Nick and Lins (Photo supplied by authors, used with permission)

Backpacking. Sometimes it’s an adventure – sometimes it’s a lifestyle choice.

The pressures of modern life can be wearing, and many of us have experienced the urge to quit the job, cancel the rental agreement and travel the world in a tent.

But how many of us would do it nude?

As crazy as it sounds, it’s something you might want to consider once you’ve read the story of Lins and Nick, a Belgian couple who are doing just that.


MORE: I went to a naturist beach for the first time and this is what it was like



Lins and Nick’s encounters with naturism began about eight years ago – after dabbling with nude spas in their mid-twenties, the pair took the plunge into full-on naturism when they visited a crowded campsite in Luxembourg.

‘It was loud, full of people, and not really what we were looking for,’ they tell us. ‘At the back of the camp we noticed a naturist part which was all peace and quiet so we decided to try that out.

‘And since then we’re completely sold to naturism.’

Still, that wasn’t enough to slake their thirst. And eventually Nick and Lins decided to don backpacks and travel the world, writing about their experiences along the way – and hopefully providing a much-needed service to boot.

‘We started our blog about nine months before we hit the road,’ they explain. ‘The main reason was to show people that naturism is something for everyone, not just for a bunch of old hippies or perverts.

‘We noticed that most of the available online info was either completely outdated or very patronising or with a huge list of stupid rules.’

One reason they had for taking to the road was Belgium’s limited supply of naturist facilities – a single beach, and only a handful of clubs and saunas.

‘In Belgium it’s still quite a taboo to be a naturist,’ Nick and Lins report. ‘The national naturist organisation only counts about 7000 members – although unofficial statistics show that many more enjoy naturism now and then but either only on holiday or they don’t want to become member of a club.

‘Personally we also think that the undertone of the words “naturist” and “nudist” has something to do with it. Many Belgians enjoy their time in the nude but prefer not to be called a naturist or nudist.’

So far Nick and Lins have mostly travelled through Balkan countries where nudity is generally accepted – although it’s still frowned upon in Albania, meaning the pair had to be careful that no one saw them when they went for a skinny dip.

‘Sometimes it happens that people are walking towards us and turn around when they see that we are naked. Or that they pass by and are afraid to look up – in which case it’s always fun to say hello.’



‘But it happens a lot more that people see us undressing and decide to get naked as well, as if they just needed that little push.’

While it’s mostly been plain sailing, they did have one unpleasant encounter in Greece – a country with very few official nude beaches, but in which naturism is usually fine, as long as you’re sufficiently far from the crowds.

‘We were on a beach with only a handful of other visitors, and we walked to the far end and undressed. Almost immediately a middle aged German woman walked up to us giving a speech that nudism was forbidden by law in Greece.

‘She was laying about 100 metres away from us so she couldn’t see (let alone be bothered by) any “details”. We told her we’d resolve the issue if the police came (which they never do) and she walked off.’

The duo intend to keep travelling as long as they can – and they’ve made a bunch of like-minded friends along the way, many of whom are showcased on their blog.

‘Our main objective,’ say Nick and Lins, ‘is to take naturism out of the shadows and to make nudity less sexualised and more accepted – and to show people that it’s actually a fun thing to do and that a human body is nothing to be ashamed of.’

Who could argue with that?

You can catch up with Naked Wanderings by visiting their blog, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

MORE: Naked rambler who wishes walkers ‘good morning’ is on the loose in Cambridgeshire


MORE: The 10 European destinations that Lonely Planet travel experts say you have to visit

MORE: From gurning to naturism, British traditions are wonderfully weird

Advertisement Advertisement