The first time a tent pole broke on me was when I was camping in Kyrgyzstan and we had to find makeshift tools and pieces to put it together.

Camping for the first time as a beginner can be intimidating. I was stumbling in Central Asia trying to find the right place to be hidden away from the highway.

Even scrutinising all the essentials from what kind of tent, sleeping bag and camping gear I should have thought can be a ginormous task.

I recall reading obsessively about all the camping tips and tricks for beginners to avoid making a mistake.

We are now seeing the busiest camping season and rightly so as people want to come outside to enjoy nature and take a breather from two years of staying indoors.

Here’s where I’ll cover the best camping guide, tips and tricks for beginners.

I’ll share how to plan your first camping trip, safety basics and some tricks to ensure your camping experience is not a “task” but an enjoyable process as you learn and unlearn new techniques.

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The Best Camping Tips for Beginners

Million dollar view at kolsai lake in kazakhstan. Here are the best camping tips and tricks for beginners

Not many of us are lucky enough to get an experienced camper to show us the ropes. You could start small with an overnight camp in your car. Here are ways to strike out on your own if you’re a beginner camper:

Get a tent (a no-brainer for this). But instead of getting one, how about loaning it out from your friend.
Pack all your clothes for an overnighter and adjust accordingly to the temperature. Pro-tip: check the weather app!
Find the right type of packable camping food. If you don’t want to cook, here’s a list of no-cook backpacking or camping meals you can take with you.
Camp close to home: in case, you don’t feel safe and feel like you’d need a few days to dip your toes in the world of camping, this is a great method to gain some confidence!
Prepare mentally: There’s a lot of lists of what to buy and what to take, but the biggest preparation is all mental. Give yourself some pep talk and tell yourself there’s a first for everything!

How To Plan Your First Camping Trip: What’s Your Camping Style?

Understanding what’s your camping style is the first way to determine how you should go about planning your trip. Maybe you’re not keen on roughing it out and prefer a glamping style or you’d like to learn some survivalist techniques before going for a full-fledging camping trip.

Tent Camping: Broadly speaking, tent camping can be parked into any form of camping. This type of camping usually means using the facilities provided at a campground at a national park or designated camping area. This is the most common type of camping setup for people who are travelling and want to be close to nature.

Backcountry camping: If you love going on backpacking trips or a long hiking trip, and want to take all your gear with you to switch off and just be in the wilderness, then backcountry camping would be more your style. This is a great choice for people who want to navigate through mountainous terrain and spend some nights in the wild.

Car camping: Perhaps the most easiest type of camping where you park your car at a specific area and carry all your gear with you. You could use a variety of tent setups and convert the backseat of your car to carry all your supplies.

Glamping: In Asia or in summers where the heat can be unbearable, glamping comes in as a welcome respite! Whether it is tree houses, canopy tents or luxury camps with a shower and all the latest modern day essentials, glamping can be a great way to dip your toes in the surroundings without sacrificing your comfort! It may not be the cheapest way to get outside but it is definitely aesthetically pleasing for a holiday vacay without ignoring nature’s benefits!

Essential Camping Gear: What To Bring When Camping?

When you’re planning your first camping trip even though it is a one-nighter, doing your homework upfront is highly important to avoid experiencing setbacks with dealt with an emergency. I did research and make sure I had the basics covered and had a rough idea of what I’ll be up against.

Tent: If you’re starting out camping as a beginner, a spacious tent of up to a “3-person tent” and a three-season tent would be ideal. You’ll want to think of the conditions. Will there be snow, sand, wind or rain? A 4-season tent may be slightly more bulky, so the best way is to find the right one that fits your camping setup. A pro-tip: try setting up the tent before camping, test it out in your yard or living room. You’d want to ensure you’ve got this as much as possible!
Sleeping Bag: We all know how important is a sleeping bag! The biggest factor when choosing one is rainfall and humidity. My camping trips are always somewhere cooler, I would recommend choosing a down sleeping bag or a 3-season sleeping bag that gives you some breathability when camping!'
Sleeping Pad: Don’t make that mistake of skimping on a sleeping pad! I once bought a thin pad that provided no insulation and felt like I was sleeping on rocks! You want the bag and pad to work in tandem. Sleeping pads with proper foaming will reflect all that warmth to you.
Emergency Blanket: I learnt this trick when I was camping in sub-minus temperatures and it was raining hail! The emergency blanket served as a giant foil wrapper that packs to the size of a sandwich bag actually saved my life! These blankets are known to extract a lot of heat. These add atleast 10-15 degrees of warmth.
Hammock: There are times when there’s a nice little river and two trees next to it making it perfect to lounge around and read a book. It is packable and often lightweight making it quite easy to pack it around with you!
Headlamp/lighting: While a flashlight is OK but having a proper headlamp frees you from having to hold one and it is also really nice to set the mood before you take time to build a campfire.
Stove: A two-burner propane camp stove is the best beginner camp stove to cook your meals and prepare your morning coffee! Don’t forget to bring a lighter and some fuel canisters and test it out before going for your trip.
Camping kitchen utensils: You don’t really need a lot but some simple cutting board if you’re chopping stuff, or mug and cutlery are good enough on a trip in the outdoors.
Camp chair: If you’re car camping and don’t need to trek, bringing a camp chair is nice to sit by the fire and enjoy the view

Also Read: The Best Pop-Up Tents For Effortless & Easy Camping: Large To Small

What To Wear When Camping?

Cotton kills when backpacking or camping. If you get wet, you’ll be cold and feel really icky about your camping experience. Choose wisely and invest in synthetic or wool baselayers. It is lightweight and wool baselayers like Merino are usually extremely lightweight and odour-free for days.

It is also important to get a down vest or a down jacket which can be easily condensed and be carried anywhere. Along with this, be sure to bring a rain jacket!

When Nature Calls: Hygiene & Camping Toiletries

Let’s just say we won’t be showering for a day or two and if you do camp in campground facilities, the very least you should bring with you is biodegradable soap, toilet paper and your own toothbrush.

Carry with you your own microfiber towel as well.

Bring a small bottle of hand sanitiser and avoid using your hands when sharing food. Keep it clean and don’t leave any trace behind.

Campsite Tips For Setting a Camp For The First Time

1. Choose a spot that is isolated

Always try to camouflage yourself and remain hidden when you’re camping to avoid attracting attention.

Pick a site that’s away from the usual campground so you don’t have to deal with onlookers. Also, if you are away from the camp facilities, you don’t need to deal with people constantly going to the trash cans or bathrooms.

2. Camp near a water source if you’re backpacking

Try to camp near a running creek, river or lake to gather water and do your dishes.

Make sure you filter your water or boil it if you’re going to consume it! The general rule is to set up camp 200 feet away from the water to keep it clean and away from any contaminants.

If you’re next to a lake and it is freezing temperatures, try to find a hill and camp away from the lake. It gets pretty cold camping next to the lake and you don’t want to be stuck in that situation.

3. Be prepared for whatever comes your way and invest in a small first aid kit.

You’d need antiseptic, ibuprofen and some plasters. You never know when you’ll get a crazy headache or wake up with a injury. Also, depend on where you’re camping, do pack a bear spray and a pepper spray just in case for safety measures!

4. Bring games and mini-card games

If it is your first time camping outside and if you’re with someone, it’ll be nice to have some mini card games to destress from all that setting up and waiting time in the afternoon sun. A mini-sized deck of cards won’t save your life but will help put you in the right mood.

5. Try new things as much as possible

It is your first time camping and chances are you’re still figuring out the ropes, this is your best chance to test that new skill you learned online such as making campfire, cooking a full-blown meal and other survivalist techniques you wish to master out in the wild!

6. Be critters-ready

To ensure no food is left out, the best way you can do is stash away leftovers in the car (that’s if you’re car camping), but if you have no other choice, find a way to keep your food away from animals (especially bears).

You could sling a bear bag (made of bear-proof fabric) over a high tree branch to be at least 200 feet away from your campsite.

Where To Go Camping? (Some Inspiring Camping Destinations Around The World!)

Some of the most rewarding places and views in the world are in your million dollar tent where you spend the night beneath the stars. Whether you want to escape to the mountains or find a coastal campsite, the world has some of the stunning places to visit.

1. Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand

We all know how stunning New Zealand for otherworldly landscapes. Mount Cook is the highest mountain in South Island and the gateway to the best outdoor landscapes. Views can go on for miles in this side of this world.

2. Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Scotland

Nothing can be more breathtaking than being in the Scottish highlands. The stunning peaks and villages in Trossachs are the perfect scene to stop for a camping trip. Being in the wild has never felt this stunningly beautiful!

3. Zion National Park, USA

Some of the most stunning places are in the Southwest and Zion National Park with its rugged and expansive canyon makes it one of the best places to trek and enjoy the best of Utah’s views in proper campsites. It is a red-rock wonderland and known to be heaven on earth!

4. Kyrgyzstan

If you love camping in the wilderness in the steppes with stunning backdrop of the Tien Shan mountains, Kyrgyzstan is the place to be. With 90% being mountains, Kyrgyzstan attracts travellers who love remote locations and are big fans of wild and vast spaces with endless roads and tracks. I camped at Lenin Peak Base Camp and even a cold blue alpine lake called Kol-Tor making it one of the most unforgettable trips!

5. Ladakh, India

If you fancy being on the highest roof of the world and love all things related to Buddhism including monasteries, prayer flags and being in a raw place with unobstructed views of the mountains, then Ladakh might just be the best place to camp. It’s harsh but the mountains and stunning mooscapes feel like you’re in Mars!

If you managed to get out there and complete your first camping trip, share with me in the comments below how it went!

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