When I had a hard time finding a party in the dunes i went to Jugnar Forest with one other person and killed saplings at the entrance for 80+ exp each.
You must be careful there though because the tigers and orcs argo.
A but firther than Valkrum yes, as it's in kolshusu... But it's the EXACT EQUIVALENT of Valkrum. Why, do you think, do they have ANOTHER subjob quest there?