Nature instead of a hotel

Staying overnight outside is a hit when packing a bike. Ride for as long as you have energy and then set up camp for the night in a pretty spot. This type of overnight stay doesn't require much equipment and can be used almost anywhere. But be careful, wild camping with a tent is prohibited in Germany. As in Austria, bivouacking is a legal exception in an emergency. In Switzerland, the following applies: where not explicitly prohibited, overnight stays alone or in a small group above the tree line are permitted. In most countries, nature reserves, hunting ban areas and wildlife rest areas are strict no-go zones for overnight stays.

Keep foot and tent cover to a minimum

But even outside protected areas or at an "emergency bivouac", you should not behave any differently than you would at home in the comfort of your own home. Wherever you spend the night, leave the place as you found it and, above all, don't leave any garbage behind. Sounds obvious, but unfortunately it's not. You should also take care not to damage any plants when setting up camp for the night. Especially in the mountains, these regenerate increasingly poorly due to the altitude.

Wild views

Wildlife watching is great. The closer the better, but chamois, deer or ibex usually feel the opposite. That's why you need to keep enough distance from these majestic animals. Stress also means increased energy requirements for wild animals in summer.

Fire with caution

Campfires are what make the camp romantic. To ensure that the romance does not end in a conflagration or cause unnecessary damage to nature, there are a few points to bear in mind: Avoid fires altogether during dry periods. Gas stoves are the better choice for cooking, but only where there is no dry grass, leaves or brushwood. Especially in the mountains, where the forests have important protective functions, trees do not grow back as easily as in the lowlands. In protection forests, people are asked to use the official fireplaces even when there is no danger of forest fires. Because every new fireplace puts unnecessary strain on flora and its microcosm.

Links on the topic
Campfire
Bivouacking
Wild animals