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 😎

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 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!!

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 🐾

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

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!

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!

Hello, Is it possible to consider wild camping with young children, mainly in the Anti-Atlas? It’s not an option for budget reasons but rather a way of traveling we enjoy.

If we get the landowner’s permission and offer compensation, is it feasible?

Happy New Year to you all

Hi,

I'm about to rent a self-drive 4x4 in Mongolia. Has anyone heard of GOBI.RENT? Otherwise, do you have any tips for checking this company since there's no info on their website (e.g., registration number on the RCS)?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech). We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.

Here’s the planned route (in this order):

Marrakech → Ouarzazate → Draa Valley → Zagora → Erg Chegaga → Lake Iriki → Foum Zguid → Tata → Tafraoute → Aït Mansour → Tiznit → Mirleft → Taroudant → Back to Marrakech

Our goal:

Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline. We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.

We’re planning:

Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day) Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack

Questions:

Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)? Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki? Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing? Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route? The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.

We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert. Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊

Hi there, I’m looking to find a company at Salt Lake City airport that rents vehicles for gravel roads: Burr Trail, Cottonwood Canyon, etc. Thanks

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Zambia in 2 years. This will be our 4th trip to Southern Africa—the last one this year was Moremi, Boteti, KCGR, and KTP as a self-drive with campsites and no guide, just my wife and me. For this year’s trip, we prepared 2 years in advance—bookings are really complicated. We were lucky to get a spot at Bitterpan in KTP (there are only 4 chalets).

We’d like to know if it’s easy to get around Zambia, especially when it comes to restocking supplies. Should we rent a 4x4 in Zambia, Namibia, or South Africa? Botswana is very expensive. Which parks are the most interesting? We’re into wildlife photography.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Jean-Marc

Hi there!

For my 60th birthday (yes, I’m jumping the gun a bit!), I’m starting to plan a self-drive trip to Tanzania (in June).

I also considered Zimbabwe but I’m worried it might be a bit chilly at night in June.

I’ve revisited an itinerary I’d thought about before, tweaking it since I’ll have more days to dedicate to this trip. Still no big northern classics for the same reasons as before (too expensive, too crowded, too many tour operators).

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

(Arrival/departure from Kilimanjaro Airport)

Night 1: Arusha

Night 2: Arusha

Night 3: Lake Manyara

Night 4: On the way to Iringa (any ideas???)

Night 5: Iringa

Nights 6–8: Ruaha NP

Nights 9–10: Mikumi NP

Night 11: Bagamoyo

Nights 12–15: Beach Nights 16–17: Lushoto

Nights 18–19: Mkomazi NP

Night 20: Toward Marangu – eastern Kilimanjaro

Night 21: Western Kilimanjaro

End of trip

All your ideas, tweaks, info, and suggestions on this route are welcome!

I could move one beach night somewhere else if needed.

Also, if you have a car rental company to recommend or thoughts on the bandas rented in the parks, I’m all ears!

Finally, what are the roads like in Ruaha in June? The rental company I’m looking at seems to allow this park with a small 4x4. (Off-limits: Serengeti and Natron)

Thanks! :)

Hi Botswana lovers! Has anyone recently crossed the Third Bridge coming from North Gate? What’s the bridge like? And is North Gate open? Thanks in advance! Patricia

Hello, I’m preparing for a Tunisia-Algeria road trip. I need to know if we can cross the Sahara to reach Djanet and Tamanrasset by road freely, After that, obviously off-road in the desert with a guide. What do the authorities say? My trip: northern and southern Tunisia, a stroll in the desert. Crossing the Tunisia-Algeria border via the Taleb Larbi customs. I’ve already done this route through an agency, but this time we want to do it on our own. Then heading down to Djanet for eight to fifteen days in the desert with Mouloud, a local guide. Direction Tamanrasset: road and tracks, the mountains of the Assekrem, the Hermitage of Père de Foucauld. Return via the Trans-Saharan Highway. Visit to northern Algeria, then back by boat from Oran to Spain. Dates: late December to mid-February. We’ve got plenty of time. If another crew is interested, we’re already two vehicles. Looking forward to your replies.

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?

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

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, 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!

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 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.

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

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

Hi Community,

We're heading to South America with our converted truck, which is a light vehicle (3,500 kg limit) that we’re shipping by boat in October this year (2026). But after weighing it, we’re at 4,500 kg. Based on your experience, do you think we’ll get stopped in South America (Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, and southern Brazil) because of this? Are there police checks for overweight vehicles? Has this happened to any of you?

Thanks in advance for your experiences and advice!

Les Megy Rozé Un Petit Voyage en Plus

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 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

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! 👋

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!