These 5 tips will make your camping holiday unforgettable

If you've always dreamed of a solo trip but so far lacked the courage to discover the world on your own, this post is perfect for you: with these 5 tips for your holiday as a woman travelling solo, your dream of packing your bags and setting off alone will soon become reality.

Travelling alone as a woman:

1. Preparation

2. Route planning

3. Destination

4. Pitch

5. Gadgets

Tip 1: Preparation is everything

The right planning is a good foundation when you set off as a woman travelling alone for the first time. And it gives you a good sense of security for your solo trip.

The most important things for your trip are two to begin with: your vehicle and your place to sleep. Are you travelling with your car and just tossing the tent into the boot? Or do you have a converted camper or a motorhome to sleep in? Being surrounded by solid walls definitely gives a greater sense of security. If you don't own a camper yourself, you can rent one. There are countless camper rental companies. But also platforms like Roadfans, where private individuals make their camper or motorhome available to you.

Image from Unsplash by Manuel Meurisse |

Before you set off alone, you should tick off these points on your list:

• Vehicle insurance: If the vehicle is your private property, you've already taken this out. If you rent a vehicle, think carefully in advance about what insurance cover you want to include. Depending on the route, glass, underbody and tyres should be insured as well if needed.

• Breakdown cover: For rental vehicles, find out what cover you have in case of a breakdown with the van. For private vehicles, breakdown cover definitely makes sense. It's available for under 100 euros a year for all of Europe.

• Country rules for self-drivers: Tolls, daily or annual vignettes, a Green Card as proof of insurance: every country has its own rules that apply to self-drivers. Find out in advance what preparations you need to make.

• Packing: So you don't forget anything, it's best to make a packing list. Essential in any case: a warning triangle, a hi-vis vest, a first-aid kit, a spare tyre and, if needed, a jack. Check that everything is where it should be. Make sure your phone battery is charged before you set off and, just in case, pack a power bank, in case something happens. If you set off in winter, there should also be a blanket in the car for longer traffic jams (you'll find more gear for winter camping here). You'll find more tips on what you shouldn't be without under Tip 5.

Tip 2: The right route planning

Before your road trip starts, you should think about where you want to travel to as a woman on your own. Under Tip 3 you'll get a few recommendations for travel destinations. For peace of mind, it definitely helps to have a rough plan of which route you take.

Image from Unspalsh by Jeremy Bishop |

Long drives can be very tiring, especially when you have to do them completely on your own. Ideally, you'll have already driven longer distances in one go before your first solo trip. If not, it's better to split the route into many small stages and not drive longer than 3-4 hours in a single day. If you already have experience with long drives and a longer route ahead of you, definitely plan in enough breaks. Take a short nap if you have to when you get tired, don't take any risks.

Tip 3: Destinations for women travelling alone

There are dodgy corners everywhere in the world. What matters is behaving sensibly, and you have it in your own hands where you travel. How about a destination in the "neighbourhood" for your first camping holiday as a woman travelling solo: on the North Sea? On the Moselle? In the vineyards or in the Alps? Your options for carefree camping are endless.

Image from Unsplash by Silvio Bergamo |

If you live in the west of Germany, the Netherlands are a good destination. Camping life is celebrated here, so it's very safe for you too as a woman travelling solo. Popular camping destinations are also the Scandinavian countries: whether Denmark, Sweden, Finland or Norway, they're considered very safe and are perfect for you if you want to travel alone as a woman. If you can't decide whether mountains or sea are right for you, a road trip through Slovenia to Croatia could be a good fit for your first trip alone as a woman.

Important note: The Global Peace Index ranks the safest countries in the world every year. Take a look! The Travelriskmap is a good indicator too. Here Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Slovenia come out particularly well.

Tip 4: A safe pitch, camping for women

Of course there's always the personal question of which type of camping gives you the greatest sense of security when you're travelling alone as a woman. If you don't want to wild camp on your own, there are a few alternatives:

Image from Unsplash by Scott Goodwill |

• VanSite pitch: A spot on private property is perfect if you don't want to camp in the wild but also don't want to miss out on nature. You can choose between pitches right in the middle of nature, on the owners' private farms, or in their gardens. In some places you're even shielded from the rest of the world by a wall or a fence.

• Motorhome pitch: If you need a spot at short notice and late in the day, many countries have freely accessible motorhome pitches. These are often even free of charge; you only pay for electricity, water, and waste disposal.

• Campsite: As an alternative, there's always the classic: at a campsite you're surrounded by plenty of like-minded people, and there are staff on hand to help you out.

You can find the right pitches on various platforms. Besides the VanSite app for privately offered pitches, there's the Park4Night app. There you'll find campsites, motorhome pitches, and wild camping spots alike. And sometimes plain old Google Maps does the job too.

Tip: get to know the country and its people: If you enjoy meeting new people while travelling as a woman, networking is always a good idea too: get to know other people at the campsite or out in nature, and chat with the hosts of the private pitches. Good company and travel acquaintances always give you a better feeling.

Image from Unsplash by Tegan Mierle |

Tip 5: the most important gadgets for your solo trip

For women travelling alone, certain things can give a better sense of security: Pepper spray may generally be carried in Germany, for use as an animal deterrent spray. You should check the rules in other countries beforehand. In general, though, it's quite handy to have a pepper spray within reach.

A flashlight is always a good idea for a camping trip, for example when you need to step outside again at night. Keep your phone charged at all times and keep it close by if you feel uneasy. A charging cable and power bank should be packed accordingly. If you have a way to lock things away safely in your car, you should also bring a lock with you.

Bring on your first camping holiday as a woman travelling solo

With these 5 valuable tips, you're well prepared for your first camping trip alone as a woman. The most important thing is always that you feel comfortable in the situation. If a pitch makes you uneasy, change it. Lock your door from the inside at night and black out your vehicle or tent so that no one can look inside.

And now: just take a deep breath and go for it. Because most worries turn out to be unnecessary, and out there the big adventure is waiting!

But does the same hold true for men? Tips for travelling alone as a man can be found in our article on the topic.