Being intrepid travellers means finding a place to rest our heads is never a problem. Wild camping or free camping has been our choice of accommodation many a night, especially when the weather is favourable, we haven’t organised a couch to surf, or a house to crash and paid residency is just too pricey. All it involves is finding a place to pop our tent and hey presto! We’re like animals sleeping in the wild.
The key to successful wild camping is location: a quiet, well-hidden, flat surface is conducive with a restful night’s sleep and avoiding being discovered. In our experience, it is handy camping near a water source for washing your dishes or self and not wasting drinking water. Our best advice on locations to avoid is not to camp in dry river beds or catchment areas, certainly don’t camp near military bases or overly secured locations and try your best not to camp under trees with heavy overhanging branches (there is a minute possibility of being crushed).
Alleykat recommend stopping 10kms (at least) before or after a town, heading down a small road off the main route and looking for dense tree coverage. Use your eyes; if you can’t see your camping spot, it’s likely others won’t be able to either. Like us, it would be a good idea to use a green or sandy-coloured tent – this blends in well to most environments and thus avoids alerting others to your presence.
Be aware that your light and noise travels so try do everything before dark so you’re not obvious. However, don’t set up too early if you’re located near people or even if you suspect there might be people around, popping your tent no earlier than two hours before sunset.
There are many countries where wild camping is illegal, but in most situations the worst discipline you’ll get is being asked to move on (sometimes immediately). Countries to re-think your wild camping intentions include Germany and The Netherlands, where fines and other penalties are involved, plus there’s no reason to wild camp because the camping grounds are such a brilliant option. In Iran by contrast, there are no laws against camping (or picnicking!) wherever suits your needs.
What to do when you’re sprung
Either pack up and relocate at least 10 kilometres further afield or stay and keep noise and light to a minimum – if you’ve been asked to move however it’s best to take this advice as paramount but do perhaps ask where there is a better spot to camp!
For More information on free accommodation check out parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series
Free Accommodation: Wild Camping (1/3)
Free Accommodation: CouchSurfing / WarmShowers (2/3)
Free Accommodation: Asking / The Magic Letter (3/3)
In sweden and Norway its even written in our laws that everyone have the right to camp anywhere (except someones garden) for up to two nights. You even have the right to camp on someones property but not within eyesight from their house or on a planted fields. Allso some protected nature are excluded but pretty much you can camp anywhere and there is endless of beautiful nature in sweden and norway. Sweden is much flatter and more easy to cycle, norway is extremely hilly and tougher but allso more dramatic nature.
Thanks for the tip!