Written by Tasnim Nizar
As a newbie in Sweden, I was always curious about wild camping. This is something I had never done in my country and I was so fascinated about the possibilities Sweden’s vast nature had to offer.
Wild camping to me is a great way to connect with nature in a deep and meaningful way, in addition to being an absolute money saver on hotel accommodations. So after a little bit of research off the internet and asking some of our Swedish friends, we decided to give it a go. We planned a wild camping trip to Jämtland and Dalarna, central Sweden during summer. Couple of our friends tagged along and that added to the fun and excitement.
I am no pro here but here are a few things I would like to share about my wild camping experience. We set off in mid July. We drove from Gothenburg to Idre in Dalarna and then further to Åre in Jämtland. Our car was packed to the brim with things for the camp. I think we should work on packing less in future. Wild camping is all about living minimally in nature. However, I think that comes with experience.
Finding the perfect pitch
First and foremost, you need to find that perfect spot to camp for the night. I suggest you start hunting for the spot as soon as you reach your destination. We took a good few hours to find nice spots on some days. And then there were some lucky days where we drove into great spots just like that. It’s good to be informed about Sweden’s unique allemansrätten or freedom to roam.
Driving around to find that perfect spot could be a daunting task sometimes. You may not find something like what you have in mind. Or sometimes you spot a point on Google maps only to find out later that particular spot is inaccessible or simply does not exist at all. And sometimes you think you have found your spot only to realize that the spot has been taken already. So be prepared for some disappointment as you scout for the perfect spots. I like to look for a flat and dry spot surrounded by trees for shelter from winds. A water source nearby just completes my idea of an ideal pitch.
In Dalarna, we were lucky to find some prepared pitches in the wild, on the banks of a stream. The bushes had been cleared and the spots looked quite inviting. In Sweden, it is a common practice for the respective kommun/municipality to prepare pitches for wild camping. We immediately pitched our tents on one of the spots and started a fire. We cooked some light meals and went for a swim in the pristine waters later. A chit chat session round the campfire with a cup of hot cocoa, while the kids played in the forest, seemed the perfect way to end the day.
What to carry
These are the essentials I carried while we set off on our first wild camping trip. A tent, a good one. I just picked something decent from a well known brand. We bought a 4 person capacity tent for our family of 3. The extra room is great to store some things inside the tent and adds to the comfort. Sleeping bag would be the next most important thing to carry. Whatever the season, one just can’t do without a sleeping bag. Cooking gear comes next. We got a compact gas cylinder, a portable stove attachment and some basic cooking utensils. Mosquito and tick repellent sprays are a must carry item as mosquitoes could be a menace in the evenings. Having compact yet comfortable camping chairs really makes it easy and cozy at the camp. A drying line for clothes is something I felt I should have carried. Do not forget to pack essentials for toilet business. I carried a little garden spade so that I could dig deep and neat to do my business and cover up later.
Garbage bags, a light source, a bucket to carry and store water from the stream and sleeping mats are other essentials. One can choose to pack the rest of the stuff according to one’s needs and preferences. But keep in mind to organize everything smartly as you pack, so that it is easy to find something when you need it and then repack everything back again, as you move to your next pitch.
Keep in mind
Remember the rule is that you cannot stay in the same place longer than one night when you are wild camping. So you should be prepared to pack and move constantly. Make sure you don’t disturb or alter nature in any way. You leave the place the way you found it. Most often some ashes or remains of fire are the only signs to make out if somebody has already camped in the spot that you intend to. Park your vehicle wisely. Remember to collect your trash, sort them and dispose of them at the nearest garbage station.
In case you don’t find a suitable spot to camp, staying at one of the many paid camping sites in Sweden is an option. The prices are reasonable and most campsites do not need an advance booking. In fact, I recommend to start off camping by trying a paid campsite first. This gives you a small peek into the whole experience but with minimum risks and surprises. And then when you get the hang of it, you can venture into the wild and begin exploring the vast possibilities.
I hope I made sense to my fellow newbies who would like to try out camping in Sweden. Now I can’t wait until next summer to pack my tent and go off exploring more in Sweden’s great outdoors!
About the Author
I moved to Sweden in 2019 from Bangalore, India. Life in Sweden has been amazing. I tried my best to integrate into the society and learning the language helped a lot. I am still a newbie but life in Sweden has become more comfortable with time and ability to speak more fluent Swedish is one goal I am working on.
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