Our TOP VanLife Underrated Destinations

Laura & Carly (Rainbows On The Road)
Laura, Carly, their daughter Agnes and Roy The Dog make Rainbows On The Road - an Adventurous family who have travelled far and wide in their super unique home on wheels! They have absolutely nailed alternative living, and they are a great inspiration to us and many others! Let's find out their TOP underrated travel destinations below in the blog they have written for us all to enjoy!

Orkney


Why we chose to visit:

There was a specific reason that we chose to visit Orkney, I’m not convinced it really would have been on our radar otherwise. My (Carly’s) Dad was a keen fisherman and had visited Orkney several times over the years on fishing tournaments and always spoke of it very fondly. In 2010 he was actually out on a boat fishing off Orkney when he had an unexpected heart attack and died almost instantly. When we got his camera back from this trip and looked through his photos, there was one photo in particular that got our attention.  It was lush green fields, a little cottage and dramatic cliffs behind. We said at the time that one day we’d love to travel up there and try to find this spot for ourselves. Fast forward eight years and we’re living in our van and planning a trip to Orkney!  We decided to incorporate a week’s stay in Orkney with a tour of Scotland.  With a combination of Google Street View, help from family and a friend who had recently relocated to Orkney, we found the spot within hours of getting off the ferry and recreated my Dad’s photo.


But, although this is what got us up to Orkney in the first place, it’s definitely not why we ended up extending our stay from the initial one week to a full month!

What it has to offer:

The Orkney Islands is made up of several small islands, we only visited the largest island, what is referred to as the mainland, or just Orkney. It only takes around an hour to drive from one end of the island to the other, so it’s certainly not big, but there is so much to see. There are of course tonnes of beaches, some rocky, some stony, some sandy, one where we found so much sea glass and interesting bones and shells and so many choices of where you can park.


As mentioned, we ended up staying for a month, and within just a week or so we felt almost like locals- we kept bumping into the same people (not just other people in vans, but also locals). People were really friendly and it had a real small-town feel to it. Locals were just as willing to come and chat to us and suggest places to visit as were other van people, of which there were quite a few. 


The wildlife is incredible up there, we saw gannets, curlews, terns, guillemots, gulls, skuas, oyster catchers, and the highlight of the trip - puffins!! We also saw seals, porpoises and an array of jellyfish.  But missed out on seeing the dolphins, the whales and the otters which others often spot up there.


The city, Kirkwall, is really just like a small town. It has some nice shops, cafés etc and designated camper parking spaces (one of the few places we could get a reliable mobile phone signal).


There are toilets at some of the beaches and a free water point (at Skaill Bay) to fill your tank or bottles from.

Bosnia & Herzogovina


Why we chose to visit:

We basically chose to visit this country because it was en-route to Greece which was our original planned destination for this trip. Also we have a friend from the UK who lives in Mostar and we’d long had an open invitation to visit him over there.


What it has to offer:

We’re not normally big into cities, but having a friend in Mostar took us there. It definitely helped having our friend give us an unofficial guided tour, but even without this there is so much to see there. We had read about it online, but still found it shocking to see the very visible signs of the not so distant war that had gone on there. We parked up right next to the infamous Sniper Building and were surrounded by buildings and pavements riddled with bullet holes. We did actually spend the night here, but wouldn’t recommend it - it was noisy! But as a place to visit, Mostar is full of history and interest and has a lovely old town with cobbled streets and traditional slate tile roofs.


Kravice Waterfalls was spectacular - we visited in November after a lot of rainfall and the whole place was pretty flooded and the falls were roaring. It was very spectacular. From the looks of the advertising and publicity shots there, it is a lot different in the summer, and I expect it gets busy, but on a rainy day in November we had the place practically to ourselves and it was pretty special.


Pliva Lakes and Watermills - a beautiful area with two natural lakes and a little cluster of watermills. The mills are disused and locked up but there is a wooden walkway between them which you are free to wander along, which is pretty cool. The whole area has a park feel to it and is pretty well maintained and plenty of parking.  We did stay here overnight, but it was unclear if it was allowed and I can imagine the place is quite busy during the summer.

Favourite parkups/drives:

Our first stop in the country was at Krupa na Vrbasu Monastery, where we enjoyed a peaceful nights sleep. Just a short walk down from their big carpark you come to Krupa Waterfalls; the falls themselves aren’t massively impressive but the watermills there were very cool - several were still in use and you can even buy freshly ground flour.  


Just a little south of Mostar we found what remains one of our all time favourite parkups. It was a small sheltered spot tucked at the base of the mountains around Blagaj Fort. It took us a while to find this specific spot as it was a little distance from the main carpark, out of sight of the main track, surrounded by pomegranate trees and frequented by a local lady herding her goats through the area. We stayed here several days and enjoyed a walk up to see the impressive ruins of the fort which overlooks the area.

Albania


Why we chose to visit:

Again, this was just a country which was en-route to Greece. We’d also seen bits of what the country had to offer in videos on YouTube by From Rust to Roadtrip and liked what we saw.


What it has to offer:

As soon as we entered Albania it was clear it was quite different to other countries we’d travelled through. The roads were crazy and didn’t seem to make a lot of sense - pedestrians walked round or through roundabouts and cyclists went any which way they chose; drivers weren’t much better! Farm animals were tethered next to main roads and chickens roamed everywhere.


The road surfaces were pretty awful, full of pot holes and often unpaved, but they led to the most fun and adventurous driving we’ve done and led to some really remote beautiful parkups.


Tirana, the capital city offers a lot of cultural things to see, such as art installations, museums and abandoned buildings which can be explored.


We’re a big fan of hot springs and the ones in Lixhat e Benjes near Permet are pretty good. Not the hottest ever, but big enough for a swim which is a nice change and in a picturesque setting with a river and surrounded by mountains (snow capped when we were there in December).


Favourite parkups/drives:

There were a lot of fun drives in Albania, some scary, some very scenic, most bumpy, but one of our absolute favourites which was all of those things was the crazy SH75. We did it over two days and there were plenty of places you could easily pull into to spend the night. The scenery was stunning, at times the road clung to the edges of sheer drops which were terrifying, then it would wind round through near-deserted villages and past crystal clear water fountains. We passed many packhorses and several shepherds who mostly stared at us in disbelief or gave us a bemused wave!


One of our favourite parkups was Teqeja e Sari Salltikut. It is a mosque built into the cliffs in central Albania. It’s very high up, so the views are spectacular and it’s really quite something to see. It was a good place to stay the night as there was a big carpark up there and it was deserted all night.

Turkey


Why we chose to visit:

This was not somewhere we planned to visit at all!  We began the journey back from Greece to the UK in February to give us plenty of time to explore the countries on our route back. However, we got as far as Sofia in Bulgaria before realising that the route back we had planned at this time of year was going to be very cold and very snowy! So at this point we made the decision to do an about-turn and head south again to the warmth and wait for these countries to thaw out a bit. We then realised with more time on our hands we could visit a new country, Turkey.  We’d heard really good things about Turkey from other VanLifers, Expedition Family Happiness, and specifically about Cappadocia, so thought, why not?! 


What it has to offer:

We happened to be in Turkey when countries starting to lock-down and borders starting closing at the start of the pandemic, so we ended up spending a lot of time in Turkey so can tell you it has a lot to offer!


Stunning beaches, deserted when we were visiting (February, March).
Cappadocia - a surreal other-worldly landscape; which in itself is enough reason to visit, but then there’s the hot air balloons! Weather depending, every day at sunrise dozens and dozens of hot air balloons take off from all over this area. It’s hard to describe how it felt to wake up to the drone of the balloons being inflated right behind our van and sit in awe watching the balloons pop up from all over this magical place.

Chimera - naturally occurring flames erupting from rocks - check it out online. Very cool thing to see.

On a more general note, although Turkey is a popular holiday destination, not many people seem to come down in their vans, and it is brilliant outside of the peak season. All the popular spots are near-deserted!
It’s a very affordable place to visit; food is cheap, we could even afford to eat out occasionally here and we became hooked on Turkish coffee and their delicious freshly baked loaves of bread that you find in cabinets outside most grocers. Fuel is also exceptionally cheap there. And lastly, of all the countries we have visited so far, the majority of people we met were very friendly and welcoming.

Favourite parkups/drives:
While we don’t have any specific drives to mention, a lot of the roads make for pretty epic drives. The roads are generally in much better condition than those in the Balkans(!), and very few toll roads. The scenery is stunning, from the beaches to the mountains and everything in between.

A parkup we came across early in our travels in Turkey, a picnic area on a big hill near the village of Güre. It was very popular during the day with locals who would come up for picnics (in fact we ended up being invited over to join some locals for tea!). Beautiful area, with stunning views, friendly goats, a great little café and a cool tower. It was peaceful at night and I’m pretty confident that I heard wolves in the distance from here one night. The police came up during the day but they were either just there to enjoy the views (they were taking photos) or to check up on the locals - they were friendly to us and had no problem with us being there for a few days.

Cappadocia - as mentioned above, this is an amazing place, but not just that, it had a lot of options for parkups. We were specifically seeking out good spots to see the hot air balloons, but there seemed to be plenty of places you cold potentially stay over night and it didn’t feel like you’d be bothered by anyone. Our favourite was down near Love Valley, as we were literally surrounded by balloons taking off in the morning and that was just epic. During the day it was visited by quad bikes, people on jeep safaris, walkers and stray dogs but everyone was friendly and it was peaceful over night.

Dalyan - this was a nice little pull-off the road down to the beach. The beach itself was lovely; popular with turtles and has a great turtle rehab and information centre which is well worth a visit. But the area we parked was a little further up the road and felt more like a woodland area. Lovely walk down to the valley.

Another favourite, where we spent a good amount of time was the beach at Manavgat. There was a spot that was like a mini woodland right behind the sand dunes there. Again, a popular picnic spot for locals, we actually spent about almost two weeks there at the beginning of the pandemic before we got moved on by local police (but that had more to do with the pandemic and lockdowns than anything else). It was very peaceful at night and even in the day time we felt like we had our own private camp area - room to set up a washing line, have a campfire and just a walk away from the sea. It was bliss! Plus there were lots of wild tortoises; what more could you want?!


Brighten up your feed by following Rainbows On The Road here


*blogs are opinion based by each writer*

Van Life Business Features:

by Nichole - Tiny Ventures • 14 Jan, 2023
Welcome to a brand new blog series, where we feature creative Van Lifers and small business owners who make and create things ON or FOR the road! First up lets get to know the story behind Tiny Ventures...
How To Reduce Weight In A Van Build

How To Reduce Weight In A Van Build

by Jade - VLB • 10 May, 2021
Weight is one of the most important yet overlooked factors of a van build out. Below I share my top tips on ways to consider reducing those kilograms!
Bathroom In A Camper - YES OR NO?

Bathroom In A Camper - YES OR NO?

by Jade - VLB • 21 Apr, 2021
When it comes to choosing your toilet, we would highly recommend the Simploo Composting Loo , not only is it a more ecological choice compared with chemical loo's, it actually looks like a household toilet thanks to the sleek modern finish.
Where To Fill Up You Camper Van Water Tanks

Where To Fill Up Your Water Tanks

by Jade - VLB • 17 Jul, 2020
Are you wondering where to fill up your water when living the full time van life? Below I share my top tips! My first pointer here would be to have a water tank that is over 70L to ensure you aren't having to fill up too often (especially if you are planning to be off grid for a few days at a time) You'll still need to preserve your water as much as you can, so try not to keep that tap running unnecessarily and invest in a stop/start shower head, if you have a shower set up in your rig. The most obvious one is to fill up at friends and families, in between adventures or before setting off, this is probably the easiest way to obtain water! Keep a long water hose in your van, so if you spot a tap on your travels you are well prepared! On the road look out for these at fuel stations and services, not all of them have taps so I personally like to do a little dance when I find one (this is optional) A not so obvious one (and one that is probably best to use in a low water emergency) is a jet wash or screen water fill up point in fuel stations, you just need to make sure there are no chemicals or soap added to these! Oh and be prepared for some funny looks from people if you do try this method - if in doubt just smile and pout! Make friends! This is super easy in van life because the community spirit is so SO strong! There is a whole host of support out there both at park ups or online, so if you are stuck just ask around! I found that country pub owners were particularly friendly and kind enough to let us use their outdoor taps, they often have these for doggos, so after a spot of lunch take the opportunity to ask - the worst they can say is no! Lastly there is the option of a campsite, you could make use of the paid facilities and fill up your water, lots of people we know plan to do this once every few weeks for a night or 2!
Travel The Nordics

Travel The Nordics (The Indie Projects)

by Jade - VLB • 29 Jun, 2020
Vanlife Legends Bee & Theo from The Indie Projects have just released an inspiring guide book, all about their experience of travelling through the breathtaking Nordics! This book Travel The Nordics literally couldn’t have come out at a better time for me! I have just purchased a new van, ready to build out in the coming months, and Norway / Northern Lights being TOP of my travel bucket list! Reading this book has completely solidified the fact that I just have to go, and now even better I can feel fully prepared with the practical advice of The Indie Projects! I CANNOT wait to get on the road and experience all of the amazing sights that Bee & Theo share in this book, but this time with my very own eyes!
Interview With Van Life Straya

Interview With Van Life Straya

by Jade - VLB • 31 May, 2020
The awesome Claire & Luke from Van Life Straya have just completed self converting a Sprinter Panel Van into their very own FULL TIME home! We have throughly enjoyed watching this fun couple during their van build. Australia is near to our own hearts, so we have definitely been following this one extra closely! Let's dig a little deeper...
Interview With Driving Dee Dee

Interview With Driving Dee Dee

by Jade - VLB • 19 May, 2020
We really enjoy watching your travels on Instagram - but life is certainly different right now, and you are currently in Spain on lockdown due to the Covid-19! How are you adjusting to this? Were you unable to stay in the van over there? Yes, we're currently in the south of Spain near Almeria and have been here for around 9 weeks now. We decided to rent an AirBnB about two months ago to wait out the lockdown rather than staying in the van as it felt safer and gave us peace of mind – as well as not having to worry about emptying the toilet and having access to long hot showers every day! We spent the first week of lockdown in the van but because the rules were so strict here with heavy fines (up to 2000 euros!) being threatened to anyone out of the house without a valid reason – and rules against having more than one person in a vehicle - we were constantly looking over our shoulder and felt really on edge all the time. On top of that all caravan parks and the majority of aires or motorhome service points closed too so finding water and grey and black drop-off points was really tricky. It's not quite how we imagined spending the Spring months, that's for sure, but we've tried to stay positive throughout it all and will just have to adapt our route plan accordingly, as and when things start to resume some normality and country borders begin to open again. Lockdown restrictions have eased slightly now, so we are leaving the AirBnB to move back into DeeDee this week and drive to an animal sanctuary near Valencia who have offered us to park on their land whilst we volunteer with them to build their new rescue centre. That should keep us entertained for the rest of lockdown (hopefully!).
Interview With Adventures In A Camper

Interview With Adventures In A Camper

by Jade - VLB • 14 May, 2020
What inspired you to get a van? April's parents bought a caravan a few years ago, and after using it for a year or two we decided having a fixed base for weekend trips didn't work for us. To go on a weekend trip meant that we would have to book Friday's and Monday's off of work as we would spend Friday driving to our campsite and setting up and Monday packing up and driving home (you can't really go anywhere with a caravan hooked up to you). We'd pick a campsite in a central location to the places we wanted to visit, then we would spend the weekend traveling anywhere from 2 to 3 hours each day from our base location and then return at night. A camper van gave us the freedom to spend more time exploring as our home would be with us all the time - and it also meant that a weekend trip was literally a weekend trip, so no extra time off work, meaning more trips!
Van Life With A Doggo

Van Life With A Doggo

by Ceri (To The Mountains And Back) • 08 May, 2020
Tip #1 - Only you know your dog! There's a whole raft of people out there that will give you every reason under the sun why van life is or isn't a good idea with a dog. Trust me when I say Piglet is her own dog! She travelled with me to work everyday since she was a pup so being on the road isn't an issue for her. She loves getting in the van and heading off; new places and smells are her idea of heaven (well, that and any kind of food!) and she's incredibly sociable with people. Only you know what your dog enjoys and what stresses them out and that's the best way to know if van life is right for your dog or not.
The Dixie Tribe

Interview With The Dixie Tribe

by Jade - VLB • 07 May, 2020
How did you first get in to van life? For a long time, we had really wanted to travel, and we had come close to moving to Canada for a year to live and work. But we kinda realised we would just be doing there, what we were doing here....working and not actually having quality time together as a family. We wanted to be able to travel full time and enjoy every experience together. We almost came close to buying a house too, but the seller pulled out, and we realised that we didn't want to be tied into a huge mortgage. Van living just really offered us what we were looking for. Minimal living and full-time travel. So we went for it! We purchased a 2005 LDV Convoy and converted her into a tiny home on wheels over nine months and then travelled full-time across Europe for five months.
More posts
Share by: