Over 15 million posts can be found on Instagram alone if you search for the hashtag “vanlife”. A trip in a converted Bulli is reminiscent of the 1960s and the hippies who set off for Southeast Asia in a VW bus to find the meaning of life.
At that time there were various routes from Europe – mostly they led via Turkey. From there it went either via Afghanistan and Pakistan to India or via Syria and Jordan to Iran and on to India. Particularly popular destinations were Goa in southern India and Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The “Freak Street” there is still a reminder of the thousands of hippies who once came here. But some went further. The Hippie Trail stretched eastward through Bangladesh to Thailand and even as far as Sri Lanka.
With the van on vacation: pure freedom!
Part of the attitude towards life was that a trip wasn’t necessarily planned down to the last detail and that you ended up where the VW bus – or the ride – took you.
A trip with the self-converted van is still reminiscent of the hippie trips and conveys the feeling of freedom from back then. No matter why someone loves to travel with the Bulli, one thing is certain: you don’t have to drive all the way to Thailand or Sri Lanka to discover a lot. There are also many multifaceted routes on the European continent.
In the book “Legendary Van Trips in Europe”, travelers can accompany Astrid Dullivard and Alexandra Lam on a total of 50 routes throughout Europe. Taking breaks and watching the sunset, improvising on the campsite or meeting other campers – all of this makes a holiday with the Bulli so appealing. On their trips, Astrid Dullivard and Alexandra Lam show how diverse Europe is and provide vanlifers with exciting routes so that they too can experience the adventure. In the picture gallery we present eleven of their tours through Europe!