Results for "Lagons+|+11+>+245"

Bonjour, en février je vais au Breezes à Punta Cana et j'aimerais savoir qu'est-ce qu'il y a à visiter là-bas. Mon mari a entendu dire qu'il y avait une excursion en bateau vers un lagon, de toute beauté paraît-il, est-ce que quelqu'un a déjà entendu parler de ça. Merci à l'avance Laise

bonjour,

est ce quelqun peux m aider ? je cherche un hotel a l ile Maurice ou je puisse partir de la plage en PMT (palme masque tuba) avec mes enfants pour observer le recif : donc un endroit ou l eau est claire (pas comme le lagon de Grand Gaube), ou il n y ai pas que du sable, ou les courants soient moderes, et pas envahis par les engins rapides (jet ski, bateaux, funboard...).

Est que le Morne est bien ? le recif a l air assez loin du bord et j ai lu que le courant y etait fort...

Il vaux mieux remonter un peu sur la cote ouest ?

Je connais deja le nord, donc je prefererais la cote sud ou ouest.

Budget...indifferent :)

Merci

salut a tous

je pars dans 3 semaines et je souhaiterais connaitre quelques bons coins (plages, camping, chez l habitant)

sachant que je compte faire du nord au sud alternant visites et plages

Quelqu'un connait-il les hotels Maitai ou Sofitel Marara a Bora-Bora? Que pouvez-vous m'en dire?

Merci de votre aide...

Hi, I'm heading to Réunion in a week for a month and I'd love to know what the must-do activities are there.

Thanks.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the scattered info out there and I'm struggling to organize my solo trip to French Polynesia. I'm all about snorkeling—no hiking for me—so it's all about the water, water, water... I'd love to meet whales (what's the best season?), stay with locals or in budget guesthouses (I'm pretty low-key, no worries about comfort), and most importantly, be as close to the coral reefs as possible (all day long...).

I'm retired, so I've got plenty of time... If you can help, it would mean the world to me. Thanks everyone! !

hi I wanted to know the best snorkeling spots in Tuamotu since I unfortunately don’t have enough time to do everything—I’ll have to pick and choose. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, Our trip is taking shape. We’re leaving on February 28th. We’ll start by flying to Tulear, then make our way up to Tana at a relaxed pace before catching another flight to Diego Suarez. We’d love to end our stay on Sainte Marie Island. Is there a way to make the trip by land? By sea? Just to clarify, we’re not pressed for time. Thanks!

Hi everyone,

We have the opportunity to spend about ten days somewhere for Christmas, and I’m really tempted by Zanzibar. I’ve been dreaming for a long time about the Spice Island, Stone Town, diving...

Which hotels could you recommend? Not a big "resort"—we’re more into "boutique hotels" or even an Airbnb house. Somewhere quiet (we’re not party animals).

I’m thinking of staying the first few nights in Stone Town and then moving to a beach, preferably one where we can swim regardless of the tides, without ending up in seaweed and mud at low tide.

I’m a bit lost with all the beaches because apparently, the north is very crowded, the south is very windy, and the east has some good and some not-so-good spots, with big tides or not... HELP! 🤪

I’d like to limit myself to a maximum of 2 different places to stay over the 10 days.

Thanks in advance! 😉

Hello, My husband and I usually spend a month in January/February in southern India. We end our trip in Gokarna and fly back from Vasco de Gama Airport in Dabolim. So, it might make sense to spend a few days in a nice, quiet spot in southern Goa. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks

Hi! I’m looking for ideas, tips, and great deals for a 15-day road trip around Portugal starting and ending in Faro. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Five years of an unintended break... The closure of VF, COVID... What a joy to rediscover the pleasure of sharing!

I’ve stayed true to my habits: the following account is a collection of practical tips rather than a travel journal...

Madagascar is as big as France and Belgium combined. In three weeks, choices have to be made! It was the Great Tsingy that inspired our trip. We decided to focus on the southwest and the RN7. We skipped the Deep South and the North. Oh well...

OUR ITINERARY IN 3 WEEKS:

Fri 6 June – Direct AF flight to Tana – Flight arrives at 10:30 PM – Tana Sat – Antsirabe Sun – Miandrivazo Mon – Drive to the Masiakampy pier – Descent of the Tsiribihina River by pirogue - Bivouac Tue – Descent of the Tsiribihina River by pirogue - Bivouac Wed – Descent of the Tsiribihina River by pirogue – Bekopaka Thu – Pirogue on the Manambolo River and Small Tsingy of Bemaraha – Bekopaka Fri – Great Tsingy of Bemaraha – Bekopaka Sat – Avenue of the Baobabs – Morondava Sun – Belo sur Mer Mon – Free day – Belo sur Mer Tue – Manja Wed – Andavadoaka Thu – Free day – Andavadoaka Fri – Salary Lagoon – Mangily Sat – Ranohira Sun – Isalo National Park - Ranohira Mon – Anja Reserve - Ambalavao - Fianarantsoa Tue – FCE train canceled – Visit to a Tanala village - Manakara Wed – Pirogue on the Pangalanes Canal – Ranomafana Thu – Ranomafana NP – Ranomafana Fri – Ambositra – Antsirabe Sat 28 June – AF flight to Paris – Flight departs at 11:55 PM

TRIP ORGANIZATION: I prepared my trip using the usual guides (LP and Rough Guide), the internet, and the Freytag & Berndt map (1:1,000,000). I’m old-school—I still love visualizing my route on a paper map, even though in Madagascar, it’s misleading because some National Roads are only national in name!...

The agency: Since we couldn’t deal directly with a driver-guide (we lacked reliable info to take the plunge), we went through an agency to organize the logistics of our trip. We didn’t feel like using bush taxis (not enough time) or driving a 4x4 ourselves (neither the skills nor the boldness). The French agency connected us with a local agency, to whom I sent my detailed itinerary by email. A few exchanges via email and WhatsApp calls allowed us to finalize everything quickly after some adjustments. As you’ve gathered... we multiplied the commissions, which inflated the budget. That said, in the end, we were thrilled with our decision and our choice. Our trip was booked by the end of 2024, and reservations were made immediately. No bad surprises: the bookings in the planned hotels were honored, often with one of the best rooms. On our last day in Tana, before departure, we were lucky enough to meet the director I’d been communicating with, who helped build and validate our circuit. A very warm debriefing.

The driver-guide: The agency assigned us Faly, 33, a driver-guide for over 10 years. He stayed with us from start to finish: he picked us up at the airport on arrival and dropped us off 23 days later. A very experienced driver (which is important here), an open and cultured guide, reliable, punctual, and a great companion. And a provider of good advice throughout the trip. We made the most of the long stretches on dirt roads or highways to listen to him talk about daily life, rituals, wildlife, and flora... No time wasted! With a great playlist in the background, we combined business with pleasure! Faly’s accommodation and meals were included (quite often, hotels offer free lodging and meals to driver-guides who bring clients), as was the fuel. That didn’t stop us from inviting Faly to share a beer or our evening meal sometimes. He didn’t always accept, wanting to let us "enjoy our romantic evenings," as he put it. Present without being intrusive! Faly is fully capable of organizing a tailor-made trip directly. I recommend him without any hesitation—we were delighted with his service. I’ll gladly share his contact details via PM to anyone who asks.

Local guides: It’s the national guide’s prerogative to choose the local guides (mandatory in the parks). Thanks to his experience, Faly always booked us amazing, competent, and interesting local guides.

Hotels: I told the agency I wanted charming, comfortable accommodations, without falling into flashy luxury. We loved all the hotels (except the Hôtel Kanto in Manja). The rooms, mostly bungalows, were always spacious and clean. Unfortunately, I can’t give the prices—I didn’t get the details. Breakfast is always included, usually fresh and hearty. Very often, a small bottle of water is provided in the room.

Tana Hôtel Les 3 Métis Power cuts are common (!) in Tana. Bring a headlamp.

Antsirabe Ecolodge – Les chambres du voyageur Maybe our favorite! A few bungalows, beautifully arranged in a splendid tropical garden. The dog Kodak welcomes us warmly.

Miandrivazo Hôtel Princesse Tsiribihina Magnificent view of the valley.

Bekopaka Hôtel Orchidée du Bemaraha 2 (yes, 2) beautiful pools, a large open common room.

Morondava Hôtel Baobab Café Brand new or at least, according to Faly, just renovated. Very comfortable but without much charm (international style).

Belo sur Mer Ecolodge du Menabe The bungalows, all made of wood, bamboo, and thatch, are set on the beach. Very spacious and fully equipped! Large open-air restaurant by the sea. No hot water from the tap—it’s available in plastic bottles heated by the sun in front of each bungalow. Actually, we never used it... Another very, very beautiful spot.

Manja Hôtel Kanto The only hotel on this leg of the journey, so no choice. The owner knows it and, as a result, doesn’t bother. It’s a real dive! Tiny, dark room, a sordid bathroom with only a trickle of water—we skipped the shower! Clean sheets, though. Obviously, no Wi-Fi. The only place where I didn’t leave a tip. We were well warned about the discomfort of this stop, both by the agency and Faly. We weren’t surprised, and it even became a running joke during the trip. On the other hand, we found a nice little market in town.

Andavadoaka Manga Lodge What bliss! Especially after the horrible Hôtel Kanto. A paradise-like spot, overlooking three beautiful deserted white-sand beaches. Meals are served on the terrace facing the sea. Stunning sunset. We loved spending a day lounging here! We were the only guests and were pampered.

Mangily (Ifaty) Mangily is the "suburb" of Ifaty. Hôtel Vovo Telo A large beachfront bungalow complex. More touristy but pleasant—we spent a lovely evening there with our feet in the sand.

Ranohira Le Relais de la Reine A splendid resort built by a Frenchman, at the foot of the rocks, very well integrated into the environment. Beautiful marked trail starting from the garden.

Fianarantsoa Villa Sylvestre Contrary to what its name suggests, it’s a hotel right in the city center. Quite decent, though.

Manakara Parthenay Club Pretty bungalows in a large garden by the sea, but swimming isn’t safe—the water is too dangerous and rough.

Ranomafana Hôtel Thermal Very spacious rooms.

Meals: Not all our meals were included. It’s really not expensive. 1 meat or fish dish: around 35,000 Ar 1 full menu (starter, main, dessert): around 70,000 Ar 1 large THB beer (65 cl): between 8,000 and 12,000 Ar 1 piña colada: 15,000 Ar 1 flavored rum: 6,000 Ar (sometimes free) 1 glass of baobab juice (!): 5,000 Ar

We always ate very well. Rice is everywhere, served in large quantities. Zebu meat is quite good if not overcooked. Personally, I prefer fish, and I feasted: grouper, captain, crab, small lobsters...

We happily discovered baobab juice (especially in Belo, on the west coast). And of course, flavored rums!

We bought 2 packs of 6 bottles of mineral water at Carrefour (!) (about 5,000 Ar per large bottle) at the start of our trip. That was enough, especially since we often got water in the bungalows.

We had a few picnics included in our trip. Instead of picking up the hotel’s lunchbox, Faly prepared delicious, fresh, and varied picnics for us: tuna pasta salad, fried rice with eggs, grilled vegetables, and avocado...

An exceptional address not to miss: Mad Zébu – Belo sur Tsiribihina A highly reputed restaurant, a favorite of LP and Rough Guide, and rightly so! Gourmet cuisine, refined and elegant. Barely more expensive than elsewhere, and it’s worth it. We stopped there on our way up to Bekopaka and the Tsingy NP. Fully booked! So Faly reserved for our return, three days later. We’re still thanking him! What a treat!

THE BUDGET: Ariary exchange rate: 5,000 Ar = 1 €

Pre-trip expenses: Direct Air France flights: 930 € per person round trip Cost of the circuit with the agency: 2,880 € per person

The visa: Issued on arrival, very quickly. 35 € per person for a stay under 30 days. Super simple. Super fast.

On-site expenses: As soon as we arrived at the airport (it was nearly midnight), Faly advised us to exchange our euros for all our needs. There are few opportunities on our route to find an ATM or an open bank with a good rate. To be more comfortable, he took us to a small office under military protection just outside the airport. I exchanged 1,200 € (I had asked the agency for advice on the amount to bring) at a rate of 4,750 Ar and became a millionaire. Faly recounted all the stacks. That covered all our expenses (meals, drinks, tips) without ever feeling deprived. Personal purchases were made at the end of the trip. Convenient—it served as an adjustment variable. We spent our last million (200 €) on marquetry and vanilla. Tip: We asked for 200,000 Ar in 5,000 Ar bills for tips. That wasn’t too much—I even ran short of small bills in the last two days.

Tips: Madagascar is a poor country where every service deserves a small reward. While not mandatory, it’s customary. But no one ever demanded or expected it openly. On the contrary, I sometimes had to remind a porter to give them my small bill. We never carried our luggage—porters were always present when the car arrived or waiting at our door to watch for our departure. I gave each of them 5,000 Ar. In restaurants, I rounded up to the nearest ten and left the change. Local guides also expect a tip: I gave around 20,000 Ar per day for the two of us. Finally, the national guide also expects a gratuity. I had read online to budget 5 € per day per person. I added more since we were so happy with his services. The tip was given at the end of the trip, in euros, outside the budget.

Total budget all included (excluding personal purchases): 8,690 € Clearly, Madagascar is a country where life isn’t expensive, but travel costs add up quickly due to the need to rent a 4x4 with a driver.

HIGHLIGHTS:

· The dirt roads Yes, I’m listing them among the highlights! We loved those long hours spent driving at 20 km/h on rocky, muddy, white, red, or gray sand tracks... surrounded by tropical vegetation, palm trees, pandanus, mango trees... The experiences were sometimes thrilling: crossing a river on a ferry (just planks of wood fixed on two motorized pirogues side by side) or crossing a river without a ferry, with just a kid running ahead of the 4x4 to show the way; soft sand where the 4x4 easily gets stuck... The tracks are quite narrow, and crossing paths with a bush taxi, a zebu cart, or a herd of goats is always epic. So many beautiful images, so many beautiful photos! Much more beautiful than on asphalt. So yes, we loved those long stretches on dirt roads. For us, it was clearly part of the journey. Faly was particularly careful, and the 4x4 was comfortable. No injuries, no fatigue, even after 7 or 8 hours on rough tracks. The national roads (including the famous RN7) are badly damaged by cyclones, huge trucks, and lack of maintenance. Potholes have turned into ostrich nests, and we didn’t drive much faster than on the dirt roads.

· The landscapes, villages, encounters... We crossed a variety of stunning landscapes: mountains with slopes covered in terraced crops, rice fields from apple green to emerald green, sugarcane fields, then tropical forests, baobab forests (they deserve a special paragraph below), traveler’s tree forests. And then coastlines with white sand dunes against a backdrop of blue hues!... Magical! We also passed through many villages with houses whose architecture varied by region. The Betsileo houses display beautiful decorative brick reliefs. On the west coast, the houses are more precarious, made of bamboo with palm-thatched roofs. In the Highlands region, we found solid houses with pastel plaster. Each region has its own landscape, crops, habitat, and clothing. Zebu carts are often the only means of transport in remote villages. We saw them very frequently. Again, the cart’s decoration depends on the region. And then, we met many villagers coming out of the bush and walking to the next market, carrying their crops on their heads or shoulders. More beautiful photos!

· The descent of the Tsiribihina River We boarded around 9 AM in a long pirogue with Gana, the local guide, and two pirogue men. So, five of us. The pirogue is long but narrow, about 65 cm wide. We sat one behind the other at the front on seats padded with what would become our mattresses during the bivouacs. We only took the bare essentials for two nights. A little goodbye to Faly, whom we’d see again in three days! Don’t forget us! The river is silty—meaning orange, opaque but clean. We glided along silently. Gana showed us the trees, birds, crocodiles (we saw five—apparently, we were lucky). The pirogue men rowed to get us as close as possible to these crocs sunbathing on the roots of big trees. Yeah, right!... as soon as we got too close, *splash*, they disappeared into the water. We marveled at the mini rice fields lining the river. Every tiny plot, no matter how small, is cultivated. Above them, banana fields. And on the water, a whole life of fishermen and villagers living with and from the river. Gana warned us we’d eat on the pirogue because the journey was long. So, I expected chips... But no—fried rice and zebu steak, cooked right in the pirogue!! Incredible! In the middle of the afternoon, we reached a small beach where we disembarked. Gana led us about a hundred meters to a sublime waterfall. We were alone there. We had time to swim. We’d brought our swimsuits and a towel (bought at the Carrefour in Antsirabe on Faly’s wise advice!). This swim in this paradise-like spot remains one of our best memories. We found our pirogue again and set off until our first bivouac. We’d sailed for 7 hours today. The tents were set up on a wide beach, without a single tree. A moment of solitude... Uh, where can we go to the bathroom?... Especially since it was a full moon, so we felt like we were in the spotlight. Anyway... we did as everyone else—walked away, dug a hole, and the others turned their backs. A hearty meal on the beach before a comfortable and silent night. The next day, same program, with slightly different landscapes. The gorges widened, the trees were different. But still many colorful birds. Again, we ate on the pirogue: grilled chicken and vegetables. 9 hours of sailing. A similar bivouac. This time, we got it. On the third day, we finished the descent with 5 hours of sailing. So, 7 hours, 9 hours, 5 hours... doing nothing. It might sound boring... but it wasn’t. Like the dirt roads, these were contemplative moments. It glides, it’s calm, relaxing, and there’s a lot of life on this river, animal and human. Contemplation. Suspended time. On arrival, we disembarked at a sort of joyful, bustling river port. Of course, Faly was already there to pick us up.

· The Tsingy de Bemaraha NP (Small and Great) I have vertigo. During my research, several agencies advised me against visiting the Great Tsingy. "Stick to the Small ones," they said. Grrr, no, not what I wanted—we’ve dreamed of this for years! The agency we chose also warned me but didn’t discourage me. So we started with the Small Tsingy, quite close to Bekopaka, guided by Alisha. This forest of sharp limestone rocks is impressive. No vertigo issues here. The day was completed with a short pirogue ride on the Manambolo River and a visit to two caves with pretty formations. The next day, Faly and Alisha drove us to the Great Tsingy (a good hour on a terrible track). Arriving at the park entrance, Alisha equipped us with harnesses, carabiners, and gave us some safety instructions. Faly was also equipped. Wait? He’s coming with us? I quickly understood he was there for me—if I got stuck, he could go back with me, and Philippe could continue with Alisha. A wise precaution that delighted and reassured me. In the end, it was unnecessary since the famous bridge crossing was fully secured by the harness and carabiners. 18 meters on planks, one by one, it didn’t sway too much—I walked looking straight ahead, not a glance down. I even managed to smile in the middle of the crossing—I have a photo to prove it! I was overjoyed! The circuit in the Great Tsingy is a loop, so we didn’t have to cross the bridge again. We climbed to viewpoints offering breathtaking panoramic views. It’s extraordinary, unique, incredible. All this to say that if you have vertigo, don’t hesitate! It’s doable! It’s completely safe and really worth pushing your limits a bit! For those who’ve done treetop adventure courses, it’s similar. Also, no need to be a great athlete—just a bit of agility to climb a few ladders and high steps. Don’t censor yourself! I even had a small regret—the loop was a bit short (about 2 hours). I would’ve liked to continue or even redo it, with less apprehension. Tip: Do the Small Tsingy before the Great ones, or not at all. And if you can only do one, do the Great ones without hesitation.

· Canoeing in the Belo mangrove The Belo sur Mer ecolodge lends small individual canoes for free to go to the mangrove. We left at high tide, paddled for about twenty minutes to reach a fairly sparse forest where we could easily venture in. Very shallow water, crystal clear—we could see the roots of all these trees, schools of tiny fish... It was quite surprising. Until then, I only knew impenetrable, tangled mangroves. Here, nothing like that—we walked through an aquatic forest. We loved this adventure so much we left a bit late. The tide had gone out, and we had to carry our canoes for the last few meters... Of course, the staff came to help (probably laughing silently!). The lodge owners gave all the necessary explanations and lent a waterproof bag for the phone (because yes, it’s worth taking photos!). A very useful precaution—the canoes are small, low in the water, and paddling quickly soaks you. Again, this isn’t just for Tony Estanguet! It didn’t cause us any problems, not even sore muscles the next day. A great experience. It’ll take about 2 hours.

· Isalo NP Big surprise when we saw this huge rocky massif appear on the RN7! A massif of colored sandstone, carved with crevasses giving it a ruined look. Le Relais de la Reine is a little gem cleverly nestled in the heart of these rocks. A small marked trail starts from the garden. We picked up the description at reception and set off. Without a guide, alone following the markers, it took us 2 hours to complete this magnificent little trail, giving us a first glimpse of the massif before the hike the next day. And we enjoyed being completely alone for this walk. It’s free, easy, and well-signposted. Don’t miss it. In the evening, Faly took us to the so-called Isalo Window site—a hole in a wall through which we could see the sunset. We met all the tourists in the area here. We weren’t blown away by the show... The next day, we left early to reach the start of the hike. We met Zozoly at the guides’ office in the small town of Ranohira. During this hike, we climbed through the rocks to a viewpoint offering stunning 360° views of the massif. Then we reached a site called the "natural pool," breathtakingly beautiful, especially since we were alone again. A sort of oasis, a cascading waterfall, palm trees and tree ferns, fine sand, all nestled at the bottom of a small canyon. Paradise-like. We resisted swimming, but it was really tempting. A long walk on the plateaus then led us to a well-equipped picnic site where a local team prepared grills. Concrete tables were tiered in a spacious, shady clearing where a whole family of ring-tailed lemurs frolicked. They knew the tourists’ habits and tried to snatch food. Playful and not very shy, they amused us with their antics! We had to resist not luring them with a piece of banana!! Thousands of photos!! After the meal, we set off again with Zozoly for another landscape. This time, we were by a small river at the bottom of a canyon with high walls covered in vegetation. The trail was narrow and slippery, on a ledge of the wall. We progressed carefully. No danger, though. We first reached the Blue Pool, which only turns blue in photos (surprise!), then the Black Pool fed by a shower of waterfalls. Two magnificent spots that showed us a completely different aspect of the massif.

· Anja Reserve This ficus forest is home to many groups of lemurs. Used to humans, whom they don’t fear, they move around us, ignoring us completely. It’s almost annoying... The best place on our trip to see lemurs.

· The FCE train To the great regret of Manakara’s inhabitants, the FCE train hasn’t reached here for over a year and a half. As a result, there are far fewer tourists—the train was part of the experience. We drove there and didn’t regret coming to this port on the east coast.

· Visit to a Tanala village This visit wasn’t part of our program—it was added by the agency to compensate for the train not running. Which was the case. Not big fans of this kind of visit, where we feel like we’re at a zoo, voyeuristic, lacking authenticity, we followed the local guide with some skepticism and exchanged dubious looks. And yet... the guide’s explanations about village life and the warm, smiling welcome from the villagers charmed us and dispelled all our concerns. We learned a lot, met smiling families, and were able to enter these beautiful bamboo houses. A very pleasant surprise, rich in lessons.

· The Pangalanes Canal Arriving in Manakara, we crossed a bridge overlooking the Pangalanes Canal. A cry of surprise: the water is turquoise! We took a short pirogue ride with a team of three pirogue men and Joël, a local guide who explained the drama caused by the train’s halt. We stopped in a fishing village where Joël bought fish for the barbecue. We ended up on a beach where the team prepared the meal while we went to watch the fishermen return on the nearby beach. We admired the fishermen’s dexterity in untangling their nets, sorting their fish, cleaning their gear. On our return, we found a small table set up on the beach, in the shade of palm trees and casuarinas. Lobsters, captain fish, grilled vegetables, sautéed potatoes. A real feast (included in the trip cost).

· Ranomafana NP A 4-5 hour hike (some climbing) in a dense secondary forest to look for lemurs. As usual, we were accompanied by a local guide who, while waiting to find our furry friends, gave us lots of info on the vegetation, birds, and Tanala ethnic rituals. In the forest, we met 4 or 5 trackers, armed with radios to alert guides of their findings. In the end, we saw several lemurs of different types. Quite far, quite high... A nice complement to our lemur encounters in Isalo. Here, it rains 200 days a year. We started the hike in thick fog, but the forest’s density protected us from the humidity. Be careful—it can be a bit frustrating to see the lemurs so far away, so high. Nothing like the Anja Reserve or Isalo NP. Here, what’s fun is the hunt.

· The baobabs We were captivated by these kings of the forest, noble, imposing, majestic. We spotted them from very far away, towering over the rest of the vegetation. Alone, in small groups, or in forests, our trip allowed us to see hundreds of them! Mainly on the west coast. All different—bald, hairy, shaggy, short and stout, tall and thin, like Laurel and Hardy. Philippe took to naming them. Respectfully!

OUR FAVORITES: · The variety of landscapes. · The Tsingy NP.

OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS: · The Avenue of the Baobabs, very overrated and the only place where we saw crowds. We saw many other "forests" of baobabs that were much more impressive. · It’s hard to approach the population calmly as swarms of children run up as soon as we arrive, asking for sweets. Without any aggression, their smiles and laughter quickly made us forget this small inconvenience. We never gave out candy, clothes, or money. We left pens at a school and clothes with Faly.

IF WE WERE TO DO IT AGAIN: · Same period, same duration, same pace, same itinerary, but if we were to do it again today, I’d go through Faly directly! · Maybe we should’ve stayed in Ambalavao instead of Fianarantsoa. · Plan a longer loop in the Great Tsingy—it felt a bit too short.

MISCELLANEOUS: The welcome: ‘Samala Vazaha,’ there are many, many kids, sometimes overwhelming, never aggressive. We were impressed by the villagers’ smiles and good humor, towards us or even among themselves—laughter was everywhere. Safety: No problems. Out of (excessive?) caution, we spread all our money across several bags that we padlocked whenever we left the hotel. Bribes: We were stopped several times on the road by police or gendarmes. They checked our papers, sometimes our passports. Faly was perfectly in order. No discussion, no bribes, a cordial greeting from the officers. However, several times we found ourselves at small "tolls" on the tracks for villagers who had leveled the road or filled a hole, or for the young guy who ran through the river to show the way... Faly complied without discussion: every service deserves a small bill. Language: French is still widely spoken. Credit card: Unused. Cash: You need it! The climate at this time: Ideal—blue skies, sunshine, and mild temperatures (20-25°C) throughout our trip. Temperatures started to drop by our departure—winter was setting in. Clothing: T-shirt or polo and a vest sometimes in the evening, sandals on our feet, hiking shoes for all the hikes. Tip: We left a bag in the car (completely safe) with things we didn’t need daily and dirty laundry. The two bags to take out at each stop were much lighter. Before leaving, we left several polos and T-shirts with Faly, which, once washed, will make a few people happy. Tourist crowds at this time: Low—we were sometimes the only guests at the hotel. Faly explained that at the Isalo picnic site, in high season, you have to queue for a table, whereas we had our pick. Photos: Lots! Too many! That’s the problem with digital—we take so many! Health issues: Nothing serious, just the usual mild traveler’s diarrhea. Mosquitoes: They’re voracious. We took anti-malaria treatment. I’m still not sure if it was the right thing to do... I’m always very skeptical about such precautions. Internet: Free Wi-Fi at the lodges’ reception (except at Hôtel Kanto!), sometimes (rarely) in the bungalows. Phone: We didn’t try to get a local SIM card—the evening Wi-Fi was enough for us to make calls and send messages via WhatsApp. Make sure to turn off mobile data and switch to airplane mode (I activated it a bit late—received calls, spam ones at that, were charged...). Electricity: French plugs. Personal purchases: Beautiful wooden objects (sculptures and marquetry) or zebu horn items in Ambositra. 1 kg of vanilla (400,000 Ar – 80 € per kg) in Tana.

IN CONCLUSION: A trip of contemplation. A pause for admiration, as our local guide in Isalo NP said. Nothing else to do but walk, look, and enjoy. Here, there are no old stones, no museums—it’s a trip where nature reigns supreme. And what nature!

Hi,

My mom received an invitation for a free stay (though of course it comes with visits to carpet shops, jewelry stores, and other boutiques). She bought a carpet in Turkey about 10 years ago, and it was that carpet shop in Istanbul that sent this invitation. The whole thing is organized by a travel agency called "Habitat VIP Travel." Has anyone here heard of this agency and their "commercial tourism" practices? I’m not against the idea in principle—I just want to make sure it’s legit and not dangerous (I really don’t want to get kidnapped with my nearly 90-year-old mom!). Thanks for your feedback

It’s been 15 years since I last went to Sainte-Marie. I used to stay at the Hôtel Les Baleines—it was pretty basic, but I get the feeling things have improved since then. If anyone has good recommendations for hotels, rentals, scooters, or tuk-tuks, I’m all ears!

Bonjour,

notre voyage en Indonésie étant annulé, et notre agence nous déconseillant l'Egypte, nous sommes à la recherche d'un lieu où nous pourrons faire du snorkeling depuis la plage (et en excursion bateau). Je connais un peu Zanzibar pour y être allé il y a plus de 10 ans, ainsi que Pemba (mais les prix ont explosé), et je me tourne aussi vers Mafia. Est ce propice au snorkeling , des resorts ont ils des house reef où l'on peut voir des choses intéressantes (je ne m'attends pas non plus au niveau de la Sulawesi ou des Raja). Merci d'avance pour toute info.

Bonjour à tous,

Je pars à la Réunion en janvier 2021 (oui je suis en avance). J'ai pris mes billets d'avion avec Air France, ma voiture de location chez jumbo car et pense prendre plusieurs airbnb répartis sur le territoire.

Je sais qu'il y a 1000 choses à faire mais je ne sais pas par où commencer... Le Piton des Neiges c'est sûr mais quoi d'autres ? Des idées de randonnées qui sortent un peu de l'ordinaire mais plutôt cool ?

Sinon je suis fan fan fan de plongée et aimerait beaucoup plonger là-bas, avec des requins si possible. Avez-vous des clubs à recommander ? J'ai déjà des plongées requin à mon actif je n'y vais pas à l'aveugle. Après si c'est déconseillé vivement, je n'irais pas :)

Autre chose qui sort des sentiers battus ? Bref toutes les recommandations sont bonnes à prendre merci !

Bonne journée :)

Vol AF165 du 30 mars 2020 au départ de Bangkok à 11h30 Vol AF4142 du 30 mars 2020 au départ de Tunis à 15h00 Vol AF4145 du 30 mars 2020 au départ d'Oran à 16h30 Vol AF4081 du 31 mars 2020 au départ de Buenos Aires à 14h20 Vol AF982 du 31 mars 2020 au départ de Yaoundé à 09h00 et au départ de Douala à 11h00 Vol AF225A du 31 mars 2020 au départ de New Delhi à 01h05 Vol AF655A du 01 avril 2020 au départ de Dubaï à 17h20 Vol AF4147 du 02 avril 2020 au départ de Kinshasa à 08h30 Vol AF986 du 02 avril 2020 au départ de Cotonou à 08h45 et au départ de Lagos à 10h50 Vol AF4151 du 02 avril 2020 au départ de Bamako à 13h25

Bonjour Nous souhaitons partir 15j debut septembre au Portugal. Que pensez vous de cet itinéraire qui reste à affiner. J1> Arrivée à Porto J2> Visite d eporto J3> Braga et Guimares avec nuit sur Porto J4> Averio et viseu> nuit à Viseu J5> Coimbra > Nuit à Coimbra J6> Fatima, Obidos, Péniche Nuit à Obidos J7/8/9 > Lisbonne et les environs J10 à J14 > Région de l'argarve. Lieu pour dormir à définir J15 > Départ .

Merci pour vos retour.

Bonjour !

Je prévois un gros voyage au Mexique et souhaitais avoir vos avis quant à l'itinéraire et les endroits qui remportent le coup de cœur de la communauté des voyageurs !

Alors il a y a 14j dans le Yucatan (déjà organisés) puis il reste 12j que je pensais passer entre le Chiapas et Mexico pour reprendre le vol retour vers la France !

Voici le plan: - 2 jours pour faire de la plongée et se reposer (Cancún ? Isla Mujeres ? Playa del Carmen? Cozumel? Autre ? Sachant que il faut repartir avec un bus pour Palenque) Quel endroit recommanderiez-vous ? - 1 j trajet pour rallier Palenque en bus - 1 j de visite pour Palenque et si le temps le permet Agua Azules/Miso-Ha - 1 j trajet pour rallier San Cristóbal de las Casas - 2 j ??? pour San Cristóbal et les villages environnants - 1 ou 2j ??? pour les Lagos de Montebello - 1j pour le Cañón del Sumidero

Ce qui laisse 2 jours pleins pour México avant de rentrer...

A vos avis et conseils !!! Merci par avance ! ;)

Bonjour, Est il possible de voir des raies manta et des tortues uniquement en snorkling à Moorea ou Bora ? Nous ne faisons pas de plongee. Merci

Bonjour,

je projette un voyage aux îles Togian avec ma fille de 16 ans et après quelques jours au Poki Poki on vise l'île de Malenge.

en essayant de sélectionner notre hébergement je me perds complètement. et je me disais que des expériences récentes pourraient sans doute m'aider. entre Sera Beach, Sandy Bay, Malenge Indah, Lestari (j'ai lu que ce dernier venait de changer de propriétaire est-ce exact?)... sur ces endroits je lis un peu tout et son contraire alors pas évident de me faire une idée... par ailleurs je me demande quels pourraient être les avantages et inconvénients d'être plutôt au nord ou au sud...? proche ou loin du petit village... et d'ailleurs est-ce qu'on peut relier à pied Pulau Papan depuis Sandy, Sera etc?

merci beaucoup pour vos réponses qui m'aideront j'espère dans ma décision!

Annina

Nous entamons notre troisième jour. Passage obligé à la banque, il faut se remplir les poches et les vider d'une partie pour la location. Pas simple de se faire comprendre, car nous ne parlons que très peu l'anglais. Le distributeur ne veut pas nous délivrer 3000 rands, mais à force de mots et de gestes, nous sommes parvenus au guichet à faire le retrait, sympa la fille (nous avons compris par la suite qu'il fallait faire 2 retraits de petites sommes) des petits tracas sans importance. C 'est parti pour la côte Ouest, le littoral est sauvage et magnifique. Les eaux froides de l'Atlantique 14° ne se prêtent pas à la baignade, mais le courant froid du Bengula offre des langoustes à profusion et d'excellents poissons.

Nous pénétrons dans "West Coast National Park" 27600 hec. Le Namaqualand, jardin extraordinaire connaît en Afrique du Sud le même succès que l'arrivée du Beaujolais nouveau à Paris...

Il mérite le nom de paradis floral: le sol aride, reconnaissant des quelques gouttes de pluie que lui accorde la nature uns fois par an, se couvre, d'un bout à l'autre de l'horizon, d'un tapis de fleurs aux couleurs éclatantes. Dommage, nous arrivons à la fin de cette merveilleuse transformation.

La pureté du Lagon de Langebaan avec ses îlots accueillent chaque printemps des milliers d'oiseaux migrateurs. Nous pique-niquons face à cette beauté de la nature.

Il nous faut reprendre la route en direction de Vredenburg, où nous cherchons un concessionnaire Nissan, depuis la prise de la voiture, il y a un bruit à l'avant. Après un contrôle, il s'agit d'un élément sous le moteur a peine vissé! (erreur d'usine, la voiture est neuve, comme quoi, il ne faut pas se fier à l'aspect de la voiture). Nous avons eu un accueil remarquable, le mécano est allé avec mon mari tester la voiture pendant que l'on m'offrait thé et petits gâteaux. L a réparation a été faite gratuitement!! Pourboire de 300 rands, ça les valait bien.

Enfin, nous découvrons au bout de 16km de route aride, à l'horizon, un halo blanc baigné de soleil "Paternoster" petit village de pêche typique avec ses maisons aux murs blanchis comme en Grèce, incroyable! Selon la légende, il occupe le site où des naufragés portugais récitèrent le Notre Père pour rendre grâce à leur survie.

Comme nous avons coutume de le faire, un tour de village s'impose pour se donner une idée de l'ambiance, repérer les restaurants et les guest houses.

Au bout du village en bord de plage, Baywatch B&B, nous fait un clin d’œil. Nous demandons à voir la chambre et là, c'est magnifique... d'un excellent niveau: 680 rands pour deux.

Pieds dans le sable en sortant du B&B, "A little taste of heaven on earth"

Nous demandons à voir la chambre et là, c'est magnifique... d'un excellent niveau: 680 rands pour deux.

Nous sommes accueillis chaleureusement, je demande où trouver une cabine téléphonique, voilà qu'elle nous tend son cellulaire pour que nous appelions la France, ce que nous refusons, alors, elle nous propose Internet! C'est extraordinaire de rencontrer des personnes qui vous sont étrangères, qui ne parlent pas la même langue, qui sont accueillantes, super sympathiques et prêtent à tout pour vous faciliter la vie!

Sur ce, il est temps d'aller dîner, nous avons repéré un resto qui ne paie pas trop de mine, mais où le menu a l'air bien alléchant, quelle bonne idée nous avons eu de le choisir. L'intérieur est typiquement hollandais et le repas n'en parlons pas! des steaks de calamars de 500gr, délicieusement bons, un seul aurait suffit pour deux. Pour terminer, une glace que nous avons demandé très petite, nous avions vu la taille réelle, la serveuse n'en revenait pas! Cassé le ventre. Il ne nous reste plus qu'à se glisser sous les draps et à se laisser bercer par le bruit des vagues. GOOD NIGHT

Bonjour,

Nous partons découvrir l' Afrique du sud en février. Nous sommes un couple avec 2 enfants de 1 an et 3 ans. Pour la partie "sud" de notre voyage nous allons rester 7 nuits à Camps Bay près du Cap. Le but étant de se poser un peu car nous aurons pas mal bougé dans la première partie du voyage. Ensuite pouvez vous me faire un retour sur la cohérence du circuit ? - 2 Nuits à Oudtshoorn - 3 nuits à Plettenberg bay Puis restitution voiture et vol interne vers Johannesbourg.

Est ce que nous devrions un peu raccourcir le temps passé au cap pour par exemple rajouter deux nuits à Addo elephant ? Cette réserve est elle vraiment un must à ne pas louper sachant que nous voyageons avec des enfants et il n'est peut être pas idéal de rester une journée entière dans les transports.

Merci par avance pour vos commentaires et conseils.

Nicolas et Sarah

Habitué à voyage sac à dos je demande de renseignements qua visiter et en sachant que je vaudrais aussi faire du plonger masc et tuba merci

Bonjour,

Je planifie un voyage en Espagne vers la fin février avec mes parents. Nous arriverons à Madrid puis prendrons une voiture pour visiter l'Andalousie (Cordoue, Grenade, Malaga, Séville) avant de remonter sur Madrid. Mes parents sont agriculteurs et ils aimeraient visiter une ferme pendant leur séjour afin de voir la réalité des producteurs dans un autre pays. Idéalement, il s'agirait d'une ferme de pommes de terres ou de céréales et où quelqu'un parle français ou anglais. J'ai fait quelques recherches, mais je ne trouve rien sur notre trajet. Avez-vous des suggestions ou des contacts qui pourraient m'aider dans ma recherche?

Merci! Myriam

Bonjour les amis voyageurs,

nous partons en crête début octobre 2020, les billets sont pris. on y sera donc hors saison en espérant éviter les foules, les grosses chaleurs tout en ayant une météo clémente et une eau encore assez chaude... 🤪

On prévoie de louer un véhicule 4X4 ou peut être un camping car mais ce n'est pas le même budget ni la même conduite. Le choix dépendra de notre itinéraire. Et c'est la que j'ai besoin de vous....

Nous sommes plutôt du genre "solitaire-nature-rando-piste-canyon-petite crique-village perdus" un peu moins "culture-monasteres-restaurant" et surtout pas "Grandes villes - foules de touristes -parasols -tours organisés"

Voila maintenant que notre profil est dressé je fait appel a vos conseils pour dénicher - les petites criques perdues pour lesquelles il faut marcher, - les pistes caillouteuses qui passent au travers des gorges ou a flan de montagne - les sentier de rando sympa - les trésors crétois

En sachant que nous n'avons pas peur de sortir des sentier battus, bien au contraire. N'hesitez pas a me parler du lagon de Balos ou des gorges de Samaria, même si c'est connu vos avis m’intéressent

Merci d'avance

Bonjour, J'y vais prochainement pendant 2 jours, j'aurais besoin d'un conseil. J'ai réservé un vol en hélico le 2ème jour : piton Maïdo, cirques de Cilaos, Mafate et Salazie, canyon Trou de Fer, piton de la fournaise. Le premier jour, comme on ne peut pas tout voir et que je pars du port à 25 km de st Denis, j'hésite entre visiter

le sud : Saint Philippe, Grand Brûlé, piton de la fournaise, tunnels de lave, cap Méchant le nord : St Denis, cirque de Salazie, voile de la Mariée, Hell Bourg

si l'un de vous y est déjà allé ... Merci

Bonjour,

après avoir parcouru beaucoup de vos échanges (+ randopitons et d'autres), je me demande quelles sont les randonnées (faciles et moyennes) qu'on peut envisager faire quand on vient sur l'île en février ? L' Est de l'île qui semble encore plus pluvieux est peut-être à enlever d'office ?! Vos réponses m'aideront ensuite dans le choix des hébergements: si ce n'est pas possible de randonner dans l'Est en raison des pluies alors nous ne logerons qu'à l'Ouest et/ou au Sud.

Merci à tous.

Bonjour à toutes et tous,

Nous venons de réserver des billets pour 2 semaines en polynésie française en février prochain (pendant les vacances scolaires), avec nos deux enfants de 17 et 10 ans.

Notre itinéraire est en cours de construction. Parmi les activités que nous prévoyons, j'adorerais que nous puissions participer à un four traditionnel polynésien (la culture culinaire compte énormément pour moi dans les voyages !).

Ont-ils lieu toujours lieu le samedi ? Quelle île faut-il privilégier ? J'ai hâte de lire vos récits de ma'a tahiti !

Merci à vous et belle journée

JB