Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Champer campers

Fancy a walk on the wild side without the hassle of pegging a tent, or playing Tarzan with your loved one while a yurt attendant turns down the sheets? Then crack open a bottle of bubbly and get packing because the champer camper lifestyle is for you

Luxury camping may sound like an oxymoron to diehard campers, but a new breed of nature lover – inspired by the welly-clad festival antics of Kate Moss & co and cool makeovers of tenting gear by designers like Cath Kidston – are putting paid to that age-old equation that says camping equals discomfort. Gone are the days of struggling to erect a mass of flapping canvas in gale-force winds before slogging across a muddy pitch to take an ice-cold shower in a Colditz-like communal washroom. Propelled by a plethora of TV programmes proposing pain-free, back-to-nature vacation ideas, holidaymakers are queuing to spend time out in the wild without living like savages.

The appeal of deluxe canvas life is spreading rapidly across the whole of Europe. “Luxury camping is an appealing option for people who lead busy lives and like their creature comforts, but would still like to sit out at night and watch the stars and have a natural experience,” says Ruth Lawson, owner of Canvaschic, one of France’s first luxury campsites. Here, four-poster beds, poolside massages and tent service are all part of the chic shelter package.

“I want to spend time outside and have a chance to chill out and get in touch with my inner self, but I still want to have a good night’s sleep,” agrees Philippa Unwin, who regularly quits her high-powered job as a radio chat-show host to doss down for a few days in one of the company’s en suite yurts. “I don’t so much want to get back to nature as to be in a comfortable venue where I’m closer to it.”

So if you fancy a walk on the wild side without having to pitch a tent, or want to make out like wilderness survival aficionado Ray Mears while sipping a glass of Dom Pérignon, follow us on a tour of nine top sites around the b.there! network where you can grab a slice of the champer camper lifestyle.

1 Premiere pod pads

Fly to: Geneva, Switzerland

A stunning eco camp clustered around a beautifully refurbished, spa-equipped Alpine chalet high in the Swiss Alps, Whitepod (whitepod.com) boasts nine high-tech canvas pods, each with wood-burning stoves, well upholstered beds and stunning panoramic views.
Come here for: plush bivouacs with a private ski zone and meals selected by a qualified nutritionist.

2 Beach-baby getaways

Fly to: Nice, France

Champer-camper wannabes who want to be looking out over one of the best beaches on the French Riviera should check out Tiki Hutte (tiki-hutte. com), an exclusive resort of thatched beach huts with en-suite bathrooms, wood-lined toilets and wireless internet.
Come here for: a glam, Brigitte Bardot take on the neo-camper lifestyle.

3 Safari surf teepees

Fly to: Faro, Portugal

Wave seekers will love the Algarve Surf & Yoga Retreat (surfalgarve.com), an upmarket, hippy-happy teepee village close to some of Portugal’s best beaches.
Come here for: award-winning surfing and secluded sand where you can top up that all-over tan.

4 Terrific tree retreats

Fly to: Nice, France

Fulfil all those childhood tree-house dreams in comfort at Orion (orionbb.com), a spectacular set of shelters perched in leafy oak trees near Saint-Paul de Vence, kitted out with mahogany floorboards, massage showers and internet.
Come here for: superb views and sultry, jungle-style nights, far from the madding South of France crowds.

5 Chic canvas shelters

Fly to: Lyon, France
Four-poster beds, chunky towels and Moroccan lanterns set the mood at Canvaschic’s (canvaschic.com) gorgeous yurt village set high above the turquoise waters of the Ardèche gorge.
Come here for: thrills, spills and sweet slumbers in a spectacular setting.

6 Five-star Shikars

Fly to: Bristol, UK

Jenny Lederman, creator of Camp Kerala (campkerala.com), was spot on when she described her deluxe complex near Glastonbury – where festival-goers chill out in luxuriously embroidered Indian Shikar tents and listen to top bands as they sup on food cooked by South African chefs – as “the most comfortable camping experience imaginable”.

Come here for: the ultimate five-star rock ’n’ roll campsite experience.

7 Sleek static homes

Fly to: Nice, Barcelona, Faro…

Thomson Al Fresco’s (thomsonalfresco. co.uk) mobile homes have gone seriously upmarket since celebrity British TV interior designer Linda Barker did a makeover of the European sites. Forget lumpy beds in draughty boxes and start thinking fully fitted kitchens, minimalist sofas and outdoor decking.

Come here for: good value family fun with a lot of comfort thrown in.

8 Cheap barn slumbers

Fly to: any of Brussels Airlines’ UK destinations

A great solution for campers on a shoestring who’d like a taste of al fresco comfort but can’t afford to pay top dollar. Camping barns (yha.org.uk) range from basic sleeping platforms with spaces to prepare food to individual rooms with the luxury of bunk beds, duvets and hot showers.

Come here for: cheap camping in fantastic rural locations without the hassle of pitching a tent.

9 Cool camper cocoons

Fly to: Malaga, Spain

The all-inclusive, under-canvas comfort package waiting to seduce you at The Hoopoe Yurt Hotel (yurthotel.com), a womb-like cluster of nomad homes set among the silvered olive groves of sun-drenched Andalucía, includes rug-lined interiors, private bathrooms, central wood-burning stoves and a poolside massage area.

Come here for: seclusion, serenity and scrumptious three-course meals served in a candlelit tent.

FR Camping grand confort

Une nouvelle génération d’amoureux de la nature prouve que l’ancienne équation selon laquelle camping égale inconfort est tout à fait révolue.

Une Première dans un ‘pod’

Vol à destination de: Genève, Suisse

Whitepod (whitepod.com) est un éco-camp étonnant, sur les cimes des Alpes suisses. Voyagez pour: bivouacs luxueux avec une aire privée réservée au ski.

Ouvertures sur la plage

Vol à destination de: Nice, France

Tiki Hutte (tiki-hutte.com) est une station balnéaire exclusive composée de huttes de plages en chaume avec salles de bain en suite et accès à l’internet sans fil.

Voyagez pour: un style glamour à la Brigitte Bardot dans un style de vie néo-campeur.

Tipis dans un Safari surf

Vol à destination de: Faro, Portugal

L’Algarve Surf & Yoga Retreat (surfalgarve.com) est un village haut de gamme de tipis proche de certaines des plus belles plages du Portugal. Voyagez pour: de l’action surf au sommet.

Sublimes retraites dans les arbres

Vol à destination de: Nice, France

Entrez dans ces arbres-maisons confortables, rêves de l’enfance, à Orion (orionbb.com), de spectaculaires abris perchés dans les chênes près de Saint-Paul de Vence.

Voyagez pour: les vues superbes et les nuits de style jungle.

Abris de toile chics

Vol à destination de: Lyon, France

Lits à baldaquins et lanternes marocaines donnent l’ambiance dans ce fabuleux village de yourtes de Canvaschic (canvaschic.com), haut perché dans les gorges de l’Ardèche.

Voyagez pour: douceur du repos.

Shikars cinq étoiles

Vol à destination de: Bristol, UK

Au Camp Kerala (campkerala.com), les festivaliers se reposent dans des tentes indiennes Shikar et dégustent des mets préparés par des chefs Sud-africains. Voyagez pour: l’expérience extraordinaire d’un site de camping dans le cadre d’un festival de rock ’n’ roll hors du commun.

Brillantes maisons fixes

Vol à destination de: Nice, Barcelone, Faro… faites votre choix

Les ‘mobile homes’ de Thomson Al Fresco (thomsonalfresco.co.uk) ont fait un sérieux pas en avant depuis leur récent relifting.

Voyagez pour: une bonne option pour voyager et s’amuser en famille, dans le grand confort.

Etables de nuit à bas prix

Vol à destination de: n’importe quelle destination de Brussels Airlines au Royaume-Uni

Les granges de camping (yha.org.uk) vont de la plateforme couchette de base jusqu’aux chambres individuelles avec des lits superposés. Voyagez pour: une bonne affaire dans des endroits fantastiques.

Agréables cocons pour campeurs

Vol à destination de: Malaga, Espagne

L’Hôtel Hoopoe Yurt (yurthotel.com) en Andalousie offre des salles de bain privées et un espace de massage le long de la piscine. Voyagez pour: retraite et sérénité.

NL Luxekampeerders

Een nieuw ras natuurliefhebbers bewijst dat kamperen niet oncomfortabel hoeft te zijn.

Prachtige ecopods

Vlieg naar: Genève, Zwitserland

Whitepod (whitepod.com) is een prachtig ecokamp hoog in de Zwitserse Alpen.

Geniet van: een luxebivak met privéskigebied.

Strandoases voor beachbaby’s

Vlieg naar: Nice, Frankrijk

Tiki Hutte (tiki-hutte.com) is een exclusief vakantieoord van strandhutten met eigen badkamer en draadloos internet.

Geniet van: een Brigitte Bardot-ervaring in nieuwe kampeerstijl.

Safarisurftipi’s

Vlieg naar: Faro, Portugal

Het Algarve Surf & Yoga Retreat (surfalgarve. com) is een exclusief tipidorp vlakbij enkele Portugese topstranden.

Geniet van: spectaculaire surfactie.

Adembenemende boomhutten

Vlieg naar: Nice, Frankrijk

Droomde je als kind van een boomhut? Bij Orion (orionbb.com) verblijf je in spectaculaire, maar comfortabele hutten in de kruinen van eikenbomen nabij Saint-Paul de Vence.

Geniet van: het fantastische uitzicht en de junglenachten.

Hippe tenthuizen

Vlieg naar: Lyon, Frankrijk

Hemelbedden en Marokkaanse lantaarns zetten de toon bij Canvaschic (canvaschic.com). Dit prachtige joertdorp ligt hoog in de Gorges de l’Ardèche. Geniet van: zalig wegdromen.

Vijfsterrenshikars

Vlieg naar: Bristol, VK

In Camp Kerala (campkerala.com) kunnen festivalgangers chillen in Indische shikartenten en genieten van maaltijden van Zuid-Afrikaanse chef-koks.

Geniet van: de ultieme rock-‘n-roll-kampeerervaring.

Stijlvolle en stabiele thuis

Vlieg naar: Nice, Barcelona, Faro… aan jou de keuze

De stacaravans van Thomson Al Fresco (thomsonalfresco.co.uk) zijn het summum van hip kamperen sinds de recente metamorfose. Geniet van: betaalbare familiepret met een hoop comfort erbovenop.

Schuren voor een prikje

Vlieg naar: alle Britse bestemmingen van Brussels Airlines

Kampeerschuren (yha.org.uk) variëren van rudimentaire slaapruimten tot individuele kamers met stapelbedden.

Geniet van: budgetkamperen op droomlocaties.

Knusse kampeercocons

Vlieg naar: Malaga, Spanje

Het Hoopoe Yurt Hotel (yurthotel.com) in Andalusië biedt privébadkamers en massage bij het zwembad.

Geniet van: privacy en rust.

Text Heidi Fuller-Love

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