Backpacking & Trekking : Campsites in private gardens

How to go camping and backpacking?

Have you always dreamed of a journey reflecting your expectations without any constraints? Do you like walking and are not afraid to immerse yourself in nature? This section will be the most appropriate for you!

Travel in the heart of the fauna and flora. Take advantage of this opportunity to observe and admire it and let yourself be rocked by the forest's sounds. There is nothing better than a walk to discover the soul of a region, its riches, its wonders, its inhabitants... The landscapes stretch slower under the eyes, giving walkers time to savour them. You are free to set your own pace, and can take a break whenever you wish: on the banks of a refreshing river, on the shores of a mountain lake, at the top of a cliff overlooking the sea, or even on a beach, to enjoy the sunshine. This feeling of freedom and independence will take possession of your body and you will become one with nature. 

Where to go camping while on a hike and on a trekking?

Accessible to both younger and older people, hiking will allow you to visit Europe at your own pace. Simple and easy to do, walking is perfect to penetrate nature and meet the local people of a regions and therefore, make your experience rich in discovery and authenticity.  The HomeCamper hosts will be happy to accommodate you during your walking trip and advise you on the best paths to take.

Get prepared for your backpacking trip!!

Go trekking for several days in the desert of Morocco or in the mountains of France, take long hikes here and elsewhere: travellers eager for sporting or spiritual challenges are spoilt for choice when it comes to adventures and destinations.

Here are some tips to help you get ready for a long hike:

A lot of it is happening in the back of your mind

That is probably one of the best advice we can give you. Walking for a long time is a physical exercise, but just as much (if not more) a mental exercise. It's all about motivation and inner strength.

The trick before each day's walk? Avoid thinking about everything that you are going to accomplish and just go, literally, one step at a time. Enjoying every landscape, every part of the road and fully enjoying the moment.

And if you really need it, you can give yourself mini-objectives throughout the day to make it seem like you're going faster. For example: set an alarm that will tell you when you're halfway there, don't look at the distance you've travelled before stopping to eat, stop for lunch halfway so that you don't leave with more kilometres to go than you've already covered, put on some music to motivate you when you feel more tired, sing to put you in a good mood, or keep your tired mind busy planning, for example, the next great adventures.

Be well prepared to avoid unpleasant surprises

Even if you go there to recharge your batteries and take the time to live, the physical challenge of a long hike is not to be taken lightly. Even if you don't prepare for it the same way you would for a race, you should still train a minimum amount before going for a walk for several days. It is important to be physically able to walk for hours and, more importantly, to be able to walk for several days in a row.

That's the real challenge of a long hike: repeating for several days an activity you rarely take part in so intensely. Then find the strength to do it again.

Too much is like not enough

As with everything in life, "too much" often means "not enough". For example, on a long walk, too much luggage means not enough lightness and lack of freedom of movement.

Thus, despite the fact that a long adventure can give the impression that you'll need a lot of things, avoid filling your backpack as if you were never coming back home and thinking you'll be wearing lots of different clothes. Instead, like any good traveller, you should choose light, easy-to-wash clothes that dry faster than lightning.

It's not the destination that matters

It may be a cliché, but it's still very true. By enjoying the walk itself and not focusing on the destination to be reached each day, you learn to savor the moment.

The first reason to go on a hike is to take a fresh bowl of air, to become one with nature, to slip into a contemplative state and to find yourself more serene. By walking, you think better and refocus, therefore, you quickly forget the distance until the destination and enjoy the landscapes along the way.

Of course, you have to keep your goals in mind and you may be carried away by the fact that you are enjoying every splendour, small or large, offered along the way but you should also arrive safely before darkness falls.

Check the weather forecast

Before every mountain outing, it is important to look at the weather forecast in detail. A lot of sunshine at the starting point of your hike can mask wetter weather along the way. Look for the basic data related to weather (rain, fog, wind, etc.) and temperature but also take a look at the time of sunrise and sunset since it may be different if you are in another country.

By the end of august, the days are getting shorter and night is falling much faster than you might think, so it is essential to plan a route that allows you to be home before nightfall or to be equipped accordingly. So even if you plan to be home before sunset, always carry a headlamp in your bag.

Be well-equiped

Never leave without at least a map and a compass with you or a GPS or any hiking tracking app on your smartphone; especially since the beaconing in autumn or winter is not always in good condition and rain or fog can hide it.

As for your equipment, it must be adapted to the weather and the location of the hike. You will sometimes be confronted to wet terrain and rain. So choose shoes with notched soles for better grip. You also need breathable, warm clothing and enough to cover you in case of bad weather. A pair of sticks can be useful, especially to help you keep your balance on slippery ground or to probe swampy terrain.

With HomeCamper, you can disconnect from everything and live the moment.