The adventurous
Swedes consider campsites to be so last year. Instead, this
forward-thinking country has a freedom to roam policy, which means
things can get really wild. Nature isn’t just to be admired – any
grassy spot has the potential to become a temporary home. So pack
up your best explorer kit (torch, wet wipes, snacks) and set up
camp wherever takes your fancy.

Not one for light sleepers, at Kruger things really do go bump
in the night. With only a fence between your tent and the Big Five
it soon becomes apparent that the entire animal kingdom comes alive
and makes the most glorious din just as you are settling down for
some shut-eye. But why would you sleep in such a once-in-a-lifetime
location? Forget counting sheep and head out on a dawn
safari, where you’ll find some far more exciting animals to
count.

At 1,950m above sea level, this campsite in the Swiss Alps is
Europe’s highest, making for a trip which is breathtaking in more
ways than one. Waking up to snow-capped mountains makes for a view
so dramatic that you will feel as though you have just been
transported into your desktop background.

When adventure calls,
Yosemite is California‘s
answer. If none of the 13 campsites quite do it for you, apply for
a wilderness permit and take advantage of the fact that 94% of the
park is uninhabited wilderness, making it the perfect spot for
stargazing. With a limited number of annual permits, this is
ultimate solitude. Just look out for the black bears.

One for those on the camping fence, this remote island of lush
rainforests and white sands in Australia will convert even the most
reticent of explorers. Think Robinson Crusoe or Castaway minus the
struggle to survive. With only those who are camping allowed to
stay overnight, we know it sounds cliché but this truly is a slice
of paradise.

It might be an obvious one, but we couldn’t leave the most
famous camp in the world off this list. Europe’s highest campsite
pales in comparison to this giant, which stands at an incredible
5000m above sea level. This is bucket-list stuff which will also
provide you with a lifetime of boasting rights.

A similarly ambitious destination that receives far fewer
visitors than Mount Everest, camping in the heart of world’s
largest cave is about as exclusive as it gets in the tenting world.
This cave is so vast that it has its own river, jungle, bio-climate
and the tallest stalagmites in the world – pack a head torch.

The dramatic landscapes of Canada are encapsulated by Jasper’s
vast and varying terrains, offering an array of campsites depending
on what kind of trip you’re after. If you want to push the
adventure that little bit further then Coronet Creek is our ground
of choice. Located on the edge of Maligne Lake, the only way to get
to this remote plot is to paddle yourself there, so if water sports
are your thing then this site is definitely worth the trip.

Most travellers to Japan stick to the big cities, forgetting
that the country has much to offer beyond the bright lights and
skyscrapers. There’s no better way to escape the 24/7 urban buzz
than with a camping trip to the island known as the “gateway to
god” thanks the orange Grand Torii Gate which marks the entrance to
the 12th-century Itsukushima shrine. With wild deer, plenty of
Buddhist temples and a Jurassic Park-esque landscape, camping in
Miyajima is an alternative way to get in touch with ancient
Japanese culture.