6 NAKED EXPERIENCES EVERYONE SHOULD TRY ONCE IN THEIR LIFE
A recent survey by NaturistTravel.eu revealed that 25 percent of men would strip down to the beach, along with 19 percent of women. In 2018 alone, 4 percent of Europeans tried nude travel. This figure has already doubled in 2019. We at NaturistTravel.eu say that “getting on the trend, the most popular reason to experience nudity for everyone is the beach, with 58 percent of the vote, while 33 percent do it to “reconnect with nature” and one in five (9 percent) want to “step out of their comfort zone and experience something new, different and free.”
Nudist holidays were once limited to quiet beaches, but the demand for nude experiences is growing rapidly on the back of the body positivity movement.
At first, when you first go naturist, “You might feel terrified for about 5 seconds, but then you realize it’s the most natural thing in the world,” one member of a topless club in New York told me.
The nude form is not uncommon on European beaches, but in some countries they are a little more discreet. However, attitudes are changing. From the collective nudist art to body acceptance, a force that makes many dip their toes in the water of naturism.
So let's strip down, throw our clothes to the wind and find out what naturist activities are available for the naked traveler. Naked travel is the next logical step.
1. Find a quiet naturist beach
For first-time travelers to travel naked, a naturist beach is probably the best place to start. In different countries of the world, nudism is organized differently, in some places it is allowed, in others it is simply shared, and there are also countries where it is not allowed or the legislator simply missed it.
So first find out about the country with what status nudism has, then check if there are registered nudist beaches or if there are simply shared, i.e. separated. Otherwise, you can always find a secluded wild and unique beach somewhere for nude bathing and swimming.
For more information by country, you can check out our beaches page HERE.
2. Book a naturist vacation or vacation
Summer vacations are the best way to relax, so why not do it as a naturist? The problem you will face is the availability of free accommodation, as some of our smaller destinations become fully booked up to a year in advance. So if you decide to do it, do not hesitate to book so as not to be unpleasantly surprised that there are no free accommodation.
As for the top destinations, these are in our opinion the best sellers: the island of Corsica in France, the Greek islands (Crete and Rhodes), Spain (mainland and Mallorca), Portugal with its Algarve, Croatia with its thousands of naturist and uninhabited islands and beaches along the Adriatic and let's not forget the year-round sunny Caribbean.
You can explore different destinations and choose a beach and hotel that suits you by checking out our offers HERE. There are different options to choose from, such as a completely nude vacation in a hotel that offers naturist vacations or combining a nearby nudist beach with a normal hotel and enjoying an unforgettable rest and relaxation.
3. Simply find and visit a spa or swimming pool
In certain countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England and others there are urban spas that are only for nudists or on certain days and hours are for naturists.
In other countries such as Austria where the spa culture is one of the most relaxed on the planet. Spas are usually only naked (swimsuits are not allowed, but you must bring a towel, sometimes you can protect your modesty) there are separate as well as joint ones, so men and women mix freely.
More and more spa hotels are looking for special naturist clients, who can enjoy magnificent mountain views, various treatments and thermal pools with spring water all year round, and this may be the best place in the world for these naturist clients.
4. Take a naturist cruise
Every year, nude cruises are organized around the coasts of Florida, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, and over 5,000 people, all as naked as the day they were born, set sail. What’s not to love about this form of nude travel? There are now more than a few dedicated naturist cruise operators (NaturistTravel.eu), and more and more traditional cruise lines are opening the way for nude sea voyages.
While nude yoga and endless bookstores are usually frequented by the younger generation, one reporter confirmed our suspicions about naturist cruises: they are dominated by the over-50s.
There’s nothing like jumping naked into the sea from a ship and swimming and enjoying nature and getting a tan on deck.
5. Try naked yoga
Yoga has been practiced in the nude since its ancient inception; it even has a Sanskrit name, nagna yoga or vivastra yoga. This is yoga as the Puranas envisioned it.
Practicing yoga is one of the most centering, liberating activities; you wonder why we ever did it with clothes on. Far from being gratuitous or sexual, naked yoga tends to promote body positivity, mental well-being and a return to nature.
You’ll find a naked yoga class in almost every major city these days, including London and almost all major European capitals and cities, with most offering women-only, men-only and co-ed classes.
With us, you can sign up for a nude yoga vacation and return to your daily routine naturally afterwards, as well as continue practicing it alone or with friends.
6. Go total naked immersion
There’s nothing quite like running in the ocean in your birthday suit. In some countries there are organised events that turn into whole festivals for general naked bathing. For more information you can follow our news and events feed HERE.
For the ultra-daring, try the North East Skinny Dip in Northumbria. Every year hundreds strip down and brave the cold to raise money for MIND. If you are looking for something a little more secluded, head inland to Linhope Spout where you can dive into the flood pool.
Warmer skinny dip opportunities can be found on nudist beaches across Europe. Try Formentara in Spain where nudity is commonplace.
When you choose and decide to go to such an event don’t forget to book a place to stay in advance, if you decide you can do that with us HERE.
The perception of naturism is no longer a “hippie” throwback to the old days. It is neither debauchery nor fashion. As our team at NaturistTravel.eu says, “The two words that sum up naturist holidays are ‘freedom and relaxation’. Freedom from clothes and the opportunity to completely relax in an environment where no one makes decisions about your body or your clothing.”
If you’re still unsure about stripping, think back to when you were young and went naked swimming in the sea or a nearby lake or river. How nice it was and what a feeling it was.
And a great tip: “Just try it. You have the legal right. You have a body like everyone else. On a hot summer day, you have as much right to be comfortable as anyone else. Just try being naked, it’s not about how you look to other people, it’s about how you feel.”
Naked travel and holidays are still evolving from a niche to a trend, but we expect to see more hotels, restaurants and entertainment offering alternatives to ‘clothing optional’. At NaturistTravel.eu, we believe the future depends on the opening of new destinations and beaches. Interest in nude holidays is growing rapidly, but more naturist resorts are needed to meet the demand.
