Whether it’s the basics of camping or the glamour of glamping, a holiday in the great outdoors gives you back your childhood.

So here’s a choice for you. First option is a suite in an Asian hotel, where you can lap up the luxury of monogrammed bathrobes, Egyptian cotton sheets with a 2,000 thread count, a marble-clad bathroom where the amenities cost more than your car, and butler service on tap.

Second option is sleeping in the middle of a field. And by ‘sleeping’, we mean being kept awake by a flapping tent, a bed which is unreasonably uncomfortable, and the complete absence of plumbing.

The hotel suite might seem to be the obvious hands-down winner. But then, despite its money-can-buy-everything attitude, it doesn’t have the romance of living on your own resources in the great outdoors.

Camping is one of life’s finer moments and a cry for freedom from all the trappings of modern life. There’s nothing as invigorating and fulfilling as knocking up your home away from home – there’s a sort of primordial attraction in finding and cooking your own food, finding shelter from the wind, and trying to keep yourself decently clean with the sole help of soap and water.

And after a day of keeping yourself busy trying to survive, there’s nothing as joyful as a warm brew, sipped noisily while looking at the twinkling stars. And you can stay out all night – after all, you won’t be able to sleep.

Camping is what you make of it. If you’re at beginner level, we suggest you set up tent in an organised camping site. This comes with the added benefits of electricity, plumbing, supplies and the comfort of neighbours.

Of course, you can always take the hard way and forego the managed efficiency of a campsite by going solo. In this case, you must first choose your site carefully. Make sure that you have an abundant supply of fresh water and that you’re sheltered from nature’s harshest moments – look out for signs of the prevailing wind conditions and make sure your tent is not facing into it. If you’re camping in winter, dig a shallow trench uphill of your tent so that rainwater is diverted away from your little paradise.

It’s also important to teach yourself how to start, nurture and, importantly, put out fires. Stock up on firewood and consider the option of having a tent that can take a wood-burning stove inside. Also, if you’re camping for more than a weekend, consider the option of setting up a second, smaller tent where you can stock all your supplies, thus leaving your living quarters uncluttered.

The other extreme is a boutique camping experience. If you can’t give up on your luxury, you can find a balance between camping and comfort by opting for glamping. Glamorous camping is a relatively new concept that successfully marries such conveniences as ready-pitched tents, electrical power, full-sized mattresses and even room service with the attraction of designer camps and the beauty of nature.

Your links to freedom

www.campingeurope.com A directory of all the camping sites in Europe, organised by country.
www.maltacampsite.com Malta’s only official camping, caravan and mobile home park.
www.goglamping.net The definitive luxury camping directory to glamping sites around the world.
www.glamping-uk.co.uk A directory for the best glamping sites in the UK, from double bed dreams in Dorset to luxury yurts in the Lake District.

Camping in Europe

France
www.campingmilletoiles.com A beautiful campsite for 33 tents at the Gorges de l’Ardèche in the Alps. The site enjoys beautiful riverscapes and the convenience of electricity, grocery store and laundry. The management even organises activities and entertainment for the little ones.

Spain
www.yurthotel.com The Hoope Yurt Hotel in Southern Spain is an idyllic site set in three hectares of olive groves. All the yurts are individually decorated and have their individual bathroom and plenty of private space around them.

Turkey
www.huzurvadisi.com This camping site on the outskirts of Göcek, on Turkey’s stunning turquoise coast, doubles up as a yoga retreat. Get the most from your yoga positions against the background of forested mountains rising up from the sea.

Switzerland
www.whitepod.com Set around a traditional Alpine chalet, this is a cluster of six canvas pods that combine eco-tourism with high-tech camping. All pods come complete with a wood-burning stove and organic bedding.

UK
www.vintagevacations.co.uk One of the UK’s coolest camping experiences – Vintage Vacations hires out Airstream trailers and vintage British caravans on the Isle of Wight.

Italy
www.elbahira.it Conveniently close to Malta, this camping site in San Vito lo Capo, Sicily, offers excellent facilities on the coast. Nearby is the magnificent Zingaro nature reserve and plenty of traditional Sicilian villages to explore.