And why you should consider a trip with a camper for your next getaway...
I had never been on a trip with a camper before. It's such a perfect combination of mobility, freedom, and nature. You take off, aim for the sun and stop whenever, wherever. For me, this was the perfect break. No stress, no planning, go with the flow. First, we looked for a place well worth driving to. If you have a destination in mind, finding cool spots along the way becomes much easier. For this trip, we picked South Tirol. In case of bad weather, we also made a little backup plan. Because a good vacation comes with a fair amount of sunlight on your face, at least it does for me. Try that when planning a flight and a hotel.
We hired our camper at 'Campaway' because it's nearby our place. We live in Belgium, and they have a wide variety of trailers you can choose from. So if you like more information about that, click the picture above.
FIRST STOP - SWITZERLAND
And so, the journey began. We started in Switzerland. Our first stop was Aareschlicht, better known as Canyon Aare Gorge. Here you can see with your own eyes how powerful water is. The river 'Aare' eroded a path through the rock formation resulting in a gorge that is 1400 meters long and up to 200 meters deep—a perfect first stop to enjoy nature and get in the vacation mood.
Cost: € 8,5/pp (adults) and € 4,5/pp (kids)
Stay: 1 - 2 hours
Already Tired?: https://www.camping-aareschlucht.ch/
Extra tip: Don't put your data roaming on if you're a European person. It will save you a lot of money. (;
SECOND STOP - SWITZERLAND
When you go to the canyon in the morning, you have plenty of time to explore Valle Verzasca in the afternoon. It will take you 2,5 hours to get there. So park your car in Lavertezzo, put on your bikini, and enjoy the fresh (read: very cold) water. Almost all houses in this small cozy town were built in 1350 and made out of stone. Doesn't that sound super cute?
Cost: Nothing
Stay: Whole afternoon (bring a little picnic)
Tired?: If you're heading to Italy, this is an excellent place to camp: https://www.lidomappo.ch/de
After an exhausting day, we parked the camper at the campsite (lidomappo). Then, we opened a bottle of wine and feasted on French bread and cheese we found along the road—no better way to end the first day.
THIRD STOP - ITALY
The next stop is 'Como Lake.' Apart from a 1-hour horse ride, we didn't plan anything. But when we passed Menaggio, we all needed a nice and cozy terrace and an Aperol spritz. When on vacation, I need some spontaneous stops like this. Just enjoying the company, the sun, and a refreshing drink. After two hours of talking, we found a guy renting small speedboats. Yes, you hear this right. You can rent a boat and be the captain. For one hour it only costs 70 euros. We hired ours at Ac Boats, but there are plenty of renting agencies. Of course, booking in advance during the high season is necessary.
Cost: € 70
Stay: 1 day - 1 week (Como Lake is pretty big, so you can stay as long as you want!)
Tired?: https://campingdomaso.com/nl
FOURTH STOP - ITALY
After a good night's sleep and a powerful breakfast, we headed for our horse ride appointment. Life is always better on the back of a horse. We took a walk to the lake and back. The surroundings are peaceful and quiet. The journey begins at the ranch. You have some time to get to know your horse, and when you're inexperienced, they'll teach you the do's and don'ts before they start. You might want to bring mosquito repellent because you'll meet some hungry mosquitos on your way. All the horses were nice and calm. I recommend this.
Cost: 35 euro/pp - 1 hour at the 'Ranch El Picadero'
FIFTH STOP - ITALY
After this relaxing ride, we went to Varenna, strolled around town, and ordered authentic Italian pizza.
Then went in for an early camping/relaxing day. The guys searched for a store to get some meat for the BBQ. My friend Gina & I just hung out at the camping and enjoyed the sun and a prosecco. We may be little, but we are smart. (; 😉
You can discover more around Lake Como and go to Lake Garda or Venice if you like. However, we had our minds set on South Tirol and the stunning nature that comes with it. So far, the weather didn't change, so we stuck to the plan.
SIXTH STOP - ITALY
On our way over, we passed a charming winery called 'Moser Trento.' We did a wine tasting for 5 euros each and bought a couple of bottles to go with our homemade pasta that evening.
After this delightful break, we jumped back in the camper to drive to 'Lake Carezza.' This place is fantastic! You can easily stare at the lake for hours and wander off into a daydream.
Tip: Book your camping place a couple of days in advance. We didn't find a camp spot close to the lake because those were fully booked.
SEVENTH STOP - ITALY
After a good night's sleep, we woke up early to head to 'Tre Cime.' We did a challenging 10-kilometer hike and stopped at two drinking points. Make sure you bring enough cash. There are many lovely lookout places to stop for a drink, but they don't accept cards.
LAST STOP - ITALY
Last but not least, we ended our trip to the beautiful 'Lago Di Braies.' You'll probably see many pictures of this place when searching for hotspots in South-Tirol. But, honestly, it's even more beautiful in real life than in any of those pictures. To sum this all up, the BEST trip of 2019 for sure!
The camper life suits me pretty well. 😊
Love,
Mimi
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