Results for "Gorée+|+99+>+78"

Bonjour

Nous partons pour la Bolivie en Septembre et comptons faire l'ascension du Parinacota et/ou du Huayna Potosi à plus de 6000m. Je voudrais avoir des retours d'expérience sur la façon de s'habiller pour lutter contre le froid pendant l'ascension et au camp de base. On parle beaucoup du principe des 3 couches (sous-vetement technique + polaire + gore tex). Est-ce suffisant? Doit on empiler des couches supplémentaires? Merci d'avance...

Bonsoir, je pars bientot en Thailande, et je suis en train de rassembler le maximum dinformations concernant ce pays, je surf sur le net, je vais voir dans les forums, je vais à la biblothèque... J'en discute avec mes parents mes amis... Bref une foule de renseignements que je bois à grande gorgé, connaissez vous des documentaires vidéos, qu'il faut que je voye avant de partir(titre du documentaire et auteur) merci par avance🙂

Bonjour,

Je suis de retour de Cuba depuis le 16 juillet... depuis, je suis tout le temps malade. Il faut dire que j'ai chopé une tourista pendant mon séjour, que j'ai demeuré dans des casas particular et que j'étais la pendant le cyclone Dennis...

Depuis, j'alterne entre des diarrhées intermittentes et glaireuses, des maux de gorge, des maux de ventre, des douleurs musculaires, mais, le pire, des picottement et des brulements au niveau anal, vaginal et aux fesses (folliculites) et deux fissures anales. J'ai passé tous les tests possibles, dont toutes les MTS et des tests sanguins (herpes, VIH, anémie, glande thyroide) et analyse de selles (bactérie c difficile, parasites), et tous se sont avérés négatifs. J'ai l'impression que mes maux se déplacent sans arrêt, mais les problèmes génitaux sont les plus insistants et incommodants. C'est comme si, a ce niveau, les sensations de cuisance se déplacaient aussi, comme si c'était sous ma peau. Il n'y a aucun vésicule, aucune cloque, aucun bouton, seulement une irritation semblable a celle laissée par un rasoir. J'ai essayé nombre de crèmes prescrites par un dermatologue, deux gynécologues, un spécialiste en voyage et nombre de généralistes. Rien n'y fait!

Quelqu'un ici a-t-il vécu quelque chose de similaire en revenant de voyage? Je suis très inquiète et drôlement lasse de cette situation qui me refroidit énormément côté voyage.

Merci a tous.

Jai eu information par mon agance de voyage que les prix des voyages été pour augmenter a cause du prix de lessence, alors pour ceux qui partent cette hiver, je vous conseil dacheter votre voyage au plus vite....😉

Bye bye

Quand on a une semaine, faut faire des choix si on veut pas cumuler les kms de voiture, donc j'hesite: 1) Faire une boucle antalya, termessos, fethiye, patara, kalkan, kas, cirali, antalya 2) Aller du cote de pamukkale, aphrodisias, efes, redescendre vers bodrum, fethiye, patara, kalkan, kas, cirali 3) Aller en cappadoce, par quelle route ?, jusqu'a nevsehir, goreme

L'avantage du 1), c'est qu'il n'y a pas accumulation de kms, la possibilite aussi de faire des tours apres vers perge, aspendos, side. Par contre, c'est peut etre un peu trop plage, non ? est-ce qu'on peut faire des randos ?

2) est plus long, est-ce que ca vaut le coup d'aller jusqu'a Efes, bodrum ?

3) est encore plus long, je me demande si ca fait pas trop de kms en 1 semaine ?? Est-ce que la cappadoce, ca vaut vraiment le detour ? Apparement, la cappadoce c'est mieux au niveau rando, paysage, non ?

Vu que je prefere la rando, les balades, la beaute, les paysages, le depaysement par rapport a la plage, je serai plus tente par 3) que par 1) ou 2), mais j'ai un peu peur de faire trop de kms en allant en Cappadoce.

Est-ce que 1), 2), c'est essentiellement plage ou y a des balades et randos sympas a faire ? Est-ce que la Cappadoce c'est vraiment genial et ca vaut le coup de faire des kms en voiture ?

Merci pour vos reponses

Bonjour,

J'ai essayé de trouvé sur Internet des recettes de riz venant de l'Inde ou du Pakistan.

Si vous avez des idées, je vous en serais grée.

Merci!

Bonjour,

Je pars 2 semaines en août au Pérou faire un treck (environ 4000 m d'altitude), du côté du Machu Pichu, Pisaq, Maras, Ollantaytambo etc ...., que me conseillez-vous comme vêtement ?? la veste en gore-tex est-elle nécessaire ou un coup-vent peut-il suffire ??

Quel duvet dois-je prendre, -10° pensez-vous que ça puisse suffire ?? merci d'avance pour vos réponse !!

Bonjour,

Je ne sais pas trop ou placer cette demande donc me voilà à la case divers...

Je parraine depuis peu une petite fille qui vit au Népal. L'association est gérée par LMC (que j'ai rencontré sur ce site) et j'en profite pour la remercier de toute sa gentillesse et de tous ses efforts.

Bref, le but du sujet est que je voudrais envoyer certaines choses à ma petite filleule de façon régulière mais malheureusement le système postal (en Irlande et au Népal) est assez "lent" (mon paquet envoyé le 18 mars n'est toujours pas arrivé...). Au Népal, tous les courriers sont aussi ouverts pour vérification...

Je voulais savoir s'il y avait des gens en partance pour le Népal (dans un avenir proche ou lointain) et s'il était possible de leur confier des affaires pour ma petite Ruth. Ca serait vraiment gentil et je serais sure de cette façon qu'elle et les autres enfants reçoivent bien ce qui leur est du.

Je vous remercie d’avance

Kiki

Je suppose que je dois pas expliquer ce que c'est le Songkan .. les jours de songkan .. en général BKK i n'y a pas grand chose sauf a kaosan road ou tout le monde s'éclate a s'asperger de l'eau .. .. bien depuis 2 ans maintenant il y a la tourisme police qui demande gentiment aux demoiselles de mètre un soutien gorge ( un trompe couillon en argot !) il ne faut pas le prendre mal .. car du a la quantité d'eau sur le corps ... il est normal que l'on voit .. vos jolis rondeurs .. mais le songkan est avant tout un festival traditionnel thaïlandais .. et du a leur pudeur .. ils demandent aux étranger d'en faire autant .. .. je sais que je vais me mètre a dos les MLF mais j'en prend la responsabilité .. merci Mesdames et Mademoiselle pour garder un respect pour ce pays .. et gare au petit malin qui jette de la glace .. ce n'est pas drôle ...

salut à vous,

Etant nouveau dans le monde des pédaleurs-rêveur je me pose une question technique bassement matériel mais non moins importante:

Qu'elle tenue pour rouler sous la pluie? Veste Gore tex en haut et surpantalon étanche en bas, poncho ...?! ou autre comme le maillot de bain pour les pays chaud 😏

Si ceux qui ont de l'expérience dans le domaine peuvent m'en faire profiter

Merci

Dans le cadre de mon voyage en Chine, j'aimerai faire de la rando soft (30km/jour) sauf que je n'ai pas la moindre idée où je pourrai marcher là-bas..

Quelqu'un aurait une idée à partager ?

Bonjour,

J'aurais une question pour nos amis canadiens que je salue bien fort et que j'aime beaucoup🙂. Pratiquement chaque fois que je lis un post concernant la sécurité dans un pays, il vient d'un canadien : risque de se faire trancher la gorge à Margarita au Vénézuela, bracages au Mexique, angoisses à Cuba ...

Je suis tout à fait d'accord qu'il y a des endroits dangereux et qu'il faut prendre certaines précautions, mais je n'ai pas l'impression qu'en France, on s'angoisse autant. Celà me donnerait à penser qu'il y a une sorte de psychose au Canada, concernant les pays étrangers.

Alors, je me pose des questions. Soit je suis totalement inconsciente quand je voyage (mais pour l'instant, il ne m'est rien arrivé de facheux), soit les informations qui filtrent au Canada sont alarmistes.

Quelles sont vos sources d'information ? Que vous dit-on sur ce qui se passe hors des frontières ? Ou simplement seriez-vous plus peureux que nous ou avez-vous moins l'habitude de voyager?

Je ne voudrais pas que vous preniez mal mon post 😕. C'est juste ma curiosité qui me pousse à l'écrire.

Quel que soit notre age ou notre génération, il y a des chansons qui nous touchent au coin de l'enfance, si vous voyez ce que je veux dire... Ces airs peuvent aussi bien dater de "ce bon vieux temps" ou bien surgir d'une radio avec une musique ou bien deux ou trois phrases qui vous serrent la gorge alors qu'on saute dans sa voiture en sortant d'un rendez-vous...

Moi, récemment ça m'est arrivé avec : "le roi des toubillons" de La Grande Sophie et "Por que te vas" de Jeanette...

Et vous ?

salut à tous,

je pars en trek au nepal pour la debut novembre, j'ai fais quelques treks en amérique du sud mais rien de comparable avec le nepal que ce soit en durée et en altitude, si certains d'entre vous pouvez me donner quelques conseils notamment au point de vue vestimentaire. est ce que qu'une veste polaire en gore teks ou quelque chose comme ça est necessaire.

je compte faire le trek du camp de base de l'everest.

merci d'avance

je pars 15 jours en Turquie en août et voulais visiter la cappadoce. qui peut donner conseil et info ? Par exemple, mieux vaut-il rayonner de goreme ou de la vallée de ilhara. combien faut-il compter pour un guide qui nous accompagnerait pour un circuit de 3 jours ?

merci pour les réponses

Hello,

Je recherche des personnes interessées et même passionnées par la faune africaine qui souhaiteraient partir avec moi en tant que bénévole au Kenya pour aider au développement d'une réserve d'éléphants (près d'amboseli). Ce genre de mission est difficile à trouver car il y en a très peu.

Cette mission est gérée par une association d'écovolontariat.

Je suis à votre dispo pour + d'infos et espère trouver des compagnons de voyages afin de pouvoir partager cette belle expérience !!! A+ Nhala😛

Hi everyone! We see some amazing plans and also posts that go unanswered despite being for pretty popular destinations. We want to liven things up to help you travel more often with companions and in complete safety. Let us know what’s missing for you!

What’s your main hurdle when it comes to using this section?

Fear of not sharing the same interests as the other person. Difficulty managing money and bookings as a group. Lack of seriousness (people who don’t respond or back out). Time spent organizing the itinerary from A to Z.

What would help you the most to take the plunge?

A system of "verified" profiles (identity/trust).[/li> Pre-built itineraries by the forum where you just need to join in.[/li>

Hi there, I'm planning a 4x4 road trip from Darwin to Broome with a rooftop tent in July 2026. I'd like to know if I need to book overnight stops in advance or if I can just wing it and stop wherever I feel like it? Some evenings, we'd like to stop and make use of campsite facilities (restaurant, shop, showers, toilets). What do you recommend? Do I need a permit?

My rough itinerary looks like this: Darwin - Kakadu Kakadu - Nitmiluk Nitmiluk - Kununurra Kununurra - Purnululu Purnululu - El Questro El Questro - Mt Elizabeth - Bell Gorge - Broome

Do you have any tips or great deals to share?

Thanks

For once, I'm sharing my experience after benefiting from other travelers' tips to take the plunge and rent a car (without a driver).

First, don’t hesitate! (Unless you just got your license the day before.) The roads are good—even very good in the north (the situation seems to have improved a lot). Driving is "Italian-style"—you can fit 3 or even 4 cars on a two-lane road. Sri Lankans aren’t suicidal (I wouldn’t have done it in India, though...). No issues with police checkpoints: we were never stopped in 25 days (unlike Sri Lankans...). These days, with Google and connectivity, you can’t get lost. Plan short trips (for us, it was between 2 and 4 hours with Google Maps estimates). Price: for a basic car, between 23 and 25 € per day, and gas isn’t expensive. I didn’t rent a car in Colombo (we used the PickMe app for tuk-tuks or car transfers with luggage). I also left the car parked in Kandy—it was a bit more intense there with narrow hillside streets and motorbikes/tuk-tuks driving a little wild. Big advantage: automatic transmission.

For me, aside from the first intersection, no stress—if you’re tired or not feeling it, you can drive as slowly as you want (unlike in France). I also drove and overtook like the Sri Lankans naturally.

Basic tips (but if you’re a driver, they’re obvious): - The bus is the boss: you’ve got to yield. - Unlike Sri Lankans, avoid overtaking without visibility. - Stay aware of your surroundings: cows, dogs, monitor lizards, pedestrians... so if there’s something, slow down!

I caught myself driving up to 90 km/h without realizing it but then slowed down (speed limits: 70 on rural roads, 100 on highways).

Of course, you’ll need an international driver’s permit or a temporary Sri Lankan license (I had both, but no one asked for them).

Renting a tuk-tuk was trendy among young travelers (I don’t get the appeal for a long trip—maybe 2 or 3 days since they’re slow, not that economical, more dangerous, and you can’t leave your stuff inside. Plus, the passenger sits behind the driver, and we had temps up to 37°C).

For a car, it’s great because it makes you independent: schedules, routes, supermarkets, restaurants...

Hope my feedback helps! !

Hi there, 🙂

I’m about to book 4 nights in the Italian capital and I’m wondering where the best place to stay would be.

- A neighborhood that’s not too noisy - A neighborhood well served by public transport (airport and the city’s main sights) - A neighborhood with restaurants and supermarkets - A neighborhood with relatively reasonable prices

Public transport is essential. We gave this trip as a gift to someone who won’t be able to walk long distances like we usually do.

I also don’t want to be too far from the historic center.

Termini and Monti seem to fit these criteria? Is Termini a bit sketchy? But sketchy like dangerous or sketchy like homeless people just looking for a place to sleep?

We’ll be traveling off-season.

Thanks for your ideas !

Hi everyone, Before entering Kruger Park, we’re planning a stop in Graskop on the way from Johannesburg, then spending two nights at Hippomoon Lodge. I’ve mapped out the following route for a single day between Graskop and Hippomoon Lodge, but I’m wondering if it’s a bit too packed?😐 Visit the Blyde River Canyon in a full day – approx. 180 km / 2h40 drive, leaving Graskop at 8:30 AM: - Graskop Gorge Lift on the R533 towards Hazyview - The Pinnacle Rock - Lisbon / God’s Window / Berlin Falls - Lunch at The Chubby Pig - Treur River - Bourkes Luck, Farm, Moramelo, Uitspanning (33 km from Graskop Gorge Lift) - Bourke’s Luck Potholes - Three Rondavels viewpoint - ???Hike starting from Blyde Canyon: A Forever Resort / the guinea fowl trail / Lower viewpoint - Entry to Swadini for a Boat Cruise on the Blyde River (boat excursion in the Blyde Canyon) - Blyde Dam boat cruise - Drive to Hippomoon Lodge to arrive around 5:00 PM Thanks in advance for your feedback and experiences!😎

We're planning to cycle through Slovenia on touring bikes from July 14th to August 14th. We're used to camping, but I get the feeling there are large areas without campsites. Is wild camping allowed? If not, is it easy to stay with locals?

Could you tell me about the must-see spots in Slovenia? I'm thinking of finishing in Istria, at a seaside campsite to relax and enjoy the sea. Is it pretty quiet there?

Thanks so much, Mireille.

Hello,

After having to cancel our trip to Uganda in December 2020, we finally decided to go in December/January. We leave on December 28th and return on January 18th, which gives us 20 days and 20 nights there 🙂

The main goal of this trip is to meet primates, big and small. We won’t skip the birds and other mammals or the local culture and people, but we want to maximize our chances of meeting our monkey friends.

It’ll be a self-drive road trip with lodge stays. The 4x4 is booked, as are the chimpanzee and gorilla permits, and most of the accommodations.

I’m reaching out because I have a big question mark about my itinerary. Here’s what was originally planned (with the parts I’m unsure about in bold):

1 night in Entebbe on arrival day 1 night at Ziwa Rhino & Wildlife Ranch (rhino trek and shoebill trek) 2 nights at Murchison Falls NP (Murchison River Lodge) 2 nights at Lake Albert (Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve) 2 nights in Kibale (for the chimpanzee habituation day) 2 nights in Queen Elizabeth NP (chimpanzee trek in Kyambura Gorge) 2 nights in Bwindi, Ruhija sector (gorilla trek) 2 nights at Lake Mutanda (gorilla trek in Mgahinga) 1 night in Kisoro (golden monkey trek in Mgahinga) 1 night at Lake Bunyonyi 2 nights in Lake Mburo NP 2 nights near Mabamba Swamps (for the shoebill and to relax before flying back)

My "issue": The lodge at Lake Albert only has availability for the first of the 2 nights. So I’m hesitating between a few options (if you have other ideas, I’m all ears!):

1- Add an extra night at MFNP and make a stop somewhere between MFNP and Kibale. But where? 2- Keep 1 night at Lake Albert and do 3 nights in Kibale (but is 3 days in Kibale too much?) 3- Do 3 nights at MFNP and 3 nights in Kibale, with a long drive between the two 4- 2 nights at Lake Albert but at another lodge not in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve (is there enough to fill 2 days? Any lodge recommendations?)

A huge thank you for your help and advice 🙂 Have a wonderful sunny weekend, Pascale

We’re planning to cycle along the Baltic coast this summer, from Flensburg all the way to the Polish border—and maybe even a little farther along the Polish coast. By e-bike and staying in hotels (we’re not exactly spring chickens). Any tips? Challenges, places to stay, signage? Other thoughts?

Hi there, We’re planning our itinerary for a month in September 2025 and would love your input, please.

We’re starting from Montreal, arriving in: Paris – 2 nights (already visited, just going back to see Notre-Dame again, 🫠) Ljubljana – 4 nights (we’ll explore the surrounding area, Bled +++) Vienna – 10 nights (we’ll visit nearby spots) Hallstatt – 2 nights Salzburg – 4 nights Innsbruck – 4 nights Barcelona – 4 nights on the way back to Montreal (the flight ticket was cheaper than returning from Vienna, plus it lets us visit another city 🙃😎)

We’ll be traveling by public transport 😎

Any relevant tips—activities, accommodations, or other info—would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Hi there,

We’re planning a family road trip (kids aged 10 and 15) over 23 days between San Francisco and Portland (Northern California and Oregon). It’ll be a loop. We want to take our time with hikes but also enjoy the cities to relax a bit (Portland / SF).

Here’s our itinerary—I’d love your thoughts on the places we’ve picked, suggestions for stops along the way, and whether this route is doable given the distances (especially Tahoe Lake to Crater Lake and Crater Lake to Portland):

Day 1: Arrive in San Francisco midday, head to Yosemite (3 nights). Day 1/2: Yosemite Valley / Glacier Point, etc. Day 3: Tioga Road with a stop at Mono Lake (1 night in Bridgeport). Day 4: Bodie in the morning, then drive to North Lake Tahoe (2 nights in North Lake Tahoe). Day 5: Lake Tahoe. Day 6: Long drive to Crater Lake via Burney Falls? (2 nights in Fort Klamath). Day 7: Crater Lake. Day 8: Drive to Portland via Bend (4 nights in Portland). Days 9–11: Portland + Columbia Gorge. Day 12: Portland to Newport via Highway 101: Cannon Beach/Tillamook (1 night in Newport). Day 13: Newport to Golden Beach via Florence/Oregon Dunes (1 night in Golden Beach). Day 14: Drive to Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park (3 nights near Crescent City). Days 15–16: Redwood National Park (Fern Canyon / Avenue of the Giants, etc.). Day 17: Drive along the coast via Eureka / Fort Bragg (1 night in Willits). Day 18: Drive to San Francisco via Napa Valley (5 nights in SF). Days 19–22: San Francisco. Day 23: Departure.

Everything’s booked but still flexible, so I can adjust if needed.

Thanks in advance!

PAKSE AND THE BOLAVENS PLATEAU

Bolavens (or "Bolovens" – "the region of the Lavens," an old tribe).

PAKSE

A sleepy town, but packed with backpackers in transit between Laos and Cambodia. The streets are numbered, but since there are no signs, you just have to figure it out (rumor has it the signs have been planned for years; luckily, the center isn’t big). Tons of small hotels, including the well-known Sabaidy 2 on Street 20, a big bazaar catering to all budgets, from dark dorms with shared bathrooms to real rooms with terraces or balconies. Since it’s so popular, booking ahead is recommended. My favorite: the Sala Champa, pricier but with two large terraces, one with a bar, and especially a terrace restaurant I consider the best in Pakse (try the divine steamed fish with lemongrass + Lao Gold beer, a rare delight; ask for room 100, with a big terrace). More upscale, the lovely Résidence Sisouk, run by the very classy and French-speaking Mme Sisouk, from the wealthy Lao Sisouk family, the country’s top coffee producer and one of those francophone families you encounter here and there around the world, where class and culture reign – and perfect French. Delicious pastries and, of course, extraordinary coffee tastings. Similar prices at the Pakse Hotel, run by French owners and famous for its rooftop bar-restaurant (great view!).

Tons of restaurants besides those at Sala Champa and Pakse Hotel: from Dao Lin and Sabaidee at the corner of Street 20 and 13, to a decent Indian place (Hassan) and a nice, cheap spot, the Lao Restaurant & Bar, where you can enjoy Lao cuisine for just a few kips, both also on Street 20. You can feast on grilled fish at the countless riverside stalls along the Mekong.

Pakse is home to the famous Yves, a Belgian married to a Lao woman, Noy, who opened the travel agency Miss Noy. He’ll go out of his way to help tourists; he’s incredible, the real tourism office for the region, with maps, endless advice, and every weekday at 6 PM, a full-blown lecture on the Bolavens and the 4000 Islands. A bunch of young travelers listen intently to his explanations about the whole area (he hands out a well-made photocopied map). He also rents bikes and has an internet café with computers that, miraculously, work perfectly. He’s so popular that in high season, you need to book a motorbike 2-3 days in advance (but if he’s out – and he has 40 – he’ll find one for you).

THE BOLAVENS PLATEAU

Plateaus just aren’t my thing – flat-lands! There are some relatively high peaks in the middle, but they’re only accessible by trekking. You can do a small loop from Pakse-Tad Lo-Thateng-Pakson-Pakse, or a big one from Tad Lo to Sekong, then head south to join the Paksong-Pakse road. Starting in the north, the Phu Xam waterfalls are okay (interesting local minority village-museum to the right of the parking lot, and a terrace restaurant above the small falls). Well, they’re on the way, so you might as well see them! After that, a boring road leads to the Tad Lo waterfalls, with tons of small hotels. I chose the big blue house by the river at the right corner of the bridge, the Sipaseth GH, with cute little bungalows in the garden, 4 rooms with balconies overlooking the river, and great food on the terrace facing the falls. **Avoid at all costs**: the Saisee GH, once nice with its little stilt houses by the falls, but now a monument to filth, indifference, and rudeness (confirmed by several people, unanimous on the issue). Luckily, the lovely Tad Lo Lodge, with its bungalows by the falls and gourmet restaurant right above them – not cheap at all – finally built small houses in the woods on the other side for $25.

The next morning, I’d had enough of plateaus, so I took a small loop heading south from Tad Lo to Thateng, and there, a wonder 5 km south of town: the Sinouk Resort. It’s like stepping into *Gone with the Wind* or the Chevalier de Leyritz’s Martinique. In the middle of the Sisouk family’s 34-hectare coffee plantation, a huge garden with three large colonial-style houses: one by the river and pond with a suite + 3 luxury rooms + a small, cozy one for $40 (that’s where I stayed), one with 4 superior rooms for $60, and a very large one overlooking everything with 6 luxury rooms ($60) + 2 huge suites for $90. Of course, it’s all decorated with antique furniture, local knick-knacks, and antiques; there’s a pool, a beautiful restaurant with two terraces, one overlooking a large pond and one by its edge. The food and service are impeccable, and the coffee: from espresso with whipped cream to green tea or wild honey cappuccino… too bad it keeps you up, or you’d sip it all evening (and morning, and afternoon, and in between). In short, a dream!

Back to Pakse via Paksong (what a dump!) and the Tad Fane waterfalls, those are spectacular – twin sisters plunging 200 meters. You can hike down to swim at the bottom (1-hour jungle trek round trip). Across the way, the nice Tad Fane Resort (small houses and a big terrace-restaurant facing the falls).

I think I missed the Katamkok waterfalls, but I don’t believe it – all these falls can’t compare to Ban Gioc Falls in northern Vietnam!!!

CHAMPASAK AND THE 4000 ISLANDS

CHAMPASAK

Even sleepier than Pakse! To avoid the ferry, cross the new Mekong bridge in Pakse, and after about 10 km, turn left at the big "Phaphinoy" sign (the first village in town). When you arrive, turn at the "River Resort" sign. A sumptuous resort on the Mekong, developed with American capital – pure luxury (they even have their own rice field and vegetable garden for the restaurant). Continuing on, you’ll come across the very pleasant Anouxa GH, where I had dinner and stayed. Small bungalows facing the river, garden rooms, and two large wooden houses with huge family rooms + a big terrace on the Mekong, and the food is great! They rent bikes and motorbikes. Further to the right, the pricey Inthira Hotel, which I found uninteresting since it’s on the road instead of by the Mekong. There’s also a Folie Lodge on Don Daeng Island, which I didn’t visit (the word "Folie" is justified: crazy prices, up to $200 and more).

A few nice wats and, of course, Wat Phou, Laos’ most important archaeological site, 10 km south of Champassak in the plains and on the mountainside (the stairs are a killer!). Watch out for the scorching heat, and it closes at 4:30 PM. It’s not Angkor Wat, but it’s still worth the detour. Plan for 2 hours. Entry is 50,000 kips + 5,000 to park your motorbike.

KHIET NGON

To continue south to the 4000 Islands, you have to take the "ferry" (actually fun little things – two canoes joined by a platform; better not mess up when loading your motorbike!). Once on the other side, turn left, and you’ll hit National Road 13 (Pakse-Siphandone, the 4000 Islands), the most boring road I’ve ever been on, like Phnom Penh-Siem Reap – flat and nothing to see. BUT there’s a real gem worth checking out: Kiet Ngon. At Km 48, take the laterite road toward Attapeu (big sign: "Attapeu 155 km") and eat red dust for 8 km (toll: 20,000 kips), then turn right (signposted) onto a good track. You enter the beautiful Xe Pian National Park, where you can still find wild elephants, leopards, and tigers. You arrive at the entrance of the small village of Ban Khiet Ngon. On your right, a small concrete building with 4 decent, cheap rooms (60,000 kips), facing an old wooden house that serves as the tourism office and its "elephant parking" garden. This village is where you can go on an elephant ride (20,000 kips) to the top of Phou Asa, one of the most unusual places I’ve ever seen. You climb through the jungle and emerge onto a flat slate summit, completely bare – it really feels like the Moon! In the distance, an astonishing site built to commemorate a victory by Lao nationalists over Siamese invaders in the 19th century (so the site isn’t 1,000 years old, as the locals claim). A vast archaeological site with an enclosure 180 m by 50 m, marked by 2-meter-high walls and columns made of slate stacked without mortar. At the back, a ruined temple and a tower. Beautiful views of the whole region. Popular with tourists arriving by minibus from Pakse. The elephant rides in a line aren’t my thing, so they tell you it’s forbidden to ride a motorbike, but I did it anyway without any issues – except for the unhappy looks from the mahouts (turn right at the village entrance, sign for "Phou Asa").

If you’ve got the funds, follow the signs for "Kingfisher Lodge" and arrive at Laos’ first ecolodge, developed by a Lao-Italian family. Lovely stilt houses (750,000 kips with breakfast) and 2 bungalows with just fans (250,000 kips). A small two-story wooden building with a restaurant and a terrace by a pond – the bonus: in the evening, wild elephants and buffalo come to drink with you. Booking ahead is recommended since it’s popular with groups from Pakse.

Paper guides also mention the more remote village of Ban Papho, deep in the jungle. There used to be elephant rides, but they’ve stopped. However, there are great treks in the national park (check with the Green Discovery agency in Pakse, which specializes in treks all over Laos).

THE 4000 ISLANDS

You continue on the mind-numbing Road 13 from Pakse and arrive at a brand-new bridge leading to Don Khong Island, where there’s nothing to see except two wats, so if you skip it, you’re not missing much. Next, the Nakasang sign, a small port with mini-ferries crossing the Mekong to Don Det Island. A celebrity, that one – one of those trashy spots for young people who think you can only have fun if you’re wasted on alcohol and drugs. A small street along the river, lined with guesthouses, restaurants, and bars – total chaos! Plus, there’s nothing to see on the island. So, take a tuk-tuk from the jetty, cross the dump, and arrive in a little paradise: Don Khone Island. I planned to stay 2 days but had to be dragged away after 6. A small main village with a dirt road, tons of guesthouses and great restaurants, and lots of beautiful things to see.

For lodging on Don Khone, it’s usually wooden bungalows with river-view terraces. Options range from the elegant and pricey Sala Done Hotel to Somphamit, Pan’s, Pakha GH, and many others. I found my haven away from everything: the little Phonvilay, 3 small bamboo buildings with 2 simple rooms each, terraces above a branch of the Mekong, and a big plus – a small path just to the right that goes down the riverbank, so 3-4 nice swims a day. All for 60,000 kips. To get there, turn right at the end of the bridge until you reach the wat, then take the small path to the river on the right of the wat’s wall.

For food, you’re spoiled for choice. I had all my dinners at the Cordon Bleu of the Fleur du Mékong. I don’t know how she does it, but even the simplest dishes have something extra. She’s famous for her curry (more like a mild stew) of duck or chicken with potatoes and sweet potatoes – a hearty treat. Go for the chicken; Asian ducks are all skin and bones. Her grilled fish is divine!

The island has quite a history: the Mekong upstream is over a kilometer wide (it’s said to reach 14 km during high water) and "falls" onto a rocky barrier. It splits into countless small branches, flowing wherever there’s a crack – hence the 4000 Islands and the impressive rapids. The French discovered this while trying to navigate the Mekong from Saigon to Luang Prabang and China – and bam, impassable! So they built a narrow-gauge railway starting from the south of the island, bypassing the rapids, and ending at the north of Don Det Island. You can see two rusted locomotives, discovered in the jungle in 1990 by a French explorer: one in the southern extension of the bridge and the other in Ban Hang Khone village at the southern tip of the island, both with large English signs and fascinating old photos explaining the whole history of the railway, abandoned when Road 13 was built along the 4000 Islands (the rails were removed, and the railway track is now an excellent trail).

Somphamit Rapids (Li Phi)

Locals call them Li Phi, meaning "the abyss of evil spirits" (the "phi" that Lao people still believe in), because they think the falls and rapids trap spirits, to the point that no one would ever swim there. It’s very dramatic. Entry fee: 35,000 kips. Small beach and a big restaurant with a terrace and thatched-roof tables.

Khon Pa Sai Rapids

A completely different kind, just as spectacular, and less crowded. Turn left at the bridge exit and go to the northern end of the island (Ban Khon Nua village), then continue south until you see a big yellow sign "Khon Pa Sai Waterfalls" pointing to a small path on the left. You arrive at a small suspension bridge with a corner restaurant and terrace where the food is great (I had most of my lunches there). Cross the bridge and follow the path to a spectacular site of falls and rapids. In the middle, you’ll see unique structures – gigantic fish traps over 10 meters long. During high water, each trap can catch up to 500 kg of fish (yes, five hundred) per day.

Ban Hang Khone

This is the "French port" at the southern tip of the island, where the Mekong, after its rapids, spreads out for kilometers – a real inland sea. This is where you can see the famous Irrawaddy dolphins in the morning or late afternoon (boat excursions). To get there, take the trail that was the old railway track, or continue south on the path past the Khon Pa Sai falls (but not by motorbike – the bridge is out). A huge concrete terrace, part of the old port facilities, with a magnificent panoramic view of the Mekong stretching into the distance. Just before, a small path leads to a big beach (with restaurants).

If you go back to Road 13 (or take a pirogue from Don Khone), further south are the Pha Peng Falls, Asia’s highest river falls (15 m). I didn’t go, but they’re said to be spectacular.

Hi everyone.

I’m planning our upcoming family trip to China in August 2025—two adults, two kids (11 and 13), and a one-year-old baby.

As I organize the trip, I’d love your advice. Here’s my itinerary: - Arrival in Beijing on 02/08, staying until 07/08 (five days) to visit the city’s must-see spots without rushing too much with the baby. - After that, either by train or plane, we’ll head to Shenzhen for four days to explore the city and enjoy some attractions with the kids. - Then, Yangshuo for three days to relax a bit from the city hustle and visit the Li River and its surroundings. I haven’t looked into transportation from Shenzhen yet, but I think it’s easily accessible. - Our last day in China will be in Guangzhou (Canton). If possible, I’d like to visit the Huangteng Gorge Skywalk on the same day, or add an extra day for it. I don’t want to do a private tour because it’s extremely expensive, so any great tips combining train/taxi are welcome.

Thanks.

bonjour je vaudrais visiter la turquie pour la premiere fois je n ai aucune idee en generale sur turquie en generale est ce que vous me renseigner comme circuit a faire pour sejour de 10 Jours en septembre ou octobre 2020 . MERCI