How to choose a hiking backpack: why the standard advice is right but might be wrong for your situation
I read every article I could find on how to choose a hiking backpack and still bought the wrong size. If that sounds familiar, this is for you. I took it as a personal mission to figure this out once and for all, and after all the research I did, the way I look at…
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Van life internet in Europe: what we use, what we wasted money on, and how it’s changed
Getting reliable van life internet across Europe comes down to two things: a Starlink Mini for remote areas and a 4G/5G SIM card as a backup for low-power days and cities. That sentence took us four years and a fair amount of wasted money to arrive at. When we moved into the van in 2022,…
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Van Life with Two Large Dogs in Europe
Van life with two large dogs in Europe is entirely doable, but it changes how you plan every single day, which countries you gravitate towards, and what you’re willing to give up in summer. I’ve been travelling full-time across Europe since 2022 with my husband Tomas, our Labrador Summer, and a Romanian rescue Shadow. Both…
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Van Life in Europe: what four years on the road taught me
I have been living full-time in a motorhome across Europe for four years, with my husband, two large dogs, and two remote jobs between us. I have spent winters in Sicily and summers in the Italian Alps. I have wild camped in Romania, navigated strict camping laws in Slovenia, and watched my husband drive 7.25…
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Exploring Dolomites by campervan: the four-pass route guide
Exploring the Dolomites by campervan means driving some of the most dramatic mountain roads in Europe, parking at altitude between 2,100 and 2,240 metres, and waking up to views that most people only see on postcards – all without booking a hotel. We have driven this route across four high passes – Gardena, Sella, Falzarego,…
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Climbing Holiday in Valencia Province: Five Areas Worth the Drive (Including two you haven’t heard of)
Planning a climbing holiday in Valencia? The province has over 3,000 sport climbing routes across five distinct areas, with seasons that run almost year-round by switching between shaded and sun-facing crags. We spent the better part of three months climbing our way around this region. It is one of the most underrated climbing destinations in…
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Van Life in Europe from the UK: A 2026 Starter Guide
Van life in Europe in 2026 means navigating three things that didn’t exist when most of the advice online was written: biometric border checks (EES, live since 10 April 2026), updated pet travel rules (changed on 22 April 2026), and the Schengen 90/180-day rule that shapes everything from route planning to how long you can…
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Is vanlife safe in Europe?
Van life in Europe is generally safe – violent crime against van dwellers is rare, and most issues are property-related (break-ins, fines for wild camping). The riskiest moments are urban overnight parking and busy summer coastal lots. Here’s what 4 years of van life across Europe has taught me about staying safe. We’re Aelita and…
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Van life in Europe in summer: four years without AC (and two dogs)
If you’re planning van life in Europe in summer without air conditioning, this answers the question that comes up every year. How do you handle the heat, especially with dogs? After four years of full-time van life, including one very sweaty first summer where we got it completely wrong, this is what’s worked for us…
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Vía Ferrata Cágate Lorito
Vía Ferrata Cágate Lorito is a K6-graded via ferrata located in Sant Llorenç de Montgai, Lleida, Catalonia, in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. It is widely considered one of the most difficult via ferratas in Spain, featuring 150 metres of near-continuous overhanging climbing, a 3-metre roof, a hanging ladder, a 10-metre cable bridge, and…
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The Best Apps for Van Life in Europe – 2026
These are the apps I use for full-time van life in Europe, tested across four years and 13 countries with two dogs and no fixed address. The list covers overnight parking, food, fuel, navigation, weather, trail safety, money, and ferries. No apps I tried once. No affiliate padding. Just what I open every single day…
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Van life hygiene in Europe: 4 years on the road
How do van lifers stay clean? This is the honest answer from four years of full-time van life in Europe – covering van showers, campsite showers, periods and laundry. Written from a woman’s perspective, useful regardless of gender, and specifically about van life in Europe, where there are no gym chains and no Planet Fitness.…
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Giau Pass van life guide (2,236 m) – parking & hiking
Giau Pass (Passo di Giau) is a high mountain pass in the Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy, sitting at 2,236 metres. It is one of the highest paved passes in the region, accessible to campervans, open between June and October. This guide covers overnight van parking at the summit, the Lago Federa loop hike en route,…
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Falzarego Pass van life guide (2,117 m) – parking, Lagazuoi & Cinque Torri
Falzarego Pass (Passo di Falzarego) is a mountain pass in the Dolomites, Italy, sitting at 2,117 metres. It is drivable year-round in good conditions and serves as the access point for Lagazuoi Refuge (2,752 m), Rifugio Nuvolau (2,575 m), Averau Refuge (2,413 m), and the Cinque Torri rock formations. This guide covers Falzarego Pass from…
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Sella Pass Van Life Guide (2,240 m) – Parking, Climbing & Sassolungo Loop
Sella Pass (Passo Sella) is the highest pass in our four-pass Dolomites van life series, sitting at 2,240 metres on the border of South Tyrol and Trentino. It is the busiest pass in the series but also the one with the most concentrated climbing and hiking options within walking distance of the parking area. This…
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Gardena Pass Van Life Guide (2,121 m) – Free Parking, Via Ferrata & Waterfalls
Gardena Pass (Passo Gardena) is a mountain pass in the Dolomites, Italy, sitting at 2,121 metres and the starting point of our four-pass Dolomites van life series. It is the most practical entry point from the west and the only pass in the series with completely free, spacious gravel parking and on-site toilets during peak…
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Van life- where to start and how to make money on the road?
This is THE ONE question that I get asked by far the most and it’s going to be a long post so be prepared! I am not sure why but I was apprehensive to write about it for a while. Maybe because talking publicly about how you make money is quite daunting or perhaps taking…
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How much does it cost to live & travel in a van? Part 2
There is this negative social stigma behind money and a lot of people shy away from conversations about it. But I’m here to break the rules so buckle up and learn about how much does it actually cost living on the road 🙂 April was our first full month living in a van in Spain…
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Top boring van life essentials we bought or forgot to buy!
This is far from the most exciting blog post but I wanted to include a list of mundane van life essentials you wouldn’t normally think about until you start living in a van. Let’s go! My favourite purchase and something that I use every single day is Roll Up Dish Drying Rack. Our kitchen is tiny,…
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How much does it cost to live and travel in a van?
I’m glad you asked! So many people say living in a van is cheap but is it actually cheap when you add up all the costs?! We have been living full-time in our motorhome for a month now and just got around to adding all the expenses so I thought I will share this with…
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Weekend Getaway in the Lake District
After a rainy start of 2022, we have decided to spend long a weekend in the Lake District. Our usual weekends involve lots of climbing and hiking and we often try to cramp too much in 2 days. So for a change, we decided to have a relaxing weekend with some nice walks and spend…
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14-day dream UK holiday under £500
How we completed the NC500 road trip in 14 days for under £500 – two people, one dog, wild camping the entire route. This post covers sleeping arrangements, a full kit list, petrol and food costs with a complete breakdown, and what we actually spent. Written in 2020 during COVID-19 when international travel was off…
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NC500 hikes – the most memorable trails in the North of Scotland
Eight of the most memorable hikes on the NC500 and Isle of Skye – including Beinn Eighe (18 km, 1,116 m ascent), Sandwood Bay (13 km), the Quiraing loop, Old Man of Storr, and Fairy Pools. Each trail listed with distance, time, and honest notes from the route. With all the COVID-19 going on, it…
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🇬🇧 Warland Reservoir
Today we went for a little walk around Warland Reservoir. This is our ‘go-to’ spot when we don’t have much time, but still like to get outside even if it’s for an hour or two.Below are just a few reasons why we like coming here: Let me know if you been here before, and what…
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🇬🇧 Dovestone Reservoir
Today we did an awesome 8 miles hike passing reservoirs, wild swimming spots and waterfalls with some easy scrambling and lots of beautiful views. With less than 30minutes drive from Manchester this is a must for anyone who loves outdoors. There is a path to go up to the Holme Clough Waterfall, or if you…
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🇬🇧 Blackstone Edge
No matter how many times I visit this place, I always have loads of fun! No two adventures are the same – every trip throws up new scenery and fresh experiences. This beautiful spot is only a 45-minute drive from Manchester 👌🏻 The Blackstone Edge offers a rocky 1,549ft summit, and a road that was…
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