Camping in Europe in late September
 

I'm planning to ride down through europe in late september/early october, and to save money I will use my tent.
So I have two questions, is there any maps with campsites on them (paper version), and will campsites be open that late...
I'm still not shure if I'll go east or west...

I was going to say it may be a bit on the chilly side but then noticed you're Norwegian, ha ha, enough said. I think a lot of sites will be closing at the middle of September so you may have to stop in a few formula 1 hotels on route. There will be sites open but it's locating them. I'd search google for Alan Rodgers camping and KarmaBum Camping Europe Homepage

Good luck.

Lots of info there...
From just checking a few sites it seems like campsites are open into october so I should be ok. The only problem would be to find them when I suddenly realize it's time to put up the tent and get some rest.

The temperature shouldn't be much of a problem as long as I stay dry...

Hi

In Sweden you can buy Motormännens Europa Vägatlas wich has camping sites marked throughout europe. Perhaps this atlas is sold in Norway as well? Or other similar?

5 years ago I travelled from Sweden to Turkey and back in april and may and I hadn't any problem finding open camping sites.

Good luck!

I'll try to get a copy of that one then. Sound s just like what I'm after, except that it's writen in swedish:D

We run a small camping site in southern Bulgaria, and will still be open in late september/early october, and the weather should be ok. From our place it is easy to get to Greece and Turkey.
See our website. Home
Regards,
Martin T. Jeffes
Sakar Hills Touring Park.

I assume you probably won't be coming over to Scotland but for info for this thread you can buy a camping map of Scotland via http://www.scottishcamping.com/ (NB : if you just want a list of contact details but not marked on a map I think you can download the back of the map in PDF format for free via the shopping cart)

You can get a free one from the tourist information offices as well but they'll only list the sites that pay them some cash to join their programme, get rated etc etc.

I think most campsites will be open here but some may start to close down but there are many in the correct locations that are used by climbers and walkers year round.

Other overnight options.
 

Not wishing to upset other posters but personally, I try and avoid campsites as they can be noisy and frankly a rip-off when you consider it's your tent and sleeping bag so all you're paying for is the grass and maybe a shower if they don't charge extra for that as well.

A youth hostel will charge about the same, security is a little better for your stuff, they have proper kitchens, and the showers and toilets tend to be cleaner. If it's not busy, you'll get a room to yourself and most now tend to have small 2-4 person rooms, not huge dormitories anymore.

You could also look for independent hostels or bunkhouse accommodation. Or try couchsurfing.com

Also, there's always wildcamping but only if you think it's safe.

And if you know where you're going, try contacting the HU communities on the way.

Enjoy your trip.

Indoors.

It's not in the least cold in September. (!!!!!!)

Why not do wild camping? If you're careful and discreet, no-one will know you're there.

If you must pay someone to camp, then there's nothing better than camping municipale. And the cheapest. I think you'l find this on the Web.

Camping in the wild is an option and I will probably do it. Hostels are an option too but my limited experience with hostels in europe is that they are usually full by the time I arrive and there is no where to place the bike.
So by bringing a tent with me I have plenty of options to get some rest for the night...
I ordered the "Motormännens Europa Vägatlas" and will come back with a repport on it.

Hi Elbert

In France, if you're using the autoroute, about every 20 kms, you will find an "aire de repos". These are stop places which usually (depends on which Departement) have trees, bushes, toilets and water. I use them all the time. I get out of sight, put the tent up, and no-one has ever troubled me. Though you dont really need to, I put a cover on the bike too.

The French are also very accommodating, and bend the rules as they wish. If you're pleasant, they will be too.

Sometimes the aire is bigger, and has restaurants too. You can still use these if you can find a quiet spot. You usually can.

Otherwise, just leave the autoroute and scan the countryside for a similar, hidden spot. I've had terrific rewards with this- at dawn seeing the deer graze out of the edge of the woods in morning mist, sunrise over river and forest etc etc.

Sunday afternoons can sometimes be difficult for petrol if you're off the autoroute. And French 24hr automatic pumps wont take your credit card.

Use "Flunch" "Casino" and "Carrefour" restaurants for good cheap food. Or better, around 12.00, buy your food in a supermarket (Lidl does good German beer) and then ride out till you get a nice place by the river/chateau or somewhere, to eat and have a sleep.

It doesnt equal Norway for free wild camping - but with a little thought it can be good.

The "aire de repos" sounds like a good option for France, is there anything simmilar that can be used in Spain?
I've got three weeks of vacation starting th 15th september. If I have enough time I might drive down through Spain and take the ferry over to Marroco just to be able to say I've been in Africa :)

From our knowledge if you want to go to Italy, most (but not all) campsites will be closed.

Be wary of Aires in France - we know three sets of people who have been robbed (the Aires near Marseilles are particularly notorious).

Around the coast, most camp sites in Spain are open - but fewer camp sites are open in the middle of the country .......a few stay open in the cities

If you get hold of the Michelin 1:400,000 scale road atlas' for Europe (I have the one for Spain and Portugal) then a number of (but not all) campsites are marked on that, if not the exact locations...

Personally I find the autoroutes soul destroying on a bike, but Caminando's suggestion about the service areas in France is a good one as long as you keep your belongings close by...

I rode 6000 miles around Spain, Portugal and France this year (and dipped into Morocco for a couple of weeks) - but strangely never felt particularly safe enough to wild camp in Spain or Portugal (without hiding myself away in a tiny corner, which really defeats the object?), as I always felt I was on someone's farm or something... However, I found the south of France seems far more remote and rural, and would have no problem finding a nice quite wild camp there - especially in the Cevennes - beautiful!

xxx

3 weeks isn't masses of time to get to Morocco if you've got to ride all the way from Norway - not unless you blitz it, and then you'll miss everything in Europe on the way?

Morocco really is a fantastic destination, but you won't do it justice in just a few days or even a week or two... the north of the country is rather dull and agricultural - you really need to get a couple of hundred Ks south and into the Cedar Forest/Atlas mountains (and the desert of course!) to really appriciate what Maroc has to offer compared to Europe. The weather will still be nice and warm mind you x

xxx

I havent found Spain good for wild camping of any kind. I have found quiet places, but the ground is always bumpy, stony and difficult for pitching a tent.

There is a warning above about security in "Aires", especially in the South, which is worth remembering, of course. However, in my experience, I've never known a problem. But I'm always out of sight, and I use an infra red movement alarm near the tent - but it has never gone off. The aires in north and central France are more wooded than those further south.

If you prefer, use wild camping off the road. If you look for your hidden campsite about 1 hour before sunset, that should be enough. I'm sure you have developed an eye for this in Norway.

If you MUST pay for accommodation, the cheapest is usually Formule 1, a chain of cheapie motel things. Around 30 Euros for a room of 3 beds. But I'm sure you'd rather put that money towards petrol.

Bonne route!

I received the "Motormännens Europa Vägatlas" i ordered, and it looks very good. It covers all of europe, but still its not a big heavy book, and it shows lots of camp sites just like I was looking for. It's a 2008 edition so it should be up to date...
The scale is 1:800000.

in france the "air de répos" is a good idea, at least in northern & central france though a municipal campsite will probably only charge you 8 - 10€ a night which you'd spend in autoroute tolls anyway, + the cafés & shops on the "air" are 25% more expensive (even for a sandwich) than a supermarket.
add to that that the riding is booring as hell...

if you're coming through burgundy, let me know, i've a space at work you can camp overnight in for free.

:thumbup1:

Hi. If I might ask a question close to the subject. Does anyone know of any decent areas for wild camping along the south coast - Genova to Marseilles? Ideally, I'd like to get as near to the sea as possible and completely veg out for a few days, cooking my own stuff, etc. I'm doing it all on the cheap, driving an old car, hitting Lidl and markets along the way. In other words, bumming it.:thumbup1:

Wooded areas is good, as I've got a hammock as well as a tent and a tarp. I could bivvy on the beach? Is this allowed?

"le camping sauvage" is forbidden in france.

I'm not saying you won't get away with it but is is technically illegal, so I would say be descreet & don't have an open fire, the south coast is prone to arson & big bush & forest fires during the summer months so they're a wee bit paranoid about fire...

security wise, as with most other countries, stay away from the big cities.

Today I'm setting off, and in a few hours I will hopefully be on the ferry to Denmark and on my way to a couple of weeks on the bike. I guess the first night will be in Denmark, but from there I realy haven't decided on where to go, the options are south east or south west. Guess I'll go wherere ever the weather is nice...

It would help if you said what your route was going to be .

In Denmark you cannot just put your tent up anywhere.

There is Freecamping in Denmark, which is a totally different thing. Local councils and organisations erect wooden shelters where you can stay for free.

A lot of our churches have toilets and hot water in their grounds. They open at about 9 and close at about 5pm.

Danhostel is our hostel association, but is not cheap.

There are plenty of campsites but most are seasonal.

It is getting quite cold here now, autumn is certainly on the way.

You need to look at Couchsurfers.com, it is great and I have used it myself this year in France. Great to get a free bed, meet great people and learn something about the areas you are visiting.

Steve

Lots of things are forbidden everywhere. France is a fine country for wild camping....

Caminando - off topic but...you mentoned an infra red movement alarm in an earlier thread, could you provide details of that please?

In September to November 2002 I wild camped alone entirely through Italy France and Spain. I was a bit smelly by the end of it...
I never had any troubles with people visiting me at night and sometimes I built fires if I was very isolated.
Italy was a little difficult at times because most areas were fenced completely.
France was good on the whole.
Lots of space in Spain, a few times the clay ground was a little too hard.

I usually started to look for a place to camp around 4;30pm and was always set-up by dark.
I always travelled minor roads though never autoroutes and air de répos!!!

Enjoy.
N

Nothing's off topic for me - this is a battery operated device, fits in the hand. It detects any movement inside 3-4 metres and makes an alarm sound (100 decibels-ish). Cost me around 12 pounds. You can also get alarms which operate if anyone breaks a beam. I've got that one too. Same price-ish.

This is actually old tech which has been made to operate by battery rather than by mains.

I forget where I got these, but it's B&Q or the like.

Apart from my camping spots, I also used it in my room in a cheap hotel in Morocco - I heard it go off in the street as I left. I ran back up - no-one around! I think it was the hotel staff sniffing around. But the noise was enough to put them off!!! It's 'orrible......

I recently rode up from Nice through the 'Gorge de Verdon' Excellent area. Caminados advice is good. I use the aires for overnight stays. Unless you are an idiot and upset people with bad behaviour you will be welcomed. Most bigger aires have free toilets, showers and washing facilities. It is true that it may not be strictly legal, but teh french police and gendarmes are concerned with road safety, not getting brownie points. The aires exist for tired drivers to rest. Clearly a motorcyclist needs a tent to sleep so park you bike close to your tent. Set up before it gets dark and inspect the ground for anything sharp or ex dog :(

Open fires in wooded areas is often banned. Generally if it is easy to gather dry wood, it is illegal to set fire to it. ( for risk of forest fires).

oh! and before emulating a Hindu bathing in teh Ganges, just test the temperture of that lovely blue water in teh streams and rivers first :)
I have been known to use sections of Peage just for teh campsite :) Most have grassed areas surrounded by trees at the rear of teh aire, really intended for camper vans to overnight.

I never said it wasn't a good idea! i just think that it's worth knowing in advance what the law says before ignoring it...:thumbup1:

You have to understand this. The English have a legalistic mindset. The French have legislation for everything and have long ago learned to work around it. Basically you can do anything you like so long as you do not impair anyone elses enjoyment of life. If you do then they will start to apply the mass of bureaucracy that exists.

Erm... sort of off topic but, I've been living & riding in france for the last 15 years, & have not found this to be the case. There used to be a lot of "tolerence" whereby your statement would be correct, but I have seen this "tolerence" dissappear slowly over the last 5 ish years. Now this maybe only the case in my area (burgundy) but from the french websites I frequent (le repaire des motards, motards bourguignon, etc) the general impression is that things are tightening up, starting with drink driving, speeding & other traffic offences but filtering down through the whole spectrum of "social legislation".

maybe someone living in the midi kinows better about that specific area?

campsites? who needs 'em?
 

no better fun than camping out...

Out for a spin: Free camping

Out for a spin: Not all glamour and glitz

grand. september/october in middle europe. we had a ball!

cheers,
andy

As I said, the french police and Gendarmes are mostly concerned with road safety. as far as they are concerned if you overnight in an 'aire' you wont be having and accident. Conversly drink driving and speeding through villages constitute a danger and yes, they will clamp down on anyone trying to kill themselve and/or others. Behave reasonably well and you will be fine. I live in deux Sevrs and this has been my experience, seems to be similar in other rural areas.
France has a high kill rate on motorists in general and they are genuinely trying to improve this..hence tha clampdown on the above offenses. for instance I have had a warning for doing 61 in a 50 limit. Another few Kph and I would have been nicked.

fair comment.

I think the "aire de repos" are probably a case apart, where the obvious benefit of sleep is recognised even by the gendarmerie...

I was more thinking of "camping sauvage" just in the countryside, & in the midi particularly. The fire risk being the reason for them being more severe down there ?

Yes, I would not advocate lighting an open fire in any wooded countryside. Basically if you can find stuff to burn, dont start a fire. I use a little camping gaz stove. You certainly do not want to send up smoke signals for teh watch towers to see.

A personal update....three days ago, on my way back to the UK I was camping in an aire. For the first time ever, the gendarmerie stopped and asked for my ID. That was all, they were most pleasant, and recognised that a bike rider had to use a tent for getting a rest.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!!! a fine country!!!!! Vive la France!

Hi all

I've made it down to Slovenja at the moment, and it has been a very nice trip.
The route I've taken was roughly: Stavanger-Kristiansand then by ferry to Hansholm in Denmark, Camped near Ribe in Denmark, Guesthouse outside Hamburg-Guesthouse in Leipzig-Hotel in Plzen (not a very exiting place)-Welz in Austria-Hostel in Lubljana-Hostel in Piran
Not much camping tough, it was a bit cold in Germany and Austria, and the cost of Hostels down here are quite cheap.
Done about 1700km in one week, not bad on a 36 year old two-stroke.

Glad to hear your trip is going so well, Elbert. :thumbup1:

Sounds like a wonderful trip!! :)

Yeah, it was a nice trip. After Slovenija I drove back to Austria via Italy, then Switzerland (and a short trip into Lichtenstein), Germany, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and back home via Germany and Denmark. I ended up driving 6000km in 18 days, but I haven't got a clue on how much petrol and two stroke oil I used.

The last week of the trip was quite wet and cold, and I had a flat tire in Germany.
Slovenija was the best experience, cheap and interesting. But the ride was best in Germany, specialy in the soth by the border to Austria. It was like driving through "Sound of music land".

Hopefully I'll be going on vacation a bit earlier next year, and maybe a bit longer.