Results for "Val+|+128+>+358"

😏bonjour à tous,

nous allons effectuer un séjour de 3 semaines au Québec et nous avons loué un camping car; nous avons prévu d'effectuer une "boucle":

Montréal, Trois-rivière, le lac Saint-Jean, Sainte-Rose, Tadoussac, ... est-il intéressant de rmonter + au nord?,

Charlevois, Québec,

puis la Gaspésie

et retour par le sud du saint Laurent à Montréal.

L'ordre des étapes est-il pertinant ?

nous sommes preneur de conseils et d'aides.

nous avons une fille de 13 ans qui adore se baigner: Où ?

nous nous interrogeons sur le stationnement du camping car à Montréal ou à Québec: ya t-il des difficultés?

est-il nécessaire de réserver le traversier plusieurs jours à l'avance ( nous souhaiterions ne pas trop planifier au jour le jour )

Je vous remercie pour votre aide

Isabelle

J'ai prochainement l'intentions de partir une dizaine de jours en Suisse.

Démarrant de Genève, je longerai le lac Léman en passant par Lausanne, Vevey et Montreux, avec un petite incursion en région de Gruyère. Ensuite je me dirigerai vers Brig et Zermatt, point final de ce voyage.

Au niveau des transports, j'hésite encore: transports en commun ou location de voiture?

Alors voilà, toutes les infos et "tuyaux" possibles pour me faciliter le voyage seront les bienvenus!

D'avance merçi à toutes et à tous!

Mes plus grandes exaltations, mes plus beaux feeling, les moments où je me sentais le plus moi-même fut en voyage.. libre et près de mon Dieu intérieur et plus en harmonie avec la vie... my god déja 2 ans que je n'ai pas fait de voyage... je me sens vide.. j'avais énormément de choses a régler en moi-même et je le poursuis encore.. mais de retour au Saguenay depuis ces 2 ans.. on dirait que je n'ai plus l'audace de partir seul... mes amis avec qui je suis partie étaient une super belle gang de granole a l'esprit ouvert avec qui je m'entendais parfois bien parfois moins mais ca.. c'était beaucoup a cause d emes bibites pas réglé... Je suis revenu dans le flot de la vie normale et je sens que je ne suis pas le bon chemin.. mais je laisse la vie agir.. elle a surement quelque chose a M, apprendre.

Je viens de trouver un emploi dans mon domaine en massothérapie.. travailleure autonme et je demeure dans un beau petit logement..... Mon reve ultime c'est de pouvoir trouver soi un coloc, un copain une amie n'importe qui que la vie m'enverra pour voyager. Soit échanger mon appart avec une personne d'un autre endroit. TRavailler quelque temps ici et partir. Je suis, je l'avoue, a la recherche d'une personne comme moi car j'avoue j'ai peur.. je me sens si différente ici.. Vous savez ..les régions éloignées.. les esprits sont un peu différents face a la différence et je me sens pas toujours assez forte pour m', épanouir parfaitement dans ce milieu....(on a toute la vie pour s'améliorer).

Ma réfléxion que j'avais face aux voyage c'est que pour ma part.. c'est dans ceux ci que je me suis trouvé et ou je me suis sentie parfaitement libre. merci a la vie de me placer sur mon chemin les opportunités et les bonnes personnes pour continuer la découverte de moi et de la vie par les voyages.

merci de m'avoir lu...

Chers collègues du voyage,

Je part au pérou pour 6 ans et je cherche par tous les moyens à prendre mon labrador avec moi. Je me suis renseigné auprès d'Iberia et de la Varig et ils m'ont fait très peur avec leur prix prohibitif : il faut compter 47 euros par kilo pour qu'il voyage en soute ( trop gros popur la cabine), faites le calcul pour un chien de 35 kilos ça fait du 1700 euros, c'est plus cher que pour une personne😠!!!! N'ayant pas les moyens de payer autant, je souhaiterais donc savoir si quelqu'un pourrait me filer une tuyau pour que ça me coûte moins cher, car sinon je crois que je vais devoir laisser mon chien à la spa...😕

Merci de votre réponse

Je dois choisir entre différents vols cet été sur le Vietnam, dont l'un sur Vietnam Airlines que je ne connais pas ? Qui a déjà voyagé sur cette compagnie et aurait des remarques à faire à son sujet ? Qualité de service ?

Merci

Bonjour je pars pour le El Senador dans quelques jours et j'ai quelques questions Est-ce que les animateurs du kid's club parlent françcais? Car mes enfant ne parlent ni anglais, ni espagnol! Y a-t-il des vestes de sécurité pour les enfants? Y a-t-il des sèche-cheveux dans les chambres?

Merci

Bonjour à tous,

Un conseil de votre part serait vraiment le bienvenu parce que je n'y vois plus très clair !!

Je projette de partir en avril en Asie du Sud-Est principalement : Népal (trek notamment), Tibet, Cambodge, Laos, Vietnam, Birmanie, Thaïlande, Chine.... un beau programme. Seulement voilà, je sais bien que la période n'est pas idéale côté climats.

Que me conseilleriez-vous, sachant que je ne veux pas décaler mon départ ? Regarder dans d'autres directions (Indonésie ? voire carrément Pérou qui m'attire énormément aussi) ? Persévérer quand même sur certaines de ces destinations ?

Autre question, mais plutôt pour vérifier : pas de problème pour une fille seule là-bas ?

Merci d'avance de votre aide... A bientôt

bsr

je part le 02/02/04 pour BGK, je voudrai avoir des infos sur la "grippe du poulet" grippe aviaire, cela me ferai mal au ventre de ne pas y retourner cette année, dommage car le poulet grillé est un regal au palais. Dans l'attente de vous lire, bonne route.. plage 94.

Mon épouse et moi prévoyons aller en France en juillet 2004. Nous voulons visiter le sud de la France, la Provence, et notre quatrième semaine voulons rester à Paris. je me demandais s'il est préférable pour visiter de louer une auto ou utiliser les transports public?

Hello à tous!

Je n'arrive pas à me décider pour une île en Thaïlande, les avis que je lis sur le sujet sont par trop contradictoires... Je cherche une île qui ne soit pas over-touristique (style Phuket ou Pattaya) mais qui ne soit pas non plus désertique (1 resto et 2 macaques). N'étant pas fan de plongée, la beauté des fonds marins m'importe peu, je recherche plutôt la beauté en surface ainsi que la possibilité de me promener afin d'entrecouper le "farniente". Le prix de l'hébergement importe peu, du moment que ça ne dépasse pas les 1500 bahts par nuit...

Il paraît qu'il y a moyen de trouver des coins pas trop bétonnés sur Ko Samet ou Samui, mais les Phi Phi ont l'air tellement belles... Et pourquoi pas Koh Lanta, finalement, quoiqu'on dise beaucoup de bien de Ko Chang! Donc, voilà, je ne sais pas du tout ou aller, en gros... :D

Des idées?

Mitsu :D

Au départ de NICE, je ne veux plus passer par PARIS pour voyager. Je sais qu'il est possible de passer par DUBAI pour se rendre à l'Ile MAURICE. Est-ce que quelqu'un peut me renseigner sur cet itinéraire et éventuellement me communiquer des adresses d'hôtels (pas trop chics) pour une nuit ou deux à DUBAI ?

bonjour, 🙂 nous envisageons un séjour au Québec l'été prochain, nous serons 6 adultes; il y a une telle foule d'infos sur les sites ou les livres que nous consultons qu'il est bien difficile de se décider ! nous envisageons de louer une voiture bien sûr mais je voudrais savoir s'il est préférable de se déplacer quotidiennement ou si l'on peut rester qq jours à un même endroit et sillonner alentour ; les b&b me semblent sympas mais y a-t'il comme aux USA des motels partout ? (nous pensons rester 3 ou 4 semaines). quelqu'un peut-il me donner des infos sur un expérience vécue à peu près identique ? ah oui, une info importante : nous n'avons pas l'intention de dépenser un fric fou ! merci beaucoup pour vos réponses mima

J'aimerai partir à Railey en Thailande au mois de juillet. On me l'a décrit comme le paradis sur terre. Mais je voudrais savoir si c'est un bon endroit pour partir avec deux enfants de 3 ans et demi et 2 ans. Au point de vue paludisme, pas de problème dans cette région de la Thailande. Mais y a t'il une assistance médicale en cas de problème, d'accident même bénin. Merci de me faire part de votre expérience.

Bonjour à tous !

Est-ce qu'il y a quelqu'un parmi vous qui connaitrait le processus pour un mariage à Cuba...la liste des papiers nécessaires, les démarches à faire ici et là bas, les frais etc...

Ma soeur veut se marier à Santa Maria Del Mar et les informations qu'elle a reçu du Consula sont assez vagues et diffèrent d'une personne à l'autre. (frais, papiers et démarches)

J'apprécierais grandement votre aide et de bons renseignements précis nous aideraient grandement.

Merci à l'avance de prendre le temps de me répondre.

Willie 🙂

Salut !

Je suis nouvelle ici (vote forum m'a été recommandé chaudement par une copine) et je compte partir du 4 au 11 janvier à Puerto Plata en République. Je sais qu'il s'agit probablement de la destination la plus "cheap" en République, mais bon...je suis étudiante et j'ai un budget relativement restreint !! De toute manière, je ne suis jamais allée dans le Sud de toute ma vie, donc je risque d'être émerveillée par ce que je verrai peu importe la ville !!

J'ai obtenu un forfait à 1129$ tout compris pour 1 semaine, occupation double dans un hôtel 3étoiles. Départ de Montréal. Je suis de Québec au Canada (aussi bien le préciser car j'ai pu constater qu'il y avait des gens de l'Europe!). Si ma mémoire est bonne, je crois que notre hôtel s'appelle le Sunbeach ?! (je ne suis vraiment pas convaincue et je n'ai pas la brochure sur la main malheureusement).

Donc voilà, j'aimerais connaître le type d'activités que je peux faire là-bas, les excursions, quoi faire et surtout quoi ne pas faire, le type de nourriture (quoi manger et quoi ne pas manger, je suis fragile de l'estomac et je n'ai pas envie d'être malade durant mon voyage)...!! Est-ce que je peux amener ma caméra numérique sans risquer de me la faire voler ?? Y a-t-il des coffrets de sécurité ? Sont-ils réellement sécuritaire ? Y a-t-il des risques que je me fasse voler des vêtements ?? Où dois-je "cacher" mon passeport à mon arrivée alors ?

Alors oui j'ai beaucoup de question, car ça m'énerve un peu tout ça !! :) J'attends vos réponses !

Merci beaucoup !

Vall

Bonjour à tous, je m'appelle nicolas, et je prépare 1 séjour prochain au QUEBEC, vers mars 2004. Merci de me donner des infos pratiques logements, loc voiture, et circuits à ne pas manquer. merci d'avance

Bonjour eclairer ma lanterne s.v.p je voudrais avoir des info sur le Venezuela ou aller quel hotel et surtout ca vaut tu vraiment la peine apres avoir ete en republique a Punta Cana ?

Merci Jessy

Hello everyone on this forum! I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it? Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples: - - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"! - - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country??? - - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc. Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo. I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.

Day 1 – February 14

We all have two lives. And the second one kicks off the day you realize you only have one, with the determination to spend the time you have left on what truly adds sparkle to your life, Kevin! I like to elegantly introduce a trip with a philosophical quote. First, it gives you the illusion that I’m some kind of deep thinker, and second, it lets me fill up the first few lines of my blank page when I don’t know how to tell you I’m diving back into what really lights up my life: another adventure beyond the horizon! And nearly every other year, like a toxic relationship, my horizon tends to take shape in Uncle Sam’s backyard. And this, despite his cousin Donald calling the shots. Speaking of which, it was partly that impulsive guy who pushed us to be just as impulsive and snag our four flight tickets at a ridiculously low price—a direct result of foreign tourism taking a hit from BetaMax’s repeated antics... Four tickets? Who are the other lucky ones? In this case, our lucky ones are actually lucky ladies: My Flo, always up for exploring the world with me on foot, camelback, or scooter, is obviously in on the fun. The other two seats went to our daughters, Sasha and Luna, both thrilled to be part of this new American adventure...

But what’s the American West like in February?... A gamble. Let’s call it Russian roulette since we’re not landing during peak weather season. That’s why we encouraged our transportation and accommodation to get cozy and produce a little camper van, so we can stay ultra-flexible in the face of any weather tantrums. We’ll be roaming in Kara the van with the motto "Follow the sun!" Bad weather? We bolt. Snow? We speed up. Sunny? We act like it was the plan all along and soak it up.

"Okay, but why keep coming back to the same corner of the globe? After ten American adventures, you must be tired of seeing the same things, right?" But I’m not crazy, you know!... The American West is like making love to your gorgeous wife over and over, always enjoying it just as much. And contrary to what you might think, the American West isn’t just the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Las Vegas, and Bryce Canyon. Proof is, after ten trips to the U.S., my retinas are still untouched by three-quarters of the places I scribbled on a napkin for this adventure... Oh, and add to that my wife, who I’ve easily converted to my religion, and boom... relapse is even easier! Because yes, we’ve landed in Los Angeles after a sunny flight over Greenland, still under Danish flag for now. And we’re already heading east through the XXL traffic of L.A.’s eight-lane highways, eager to dive into our first discoveries. But first, night is taking over the sky, and second, we’ve been officially awake for 24 hours, so I suggest wrapping up this intro. I’ll tell you more tomorrow morning. Sound good?

Hi there,

I’ve been looking for a destination for a 2-week trip early next spring, and Cape Verde has been growing on me. (The flight isn’t too long, the temperatures are more than pleasant, and it’s an unknown country for me.)

The thing is, Cape Verde is pretty complicated when it comes to inter-island transfers, and I don’t want to spend my time in airports or on ferries—especially since those transfers aren’t exactly known for their reliability...

So, I’d like to limit internal flights to just 2, meaning the island I arrive on plus one other.

I’ve ruled out the all-inclusive islands: Sal and Boa Vista.

I’m torn between combining Santo Antão + São Vicente or Fogo + Santiago.

The goal of the trip is to see beautiful landscapes, go on day hikes (nothing multi-day), swim a little—though I prefer quiet spots—and enjoy 1 or 2 days in a city, but not much more than that!

In your opinion, which option would be the best, and why?

Thanks! :)

Hi there, We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?

A few details: We arrive in early August and leave in early September. We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery! We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat? Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!

Thanks! :-)

For those who want to chat quietly by the riverbanks, this is the place!

I'm starting a new travel journal in Italy. It's about a month-long trip (from September 3, 2025, to October 4, 2025), or rather a part of it. This section matches the title: an opera festival in Verona (one evening) and the Dolomites in the Veneto region. I'm posting the part of the trip I think will interest French-speaking readers the most (since this is where I saw the most French travelers). Here’s a quick summary: - Trip in September 2025 - Solo travel with camping (caravan) - Small geographic area: besides Verona, the surroundings of the Marmolada massif and Cortina d'Ampezzo. - Main but not exclusive activity: hiking.

Since I have limited internet access where I am now, I’ll be writing slowly. Here we go!

Day 1: Thursday, September 4, 2025

I arrived in Veneto under the sun and with warm weather. I drove to Verona and tried to find a spot at the campsite (Verona Village) located south of the city. Unfortunately, it was full. Booking on the website was mandatory, but when I tried to reserve a few days ago, the site never moved from the "reservation" step to the "payment" step (I don’t know why—it’s always like that in these cases). I found another solution over the phone; the drive from southern Verona to the northeast was a bit long, but I finally settled at the "Oro Verde" campsite. It’s an "agricampeggio" (farm camping or rural campsite) on the outskirts of the city, and its name (green gold) suggests they produce olives there. Since it wasn’t late, I biked to the Adige River, following the recommended route into the city.

Hi there,

I’ll be traveling to Tuscany with my family (my wife and two kids, aged 6 and 8) from April 26 to May 5. Here’s a rough draft of our potential itinerary—I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions so I can tweak and improve it. We haven’t finalized our accommodations yet, but they’ll likely be near Florence (2 nights), Lucca (2 nights), Monteriggioni (2 nights), Pienza, Montalcino, and Greve in Chianti.

- April 26: o Arrival in Florence around 12:00 PM - April 27: o Florence - April 28: o Florence – Pistoia – Lucca - April 29: o Lucca – Pisa – Lucca - April 30: o Lucca – Volterra – San Gimignano – Monteriggioni - May 1: o Monteriggioni – Siena – Monteriggioni - May 2: o Monteriggioni – Abbey of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto – Baccoleno – Castelmuzio – Chapel of Madonna di Vitaleta (San Quirico d’Orcia) – Pienza - May 3: o Pienza – Montepulciano – Montichiello – Abbey of Sant’Antimo – Bagno Vignoni Thermal Baths – Montalcino - May 4: o Montalcino – Castellina in Chianti – Radda in Chianti – Badia a Coltibuono – Volpaia – Montefioralle – Greve in Chianti - May 5: o Greve in Chianti – Florence airport

Thanks for any insights! 😉

Hi, We’re heading to Cape Verde in January. We’re scheduled to arrive in Praia on a Saturday around 11 AM. I read somewhere that the exchange rate for Euros to Escudos is the same everywhere—110 escudos for 1 euro. Can anyone confirm this? If that’s the case, I assume there’s a currency exchange desk at the airport, and the rate isn’t too bad? So, it’s better to exchange at the airport, right? What do you think? I don’t want to use ATMs. Otherwise, are banks in town open on Saturdays? I read they close by 3 PM?

Prologue

This journal recounts a trip to Rajasthan that’s already over a year old and that I’ve only now found the chance to write about. The summer of 2024 marked my return to India—my tenth trip—after six long years away since my last solo wanderings in Tamil Nadu in 2018 (the journal of which is published on this site). That absence was partly (but not only) due to the long COVID and post-COVID period, which saw a complete halt and then a major slowdown in global tourism. To top it off, Voyage Forum announced its closure in an end-of-the-world atmosphere. A sad time for our favorite social activity…

A few weeks after returning from Rajasthan, I tried to motivate myself to start writing a journal to publish on a forum claiming to be VF’s successor, which I’d eventually signed up for out of desperation. But I kept hesitating and putting the project off because, for one, I no longer have the time I used to. For another, the vibe wasn’t really taking off on that forum—it was overrun with ads and not very active, contrary to what its host’s name suggested. Despite its good intentions and commendable role as a stopgap, it also turned out to be very impractical to use, especially when you don’t have much time like me. I’ll admit I’d occasionally check back on VF to see if anything was happening. But all the discussions remained frozen in time, stuck in that fateful year, 2020. Then, rumors swirled online about shady reasons behind its closure, leaving little room for hope.

And then, one fine morning, I got a message at work from Marien informing me that VF had reopened. What a huge surprise! Even though the forum’s “end” had played out in a somewhat apocalyptic atmosphere, the memories of passionate and heated discussions, the frank debates, and the useful exchanges that made this site a traveler’s goldmine and a unique hub of conviviality all came rushing back to me like a breath of fresh air. I finally saw a sign and tried to motivate myself to find the time to publish the journal of this tenth trip to India and fifth to Rajasthan. But in the end, I got bogged down in professional and family obligations and never managed to find the time to get started. That’s now fixed, though, because I had two reasons for wanting to do it: I find that looking back on a trip to tell others about it is a highly beneficial introspective exercise. Also, I thought this journal could be useful to other travelers on a few points.

Because, “do we really need yet another journal about Rajasthan?” you might rightly ask! Especially in a time when so many journals about the “Land of Kings” have been published since VF’s return, not to mention the countless stories you can already find online about this region, one of India’s most touristy. And I’d add, why go back to Rajasthan for a fifth time, where I’ve already dragged my feet more than enough—through its forts, deserts, temples, cities, villages, bumpy roads, train stations, tasty street food stalls, cheap guesthouses, and more? Where some might see just another overhyped tourist destination full of the same old *Arabian Nights* clichés, worn to a thread, that I mentioned earlier, when there’s so much else to see in India? Well, first because it’s a magnificent country I never tire of, where I started an academic study and made so many connections. It’s also packed with places where you won’t find a single tourist (right, Marie-Jo?), even in the heart of well-trodden paths and classic itineraries. And most importantly, as I said earlier, things have changed in recent years. First, after six years without traveling far, the urge to go back to India was getting stronger. But this time, no more solo trips (often) or duo adventures (sometimes)—now it’s a team of four that has to come along! And even if you can argue with that, what better place than Rajasthan to introduce India to people who’ve never seen it? To kids you want to amaze? Plus, traveling with your new little family to your favorite country isn’t the same as going solo in often spartan conditions that only affect you. It’s a different challenge, but ultimately probably much harder. So, is it really reasonable to take two kids to India, including a two-year-old baby? That’s one of the main goals of this journal (but not the only one)—to try to answer that question.

As you can tell, it’s not so much the destination but the slightly unusual setup of this trip that, in my opinion, will make this journal interesting. Despite my experience and expertise (yes, I dare say it) in India, there were plenty of questions before we finalized the plan and said, “Alright, let’s go!” The questions were flying for us parents. Is it wise to travel to India with a two-year-old? What would we do (it happened) if the kids got very sick? Would they be able to handle a road trip on Rajasthan’s bumpy, dusty roads using public transport? Could they handle the shock of such a different world—the dirt, poverty, pollution, noise (…and the smell, as they say), the spicy food, monkeys, mosquitoes, snakes, tigers, leopards, and so on? In short, all the clichés that I usually joke about suddenly became potential realities. Another concern: as a mixed Franco-African family (not me, but my partner and her oldest), wouldn’t we risk not always being well received, given what you sometimes hear about that in India? How would Indians react to seeing a mixed-race family, the ultimate taboo in a country of purity and social segregation, which would undoubtedly raise many questions for them? Of course, not everything went as expected… Because, as you know, with India—and what makes it charming for some—there are always complications: sometimes where you don’t expect them… and sometimes where you do. I’ll go into detail about that in the journal to come (not right away) and in the final review (even later). These experiences could be useful to travelers who find themselves in similar situations and have the same questions we did before embarking on such a journey. And maybe it’ll spark the curiosity of those who aren’t concerned and will read yet another Rajasthan journal, but with its own unique twists.

Despite my unchanged constraints, which mean I have little time to write this, I don’t want to rush the story, so I’ll take my time. There will probably be lulls. I hope that won’t stop people from coming to react, debate, share their impressions, or ask for information.

...

After Southern Tanzania, I’m sharing a travel story about the Cantal region with you...

...

For us, at the start of 2025, Le CANTAL was a true “Terra Incognita”!!

After seeing some tempting TV reports, we decided to fill this gap—especially in terms of landscapes. On the same trip, we’ll also head to the Arcachon Basin, the International Seaplane Gathering in Biscarrosse, and my native Landes region...

So, on May 20th, we left Marseille in the rain and thunder, heading toward Nîmes, Saint-Hippolyte, Mont Aigoual, Florac, and stopping in Marvejols to give my arthritic back a break for the night.





The next morning, we decided to revisit the Parc aux Loups du Gévaudan (Europe’s largest wolf park). As someone used to photo safaris in the wilds of East Africa, I’m not a fan of zoos at all—but I *do* have a deep admiration for wolves!!



Since it’s pretty unlikely I’ll ever see one in the wild, I’ll settle for this Parc aux Loups in Marvejols. This will be our third visit to this incredible gathering of these fascinating canines.

Some are still finishing their chilly night...





...

I'm starting my first travel journal since VF reopened!

This will mostly be to share my impressions and some photos, with a few days' delay, but I'm starting this journal while I'm still here.

First, I'd like to thank those who helped me prepare for this trip.

I was able to organize this stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world thanks to the home-exchange principle. Not necessarily a direct swap, but through a points system, which is more practical for choosing where you want to go without it having to be a reciprocal exchange.

For this trip, there will already be two different accommodations. We'll see how it goes after that.

The first place is near Yverdon-les-Bains, close to Lake Neuchâtel.

So, we're going to explore this area!

We arrived under capricious weather that won’t leave us for the next few days!

We had dinner at a pizzeria recommended by *Le Routard* in Yverdon, then took a little nighttime stroll through the town center before heading inland to settle into our accommodation.

We discovered a very large, quiet house—and especially the cat that stayed behind! Funny for a couple of mice! He’ll be sleeping with us 😹

Hi everyone!

Let me introduce us quickly—I’m Matteo (21, originally from Paris, but I’ve been living near the Pyrenees and the Alps for the past 3 years), and my girlfriend Justine (21, grew up in the Alps). We’re starting to get really fed up with being cooped up and sitting in chairs (yep, we’re studying physics and geography at the École Normale Supérieure in Lyon). So, we’re taking a gap year to make a slightly crazy project happen: hitting the road, meeting people, and most importantly—climbing, skiing, and exploring the mountains!

We’ve always been into the mountains: •🧗‍♂️ 6c-7a/b sport climbing, 6b trad •❄️ Skiing and ice climbing (grade 4/5) •🏔️ Alpine climbing in the Alps (Chamonix, Écrins…) and the Pyrenees—I’m training to become a High Mountain Guide

Our project in a nutshell: •Buying a van (or 4x4) converted in British Columbia around September/October 2025. Ideally, we’d go straight to the US to buy the vehicle there (but reselling might be easier if we buy in Canada). •Heading down to the US to climb at legendary spots like Yosemite, Tuolumne (if it’s too hot), Indian Creek, Moab, and Joshua Tree. •Heading back up to the Canadian Rockies around December for skiing, ice climbing, and winter alpine climbing (might be easier to buy skis there). •Selling the vehicle in Canada at the end of the trip (we need to be back in France by early March 2026 because Justine is preparing for the AMM). I’ve already been to the Rockies, but I want to go back in winter for ice climbing. It’ll probably be too cold to sleep in the van, so we’re hoping to find a small cabin, lodge, or chalet (ideally alone or shared to cut costs). Otherwise, we could work for a month or two at a hostel or something to get free accommodation and earn money to rent a place another month just for climbing. •Visa-wise: we’re hoping to get our Working Holiday Visa (WHV) (still waiting for a response) so we can work there during the trip. For the US, we’ll stay as tourists (no work visa—too complicated and expensive). Any feedback on the WHV or differences from a regular work visa would be great. •With our savings (we’re working in mountain huts this summer), we should be able to buy the van. For daily expenses, I’m hoping to tutor online (math and physics). We live pretty simply and resourcefully: we plan to sleep mostly in the van, cook for ourselves, wash in rivers, and make the most of free nature spots. We’re super motivated, pretty well-rounded when it comes to mountain sports, and we’re not afraid to live simply for a year (we’ve got other projects too: biking to Greece with our climbing gear, a trip to Patagonia for alpine climbing).

Questions and advice: Of course, a road trip like this raises a lot of practical questions. This is our first time embarking on an adventure of this scale, so we’d love to hear your experiences and tips. If any of you have done a long van trip in North America or a WHV in Canada, your insights would be incredibly helpful! Here are some of the questions we’ve got: How do we buy (and later sell) a converted van in British Columbia? We’ll probably land in Vancouver. Is it better to look for a vehicle on online classifieds, Facebook groups, or used car dealerships? Are there any pitfalls to avoid when buying? And for selling it a year later, any tips to make it go smoothly (best time to sell, paperwork, etc.)? What budget should we plan for van life in North America and Canada? If you’ve got any info or feedback on the cost of living in a van in Canada/the US, we’d love to hear it. We’re thinking about expenses like gas (a big one, I imagine!), van maintenance, car insurance, possible tolls, campgrounds or paid spots, etc. We’d like to get an idea of a daily or monthly budget so we’re not too tight. In France, we never stay at campgrounds—we prefer being alone or going where we want. Is that possible in the US and Canada? Any tips for saving money (free camping spots, useful apps…) would be great! Visas, borders, and paperwork: We’re hoping to get a WHV for Canada, but in the US, we’ll be on a tourist visa (90 days max with ESTA, I think). Has anyone combined a WHV in Canada with a trip to the US on the same trip? Anything we should know about crossing the border in a van (insurance, customs, how long we’re allowed in the US, etc.)? We want to avoid any administrative hassles, so any advice on this would be super helpful. Route and seasonality for climbing and skiing: We’re thinking of starting climbing in the US around fall 2025 (probably September/October). Is that the right season for Yosemite, Indian Creek, and Moab? Any must-see spots along the way? For winter, we’re aiming for December to March in the Canadian Rockies (Banff, Jasper, Golden…) for skiing and ice climbing. Any tips on ice climbs or major backcountry skiing spots? We’ve got all our climbing, skiing, and alpine gear—should we bring it all or buy some stuff there? Is the “Wilderness Season Pass” for winter in the Rockies worth it? We came across this pass that offers 7 months of unlimited nights in HI mountain hostels in the Rockies. Has anyone here tried it? Are the dorms usually crowded? Working on the road: To fund the trip, we’re planning to work a bit along the way. Any tips for finding work in Canada while traveling (peak seasons at ski resorts, WWOOFing, odd jobs…)? That’s it for our (many) questions 😅! If you’ve done a similar trip—or even just parts of it (van life, climbing tour, winter in Canada…)—we’d love to hear your experiences, or even if you’re in the area and want to share a few days of climbing. All your contacts, advice, and tips will be a huge help.

Thanks in advance! We can’t wait to read your replies and refine our project with your help.

Matteo & Justine

PS: I’m looking for a summer job from August to September, preferably in a mountain hut (extra help, replacements, etc.). If you’ve got any contacts, don’t hesitate! I’ve also posted on another forum about this with my CV and cover letter (DEMANDE dxsdxsdsxdsx - Forum de www.refuges.info).

Introduction

We arrived on the island of Madeira (Portugal) at the beginning of May 2023 and stayed for 5 weeks.

This island is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, its famous hikes through lush landscapes, and its seaside resorts. It offers an unforgettable experience for nature lovers.

In this travel journal, you’ll find a list of the many activities we did during our stay to explore the different attractions of this magnificent island.

These attractions are categorized to make it easier to search based on your interests, if needed.

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

To jump to a specific post, here are the appropriate links:

HIKES:

Calheta - PR19 Caminho Real do Paúl do Mar Santana - Ribeiro Frio - PR11 Vereda dos Balcões Sao Vicente - Gingas - PR16 Levada Fajã do Rodrigues Rabaçal - PR6.1 Levada do Risco & PR6 Levada das 25 fontes Rabaçal - PR6.2 Levada do Alecrim & PR6.3 Vereda da Lagoa do Vento Caniçal - PR8 Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço São Jorge - PR18 Levada do Rei Ponta do Sol - PR7 modified - Levada Nova & Levada do Moinho Machico - PR5 Vereda das Funduras Funchal - PR1 Vereda do Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo) Funchal - PR1 Vereda do Areeiro (Pico Ruivo to Pico do Areeiro) Funchal - PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo (outbound) Funchal - PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo (return) Porto Moniz - Fanal Forest Porto Moniz - PR14 Levada dos Cedros Ribeira Brava - PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (Encumeada) Ribeira Brava - PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (Lombo do Mouro) Ribeira Brava - PR17 Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (Bica da Cana) Santana - PR9 Levada do Caldeirão Verde Lamaceiros - Levada Ribeira da Janela Ribeiro Frio - PR10 Levada do Furado Tabua - Levada da Nova (Eastern Sector) Tabua - Levada da Nova (Western Sector) Boa Morte - Levada do Norte Verada da Levada do Facho - Levada do Norte (South) Vale Paraiso - Levada da Serra do Faial Porto Moniz - PR13 Vereda do Fanal Referta - Levada do Castelejo Porto da Cruz - Levada do Castelejo Estanquinhos - Pico Ruivo do Paul da Serra Boaventura - Levada de Cima & Levada da Acha Grande

SEASIDE RESORTS & NATURAL POOLS:

Natural pools of Seixal Seixal Naval Club Seaside Resort - Natural pool Natural pools of Porto Moniz Funchal - Lido Seaside Resort Santana - Foz da Ribeira do Faial Seaside Resort Câmara de Lobos - Salinas Seaside Resort Porto Moniz - Aquário/Cachalote Natural Pools Funchal - Doca do Cavacas Seaside Resort Funchal - Ponta Gorda Seaside Resort Caniço - Roca Mar Hotel Seaside Resort Caniço - Lido Galoma Seaside Resort Calhau de São Jorge Seaside Resort Ribeira Brava Seaside Resort

BEACHES:

São Jorge Beach Calheta Beach Seixal - Laje Beach (Jamaica) Porto de Seixal Beach Caniço - Reis Magos Beach Machico - Machico Beach (Banda d'Além) Machico - São Roque Beach Machico - Ribeira Natal Beach Caniçal - Prainha Beach Porto da Cruz - Alagoa Beach

TOWNS:

Stroll through the town of Ponta do Sol Stroll through the town of Câmara de Lobos Stroll through the town of Ribeira Brava Stroll through the town of Funchal Funchal - Wicker toboggan ride Stroll through the town of Machico Stroll through the town of Santana Stroll through the town of São Vicente São Vicente Caves Park

VIEWPOINTS:

Calheta Region Ponta do Sol Region Ribeira Brava Region Câmara de Lobos Region Funchal Region Santa Cruz Region Porto Moniz Region São Vicente Region Santana Region Machico Region On the road in Madeira

WATERFALLS ALONG THE WAY

Ponta do Sol - Anjos Waterfall Sao Vicente - Água d'Alto Waterfall Seixal - Córrego da Furna Waterfall