Results for "Inverness+|+9+>+228"

Some trips are born twice.

Ours was supposed to happen in 2020. Everything was ready: the itinerary, the flight tickets, hotel reservations and Machu Picchu, the rental car, dreams of high altitudes and wide-open spaces. And then the world stopped.

Like so many other plans, our trip to Peru was put on hold. Disappointment was followed by a more concrete reality: paperwork, endless back-and-forth, and battles to recover some of the costs we’d already paid.

The years went by. Life moved on, with its shifting priorities and unexpected twists. Rescheduling this trip wasn’t possible until 2025.

The itinerary stayed mostly true to what we’d imagined five years earlier. One major difference, though—in 2020, we’d planned to rent a car and explore the roads completely independently. Most importantly, we hadn’t included the three-day Ausangate trek, due to lack of time.

For 2025, our plans evolved. 4x4 rental prices had skyrocketed, and when we looked at our schedule more closely, we realized quite a few days didn’t actually need a vehicle. So we made a different choice and opted for private drivers instead. A decision we never regretted. Always punctual, thoughtful, and available... they were so much more than just drivers.

All our reservations were made in January, except for the trek, which we booked in February.

Finding reliable drivers on our own was tough, so we asked Laurent from Tout Pérou to handle it for us. Going through Tout Pérou also gave us a discount on the train ride to Aguas Calientes, so Laurent booked those tickets too. He also bought our Machu Picchu entrance tickets at the same price we would’ve paid on the official website. When comparing domestic flight prices, we found it was cheaper to book from Peru, so Laurent took care of those as well.

This time, nothing was going to stop us. Peru was waiting. And we were ready. 🙂

Hi there,

I’m reaching out about my summer trip plans (from 07/18 to 08/02). I’ve already bought my flight tickets to Cairo. Here’s my planned itinerary: Cairo – 2 nights White Desert – 2 nights Hurghada – 2 nights Luxor – 2 nights Aswan – 1 night Marsa Alam – 4 nights Cairo – 1 night -> So, I was planning to rent a car after the desert to go to Hurghada, then Luxor, then Marsa Alam (but the drive from Marsa Alam back to Cairo seems really long, so I was thinking of skipping it and going from Luxor back to Hurghada instead). Could you help me make sense of this, please?

Thanks so much!

Hi there!

After our Central Asia trip this summer, we’ll be setting foot in Africa for the first time next February with our three kids (ages 5, 13, and 17).

I’ve fine-tuned a little itinerary with ChatGPT based on our interests and expectations, and here’s what came out:

Tuesday, February 24 — Dakar

Landing at 1:00 AM

Early afternoon: visit Gorée Island

Back to Dakar, light dinner

7:00 PM: boarding the ferry “Aline Sitoé Diatta”

Overnight on board (cabin)

Wednesday, February 25 — Ziguinchor

Arrival between 9:00–11:00 AM

Staying with a local host

Stroll: Saint-Maur market, river port

Overnight in Ziguinchor

Thursday, February 26 – Saturday, February 28 — Casamance (Cap Skirring & Oussouye)

February 26: Ziguinchor → Carabane road trip, explore the island, overnight on the island

February 27: Cap Skirring, beach time

February 28: Cap Skirring, relaxation, stroll, beach

Sunday, March 1 – Tuesday, March 3 — Oussouye

Head to Oussouye (~1 hour)

Discover Diola villages, rice fields, market, handicrafts

Overnights: Oussouye (3 nights)

Wednesday, March 4 – Friday, March 6 — Sine-Saloum

Drive to Toubacouta via the Trans-Gambian Highway (Gambia)

Stay with a local host / camp on the bolongs

Activities: pirogue ride in the delta, Serer villages, biking, handicraft discovery

Overnights: Sine-Saloum (3 nights)

Saturday, March 7 – Sunday, March 8 — Petite Côte

Drive to Somone / Ngaparou (~3 hours)

Stay with a local host

Activities: beach, safari at Bandia Reserve, kayaking on the lagoon, craft market

Overnights: Petite Côte (2 nights, including Sunday, March 8, to enjoy the full day before the nighttime departure)

Monday, March 9 — Departure

Transfer to Blaise Diagne International Airport (~45 minutes)

Flight leaves at 2:00 AM

I’ve got a few questions:

- Is an afternoon on Gorée Island worth it? I really want to go, but the ferry departure days are a bit limiting. - How easy is it to get around between these different stops? Can we find a taxi that fits all five of us? - Do you have any accommodation recommendations? I’d love to stay with locals as much as possible—we’re not looking for luxury, just a bed and a shower. - February 28 is my birthday, and I’d love to do something “special”: any ideas for a nice place to stay, a great restaurant, or an out-of-the-ordinary activity? We’ll be around Cap Skirring. - Does this itinerary seem coherent? I really want to visit Casamance, and we’d prefer to stay no more than 3 nights in the same place.

Don’t hesitate to share your tips! Thanks so much!

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Colombia this summer. I’ve been reading a lot about safety in Colombia—everything and its opposite. For those of you who know Colombia, currently, would you say it’s a country where you can travel safely? I don’t plan on going to narco or paramilitary zones. What about the political situation? I’m traveling as a couple, without any tour organization. I just signed up and I’m still figuring out how this forum works—I didn’t know where to look for answers. Thanks.

Hi there,

A quick recap of our 19-day trip to China – classic itinerary, half-family: dad and 13-year-old son, August 2025.

Arrived in Shanghai, the idea was to explore the city in the evening to help with jet lag. Day 1: Maglev (50 CNY), then metro to the hotel, night cruise on the Huangpu River, admiring the skyline. Day 2: Yuyuan Garden (meh), Lujiazui district, sunset from the top of Jinmao Tower, stroll along the Bund, admiring the skyline. Day 3: Chaos at the Shanghai Museum – should’ve booked in advance. Backup plan: Longhua Temple (nice), Tianzi Fang district (great). Day 4: Aquarium (okay), Pearl Tower, Fake Market (top), then flight to Guilin. Taxi from Guilin to Yangshuo (400 CNY arranged by the hotel). Verdict: Maybe one day too many. Late mornings (jet lag) kept us from visiting the water town. Day 5: Yangshuo – scooter ride (40 CNY) along the Yulong River. Day 6: Early Didi (30 min) to the top of Xiang Gong Shan (ideally for sunrise). Then a walk through the countryside to the Li River, crossing by boat (10 CNY) to Xingping. You can shorten the walk by flagging down a mini-shuttle that shuttles Chinese tourists in the opposite direction. Explored Xingping, scooter ride, 20 CNY viewpoint, sunset from Laozhai Hill, back to Yangshuo. Day 7: Scooter ride to spots we missed on Day 5. Verdict: It’s stunning. Might be worth staying in Guilin the first night and booking a cruise to Yangshuo the next day on the Li River. Day 8: Bus (4/5h, 100 CNY) to Longji/Dazhai. Hotel in Tianzhouzai – I think it’s better to stay in Ping’an, it’s more typical. Dazhai is generally overdeveloped. Day 9: Full-day hike from Dazhai to Ping’an, then bus back to Dazhai. Super nice walk, only crossed paths with 4 people. Day 10: Walk around the top of Dazhai, but the trails are poorly maintained – no loop possible. Verdict: Gorgeous, probably one day too many, but the area is very rainy, so it’s good to have a buffer. Day 11: Private taxi (4/5h, 200 €) to Fenghuang. Explored the town in the evening – really nice. Day 12: Short visit to Fenghuang during the day, then train to Zhangjiajie and Wulingyuan. Hotel pool. Day 13: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via Wulingyuan entrance, Route A (starting with the cable car). Fabulous. If I did it again, I’d take Route B to get early access to the section near the giant elevator. Day 14: Early start: Zhangjiajie Park via the south entrance – superb. Day 15: Wulingyuan Grand Canyon, glass bridge – nice but not essential. Day 16: Tianmen Mountain in the afternoon. You can leave your luggage at the entrance. Routes A and B sell out quickly. Note that Route C no longer uses buses to the top – there’s a brand-new cable car instead, which I think is actually better than A and B. Really nice, worth doing. Evening flight to Beijing. Verdict: The canyon could be done the same morning as Tianmen Mountain, or even skipped. Day 17: Visited the Forbidden City (book a week in advance!), missed the entry slot for Tiananmen Square (book in advance!) due to security checks. Visited the Lama Temple. Stayed in a hutong. Day 18: Great Wall at Mutianyu. Private taxi (100 € round trip – probably overpaid) to arrive before 7 AM. Then back to Beijing, Temple of Heaven, and finally the modest skyline from the mall at Guomao metro station. Day 19: Fake markets (pointless – they’re stripped of their usual goods compared to Shanghai’s), Summer Palace, then Wangfujing Street. Headed to the airport. Verdict: 3 days is too short for Beijing.

Overall impressions: Highlights: Incredible places (cities and landscapes), often vast and fascinating, a total change of scenery. Very easy and smooth to travel despite the clear language barrier. Excellent food, very affordable, very few scams. Lowlights: Intense heat and humidity in August, *way* too many tourists (99.9% Chinese), a real circus that makes the trip exhausting. Walking is tiring in the long run (even though we’re very active) because it’s all on stone paths and stairs. To avoid crowds, you’d need to wake up early every day – tough with kids, especially with jet lag.

Logistics: - Buses and private taxis arranged last-minute through hotels. - Didi is widely available everywhere, plentiful, and cheap. - Flights and trains booked on Trip.com a month in advance (fills up fast). - Hotels on Booking and Trip.com. Only the one in Yangshuo was booked well in advance – hotel capacity is huge everywhere. - Apps: Didi, Alipay, WeChat, Maps.me, Google Translate. Free 35 GB data plan, SIM card from the airport.

Hey Fellow Travelers,

I was caught off guard when the Malagasy consulate in Scandinavia informed me they don’t issue entry visas for Madagascar—what’s the point of a consulate, I wonder! They advised me to apply at the Malagasy embassy in London. So, I started filling out the online form, but the price for the visa made me do a double-take: nearly 200 €!

But apparently, you can also get it on arrival! Has anyone tried this before? I’d love to know if the process takes a long time (I’ll be landing in Nosy Be, exhausted after nearly 15 hours of travel), what the cost is, and—since corruption isn’t just a word—whether you absolutely have to grease the palm of the official(s). This is because I almost took the next flight back when I arrived in a country I won’t name. Even though all my documents were in order—passport, visa, vaccinations, hotel reservation—the immigration officer initially refused to stamp my passport. I later found out I was supposed to slip at least $10 into the document when presenting it... Thanks! /d

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are heading to Thailand with our two boys on July 8th. We’ll be moving around: Bangkok (3 nights), Ayutthaya (1 night), Chiang Mai (4 nights), Koh Samui (4 nights), and Koh Phangan (3 nights). We have a flight from Koh Samui to Bangkok in the afternoon the day before our return to France, arriving around 5 PM in Bangkok (it’ll be a Friday). I’m still wondering where to stay in Bangkok for this last night in Thailand. Initially, I thought about booking a hotel near the international airport, but I figured there might not be much to do there... maybe we’ll want one last crowd-filled night at a food market? So, I considered booking a hotel near the metro instead, for easy access to the airport the next morning, while still being central enough to go out for our last evening before heading back to France.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this :-) And if you lean toward the second option, which neighborhood/hotel would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help! Have a great evening :-)

Christelle

For those wondering about driving: no problem at all. The road network is excellent, with plenty of four-lane highways. Driving is easy if you're careful. Avoid driving at night and stay alert around two-wheelers. I’ve been driving there since 2016—I’m no spring chicken—and I’ve covered Thailand from north to south and east to west, even Bangkok. Maps.me and vigilance are all you need... It gives you incredible freedom and lets you discover places that aren’t too crowded yet.

Hi there... I’m traveling with a friend for a month in November. We booked our round-trip tickets from Paris to Phnom Penh, and yes, I know—it was a mistake. We should’ve flown out of Laos, but here we are. But is it doable to backpack through both countries in a relaxed way? I’ve seen that the transport takes a while... Thanks so much for your replies.

My buddy Christian and I (Patrick) are off for 28 days in Argentina in March. We’ve already shared several trips as a duo (Bolivia Peru, Namibia, Laos, Costa Rica). Since we’re starting from the idea that at our age (65) we won’t be coming back here—there are just too many other corners of the world to discover—we did the "grand tour" of Argentina, with 6 domestic flights to make the most of our 28 days. Here are our stops: 1) Departure from Brussels to Buenos Aires via Madrid 2) Arrival and first contact with Buenos Aires 3) Early morning flight to Ushuaia. Boat trip on the Beagle Channel 4) Ushuaia: hikes in Tierra del Fuego National Park 5) Ushuaia: last hike and flight to El Calafate 6) El Calafate to El Chaltén by bus. First hike 7) El Chaltén: hike 8) El Chaltén: hike 9) El Chaltén: hike and bus back to El Calafate 10) El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier 11) Flight to Bariloche. Car rental and surrounding areas 12) Seven Lakes Region 13) Nahuel Huapi National Park region 14) Flight to Salta. Car rental 15) To Tilcara 16) To Humahuaca 17) To Purmamarca 18) To Jujuy via the salt flats 19) To Cafayate 20) Around Cafayate 21) To Cachi 22) Back to Salta 23) Flight to Iguazu 24) Waterfalls on the Argentine side 25) Waterfalls on the Brazilian side and flight to Buenos Aires 26) Buenos Aires 27) Return flight 28) Morning arrival Happy reading!..

We’re a retired French couple. We’ve just spent 4 weeks in China: - 1. Exploring Yunnan in a group (12 people); a journey that took us from the Vietnamese border in the south to the edges of Tibet in the north. - 2. A private trip to Guizhou with just a driver. We’re absolutely delighted with what we discovered: a modern country with excellent infrastructure (especially the low level of urban pollution thanks to the high number of electric vehicles, the absence of diesel, and no noisy motorbikes in these two less industrialized provinces), friendly Chinese people who were always ready to help us when we had difficulties or questions, and a rich natural and cultural heritage. The language barrier remains the biggest challenge, despite instant translation tools. For both trips, we booked through the agency CIELCHINE, which we highly recommend. The value for money is unbeatable. The services were luxurious, especially for us since we usually travel alone on a tight budget for accommodation and food. The agency’s staff were perfectly competent and, what’s more, warm and welcoming. For Yunnan, our guide SEBASTIEN, who was experienced and knowledgeable, won everyone over. In Guizhou, our driver HUANG was professionally flawless and guided us through villages he knows well. Friendly and full of humor, he’d spontaneously talk to people he met, which made us be treated with much more kindness and allowed us to exchange a few basic words. As you can see, I haven’t ticked anything negative—not because I’m hiding anything or have any ulterior motive, but because I’m completely satisfied and the experience even exceeded all my expectations.

Short version: I booked through Croisières.fr, and everything went smoothly until my order was confirmed. When I requested a date change—due to administrative reasons—the sales rep initially assured me the fee would be 50 € per person, but then demanded 600 € (negotiated down to 338 €), even though the price remained unchanged. On top of that, Paul, the sales rep, was dishonest, claiming that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages, which is completely false. All drinks—even water—are charged onboard. I had also requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother, a request that wasn’t honored, forcing me to sleep on a small couch. To make matters worse, all my emails and calls to customer service were ignored or handled carelessly. While the cruise itself was satisfactory—thanks to Costa for the onboard organization—I recommend booking directly with Costa to avoid these bad surprises with Croisières.fr.

Long version: I booked a cruise for two through Croisières.fr, and the process went perfectly until the final confirmation of my order, which initially reinforced my trust. However, as soon as I requested a change in departure dates—due to a delay in obtaining my mother’s ID card—the situation quickly deteriorated. During this process, Paul, the Croisières.fr sales rep, initially told me that the date-change fee would be only 50 € per person. To my surprise, I was then hit with an exorbitant processing fee of 600 €, which was eventually negotiated down to 338 €. This turnaround was all the more baffling because the new cruise offered was priced exactly the same as the original booking on the website.

The situation worsened when the cruise line later changed the dates for internal reasons at Costa. The new dates didn’t work for us at all, especially because of my mother’s non-reschedulable medical appointment. Despite my flexibility and numerous phone calls and emails, we were forced to accept these new dates against our will. It took a lot of effort to secure another slot, even though we had been accommodating on almost all other dates.

I also noticed other serious shortcomings in Croisières.fr’s sales service. Paul, the sales rep, turned out to be dishonest: he claimed that drinks (excluding alcohol) were included in the ticket price and that there were "all-inclusive" packages for alcoholic beverages. That’s absolutely not true! Without a package, all drinks—even water—are charged onboard. Additionally, I had specifically requested a cabin with two separate beds to travel with my mother. This request wasn’t honored, and I had to make do with a small couch because there was no way to set up two separate beds.

I’m willing to accept rules and constraints if they’re communicated upfront, but these crucial details were never shared with me. What disappoints me the most is how my requests were handled by customer service. None of the emails I sent received a response, and my numerous phone calls were dealt with carelessly and without any consideration. Everything was fine until the order was confirmed, and then suddenly, there was a complete lack of attention and follow-up, leaving a bitter taste.

That said, despite these issues, I was very satisfied with the cruise itself, and I’d like to sincerely thank Costa for their excellent onboard organization. Based on this experience, I strongly advise travelers to book directly with Costa to avoid the bad surprises and lack of follow-up that seem characteristic of Croisières.fr.

Hello,

I just booked the flight tickets for two people. We arrive on July 21st in the afternoon in São Vicente and will leave again on August 11th from Praia.

I was thinking of staying around 4 days in Mindelo to explore São Vicente using shared aluguers. Then take the boat to Santo Antão, stay there for about five days to do different hikes, staying in Ponta do Sol. After that, it gets a bit tricky—we’ll return by boat to São Vicente to reach São Nicolau. I wanted to know when the ferry leaves in terms of days and times? Or the plane? We’ll stay there for about four days, then take the ferry or plane to Santiago. Same question—what days does the ferry leave and at what time? Or the plane? Finally, we’ll end our trip in Santiago; I’m thinking of staying in Tarrafal. I also wanted to know where in São Vicente we can exchange euros for Cape Verdean escudos. I was planning to use shared aluguers for all our travel.

Thanks in advance for your answers—I’ll probably have more questions later. Nolwenn

Hi everyone, My partner, our 6-year-old daughter, and I are heading to South Africa in early July. I’d love your thoughts and insights on our planned itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Joburg in the early afternoon / Overnight near the airport Day 2: Morning flight to Cape Town / Pick up rental car / Explore the city Day 3: Cape Peninsula (Boulders Beach to see the penguins) Day 4: If the weather allows: whale-watching excursion from Hermanus Day 5: Early morning flight to Kruger (Mpumalanga Airport) - Pick up rental car and head to the Blyde River Canyon Panoramic Route (stops at Mac Mac Falls, Lisbon or Berlin Falls, and Three Rondavels) / Overnight on Orpen Road as close as possible to Orpen Gate Day 6: Enter Kruger National Park via Orpen Gate for a self-drive safari / Overnight to be decided? Day 7: Kruger National Park / Overnight at Letaba Rest Camp (the only night we’ve managed to book in the park so far) Day 8: Self-drive safari from Letaba Rest Camp to Manyeleti Game Reserve (overnight booked at Honeyguide Khoka Moya lodge) Day 9: Morning guided safari in the private reserve, then return to Joburg Day 10: Return flight in the late afternoon from Joburg Airport What do you think? Do you think Day 5 is doable? Does the Panoramic Route in half a day from the airport seem realistic to you? It’s tough to find availability in the rest camps. Any suggestions for a place to stay between Orpen Gate and Letaba (Day 6)? On the way back (Day 9), we’re considering stopping overnight between Kruger Park and Joburg. What do you think? Any towns or stops you’d recommend? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi there, I’m planning a 22-day trip to Madagascar this July.

And I could really use some advice 😊

Here’s what I’m sure about: Spending a few days in Nosy Be so my daughter can complete her Open Water certification—so I’m thinking 4 or 5 days there. I think Diego Suarez, Montagne d’Ambre, and Ankarana would suit what we like to do and have the advantage of being close to Nosy Be.

Now, the parts I’m unsure about, especially because of travel times:

My daughters really want to see whales. Is it possible around Nosy Be, or is Sainte Marie *the* must-visit spot? And what’s the weather like at that time of year? If we choose Sainte Marie, maybe do the Pangalanes Canal? Or is the route from Diego to Sainte Marie via the Vanilla Road a must-do?

Another option could be exploring the east with the Tsiribihina River and the Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava.

Thanks in advance for your tips!

Hi there,

I’ll be traveling to Peru in August 2025. Unfortunately, I only have 12 days to visit this amazing country. I’m torn between doing a fast-paced trip where I see every sight but don’t really soak it all in, or going for a lighter itinerary that lets me enjoy the moment more.

Right now, I’ve narrowed it down to three options and I’d love to hear your thoughts on which one to pick.

Option 1 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 15, 2025 Flight Lima – Cusco Visit Cusco Stay in Cusco August 16, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 17, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 18, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 19, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 21, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Bus Lima to Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 22, 2025 Visit Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 23, 2025 Visit Paracas Stay in Huacachina August 24, 2025 Bus Huacachina – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada

Option 2 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Bus Lima – Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 15, 2025 Visit Huacachina Bus Huacachina – Arequipa Overnight bus August 16, 2025 Visit Arequipa Stay in Arequipa August 17, 2025 Colca Canyon Transfer Arequipa – Puno Stay in Puno August 18, 2025 Visit Lake Titicaca Bus Puno – Cusco (7:00 AM) Overnight bus August 19, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 21, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 22, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 23, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 24, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada

Option 3 August 14, 2025 Flight Canada – Lima Bus Lima – Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 15, 2025 Visit Huacachina Stay in Huacachina August 16, 2025 Visit Paracas Stay in Paracas August 17, 2025 Bus Paracas – Lima Flight Lima – Cusco Stay in Cusco August 18, 2025 Visit Cusco Stay in Cusco August 19, 2025 Visit Humantay Lake Stay in Cusco August 20, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Ollantaytambo August 21, 2025 Visit Machu Picchu Stay in Ollantaytambo August 22, 2025 Visit Sacred Valley Stay in Cusco August 23, 2025 Visit Rainbow Mountains Stay in Cusco August 24, 2025 Flight Cusco – Lima Visit Lima Stay in Lima August 25, 2025 Flight Lima – Canada

Hello! I’m so excited to be back on this forum—it’s helped me so much in the past! I need your expert advice for our next trip, which will take us to Central Asia: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.

We have a month, and here’s the itinerary I have in mind: Arrival in Tashkent – 2 days Bukhara – 2 days Samarkand – 3 days Panjakent – 1 day The Seven Lakes + Iskanderkul – 3 days Khujand – 2 days Fergana Valley – 3 days Song Kol Lake – 2 days Issyk-Kul Lake – 3 days Charyn Canyon – 1 day Kaindy Lake – 1 day Altyn Emel Park – 1 day Almaty – 1 day and departure

I know the travel times, especially in the mountains, can be long, but I’ve tried to optimize it so we can rest after the long drives. Our family includes three kids aged 5, 13, and 17. We’re used to backpacking. But I have *so* many questions: -Will it be extremely hot in Uzbekistan, but manageable in the other regions on my itinerary? -I’ve read conflicting things about trains in Uzbekistan: is it possible to book train tickets in advance from France? -For the Seven Lakes and Iskanderkul, do I need to hire a driver? Is it easy to find one? Since there are five of us, we’d need a large car… or is it possible to rent a car in Panjakent and drop it off in Khujand? -What’s worth visiting in the Fergana Valley? -I’d prefer to avoid domestic flights, so I planned to break up the Osh-Issyk-Kul Lake route by stopping at Song Kol Lake and taking a horseback ride. Is that realistic? Again, do I need to find a driver, or can we do it independently? -Where’s the best base for Issyk-Kul Lake? The main goal is to relax and swim (is it acceptable for women to wear swimsuits in these regions?) -For the last part of the trip—Charyn Canyon and Kaindy Lake from Issyk-Kul—is it doable, or do I need a driver once more? -Is Altyn Emel Park doable in the summer, or is it too hot? The idea is to see the views and do a short 3-hour hike.

Thanks so much for any firsthand tips or experiences you can share!

Hi everyone, I’ve spent two solid months reading the Lonely Planet and pretty much every post about Thailand here, plus French and English blogs. Now I’d love to get your expert opinions on our itinerary. We’re heading off in August 2025 with our 7-year-old daughter. We only have a maximum of three weeks off, and I’m keeping an eye on flight prices before booking (1400 € per person really stings 😕). So here’s what I’ve planned—let me know if you spot any major issues or if I’ve been way too "optimistic."

D1 - Arrival in Bangkok / rest, quick visit, overnight stay D2 - More temple visits, etc. D3 - Morning flight to Chiang Mai D4 - More Chiang Mai sightseeing D5 - Day trip to Chiang Rai (guided tour to book: blue and white temple), return to Chiang Mai late in the evening D6 - More Chiang Mai visits / Elephant Nature Park in the afternoon D7 - Morning flight to Koh Samui, sightseeing D8 to D10 - More Koh Samui visits D11 to D13 - Ferry to Koh Phangan D14 to D15 - Ferry to Koh Tao D16 - Return to Koh Samui, then flight to Bangkok D17 - Day trip to Ayutthaya, return to Bangkok in the evening D18 - Flight back to France :(

I know a lot of you recommend heading straight to Chiang Mai to recover from the international flight, but my partner and I NEVER sleep on planes (personally, I’ve been flying to Taiwan since I was little and have never slept more than an hour on a 14-hour flight...), so it’s essential for us to rest upon arrival . That’s also why I opted for domestic flights instead of the sleeper train—I know we’d lose over 10 hours and wouldn’t be able to rest properly in those conditions. And I’m sure you’ll also say BKK > North > South is too much for three weeks, but I really want to see as much as possible. Given how much the flights will cost, I’m not sure when we’ll be able to come back 🏴‍☠️.

So, questions: 1. Since we’ll only be in Bangkok for a maximum of two nights and need to easily reach the airport with luggage (and a child), which neighborhood should we prioritize? We’d love to experience the evening vibe of Asian night markets, ideally within walking distance of the hotel or just a few metro stops away. I’ve looked at Chinatown, but the BTS seems far... Should we go for somewhere near BTS Saphan Taksin or BTS Krungthonburi? But is the area lively in the evening with food courts, etc.? We’d also like to treat ourselves to a hotel with a pool.

2. Have we planned too many days in the south? Should I skip Koh Tao and just do Koh Samui + Koh Phangan? My partner and daughter aren’t strong swimmers, so we’re looking for beautiful beaches without too much current. Crowded beaches don’t bother us—we just want stunning turquoise waters without killer waves . Going all the way to Koh Tao and then back to Koh Samui to catch the flight to Bangkok seems too stressful. Is it still possible these days (I haven’t seen any recent posts on this) to head to Koh Samui in August and decide on the spot how many nights to spend in Koh Phangan or Koh Tao based on how we feel, booking hotels as we go? Or is that too risky?

If you have any better suggestions for fitting all this in while reducing internal flights, I’m all ears for your great tips

Hello everyone, My wife Fanny and I, along with our three kids (ages 10, 12, and 14), are planning a two-week trip to Asia during the February break. This would be our first big family trip, and we’re looking to mix discovery, a change of scenery, some relaxation, and cultural immersion. We want to avoid overly organized tours or over-touristed destinations. Over 20 years ago, Fanny and I used to travel as a couple with backpacks, especially in India and Mongolia, but things have surely changed a lot since then. Now, we’re torn between: • Thailand: for its diversity (beaches, temples, nature) and accessibility for a first family trip. • Laos-Cambodia combo: for a potentially more authentic immersion, but we’re wondering if it’s well-suited for kids. - Sri Lanka: it seems amazing and family-friendly? Is the political situation stable enough? We have a few questions:

Which destination would you recommend for this kind of family setup? What itineraries might work for two weeks without feeling too rushed?

Logistics-wise: can we travel with a round-trip flight ticket, book a few basic hotels, and improvise the rest once we’re there? Or do we need to plan everything in advance (transport, accommodations, activities) for this time of year?

Thanks in advance for your valuable tips! Mathieu

Hi there,

Have you ever traveled with this airline? It seems like they have a real monopoly on some destinations and are also much cheaper.

Thank youuuu.

Bonjour Cherche avis sur chargeur USB Sinewave Revolution , montage sur moyeu dynamo Shimano. Vu le chargeur sur le site de Cyclorandonnée. Merci Jean Claude

Bonjour à tous,

Les préparatifs de notre TDM (à deux continents près 😉) se poursuivent. nous sommes une famille de 5. 39 ans, 33 ans, 6 ans, 4 ans, 1 an au moment du départ. départ en juillet 2021, un retour à l'été 2023.

Après plusieurs tergiversations nous envisageons la traversée de la Chine depuis la Mongolie, vers le Vietnam. En consultant des blogs et sites de voyageurs, j'ai trouvé Navo tour. Des retours ? Des avis ? Si on le fait il sera temps dans quelques mois de lancer une bouteille à la mer pour faire un convoi... dans cette projection, on ferait la traversée en septembre/octobre 2022. Il en est de même pour le Myanmar...

Pour la thaïlande, avez vous des retours sur les entrées des campings car ?... C'est toujours la roulette russe (ou thaïlandaise en l’occurrence !) ? des postes frontières plus souples que d'autres ? des aides locales ?... C'est un point un peu névralgique qui pourrait pauser soucis en cas de blocage une fois sur place !

Le Pakistan.... Aucune infos fiables de trouvées... J'ai pu voir que certains parlaient d'une ouverture des frontières (automne 2019). Rien depuis début 2020, of course... L'idée est une entrée côté Lahore, sortie à taftan. Mais... niveau sécurité, cela m'inquiète un peu... Aventurier, oui, fou, un peu, suicidaire, que nenni !

A bientôt !

Bonjour,

En me connectant avec mon numéro de réservation sur la TAP, j'ai pu me rendre compte que nos vols en octobre pour le Cap Vert étaient annulés. (Les vols existent toujours et sont réservables via leurs site pourtant .... mais le prix et x4 quasiment !)

Je n'arrive pas à les joindre par téléphone (surtaxé d'ailleurs) ni par mail car ça me dit "error" à chaque fois via leur site.

Comment faire?

Bonjour à tous

Je viens de constater que mon Agence préférée AZUR CROISIERES a été transférée à MONACO.

Je me demande si les prestations habituelles et la responsabilité de cette nouvelle affectation ne poseront pas problème compte tenu des responsabilités juridiques des compagnies monégasques ...

J'aimerais connaître vos avis

Merci

Bonjour,

Je suis en train de réfléchir à mes prochaines vacances fin octobre début novembre, et j'avais pensé au Cap Vert, qui me trotte dans la tête depuis un certain nombre d'années... cette période est propice ?

Nous sommes 3, avec une petite fille qui aura presque 3 ans, assez curieuse, et qui a déjà pris l'avion pour l'Ouest canadien et les canaries (lanzarote et fuerteventura). Pas de difficulté avec une petite ? Que ce soit au niveau sanitaire, transport (siège auto dans les taxis car si j'ai bien compris il ne faut pas louer une voiture), hébergement... Concernant la durée, on serait sur 2 semaines, mais s'il faut prolonger un peu, on le fera mais pas jusqu'à 3 semaines.

Nous aimerions articuler notre voyage avec de la rando, de la découverte de la culture locale et un peu de repos (pas de rando donc, ou on prendrait plus de temps en fin de séjour avec plage s'il y en a) : santo antao et fogo me semblent incontournables pour un voyage au Cap Vert. Aussi, j'aimerais éviter de prendre trop l'avion, idéalement arriver sur une île, prendre un avion pour aller au sud ou au nord, et repartir de la vers la France. D'ailleurs, pour aller à Fogo depuis Praia par exemple, il faut prendre le bateau ou l'avion?

Merci

Bonjour à tous

Cyclo de fraîche date, j'ai pour ambition d'amener mon vélo de Paris à Nice fin août et de démarrer mon voyage là-bas. Je pensais qu'il serait assez simple de trouver une place dans un train (quitte à payer un supplément). Comme j'étais naïf !! Je découvre qu'il n'y a absolument rien. L'alternative serait de démonter mon vélo et de le mettre dans une housse, sauf que la SNCF ne prête pas de housse. Or, sachant que je repartirai de Nice à vélo, je n'ai aucune intention de me trimballer une housse.

Bref, quelle solution voyez-vous ? Enchaîner les TER et mettre 2 jours pour aller de Paris à Nice ? Prendre l'avion, et tant pis pour la planète ?

Je suis à l'écoute de vos idées, mais vraiment je tombe de haut.

Merci !

Afin d'aider les vacanciers qui souhaitent séjourner dans un des pays de l'U.E. cet été, la Commission européenne est en train de finaliser un site Web qui permettra à chacun de s'informer quant aux possibilités, restrictions, précautions, etc, prévues dans chaque état ou région. Lire la suite...

Bonjour à tous, dans ces moments où la distanciation sociale est de mise, cela peut être l'occasion de revoir notre façon de vivre, de repenser notre rapport au corps. Mais aussi de découvrir tout un tas de nouvelles choses. J'ai donc décidé de vous partager le résumé d'un livre sur la médecine traditionnelle indienne, qui m'a semblé fort intéressant. Je vous présente donc ici les bases de l'Ayurvéda, cette médecine indienne ancestrale qui tend cependant à se voir distancée par la médecine allopathique en Inde, car plus rapide pour soulager les douleurs mais aussi moins efficace sur le long terme.

Découvrons ensemble.

"Lorsque l'alimentation est mauvaise, les médicaments ne sont pas utiles. Lorsque l'alimentation est bonne, les médicaments sont inutiles". -- Proverbe reposant sur la science de la nutrition ayurvédique.

Nous nous tournons ici sur les bases de l’Ayurvéda, cet article porte sur sa découverte et ne saurait en rien être complet face aux connaissances profondes nécessaires à la maîtrise de cette dernière.

Table des matières

Tradition

Découverte de l’Ayurvéda Préservation de la santé

Éléments de la Nature

Les 3 gunas Les 5 éléments Les 3 dochas

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Tradition

Découverte de l’Ayurvéda

L’Ayurvéda est une médecine naturelle vieille de plus de 5000 ans. Elle fut transmise de maîtres à apprentis à travers les siècles, induite à l’origine par les profondes connaissances des Rishis (sages de l’Inde antique). Elle est considérée comme la plus vieille médecine existante, et continue d’être enseignée sur les cinq continents. L’Inde étant son berceau, l’enseignement que l’on peut tirer de son étude est le plus pur et complet en Inde. Le plus ancien écrit d’enseignement des principes de l’Ayurvéda, Charaka Samhita, fut créé par le sage Charaka au 2e siècle qui s’est inspiré du sage ancien Agnisava. Etymologiquement, Ayu signifie « vie » et Veda se définit par « connaissance » et « science ». Aujourd’hui, l’Ayurvéda se compose de huit principales branches : la médecine générale, la chirurgie, l’otho-rhino-laryngologie, l’ophtalmologie, l’obstétrique, la gynécologie, la pédiatrie et la gériatrie. La chirurgie en étant l’ultime recours; elle fut fondée par le sage Suchruta il y a environ 2000 ans. Il a découvert des techniques que la médecine moderne ne découvrit que bien plus tard (la dissection, les broches osseuses internes, les marmas – points corporels en relation avec les organes vitaux.) Parallèlement, l’acupuncture, science tirée de la médecine chinoise, repose sur les marmas pour trouver les canaux énergétiques passant dans le corps et pour ainsi rétablir un équilibre énergétique favorable à une bonne santé corporelle. L’Ayurvéda considère l’être humain dans sa totalité (corps, esprit, cœur), reposant sur le principe que l’esprit est rattaché au corps de manière indissociable. La maladie est alors le reflet d’un déséquilibre plus profond et plus général que le simple déséquilibre de la santé. Le mental est donc la racine de toute maladie. Les sages indiens appellent ce déséquilibre pragyaparadqui signifie littéralement « l’erreur du mental ». Le mental insuffle le déséquilibre qui se traduira en maladie organique. Le lien mental-corps est profond et puissant. Dans toute maladie, un apprentissage est à prendre en compte. Il est alors avisé de se demander « pourquoi suis-je malade maintenant ? », « qu’est-ce-que cela peut m’apprendre de plus profond ? ».

Traiter une maladie est redonner l’équilibre corps-esprit. Les traitements ayurvédiques ne se contentent pas de faire disparaître les symptômes et douleurs issus de la maladie (comme le fait la médecine moderne allopathique), ils renforcent aussi les défenses immunitaires naturelles de l’organisme et l'aident donc à traiter la maladie de lui-même. Être en bonne santé c’est avoir une santé parfaite due à l’équilibre corps-esprit. Le but de l’Ayurvéda est d’éliminer pragyaparad. L’Ayurvéda est basé sur la philosophie de la création, matérielle comme immatérielle. Cette philosophie est appelée Samkhya (« connaître la vérité »). La création résulte de deux énergies, l’une mâle (Purucha), l’autre femelle (Prakriti). Purucha représente l’absolu, l’existence pure car sans forme, les couleurs et les attributs. Tandis que, Prakriti a une forme, c’est la force créatrice en action, la Nature, la Source de la vie humaine. La médecine traditionnelle chinoise présente les mêmes énergies mais les a appelés Yin et Yang. L’Ayurvéda, sous la forme de médecine générale, se compose de différents soins. Selon les besoins de la personne malade, le praticien ayurvédique dispose de plusieurs champs d’action : massages ayurvédiques, nutrition spécifique, médicaments à base de plantes ayurvédiques, nettoyage interne du corps par ingestion de potions de plantes, méditation de l’esprit pour en libérer le négatif, yoga etc.

2. Préservation de la santé

Orienté vers la prévention de la maladie, l’Ayurvéda fournit des traitements efficaces qui ont pour but d’extirper la maladie de sa source sans les effets secondaires de la médecine allopathique. Cette médecine traditionnelle et naturelle indienne est scientifique car l’expérience a prouvé son efficacité et globale car elle prend en considération aussi bien le corps que l’esprit. Attention toutefois, le terme « scientifique » ici n’a pas la même connotation que ce que l’on pourrait en comprendre lorsque l’on évoque qu’une médecine est scientifique nous pensons bien souvent que la chimie entre en jeu – notamment pour les médicaments allopathiques. Ici, l’Ayurvéda est scientifique uniquement par la preuve de son efficacité à travers les âges et les méthodes.

La science de la nutrition ayurvédique fournit la nourriture convenant le mieux à l’équilibre corps-esprit, selon la constitution, l’âge et les nécessités de la santé. Elle tient compte de l’influence des saisons et des horaires de la journée. Ainsi, quand et comment nous mangeons induit notre état de santé et d’équilibre.

II. Éléments de la Nature Du point de vue de l’Ayurvéda, la vie est un phénomène qui combine la matière, le sens, l’esprit et la conscience.

Les 3 gunas

Les gunas sont les caractères de base de la Nature, ils en sont les attributs premiers. 1er guna : Sattva, qui signifie lumière, perception, intelligence, pureté et harmonie. 2e guna : Rajas, représentant l’énergie, l’activité, le mouvement et la turbulence. 3e guna : Tamas, qui définit l’inertie, l’obscurité, la paresse, l’ignorance et la résistance.

La création entière du monde est le jeu de combinaison des 3 gunas, son évolution (développement progressif) est accomplie par ces derniers. À la base se trouve l’activité. Rajas (rajo-guna) crée l’impulsion, la force nécessaire à transformer une étape en une nouvelle est Sattva (sato-guna), et le Tamas (tamo-guna) freine ou retarde le processus (qui permet de maintenir l’état déjà acquis dans le but d’en faire une base pour l’étape suivante). Les 3 gunas doivent obligatoirement être ensemble. D’après le grand sage Maharishi Mahesh, les 3 gunas sont présents dans chaque objet et dans chaque être vivant. L’un d’eux prédomine, les deux autres sont secondaires. Un individu dominé par Sattva exprime la pureté, la vérité, l’honnêteté, l’humilité, le bien pour tout et tous. S’il est dominé par Rajas il exprimera la puissance, le prestige, l’autorité, le commandement. Tandis qu’une domination par Tamas donnera un individu peureux, servile, ignorant et obscur.

2. Les 5 éléments Les 5 éléments de la Nature sont ainsi connus : Ether Air Feu Eau et Terre. Sattva donne l’Ether (la pureté). Rajas donne le Feu (l’énergie). Tamas donne la Terre (la lourdeur, l’inertie).

3. Les 3 doshas (humeurs)

Les doshas, en Ayurvéda, sont l’expression des 5 éléments, les constituants directs de la matière animée et inanimée. Ils constituent Prakriti dans l’organisme : la combinaison des 5 éléments crée les 3 doshas en différentes proportions dans les tissus de l’organisme. 1er dosha : Vata (Ether + Air) 2e dosha : Pitta (Feu + Eau) 3e dosha : Kapha (Terre + Eau)

۞Vata Vata est sec, froid, léger, rugueux, clair, subtil et mobile. Il est de nature instable et changeante. C’est le dosha le plus puissant parmi les trois, il est la force vitale par excellence. Lorsqu’il est en déséquilibre c’est le plus apte à créer des maladies et il entraîne souvent les autres doshas à se déséquilibrer. Dans son état normal, Vata maintient l’énergie, la volonté, le mouvement, la respiration, il équilibre les tissus, préserve l’acuité des organes et des sens et libère des impulsions. Lorsqu’il s’aggrave, il crée une sécheresse corporelle, une coloration sombre des urines, un individu frileux, des tremblements, des gaz intestinaux, la constipation, un affaiblissement, l’insomnie, l’affaiblissement des sens, une fatigue chronique, de la nervosité, des paroles incohérentes. Le siège de Vata se trouve dans le côlon, les hanches, les cuisses, les oreilles, les os et le sens du toucher.

۞ Pitta Pitta est chaud, léger, fluide, subtil, aigu, doux et clair. Il contrôle la chaleur, la température, les réactions biochimiques. Dans son état normal, il permet une bonne digestion, une température corporelle idéale, il gère la faim et la soif de manière adaptée, gère le sens de la vision, la brillance naturelle de la peau, l’intelligence, la détermination, le courage et la souplesse du corps. Lorsqu’il s’aggrave, Pitta crée une coloration jaunâtre des urines, des selles, des yeux et de la peau, une faim et une soif anormales, des démangeaisons, une sensation de chaleur et une difficulté à s’endormir. Le siège de Pitta se trouve dans l’intestin grêle, l’estomac, la sueur, le sébum, le sang, le plasma et le sens de la vision.

۞ Kapha Kapha est froid, humide, lourd, lent, paresseux, stable, doux, onctueux, dense et sombre. Il maintient la substance, le poids, la cohérence du corps. Dans son état normal, il est responsable de la fermeté et de la stabilité du corps, de l’entretien des fluides organiques et de la lubrification des articulations et il représente l’amour, la paix et le pardon. Lorsqu’il s’aggrave, Kapha crée une diminution de la capacité digestive, une hypersécrétion et une accumulation du mucus, la fatigue, une sensation de lourdeur, la pâleur, il donne un individu frileux, une respiration difficile, des toussotements, une prise de poids importante et un sommeil excessif. Le siège de Kapha se trouve dans les poumons, la gorge, la tête, le pancréas, les côtes, l’estomac, le plasma, la graisse, le nez et la langue.

-- La découverte et l’introduction de l’Ayurvéda s’arrête ici pour cet article. Si cela a éveillé en vous un désir d’apprentissage plus profond et complet de cette médecine naturelle traditionnelle indienne, je vous invite à consulter le livre dont je me suis inspirée pour cet article : L’ayurvéda : médecine traditionnelle de l’Inde – Samir Azar – 2003. Ci-dessous se trouvent quelques liens qui peuvent vous être utiles dans la compréhension et l’expression de pragyaparad.

Vous souhaitant à tous et à toutes, une santé optimale et une conscience avertie. Caroline. L