At the beginning of a second coronavirus lock-down, I manage to stay optimistic about the future. Thriving on memories of beautiful camping spots and longing for future ones, I collected some stunning examples of really nice pitches that we found on past journeys.
Morning in Kazakhstan
Indeed, often one just stumbles upon places like these and accepts them as a generous gift of the land. Deliberately going in search of them doesn’t work for the most part. It’s all about serendipity. Experiencing these places is the result of overlander’s intuition: taking the right turn at the right moment, discovering what you don’t expect.
Find more on the Destinations pages per country under ‘Room on wheels with a view’.
A welcome camping spot close to the Sarykum dune in Dagestan… at 46° in the shadow. At night and in the morning it became unexpectedly chilly due to the dew.
Pitch in very good company above 4000m in altitude (Pamirs, Tajikistan). No chance to hide, no need to hide.
Overlander’s tip: Search for overnight spots
If possible, don’t search for them. Allow the right moment to just happen. Then decide, even if there is still a lot of time left till sunset.
Want to be really alone? Want more peace of mind? If possible, turn off down an inviting track when no one is watching. Choose tracks that are less obvious and less frequently driven.
Trust your intuition: if the place doesn’t make you feel good, even if you don’t understand why, drive a little further.
Don’t be alarmed if someone does pass by in the end. Have a friendly chat and ask if you are not disturbing anyone. It is a sign of respect, and most people will appreciate it.
Be aware that you may possibly enter a vulnerable natural area. The damage that is left by the wheels of your truck is already enough, and it should be the only trace you leave behind. Don’t leave even the smallest amount of litter.
One might disagree, but in my honest opinion and attitude, you shouldn’t automatically share these places by uploading GPS coordinates to dedicated apps. Only do so in areas where it happens to be extremely difficult to find an overnight spot.