Camping and glamping abroad from India — best destinations for 2026
By Kavya Menon (Kavya Menon covers adventure and outdoor travel for Indian travellers — scuba diving, trekking, safaris, paragliding, skiing and rafting — with a focus on permits, seasons, gear and safety for trips abroad and across India.) · Published · 9 min read
From luxury safari tents in Kenya to geodesic domes in Bali, camping abroad has evolved beyond sleeping bags on the ground. Here are the best options for Indian travellers.
Quick answer
The best camping/glamping experiences abroad for Indians are: Kenya/Tanzania safari tented camps (the original glamping, USD 200-500/night), Wadi Rum desert camps in Jordan (Bedouin-style, USD 40-150/night, visa on arrival), Swiss/Austrian Alpine hut trekking (mountain huts with meals, EUR 50-80/night), Bali eco-glamping (jungle domes and treehouses, USD 50-200/night, visa-free), and Iceland camping (budget option, ISK 1,500-2,500/night for campsites). Each offers a fundamentally different relationship with the outdoors.
African safari tented camps — where glamping began
The original glamping experience is the African safari camp — canvas tents with proper beds, en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and gourmet dining, set in the middle of the savanna with wildlife walking past your tent. Kenya's Masai Mara, Tanzania's Serengeti and South Africa's private game reserves all offer this experience.
The range is enormous: basic tented camps (permanent canvas tents with simple furnishings) cost USD 100 to USD 200 per person per night including meals and game drives. Mid-range camps (spacious tents, en-suite bathrooms, dining tent, lounge area) run USD 200 to USD 500. Luxury camps (Singita, andBeyond, Asilia) — with private plunge pools, personal butlers and gourmet cuisine — cost USD 800 to USD 2,000+ per person per night.
Getting there from India: see our African safari guide for flight routes and logistics. The tented camp experience is what makes an African safari fundamentally different from a hotel-based wildlife trip — falling asleep to hyena calls and waking to bird song is part of the magic.
Wadi Rum, Jordan — desert glamping
Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon in southern Jordan, is a vast desert landscape of red sandstone formations, narrow canyons and open sand plains. It was the filming location for The Martian, Lawrence of Arabia and several Star Wars films — and it genuinely looks otherworldly.
Desert camps in Wadi Rum range from basic Bedouin camps (mattress in a goat-hair tent, communal meals, USD 30 to USD 50 per person per night) to luxury bubble tents (transparent domes for stargazing, private bathroom, USD 100 to USD 250 per night). The Memories Aicha Luxury Camp and similar operations offer a polished desert glamping experience.
Getting there: fly to Amman (connections from Indian metros via the Gulf — Dubai to Amman is 3 hours). Jordan offers visa on arrival for Indians (JOD 40). Wadi Rum is a 4-hour drive from Amman or a 1-hour drive from Aqaba. Most travellers combine Wadi Rum with Petra (2 hours away) and the Dead Sea for a 5-7 day Jordan itinerary.
Alpine hut trekking — Europe's mountain camping
The European Alps (Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy) have a network of mountain huts (refuges/hutten) that offer overnight accommodation for trekkers. These are not camping in the traditional sense — you sleep in a bunk bed, eat hot meals cooked by the hut team, and use shared facilities. But the experience of sleeping at 2,500 to 3,000 metres in the mountains, waking to Alpine panoramas, is a form of structured outdoor living.
Costs: EUR 40 to EUR 80 per night including dinner and breakfast (half-board). Swiss huts are the most expensive; Austrian and Italian huts are cheaper. You book in advance through the national Alpine club websites (SAC for Switzerland, OeAV for Austria, CAI for Italy).
Popular multi-day hut treks: the Tour du Mont Blanc (France/Italy/Switzerland, 10-12 days), the Haute Route (Chamonix to Zermatt, 12-14 days), and the Stubai High Route (Austria, 5-7 days). Getting to the Alps from India: fly to Geneva, Zurich, Munich or Milan via direct or one-stop flights. Schengen visa required.
Bali eco-glamping and Southeast Asian options
Bali has embraced eco-glamping with a variety of unique accommodation types: bamboo treehouses (Green Village), jungle domes, rice-paddy-edge tents, and cliffside pods. These are comfortable, photogenic, and immersed in nature while still offering modern amenities (electricity, hot water, Wi-Fi). Costs range from USD 50 to USD 200 per night.
Other Southeast Asian glamping options: Khao Sok National Park, Thailand (floating raft houses on a jungle lake, USD 80 to USD 200/night), Ella, Sri Lanka (tea-plantation glamping pods, USD 40 to USD 100/night), and Sapa, Vietnam (rice-terrace glamping, USD 30 to USD 80/night).
For Indian travellers, the visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bali makes Southeast Asian glamping the most logistically simple international camping experience.
Iceland and Scandinavia — camping on a budget
Iceland and Scandinavia are expensive for hotels but have excellent campsite infrastructure. In Iceland, registered campsites cost ISK 1,500 to ISK 2,500 per person per night (INR 900 to INR 1,500) — a fraction of hotel costs (ISK 20,000+ per night). If you are comfortable camping in cold conditions, an Iceland ring road camping trip is one of the most affordable ways to experience the country.
You need your own tent and sleeping bag (rentable in Reykjavik) and a vehicle (campervan rental is the most popular format, from ISK 15,000 to ISK 35,000 per day). Campervans let you camp at registered sites while having your own transport — the combination works exceptionally well for Iceland's dispersed attractions.
The camping season in Iceland is June to August — outside these months, temperatures drop below freezing and most campsites close. Search flights to Reykjavik on FlightGPT for the best routing from India.
Destination comparison table
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the major camping and glamping destinations for Indian travellers:
| Destination | Type | Cost per night (per person) | Comfort level | Visa for Indians | Best season | Flight time from India |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya / Tanzania | Glamping (luxury) | USD 100-2,000+ | High to ultra-luxury | eVisa (Kenya ~USD 30; Tanzania ~USD 50) | Jul-Oct, Jan-Mar | 6-8 hrs via Nairobi |
| Wadi Rum, Jordan | Desert glamping | USD 30-250 | Basic to luxury | Visa on arrival (JOD 40) | Mar-May, Sep-Nov | 5-6 hrs via Dubai/Doha |
| Swiss / Austrian Alps | Mountain huts | EUR 40-80 | Basic (bunk beds, shared) | Schengen visa required | Jun-Sep | 8-9 hrs to Zurich/Munich |
| Bali, Indonesia | Eco-glamping | USD 50-200 | Medium to high | Visa on arrival (USD 35) | May-Sep (dry season) | 7-9 hrs via KL/Singapore |
| Iceland | Camping / campervan | ISK 1,500-2,500 + vehicle | Basic | Schengen visa required | Jun-Aug only | 10-12 hrs via London/Frankfurt |
| Khao Sok, Thailand | Floating raft houses | USD 80-200 | Medium | Visa-free / VOA (verify current) | Dec-Apr (dry season) | 4-5 hrs direct |
| Ella, Sri Lanka | Tea-plantation glamping | USD 40-100 | Medium | ETA (USD 50) | Jan-Mar, Jul-Sep | 2-3 hrs direct |
For Indian travellers on a first international camping trip, Bali and Sri Lanka offer the easiest entry point — visa-free/VOA, affordable, short flights, and reliable weather in season. For a bucket-list experience, the African safari camps and Wadi Rum are unmatched.
Gear — what to bring vs what to rent
The gear question depends entirely on your destination and camping style:
Always bring from India
- Sleeping bag liner: Lightweight silk or cotton liner (₹1,000-2,000 from Decathlon). Adds warmth and hygiene to any sleeping arrangement — rental sleeping bags, hut bunks, or glamping beds.
- Headlamp: Essential for all camping. ₹500-1,500 for a reliable one. Do not rely on phone flashlight.
- Quick-dry towel: Microfibre (Decathlon or Amazon, ₹400-800). Campsites and huts rarely provide towels.
- Reusable water bottle: 1-litre minimum. Essential everywhere.
- First-aid kit: Band-aids, antiseptic, paracetamol, electrolyte sachets, insect repellent (DEET-based for Africa), sunscreen SPF 50.
- Daypack (20-30L): For day hikes from camp.
Rent at destination (cheaper and lighter)
- Tent + sleeping bag: Rent in Iceland (Reykjavik rental shops, ISK 3,000-5,000/day for full kit), Switzerland (SAC huts provide blankets), or Bali (glamping accommodation is pre-set). Flying with a tent adds 3-5 kg to your luggage — rarely worth it.
- Trekking poles: Rent or buy cheaply at Alpine sport shops (EUR 15-20 for basic poles). Not worth flying with.
- Cooking gear: Campervans in Iceland come equipped. Alpine huts have full kitchens. Only for US/New Zealand car camping would you need your own stove — rent locally.
- Waterproof jacket: If you do not own a Gore-Tex shell, buy one at Decathlon India (₹3,000-6,000) before departure. This is a permanent investment for any outdoor travel.
Camping etiquette by culture
Camping culture and expected behaviour vary significantly across regions. Getting this right avoids friction and shows respect:
- Europe (Alps, Scandinavia): Noise stops by 10 PM at all campsites and huts. Quiet hours are strictly enforced. Clean up after yourself immediately — leaving dishes in a shared kitchen or food scraps around your tent is frowned upon. Recycling is mandatory (separate bins for glass, plastic, paper, organic).
- Africa (safari camps): Follow your guide's instructions precisely. Do not walk between tents after dark without an escort — wildlife (hippos, elephants, hyenas) moves through camps at night. Do not use flash photography near animals. Tip your guide and camp staff — USD 10-20/day per person is standard.
- Jordan / Middle East: Bedouin camps are communal. Meals are shared, tea is offered freely, and refusing hospitality is impolite. Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered). Ask before photographing people. Alcohol is generally acceptable in tourist camps but not in traditional Bedouin settings.
- Southeast Asia (Bali, Thailand): Remove shoes before entering any indoor space. Respect local religious sites — cover up near temples. Noise is less regulated than Europe but be considerate of neighbouring guests. Tipping is appreciated but not expected.
- Iceland / Scandinavia: Leave No Trace is a deeply held cultural value. Do not pick wildflowers, disturb moss (it takes decades to regrow), or leave any waste. Hot springs are communal — shower before entering.
Weather considerations and timing
Weather is the single biggest variable in camping comfort. Here is what to expect:
- Kenya/Tanzania (Jul-Oct): Dry season, 15-25 degrees C during the day, can drop to 5-10 degrees C at night at higher elevations (Ngorongoro Crater). Light jacket needed for morning game drives.
- Wadi Rum (Mar-May, Sep-Nov): Desert extremes — 25-35 degrees C during the day, drops to 5-10 degrees C at night. Summers (Jun-Aug) reach 40+ degrees C and are not recommended. Nights are always cold in the desert.
- Swiss/Austrian Alps (Jun-Sep): Warm days (15-25 degrees C at valley level), cold nights (0-10 degrees C at hut altitude 2,500m+). Afternoon thunderstorms are common July-August — start hiking early, reach the hut by 2-3 PM.
- Bali (May-Sep dry season): 25-30 degrees C, low humidity, minimal rain. Comfortable for glamping year-round but dry season is significantly better.
- Iceland (Jun-Aug): 8-15 degrees C, rain/wind any time, midnight sun means 24-hour daylight in June. A sleep mask is essential.
The universal rule: bring one more layer than you think you need. Being cold at night in a tent ruins the experience faster than anything else.
How to book from India
Booking international camping and glamping from India is straightforward with the right platforms:
- Safari camps (Africa): Book through a specialised safari operator (SafariBookings.com, Asilia Africa, andBeyond, or India-based operators like Wild Frontiers). Direct booking with camps is possible but operators often get better rates and handle logistics (internal flights, transfers between camps).
- Wadi Rum: Book desert camps directly on Booking.com, Airbnb, or through the camp's website. Jeep tours through the desert (4 hours, USD 40-60 per person) are bookable on arrival.
- Alpine huts: Book through national Alpine club websites — SAC (schweizer-alpen-club.ch) for Switzerland, alpenverein.at for Austria. Book 2-3 months ahead for July-August peak.
- Bali glamping: Airbnb, Booking.com, and Agoda have extensive glamping listings. Search for "bamboo house," "jungle dome," or "treehouse" in Ubud.
- Iceland campsites: Most do not take advance bookings (first-come, first-served). The Camping Card (campingcard.is, ISK 22,900 for 28 nights) offers good value for extended trips.
Search flights to any of these destinations on FlightGPT to find the best routing from your Indian city. Check our Delhi to Dubai page for Gulf-connecting routes to Africa and Jordan.
Safety tips for camping abroad
Camping abroad is generally safe for Indian travellers, but each environment has specific risks:
- Wildlife (Africa, Iceland): In African safari camps, follow guide instructions — never walk between tents at night without an escort. In Iceland and Scandinavia, there are no dangerous land predators. In Jordan, scorpions are present — shake out shoes and sleeping bags.
- Altitude (Alps, East Africa highlands): Altitude sickness can affect anyone above 2,500 metres. Symptoms: headache, nausea, dizziness. Ascend slowly (no more than 500m elevation gain per day above 2,500m). If symptoms worsen, descend immediately.
- Water safety: In Iceland, tap water is safe everywhere. In Alpine huts, ask if the water source is treated. In Africa and Southeast Asia, drink only bottled or purified water. Carry purification tablets as backup.
- Theft: Petty theft can occur at popular European campsites. Lock your car, keep valuables on your person, use campsite secure storage if available.
- Travel insurance: Standard travel insurance may not cover adventure activities. If you are doing glacier hiking, trekking above 3,000m, or game drives, verify that your policy covers these. World Nomads and Bajaj Allianz offer adventure-travel add-ons for Indian travellers. See our visa guides for country-specific requirements.
What Indian travellers should know about camping abroad
Indian travellers who have camped domestically (Himalayas, Rajasthan) will find international camping different in several ways:
- Temperature: European and Icelandic camping can be genuinely cold — sub-zero nights even in summer at altitude. Invest in a good sleeping bag (rated to at least -5 degrees for Alpine camping).
- Self-sufficiency: unlike Indian trek camping where porters and cooks handle everything, international camping often requires you to cook, set up your tent, and manage your own logistics.
- Leave No Trace: international camping culture takes environmental stewardship very seriously. Pack out all waste, use designated fire rings only, and leave your campsite exactly as you found it.
- Booking: popular campsites and huts in the Alps, US national parks and Iceland fill up months in advance. Book early.
- Food: finding vegetarian or Indian food while camping can be challenging. Pack theplas, instant upma/poha, and spice mixes if you plan to cook. Alpine huts serve meat-heavy meals — specify vegetarian when booking and bring backup snacks. Safari camps usually accommodate vegetarian requests with advance notice.
- Toilets: campsite and hut facilities range from clean Western toilets (Europe, Iceland) to pit latrines (basic African camps) to nature (remote wilderness). Bring toilet paper and hand sanitiser everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between camping and glamping?
Camping involves sleeping in a tent you set up yourself, with minimal amenities. Glamping (glamorous camping) provides pre-set accommodation (large tents, domes, pods) with real beds, often with en-suite bathrooms and electricity. Glamping gives you an outdoor experience without the roughing-it element.
Is camping abroad safe for Indian solo female travellers?
In established campsites in Iceland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, yes — these are generally very safe environments. In remote areas, travel with a group or choose organised camping tours. Exercise the same precautions you would for any solo travel.
What is the cheapest glamping destination from India?
Sri Lanka (Ella region tea-plantation glamping at USD 40-100/night) and Bali (jungle domes from USD 50/night) offer the best value. Both are visa-free or visa-on-arrival for Indians with affordable flights.
What should vegetarian Indians pack for camping abroad?
Pack theplas, khakhras, instant upma/poha sachets, a small spice box (salt, chilli powder, turmeric), protein bars, and dry fruits. If your camp or hut has cooking facilities, bring a compact dal mix or MTR ready-to-eat packets. Alpine huts and safari camps can accommodate vegetarian diets with advance notice, but the options tend to be limited — your own snacks are essential backup.
Do I need travel insurance for camping and glamping trips?
Yes — and specifically verify that your policy covers outdoor activities at your destination. Standard travel insurance may exclude glacier hiking, trekking above 3,000m, or adventure sports. World Nomads, Bajaj Allianz, and ICICI Lombard offer adventure-travel add-ons for Indian travellers. Medical evacuation from a remote safari camp or Alpine hut can cost USD 10,000-50,000 without insurance.