Camping

Countries featuring top mountain camping

Switzerland

• Mountain Regions: The Alps, including Zermatt, Lauterbrunnen, and the Engadine valley.
• Camping Experience: Well-equipped campgrounds with stunning views, alpine huts for hybrid camping, and some backcountry sites.
• Women’s Notes: Extremely safe, excellent infrastructure, and clear trail markings.
• Women’s Notes: Many campsites have secure facilities and female-friendly amenities.
• Unique Highlights: Waking up to the Matterhorn, glacier hikes, pristine mountain lakes.
• Ideal for: First-time campers, luxury seekers, solo travelers.

Canada

• Mountain Regions: Canadian Rockies – Banff, Jasper, Yoho National Parks.
• Camping Experience: Mix of frontcountry campsites with amenities and remote backcountry spots.
• Women’s Notes: Bear safety education is essential here.
• Women’s Notes: National parks offer ranger-led programs and safety briefings, popular for women’s hiking groups.
• Unique Highlights: Turquoise lakes, vast wilderness, wildlife sightings like elk and bears.
• Ideal for: Adventure seekers, wildlife lovers, group camping.

New Zealand

• Mountain Regions: Southern Alps, including Aoraki/Mount Cook and Fiordland National Park.
• Camping Experience: DOC campsites, freedom camping zones, and some private campgrounds with facilities.
• Women’s Notes: Very welcoming for solo women travelers, strong outdoor culture with women-led tours.
• Unique Highlights: Spectacular fjords, mirrored lakes, rugged peaks.
• Ideal for: Solo adventurers, photographers, free spirits.

Norway

• Mountain Regions: Jotunheimen National Park, Rondane, Lofoten Islands.
• Camping Experience: Wild camping is legal under the “allemannsretten” (right to roam) law, encouraging dispersed camping with respect for nature.
• Women’s Notes: Low crime, respectful society, excellent trail infrastructure.
• Unique Highlights: Midnight sun, northern lights, stunning fjord views.
• Ideal for: Confident independent campers, nature lovers.

Austria

• Mountain Regions: Tyrol, Dachstein, Ötztal Alps.
• Camping Experience: Campgrounds near alpine villages, mountain huts, and meadow camping.
• Women’s Notes: Easy trails, family-friendly campsites, wellness tourism nearby for relaxation.
• Unique Highlights: Alpine meadows, thermal baths, delicious regional cuisine.
• Ideal for: Relaxed hikers, mother-daughter trips, wellness seekers.

USA

• Mountain Regions: Yosemite, Glacier National Park, Colorado Rockies.
• Camping Experience: Wide range from developed campgrounds to dispersed camping and luxury glamping.
• Women’s Notes: Women’s hiking and camping groups are common, with many safety resources.
• Unique Highlights: Dramatic granite cliffs, wildflower meadows, diverse ecosystems.
• Ideal for: Beginners to experts, group campers, adventure lovers.

Chile 

• Mountain Regions: Torres del Paine, Andes near Patagonia.
• Camping Experience: Combination of tent sites in established parks and refugios for shelter.
• Women’s Notes: Guided treks available, making remote camping safer for women.
• Unique Highlights: Towering granite peaks, glaciers, Patagonian steppe.
• Ideal for: Bucket-list trekkers, nature lovers.

Argentina 

• Mountain Regions: Patagonia’s El Chaltén, Lake District near Bariloche.
• Camping Experience: Wild camping and well-maintained campgrounds near hiking trails.
• Women’s Notes: Friendly atmosphere, affordable options, active female trekking community.
• Unique Highlights: Fitz Roy massif, glacial lakes, dense forests.
• Ideal for: Budget travelers, photographers, nature enthusiasts.

Nepal 

• Mountain Regions: Annapurna Circuit, Everest Base Camp, Langtang Valley.
• Camping Experience: Combination of tent camping and teahouse stays along trekking routes.
• Women’s Notes: Women-led trekking agencies, emphasis on group safety.
• Unique Highlights: High Himalayan peaks, Sherpa culture, spiritual landscapes.
• Ideal for: Cultural campers, high-altitude hikers.

Italy 

• Mountain Regions: Dolomites, Gran Paradiso National Park.
• Camping Experience: Alpine campgrounds and rifugios (mountain huts) for mixed camping.
• Women’s Notes: Safe, with local hospitality and well-maintained trails.
• Unique Highlights: Jagged limestone peaks, alpine meadows, Italian gastronomy.
• Ideal for: Culture lovers, romantic getaways, hikers new to camping.

France 

• Mountain Regions: Chamonix, Mercantour National Park.
• Camping Experience: Well-equipped campgrounds and basecamps for hiking.
• Women’s Notes: Strong outdoor culture, accessible trails, and many women’s hiking groups.
• Unique Highlights: Mont Blanc views, alpine glaciers, charming villages.
• Ideal for: Classic hikers, solo women, guided tours.

Japan 

• Mountain Regions: Japanese Alps, Mount Fuji, Hokkaido’s Daisetsuzan National Park.
• Camping Experience: Campsites with hot springs nearby, mountain huts, and forest camping.
• Women’s Notes: Very safe country, clean facilities, respectful culture.
• Unique Highlights: Hot springs, cherry blossoms, serene mountain landscapes.
• Ideal for: Mindful solo travelers, nature lovers.

South Africa

• Mountain Regions: Drakensberg Mountains, Cederberg.
• Camping Experience: Guided multi-day camping, formal campgrounds with security.
• Women’s Notes: Best explored in groups or guided tours for safety.
• Unique Highlights: Ancient rock art, waterfalls, dramatic cliffs.
• Ideal for: Group adventurers, cultural enthusiasts.

Australia

• Mountain Regions: Snowy Mountains, Tasmania’s Wilderness.
• Camping Experience: National park campgrounds, eco-lodges, and backcountry camping.
• Women’s Notes: Clean, well-monitored campsites with ranger presence.
• Unique Highlights: Unique wildlife like wombats and wallabies, alpine flora.
• Ideal for: Eco-tourists, wildlife watchers.

Iceland 

• Mountain Regions: Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, Westfjords.
• Camping Experience: Tented camping with mountain huts, close to hot springs.
• Women’s Notes: One of the safest countries worldwide, perfect for solo female campers.
• Unique Highlights: Volcanic landscapes, geothermal springs, northern lights.
• Ideal for: Wilderness explorers, cold-weather campers.

Peru

• Mountain Regions: Cordillera Blanca, Ausangate, Salkantay Trek.
• Camping Experience: High-altitude camping supported by guides and porters.
• Women’s Notes: Women-focused trekking groups growing; safety through organized tours.
• Unique Highlights: Glacial lakes, Andean culture, ancient ruins.
• Ideal for: Experienced campers, culture seekers.

Slovenia

• Mountain Regions: Julian Alps, Triglav National Park.
• Camping Experience: Eco-conscious campsites, mountain huts, and riverside sites.
• Women’s Notes: Very safe and easy to explore, small country with good infrastructure.
• Unique Highlights: Emerald rivers, alpine peaks, untouched nature.
• Ideal for: Weekend travelers, beginner campers.

Georgia

• Mountain Regions: Caucasus Mountains – Kazbegi, Svaneti, Tusheti.
• Camping Experience: Village-based camping, tent camping in alpine valleys.
• Women’s Notes: Friendly locals, growing women’s trekking networks.
• Unique Highlights: Medieval towers, rugged peaks, ancient traditions.
• Ideal for: Off-the-beaten-path travelers, cultural campers.

India

• Mountain Regions: Himalayas – Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh.
• Camping Experience: Guided tent camping, basecamps, and glamping options.
• Women’s Notes: Women-only trekking groups popular, especially in the north.
• Unique Highlights: Sacred monasteries, vibrant culture, wildflower valleys.
• Ideal for: Spiritual seekers, adventurous women.

Portugal

• Mountain Regions: Serra da Estrela, Peneda-Gerês National Park.
• Camping Experience: Rustic forest campsites, glamping, and mountain meadows.
• Women’s Notes: Safe, relaxed culture, perfect for quiet nature escapes.
• Unique Highlights: Wild horses, granite peaks, fresh river pools.
• Ideal for: Slow travelers, solo campers.