Camping:
is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more natural ones in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment or an educational experience. The night (or more) spent outdoors distinguishes camping from day-tripping, picnicking, and other similarly short-term recreational activities. Camping as a recreational activity became popular among elites in the early 20th century. With time, it grew in popularity among other socioeconomic classes. Modern campers frequent publicly owned natural resources such as national and state parks, wilderness areas, and commercial campgrounds. In a few countries, such as Sweden and Scotland, public camping is legal on privately held land as well. Camping is a key part of many youth organizations around the world, such as Scouting, which use it to teach both self-reliance and teamwork.
1. Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand
You can’t talk about camping without waxing lyrical about New Zealand’s out-of-this-world landscapes. Mount Cook (or to the Maori) is the country’s highest mountain and the entire surrounding rugged region is the South Island’s finest outdoor playground. Views from the campgrounds here are simply staggering.
2. Devon, England
" The southwest of England feels a million miles from the rest of the UK. The campsites on Dartmoor and r are fantastic places to pitch a tent, while you'll find spots with unbeatable vistas along the craggy cliffs that sweep down to the Atlantic on the north Devon coast. Come in autumn, when you can watch a huge red sun dip slowly over the horizon.
3. The Scotland
The scattered peaks, valleys and villages of the Scotland – often called the Highlands in miniature – make an incredibly scenic backdrop for a camping trip. Amid these romantic Scotland and glens you'll find everything from sprawling caravan parks to remote wild camping spots; be sure to read the Outdoor Access Code before you go.
4. The Alps, France
The dominion of skiers in the winter months, the Alps transform as the snow thaws. Once the balmy spring weather arrives, so do hikers and campers. You'll find beautifully fresh alpine air and quaint villages nestled in the foothills. It's a magical place to camp, made all the more special by the glittering night sky above.
5. Hossa National Park, Finland
Finland’s newest national park (set to open in June 2017) is in the wild northeast of the country, a rugged landscape of rivers, lakes and old-growth spruce forests. Finland welcomes wild campers and the park is dotted with remote lean-to shelters and rustic cabins, all with spots for campfires.
6. Sweden
Long bright summer days pass delightfully slowly in Sweden’s most southerly region. Gentle countryside backs the coastline and there are many tranquil places to camp near Sweden's beaches, lakes or forests. As in much of Scandinavia, wild camping is positively encouraged under the "right to roam".
7. Zion National Park, Utah, USA
Zion is one of the most spectacular parks in the Southwest, with its red sandstone cliffs, rugged plateaus and forested canyons. Watchmen and South are the established campgrounds, but if you really want to get away from the crowds you can get a permit to overnight at one of the otherworldly wilderness campsites in the park’s interior.
8. Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vancouver Island's mind-blowing diverse ecosystem gets ever more wild as you head north. Pacific Rim National Park and the West Coast Trail are spectacular places to set up camp – you might catch sight of breaching offshore, sea otters playing in the shallows or geese flying overhead.
9. Patagonia, Argentina and Chile
South America's southern tip, spanning both Argentina and Chile, is as wild as it gets and a great destination for anyone with an adventurous spirit. Follow the RN-40 to discover campsites with wide open skies and snow-capped mountain vistas; this pristine landscape begs for outdoor exploration.
10. Asturias, Spain
Time has stood still in this massively underrated region of northwest Spain, where villages cling to lush green mountains and fishing communities dot the craggy coastline. Some of the most beautiful campsites in Spain can be found on the coast here, along with delicious food and welcoming hosts.
11. Connemara, Ireland
The coastal region west of cries out for leisurely exploration. Connemara's landscape is dramatic and windswept, and camping here isn’t for the faint heart but you can't beat getting up close to the Atlantic seascape or exploring remote valleys just inland.
12. Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Re by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the jagged Simien massif and its deep precipices rival the Grand Canyon for beauty. The landscape is phenomenal and the best way to explore is on a guided trek, sleeping under canvas in one of the park’s basic campsites.
13. Tasmania, Australia
Over 40% of Tasmania is protected within national parks and reserves. On an island the size of Switzerland, that means numerous wild and remote regions littered with beautifully sited campgrounds. Whether you're travelling with a tent or a camper van, popular spots include the highlands of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and the spectacular coastline of Tasman Peninsula.
14. The Inland See Japan
In the wide, watery expanse between Japan’s , Shikoku and islands you'll find a little-known idyll made up of many tinier islands. Exploring by bike is becoming popular as seven modern bridges now link the islets. At night, it’s possible to camp beside the subtropical white-sand beaches.
15. Ladakh, India
This sparsely populated, high-altitude region in Jammu and Kashmir conjures pictures of nestling in the mountainside and colourfull prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Once the mountain passes open in the spring, camps of pre-rected tents pop up, though hardier souls still carry in their own.
