Road trips, camping, adventure: More and more people are travelling through Europe in their own campervans, many of which are self-contained. Some of them even live on four wheels all year round, live the so-called van life and share their everyday life with thousands of followers on social media. We present our five favourite van life-influencer here:
1. diamonds and Philip of The Sunny Side
True to their motto "The way is worthwhile" Karo and Philipp travel together in their Land Rover Defender Willi the world. The big journey started in March 2017: They went from Halifax across Canada to Alaska and from there further and further south along the Panamericana. In Mexico bitch Maya joined them and from there the three of them continued. After more than 100.000 kilometers their journey ended unplanned after three years on the road due to the worldwide Corona Pandemic and they went back to Germany for the time being. Here they built up a Hymer and are currently looking for a suitable off-road vehicle with a little more space. On their YouTube and Instagram channels, Karo and Philipp take their followers on their journey around the world.
2. Jessi and Mark from Jessi and Mark Diaries
While Corona paralyzes the whole world, Jessi and Markus are currently on the road in Portugal with their newly built Fiat Ducato. The two are wedding photographers and filmmakers and actually wanted to drive from wedding to wedding this year with their home on four wheels. Unfortunately, nothing came of it, but that didn't stop the two guys from Münsterland from discovering the most beautiful corners of Europe. From Portugal they went via Spain and France back to Germany, then north to Sweden. Jessi and Markus met the ravages of time. While most of them were stuck at home in cold Germany, they brought a little holiday mood via Instagram to the sofas. Starting in March with just under 5,000 followers, the number rose shortly to 86,000, and the trend is rising.
3. Sina and Carsten from Wander Horizons
Sina and Carsten are the faces behind Wander Horizons and are among the first van life influencers in Germany. Since October 2017 they have been living their dream and travelling through Europe in their self-constructed VW T4. The two of them had had enough of their nine-to-five jobs, wanted to experience more freedom and more adventure. For almost two years Sina and Carsten were on the road in their T4, which they then exchanged for a Hymer. The reason: since March they are no longer travelling just as a couple, because their daughter Lovis is on board now and it got a bit cramped in the Volkswagen. They have also self-constructed the Hymer and currently take 26,000 people with them on their journey, which is far from over, via their Instagram account.
4. Frank and Selli from Pine Pins
Frank and Selli have a similar story to Sina and Carsten. Together with their VW T4 Rudi, they have been among the topvan life influencers in Germany for quite a while. And they also recently got a little too cramped in their motorhome. For a few months now, son Fiete has been joining the likeable Freiburgers on their tours through Europe and weekend trips through Germany. In the near future, the T4 will have to make way for a Mercedes Sprinter with a heavy heart. Like its predecessor, the Sprinter will be converted by the team itself. A total of around 75,500 followers on Instagram will certainly continue to follow the journey of Frank, Selli and Fiete with excitement.
5 Sebastian and Line from Off the Path
Sebastian and Line have been travelling the world together for many years and are among the best-known travel bloggers in Germany. For almost three years, their golden retriever Finley has almost always been with them. First, the three of them travelled around Europe in their Jeep with a roof tent, then they upgraded their Mercedes Sprinter. Now they live on the sunny island of Mallorca and explore the island, the Spanish mainland and the rest of Europe in their self-built van. Those who know the two of them know that they certainly already have the next idea and that it will certainly not remain with their Sprinter. On their blog and Instagram channel, travel enthusiasts can follow the two and three on their trips.