Countries That You Can Wild Camp In
Camping is a really budget-friendly vacation; however, over the space of a few weeks, the nightly campsite cost can add up pretty quickly.
Say hello to wild camping. You can pitch a tent anywhere you like within a designated area and enjoy some free nights away. It gives a sense of freedom that you might not get when you are pitched up next to a lot of other people and paying for the privilege. Although there is nothing wrong with a great campsite, in fact, they are wonderful, wild camping is a little cooler.
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Countries That You Can Wild Camp In
*This is a Collaborative Post.
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach us more than we can ever learn from books.”
John Lubbock
There are a few countries where you can bring along your hard floor camper trailers, cars, tents or camper van and soak up some wilderness – for free. You’ll need to work out which vehicle is going to be best. Not all wildcamp spots are easy to access – but the beauty is, you chose your own pitch!
Norway
Many people are attracted to Norway because almost anywhere you go will be surrounded by water. The Fjords are stunning, and you can take boats along rivers and across the fjords. There are also the added perks of snowboarding, canoeing, skiing, and woodland areas.
There is an Outdoor Recreation Act that was passed in 1957 that cemented the right of passage, allowing visitors or Norwegians alike to enjoy the countryside for free. And the most interesting this is that even the uncultivated private land is not off-limits.
You do have to make sure that you are camped a reasonable distance away from houses, or that you have the owners permission to stay more than 2 days.
Sweden
If you are interested in seeing the Northern Lights, or some wild moose, then Sweden should be on your must-see list. There are also elks and bears – so pay close attention to the signs in the areas you are travelling to. Sweden has over 400 different hiking trails, and so many little islands to explore along the coastline.
Allemansrätt or Right of Public Access is the law that allows people to move freely through the countryside as they please. You can camp freely through the wilderness. However, you aren’t allowed to camp anywhere that is privately owned. Sweden is rich in berries and mushrooms (as you may have seen on Vikings), so there is no shortage of things that you can forage.
Finland
Between Sweden and Russia is a little piece of paradise, Finland. It is not a typically busy tourist location, even though it has a rich history and is a bit of a natural oasis. The wildlife alone is worth the trip. Finland is very outdoorsy, which is why the Everyman’s Right is such a big deal.
Finnish law states that you can ski, fish, forage, walk or go boating. And one of the coolest things is that it includes somewhere in the region of 90% of the landmass. Wild camping is, of course, included in the right, and as long as you aren’t damaging the land, you can stay for short periods of time.
Scotland
One of the most beautiful places in the world, and it has so much to offer. Most of Scotland is made up of the highlands – vast green valleys, big mountains, and deep, wide lochs. Heather is peppered all over the mountains, and the air is crisp. And it has a lot of history too. The 2003 Land Reform Act means that s is possible to camp in the majority of the land. You can combine your wild camping with the coastal500 drive and see a lot of stunning places.
Kyrgystan
Probably one of the least likely of vacation locations you are going to hear someone mention. So this is pretty off the beaten path by any stretch. Trekking is one of the more common things to take part in, and camping is a lot of fun. One of the most beautiful locations you can choose from is the Issyk-Kul Lake.
The lake is tucked neatly at the bottom of the snow-dusted Tian Shan Moutain Range. You can opt to go further afield and choose the Jyrgalan Valley, and you will be surrounded by mountains, wildlife, and camping is pretty much always free. Take some time to research some places to visit in Kyrgystan.
Iceland
There is something about Nordic people and the love of outside. Iceland is a paradise for explorers. One of the most interesting facts is that you have 300-foot visibility while scuba diving. And, if you go horse riding, it will likely be ice!
There are super related camping laws, and there are a few restrictions. Ideally, you will be in uninhabited areas, no large groups, and stay for a single night then move on.
Cleaning up after yourself is a must, and you are to leave no trace that you have been there. There are volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, and expansive glaciers to be seen. Iceland is rising in popularity, but there are plenty of places that you can go to that you will be alone to enjoy the views.
Turkey
When most people think about Turkey, they think about the hot sun and clubs. However, you can wild camp in many places. Turkey is actively encouraging people to get into the great outdoors and enjoy more fresh air.
Unlike some of the other places listed, you are more likely to camp on a beach when you wild camp in Turkey. You will need to leave for locations as you found it so that it is clear for the nest people.
When camping in Turkey, you have a unique opportunity to see some historical treats, thermal spas, and wake up on golden beaches with the waves gently crashing in the background.
Wild camping has a lot of freedom, but it teaches you to respect the environment in a much deeper way than your average camping holiday. You can easily check the different wild camping rules for each country and make sure that you are well equipped before you arrive.
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