When I started my tour, I was really nervous about finding places to sleep. In the beginning, I'd just settle for campgrounds or cheap half star hotels spending a fortune on them because I was so scared of being discovered, captured, hurt, caught and many other silly, really silly reasons. Once I got rid of my fears, wild camping was and is great fun. Walking and cycling naked in the desert is a good example. This article will give you some tips on how to get started:

1. Wild camping really depends on what countries you are. I found very difficult to find places through the European coast because it was very crowded and every place had a no camping or private property sign. In Kyrgyzstan, I was pitching my tent anytime, anywhere and always felt safe even when I was being watched from the road. Like being on a starting line of a race, there is always a chill on my stomach (specially when I cross a new country border) but after a few moments I feel great. So before you start looking for a place, have a good map of the region that will indicate the proximity of towns so that you time yourself to be somewhat close to the next or previous city but not too close to be disturbed by the locals in the middle of the night. I try to stay around (12miles/20kms) for example.

2. If you are heading to a crowded area for several kilometers, you might need to use your big mouth and your poor face as many times local restaurants, tea houses and gas stations will accomodate you. Plus such places might have other facilities such as toilets, showers,
food, etc... Particularly, I don't like these places because when you travel on a bike, everyone gathers around you to talk and sometimes you cannot just go to bed without spending time with the locals who accomodated you. Another problem is that sometimes you don't get to pick the place. They will accomodate you wherever they feel like. Once in Turkey, they put me on a home above a restaurant where the room was infested with rats. I almost set up my tent inside but I kind of felt bad and didn't get a good night of sleep after all. Lastly, they might offer you things to carry with you ... I was offered a woman once ..., give you contaminated water and food that you often can't refuse and these things might spoil your whole trip. When I camp at places like these, I usually start a social interaction with them first before I ask for a place to sleep. I never give them any money because I don't want to condition them to think the cycletourers will pay if they sleep around. Sometimes, I spend some money at their shop or eat their food though.

3. If you found a good spot, try to set up your tent after you have done all your cooking or just before dark. If any one visits you, you can easily move but after dark, I feel very safe and sleep like a rock. I only take my valuables with me inside my tent and usually don't bother to lock my bike. Maybe I will start doing so when I reach Colombia.

4. Sometimes when I am not sure about the safety of a place, I put some alarms around my bike. Pots and pans around the bike and on top of it and tying my bike to my tent are good examples. More often than not, I find myself stepping on my own pots and alarms probably waking up all villagers nearby but don't be a fool like me, remember your alarms!!!

5. When you find a place, make sure no one sees you entering it. I usually don't waste any time. I see the place, no one is around, I don't hesitate and go right in. I then sneak back to see if anyone saw me just to be sure. If you are seen, just pretent you are fixing your bike or move to a different location otherwise you will always have that feeling that someone will come to haunt you. Oh, please...

6. Here are some great camping spots that I found very useful. Under bridges (Iran,China), behind mountain enbankments (Turkey), Gas stations (Turkey), Tea Houses (Uzbekistan), way out in the desert (Turkmenistan, Iran), near rivers (assumming you have a good mosquito repelent or net), dried river beds (Turkey), Deep into the woods (Greece), beaches and forests (Australia), mosques, churches, parking lots, above the road but always hidden from traffic, next to a cemetary ... respect the dead ... (Turkey), people's yards, vineyards, farms but always with permission, country borders although caotic and disgusting but usually full of military people. There are some other interesting places that you will find yourself but just remember never sleep while on your bike!!!

7. If you are really in the wild, make sure that you know what kind of animals are around. You will more often than not hear animals coming by but I usually don't have the guts to open my tent to take a peak so I try to calculate the size of the animal by the way it breaks the sticks on the ground and I always like to conclude it was just a small rat. Avoid Nepal's 50kms stretch of tiger infested areas for sure!!!

8. Watch for places near borders as some countries (Uzbekistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Chile are a few examples) have land mines around them. If you have no choice, take your bike first and always cut the red wire if anything!

9. Start looking mode. Now, I can pretty much find a place in just few minutes but I have to change from paying attention on the road to wild camping looking mode. I usually find a place within few kms once I get into this mode. Look around!!!

10. Get used to set up and cook at dark in case you don't feel 100% safe, don't use your lights at dark. You should be conditioned by now to ride during the day and sleep during the night unless you get some fine company to join you.

11. Sometimes, locals will see you and might come by but think this way. You are on a bike fully loaded with stuff they know nothing about and often they will be scared of you rather than the opposite.

12. Make sure you hear no dogs around before finding a spot because they can be quite a hassle during the night. They can hear you from miles and your tent is a very strange object to them. One time, I had to get out of my tent at 3am to chase a pack of dogs that did not stop to bark at my plain and simple tent. It was a full moon so take the moon light into consideration as well.

13. And of course some basic camping rules like never leaving any trash behind, burning your toilet paper or carrying it with you, don't leave your shoes outside or put it in a place where no dew or animals will get to them, lock your bags so that animals don't run away with your breakfast, etc...

14. Convince your mother that all these tips above are extremely safe and tell her to trust you on this one.

So next time you get out there and find a campsite on your own, feel proud, you just saved yourself the hassle of hotels besides saving some money all while having the priviledge to enjoy a butt naked cooking session in the open sky.

I will constanly change this page as more tips flow in my head. Check back often. Lastly, this page has not been spell-checked and the tips in it may be followed at your own risk. I know you liked this article but don't send me any money. Donate it instead to the Room to Read foundation.

Last updated: 04/22/06