Nomadic trip, vintage van, camper van, nature getaway
Van trip through the Dordogne
Live the freedom
This summer, enjoy a holiday in total freedom, off the beaten track.
Choose one of France’s most beautiful road trips: the Dordogne Valley, and discover a few hidden gems you’d have hated to miss.
Hitting the road in a van, camper, or motorbike is attracting more and more people—this lifestyle is known as vanlife. Many of us are ready to give it a try and travel freely. But first, it takes a bit of planning in a few steps:
- plan a road trip based on your destination
- find and map out your route to make the most of it
- make a checklist of what you’re bringing—what gear do you need?
- choose your mode of transport: converted van, vintage truck, 4×4, motorbike…
- plan your budget to enjoy it to the fullest
Where to go for your first road trip?
Your road trip
Choose a well-known destination that isn’t overcrowded—a region with lots of heritage listed sites, recognized by UNESCO, and known for its local food and markets.
The suggested van road trip is ideal for discovering the Dordogne Valley, enjoying both the country roads and the destination itself.
No need to go to the other side of the world to fully switch off and enjoy outdoor sports or go canoeing to explore the Dordogne.
Escape the noisy streets, step away for a while from your computer keyboard, leave your comfortable life behind, take a break from supermarket runs. So grab the keys to the converted van…
Choose a region with plenty of listed sites and medieval villages to visit.
Which van for which type of traveler?
a unique experience
The right choice depends on your travel style. For lovers of vintage looks and simple mechanics, the Volkswagen Kombi remains a rolling legend. If you’re after modern comfort, go for a recent converted van with a solar panel, fixed bed, and built-in fridge. Adventurers looking for total independence will lean more toward a 4×4 van or an L3H2-style converted van, which lets you travel in every season. And for minimalists or solo travelers? A motorbike and a tent are enough for a memorable adventure.
Essential gear for a road trip with no hassles
Partir à l’aventure, oui, mais pas n’importe comment. Voici quelques essentiels à ne pas oublier dans votre check-list : un petit réchaud à gaz, des ustensiles pliables, une glacière électrique, une lampe frontale, et surtout une batterie externe puissante. N’oubliez pas un bon sac de couchage adapté à la saison, une carte papier (au cas où le GPS flanche), et une trousse de secours bien garnie. En van, chaque objet doit être utile et idéalement multifonction : pensez minimaliste mais malin.Lire la suite
Live the experience!
To live and enjoy the experience, it’s time to do something different. Step away from your everyday routine for a while. Your vehicle is your home; you don’t need anything else.
If you’re not equipped, for a first try you can rent one…
- Peer-to-peer converted van rental: yescapa.fr
- Or go straight to a rental company: we-van.com / roadsurfer.com
- Around €60/day
Traveler, adventurer, or collector: to each their own road
to each their own style
There are a thousand ways to live the vanlife. Some head off on an adventure as a hardcore adventurer, backpack and with a built-in stove in an old van. Others cruise behind the wheel of a vintage VW Kombi, for a retro getaway between nature and authenticity. There are also those loyal to their “old banger”, that old patched-up car lovingly kept going, which becomes a rolling home for the summer. And then there are those who’ve long dreamed of a weekend behind the wheel of a sports car, hair in the wind, before sitting down in a local restaurant. Whatever the vehicle, it’s the road that matters. And at Camping Au Soleil d’Oc, we welcome all kinds of vehicles: vintage Kombis, vans, whether you’re with family or friends on the banks of the Dordogne.
Designer van or bohemian slow trip
Today, vanlife also appeals to lovers of beautiful objects and minimalism. The inside of the van becomes a little cocoon: light wood, clever layouts, solar fairy lights… A mobile life, between design and comfort, for those looking for a slow and beautiful life in VW. Others choose a classic car or a vintage truck, in search of a slow, genuine trip full of character. And if you feel like parking the van for a day of adventure, treat yourself to an outdoor or sports activity in the Dordogne.
Photo credit: Becombi