et roluos (dites-moi si je loupe quelque chose de super, du coup je ne fai rien sur le tonle sap vu que soit c'est hyper cher: 60$ par personne! soit c'est hyper touristique) 7 bateau entre siem reap et battambang (vu que ça a l'air super beau et que je ne ferais pas celui entre pnh et siem reap...) visite de la ville de battambang 8 visite de la campagne et des grottes autour de battambang (a ce propos, tres peu d'infos dans la LP, quelqu'un peut me dire ce qu'il y a à faire exactement en un jour? merci) 9 route pour pursat, visite du village flottant de kompong luong (apparemment beaucoup moins touristique que ceux pres de Siem Reap, quelqu'un peut confirmer?) route et nuit a kompong chnang (un truc à y faire?) 10 route pour pnhom penh enchaine de route vers Sianoukville 11, 12, 13 Sianoukville: parc de ream et une excursion pour une ile pour y faire du masque et tuba (quelqu'un pense à une bonne ile pas trop loin pour cela, ) depart par le dernier bus de 14h pour PNH 14 dernieres visites de PNH, vol le soir.

voila, je sais que c'est chaud pour tout faire en 14 jours et qu'on fera tout trop vite mais si je fais l'escale par battambang, c'est a cause de ce qu'on m'a dit sur les villages flottants de siem reap, et que ça valait le coup de sortir du triangle classique PNH- Siem Reap-Sianoukville et de voir un peu du "vrai" pays. Mais si c'ets trop au pas de course, et bien je me resignerai a faire le "classique" mollo...

Merci d'avance pour toutes vos infos... Si vous avez des GH à conseiller dans mes etapes, on compte mettre entre 4 et 8 dollars.

Tiens c'est un topic que je n'ai pas encore vu : les photos d'animaux. (ou alors je n'ai pas bien cherché ? )

Essayons donc : Petit squirrel au Grand Canyon et Bisons a Yellowstone Chameau a Turfan Le marché aux bestiaux de Kashgar et quelques habitants aux alentours du lac Karakul

Il y a bien quelqu'un qui a de jolies photos d'animaux africains (ou autres) a partager non ?

Je pars avec 5 personnes ( 3 couples) du 12/11/04 au 22/04/04 sur la riviera maya à l'hotel PALLADIUN KANTENAH RESORT. Durant mon séjour j'envisage d'aller visiter Chichen itsa et Xcaret. Puis-je y aller par mes propres moyens (location de voiture, bus collectif) ou est-il préférable de prendre une excursion proposée dans les hotels ?

Quel est le meilleur rapport qualité prix ?

Que pensez-vous de mon choix ?

Connaissez-vous cet hotel (ai-je fais le bon choix). D'autre pars, j'ai un appareil photo numérique avec accumulateur aurais-je des difficultés pour recharger mes accus ?

Meci😛

Bonjour!

Je suis actuellement en pleine préparation d'un voyage en Namibie avec un départ prévu dans un peu plus d'un mois (option sur un vol sec déjà faite) et j'aurais souhaité avoir certains conseils et avis.

Le choix de parcours s'orienterait vers :

1 - une semaine dédiée au Khaudom Game Reserve, en passant par le Parc du Plateau de Waterberg (1jour) - organisée depuis la France au départ de Windhoek en 4x4 via une agence locale

2 - une semaine dans le Parc du Namib-Naukluft (sesriem) + (Keetmanshop-Luderitz ou Walvis Bay-Cap Cross), avec location d'un Toyota Tazz

Nous passerions la plupart des nuits en camping (budget existant mais pas très extensible).

Que pensez-vous des choix dans ce périple compte-tenu de sa courte durée (15 j)?

Conseillez-vous des sites à ne pas manquer sur ce parcours, ou à privilégier dans la durée?

Auriez-vous des contacts intéressants en terme de rapport qualité/prix pour l'organisation de la découverte du Khaudom Game Reserve?

Est-ce facile de voyager en Namibie pour deux jeunes femmes dans ces conditions?

Merci pour vos réponses.

A bientôt,

Lesgirls 😉

Bonjour tout le monde

Je part seul le 28 septembre pour la Thailande durant 1 an. Je ne sais pas ou l'aéroport se situe a bangkok . Est-ce que quelqu'un pourrait me montrer un lien ou il y a une carte de bangkok avec l'aéroport. Étant donner que je vais vivre la bas durant 1 an, je conte vivre dans des auberges de jeunesse et des trucs de ce genre. Je me demandais si vous n'auriez pas une adresse ou je pourrais réserver pr��s de l'aéroport. Je cherche vraiment le minimum, pas de luxe. Le moins cher possible, mais quelques chose de sympathique.

Je voudrais aussi savoir combien devrais-je payer à un chauffer de taxi pour qu'il m'apporte en mon "hotel", et à combien cela correspond-t-il en dollar can.

J'aimerais aussi avoir un étinéraire de quoi visiter à bangkok, puis ensuite dans tout le reste de la thailande. Les endroits à visiter ainsi que les endroits à éviter. Je voudrais aussi connaitre la correspondance du dollar canadien par raport au bath. (par exemple: combien 5$ vaut de bath).

J'aimerais aussi savoir si je dois me procurer un visa à long terme ici avant de partir ou je dois le faire la bas. Si je dois le faire la bas, ou dois-je le faire et comment.

Merci beaucoup d'avance tout le monde.

Bonjour à tous. Nous venons juste de rentrer de Thailande et on pense déjà aux prochaines vacances . En effet, en juillet prochain, on aimerait aller quelques jours (4 ou 5) dans l'ISAN (avant d'aller au sud, vers Koh Samui), mais on trouve très peu d'infos dans les guides. Pouvez-vous nous aider? Itinéraire, moyens de transport (au départ de Bangkok), hotels, choses à voir ou à faire (ou à ne pas faire) ... D'avance, merci à vous.

Bonjour,

Me rendant au Chili / Argentine au mois d’octobre, j’aurais besoin de vos points de vue et expérience :

1) Je dois éliminer une de ces 3 options par manque de temps : Trekking à Torres del Paine . Visite au Parc national des glaciers (El Calafate) . Trekking à El Chalten (Fitz Roy) . Laquelle selon vous ? 2) J’envisage de faire une " virée " dans le Nord vers le Parc Lauca, Putre, Parinacota, la réserve de Vicuñas . Le transport en commun est-il aisé (fréquence, réseau, …) ou est-il préférable de passer par une agence ou alors de louer carrément une voiture sur place ?

Vos opinions et expériences sur ce sujet me seront très utiles .

Merci d’avance pour vos réponses .😎

salut à tous 🙂

nous serons au chili de mi-novembre à mi-decembre, arrivant de bolivie nous cherchons un itinéraire qui traverse le chili (avec les endroit à ne surtout pas manquer) afin de rejoindre ushuaia.

y à t'il des vols ushuaia-lima et à quel prix (car retour via lima obligatoire!).

de quelle autre ville est il possible de rejoindre lima par avion ?prix?

aurons nous le temps en deux mois de visiter un peu l'argentine ?

et enfin quel est le meilleur guide pour le chili ?

merci à tous et A+ 😛

Bonjour, J'aimerais savoir combien coûte ces excursions a Bayahibe, celle pour l'Ile Saona et l'autre pour la visite de Santo Domingo (en dollars US)? Car je prevoie partir pour le Palace ou l'Iberostar et j'aimerais prevoir le budget a avoir la-bas...

Merci pour vos reponses!!

Meilleurs voeux 2004 à toutes et tous, 🙂

Nous aimerions partir sur le mois d'octobre 2004 pour réaliser un safari si possible qui fasse à la fois le Kenya et la Tanzanie ( sur une période de 15 à 18 jours ). L'idéal serait de sortir des sentiers battus, de faire en panaché si possible avion, ulm, 4 x 4, randonnées à pied... Un maximum d'activités, de safaris, et non de course entre les parcs car il vaut mieux je pense visiter moins de parcs afin de voir un maximum d'espèces. Toutes solutions concernant le couchage peut être envisagé. Nous essayons bien entendu de prendre des informations de droite et de gauche mais il est évident que vos commentaires, réclamations ou satisfactions ne pourront que nous aider. Quel budget faut-il compter ? Faut-il l'organiser très longtemps à l'avance ? Vaut-il mieux prendre 2 billets d'avion puis tout prendre sur place ou réserver à l'avance ? Quelle agence se prête le mieux à nos recherches ? Nous ne voulons pas de safaris où l'on suit pas à pas, où également la rencontre de minibus grâce à la cibie du chauffeur qui vient d'indiquer qu'il a vu un éléphant et c'est le troupeau entier, non pas d'éléphants mais de cars de touristes qui arrivent pour voir ce dernier. Comme vous pouvez le constater, nos demandes sont énormes et je suis sûr d'en avoir oublié

Ne soyez pas avare de commentaires ou d'adresses internet à notre égard, nous sommes preneurs de toutes vos réponses. 😮 Très sincèrement Inna & Denis

😉 bonjour,

Infos pour les routards à destination de Madagascar : Tsingy de Bemaraha, les villages Mangily (Ifaty) fin mai 2003 et Tana.

Taux de change 1€=7200 fmg au 2 juin 2003, il y aura la dévaluation de la monnaie et changement de billet dans les mois qui suivent.

De Tana vers le parc national des Tsingy de Bemaraha : De aéroport Ivato faites vous déposer à gare routière d’Anosibe (au nord de Tana), prix du taxi entre 40000 et 50000 fmg (moi j’ai payé 40000 fmg) ou partager les frais avec d’autres routards, départ tous les jours de Tana vers Morondava à 14h (horaire de départ est flexible et seyez mora mora !) tarif 100000 fmg et arrivé à Morondava le lendemain vers 6h50 du matin. Un conseil réserver votre place à l’avance si cela est possible, les meilleures places sont soient à côté de chauffeur côté fenêtre soient le rangé derrière le chauffeur plus d’espace pour les pieds. Une fois vous êtes à la gare routière de Morondava faites vous déposer par un taxi pour 5000 fmg à la gare routière au centre ville à côté du Menabe hôtel à destination de Belo-sur-Tsiribihina, là vous avez droit au 404 bâché avec deux rangés de siège en bois l’un en face de l’autre et vous êtes serré comme des sardines en boîte, 98 km, 4h de route, tarif 25000 fmg…mais en prime au quart du chemin préparez vos appareils photos car vous avez l’allée des Baobabs ! Tarif taxi de Morondava a/r pour la visite l’allée des Baobabs est de 80000 fmg, et d’après mes renseignements la forêt, les tombeaux, le parc… ne valent le coût pour la visite. Si vous souhaitiez de louer un 4x4 avec chauffeur de Morondava vers Bekopaka cela vous coûtera entre 2 millions à 2, 8 millions fmg pour 2 à 3 jours. Bref, après 4h de trajets vous êtes arrivé à l’embarcadère du village de St-Mary, la traversée dure 35’ et coûte 5000 fmg. Arrivé à l’embarcadère de Belo-sur-Tsiribihina entre 13h et 14h et vous êtes à 1 km du centre ville. Il est trop tard de prendre un taxi brousse pour continuer le chemin, une nuit de repos bien mérité s’impose, a moins que vous avez louer un 4x4 depuis Morondava… Bon il faut le dire un seul hôtel valable à Belo-sur-Tsiribihina est certainement l’hôtel du Menabe (ou Le grand hôtel pour les locaux) tenu par un natif grec marié avec une malgache, (une pensée amicale à eux), douche à l’intérieur, ventilateur, moustiquaire, très propre et vue sur le fleuve Tsiribihina et la ville ! Et il n’y a plus de musique en face pendant le WE depuis un an et demi ! Le guide est comme d’habitude tjs en retard pour la mise à jour et on ne peut plus camper derrière l’hôtel ! 70000 fmg une chambre pour deux ou 80000 fmg chambre familiale. Demander à voir les statuts, les photos, les peintures malgaches de 60 ans voir plus !

Taxi brousse de Belo-sur-Tsiribihina vers Andimaka ou Bekopaka(Tsingy) : Depuis le 24 mai 2003 vous avez un taxi brousse (sté Acoli c’est un karane) qui relie Belo-sur-Tsiribihina vers Bekopaka (Tsingy), tarif jusqu’au Andimaka 25000 fmg et jusqu’au Bekopaka 50000 fmg. Compter au moins 10h de trajet jusqu’au Bekopaka, bcp de poussière et ça secoue pas mal ! En cas où pas taxi brousse s’arrête à Andimaka, là c’est la galère ! soit faire les 23 km à pied ou louer une charrette à zébu jusqu’à Bekopaka entre 120 et 150000 fmg, 6h de route après vous jurez plus jamais la charrette !!!! Conseil faites la provision d’eau, de bière ou de vivre depuis Belo (5000 fmg la bouteille eau vive) sinon vous risquez de payer le double à Bekopaka, et dès fois il n’y a plus d’eau à acheter ! Emportez des micropurs en cas où… Je suppose que vous avez pu prendre le taxi brousse d’Acoli conduit par son fils Chaïne jusqu’au Bekopaka l’embarcadère de la rivière Manambolo, à l’heure actuel le bac ne fonctionne pas car il y a un trou… La traversée en pirogue coûte 2500 fmg/per et dure 15’. Enfin vous êtes au parc national des Tsingy de Bemaraha et le bureau de l’ANGAP se trouve à côté de l’embarcadère. Vous avez le choix de camper pour 10000 fmg/j au bord de la rivière de Manambolo ou de dormir Chez Ibrahim pour 45000 fmg/j mais il se trouve à 2, 5 km de l’embarcadère ! dur dur ! Vous pouvez louer un porteur pour 15000 à 25000 fmg (porteur de bagages et pas vous !) ou louer une charrette. Pour les riches le relais Tsingy est ouvert pour au minimum 250000 fmg/j et obligation de prendre les repas sur place !!!! Le repas Chez Ibrahim coûte 40000 fmg !!! et les boissons…je vous ai déjà prévenu !!! Vu l’état de la chambre, la douche avec un seau d’eau et surtout le wc avec le trou creusé et l’odeur pour 45000 fmg la nuit c’est du vol ! Bref, de toute façon vous avez pas de choix… Tarif parc national : Droit d’entrée pour 3 jours 50000 fmg, Grands Tsingy : Guide obligatoire 100000 fmg/j, assister au couché ou levé du soleil 120000 fmg, la distance totale à parcourir à pied départ Chez Ibrahim et retour Chez Ibrahim 45 km, vous avez égalemant le choix de louer une charrette pour 150000 fmg a/r. Penser à emmener au minimum 3 litres d’eau et à manger car il n’y a rien une fois vous êtes là bas, porteur de 15000 à 25000 fmg/j ; meilleure solution est de camper une nuit à 2 km de l’entrée des grands Tsingy dans un emplacement prévu pour et entamer la visite tôt le matin pour assister au levé du soleil. Circuit combiné petits Tsingy (4h de marche) + les georges Manambolo (2h de pirogue) : 165000 fmg. J’ai surpris d’entendre certains visiteurs dire que ça vaut pas le coût de visiter les petits Tsingy ! Ils répètent bêtement d’après le livre … mais il n’y rien avoir avec les Grands et ce n’est pas le même parcours, ce n’est pas le même paysage !!!! Moi, je l’ai fait des deux ! Par contre si vous n’avez pas le temps de visiter les deux, privilégié les grands Tsingy mais c’est vraiment dommage ! vous mettez des jours pour venir jusqu’ici et …. ! Tsingy un pur chef-d’œuvre de la nature, une merveille ! Pour repartir pour Morondava soit taxi brousse, soit la charrette ou à pieds jusqu’à Andimaka 23 km ! Quant à moi j’ai pu trouvé une place dans une 4X4 loué par un belge nommé jacques G jusqu’au Morondava et une autre 4X4 d’un vazaha résident à Tana nommé JC B (une pensée amicale à eux et merci). Une nuit à Morondava est presque obligatoire pour continuer votre chemin, le Trecigogne est fermé pour travaux (50000 fmg/nuit) pour l’hôtel similaire j’ai dormi Chez Bougainvilliers bord de la mer et j’ai le droit tout l’hôtel à moi tout seul ! Pour info le vol intérieur avec Air Mad de Morondava-Tuléar 101€ et par de liaison routière vers Belo-sur-mer piste encore inondée fin mai/03. Je continuais mon chemin jusqu’au Ansirabe avec le 4x4 de JC qui remontait à vide jusqu’au Tana, une fois à Ansirabe taxi brousse vers Tuléar, j’ai payé 125000 fmg ! en principe c’est 60000 fmg tarif malgache, départ tous les jours à partir de 17 ou 18 h et arrivée à Tuléar vers midi le lendemain (entre 18 et 20 h de trajet). A savoir pour le retour de Tuléar vers Tana il y a dès fois des 4X4 qui remontaient à vide, se renseigner dans la même gare routière (en principe même tarif que le taxi brousse 100000 et 115000 fmg). Taxi brousse de Tuléar vers Tana se fait tous les jours dès 6h du matin tarif 115000 fmg et arrivé à Tana vers 5h du matin le lendemain.

Tuléar vers Ifaty les villages Mangily : Taxi vers la gare routère pour Ifaty 5000 fmg ou en pousse-pousse 3000 fmg. Taxi brousse camion de Tuléar vers Mangily 10000 fmg, 23 km, 2h30 de transport ou en 1h30 avec le taxi brousse 4X4 mais il n’y en a pas tout le temps.

Les villages Mangily (Ifaty) : Chez micheline bungalows-paillottes 25000 fmg/j pas d’électricité et en retrait de la plage. Préférer Chez Alex bungalows-paillottes 35000 fmg bord de la plage, avec électricité de 18h-00h, toilettes et wc propres et discothèque le WE.

Tananarive : (tarif juin 2003) Déplacement avec le taxi dans la ville entre 2000 et 5000 fmg dans la journée, 10000 fmg le soir ou la nuit, de Tana vers aéroport 50000 fmg. Forfait taxi A/R de Tana/marché artisanat/ Croc Farm/Aéroport et une petite course dans la ville compter 150000 fmg.

Hôtel Lambert entre 60000 et 70000 fmg douche à l’intérieure avec eau chaude, préférer 70000 fmg au 1ère étage plus propre et avec vue sur la ville. S’il vous reste de l’argent je vous propose l’hôtel Le Sakamanga entre 132000 et 165000 fmg la nuit, c’est joli et très propre, il faut réserver longtemps à l’avance et c’est tjs complet, un bon restau surtout le filet de zébu avec les légumes grillés au sauce poivre vert, j’ai encore le goût dans la bouche (pour 37000 fmg) !!! Une assiette de foie gras à 27000 fmg il paraît que c’est bon.

Bonne route à tous les routards et un mot pour finir que j’aime Madagascar !

Salut tous ! Ben voila je vais essayer faire court en fait, nous souhaitons partir au sri lanka ma compagne et moi en septembre, et je suis avide d'infos concernant ce pays, sur votre périple par exemple afin d'avoir de bonnes idées de que faire et quoi faire durant notre séjour.

Jusqu'au aujourd'hui touts les témoignages que je lis me poussent à allonger la durée de notre séjour qui n'est pas encore fixée (2 ou 3 semaines ?).

Pour infos nous allons simplement prendre un AR en avion et réserver sur place tout ce qui est hotel, guide etc ...

Merci de votre réponse

😉salut à tous et à toutes

voila la situation, 1 pote et moi partons faire le tr des annapurnas, le trajet est fait mais, vous qui avez deja foulés le sol nepalais, je suis sur que vous pourriez ns filer ds plans bien sympas .dernier truc, si qqn connait le royal chitwan national park, j'aimerai avoir son opinion sur la faune qui s'y trouve

alors à vos clavier et merci d'avance pr vos reponse

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip to Cambodia and was set on visiting the Ratanakiri region, which seemed to match what we love most in terms of landscapes: forests, jungle, greenery...

However, as I started looking into the area, I read that deforestation there is massive, and some of the info on the topic is years old—the situation hasn’t improved since, unfortunately.

So my question is: is Ratanakiri still worth visiting, and does it justify the long travel time and distance to get there?

I’ve seen that jungle treks are possible, but from experience, I know guides sometimes hesitate to venture deep into the forest and stick to shorter walks along the edges of parks.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Here’s the itinerary for a ten-day trip through Slovenia and Northern Italy using local transport.

Saturday, May 2: Arrival

Arrived in Ljubljana on a Transavia flight from Paris. I’d spotted a bus connection to the city center, but it’s worth noting there’s no dedicated line—most buses stopping at the airport come from Bled. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the bus was already packed with people who’d headed to the lake for some fresh air. I ended up taking a shared van, with drivers actively offering transfers to travelers. I paid 12 € for the ride to the train station, then walked 15 minutes to Hotel Celica. It lives up to its description as a former prison turned hotel—close to the city center, clean, with a hearty breakfast. The rooms are basic, with beds 3 meters off the ground, accessible by a wooden ladder. For dinner, I opted for an Indian restaurant.

Sunday, May 3: Urban marathon





Good news: museums are free on the first Sunday of the month. I started with the National Gallery, then took a stroll through Tivoli Park, enjoying the outdoors. I tried grilling in the park before heading to the Museum of Modern Art and the eclectic National Museum of Slovenia, which was interesting for its architecture. Next up was the castle—you can enter the grounds for free; the only reason to pay is to access the keep for the city views.

Monday, May 4: Bled



I spent the morning exploring Ljubljana’s architecture but was disappointed by the Krakovo district, which guidebooks had hyped up.

In the afternoon, I took the bus to Bled. The hostel was right at the bus station, and I soon realized I’d be the only guest—the owner was struggling to attract visitors. I walked around the lake and searched for the viewpoint access. It’s a steep climb with a staircase, but worth it.



Tuesday, May 5: Vintgar Gorge



I headed to the gorges early in the morning via a shuttle, then walked back to Bled. It was stunning—it reminded me a bit of the Samaria Gorge I’d visited last year.

The bus took me straight to Stara Fužina near Lake Bohinj, where I stayed in a homestay. I loved it, even though there wasn’t much interaction with the hosts.

The weather was overcast and misty, giving the lake a Scottish vibe.



Wednesday, May 6: Bohinj

Rainy day, so I took the bus to Ukanc at the far end of the lake and walked back.

Thursday, May 7: Mostnica Gorge and the auto-train

I set off on foot for the gorges from Stara Fužina, taking a detour up to Planina Uskovnica, a steep and rarely used trail. The views of Triglav and the traditional alpine huts were incredible.



I then took the auto-train to Most na Soči. The passenger section has compartments, and the windows can be opened. The ride through the gorges was breathtaking. I stayed at a family-run guesthouse near the Most na Soči station—authentic and cozy.



Friday, May 8: Tolmin Gorge and Nova Gorica

I took the bus to Tolmin, then walked 30 minutes to the gorges. The trail is well-maintained but short, so I extended my hike with a scenic loop through the gorges and nearby villages.



A quick train ride later, I was in Nova Gorica for the night, positioning myself to reach the Adriatic coast the next day. I explored at a fast pace—Villa Raffut on the Slovenian side, then crossed the border to visit Palazzo Attems-Petzenstein and grab an aperitivo in the main square. You could tell I was in Italy just by the vibe. The old border checkpoint is still there.

Saturday, May 9: Piran

Three trains and a bus later, I arrived. The journey was scenic, and it was worth it.

Piran is touristy but manageable. It feels like a mix of Croatia and Italy, with both influences evident. The maritime museum was fascinating, with its detailed ship models. There’s still a local feel—there was even a great blues concert by the harbor that evening.

Sunday, May 10: Piran

I walked to Izola along the coast—a beautiful route with paths, roads, and lakes. It was Sunday, and the tip of the village was lively with families picnicking. I decided to take the bus to Koper. The regional museum was quiet, but the garden was stunning.

Monday, May 11: Trieste

The bus connection from Koper was frequent and easy. Trieste is very open to the sea. I visited the castle and the massive Revoltella Museum—good timing, since it was raining. The collection spans everything from classical to contemporary art.



I missed my connection to Stresa later that day, so I had to improvise a night in a dorm near Milan’s train station.

Tuesday, May 12: Stresa

I came mainly for the Borromean Islands. First impressions weren’t great—crowded at the dock and windy. I didn’t like Isola Bella—too many people and too flashy. I much preferred Isola Madre, with its peaceful gardens where you can find solitude. On the way back, I stopped at Isola dei Pescatori after some hesitation, and it was worth it. Finally, I explored Stresa, with its colorful houses and grand palaces.

Wednesday, May 13: Heading to the Jura

I wrapped up my trip by taking the EuroCity train from Milan to Geneva via the Simplon Pass. From there, I headed to my vacation spot, taking the train from Nyon to La Cure (on the border). The rest of the journey was private.

We’re a Canadian couple, both 77, and we’re already planning our vacation for fall 2027. Timeframe: mid-September to mid-October... dates are flexible, and we might stay even longer. Initially, I had planned this itinerary: Athens (3), Naxos (4), Paros (4), Santorini (4), then a flight to Istanbul (7–10 days!!). This would let us maximize our flights and experience another culture. That’s a lot of ferries, though... I’ve already cut out Milos.

Our second option would be to stay 2 x 15 days on two different islands, but I’d still keep Istanbul as our next destination... or maybe 30 days on one island that offers the chance to take day trips to other islands where the ferry ride is no more than 2 to 2.5 hours. For example, Naxos to Paros only takes 30 minutes. We could return the same evening or stay overnight.

Naxos seems like the best option!!!

For Istanbul, of course we want to do a day cruise on the Bosphorus and see Hagia Sophia. If we stay 6–7 days, what would be the other main attractions? Are there any points of interest we can reach by local bus?

Hello everyone, dear community members,

After several trips to Tokyo and the surrounding areas, as well as Osaka Bay, we’re heading to Northern Kyushu for a week in mid-October (we’ll be in China the other week). We’re a couple with two kids, aged 7 and 9. We’ll arrive at Saga Airport and plan to stay there for a few days to explore Arita, Imari, Karatsu, Hirado, and Dazaifu. We’re thinking Saga isn’t too touristy, so it might be a good choice to find accommodation for 3 or 4 days there and immerse ourselves in a typical Japanese city in the evenings with fewer tourists. 1) Is this a good idea?

My second question is: 2) What are the best neighborhoods in Saga where I can find accommodation (preferably an Airbnb) with free parking but still close to the city center, please? 3) Would you recommend Fukuoka instead?

4) Here’s my first draft of the itinerary:

Saga Airport (we leave straight away) → Beppu Onsen (2-hour drive, we stay one night + Mount Yufu) → Kurokawa Onsen (we stay one night + Mount Kuju) → we pass by Mount Aso (just a drive-around and short walk) → then we go to Suizenji Jojuen in Kumamoto (park in a paid parking lot nearby) → return to Saga in the evening, where we stay this time. Stay in Saga for 3 or 4 nights in an Airbnb with convenient parking in the city center, not too far out, and explore the surrounding areas (Imari, Arita, Karatsu, Hirado, Dazaifu...).

Saga to Nagasaki (minimum 2 nights, ideally 3). Then return to Saga. 5) Same question: where to stay in Nagasaki in accommodation where we can park the car for free and be near or easily accessible to the city center? 6) For all these places, what do you recommend doing with the kids?

Thanks so much to everyone!

I found out that in Namibia, at a camp in the Hoanib River bed... a luxurious camp with no fences but all the comfort, including "facilities" inside... If my information is correct. An experienced "tourist" was killed by a lion at night. This person had left their tent in the middle of the night to answer a call of nature (even though all the amenities were inside the tent; "tent" is actually an understatement for this kind of "accommodation"). The other "campers" and staff intervened, but it was too late. In this region, there are desert lions. In such a hostile environment, these lions tend to look for the "easy option," so they attack livestock and get closer to humans (opportunity)... There’s an entire program to protect lions, local populations, and their livestock, including fitting lions with tracking collars. Why am I writing all this? In Southern Africa (AFS), in many places, you can find yourself in areas with no fences or protections, whether in private or public camps. There are safety rules that are clearly laid out. Only get out of your vehicle in designated areas, and always keep in mind that... wild animals could still be nearby. Even at a picnic stop in Kruger National Park (KNP)... Don’t leave your tent or the immediate area at night... and even during the day, stay alert. That’s also why children under 8, 10, or even 16 are often not allowed. Even if it seems safe... you never know! Absolute and strict adherence to these rules is essential! ESSENTIAL! Personally, I’ve seen lions very close to the "lounge" of a lodge in Addo... with people having breakfast outside, completely unfazed. I remember that lodge in Maputaland where a tourist who didn’t follow the rules was killed by a lion... (in this case, the lion was identified and killed because it might have returned and also shown its buddies how easy hunting there was). Another case where a mom decided her child was old enough to sleep alone in their chalet... and the child wandered out at night... Or those lodges where you’re escorted even for 20 meters by an armed ranger... and not just armed with a slingshot. Lodges where... YOU DON’T GO OUT AT NIGHT... if you have a problem, you have a whistle, a foghorn, and you wait... That lodge where lions approached the camp and all the staff were on high alert... Those places where you could hear the lions’ long and short calls... and the hyenas’ laughter... I could go on... And this applies to other animals too... Anyway, This little note is probably too schoolmarmish or preachy, but it’s just to remind you that safety rules are there to protect you. Never take them lightly. Never be overconfident. Ndlelanhle! !

The Avalon Peninsula, located in the southeast of Newfoundland Island, isn't just a picturesque place—it's also teeming with natural wonders: icebergs, whales, migratory seabirds, and wild caribou.

It was the first region of the province to be settled. Moreover, it's rich in legends, traditions, and the history of the early adventurers who conquered the New World.

St. John's, the capital, is one of the oldest and easternmost cities in North America. With its colorful houses nestled in the heart of steep rocky hills, it has the traditional charm of a small port town.

Below are the hikes we did in this region. A link is attached to each hike to give you quicker access to the relevant information.

Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Please click on the image to start the video.

Chance Cove Coastal Hiking Trail Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve Holyrood - Salmonier Nature Park La Manche Provincial Park - Suspension Bridge Trail Cape Spear - Lighthouse Trail St. John's - Deadman's Bay Trail Quidi Vidi - Sugarloaf Trail St. John's - Signal Hill National Historic Site St. John's - North Head Trail Loop - Signal Hill Salmon Cove - Salmon Cove Sands Provincial Park

Hello everyone,

I’m starting a travel journal about the amazing round trip I took in August 2022 with a big circuit through the US West.

Here’s what I posted on another travel forum back when VoyageForum hadn’t yet regained its freedom. 😉

Hello!

We got back yesterday in the middle of the afternoon, and here’s a quick first take on the 2022 round trip.

Has America changed? You could say that, yeah. For better? For worse? Who knows. A massive circuit—nearly 8,000 kilometers, actually around 5,000–6,000 miles.

Round-trip flights went smoothly, except for Air France on the way back, which let a rather large dog in the cabin with an owner who let it roam around the plane. Cool, Air France... Outrageous!

The rough itinerary: Salt Lake City. Jackson Hole–Grand Teton. Yellowstone. Cody. Rock Springs. Moab–Arches–Canyonlands. Monument Valley. Grand Canyon. Bryce Canyon. Zion Park. Las Vegas. Death Valley. Mammoth Lakes. Tioga Road. Mariposa. Yosemite Valley. San Francisco.

Tourists on site—a sociological study:

Italians: Always nice but just as loud as ever! Hispanics: Same as the Italians, just a different language. Germans: *Ein, zwei, ach mein Gott!* Order and discipline! Americans: Still no manners whatsoever. Pathetic. I’m only talking about the tourists, not the locals who work there. Quebecers: Pure joy! English-speaking Canadians: Same as the Americans. Asians: For the Japanese, it’s perfect. But the others from the Middle Kingdom... Let’s not start a war over this. There’s already Ukraine going on. And yet... Israelis: Still no manners. The Kibbutz kids are the bane of this country. French: Some excellent, some very good, some good, and some... not much.

Note that tourists in the northern part of the trip were much better behaved than those in the south. "Hello," "Goodbye," offering a hand? Etc. Few Asians in Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Lots of locals. The same goes for hotel staff in the northern part—more attentive. Really cool!

On the other hand, we were pretty surprised not to encounter any African-American locals in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, or even Arizona—whether tourists or employees. It’s quite striking, to be honest.

The Hotels:

Holiday Inn - 206 South West Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, United States. A modern but soulless hotel. Basically, a place to pass through. Minimal breakfast.

Miller Park Lodge - 155 North Jackson Street - Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Not a hotel but a luxury motel. 750 € for two nights!! No breakfast. Huge room where you could hold a tea dance!! Well-located. No staff. Only room of the month-long stay that was fully redone during those two days.

Best Western Weston Inn. 103 Gibbon Avenue, West Yellowstone, MT 59758 Well-located, not far from the park entrance. Minimal breakfast. Friendly staff. Room refreshed every two days.

Best Western Sunset Inn. 1601 8th St, Cody, 82414-4134 Very good. Quiet. Good breakfast. Friendly staff.

Baymont by Wyndham 2717 Dewar Drive, Rock Springs, WY 82901 Very good. Quiet. Good breakfast. Friendly staff. Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!

Wingate by Wyndham Moab. 126 South Highway 191, Moab, 84532 End of the "family" hotels. Start of the tourist hotels. Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene! Minimal breakfast.

Hampton Inn Kayenta. US Highway 160, Kayenta, AZ 86033, United States A stopover hotel run by the Navajos. Friendly staff wearing masks. Lots of people. Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene! Minimal breakfast.

La Quinta by Wyndham Williams. 1100 Cataract Lake Rd, Williams, AZ 86046, United States Finally, Route 66 for 500 meters! The staff is there. Nothing more. Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene! Minimal breakfast.

BEST WESTERN PLUS Ruby's Inn. 26 South Main Street, Bryce Canyon City, UT 84764, United States A factory!!! Great Hispanic or Romanian staff! A liquor store in the hotel! Awesome! Very good breakfast, but go early because the crowd—and the jerks—are there! Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene!

BEST WESTERN Casino Royale - 3411 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Strip, Las Vegas Good hotel at a reasonable price. No breakfast, but Denny’s is next door. Quiet hotel despite the casino. Friendly staff. No memory of seeing any pets!

Shilo Inn Mammoth Lake. 2963 Main Street, Mammoth Lake Disastrous! Ineffective security system. Fire doors propped open with wooden wedges. Tiny breakfast room. No staff in the room. Tables not cleaned. Minimal breakfast. Gross pool. Rooms need work. No, the whole hotel needs to be redone. They say they’re renovating. They’d be better off tearing it down. Too many pets that should be "not allowed." Hello, hygiene! Very bad memory. Apparently, there’s supposed to be staff in this hotel.

Quality Inn Yosemite Valley Gateway. 4994 Bullion Street, Mariposa, CA 95338 Hotel or motel? Booking should clean up its listings! No room refresh! Minimal breakfast. The staff is there. Nothing more.

Comfort Inn by the Bay. 775 Van Ness Avenue, Marina District, San Francisco No room refresh in four days! Minimal breakfast. Friendly and helpful staff. Well-located. Depends on what for, but well-located.

And then there are those who steal apples from the breakfast to put in their bags in the morning, those who fill up their famous US water bottles with orange juice from the breakfast pump, those who don’t clear their tables—I could go on. And also, those who don’t say hello or respond to a greeting!

Met some super nice French people (in the northern parks)! They’ll recognize themselves!

And the magic phrase that opens doors with Americans: "Do you speak French? OK, good!" Laughter guaranteed!

Don’t try that with Asians who run souvenir shops in big cities—they have no sense of humor unless it’s about the color of the green bill.

The park rangers are always available! Great!

And 5,000 photos to sort and organize, plus a few hours of dashcam videos!

See you soon.

Until the next update...

Hi there! It’s been nearly 6 years since I last posted here or on my travel blog. But I’m back, at least for one post! I’m returning with a dream trip we took in April 2023: a stay at Walt Disney World in Florida. We went for 10 days. Ten days at an amusement park might seem like a lot, but you should know that Disney isn’t just one park—it’s 4 parks and 2 water parks (only one was open during our trip). So we split those 10 days across 5 parks, which worked out to about 2 days per park. The four main parks each have a different vibe:

Magic Kingdom: The most famous one, the one that most resembles our Disneyland Paris. It’s home to several "lands" (Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Liberty Square, and Main Street USA). This is the park where you’ll find the iconic castle, the symbol of the parks. Disney’s Hollywood Studios: It’s a bit like the studios at Disneyland Paris, with the well-known Tower of Terror and Toy Story Land. It also features the stunning Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (a must-see, even if you’re not a Star Wars fan). Animal Kingdom: A very nature-focused park, divided into several sections, including representations of Africa and Asia, as well as the breathtaking Pandora – The World of Avatar. Epcot: The park of countries, where different nations are represented around a large circular lake—including France!

The water park that was open during our stay was Typhoon Lagoon. We spent a morning there lounging and swimming before heading to Disney Springs (the equivalent of Disney Village in France). We’re not big on pools or chilling out, so we didn’t stay long, but there was no time limit.

We chose to stay at the Disney’s Art of Animation hotel, a Resort (huge, like everything there!) with 4 themed areas: Nemo, Cars, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid (where the rooms for 4 people or fewer are located).



Here’s the itinerary we followed for those 10 days:

Day 1: Flight at 7:35 AM–4:40 PM (with a layover in London), stroller pickup, then shuttle bus to our hotel Day 2: Day at Magic Kingdom Day 3: Day at Hollywood Studios Day 4: Day at Animal Kingdom Day 5: Day at Epcot Day 6: Day at Hollywood Studios Day 7: Relaxing day at Typhoon Lagoon and Disney Springs Day 8: Day at Magic Kingdom Day 9: Day at Epcot Day 10: Day at Magic Kingdom Day 11: Morning at Hollywood Studios, then shuttle bus to the airport, stroller return at the airport, flight at 7:05 PM–1:50 PM (next day)

We rented the stroller from Kingdom Stroller. The rental process was super easy—everything was done online. On the day we arrived and the day we left, there was no staff at the counter, but the stroller was ready with a tag bearing our name. When we left, we just dropped it off at the designated spot, still with no one checking... We used the Mears Connect shuttle: you pick a day and time for them to pick you up at the airport and your hotel. Everything went smoothly, no surprises.

For planning, you’ll need to decide in advance which parks you’ll visit each day because a reservation is required (just like in Paris now). I’d recommend making a schedule ahead of time. Same goes for restaurants—figure out which ones you’d like to eat at beforehand. Some work like fast food and don’t require reservations, while others, the "Table Service" restaurants, operate like traditional restaurants and need to be booked in advance to guarantee a spot. These can be reserved 60 days before the first day of your visit, and that applies to all the restaurants for your entire stay (e.g., if you’re going from February 1st to 11th, you can make reservations for the whole trip 60 days before February 1st).

Not essential, but we found them super handy: MagicBands. These are connected bracelets you buy on-site (not cheap, of course) that let you, once linked to your account in the app, open your hotel room, enter the parks, validate Lightning Lane reservations at attraction entrances, and even make purchases (if you’ve linked a credit card). We got the cheapest ones and loved them!

As for the trip’s wrap-up, if I were to do it again, ... I’d do almost everything the same: The schedule and restaurant reservations I planned were perfect! ... I’d change one thing: Maybe I wouldn’t plan two full days at Epcot because it was the park we enjoyed the least. Some attractions (like the amazing Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind) were great, but it was really hot, the park isn’t shaded, and it felt stifling when the weather was scorching. That said, I don’t regret it because a big storm hit on our second day, forcing us back to the hotel.

That’s all for now—I’ll be back soon with photos from each park and the hotel. You’ll see, it was incredible! See you soon! :)

Hi there, following a work trip, I’ll have 4.5 days left to get a quick overview of Madagascar during the last week of February. I’ll already have had a good look around Tana (3 days of work and 1.5 days beforehand to see 1 or 2 points of interest 2-3 hours from Tana).

Is it feasible to spend the remaining 4.5 days like this:

- Day 1 & 2 (and maybe the morning of Day 3): relaxing on a coast with a pleasant climate, for example, a one-way flight to Tuléar (there’s a flight on Day 1 at 3 AM) and heading to a nice beach. Ideally, I’d have liked to go toward Morondava (baobabs, beautiful beaches near Belo), but the flight schedules don’t really work, and it wouldn’t let me visit Isalo.

- Then 2 days to head back up via the RN7, ideally with a stop in Isalo, which really appeals to me (I’m an experienced hiker in France), and/or Ranomafana. But do the weather conditions allow for long hikes in that area? Ideally, I’d like to do Tuléar–Tana by public transport up to my first road stop (shared bus? To Isalo?), then find a local hiking guide for the day. And take another transport to another point of interest before returning to Tana, where I have my return flight to France on Day 5 at noon.

My questions: - How to travel from Day 3 to Day 5 from the west coast (Tuléar? Morondava?) back to Tana? I’d prefer not to depend on a guide the whole way, but if I have to 🤷🏽‍♂️) If I choose Morondava, will I miss out on really interesting spots I could’ve seen along the RN7?

I’m open to any suggestions or ideas to make the most of these 4.5 days, like another beach destination I might not have considered (I ruled out Nosy Bé because of the February weather—maybe I was wrong?)

This trip took place in May 2023, a period of calm that later proved precarious. Day of May 17 Departure from Marseille on El Al (tickets booked by ourselves, while the stay itself was organized by Voyageurs du Monde). Before check-in, six or seven El Al staff members conduct a security check—quite understandable, but they do it in total chaos. They send people to the left, then block them, redirect them to the right, for no apparent reason. Most of the staff don’t speak French, which complicates things. They work at an incomprehensible slow pace, stopping the interview to do something else, then coming back and starting over... The flight goes smoothly, except for the meal service, which, for a four-hour flight that El Al delayed to lunchtime, is more than basic: a quarter-liter of water and a corned beef sandwich that’s absolutely disgusting and inedible. To get a coffee, you have to queue at the back of the plane. You end up missing Ryanair🙂 Arrival at Ben Gurion goes better than expected—the passport control is fairly quick, as is baggage delivery. Transfer to the Lily and Bloom hotel, Lilienblaum Street (easy to remember 🙂) As advised by Voyageurs du Monde, we book a table for the evening at the nearest restaurant, North Abraxas. Good atmosphere and decent food. We get a sense of the price level in Israeli restaurants. Around us, diners share dishes placed in the middle of the table. Much more convivial than our individual plates!! Day of May 18

The next morning, we go down for breakfast at 7:30 AM—a late hour, but the setup is slow, with the two servers taking their time. We ask the bartender for a long coffee and a black tea... It must be a complicated order because it takes him over 10 minutes to make it. He serves us with the grace of a dancer. A good breakfast if you’re not in a hurry, followed by a little stroll in the neighborhood, since our meet-up with Patrick Arfi, our guide for the day, isn’t until 10 AM. P. Arfi is a former publishing house director in Paris who has lived in Israel for a long time and has a vast cultural knowledge. After an initial chat, we head toward Jaffa, focusing on the Bauhaus buildings preserved by a clever urban policy that allows high-rise construction while maintaining old architectural ensembles.



This policy keeps the streets looking more human-scale than the usual high-rise districts in modern cities.

With the visit to Jaffa, Patrick introduces us to a fascinating slice of history, despite the temperature nearing 38°C. Jaffa, once an independent city, is now a neighborhood of Tel Aviv—a predominantly Muslim area. We notice a few buildings in poor condition. They belong to Palestinian families who left Tel Aviv. Otherwise, the city has been very well restored, apart from these few buildings.

A government agency rents out the ground floors of these buildings, which helps fund part of the security work. They also try to track down the owners and buy back the abandoned properties, but some refuse to sell. The visit is very touristy—most of the people we meet are tourists like us.













There’s very little local life, except in the lower part of the city. To be continued, as I’ve reached the allowed photo limit.

Hi everyone,

So glad this forum is back up! Here’s a recap of our three little weeks in the Azores in August 2024, camping on Terceira, Flores/Corvo, and São Miguel, with a special focus on the camping side—something I struggled to find info on before we left.

As others have mentioned, a trip to the Azores isn’t something you can improvise last-minute, especially in August. The rental car fleet is limited, so prices go up as availability drops, and vacation rentals/hotels are scarce. Plus, inter-island flights and ferries aren’t exactly frequent. I picked our destination in mid-April, and there were already few rental car options left (some local companies had nothing), and no accommodations on Flores for our dates—or only very expensive ones requiring multiple location changes. Since we love camping, we decided to bring our gear without really knowing what to expect.

Flight with TAP (426 €): Outbound: Lyon → Lisbon → Terceira Return: São Miguel → Lisbon (9-hour stopover for a quick visit) → Lyon

Inter-island flights with SATA: Terceira → Flores (via Horta): 87 € Flores → São Miguel: 90 €

I rented all three cars from the same local company, Ilha Grande—they weren’t picky about the car’s condition. For a Clio (or similar): Terceira (4 days): 461 € Flores (5 days): 623 € São Miguel (8 days): 730 €

Weather: The first two weeks were gorgeous—blue skies, no rain, and even hotter than we expected, around 30°C (temperatures barely dropped at night). The last week of August brought more fine rain (mostly at night) and temps between 20 and 25°C (a light jacket was nice in the mornings and evenings).

TERCEIRA: A great introduction! When I looked at what each island had to offer, Terceira wasn’t at the top of my list, but flying into Terceira cut costs and fit our schedule well, so we spent 4 days there. It turned out to be a lovely start.

For camping, we stayed at Salga Campismo in Porto Judeu, 20 minutes from the airport. We discovered that the island’s campsites were packed with locals—extended families or groups of friends having big, festive gatherings with barbecues and long tables. They spend their summers camping instead of at home, and some even commute to work from there. They had huge tents for sleeping, plus tarps for cooking and relaxing—way more gear than the tourists. Since the week of August 15th is peak vacation time (like in France), we struggled to find a spot, and the nights were pretty noisy. This was the only campsite of the trip with numbered pitches. It’s right by the ocean, next to natural pools. Facilities were decent, with hot showers and picnic tables. Lots of shaded spots. Cost: 4 € per small tent + 2 € per person. Electrical outlets were free (20 € deposit). During our explorations, we passed by Cinco Ribeiras campsite (west coast), which seemed similar.

Camping gas: Always ask the campsite reception if any travelers left a gas canister before buying a new one! Before the trip, I emailed each island’s tourism office, and they gave me addresses for Campingaz bottles. On Terceira, No. 13 Rua João Vaz Corte Real in Angra do Heroísmo (an agricultural store in the industrial zone). CV300 cartridge: 10 €. Note: The tourism office gave me the name of the neighboring store, which didn’t carry that brand.

Fridge: No fridges at any campsite on any island. We had a foldable cooler and found bags of crushed ice in supermarkets’ fish sections.

Things to see: Key takeaway: Do the must-see spots early in your stay in case the weather doesn’t cooperate. We were lucky and saw all the viewpoints without clouds—apparently not always the case!

Our main visits/hikes on Terceira: Miradouro Serra do Cume (a must—*the* iconic Terceira photo)

Furnas do Enxofre (free): Few fumaroles, but a pretty 1 km walk through moss and endemic plants. Hike PRC01 TER – Misterios Negros (some acrobatic sections, but a very scenic path). Monte Brasil + Angra do Heroísmo: Lovely town. Hike PR02 TER – Baía da Agualva: Nice, but not much shade (along the coast). Quatro Ribeiras: Church and swimming in natural pools. Biscoitos natural pools: Too touristy (but still free).





FLORES: Our favorite! This was the island I *had* to visit, and we weren’t disappointed—no mass tourism, just stunning nature.

For camping, we chose Santa Cruz campsite. Unlike Terceira, it was only tourists here. Very little shade, but ocean views. Modern facilities with hot showers, clotheslines, and a charging station. A big area with picnic tables, each with a barbecue and sink, all sheltered. Right across from gorgeous natural pools. FREE (you can leave a tip for the caretaker).

For Campingaz, the campsite manager stores canisters and gear left by campers. Otherwise, you can find them at Movipesca.

During a hike, we passed by Fajã Grande campsite (campsites here double as picnic spots for everyone). It’s terraced, with no shade, but very clean facilities and a small bar/restaurant nearby. Natural pools across the street. When we stopped by midday, there were only a few tents. Fajã Grande felt even quieter than Santa Cruz, with just one supermarket.

We also picnicked at Ponta Delgada campsite in the north. Impeccable facilities, lots of picnic tables with barbecues. Empty when we were there. A bit out of the way.

Rental car or not on Flores? Given the high cost, I really debated whether we needed a car. In Santa Cruz, the port, airport, and supermarkets are walkable, and the most famous hikes are one-way, not loops. So I contacted a taxi (the tourism office emails a list of drivers—they don’t wait for customers; you have to call). Prices were around 20 € for Santa Cruz to Fajã Grande, for example. That means you could take several taxi trips before the rental car (over 100 €/day) pays off. But it does mean planning your route and schedule in advance, leaving little room for spontaneity. The taxi I contacted was already booked solid in July, so I decided to keep the car and adjust our hikes to make loops. (FYI, we’re in our 50s, two couples splitting costs—maybe a different calculation if we were 25!) No regrets—it gave us way more freedom.

Our main visits/hikes:

Hike (amazing): Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro (the iconic waterfalls) → Fajã Grande → Poço do Bacalhau (swim in the waterfall) → Aldeia da Cuada → Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro. Hike PR04: Loop from Miradouro da Fajã de Lopo Vaz, then down to the beach via the trail. Return along the pebble beach before climbing back up. Worth it, but the descent and ascent are steep.

By car: Miradouro do Portal (great view of the coast to Fajã Grande) – Rocha dos Bordões (basalt columns) – Miradouro das Lagoas Rasa e Funda (a must) – Miradouro da Fajã do Conde.

Hike: Miradouro das Lagoas Funda e Comprida, Lagoa Negra, Seca e Branda, Lagoa Branca. A bit muddy and not as memorable as other hikes. The best part (a must) is the view from the starting miradouro.





By car: The north of the island.

CORVO: Stunning!!

No spots left on the ferry (12 seats), so we took a tourist zodiac (booked a few weeks ahead by email, but there were still spots the day of—several boats make the trip). On the way out, we cruised along Flores’ coast to see waterfalls and caves. On the return, they looked for dolphins (we saw some! 🙂 ). Boat price: 35 € per person. At Corvo, minibuses shuttle between the port and the top of the caldera (10 € round-trip per person). Lots of people just stop at the viewpoint when the shuttle arrives, so we weren’t too crowded on the caldera hike. But it’s too tight on time to walk back down to the port. If you really want to, I think you’d need to stay overnight. All boats spend the same amount of time on the island.



SÃO MIGUEL: Back to civilization—but not just that! São Miguel is way more touristy than the other islands (though still nothing compared to other destinations), but it’s worth it for all the natural sites.

For camping, to avoid long drives, we started at Sete Cidades campsite on the west side. A big, free, terraced campsite with some shade. We were there the last week of August, when crowds start thinning, so there was space—a mix of tourists and locals. A few picnic tables with barbecues. For facilities, one side for men, one for women, each with one toilet (cleaned regularly) and three outdoor cold showers (swimsuits recommended). You can charge your phone in the caretaker’s hut.

After exploring the west, we moved to Furnas for the rest of the trip. We arrived on a Friday night, and the campsite was packed with locals spending the weekend. It emptied out Sunday afternoon. A large, shady campsite with several bathroom blocks (hot showers). There’s a restaurant, but only two picnic tables. Cost: 3.5 € per small tent + 3.5 € per person.

Campingaz: We bought canisters at Decathlon in Ponta Delgada (next to Decathlon, there’s a big shopping center for groceries). Didn’t ask at Sete Cidades, but at Furnas, there was a closet full of gas bottles of all sizes left by campers.

Main visits/hikes: Sete Cidades and the surrounding lakes (lots of viewpoints and short hikes): Beautiful.



Swimming in the hot springs at Ponta da Ferraria (west side of the island).



Furnas: The lake, fumaroles, and parks (like Terra Nostra).



Lagoa do Fogo (gorgeous).



Gorreana tea factory (nice hike through the tea fields + guided tour), Ribeira Grande, Ermida de Nossa Senhora da Paz. The east coast and Ribeira dos Caldeirões park. Ponta Delgada.

Final thoughts: The Azores are a fantastic discovery for nature lovers—lakes, waterfalls, and tranquility. Almost all sites are accessible without hiking (though it’s a shame not to). The “miradouros” (viewpoints) have parking, often with toilets and picnic tables (always very clean), which helps protect nature. Camping is totally doable and really enjoyable! Our only disappointment: Not finding good fruits and veggies (except for São Miguel’s delicious but expensive pineapples).

If you have any questions, I’d be happy to help! Christine

This travel journal is the second part of the trip whose first part you can find here: 1st part...

Sunday, August 7: the day we discover a magical place... Edmaier's Secret...

We got up at 8:00 AM, had breakfast on the terrace of our tiny house, and then set off again toward yesterday’s trail. This time, we stopped after 4.5 miles on House Rock Valley Road at the Buckskin Gulch Trail parking lot. We weren’t interested in that trail today—the slot canyon is muddy anyway after the recent storms...

Instead, we explored a lesser-known area that became our playground. And what a playground it was, folks—an out-of-this-world spot, THE highlight of our trip!!! 😏

Just imagine being in the middle of these landscapes, and the cherry on top... no one else around!!!!! Well, we did meet a couple who were coming back—it was 9:30 AM 😮. Did they camp there? Did they turn back? 🙁

After paying the entry permit online, we set off with plenty of water (6L for the four of us) plus a gallon we hid along the way for the return trip. 😉 After a one-hour approach hike along a wash, we reached the sea of sand.



We had to cross it to reach our goal: a strip about 2 km long and 1 km wide that you can explore freely since there’s no marked trail... We entered a few GPS points into our Garmin Etrex, and off we went!!! 😎 It was... magical, enchanting, a true love-at-first-sight moment!



Brain Rock, waves, fine and brittle rock, colors—it goes up, it goes down.







Just thinking about it gives me chills... I remember sitting still for two minutes, taking in these wonders with such emotion that I teared up...