Whilst most people might require that the ‘all-inclusive' experience includes poolside sipping an ice-cold drink in the comfort of a luxurious hotel, a new type of ‘all-inclusive’ traveller is making a mark on the international travel scene.
However, instead of seeking the full menu of a 24/7 room service, this community of travellers seeks the experience of total self-sufficiency to the limits of what they can fit in a single camper.
The ongoing trend of vanlife travellers, whose recorded encounters with nature have found their way into our feeds these days, shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, the demand for “vanlife” is booming faster than ever. Not only in terms of how many people are looking for inspiration but also in the number of reconstructors of old and new vans who seem to have a never-ending line of requests to their workshops, giving rise to booming second-hand prices and a surge in rental opportunities.
If you’re curious about the vanlife community, this information will help you on the road. Are you already a familiar vanlife explorer? Check out our practical guide for Sweden.
Why choose vanlife?
The reasons are many, from the “Into the Wild”-inspired explorer who seeks to bring more gear for a versatile outdoors experience to the inner-city exhausted who just needs an escape.
From the people making the most of their circumstances, who enjoy the countryside within their country's borders, to those who are curious whether or not they could live a life away from their belongings that the limited space of the van does not allow for.
Regardless of whether the individual motivation is governed by access to nature or escape from the concrete blocks of the inner city, there is a common ground in the sense of freedom that the vanlife experience offers.
When looking through the Instagram profiles of travellers enjoying the vanlife experience in Sweden, the variety of open landscapes, revealed views of misty lakes through a pair of unfolded backdoors and relaxed poses in front of the van, all tell a story of the liberating experience when having nowhere, yet everywhere to go.
Some travel with the intention of stopping at one of southern Sweden’s many farmers, offering a taste of the refined agricultural raw materials harvested in the area. Others aim to avoid highways by travelling the country roads with their many adjacent flea markets full of Swedish antiques.
Some are astonished by nature’s creativity while enjoying the view of its column-like landforms, created by waves moulding coastal rock over centuries in the northern parts of Gotland. Others take the coastal route to reach the end of the road of Swedish Lapland, where the sun never sets in the midst of the summer.
The vanlife traveller has no check-in times to keep and no reservations to uphold. They set their own clock of when to move on to the next destination. For the vanlife traveller, a location is anywhere they decide to stop.