Wild camping
09-07-18, 07:13 PM
#1
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Wild camping
Been some long days rides here in Laos. 110kms yesterday.
Laos has to be one of the best places in the world for cycle touring - 7 million population and full of green bush and jungle.
But as such, in between towns there can be very little in the way of accomodation etc. So camping means freedom to stop when you want.
We camped in a school the other night after nothing else was available, but that can be awkward.
So would you wild camp (near the road) in places like Laos?
Laos has to be one of the best places in the world for cycle touring - 7 million population and full of green bush and jungle.
But as such, in between towns there can be very little in the way of accomodation etc. So camping means freedom to stop when you want.
We camped in a school the other night after nothing else was available, but that can be awkward.
So would you wild camp (near the road) in places like Laos?
09-07-18, 09:29 PM
#3
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And hammocks keep you off the ground where the bugs are.
It's people i'm most concerened about. We have to be the most dangerous species on the planet right?
09-08-18, 12:03 AM
#4
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i would avoid wild camping in laos and cambodia....
these here photos from area y'all are currently riding in. HALO still operating, still finding UXO.....even in areas already cleared.
09-08-18, 05:40 AM
#5
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I don't know Laos at all, but it seems to me that a dangerous place is dangerous day or night. For me, a bicycle is the easiest mode of transport to wild camp off of, and worry-free wild camping heavily depends on how deeply you can hike your rig into the woods (i.e., between hundred meters and 0.5 km). Course thick jungle can make that quite difficult.
09-08-18, 06:56 AM
#6
I've toured in Laos and didn't bring camping gear. The few other touring cyclists I met either didn't have camping gear or regretted having brought it. I was always able to find a guesthouse, though a couple of them were very basic. Cyclists coming from the other direction were often a good sources of information.
Though I didn't bring camping gear, I did bring a self-standing mosquito tent to put on a bed. I only used it one night because most places had ceiling fans, and I was there in January/February, which is the dry season. I was in the northern half of Laos.
Overall, Laos is a great place for touring because there is little traffic, mostly decent roads, nice scenery, friendly people, and very low prices for food & accommodations.
Though I didn't bring camping gear, I did bring a self-standing mosquito tent to put on a bed. I only used it one night because most places had ceiling fans, and I was there in January/February, which is the dry season. I was in the northern half of Laos.
Overall, Laos is a great place for touring because there is little traffic, mostly decent roads, nice scenery, friendly people, and very low prices for food & accommodations.
09-08-18, 08:19 AM
#7
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the farther in you go makes it that much harder to drag yourself out on one leg. don't do it.
if you can't make it to your planned town with lodging, flag down a bus or truck, check with the headman at the next village, ask to stay at a temple, or sleep in one of the many covered wooden bus stops along the highway.
09-11-18, 02:20 AM
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the farther in you go makes it that much harder to drag yourself out on one leg. don't do it.
if you can't make it to your planned town with lodging, flag down a bus or truck, check with the headman at the next village, ask to stay at a temple, or sleep in one of the many covered wooden bus stops along the highway.
if you can't make it to your planned town with lodging, flag down a bus or truck, check with the headman at the next village, ask to stay at a temple, or sleep in one of the many covered wooden bus stops along the highway.
One thing about sleeping outside in our tent is that it's so cool and kind of healthy not having air con or a fan blowing on you.
We stayed in a guesthouse out in the sticks here the other day. There was no door lock and a wire to secure the door. No wifi. The newish looking TV didnt work. Oh, and the worst of it was - no bum gun.
Love Laos though. The only other problem we are having is that the girlfriend doesnt get along with eating sticky rice. The is a serious lack of steamed rice out in the sticks here.
Hello sir. On the menu today, we have sticky rice, sticky rice and sticky rice.
And a serious lack of bread. Vietnam is full of baguettes and those fantastic food on rice shops. Didn't the French stay here long enough or something?
Gonna make myself a buddy burner today i think. Fried pork, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, by the side of the road in a hammock under some trees tomorrow.
09-12-18, 07:29 AM
#11
Saw those UXO guys a couple of times here. Did make me think. Gave us the usual friendly Laos wave and smile the 2nd time.
One thing about sleeping outside in our tent is that it's so cool and kind of healthy not having air con or a fan blowing on you.
We stayed in a guesthouse out in the sticks here the other day. There was no door lock and a wire to secure the door. No wifi. The newish looking TV didnt work. Oh, and the worst of it was - no bum gun.
Love Laos though. The only other problem we are having is that the girlfriend doesnt get along with eating sticky rice. The is a serious lack of steamed rice out in the sticks here.
Hello sir. On the menu today, we have sticky rice, sticky rice and sticky rice.
And a serious lack of bread. Vietnam is full of baguettes and those fantastic food on rice shops. Didn't the French stay here long enough or something?
Gonna make myself a buddy burner today i think. Fried pork, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, by the side of the road in a hammock under some trees tomorrow.
One thing about sleeping outside in our tent is that it's so cool and kind of healthy not having air con or a fan blowing on you.
We stayed in a guesthouse out in the sticks here the other day. There was no door lock and a wire to secure the door. No wifi. The newish looking TV didnt work. Oh, and the worst of it was - no bum gun.
Love Laos though. The only other problem we are having is that the girlfriend doesnt get along with eating sticky rice. The is a serious lack of steamed rice out in the sticks here.
Hello sir. On the menu today, we have sticky rice, sticky rice and sticky rice.
And a serious lack of bread. Vietnam is full of baguettes and those fantastic food on rice shops. Didn't the French stay here long enough or something?
Gonna make myself a buddy burner today i think. Fried pork, scrambled eggs, tomatoes, by the side of the road in a hammock under some trees tomorrow.
09-13-18, 05:12 AM
#13
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for those still thinking about spending a quiet night in a farmer's field....item in today's paper:
Sa Kaew cornfield yields mortar shells
had ridden this stretch on the thai-cambo border a couple months ago..
09-13-18, 12:38 PM
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Wild camping anywhere else? Probably. I like the freedom and the price. In Laos? Nope. Those signs are no joke - scary business. Or I'd be VERY particular about where I set up
