Camping is a great summer activity that families and outdoor enthusiasts love. However, camping is not just an activity enjoyed in the United States, and many areas all over the world host great camping sites for all to enjoy. Below are a handful of the best spots to camp all over the world.

Boya Lake Provincial Park, Canada

Boya Lake is renowned for its clear, warm water that’s perfect for campers and hikers who enjoy water sports. The area hosts several other lakes and islands to enjoy during your stay, and the views are one-of-a-kind.

Miyajima, Japan

Historians and campers can rejoice on the island of Miyajima. A short boat ride from Hiroshima, Miyajima has campers year round staying in tents or cabins. Domesticated deer and historic temples dot the island for you to enjoy during your visit.

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite is one of several national parks that is easily recognizable worldwide, and for good reason. Nearly all of Yosemite is completely isolated and untouched. This means no buildings, electricity, or vehicles in sight. Visitors can enjoy the light pollution-free sky at night, and they can hike up to the top of Glacier point to take in the view of Yosemite Valley and the falls. Keep food stuffs stored tightly to avoid confrontations with the numerous bears in the area.

The Isle Of Arran, Scotland

Although Scotland is not known for being the warmest of places, the Isle of Arran is prehistoric! This island has been inhabited for thousands of years and has mountains, hills, and breathtaking seascapes. Campers can enjoy hiking the island, sailing, kayaking, or just taking in the island’s history.

Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico

Flamenco Beach is often regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world with pristine white sand, clear water, and warm temperatures. Campers visiting this paradise have access to diving and snorkeling activities as well as relaxing under an umbrella on the beach.

Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Africa is a far place for some, but for others, it’s a magical kingdom full of mystery, adventure, and camping. Staying at the reserve is a safari in itself. Visiting the reserve during the summer and early fall showcases the migration of numerous kinds wildlife traveling from the neighboring country of Tanzania. Camping along the banks of the Mara River will grant access to the culture and traditions of the Masai people who call the reserve their home.

Sahara Desert, Morocco

Most people wouldn’t consider the Sahara as an adequate camping spot, but the stunning views and the allure of sand boarding make it a unique destination. Getting there can be a tricky camel ride to the Berber camp, but the night sky makes the trip worth while.

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador

The centerpiece for this national park is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Hikers can venture around the peak and visit the llamas that are native to the area for a truly unique experience.

Lake Myvatn, Iceland

Iceland’s name may seem to denote a chilling, frosty atmosphere, but the summer months are actually quite pleasant. Scheduling your trip properly can allow you to see the Northern Lights only visible a few times out of the year.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the United States. The park is resting on top of a giant volcano regularly spewing out magnificent water geysers and bubbling pools. The wildlife in Yellowstone is second to none with over 330 species of birds and 67 species of mammals for nature lovers to enjoy.

Denali National park, Alaska

Formerly known as Mt. McKinley, Denali is a majestic peak in the heart of Alaska’s wilderness. The park sprawls over six million acres of land for avid hikers and wildlife experts to experience.

Jasper National Park, Canada

Jasper National Park has nearly 600 miles of hiking trails with hot springs, glaciers, skiing, fishing, and kayaking. This park is for those who enjoy a wide variety of activities and magnificent scenery. If you haven’t seen the Rockies yet, this is where you start.

Lake District National Park, London

Lake District has the highest highs and the lowest lows of England with the tallest mountain and the deepest lake. The green landscape has several small towns for bikers and campers to stop at while finding their next location, and there are many lakes in the vicinity for those who enjoy boating and swimming.

Ladakh, India

You don’t have to hike up Mt. Everest to see the Himalayas, you can see them perfectly fine in the “Land of the High Passes”. Ladakh offers a different experience than the traditional camping expeditions with Buddhist Monasteries and remote mountain villages few travelers have seen.

Garden Route National Park, South Africa

If you can’t decide whether you want to be near the mountains or on the coast when you go camping, Garden Route offers both. Located along the coast line of South Africa, Garden Route gives travelers challenging mountain hikes and adventurous sea kayaking in the picturesque landscape.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, you can camp pretty much anywhere on public land. However, strict rules apply when camping on a sandy beach or in a tree-covered grove. Camping only costs a few dollars a night in the national parks and only several dollars more elsewhere.

Outback, Australia

With miles of terrain to explore, the Outback of Australia is for the daring adventurer. Poisonous snakes and other critters inhabit Australia’s large expanse of desert, but nothing is more exciting. Sleeping out under the stars in the warm night air is a must for anyone who loves to camp.

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

If you ever wanted a chance to camp out in the jungle, here’s your chance. Corcovado National Park has steamy rainforests, elegant beaches, and hidden lagoons for you to explore, and it has plenty of wildlife to see, too.

Camping is a favorite activity for millions of families, but one thing a lot of people don’t take into consideration when planning a camping trip is the car they drive. Camping may include sleeping in a tent, hauling a trailer, or sleeping in your car. You may be driving over rough terrain, so it’s important to drive a car that can handle anything you encounter off-road.

The Subaru Forester is excellent for weekend camping trips, with 32 mpg on highways. The Subaru is a compact SUV, is roomy and offers more than 74 cubic feet of cargo space. The Forester has all-wheel drive and is available with an X-mode to handle rough terrain.

The Honda Odyssey isn’t usually considered to be a vehicle for camping. However, for anyone who chooses to go camping at an area with paved roads and sites that are tended by campground hosts, this car is capable of hauling all your equipment including sleeping bags, coolers, lounge chairs and food that you’ll need for a fun weekend. The Odyssey has a large 148 cubic feet of space and is equipped with a portable vacuum to keep the interior clean and free of dirt and pine needles.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has three different four-wheel drive options available, so you can choose the one that bests suits your needs. The Grand Cherokee can comfortably seat five passengers and has plenty of room to haul all your camping gear. The jeep has turbodiesel power and is available with a V-8 engine and is capable of hauling up to 7,400 pounds, making it easy to drive with an attached, medium or large size camping trailer. The Grand Cherokee can easily maneuver mountain roads or cross a river to your camping area, and you don’t have to think about getting stuck.The Grand Cherokee can tough it out in the worst road conditions.

The GMC Acadia offers all the features of a minivan and the convenience of an SUV. The Acadia can handle all kinds of terrain and has the cargo space of a minivan, so you can haul your equipment and coolers you need for an extended camping vacation. One of the best features of the Acadia is that it can seat up to eight passengers or convert into 116 cubic feet of cargo space.

The Land Rover Range Rover offers the most luxurious options for a camping vehicle. The four-wheel drive is designed to adapt to whatever road conditions you encounter so that it can handle the backwoods or mountain roads. Wood grain interiors, comfortable leather seats, and a variety of electronic offer all the options you need for your camping trip.

The Ford Expedition is a large-size SUV that can handle hauling a large camping trailer, making it a good choice for large families. If you aren’t carrying many passengers, you can fold down the seats to give you 130 cubic feet of space to carry all the camping gear you need for our trip. The XL version of the Expedition has an extended wheel base providing more maneuverability when hauling a large trailer.

The ScionxB is a good option for one or two people who love camping. The spacious cargo area offers enough room to sleep in if the weather gets stormy during the night. The cargo space is 70 cubic feet and provides plenty of room to store all your gear when the rear seats are folded forward. The ScionxB is a good choice for a weekend getaway.

The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited offers the features of the traditional version of the jeep but is geared for driving on more extreme roads to a campground in the back country. This jeep can accommodate up to five passengers, making it an option that’s fun for families or a group of friends. Another feature of the Wrangler is that the roof can be removed. You have the option of a hard or soft roof, so it’s ideal for fly fishing trips. The cargo space is roomy enough to stand in when the roof is removed to cast your lines into the lake or river.

Toyota’s TRD Pro 4Runner is the ideal vehicle if you do a lot of off-road driving. The Toyota is designed with more clearance from the ground than a lot of other vehicles and has an amazing suspension system. The skid plates are constructed to be heavy duty. The TRD Pro offers construction that makes it easier to drive to wilderness campgrounds. The spacious cargo area is designed to hold everything you need for your camping adventure.

When you’re planning a camping trip, things to take into consideration are the number of people in your party and how much camping gear you must bring on the journey. If you’re traveling to a remote spot make sure your vehicle has the suspension and four-wheel drive to handle the roads.

People camp for many reasons. For some, camping is an opportunity to live more simply. Still others travel in style, bringing along elaborate kitchens, exquisite meals and all the comforts of home. But whether camping rough on the ground or with class in a tent, the trip is always better on a full night’s sleep. The easiest way to improve the experience is to sleep well, and a good camping pillow can be an inexpensive way to do just that.

Camping pillows exist in a space of contradictions. Viewed by some as a luxurious extra, they must be comfortable enough to be worth bringing along, while rugged enough to stand up to the elements. They should be easy to pack while providing enough padding and support for the head. Just as there is no perfect pillow, there is no perfect camping pillow for every set of needs. Here are just a few factors to consider before making a purchase.

First, identify the primary camping style in which the pillow will be used. The needs of a casual camper will differ drastically from those of a back country hiker. Picking the wrong pillow at this stage isn’t the end of the world by any means, but it may make the trip less enjoyable later on.

Car Campers

Casual car campers aren’t quite as concerned with space or ruggedness. Space constraints in a trunk or cargo area are generous. Also, gear can be stored if the weather turns bad. Car campers can opt for more comfortable, less ruggedly-made pillows that weigh more and take up lots of space. It may even make more sense to bring along household pillows to help determine what characteristics make for better outdoor sleep, then to purchase camping pillows at a later date.

In general, pillows can either be filled or inflated. Since car campers aren’t nearly as concerned with space, filled pillows offer the best comfort. Memory foam and polyester fibers are great choices for the casual camper looking for a good night’s sleep. Just as is true with many choices made by the car camper, comfort is king, and which filler material to choose is a matter of personal preference.

Back Country Hikers

By contrast, space and weight are crucial variables for backpackers and rough campers. Hikers spend time evaluating gear so minutely, that the choice to purchase one item over another might hinge on a few ounces of weight difference. Look for case materials that are rugged but light. Also, find something that compresses well, and realize that these factors will likely come at the expense of some degree of comfort.

Choosing a pillow filling is much like picking sleeping bag material. Broadly, fillers can either be synthetic or down. Down fills such as cotton and fleece compress better. They are also lighter and softer. By contrast, synthetic fills are a great choice for someone wanting a bulkier pillow. They fill out more, are firmer and cost less. Hybrids are the best of both worlds, using both synthetic and down fills to achieve the perfect mix of firmness and compression. No one filling is perfect, and while the above is a good guide, there can be no substitute for trying pillows in realistic conditions and evaluating them directly.

Inflatable pillows are also an option. While these do compress down nicely, they are often less comfortable. Additionally, their shape and texture may cause them to slide, and pressure differences throughout the night can further change how the pillow feels. Further, while inflatable pillows are the easiest to adjust with regard to firmness, this advantage is more present in temperature-controlled environments such as planes and other vehicles. Some pillow designs mitigate these drawbacks by combining inflation with filling. The result is both easy to adjust and firmer than an inflatable-only pillow.

Of course, the easiest and least expensive option is a stuff sack of clothing. On one hand, this eliminates the need to purchase additional gear, thus making it the ultimate way to save weight and space. On the other, if clothing is ever wet then it must be dried out as thoroughly as possible. As such, campers may find themselves enduring a sleepless night for dry clothes the next morning, wishing they’d packed an actual pillow rather than relying on dirty laundry.

Don’t take weight and space savings to the extreme. Neck pillows may seem like a backpacker’s best choice because their designs are smaller. Unfortunately, traditional U and J-shaped designs are meant for sleeping while sitting up. Also, a pillow with little filling isn’t much better than no pillow at all. The point at which a pillow stops providing benefit is different for each person, and should be evaluated in advance under extreme conditions before hitting the trail.

Another often unconsidered aspect of pillows is their case. It is easy to overlook pillowcases at home, where the environment is controlled to a high degree. But any camper caught out in a sudden storm knows the true degree to which they are at the environment’s mercy.

If sleeping rough, pillowcases should be made of durable material to both keep out moisture and protect from damage. Tent and hammock campers should determine if the case material might slip along the tent floor, thus causing the pillow to drift away in the middle of the night. Poor case material can often be mitigated by wrapping the pillow in a towel or dry clothing. Even so, ground conditions are rarely enough for an ideal sleep, and while case material may only be aesthetic at home, it can easily make a major difference in the back country.

With the above in mind, here are a few top camping pillows from which to choose.

The West Wolf Automatic Inflatable Pillow

No one likes the light-headed feeling and plastic taste that are associated with many inflatables. Fortunately, this pillow airs up automatically. Simply pull it out of its stuff sack and let it do its thing. Fully inflated, it measures 16 x 9 x 5 inches, and weighs a minuscule 0.35 pounds. West Wolf offers a no questions asked lifetime guarantee and refund for this pillow, making trying it out a no-brainer.

This pillow’s compact form and thicker exterior make it a great companion both on the trail and in the plane. For hikers, the bright orange color option makes the pillow easier to find and harder to abandon. Not only is it great for sleeping, but it offers superior lumbar support for longer trips. If looking for a compact travel pillow, this West Wolf model is a great, well-rounded choice.

Kohbi Sport Ultimate

Sometimes inflatable pillows are simply too flexible. In those cases, this Sport Ultimate pillow may be a better choice. The Loftness Elite foam ensures a more even filling distribution throughout the pillow, meaning it won’t bunch up and make the sleep surface unlevel. The microfiber exterior is comfortable against the skin. When ready to face the day, simply roll the pillow into its included pocket, compressing it down to a compact package less than half its expanded size. Like the West Wolf, Kohbi also offers a no-hassle lifetime guarantee and refund policy.

If purchasing this pillow, be sure to follow the directions and wash it before use! Like many foam pillows, it is shipped compressed and expands over time. But, if not washed, it won’t reach its full size and plushness.

Another interesting aspect of this pillow is its dual cover material. While one side is microfiber, the other is composed of more traditional cotton. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone uncertain of which material is best for their circumstances.

Quixote Classic

This highly-engineered pillow combines a cotton case and a synthetic microfiber fill. The shell is ruggedly constructed and waterproof, making it perfect for just about any outdoor adventure. The Quixote Classic is also made in the USA and is subject to strict quality control.

Camping pillows are often thought of as luxury items, and their minimalist design standards uphold this view. The Quixote Classic manages to surpass this standard, becoming many travelers’ go-to pillow whether on the trail or at the hotel. It can be difficult to find pillows that work consistently well regardless of the environment. The price may be a bit steep, but the benefit of sleeping well anywhere makes this a great purchase for any frequent traveler.

While the above may make choosing a camping pillow seem overwhelming, it actually is not. Cover and fill materials are important to be sure, but even the most expensive pillow is useless if it doesn’t result in a quality night of sleep. Try the pillow out in extreme circumstances. Test it in a back yard, or on an uncomfortable hardwood floor. If it moves about freely and doesn’t offer solid support, send it back. The outdoors already provides a healthy array of challenges. Getting a good night’s sleep should not become yet another, and one’s pillow should be a help, not a hindrance.