Naturistic Voyages

Vagabondo wishes to thank Assonatura (association dedicated to the divulgation of naturism) which has supplied us with most of the contents of this page.
The new forum of Vagabondo on naturist vacations has opened!!

First of all: what is naturism?
The official definition is:"Naturism is a way of living in harmony with nature, characterized by the custom of common nudity, as to favour the respect towards oneself, others and environment." (Agde - France 1974). This exhaustive synthesis encloses all the typical elements of naturism, such as harmony with nature, and therefore with oneself, with others, with animals and with the environment. The respect for people (and therefore for oneself) brings to the pursuit of a healthy diet and to the refusal of unhealthy habits such as smoke, alcoholism, and drugs, while still in the respect of ideas which may differ from one's own (respect for others), so long as these do not prejudice others' individual liberty or physical integrity. Common nudity is not something naturism may set aside for it is envisaged as a necessary mean as to regain contact with one's and with others' true nature and the only route towards regaining use of one's most extensive sensorial organ: the skin. The pleasures of naturism reside in the awakening of the epidermic senses, in their contact with air, water, sun and earth: sensations reminiscent of the true and utter freedom lost in the constrains nowadays existent.

Photo 1 Beach and free naturist camping on the small island of Donoussa, Greece. Photo 2 Naturists on one of the beautiful sea shores of the south-western coast of Naxos, Greece. Photo 3 Storm on the sea shore of the Ostriconi, in Corsica, half naturist and half not. Photographs - Copyright Vagabondo.

Where may one do a naturist vacation?
As to do a naturist vacation one must choose a country where nudity is not considered offensive by the laws nor by the official religion, especially in those cases in which it withholds more or less openly much of the power.
Many countries have specific laws which recognize and regulate naturism, such as, for example all the Countries of the European Community (with the sole exception of Italy), the United States and Australia.
In the Far East the situation is quite dissimilar. Oriental populations have historically considered nudity as something natural in situations such as thermal baths, Turkish baths, massages, etc. You must nonetheless always ask, for the arrival of westerners with their embarrassment towards nudity has tacitly changed the local customs imposing clothing.
One must utterly avoid all Countries with Muslim, Islamic or Brahmanic religions.
In America there are hundreds of turistical structures where one may practice naturism, but, for law, they are all on the inside, in parks and ranches, and never along the seaside. In Australia the structures may be found also along the seaside. In Europe Europe, and in particular in Germany, is the native land of naturism. Since then naturism has expanded with a great intensity in all the more northern countries of Europe and in France, country which today has the greatest number (180) of touristic structures for naturists in the world.

Travelling as a naturist in Italy.
Even though there still isn't a specific law which regulates naturism in Italy, it is nonetheless possible to travel and take vacations in Italy without risking unpleasant surprises also due to the fact that a certain number of rulings have, in the last years, cleared that naturism does not fall into the art. 726 of the Civil Code (acts against public decency).
One may practice naturism in those public places (beaches, rivers, lakes, parks, etc.) where it has been habitually practiced for years. Moreover, the more known places are often picketed by representatives of the different Italian naturist associations. Otherwise one may choose to stay in one of the structures existing in Italy, even though reduced in number these structures offer a discrete possibility of choice.
A complete and up-to-date review of the public locations and of the structures present in Italy may be found in the site www.assonatura.it, and in particular in the section "WHERE?"

Naturist vacations in France.
France today is, in all senses, the homeland of naturism. It offers an immense variety of possibilities and one may choose to stay in great number of different natural environments both along the sea shores, the hillsides or the mountains. If interested, go to the page containing the useful links for naturist vacations.

Naturist vacations in the rest of the world.
In the world there are approximately 850 reviewed naturist structures, but the places where one may practice it are thousands. Here are some links to some sites you should visit.

Useful links for naturist vacations

These are the most complete sites we found on the argument.

Assonatura Independent Italian Association dedicated to the divulgation of naturism, which runs a naturist Village in Monferrato Astigiano.	FENAIT Site of the ITalian NAturist FEderation, which represents all the Italian associations which adhere.
INF/FNI International Naturist Federation	The Nude World Of Cat Site for young and very young naturists (in English)

Some practical suggestions by Assonatura

If it is your first experience do not begin your vacation and tanning with your swimsuit on while thinking you simply need time to adapt and will later remove it. This for the very simple reason that after you have adapted you will also have the marks of the swimsuit. These are not only ugly signs that will persist for the whole season, but moreover you thus increase the risk of sunburns exactly on those parts you were attempting to protect. Therefore it is much better to remove everything immediately.
If you have never taken the sun naked, the first few days, remember to apply a stronger protection to those parts which have never been beaten by the sun before. Avoid long expositions (half hour, or one hour for the first days and according to the skin type) and only gradually increase them. You may notice that nipples and penus sun tan faster than the rest of the body. It might seem incredible but nature has provided us with a greater and faster protection exactly in those places!
The contact with air, sun, water or the awareness of being naked may cause some excitement. In men this is more visible than in females and is expressed with an erection. In naturist villages all know this may happen and generally show comprehension. All one must do is maintain a reserved behaviour while it passes. Exhibitionisms are instead not tolerated. Naturism is also sport, therefore if you do sports do them naked. Beach Volley, trekking, archery, swimming and horseback riding are only some of the sports practiced by naturists. Doing gymnastics nude is a wonderful experience, do not renounce to it even if you see some people playing volleyball with their swimsuits on and indicating as an amusing justification the large size of their breast or genitals.
If you travel to natural or uncontaminated areas try to fully live all the magnificent sensations staying naked in such places may give you. These sensations may be very strong, do not refute them, grab onto them instead.
Always respect the places in which you stop or which you simply cross even if these are inaccessible or distant from inhabited areas and are not equipped with services. Remember to ALWAYS bring away all the garbage you have produced (including cigarette ends if, unfortunately, you smoke). A naturist never leaves traces of his passage when he leaves an area, before leaving remember to turn around and make sure it is so.
Always bring children with you. For them nudism is natural, almost genetic! Teach them that naturism means, other than nudism, also respect of oneself, others and nature.

Some tips by Vagabondo for independent travellers

I wish to add some suggestions of my own to those given by Assonatura. These derive from my own travel experiences and are addressed specifically to those who do not seek villages, farm holydays or organized structures.

For Italian travellers the ideal destinations for naturism are, apart from Italy, France (and Corsica), Greece and Croatia.
August is the worst moment to seek for places in which one may practice naturism: the multitude of tourists crowd all over invading in thousands even those beaches that were, until solely one week before, frequented by 15 or 20 naturists. If you can choose try preferring September, July or, even better, June. This is not only a suggestion for those who wish to practice naturism but is equally valid for all those who wish to pass a vacation in as much harmony as possible with the nature that surrounds them.
In Corsica I met different naturists that were doing nautical camping, this especially in the northern part of the "desert". I believe it must be a wonderful experience.
In Greece the situation changes greatly according to the island and to the beach, but in Internet one may find excellent resources.
I believe in France, Greece and Croatia not organised naturism is practiced and practicable without encountering problems in almost all the slightly offhand seaside localities which are not interested by mass tourism therefore in the most beautiful places.

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