Turkish Travelers Traveling the World with a Caravan

Doesn't the idea of ​​traveling the world with a caravan seem very romantic to you? Although it is not as easy as it sounds, there are a lot of crazy Turks who build their own trailer, buy a ready-made trailer or buy a vehicle and turn it into a trailer. Some in Turkey, some in Australia, some in South America, they travel the world with their homes. Me too Turkish travelers traveling the world by caravan I thought I'd make a list of who they were, where they went, what they did. Traveling alone with a caravan, traveling with family, walking with a dog Different trailer stories are waiting for you in this article!

Traveling the World in a Caravan?

For years, I feel like my air goes out when I come across those traveling with a caravan while I've been bragging about "I'm walking around with a woman with a backpack"(!). What do I do, I fill my bag, stay where I want, eat and drink wherever I want. But is it a caravan? You will stop in designated areas, you will cook your meal in the tiny trailer kitchen, sometimes you will not see the shower for days, if you are lucky, the toilet is on the back of your house like a turtle, you can go wherever you want. It was a plane, it was a bus, you won't bother with the trend. There are also those who make their own caravan, for whom I have double or even five times the respect. You need to know electricity, calculus, mechanics…

When it comes to the caravan subject, it is actually an ocean. There is a wide range of caravans, from pull-out caravans that you can attach and remove from the back of the car, to motorhomes, to those that were originally built as minibuses and later turned into caravans. I will not go into technical issues in this article. But for those who are wondering, I will write the brand-model information of the vehicle on the tag of each traveler.

If you are traveling by caravan, one of the essential things is to name your caravan. I will definitely indicate the names given by the travelers in the list below to their caravans.

Sila Yakamoz – Force Majeure Traveler

Sıla quit her job last year and takes a step towards traveling with a caravan, which is her childhood dream. This step is not for everyone, because he takes an old water truck and turns it into a caravan with his own means. Those who give such "follow your dreams" seminars should come and try, let's see how it goes.

She finished her caravan and started touring Turkey with her companion Siri. First, the veteran put a stone to the minibus trip, and now Sıla continues to travel and live in Turkey with a caravan even though they can't move very easily due to the corona. Now the real bomb is coming, Sıla has no income. He continues on his way by selling the products he sells on social media, the temporary jobs he does in places he goes, and sometimes the sandwiches he makes in his trailer.

Sila, Instagram with the name of Majer SeyyahHe shares his experiences in .

• Caravan Name: Jolly
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 1994 Model Mazda 2200 (water van)
• Construction of the Caravan: Himself

To Sıla's videos about caravan construction From the Force Majeure Youtube channel .

Burçin and Erdi – Trail of Us

Burçin and Erdi may be the most popular caravan couple on social media. A few years ago, they left their job and bought a minibus and turned it into a trailer. The name of Burçin and Erdi's caravans is Mars.

After converting the minibus they bought into a caravan, they made various routes first in Turkey and then in Europe. Sometimes they leave Mars behind and go on backpacking trips.

Their Youtube channel, Trail of Us, where they tell all their stories, starting with quitting their job and turning the minibus into a trailer, is very popular. same name on instagram you can find. The photos and videos are very careful and high quality. You'll enjoy following (if you haven't yet).

• Caravan Name: Mars
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 2002 Model Ford Transit
• Construction of the Caravan: They bought it as a minibus and had it built as they wanted in Izmir.

Gonca, Emin Cihan (Emci) and their Daughter Maya – Maya Van Life

Gonca, Emin Cihan (Emci) couple, is a family that went on a world tour with a caravan with their daughter Maya, born in 2011. What a crazy idea, right? It was actually Maya's dream to set off with a caravan. As parents, they, too, pursued their daughter's dreams.

They prepared for a long time to embark on this journey, which is their daughter's dream, and it took them 1 year to complete the caravan. They first experienced the caravan life by making short routes in Turkey and then started their world tour starting from Europe. They had come a long way, but due to the corona, they had to settle down again in Lisbon at the moment.

• Caravan Name: MayaVan
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 2012 Model Fiat Ducato 17 cubic meters (higher ceiling)
• Construction of the Caravan: They bought the van empty and built it themselves.

On MayaVanLife youtube channel There are lots of videos about both the trailer building and world tours. If you are interested in caravan life with children, you should definitely take a look.

Ceren and Sercan Baykal – Ceren's World

Ceren and Sercan couple left their lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands about a year ago and started a world tour that started in Asia. While going from the Asian leg of the world tour to the South American leg, they bought a minibus from Chile (if you noticed all minibuses for me :)) and traveled around South America with this caravan that they had built in Santiago. The construction stories are also a bit painful, at the time they had the interior of the caravan built, a State of Emergency was declared in Chile. Check out youtube channels for the rest of the story.

They made a great circle, descending as far as Patagonia and returning to Atacama in northern Chile. In fact, their trip to South America was going to continue, but they took a short break from their world tour due to the theft and the corona virus.

Click to read our interview with Ceren.

• Caravan Name: Sparrow
• Make and Model of the Caravan: VolksWagen Transporter
• Construction of the Caravan: They had the interior of the minibus they bought in Chile built there.

Both caravan conversion and world tours Ceren Baykal is on youtube channel You can watch.

Beril and Azad – Another World

I got to know Beril and Azad through the Relationship Test channel with Mesut Süre. They started their journey by saying “another world is possible”. They converted a T3 model minibus, known as the hippie camper, into a campervan with their own means.

First Turkey, then Iran, their goal was to go to India. They toured Turkey for 120 days, they earned money by selling bracelets on the way and continued on their way. The caravan journey seems to have stopped at the moment, I don't know their latest status either. Instagram and youtube accounts don't seem very active.

• Caravan Name: I guess it doesn't have a name, or I couldn't find it.
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 1980 Volkswagen Model T3 (hippie trailer)
• Construction of the Caravan: They bought the van and built the interior themselves.

Yaren and the Sea – Vanalyzethis

Yaren and Deniz converted the minibus they bought in Australia into a caravan, and they have been on the road with a caravan for about a year. Moreover, their beautiful dog Phoebe is traveling with them. They made the cover of the May 2020 National Geographic Traveler.

Of course, they have come to a standstill because of the corona. Deniz has found work again, they are now awaiting the reopening of roads in Sydney.

• Caravan Name: I guess it doesn't have a name, or I couldn't find it.
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 2012 Model Mercedes 4×4 Sprinter Van
• Construction of the Caravan: They bought the van and built the interior themselves.

If you follow their Instagram account, they share delicious photos of both Australia and caravan life.

Gökçen & Gökalp – On the Way of the Sun

Gökçen and Gökalp are traveling with their caravans called Fıttı, the Kaçkars are yours, the Mediterranean is mine. They do not live in a trailer full time, but try to make their domestic trips by caravan.

• Caravan Name: hernia
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 2016 Model Renault Master
• Construction of the Caravan: Purchased ready made.

Instagram On The Way Of The Sun You can follow his adventures on his account.

Bahar and Özgür – Two Heads and a World

Bahar and Özgür couple added a jeep to their motorcycle and backpacking trips. But they used their jeeps as a caravan and slept in it and made a 2-month trip to Europe. Details about Tosbik, which has been turned into a trailer on Youtube channels you can find. Also on Instagram Two Heads One World Check out your account.

This may be one of my favorite transformations, you can both go wherever you want with the jeep and sleep in the car as if you are staying in a tent. It is difficult to live for a long time, but it seemed very convenient for long trips. Of course, everyone's style is different.

• Caravan Name: tosbik
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 99 models, turbo diesel, automatic Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 TDI
• Construction of the Caravan: They made the interior equipment themselves.

Maral and Uğur – The Courage of the Ignorant

It's called Ignorant Courage. They have been on the road since 2013. They are currently continuing their world tour projects with a sailboat with a caravan and two children. Last time they were crossing from Chile to Bolivia, I hope they are fine. All these years on the road, two children born and grown on the road. They are truly legends.

They set out from Bodrum with the sailboat Blue Belle in 2013 and reached Rio De Jenario in 20 months. When their second child was born last summer, they started traveling from sea to land by caravan.

• Caravan Name: It doesn't have a name.
• Make and Model of the Caravan: Ford Transit
• Construction of the Caravan: A vehicle that was factory-built in France as a caravan by a pilot.

Favorite & Alex and His Dogs Turkish Delight – Wanderers Without Borders

Shortly after Gözde and Alex met, they decided to take a trip in a trailer. They have been on the road since August 2018. They built their caravans themselves on weekends while they were still working.

They were among the Turkish travelers stranded in South America due to Corona. Gözde was able to return, she is currently in quarantine in a dormitory in Tekirdağ, but Alex and Lokum stayed in Argentina because they did not take pets on the plane. I hope they will meet again soon and be on their way again.

• Caravan Name: Big Guy
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 1998 Model Dodge Ram Van
• Construction of the Caravan: They made it themselves.

Zehra, Eray, İdil and Berkin – Karavan Cango

Zehra and Eray couple are teaching in Mersin. Together with their daughter İdil, they lived in a trailer full-time and traveled during their holidays. In October last year, their new child Berkin joined them. Now he would move from trailer to panel van and build his own campers. Of course, I think it's not easy with the baby, there has been no sound from them for a while.

• Caravan Name: cango
• Make and Model of the Caravan: Avondale brand, travel trailer
• Construction of the Caravan: Ready.

Chloe & Gürkan – Van Life Goes On

Chloe and Gürkan are a sweet couple consisting of a French and a Turkish. They have been living and traveling in the trailer since April 2019. They earn their living by producing photos, videos and content. on Instagram accounts You will see many beautiful photos.

• Caravan Name: I guess it doesn't have a name, or I couldn't find it.
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 1985 Mercedes Hymer
• Construction of the Caravan: They bought it as is.

Ebru and Cihan – Attention to Passengers

Ebru and Cihan couple have been traveling by caravan for about 2 years. They live in Fethiye, work in the summer and go on caravan trips for 2-3 months in the winter. When their first caravan got old, they got a new one and moved to their new caravan 3 months ago. Now they have completely closed their homes and started living in a trailer. Good luck with their new home, may they live in good health.

You can take a look at their videos where they explain the transition process to the new trailer. They are constantly producing content for Youtube, if you are interested in the trailer, their channel may also be of interest to you.

• Caravan Name: I guess it doesn't have a name, or I couldn't find it.
• Make and Model of the Caravan: 2007 Model Fiat Ducato Minibus
• Construction of the Caravan: They did it themselves.

Baran Akyüz – Baran Without Route

While this article was going to be about Turks traveling the world with a caravan, it turned into a text about Turks living in a caravan. Baran, who lives in a trailer and also uses it as a cafe, is one of them. Baran also has a companion, his cat Rota. After saying goodbye to his first caravan, the Caterpillar, he bought the second caravan, an old school bus named Rotabüs, and converted it.

Baran's dream is to travel around the world with Rotabüs, I hope it will come true as soon as possible.

• Caravan Name: Rotabus
• Make and Model of the Caravan: It may be a historical artifact, I could not find the brand model 🙂
• Construction of the Caravan: He transformed himself.

Baran without route instagram You can follow his story up to date on his account.

Bonus: Ali Eric

To set off with a vehicle, especially if we are talking about traveling the world, not to mention Ali brother. His is a jeep, not a campervan. But it's a vehicle with more equipment than most caravans.

On October 15, 2005, Ali Eriç embarked on a journey he called Tour Africa, which started in Istanbul and ended in Cape Town, with his own vehicle, which will last for 6 months. About 3 years after returning from this journey, he again went on a world trip, this time with his vehicle, which will last for 3 years. your first trip Tour Africa, his second journey A World Travel from Istanbul to Istanbul He has another book. He donates book revenues to the Turkish Education Foundation.

Click here for my notes on the Tour Africa book.

• Vehicle Make and Model: Land Rover Defender 110
• Vehicle Construction Type: The vehicle has been modified to suit long journey and road conditions.

I'm sure there are many Turkish travelers traveling the world with their caravans that I haven't discovered yet. If there are people that you recommend to be added to this list, don't forget to add them in the comments.

Hope to be on the road again soon.