What wild camping is about

Finding comfort in the unknown

Some wild camping nights are pure magic, others are a total mess, but one thing is certain: you always wake up with a story.

Through experience, we've learned that wild camping often leads to the most memorable moments. It has shown us that, no matter what, there is always a way forward. But above all, it has reminded us that most people in this world are genuinely kind—willing to help, offering support and opening their doors without hesitation. These experiences have given us so much trust in the world.

I’d love to take you along on two of our wild camping experiences, so you can get a better sense of what I mean.

After a long day behind us, we had been searching for a camp spot for what felt like forever. We’d already asked several people along the way, but no luck.

Just as we were starting to feel desperate, a man directed us to a park. Many people had gathered in this park, to break their fast for Ramadan. The man pointed out a pergola where, according to him, we could spend the night. At that moment, the spot was still crowded with people enjoying their meal. To give them space, we waited patiently, eating a bowl of Laksa soup. Just as we finished, a woman offered us two cups of lemonade and coffee—a small gesture that made all the difference…

Hours passed.

Around midnight, the pergola was still occupied. The people were clearly drunk and, from the looks of it, not planning to leave anytime soon. After some hesitation, I gathered the courage to ask if we could set up our tent there. They allowed us, so we started setting up camp, but the people showed no signs of leaving.

A little irritated, I blew up my air mattress, hoping they’d take the hint. We were tired and just wanted to sleep. But as I inflated my mattress, it knocked my bike down, which then fell onto the tent—CRACK, the tent pole snapped.

The magic of camping was nowhere to be found. Bernardo fixed the broken pole with a selfie stick and duct tape (a must have on these trips). Not perfect, but good enough. Just as he finished, they thought it was the perfect moment for a bunch of selfies. That was the last thing we felt like doing, but we went along with it. Luckily, they picked up on the hint and left soon after. We crawled into the tent and, after tossing and turning through the restless evening, we eventually fell asleep.

The lemonade and coffee the lady offered was a small gesture, yet it made all the difference in how we experienced that night in the park. It wasn’t about the perfection of the night, but about how that small offer shifted our perspective, turning it into a moment of trust. It reassured us, making us feel that everything would be fine. Despite the restless night, we now look back on it as a beautiful story. And isn’t that what we came for?

Let me share another of our experiences, just to make sure that by the end of this article, you have all the confidence you need to take on your own wild camping adventure.

After a long day of cycling, we decided it was time to call it a day. Full of confidence we pedalled around, in search of a place to pitch our tent—surely there had to be something? But no, nothing. No grassy field, no sheltered spot, nothing at all.

Plan B: the campsite we found on Google Maps. Confident it would be perfect, we arrived, only to find it closed.

At that point, hunger took over. We found ourselves in a Chinese restaurant, feeling a bit stuck. By the time we finished our meal, the sun had completely set and the discomfort started to kick in.

Rather than riding around in the dark again, we asked a restaurant employee for advice. Our intention wasn’t to ask if we could sleep there, but that’s exactly what she offered. And so, that night, we ended up sleeping in a Chinese restaurant.

Wild camping is not only about chasing the most beautiful spots beneath the stars. It’s about trusting that, in a world full of genuinely kind people, things will always work out.

I would wish these experiences for everyone, as they bring you a little more faith in a world that, at times, feels upside down…

Jule Noah