Dear all,
I want to spend a few relaxing days at a beautiful beach in Sri Lanka next week. What do you recommend for a female solo traveller (interested in beach walks, easy surfing, yoga and quiet/hastle-free)? Midigama or Hiriketiya? Thx

Hello Thorntree Japan experts,

Planning a trip to Hokkaido in the first week of March. We've 4 days to visit Shiretoko / Abashiri / Kushiro / Akan / Shiraoi area (possibly also Daisetsuzan). This isn't very long, so here I am seeking recommendations! Has anyone done this part of Hokkaido in winter?

In 4 days, in snowy winter, we're trying to work out what we can feasibly do/where we can stay. Onsen and a boat for some sea ice would be great. But good places to go for views etc? We probably won't have a car, though would appreciate any advice on driving. I'm a fairly new driver but have done snow in Iceland. We're shifting to Niseko afterwards which means a day on the train crossing the island. (a really long day, but assume through beautiful landscapes.) We're starting to wonder whether we should just visit somewhere nearer Niseko so we don't lose a day to travel - perhaps Daisetsuzan. But! Shiretoko has a bit of magic significance, being basically at the end of the world, and we'd really like to go...

If summer we'd head to Lake Akan and see those magic round mossballs and associated strange mascot. But the centre's shut in winter. Utoro Onsen; watch red-headed cranes near Rausu; a sea ice and eagle spotting boat from Abashiri or somewhere. We want to explore wilderness but given snowy conditions imagine there's probably not that much in the way of hiking other than guided snowshoe tours.

Any and all thoughts appreciated!

Coco
PS - any accommodation tips for Niseko (Hirafu) gratefully received too.

Just a HEADS-UP for those considering a summer visit...

Of course just because it's announced doesn't mean it will happen.... It is Egypt after all.

.....

The minister announced that the prices of tickets for all archeological sites and museums in Luxor, Aswan and Qena will be discounted by 50 percent in July and August, in a move aimed at boosting tourism in the southern governorates during the summer season when traffic dwindles due to scorching hot weather.

The discount will be applied to the five-day Luxor pass which allows tourists to visit all archaeological sites in Luxor. It is available for sale in Cairo and Luxor.

Hi, we have got 2 days left to go to either Popayan or Villa de Leyva on our 3 week trip. We would just miss the market in Silvia. We are travelling with 3 teenagers and will see Cartagena as colonial city at the end of our trip. Which one would you prefer?

Hi friends!
I would like to climb volcanoes in Tanzania in summer 2020.

1. Can you recommend me a company in Arusha?
2. Should I book ahaed or directly in Arusha?
3. Anyboby wants to join me? I am a teacher from Vienna, Austria with holidays in July and August and a lot of volcano climbing experience.

Cheers
Betty

Hello, I want to travel from Lake Como, Italy, to Le Bourg-d'Oisans, France. The most direct route is via car. Has anyone had any experience hiring a car in Italy and dropping it off in France? Any insight is appreciated.

Report: I've been trying to get a Sudan visa at the embassy in Addis Ababa. Went at 8am last Wednesday Feb 5, and the visa office was closed, with a sign posted saying they were out of stickers. Confirmed this by speaking with an official there. He said to return Monday Feb 10. Police chased off Ethiopians waiting for a work visa and beat a few with their sticks. Did not hurt the white people or chase us off.

Returned today Monday Feb 10 at 7:30am, and the visa office was again closed. A guard said it was because everyone was at the African Union meeting. Spoke with a well-dressed official (so assume he is important), and he said to come back in two days (Wed Feb 10). Police chased off the Ethiopians looking for a visa (but thankfully did not see any beatings!!)

Soooo I wouldn't advise attempting a Sudan visa in Addis until at least Wed Feb 10.

We are traveling in Ecuador for 6 weeks. A few years ago I visited Cuenca but had a bad hotel experience due to noise and strong traffic smells. as a result we cut our trip short. I am returning and hoping to get some advice on what area might work for me. We saw lovely rivers but I don't know how to pinpoint an area where it will be quiet. Can any give me suggestions as to specific areas to look for a room or air bnb Thanks

Hello!

Two friends and I were looking into doing the Three Passes Trek arriving in Kathmandu late April (April 26th to 30th) and leaving Kathmandu around May 25th. We're not experienced with high elevations (only day trips to elevations of 3000 m) so we plan on taking it fairly slow taking around 3 weeks to do the entire loop from Lukla and back to Lukla. Would starting the trek at the end of April/early May be and ending late May be too late due to the Monsoon season? I heard it usually starts mid-June but can vary every year. Also, would anyone know what the weather is like during May (especially at night) and what kind of temperatures we should expect to bring sleeping bags/warm jackets for if we stay in the teahouses?

I also heard that the trek from Jiri to Namche Bazaar is worth doing but we're not sure if we would have enough time. Would it take around 5 days? I heard that roads are being built further and now its possible to take a jeep closer to Namche Bazaar. Is it easy to arrange a Jeep and which town would be a better place to start? Or should we just fly into Lukla instead.

Thanks!

I love the series, so much so that I even purchased very dated old titles second-hand when no updated editions were available.
Yesterday I went to the online Shop to see what the latest editions were and was shocked to see that out of ca 25 once published, only 2 titles remain in print: those on Nepal and New Zealand!
Pity for the rest.
Then again, seeing the way Lp is going, it is not really surprising... they've got an increasing list of pictorials instead, including ones like this.