Why Spring Is the Best Glamping Season
Everyone goes glamping in summer. The rates are peak, the sites are full, and you're booking three months ahead. Spring is the secret: rates drop 20-30%, sites are quieter, and the countryside is at its best — wildflowers, lambs, and fresh green growth. I've done spring glamping in Portugal, Wales, and Italy, and each trip was better than my summer visits to the same countries.
The catch: spring weather is unpredictable. I've had 22°C and sunshine in March in the Algarve, and 4°C and sleet in April in Snowdonia. Packing right is the difference between a great trip and a miserable one.
March — Head South
In March, northern Europe is still cold. The Algarve is the safest bet — daytime temperatures of 18-22°C, cool evenings around 10°C, and wildflowers starting on the cliffs. I stayed at a yurt near Lagos for €95/night (versus €145 in August) and had the coastal walking trails almost to myself.
The Azores are also excellent in March — the islands are green year-round, and the crater lakes are at their fullest. I paid €130/night for a volcano-view cabin, and the weather was 16°C with occasional showers. Bring a rain jacket.
What to pack for March: Light layers, a warm fleece for evenings, a waterproof jacket, and closed shoes for muddy trails. The evenings drop to 8-10°C even in Portugal, so a warm base layer is useful.
April — The Sweet Spot
April is my favourite spring month for glamping. The UK and France become viable — daytime temperatures of 12-18°C, evenings around 6-8°C, and the countryside is exploding with spring growth. I stayed in a safari tent in Cornwall in mid-April and it was perfect: sunny days on the beach, cool evenings by the wood stove.
Tuscany in April is exceptional. The vineyards are green, the tourist crowds haven't arrived, and glamping sites charge €100-€120/night instead of €160+. I stayed at a farm tent near Florence for €110 and had dinner at the on-site restaurant for €25 — the same meal costs €40 in July.
What to pack for April: Layers are essential. A t-shirt, a fleece, and a waterproof shell will cover most conditions. Bring wellies or waterproof walking shoes — April showers make glamping sites muddy. A warm sleeping bag liner adds comfort if the yurt or tent runs cold at night.
May — Almost Summer
By May, most of Europe is glamping-friendly. The UK reaches 15-20°C, Portugal and Spain are 20-25°C, and even Scotland is manageable at 12-15°C. May is the last month of shoulder-season pricing before summer rates kick in on June 1st.
I did a yurt trip to the Cairngorms in late May. The weather was 14°C during the day, 6°C at night, and the heather was just starting to bloom. The midges hadn't arrived yet — a major advantage over June and July. I paid £120/night instead of the £165 I'd have paid in July.
What to pack for May: Lighter than March or April. A t-shirt and fleece for daytime, a light jacket for evenings. Sunscreen becomes necessary. Insect repellent is worth packing — midges start in late May in Scotland.
The Spring Glamping Packing List
After three spring trips, here's my refined packing list:
Clothing:
- 2x t-shirts
- 1x long-sleeve base layer (merino wool is ideal)
- 1x fleece or warm jumper
- 1x waterproof jacket (breathable, not a cheap cagoule)
- 1x pair trousers (quick-dry, not jeans)
- 1x pair shorts (May only)
- 3x pairs socks (including 1x thick wool for evenings)
- 1x pair slippers or thick socks for inside the yurt
Footwear:
- 1x pair waterproof walking shoes or boots (essential for spring mud)
- 1x pair sandals or flip-flops (for inside the bathroom)
Lighting:
- 1x head torch (for midnight bathroom walks)
- 1x rechargeable lantern (for ambient light indoors)
Comfort:
- 1x sleeping bag liner (silk or cotton, adds warmth and cleanliness)
- 1x hot water bottle (the single best £8 I've spent on glamping gear)
- 1x power bank (10,000mAh minimum, for charging phone and lantern)
Food and drink:
- 1x cool bag with ice blocks (if the site has no fridge)
- 1x box of tea bags (sites rarely provide good tea)
- 1x bottle of wine (local supermarket prices are always better than on-site)
Booking: where to look
We may earn a commission from the links below, at no extra cost to you. We only list services we would use ourselves.
- QEEQ — Car hire comparison with price drop alerts
- Auto Europe — Car hire across Europe and the UK
- Airalo — eSIM data the moment you land, no SIM swap
- Saily — Travel eSIM with per-country plans
Spring Glamping Tips I Wish I'd Known Earlier
1. Ask if the site has heating. Spring nights can drop to 4°C even in southern Portugal. A wood stove is fine, but a pellet stove that runs all night is vastly better. If the site has no heating, don't book before May.
2. Check the bathroom situation. Some sites close their shared bathroom blocks in winter and only reopen them in late spring. En-suite bathrooms should be available year-round, but always confirm.
3. Bring a hot water bottle. I cannot overstate this. A hot water bottle in a cold yurt bed at 10pm is the difference between sleeping well and shivering until 2am. The stove heats the air but not the sheets.
4. Book weekends in April early. April weekends sell out faster than you'd expect, especially UK sites. I booked a Cornwall safari tent in January for an April weekend and it was already the last available.
5. Pack for four seasons. Spring weather changes fast. I've had sunburn and hypothermia on the same trip. Layers, a waterproof, and sunscreen — all three, every trip.
