There’s a special kind of freedom that comes with van life.
The freedom to park up for the night because the view is just too good to leave.
In the past, we’ve spent months living and traveling out of camper vans in places like New Zealand, Norway, and even Lapland.
It’s been beautiful — waking up to landscapes you usually only see in postcards.
But it’s also been messy, unpredictable and incredibly uncomfortable at times.
However, we both agree: we wouldn’t change those moments for anything.
The Highlights
There’s nothing quite like wild camping.
We’ve woken up to misty mornings by glacial lakes, spent evenings under the Northern Lights and enjoyed breakfast watching sunrise over the mountains.
Some of our best meals weren’t at restaurants, but cooked on a gas stove with views you couldn’t put a price on.
Then there are the spontaneous detours: a dirt road leading to an unexpected hiking trail, a roadside waterfall you didn’t even know existed or a secluded beach you end up staying the night on - just because you can.
Van life teaches you to slow down, to embrace and appreciate the moments you’d usually rush past.
The Challenges (that best stories)
Of course, it’s not all picture-perfect.
We’ve broken down in the freezing cold of the Arctic.
Driven through a terrifying snowstorms in Sweden, barely able to see the road.
Caught actual fire one time in Denmark (long story, but the fire extinguisher came in handy).
And there were nights when the temperatures dipped into negative double digits as we slept in hats and gloves (yes, really!).
But here’s the thing: those challenges are part of the adventure.
You learn to stay calm when things go wrong, adapt when plans change and laugh about it later.
Why You Should Try It
If you’ve ever dreamed of hitting the road in a camper van, my advice is simple - just try it.
Don’t wait for the perfect van, perfect plan or perfect time. The magic of van life is in its unpredictability and spontaneity.
You’ll find yourself in places you never expected, meeting people you never would have otherwise and creating stories that will stay with you forever.
When you’re sitting by a campfire, watching the stars come out in the middle of nowhere, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
