The idea of traveling in a trailer or a campervan has invoked an unappealing image for decades. People associate them with cramped spaces, hunched shoulders, lack of amenities, tinned food, and other physical discomforts. In truth, traveling in a campervan has become quite luxurious, even glamorous. Sleek shiny campervans and trailers outfitted with every conceivable amenity are the trending way to explore the great outdoors. For instance, an Airstream Atlas 2022 zooming on international road circuits like Route 1 in the USA is a thing to envy. Priced at nine hundred thousand Dirhams and change, this sleek glamorous campervan by Mercedes Benz is a luxurious home on wheels. Equipped with a 55-inch flatscreen TV, a modern kitchen with every bell and whistle, complete wood paneling, sumptuous beds, and a spacious bathroom, this high-end camper van or RV (recreational vehicle) belongs to a new era of glamourous homes away from home.
I sleep out in the desert, Under the stars above
And keep making an effort, To wander in love
– Lucina Williams
Historic cross-country
Roland Conklin had the right idea when he custom built a ‘travel home’ for his family in 1915 to drive from New York to California in comfort, opening up a new mode of travel for the world. The lavishly designed 25-foot-long precursor to the modern-day RV titillated the media and captured the imagination of the entire United States. It contained a full kitchen, sleeping berths, an electric generator, lights, seating sections, a library, and a roof garden. While camping and ‘nature travels’ have been around since the 18th century, the Conklin ‘Gypsy Van’ paved the way for modern vehicular outdoor traveling. The years from 1915 to the 1930s saw a surge in the production of motor vehicle homes, campervans, and recreational vehicles or RVs.
A modern outlook
The urge to explore the world and be close to nature is an integral part of our racial memory, and settling off in a caravan or camper van has become a modern way to satisfy it safely. For some, it is the only way to travel while others want to try it out as a novelty to escape the mundane. Especially eager are the urbanites desiring to escape city living to breathe fresh air, and sleep under the stars, but in a safe, fully outfitted campervan, their favourite French-pressed coffee at hand, and Wi-Fi connectivity in phones.
Moreover, when the fancy strikes, campervan travelling provides an opportunity for spontaneity and flexibility. Like a spot? Stay for a few more nights. Is the place’s vibe not matching the mood? Drive and hit the next destination that resonates better with the soul. Campervan road tripping also resonate better with one’s pockets. Eliminated are the costs of pricey hotels, Airbnb, and outside meals, to ensure a more budget-friendly trip where every Dirham will stretch longer. A host of companies provide RVs for rent. Long-term travellers might prefer to buy a camper van of their own, but in both cases, it is a pocket-friendly way of travelling with the whole family.
A whole new world
A campervan vacation also enables travellers to embrace a more minimalistic approach to vacationing, prioritizing experiences, and memories over materialistic possessions. Many people describe a campervan road tripping as a ‘liberating’ experience. Places like the USA and Europe have well-maintained camping grounds and trailer parks to stop and rest. Communities and groups dedicated to this hobby provide incredible support and information to enable one to strike out and explore the outdoors.
Popular trails
Campervan routes all around the world provide different experiences and difficulty levels, be it leisurely and gently or rugged and challenging. It is a more popular way to travel in the USA and Europe, as compared to Asia right now, but the entire world is catching up on this trend quickly. So, if a campervan trip is on your bucket list, we have rounded up some of the most amazing routes for you to explore.
North Coast 500 in Scotland
It is a very different yet stunning route with Scottish Highlands in the backdrop and heather-covered pathways. The mysterious crags and moors that belong to this part of the world have inspired countless poems and romantic literature and the reasons are obvious. The route is approximately 516 miles long and rewards travellers with hidden Scottish gems – old castles, local distilleries, surprise beaches, and quaint towns to explore. Along the national highway – Bealach na Ba, this route is dotted with well-developed campgrounds and remains one of the most travelled circuits in the UK.
Route 1 California
No road trip list can be complete without the beautiful California highway gently lapped by the glorious Pacific Ocean on its edge. Sheer cliffs bathed in the golden sun, white foamy waves merrily dancing at the bottom – you get the picture. If not, this route is the most filmed road in the world and once you see it, you will want to visit it for real. 143 km of undeveloped shoreline greets travellers with beautiful campgrounds and spectacular sunsets, starting at the beautiful San Simeon town.
The Pan American
Highway, Chile
No road trip list can be complete without the beautiful California highway gently lapped by the glorious Pacific Ocean on its edge. Sheer cliffs bathed in the golden sun, white foamy waves merrily dancing at the bottom – you get the picture. If not, this route is the most filmed road in the world and once you see it, you will want to visit it for real. 143 km of undeveloped shoreline greets travellers with beautiful campgrounds and spectacular sunsets, starting at the beautiful San Simeon town.
New Zealand
One of the big four countries to drive in, New Zealand offers so much beauty condensed into one vacation that it will become a lifetime highlight and memory to cherish. People like to mix hiking with camping in this island nation and the government of New Zealand runs 200 plus campsites to make the scenery most accessible to campers. New Zealand is the place that defies the universe – one can get safe, cheap, with the most beautiful camping options on off. Travellers recommend buying one’s campervan and to not miss the beautiful Tongariro National Park along with South Island’s sea shores, and Milford Sound.
The Ring Road, Iceland
The unimaginatively named Ring Road rings the entire country of Iceland. Mother nature has imaginatively shaped Iceland with ice and fire. Driving across volcanic heartlands, exploring rocky shores, chasing northern lights, or visiting twinkling cities like Reykjavik, renting a campervan is one of the best ways to explore Iceland. The people here are friendly, the hospitality is warm, the happiness index is high, while the crime rate is low. Iceland is one of the best options to try out a campervan vacation.
Japan
Japan is a less obvious option for long road trips, but if done right, it is one of the most satisfying. The Japanese government is expanding its tourism vistas by developing roads and campsites for campervan travelling and more vegan and vegetarian offerings to entice mainstream tourism. Japan is one of the most expensive countries in the world, and campervan travel can ease the strain on one’s budget. Serene, beautiful, well maintained, a road trip across Japan can provide a cultural treat. Visit the countryside – from Mount Fuji to Lake Ashinoko, local shrines, monasteries, and temples, while pit-stopping at the more metropolitan cities. Japan offers a lot of lakes, gardens, forests, beaches, and countryside eateries to keep you busy on your journey.
The Mongol Rally
A 10,000-mile road trip organized by a group called the Adventurists, this road trip has rules – no large or luxurious RVs allowed, a compulsory donation to charity is required, and no one will extend help in case of trouble. This rally from England to Mongolia tests the chops of hard-core campervan enthusiasts and on successful completion, gives them bragging rights forever.
Featured in the UAE
Dubai residents are known for their luxurious tastes, and camping is no exception. UAE offers glamping experiences in Hatta Sidr and Damani lodges with ultra-luxurious 25 ft long and 10 ft wide trailers outfitted with porches, barbeque grills, firepits, and 24/7 room service. UAE allows people to own campervans with special permits and has assigned spots like Jebel Ali Beach to camp overnight. True enthusiasts can dip their camping toes and drive to the Ajman desert and Umm Al Quwain coast for a soothing, beachy experience.
Campervan holidays offer something unique to the masses, a chance to reconnect with nature and explore less travelled places on their timetable. Being more economical than their hotel counterparts adds more to their charm. A campervan traveller could drive through a dense forest, camp overnight, explore rugged caves nearby the next day, and drive to the nearest city for a fancy steak dinner and a good bottle of wine in a hip restaurant at night. But the accessibility to nature on one’s terms is the main pull for this holiday option to gain unprecedented popularity in recent years. Should you choose to try it, or are already an enthusiast, we say to you, “May the road rise to meet you.”
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