Forest of the French Dordogne
Photo by: Fred Fokkelman (Stock Exchange)

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to AllCampgrounds!

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at the best in winter camping and cold weather camping in general.

If you’re ready to come in from the chill, we’ve got something new: international camping news, including a whole slew of wild camping trends you might not be familiar with yet.

These new ideas in tent camping are sweeping the globe, and you might just be inspired.

Extreme Camping in the Trees: Out of Bavaria, famous for its Oktoberfest, comes this awesome concept for extreme camping. During the spring and summer months, campers can dangle several feet over the ground in a portaledge, the kind of self-contained, hanging tent that rock climbers use when they’re out for more than one day at a time. Not quite extreme enough? The next option “up” has you hanging among the cliffs on a platform that can be deployed up to 6,000 feet high. Hope you like heights!

What is it About Camping?: From Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald travel section comes this entertaining anecdote about the challenges and triumphs of camping in Africa. The biggest hurdle? Well, it’s literally the biggest one, as our author finds himself and his fellow tent campers on an “elephant road” out in the middle of the Savannah. Serial Africa adventurer Ben Groundwater tries to put his finger on just what it is that makes camping so appealing, and does a fine job of it, even if you’ve never been so far afield.

Camping in the French Dordogne: France’s Dordogne River region is one of the most beautiful areas of an enchanting country, so it’s no surprise that this lush, picturesque riverside summons tent campers from all over the surrounding nations. There are wonderful offerings at camps all around the shoreline, such as Eurocamp, which includes fun for children and families. Is it any surprise this is one of the most popular destinations in Europe’s growing camping craze? Check out the amazing photographs!

Gardens as Campsites in Europe: Driven by sites like Camp in my Garden, which lists hundreds of private family gardens that are open to camping, explorers are learning about local communities in Europe by taking up the offer to camp right outside a residence. This may seem outlandish to North Americans, but remember that tending a beloved garden is one of the most important and routine parts of life for many Europeans, especially the British. You can avoid camping fees and get a dose of local color by checking out garden camping; just don’t plan to stay too long.

Fishing on the coast of Morocco ... Yes, Morocco!
Photo by: Jean Froidevaux (Stock Exchange)

Welcome to AllCampgrounds!

It’s the middle of August, and for many of us here in the good ol’ United States, that means the official camping season is starting to draw down.

But campers rejoice: there are tent camping and RV camping destinations scattered all around the world where the fun is just getting started.

Camping is holding steady in the States, but it’s growing fast in many other countries, including a few that make tempting winter destinations.

Today, we’ll peek in on a few choice places to camp in winter.

Whether tent camping or RVing, your best bet for winter camping in Europe is down south. Camper Van Life provides a warm weather overview of some of the top picks for continental campers. Naturally, Spain and France are popular with both Americans and Europeans, with Spain being a bit warmer. Both are a tad pricey, though, and there are other choices afoot for those who would rather avoid heavy tourist traffic. We’ll cover France and Spain in detail in a future post.

The Algarve, in Portugal, is one of the best kept secrets in winter camping throughout Europe. Located at the southern tip of the country, it dips gently into the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The southwestern coast is replete with camping opportunities, and also provides water sports and sight-seeing: there are scads of beautiful and historic lighthouses to visit and view. Algarve Beach Life has a description of Algarve camp grounds and other things to note, including typical prices, safety, and more.

At only a few Euros a night, Algarve camping is an inviting prospect, and some of the parks and camp grounds include sophisticated private “chalets” equal to what you’d expect from cabins in the States. RVs are welcome at some sites, but be aware that all camping in the Algarve area has to take place in the confines of official sites; there is no backcountry camping. (Backcountry and unofficial site restrictions are hot topics around the world right now: check out the debate over freedom camping in New Zealand.)

Morocco is becoming another popular destination for camping in moderate climes during the tail end of the year. For some great “on the ground” perspective about what it’s really like to camp the desert, check out Camping in the Sahara from Bill and Cori’s Excellent Adventures. Also visit Camping Beyond Travel for a laudatory look at Morocco’s low cost, high value coastal camp grounds. RV campers are more than welcome throughout the country’s coasts, so don’t be shy! Tent campers will find both seaside and mountain settings to set up camp.

Now, obviously, there are a lot of things to consider and plan if you want to go camping abroad. AllCampgrounds is your number one source for all things camping, so in the coming weeks we’ll explore more warm weather haunts and chat a bit about crafting the perfect international camping trip. Drop by again this time next week, won’t you?

Camping in the Australian outback
!Photo by: Falk Schaaf (Stock Exchange)

Morning, campers! For as long as I’ve been writing for AllCampgrounds, we’ve been on a journey to cover camping in the fifty states and around North America.

But one of my passions is travel, and I like to get out of the country every once in a while – so just this once I thought it’d be a great idea to give our loyal readers a glimpse of tent camping and RV camping around the world.

After all, natural beauty is everywhere, and there are unique sites, terrific camp grounds, and protected public lands all over the globe!

Canada Outdoors: As our readers know, there are lots of spectacular camping spots in Canada, and many discount camping organizations offer deals on Canada just as frequently as camp grounds in the States. Canada Outdoors is a service of the country’s tourism bureau, and gives you a fantastic overview of the many outdoor adventures you can enjoy in the breathtaking tundra, including canoeing, hiking, and safaris into the Arctic that include genuine dog sledding.

Visit Mexico Camping: Our neighbor to the south offers a diverse land that doesn’t end with just desert: there are also beautiful beaches, mountains, jungles, and more. In this valuable compendium, you’re invited to get a taste of the best of all campsites Mexico has to offer. This index of twenty-two outstanding destinations covers the entire country, from beautiful Acapulco to historic Oaxaca and temperate Mazatlan. Many of the top public parks are highlighted in these overviews, giving you a strong sense of how to set up your trip for a top tent camping or RVing experience.

Karma Bum Cafe: Karma Bum is a commercial site that offers an overview of camping, country-by-country, throughout Europe. Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt and Paris receive special attention as “adventure hubs”, but there’s also information available for well over a dozen other countries from western Europe all the way to Russia. If your next camping expedition is going global, check here first. Aside from the great tips on regional camping, Karma Bum also offers advice on developing a travelers’ camping kit and a host of other tips so “camping culture shock” won’t confuse your journey. For more, check out The Guardian UK’s article Wild Camping in Europe.

Camping Card International: Last but not least, a little help for your budget. Camp grounds in other countries can be expensive, especially when the exchange rate isn’t favorable. Enter the CCI, a valuable asset for your globe-trotting arsenal. More than a thousand camp grounds across Europe recognize the Camping Card, and even “in season” you can get deep discounts up to 25% off. Just as important for savvy travelers, the CCI comes with its own third-party liability insurance. In case anything happens, you’re covered – and your CCI is accepted all over, just like your passport.