😂 Yeah I’ve had a few run-ins with animals too 😅 But unless they are bears or wolves it’s not really an issue. I still have not camped in Finland. Guess I have to do something about that 😝
I am an expat living in Estonia and here we also have the right to roam and there are so many beautiful and well equipped public camping spots available. I used to ride a small motorcycle in my home country but it has been more than three years and now I want to get a motorcycle and go on a long road trip across Europe.
@RobertNiewenhuis Yes, in northeastern estonia, mostly in the Ida-Viru area, there are wolves and bears, which is why I usually choose to camp near the public campsites. So far, I have only encountered foxes two or three times, but there are cabins in the Ida-Viru area from where you can put some food outside and see the bears from the cabin.
As a Swede who loves camping with a bike and spent 3mths in western USA last year I actually found it to be very easy to do free camping in the west. Federal Land, and Forests, allows free camping within certain rules. I camped solo a lot in bear and puma country and carried no gun, just bearspray. Only saw bears while riding, both black bears and grizzlies.
Switzerland: Generally not allowed, except above tree line and not inside national parks. There are many camping sites however. It can vary also from municipality to municipality.
Iv been living in France for 3 years now, I’m from California. I really miss wild camping and overlanding (car camping with a 4x4). It seems non existent here, in the US the amount of exploration is almost infinite, there is so much beautiful nature to explore, overlanding is very big and popular there, it’s really fun to be able to buy a jeep or Toyota and modify it, lift it, big mud tires. Here you can’t even do those kinds of modifications to your car legally, and again, even if you could, there is no trail difficult enough to even require the modifications. That’s probably the thing I miss the most about the US.
Hehe yeah big off-road cars are hard to get anywhere with in Europe. And the laws here are very strict. Some make sense, but a lot don’t. But on a motorcycle you can find some pretty epic trails!
Good video, and I agree with every single word you say! Not on a motor, but on a bike and also a sea kayak, I spent hundreds of nights wild camping in Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Checa, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Slowakia, and Spain. I only had one confrontation with the police, on a rocky spot at the sea, with a french policeman. I decided to go for it and without doubt get fined for my attitude, refused to leave and started a conversation. Surprisingly, in the end the policeman didn't see the problem either and just left me there camping! I also agree pretty much with your statement that nature belongs to all of us (as long as we behave, of course). And had a good laugh when you said "better ask for forgiveness than for permission"😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Thanks for your video, cheers.
Italy here, as far as I know for the Italian law it's perfectly legal and allowed to camp for one night everywhere (it's called "bivacco"), just like an emergency camping spot. Resting for more than one night in the same place is considered camping, and usually that is now allowed everywhere, each city or town can decide to deny camping. I totally agree with you, as far as you are respectful, don't jump on fences or broke gates and leave the place clean and intact nobody give a damn thing. The main problem in Italy is offroading, because in many regions it's not clear if it's allowed or not, there are several laws from regions, towns, general law, they overlaps and nobody have really understood if it's allowed or not (outside of offroad tracks made for motocross and other organized competitions). In my case I usually go wherever I want, if state or local police will stop me I'll get a fine, it's very very very unlikely and it's not the end of the world, It's not a murder...
bivouac is not the same as camping with a tent, at least in germany. Are you sure that camping with a tent for one night is allowed in taly? That would be new to me.
I pretty much agree with everything you say,,, Thanks for the headsup regarding Ioverland ,,, I,m going to travel down to Spain and *uck around there for a month or two and intend to wild camp most of the time.. I too use google maps to hunt down spots... cheers
Interesting one. I've been thrown out if a farmers field fir stopping to eat a sandwich while cycling- in the UK.. England. But its OK in Scotland. I guess very discreet and respectful as you say. Might be the best way to save money while travelling. Besides fuel, what costs more in the western world? In Eastern Europe some hotels are do cheap you can afford the odd night of luxury. Ride safe 👍
Hehe yeah. I afford myself a night extra if it is really cheap some times. But I actually prefer the tent as long as the weather is ok. The only issue is power and WiFi 😅
Hello from Slovenia, I completely agree with you. Even if is a private land in Europe shouldn’t be a problem to put a tent there if you take all your rubbish and you are not disturbing nature or people around. Actually I thought how most of Europeans and non Europeans going to the sea every year and they spend most of the days sleeping on the sunny beaches over the day...for free. Why we wild campers can’t have a moon shining or moon bathing on the same beaches...Isn’t that strange? Honestly I have a problem to sleep in a camp sites as those are same like you are in the city...at least if you visit in the season...people are too close to each other, walking to the toilets, sometimes partying, drinking...and when I sleep in a forest I never hear deers or foxes having a loud party! Animals are a lot more concerned about me sleeping in the forest then people...but I am sure that everyone who experienced wild camping know that! And yes I did wild camping around Slovenia and Europe and only in UK I get some angry owners who think that they will take land with them on the other side! I can’t forget one woman who come to me with big SUV and told me that she need to pay for that road and that is the reason that I cannot sleep there as I did probably damage that part of the road as I did sleep on it, over the night...and yes only in UK few times I had bad experiences! Like once I just put the tent when a guy with a shoot gun come and told me to move! So maybe in UK you can have similar experiences like in USA...but otherwise If you are polite and move in the morning...then is not a problem. Somewhere in Netherlands 30 years ago locals even bring us fruits and put them in a front of the tents...for breakfast! Thank you for this video and thanks too all people who share same views about wild camping as wild camper I can say that I am on warmshowers for cyclists and some other places and my home and my land is always free to roam and open to everyone! And if i will ever catch you I will make you a coffee or breakfast or ask you If you need something! I love you all, we are all one!
@@Bazza1968 yes I know...and I think that some things should be “universal rights” or not rights but simple understanding between people...like common sense. I still don’t get as everyone of us was born in to this world and planet and if you travel and would like to sleep in the car, van or motorhome or in a tent should not be against any law in any country...I love you!
In the U.S. we've got millions of acres of National Forests & B.L.M. land, primarily in the western U.S. This land allows for dispersed camping up to 2 weeks. State owned land typically wants you to pay for designated camping spots. Private land? Yeah, this is a great way to get shot or catch a criminal trespassing charge... and yes, Americans gun culture obsession is dumb. Can you please adopt me so I can move to Norway?
😂 yeah sure! Bring your bike and come over 😝 I really want to cross America on the bike. But I think the US is one of the scariest places in the world to travel. I’ve traveled in many “dangerous” places all over the world before, but was never as scared as I was in L.A. 😅 But I still think that as long as nobody sees you it doesn’t really matter where you camp 😛
Travelling solo in western USA on a Euro plated motobike got to be one of the best places you can go. People were very friendly and often politely approached me for a chat. Almost twice a week I was invited to share bbqs, meals and beers at other peoples camps. Accepted half of them and had many laughs too. Or given fruits, soft drinks, snacks, coffee, and even morning pancakes once, by camp neighbours. And I was handed phone numbers to call if having a bike issue for ecample by strangers I had a brief conversation with. I would go back again in a heartbeat if I can.
@@MrPepsilon Thanks for sharing your story, friend. C'mon back anytime and try out one of the B.D.R. (Backcountry Discovery Routes) trails in WA, OR, WY, MT ID. If you were to start your trip in Seattle, I recommend Hwy 20 & maybe cross up into Canada for a bit to see more of the Cascade Range. Circumnavigating The Olympic peninsula is a fun ride as well. Cheers!
@@chiefenumclaw7960 Yeah, that would be the plan. I had just entered Canada coming from Bonners Ferry when my front tire suddenly fell apart more or less. Had to turn back and after that I was running out of time. Some of those BDRs, or at least portions of them, I wanted to do but by then I got wrong type of tires on the bike. Regrettully, as I was riding Lolo Pass too.
I find this really fascinating. Americans grow up with guns everywhere so they get used to it being a completely normal thing, while the rest of the world is used to not having them. The psychology behind why the guns need to be around to feel safe is very interesting. There are big critters and carnivores everywhere, but only in America are people so afraid that they need guns with them 😅 We have wolves and bears in Norway too, and give met them both while camping. Never even occurred to be that so wish I had a gun. And even if I did I probably wouldn’t shoot. 😛
Bro thinks if he camps in USA he will get shot. Tell me you have never camped in USA without telling me you have never camped in USA. Most USA is free to camp public land. Welcome to freedom. Leave no trace.
Hehe I have camped in the us a few times. And I don’t think people will shoot you on the spot. But when you don’t know if you are on private property or not, and the law is that you can shoot trespassers, the chance is there since everyone has guns. In Europe nobody does, and so it’s less risky. And in Norway it doesn’t matter if the land is private. You can still camp on it and the landowner can’t say anything as long as you are 150m away from a house.
@@RidetheBean And the few times you camped, I'm sure you were not shot and you had a great time. Yet you are spreading an Overexaggerated narrative in your video. Trespasser is some one who refuses to leave despite being warned several times. The land owner will literally warn you 10 times before pulling out the shotgun. You have to be a complete fool to get shot in USA by anyone while camping.
Hehe I’m sorry if you felt I was misrepresenting anything. That was not my intention. I did have a great time camping, but I also felt a bit restrained because I am used to not having to think about it at all. I’m not used to people having guns, and so I don’t feel as safe traveling around America as I did anywhere else I’ve been. Maybe it is my own bias, but I also experienced some scary moments there that I have not done other places.
Hello from finland. We also have the right to roam. But still I got woken up by some pissed off raindeer as I had blocked their path with my camp.
😂
Yeah I’ve had a few run-ins with animals too 😅
But unless they are bears or wolves it’s not really an issue.
I still have not camped in Finland. Guess I have to do something about that 😝
I am an expat living in Estonia and here we also have the right to roam and there are so many beautiful and well equipped public camping spots available. I used to ride a small motorcycle in my home country but it has been more than three years and now I want to get a motorcycle and go on a long road trip across Europe.
@RobertNiewenhuis Yes, in northeastern estonia, mostly in the Ida-Viru area, there are wolves and bears, which is why I usually choose to camp near the public campsites. So far, I have only encountered foxes two or three times, but there are cabins in the Ida-Viru area from where you can put some food outside and see the bears from the cabin.
As a Swede who loves camping with a bike and spent 3mths in western USA last year I actually found it to be very easy to do free camping in the west. Federal Land, and Forests, allows free camping within certain rules. I camped solo a lot in bear and puma country and carried no gun, just bearspray. Only saw bears while riding, both black bears and grizzlies.
in germany no to all tents and bivi ,big fines . but you can o campsits you must pay .its shit here
Switzerland: Generally not allowed, except above tree line and not inside national parks. There are many camping sites however. It can vary also from municipality to municipality.
Iv been living in France for 3 years now, I’m from California. I really
miss wild camping and overlanding (car camping with a 4x4). It seems non existent here, in the US the amount of exploration is almost infinite, there is so much beautiful nature to explore, overlanding is very big and popular there, it’s really fun to be able to buy a jeep or Toyota and modify it, lift it, big mud tires. Here you can’t even do those kinds of modifications to your car legally, and again, even if you could, there is no trail difficult enough to even require the modifications. That’s probably the thing I miss the most about the US.
Hehe yeah big off-road cars are hard to get anywhere with in Europe. And the laws here are very strict. Some make sense, but a lot don’t.
But on a motorcycle you can find some pretty epic trails!
Good video, and I agree with every single word you say! Not on a motor, but on a bike and also a sea kayak, I spent hundreds of nights wild camping in Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Checa, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Slowakia, and Spain.
I only had one confrontation with the police, on a rocky spot at the sea, with a french policeman. I decided to go for it and without doubt get fined for my attitude, refused to leave and started a conversation. Surprisingly, in the end the policeman didn't see the problem either and just left me there camping!
I also agree pretty much with your statement that nature belongs to all of us (as long as we behave, of course).
And had a good laugh when you said "better ask for forgiveness than for permission"😂👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks for your video, cheers.
Greetings from Iceland, thank you for a good advise. You are amazing character and inspiration to us all, ride safely "frændi" .
Be safe out there man 🤘🤟❤️
Takk!
Italy here, as far as I know for the Italian law it's perfectly legal and allowed to camp for one night everywhere (it's called "bivacco"), just like an emergency camping spot.
Resting for more than one night in the same place is considered camping, and usually that is now allowed everywhere, each city or town can decide to deny camping.
I totally agree with you, as far as you are respectful, don't jump on fences or broke gates and leave the place clean and intact nobody give a damn thing.
The main problem in Italy is offroading, because in many regions it's not clear if it's allowed or not, there are several laws from regions, towns, general law, they overlaps and nobody have really understood if it's allowed or not (outside of offroad tracks made for motocross and other organized competitions).
In my case I usually go wherever I want, if state or local police will stop me I'll get a fine, it's very very very unlikely and it's not the end of the world, It's not a murder...
Hehe yeah exactly. Worst case you get a fine, but that has never happened to me anywhere. Not even close…
bivouac is not the same as camping with a tent, at least in germany. Are you sure that camping with a tent for one night is allowed in taly? That would be new to me.
I pretty much agree with everything you say,,, Thanks for the headsup regarding Ioverland ,,, I,m going to travel down to Spain and *uck around there for a month or two and intend to wild camp most of the time.. I too use google maps to hunt down spots... cheers
sweden has allemansrätten to😊
Interesting one.
I've been thrown out if a farmers field fir stopping to eat a sandwich while cycling- in the UK.. England. But its OK in Scotland.
I guess very discreet and respectful as you say.
Might be the best way to save money while travelling. Besides fuel, what costs more in the western world?
In Eastern Europe some hotels are do cheap you can afford the odd night of luxury.
Ride safe 👍
Hehe yeah. I afford myself a night extra if it is really cheap some times. But I actually prefer the tent as long as the weather is ok.
The only issue is power and WiFi 😅
Hello from Slovenia,
I completely agree with you. Even if is a private land in Europe shouldn’t be a problem to put a tent there if you take all your rubbish and you are not disturbing nature or people around. Actually I thought how most of Europeans and non Europeans going to the sea every year and they spend most of the days sleeping on the sunny beaches over the day...for free. Why we wild campers can’t have a moon shining or moon bathing on the same beaches...Isn’t that strange?
Honestly I have a problem to sleep in a camp sites as those are same like you are in the city...at least if you visit in the season...people are too close to each other, walking to the toilets, sometimes partying, drinking...and when I sleep in a forest I never hear deers or foxes having a loud party!
Animals are a lot more concerned about me sleeping in the forest then people...but I am sure that everyone who experienced wild camping know that!
And yes I did wild camping around Slovenia and Europe and only in UK I get some angry owners who think that they will take land with them on the other side! I can’t forget one woman who come to me with big SUV and told me that she need to pay for that road and that is the reason that I cannot sleep there as I did probably damage that part of the road as I did sleep on it, over the night...and yes only in UK few times I had bad experiences! Like once I just put the tent when a guy with a shoot gun come and told me to move!
So maybe in UK you can have similar experiences like in USA...but otherwise If you are polite and move in the morning...then is not a problem.
Somewhere in Netherlands 30 years ago locals even bring us fruits and put them in a front of the tents...for breakfast!
Thank you for this video and thanks too all people who share same views about wild camping as wild camper I can say that I am on warmshowers for cyclists and some other places and my home and my land is always free to roam and open to everyone! And if i will ever catch you I will make you a coffee or breakfast or ask you If you need something!
I love you all, we are all one!
Scotland is part of the UK but we have the "Right to roam" which means camping like the Norway style.... England and Wales are very different!
@@Bazza1968 yes I know...and I think that some things should be “universal rights” or not rights but simple understanding between people...like common sense. I still don’t get as everyone of us was born in to this world and planet and if you travel and would like to sleep in the car, van or motorhome or in a tent should not be against any law in any country...I love you!
Not meant to in England and Wales, people do it more in Scotland! Ireland not sure.
Hotels and campsites are such a rip off in Europe. The only benefit are hot showers and laundry.
Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Except in the crazy US!!🎉🎉
😂 yeah I’m not sure I’d dare to do the same there 😅
from s.korea I'm also preparing for a trip to Europe✧⁺⸜(･ ᗜ ･ )⸝⁺✧
In the U.S. we've got millions of acres of National Forests & B.L.M. land, primarily in the western U.S. This land allows for dispersed camping up to 2 weeks. State owned land typically wants you to pay for designated camping spots. Private land? Yeah, this is a great way to get shot or catch a criminal trespassing charge... and yes, Americans gun culture obsession is dumb. Can you please adopt me so I can move to Norway?
😂 yeah sure! Bring your bike and come over 😝
I really want to cross America on the bike. But I think the US is one of the scariest places in the world to travel.
I’ve traveled in many “dangerous” places all over the world before, but was never as scared as I was in L.A. 😅
But I still think that as long as nobody sees you it doesn’t really matter where you camp 😛
Travelling solo in western USA on a Euro plated motobike got to be one of the best places you can go. People were very friendly and often politely approached me for a chat. Almost twice a week I was invited to share bbqs, meals and beers at other peoples camps. Accepted half of them and had many laughs too. Or given fruits, soft drinks, snacks, coffee, and even morning pancakes once, by camp neighbours. And I was handed phone numbers to call if having a bike issue for ecample by strangers I had a brief conversation with.
I would go back again in a heartbeat if I can.
@@MrPepsilon Thanks for sharing your story, friend. C'mon back anytime and try out one of the B.D.R. (Backcountry Discovery Routes) trails in WA, OR, WY, MT ID. If you were to start your trip in Seattle, I recommend Hwy 20 & maybe cross up into Canada for a bit to see more of the Cascade Range. Circumnavigating The Olympic peninsula is a fun ride as well. Cheers!
@@chiefenumclaw7960 Yeah, that would be the plan. I had just entered Canada coming from Bonners Ferry when my front tire suddenly fell apart more or less. Had to turn back and after that I was running out of time. Some of those BDRs, or at least portions of them, I wanted to do but by then I got wrong type of tires on the bike. Regrettully, as I was riding Lolo Pass too.
I can`t imagine camping without guns available We got big critters that eat people here in America. Semper Fi
I can’t imagine feeling that I had to have a gun with me. Tell me, is that insecurity or an inferiority complex?
do you call your parents mom/dad or aunt/uncle?
I find this really fascinating. Americans grow up with guns everywhere so they get used to it being a completely normal thing, while the rest of the world is used to not having them.
The psychology behind why the guns need to be around to feel safe is very interesting. There are big critters and carnivores everywhere, but only in America are people so afraid that they need guns with them 😅
We have wolves and bears in Norway too, and give met them both while camping. Never even occurred to be that so wish I had a gun.
And even if I did I probably wouldn’t shoot.
😛
Here another gun-less European: in fact what you say is that every creep you might encounter most probably carries a gun. Now, THAT is scaring!
If you really feel unsafe, pepper-spray is legal and can be used instead
Bro thinks if he camps in USA he will get shot. Tell me you have never camped in USA without telling me you have never camped in USA. Most USA is free to camp public land. Welcome to freedom. Leave no trace.
Hehe I have camped in the us a few times. And I don’t think people will shoot you on the spot. But when you don’t know if you are on private property or not, and the law is that you can shoot trespassers, the chance is there since everyone has guns.
In Europe nobody does, and so it’s less risky. And in Norway it doesn’t matter if the land is private. You can still camp on it and the landowner can’t say anything as long as you are 150m away from a house.
@@RidetheBean And the few times you camped, I'm sure you were not shot and you had a great time. Yet you are spreading an Overexaggerated narrative in your video. Trespasser is some one who refuses to leave despite being warned several times. The land owner will literally warn you 10 times before pulling out the shotgun. You have to be a complete fool to get shot in USA by anyone while camping.
Hehe I’m sorry if you felt I was misrepresenting anything. That was not my intention. I did have a great time camping, but I also felt a bit restrained because I am used to not having to think about it at all. I’m not used to people having guns, and so I don’t feel as safe traveling around America as I did anywhere else I’ve been. Maybe it is my own bias, but I also experienced some scary moments there that I have not done other places.
@@RidetheBean Don't buy into the Bias. You have a higher chance of getting into a car accident than getting shot in USA.
@@RidetheBean Getting shot in USA is blown out of proportion. Now obesity, that is a different story.