Hi fellow travelers, We’re planning our first trip to Iceland. We’re considering renting a 4x4 where we could sleep from time to time. My question is: What’s the current regulation in Iceland? Which areas allow sleeping in your vehicle, and where is it prohibited (requiring you to stay in campgrounds)? In June, is it possible to find spots without having booked in advance? Sergio

Hi everyone,

We’re a family of four—two adults with two kids aged 4 and 7—about to embark on a year-long round-the-world trip in a camper van. I’m currently planning the Asia leg, which should last about 6 months. We’ll arrive in Thailand in January, head north, then move on to Laos. Ideally, we’d continue to Vietnam, Cambodia, and then return to Thailand to head south into Malaysia. If the budget allows, we’d love to include China and Japan. The big question after lots of research is: how easy is it to temporarily import a vehicle into these countries? The info I’ve found is outdated (2019–2020), and given how quickly regulations change, I’d love to hear from anyone currently (or recently) traveling in these countries with their vehicle. I’ve read that you need a local guide in Vietnam, local license plates in China, and that importing a vehicle into China is quite complicated—are these rules still in place? More generally, is there a recommended route for this part of the world with a camper van?

Thanks in advance!

Hi there, We’ve rented a 4x2 camper van in Iceland from June 8 to 28, 2025, and we’re planning to drive around the whole island. Do we really need the optional sand/gravel/tire insurance? Thanks in advance for your tips!!

Hi everyone, I recently arrived in Uruguay and I'm currently thinking about the best solution for my South America travel project. I have a 2013 Fiat Ducato camper van that's currently in France. My initial plan was to have it shipped to Uruguay so I could travel across South America for about a year, then sell it here at the end of the trip. But now that I'm here, I have a lot of questions about selling a French-registered vehicle in South America, particularly in Uruguay. So, I'd love to hear from anyone who's been in this situation before:

Is it possible to sell a French-registered vehicle in Uruguay without permanently importing it? Is it common to sell your vehicle to other travelers (French, Europeans, or others) who want to continue traveling with it? Are these kinds of transactions relatively straightforward? What administrative procedures should I expect? What are the risks for the seller and the buyer? Are there any South American countries where this kind of sale is easier than in Uruguay? Based on your experience, would it be wiser to sell my van in France and buy a vehicle locally to travel with?

Any advice, experiences, or recommendations are welcome. Thanks in advance for your help !

Hi there,

We're planning a full week in Iceland in April. Given the short timeframe to prepare, I’m asking for some help on the forum.

We’re considering renting a camper van to be more independent with our travel. - Is this really a good idea at this time of year due to weather conditions (cold nights, poor road conditions, etc.)? - Can we just "park" anywhere for the night to sleep, or do we absolutely have to go to a campsite? What are the approximate rates for a van with 2 people? Do we need to book in advance? - If this mode of transport is recommended, do you have any good places to rent one?

Iceland is still a big island with lots of points of interest, so I think it’ll be tough to see everything in 8 days. - Are there parts of the island we should prioritize in April? We like hiking (nothing too long—6 or 7 hours is out of the question) and unique landscapes. - Are some sites inaccessible at this time of year? - Is Reykjavik worth stopping for a day or two?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Jeff

Hi there,

We’d like to travel overland from Turkey to India in our converted van, but there are very few options these days. Crossing Iran seems risky and not particularly safe. Has anyone here done it? If so, which route did you take to minimize safety concerns?

Thanks for your replies, Julie 😎

Hello everyone! 👋

First of all, thank you for accepting us into the group. 😊

My name is Gérard, I’m a 77-year-old retiree, and I have a charming young wife of 70 and a sweet little Biewer dog celebrating his first birthday. 🎂🎉

The three of us are planning to leave from Cannes in our motorhome and head to Dakar.

Personally, I know this route very well, having done it three times in a 4x4, the last trip being in 2016.

Regarding Western Sahara, I know it’s not particularly recommended to cross it right now, but I haven’t heard any bad news about it yet.

As for crossing the "no man’s land," I remember it being a very difficult track, impassable with a motorhome. I’ve heard that they’ve recently improved the track and that it might now be possible to cross those 4 km with a motorhome (?)

Actually, I’m reaching out to experienced travelers who could give me their thoughts on crossing at the end of 2025. 🙏

By the way, if other motorhome travelers have the same plan, maybe we could discuss it together? 🤝

As for Mauritania, I know it’s a long stretch of tarmac, and from what I remember—aside from the "Gare du Nord" stop to refuel and enjoy a good tea—you have to switch to "survival mode."

That’s all for my little chat! I hope to gather some useful information.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this, and I wish you a great 14th of July.

Gérard, Martine, and Bahia 🐾

Hi everyone, We're traveling in a converted camper van, and some family members want to join us in Brazil for a road trip in February/March 2026.

Does anyone have any plans to rent a camper van?

I know it's not very common, but maybe not impossible! Thanks 😉

Hi there, I’m trying to plan a family week’s holiday in Scotland. I’d like to rent a motorhome or a camper van. My partner has never driven a motorhome and the roads are making me nervous… I’ve seen camper vans, but are they much smaller? There’ll be 3 adults and a 7-year-old. Some rental companies tell me “no problem with motorhomes,” while others say “definitely not if you’ve never driven one.”

Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks

We're torn between a campervan (better in bad weather) and a 4x4 with accommodations, especially since lodging is expensive this summer. The question: can you still reach off-the-beaten-path spots with a campervan, or are you stuck taking the crowded main roads all the time? Thanks! Another question: For a 10-day trip, what’s the best option—circumnavigating the island, the west, south, or north?

Alaton

I’m traveling with my Quebec-registered vehicle, which only has one license plate, but several European countries require two. Can I still drive with just one plate?

Hi, We’d like to visit South America (among other places) with a vehicle, and I have a question about Chile and Argentina. A lot of "spots" are right on the border between these two countries, and I was wondering how to visit them since we’re not in a rush. Should we cross the borders without stopping so we don’t have to backtrack later, or should we explore the Chilean side first, for example, and then the Argentine side afterward? Thanks for your thoughts and advice! :)

Hi,

How do you manage to charge your battery using a solar panel while keeping your vehicle in the shade so it doesn’t turn into an oven?

I have a Renault Trafic, unfortunately black, and my cooler, battery, and BougeRV solar panel.

My battery is mainly used for my electric cooler.

https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CQ4LFVVR?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3

Thanks in advance! Nath

I’m planning a 6-month trip to Europe from Canada. I want to ship my Volkswagen Westfalia van from Halifax to Antwerp. Since I’d like to come back the following year, I’m wondering if I can store my van in Antwerp for 6 months at the end of the trip and if it’s worth it price-wise instead of returning by RORO and leaving again. Do I need to clear customs for my van before storing it? Thanks for your answers.

Hi there,

Most of the time when I travel, I tow a trailer with an ATV for my local trips... I’d love to hear from anyone who’s traveled with a trailer and a second vehicle of any kind—especially the downsides of towing a trailer in Norway, aside from ferry costs.

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

We’d like some info on insurance for our RV—it’s a 2024 heavy vehicle, and we’re having trouble finding coverage for a 6-month trip through Canada, Alaska, and the USA. If anyone knows an insurance company that offers this kind of policy, please share the details with us.

Hello, We’re planning a trip in May-June 2025. Could you share your driving experiences on the main road network with a motorhome (our vehicle is 7.2 m long and 2.25 m wide)? What basic route would you recommend for a tour of Corsica? We’re also planning to rent a small car locally to visit spots that are harder to access with the motorhome. Thanks for your feedback, and kind regards. Michel Droux

Hello fellow travelers, I've made the France-Benin trip several times via the Mali "Route de l'Espoir," and the last journey was pretty tense—2013, 🥵‍🔥 military convoys and all the chaos in Mali from the border to Bamako. 😅 So, I’m planning to take the route again but this time via Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, with a good old J9 (the mayor’s vehicles I used to travel in… 😎. Though the Mercedes 308 wasn’t bad either). Has anyone done this recently? A friend of mine did it 4 years ago, but things can change pretty quickly. If you’d like to share your latest experiences, I’m all ears! 😊 Have a great weekend! 👋

hello fellow travelers For my golden years, I'd like to drive to India in my 508. I want to avoid Iran and Pakistan. Instead, I’m thinking of going through Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, then taking the ferry from Baku to Türkmenbaşy in Turkmenistan, followed by the Silk Road through Central Asia—Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

After that, China? I’ve seen that some travelers manage to drive through China with their own vehicle... Then Tibet, Nepal, and India... But things get tricky with the Himalayan crossing. I’ve checked on Google—it looks tough.

Any tips or info on these routes? Thanks

Hi there, we’ll be in Portugal from March 9 to April 14, 2026. We’ve booked our first five days in Lisbon for sightseeing. After that, we’d like to rent a campervan (RV), but we’re having trouble finding a good site for the rental. The rental would be for about three weeks. Do you have any suggestions for us? We think it’s best to book the campervan before we arrive. And since we’re not mechanics, we need a vehicle in good condition...

Thanks so much for your suggestions. We’re open to everything—even route ideas and places to visit! Pierrette

hi we’d like to rent an RV for the USA and we’re wondering if RAODSURFER is a good rental site thanks

Hi, I’d like to buy an RV in France and travel across Europe. What are the ways to make that happen from Quebec?

I already have one in Quebec—is it worth exporting it?

Planning Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, and Greece for autumn 2025

Hi everyone, Apart from the road between Cusco and Hidroelectrica—which is tricky but doable—is there a safe place (like a campsite?) to sleep at Hidroelectrica and visit Machu Picchu the next day? Thanks!

Hi, I’m planning to pick up a camper van in Dubai and drive it back to France... is this even possible? What’s the best route? What are the main challenges? Are there secure parking areas along the way? Is diesel fuel available for the whole trip? ... So many questions... Thanks for your help! See you soon!

I'm planning to drive to the UAE by road, going through Iraq. Has anyone done this and can give me some info? Specifically about the border crossings Turkey/Iraq and Iraq/Kuwait.

Hi everyone,

We’re starting to look into whether it’s possible—like in Australia or South America—to buy a reasonably priced camper van and then travel as a family in Thailand, Malaysia, or India. From what we’ve read so far, it doesn’t seem very doable, but you never know... A big thanks to anyone with experience or insights!

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS – GRANDS REPORTAGES (TF1) “Motorhome: A Different Idea of Happiness”

Hi everyone,

I’m Julie Thierry, a journalist and director for Grands Reportages (TF1). I’m working on a documentary about families traveling in motorhomes or vans, and we’d love to follow one of them on the road across Asia—from Nepal to Thailand, Laos to India, all the way to the roads of Central Asia.

What we love filming It’s real life on the road: the little morning rituals, moments of connection, encounters, stops, and above all, that incredible freedom you experience every day. School on the road, unexpected bivouacs, breathtaking landscapes, shared meals, or conversations around a fire—everything that tells the story of a human adventure, sincere and alive.

Our team is very small (just 2 people), discreet, and respectful. We love blending in without disrupting, to capture authentic moments, from the perspective of those traveling.

Profiles we’re looking for: • Families with kids, all ages welcome • Departure recently or planned for 2025 / 2026 • Long-term travel (a few months or more) • All types of vehicles: motorhome, van, adventure truck, etc. The idea: to follow a few families throughout their journey to share a different idea of happiness—free, simple, and inspiring.

If you’re leaving soon, already on the road, or know a family who fits, email me at juliethierry@duritegroupe.com. Thanks for your shares and messages, and maybe see you soon somewhere on the trails of Asia! 🚐✨

Hi, How do you prepare for a trip in Northern European countries when you own a 2000-model motorhome?

Hi there, We’re planning a 3-week camper van road trip in August 2026 with our two kids (5 years old and 14 months). I’m looking for feedback from families who’ve explored Quebec in a camper van—specifically, whether it’s more budget-friendly than renting a car/hotel/restaurants. The itinerary is still being planned, but it’ll likely follow the classic loop: Montreal / Mauricie / Quebec City / Tadoussac / Saguenay / Lac Saint-Jean / Gaspésie / Montreal. With the camper van, I’ve got a few questions:

Can you rent a camper van and pick it up/drop it off in Montreal? What budget should we set aside for renting the RV + campsites? Are there free spots where we can sleep in the camper van? Without using official campsites. Are there other rental companies besides the two main ones (Canadream and Cruise America)?

Thanks so much for your replies—they’ll really help us make a decision. Azurplage