Wild Camping in South East Asia

SELECT YOUR ENVIRONMENT

I believe camping in the SEA is possible for almost anyone. In general, I found wild camping in the North—Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand—to be quite easy due to the presence of mountains, riverbanks, farming areas, and national parks. For most of the time, I had no trouble finding good places. The further south I went, the more tricky it became. On one side, there is a higher possibility of densely populated places, and on the other side, there is a plain wilderness or impenetrable vegetation. Of course, don’t take this as a rule; trust me, great places can be found all around SEA, and here you can find out how.

1. City, densely populated urban areas

It is mostly difficult, annoying, and not fun. If your goal is to travel from one city to another primarily through touristy, highly populated areas without paying for accommodations, then such approach may not be the right choice for you. I have done this a few times, but it was not easy, and it felt more unsafe than being all alone deep in the jungle. In my opinion, this takes away the point and magic. When travelling through these areas, I would suggest you book a room (it can be really cheap) or stay with locals as they are friendly.

2. Coast, beaches, islands

I remained mostly in inland areas, but I also spent some weeks at the coast. The experience of wild camping along the Southeast Asian coast proved to be truly enjoyable and effortless, providing a constant sense of relaxation and safety. While in these areas, I met some friendly locals and fishermen. Once, they even invited me to a local beach fish barbecue. This event is undoubtedly ideal for those who seek adventure.

In Central Vietnam, near Bach Ma National Park, there is a long, lonely sandy coast where, for the first time, I could finally enjoy the moment in peace without feeling hassled by people.

I have walked and hitchhiked all over Langkawi Island, Malaysia, for 2 weeks while easily wild camping every night without any issues.

In Bali, I was wild camping on remote and even famous beaches (next to fancy resorts) for 2 weeks straight without any issues. I met many nice people. I’m sure there are many other great coastal areas throughout the SEA, especially on the islands.

3. Countryside, farming areas

Once you get out of the city mess, things start to get calmer. In rural farming areas, you can find many vast fields with nobody around, or if you see some local farmers, you can ask (or show) if it is okay to stay for the night. I did exactly that in Vietnam, about 15 km walking from Sapa. I wandered through rice fields and, at the end, was invited into an authentic family farmhouse, where they offered me food cooked on an open fire and even their own bed! They did all of this without expecting or even wanting to accept any payment. It was the most unexpected and authentic local homestay.

Language can be a barrier, but don’t be scared to try to approach locals with a smile. In most cases, it leads to good things. On the other side, I also encountered some villages where people were less open and inviting, or in areas that were not suitable for camping. It really can depend on the various factors, which we, as visitors, usually cannot predict. In this case, I just moved on. I camped in rural areas, mostly when on the move. I’m glad I did, as it afforded me the opportunity to immerse myself in the local lifestyle on several occasions. Pure experiences that money cannot buy. Favourite parts of this environment were the northern countryside parts of SEA (North Vietnam, North Thailand, and Laos).

4. National parks camping grounds

In most SEA national parks I’ve been to (around 15 in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia), it is officially not allowed to just freely wild camp in the forests, although it is not impossible. The good news is that most of the parks actually have really nice designated camping grounds for you to camp on. This was my biggest surprise. Going to national parks can really be a great way to start doing these activities. Official campgrounds are usually very cheap (1–3€) or even free, although 3 of the 15 parks I visited did not offer even “normal” camping. In this case, you need to book a basic (about 10€) stay in the park.

To be sure, always try to find information about the specific park. As previously mentioned, camping in these national park campgrounds is an excellent beginning point for wild camping in Southeast Asia. You are basically in the stunning wilderness, but there are still some people around, as well as some basic facilities (like a toilet or mini-market). You might meet friendly rangers, park workers, and, in some cases, a lot of tourists or local people camping as well. In many cases, I have chosen a national park that is “off the beaten path” and found myself there alone with park officials, or sometimes just two guys cooking rice and eggs in a bamboo hut. That made the experience feel even more authentic.

Some of the best memories I have are from “hidden” national parks. In Thailand, one park ranger even invited me to stay in a very unofficial accommodation—one of their rooms!

5. Wilderness (hills, mountains, jungle)

It can be amazing and rewarding, but it is really suitable when you have a bit more experience. I did it in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. I experienced the unadulterated essence of nature and encountered all its elements. I’m not and don’t have myself as a professional outdoor expert. All the skills that I gained were from just doing wild camping on a regular basis. I began my journey in a familiar environment, a local forest, and gradually advanced until I felt comfortable enough to sleep alone in the wilderness. It is like riding a bicycle; first you learn to stay up and not fall, then one day you might go downhill with it. I also find it an interesting challenge to have the opportunity to face our human fears of the pure wilderness, which basically used to be our home.