Vanlife – a new type of ‘all-inclusive’ travel

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.

Vanlife – a near-nature experience

Whether you want to wake up overseeing the wonders of a roaring river or get the picturesque turn-of-the-century experience of small-town architecture, the vanlife travellers understand that they are there visiting on the terms of the circumstances they put themselves and their van in.

Especially when travelling to the more remote locations where the roads take you, animal life and encounters with creatures not recognised from the concrete blocks of the inner city can be expected. Having a moose lick the road salt off your bumper or getting eye contact with an owl looking back at you from its rest in your rearview mirror might be the experience of a lifetime.

However, it is essential to limit the impact you have on nature. Although it might be a viral bomb to record when a bear nibbles on the leftovers you didn’t bring inside overnight, you must recognise that the bear will return for more at some point. You don’t want to set this precedent for yourself or for other travellers visiting the same spot and not being so lucky as to wake up to the sight from the inside of the van.

Equally, the disruption that things left behind have on nature’s all-year inhabitants might set off the flow that maintains the circle of life that makes these places unique.

Thus, respecting your surroundings and leaving places better than you found them will truly enrich the experience for both yourself and future travellers. Maintaining nature, its rich animal life and marvellous opportunities for near-magic encounters is an intricate part of the vanlife experience.

Inspiration for the perfect vanlife

Luckily, the vanlife community shares many of their best advice and worst experiences through various accessible formats online. There are more than 17 million posts on Instagram using the hashtag #vanlife and when looking for more specific advice #vanlifesweden, #vanlifestories or #vanlifeproject might put you in contact with an essential network of people if you slide into the DMs and ask them a question.

If you have a specific enquiry, a creator on YouTube is sure to have at least one video with the answer, and if you prefer reading guides, a simple Google search will surely give you an answer to fulfil your needs.

Here are some Instagram accounts you might begin your search with:

• Wander Rebel
• John & Mandy
• Jantina Scheltema
• Amalia Braunsthal
• Kajsa Silow
• Camper Virals
• Belle Camper
• Hembris
• Vanlife Sverige

Alternatives to vanlife

If this article has scared you away rather than draw you into the community of van-living enthusiasts worldwide, there are plenty of alternatives. Sweden, in particular, is very accessible and open to both interrail and backpacking.

Sweden is safe and easy to travel through. Depending on your comfort requirements, there are plenty of options when trying to find a cottage in the middle of nowhere, such as using Airbnb, staying at an alpine hotel, or simply enjoying life from a tent on one of Sweden’s many camping sites.

You choose what you do. The limits are endless within the open boundaries of the law. If you want more tips and tricks on vanlife travel, don't miss the practical guide to vanlife in Sweden.