Camping in Asia: how different can it be?
I wake fully dressed. My tingling nose tells me that exiting my nine tog sleeping bag is going to be a shock. But Mr Tin Box is insistent that we see the sun rise. This was a recurring theme during our weekends wild camping in Asia, specifically Oman.
Had we been camping in Devon I might have told him to take a long walk off a short cliff. But here, pitched on the side of a 3,000m deep canyon, that would have resulted in certain death.
Not all of our wild camping spots came with the same jeopardy as Jebel Shams but, to be fair to Mr Tin Box, I felt compelled to witness the first rays of light creep over these unfamiliar landscapes as often as we could. We were there for a good time, not a long time.
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Switching pitches at UK campsites for deserts and mountains
After years of caravan and camping holidays in the UK – the initial inspiration for this website – we had the opportunity to move to Oman. Mr Tin Box’s job throws us plenty of curveballs, but this one was something to get excited about.
Oman might not be the first destination to come to mind for those seeking outdoor adventures. But it offers incredible opportunities for anyone who enjoys hiking, canyoning, water sports and wild camping.
So, in 2022, we said farewell to our camper van, packed up our life in Devon and shipped much of our camping gear to Muscat. How different could camping here be? We were set to find out.
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Essential camping equipment in Western Asia
We didn’t pack light for our move. Had we been visiting Oman for a holiday, rather than a temporary work posting, we would have been more frugal.
However, there were still things that we knew were better to buy in country, like a tent. Camping in the Arabian climate necessitated light-weight mosquito-proof coverings more than the water-proof ones available in the UK.
Luckily camping gear was abundant in city supermarkets as well as Muscat’s large Decathlon store and a couple of small specialist off-road driving shops. In fact, there was very little we couldn’t buy in Oman, from store cupboard staples to huge flat screen TVs. Often the trick was knowing where to look.
My packing list for our camping trips in Asia is over on my Oman Wanderlust website, where I share all my top tips for anyone who wants to wild camp in Oman. I’ve even included a list of shops to visit.
Things we were glad we brought with us from the UK included light-weight sleeping bags, camping stove, camping crockery and a gazebo to give us a day time shelter during two-night camps to remote locations like Barr Al Hikman.
Something that we really could have left at home was our portable chemical toilet. With nowhere to safely empty the tank, it was a pointless piece of kit.
Finding camping spots in Oman
One of the biggest differences between camping in the UK and Oman is that there are no organised campsites, although I’ve heard some are now being planned as tourism grows.
Of course, no campsites means no facilities like water points, toilet blocks or rubbish disposal. We brought bottled water with us for drinking, cooking and cleaning. We dug our own toilet and used the public skips in towns and at petrol stations to dispose of our waste. There are taps and public toilets at mosques although the quality varies considerably. I wouldn’t recommend drinking tap water as you’re never sure of the condition of the roof tank it has been kept in.
On the upside – and it’s a big one – as long as you are away from the road and homes, you can pitch your tent anywhere for free. A 4×4 is essential. The terrain in the mountains is rocky, and it’s easy to get stuck in sand on the beaches and in the desert. We rarely camped alone unless we were sure we could unstick ourselves.
Some of our favourite camping spots were in the valleys where we stayed next to crystal clear pools, the mountains which gave us respite from the summer heat, and beaches where we spotted turtles and stingrays just off shore.
Camping in the desert – Oman’s Wahiba Sands – was extraordinary. The way the wind shaped the sand, gusting across the dunes as the temperature shifted with the rising and setting of the sun, was magical to see.
Camping rules
Of course, camping in Oman is not as simple as pegging out anywhere. We learnt a lot from likeminded Omanis and expats about where to pitch and where not to. I credit the fact I only saw one snake and two scorpions during 2.5 years to following this advice.
However, we often shared our camping spots with curious goats, camels and donkeys.
Here are some of the rules for camping in Oman that don’t apply in the UK:
- Camp away from bushes, particularly in the desert – snakes and scorpions burrow under these
- Light a fire to discourage creepy crawlies coming into camp
- Do not camp when rain is forecast. Flash floods are common, especially in valleys
- Bring a shovel to dig your own loo
- Pick up and hide all your rubbish in your vehicle overnight, otherwise you’ll attract those ravenous goats.
Something that applies whether you are camping in the UK or Asia is to pack layers. During the outdoor adventuring season (October to March), temperatures can range from 30℃ in the daytime to 14℃s overnight in Wahiba Sands and as low as 0℃s in the mountains.
More about our experiences camping in Oman
Final thoughts on camping in Asia
If you arrived at this post looking for advice about wild camping in South East Asia, I can only offer my apologies. We didn’t camp during our travels in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia or Vietnam. However, I hope this has opened your eyes to the possibilities of wild camping on the Arabian Peninsula.
We couldn’t get enough of it and the abundance of landscapes we were able to experience. Oman is a wild camping paradise and, as yet, somewhere you can still feel like you are having a real adventure. I would even go as far as saying that it has changed our camping expectations forever.
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