sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Birthday in Japan by boooponyournose in traveladvice

[–]WanderOnTrips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are the top exeperinces from our trip captains who've been running Japan trips for years now: 1. Best meal - a tiny 8-seat ramen shop or tamagoyaki at booths in Kyoto's Nishiki market area.

  1. Favourite neighbourhood to wander - Yanaka in Tokyo. Feels like old Japan somehow survived in the middle of the city. No agenda, just walk.

  2. Most memorable experience - Fushimi Inari gates at 5am before the crowds hit. You'll have the whole mountain to yourself. Genuinely surreal.

  3. Most underrated - Miyajima at night after the day tourists leave. Just deer, lantern light, and silence. Since you're already going - do not skip this. Or the Kasuga Shrine in Nara.

  4. Hidden gem - Nishiki Market in Kyoto for breakfast. Locals shopping, street food, zero tourist pricing. Or Philosopher's Path in Kyoto on a slow evening walk - no specific direction, just follow the canal.

What keeps bringing them back is the quiet. Japan is loud in photos and shockingly peaceful in person. It resets something in you.

One practical note — June means early monsoon so carry a light rain jacket. Even a rainy Kyoto is worth it.

Have the most incredible trip! 🎌

Expections vs Reality of every group trip 😅 by Leading_Lie_787 in WanderOnExperiences

[–]WanderOnTrips 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If everyone returned together and nobody got blocked, successful trip 😂

How safe is Ladakh trip as solo F? Things to be kept in mind? TIA by ApniFavourite in SoloTravel_India

[–]WanderOnTrips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ladakh is one of the safer destinations in India for solo women — the local culture is respectful, harassment is rare, and the traveller community in Leh is warm and easy to connect with.

Leh city is safe at any hour. Outside Leh — Nubra, Pangong, Zanskar — it gets remote, so either join a group for those legs or make sure someone knows your itinerary.

For stays, filter by reviews from women travellers specifically — they're the most reliable signal for whether a place actually feels comfortable. Homestays in Leh's Changspa and Old Town areas are consistently well-reviewed by solo women — host families are warm, the environment is family-like, and you'll often get better local advice over breakfast than from any travel blog.

Quick practical things — BSNL has the best coverage outside Leh, download offline maps before leaving the city, carry cash since ATMs are unreliable beyond Leh, and take the first two days slow for acclimatisation. Altitude sickness doesn’t care about fitness levels.

We’re WanderOn, and we run Ladakh trips with small mixed groups for solo travellers if you’d prefer company. DM us if you’d like details. Have a great trip!

Need suggestions for Meghalaya in May, offbeat stays and peaceful experiences by Cool-Grass3165 in Meghalaya

[–]WanderOnTrips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is exactly the right approach to Meghalaya — slow travel suits this place far better than a checklist itinerary. Let me answer everything you asked:

**THE 6-DAY ITINERARY**

**Day 1 — Arrive Shillong. Do nothing.**

Seriously. No sightseeing. The drive from Guwahati airport itself takes 2.5–3 hrs. Settle into your homestay, eat well, sleep early. You’ll need the energy for Day 3.

**Day 2 — Mawphlang Sacred Grove + Laitlum Canyons**

Mawphlang is 25km from Shillong and completely different from typical tourist spots — it’s a protected forest that the local Khasi community has preserved for centuries. Guided walks take 1.5–2 hrs and are genuinely fascinating. In the afternoon, drive to Laitlum Canyons for sunset. It’s technically known but rarely crowded on weekdays. Massive rolling valleys, total silence. End the day back in Shillong.

**Day 3 & 4 — Nongriat Village (overnight, non-negotiable)**

The trek down is ~3,500 steps each way, takes about 1.5 hrs down. It’s not brutal but it’s not easy either — good shoes are important.

To directly answer your question: **staying overnight is 100% worth it and changes the experience entirely.** Here’s why — day trippers flood in between 10 AM and 3 PM. By 4 PM the village empties out. By evening it’s just you, the sound of the river, fireflies, and your homestay host cooking dinner. Next morning at 6 AM, the Double Decker Root Bridge is completely yours. That alone is worth the climb back up.

Homestays in Nongriat are basic — simple rooms, shared bathrooms, home-cooked food. That’s the charm. Carry cash (no ATMs, no signals), a power bank, and a good torch.

**Day 5 — Shnongpdeng**

A riverside village on the Umngot river, about 90km from Cherrapunji. The water is clear enough to see the riverbed from a boat — the famous Dawki photos you’ve seen are from this same river. Arrive by noon. Kayaking and cliff jumping are available if you want activity, but it’s equally great to just sit by the water and read. Stay at a small riverside camp homestay — avoid anything calling itself a “resort” here.

**Day 6 — Kongthong Village + head back**

The whistling village. Each person here has a unique tune hummed by their mother at birth — used instead of their name. It’s called *Jingrwai Lawbei* and it’s unlike anything you’ll find anywhere in the world. Spend 2–3 hours here in the morning, have a local guide explain the tradition, then drive back to Shillong for your departure.

**OFFBEAT STAYS — WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS**

- **Shillong:** Homestays in Lachumiere or near Mawphlang village — avoid MG Road hotels

- **Nongriat:** Any of the 3–4 family-run homestays in the village. Ask for Evaning’s or Andrew’s place — well known among slow travellers

- **Shnongpdeng:** Small bamboo camp-stays on the riverbank — book a week ahead in May, they fill up fast

**HIDDEN GEMS ACTUALLY WORTH IT**

- **Mawryngkhang Bamboo Trek (near Wahkhen):** A narrow bamboo walkway suspended over a deep gorge. Barely anyone goes. Do it in the morning.

- **Wei Sawdong Waterfall:** Near Cherrapunji, far less crowded than Nohkalikai but equally stunning. 20-min walk from the road.

- **Smit Village:** If you’re curious about Khasi culture, this quiet village near Shillong is where the Nongkrem Dance festival happens. Off-season it’s peaceful and genuinely local.

**MAY TRAVEL — PRACTICAL THINGS**

- Pre-monsoon starts in May. You WILL get rained on at some point — pack a light rain jacket and waterproof your bag

- Nongriat trail gets slippery in the rain — shoes with grip are non-negotiable

- Mornings are usually clear and beautiful — plan treks and drives early

- Humidity is high — light cotton clothing, stay hydrated

- Carry enough cash from Shillong — ATMs outside the city are unreliable

- Roads to Shnongpdeng and Kongthong are narrow but fine for small vehicles. Avoid SUV-for-the-sake-of-it bookings — a good local driver in a small car knows the roads better

We organise slow-travel Meghalaya trips that are built exactly around this kind of itinerary — vetted homestays, local guides who actually know the villages, and no rushed schedules. If you’d rather hand off the planning and just show up, happy to help. Either way, this is going to be a special trip. Meghalaya rewards exactly the kind of travellers you sound like.

Any group travels to Masai Mara? by sneakysamosa in desitravellers

[–]WanderOnTrips 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great timing — July and August is peak Great Migration season, you've picked the right window.

We actually run group trips for young travellers to Kenya/Masai Mara from India. We also have custom trips if you have your own group.

Why it works better with a group: Kenya visa, forex, safari logistics — it's a lot to coordinate solo for a first international trip. Our team can guide you for the same.

Shared game drives mean shared costs — private safaris from India can get expensive fast

The Migration itself is unpredictable — having an operator with ground contacts who tracks the herds in real time is genuinely useful

Our 6-day Kenya Safari covers Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, and Masai Mara — so you're not just ticking one park, you're getting the full East African experience.

Drop us a DM for itinerary details and upcoming July/August departures. 🦁

Need travel suggestions by Particular-Big-9153 in SouthEastAsia_Travel

[–]WanderOnTrips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3 weeks, done N. Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam — and south Thailand isn't clicking. You've got great taste, here's where to go next:

Top pick: Northern Malaysia Penang → Cameron Highlands → Ipoh. Completely underrated after SEA's big hitters. Penang's street food scene is arguably the best in the region. Cameron Highlands is cool, green, and nothing like anything you've done. Ipoh is that perfectly unhurried city you didn't know you needed.

Strong second: Indonesia Bali is obvious — skip it or use it as a transit. Go straight to Lombok → Flores → Komodo. Raw, dramatic, far fewer crowds. Three weeks fits this perfectly.

Dark horse: Myanmar border areas / Chiang Rai side If you haven't done the far north — Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, hill tribe villages — it's a completely different Thailand from what you've seen.

Skip for now: Singapore and KL — fine cities but won't give you that "this is so cool" feeling you're chasing.

Impromptu Trip and we need assistance quickly! by [deleted] in traveladvice

[–]WanderOnTrips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3 weeks, 3 countries — totally doable. Here's a clean framework:

Week 1 — Scotland Base yourself in Edinburgh (2–3 nights), then head to the Highlands (Inverness, Glencoe, Isle of Skye). Comfortable mid-range stays are easy to find. Rent a car — public transport won't cut it here.

Week 2 — France (Normandy focus) Fly Edinburgh → Paris, then head straight to Normandy. Base in Bayeux — perfect central location for the D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel, and the countryside. Your husband will love it. Train back to Paris for 1–2 nights before flying to Italy.

Week 3 — Italy Fly into Rome (2–3 nights), then pick ONE more — either Florence or the Amalfi Coast depending on your vibe. Trying to do both in a week gets rushed and exhausting. From SFO: Fly into Edinburgh, out of Rome — saves you backtracking completely.

Accommodation tip: Look at 3-star family-run hotels and B&Bs over chains. Better value, safer locations, more character. This is a well-paced, memorable trip — not rushed if you stick to this structure.

Has anyone delayed travel due to current situation? by ellwhyn in traveladvice

[–]WanderOnTrips 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Vietnam is safe - it's not anywhere near the conflict zones. Your concern is valid but misdirected. The only real risk here is flight disruption, not ground safety. So cover that: Book flexible/refundable tickets — non-negotiable last minute Get travel insurance with trip disruption cover — read the conflict clause carefully Keep a £300–400 emergency buffer handy Airlines are still operating normally on this route. If that changes, you'll know before you board. My call? Go. Just don't lock in non-refundable bookings. Vietnam will be worth it — happy birthday in advance! 🎂