For several days, creators from across Europe shared roads, meals and experiences while exploring life on the move in one of Italy's most spectacular mountain regions.
Some travelled with young families. Others had spent decades exploring the world together. One drove a vintage Volkswagen LT40. Another arrived in a 1977 expedition truck that had already crossed four continents. Different vehicles. Different lifestyles. The same destination. For a few days, the roads and mountains of Trentino would become their shared home.
For Leander and Maria Nardin of Akela World, the road to Trentino came with an unexpected setback. The Austrian family was travelling from Greece in their rebuilt 1977 Mercedes-Benz LA 911 B expedition truck when disaster struck just hours from Trentino.
“Our fuel tank kind of fell off on the highway. It wasn't exactly the ideal start to the trip. But after all these years on the road, you learn to stay calm and focus on fixing the problem.”
After more than 130,000 kilometres, 35 countries and four continents, Leander was no stranger to the realities of life on the road. The fix required tension straps, all tools out and sleeves rolled up. Within a couple of hours the family had repaired it overlanding style and were heading towards Trentino again. They arrived dirty and tired, but on time.
As more creators rolled into camp, introductions quickly turned into conversations. Vehicles were explored. Stories were exchanged. Doors and storage compartments opened as creators compared different approaches to life on the road.
German van builder and YouTuber Dominik Freund arrived in his classic Volkswagen LT40. Creators Steff Gutovska and Christian Ekdahl drove all the way from Norway in their self-built Iveco Daily 4x4. Swedish craftsman Henrik Szokoll joined with a new six-metre Fiat Ducato build, a project inspired by the idea of turning a standard campervan into something more personal.
“We are converting it into something much more unique, something with a soul, something much more creative.”
Tom Jünemann, Julia Haase, Andrea and Jochen Hitzemann completed the group. No two vehicles were alike. That was exactly the point.
Each morning, the convoy headed deeper into Trentino. Roads climbed through forests and mountain valleys. Snow still lined some of the higher routes, while spring had already arrived around the lakes below. Along the way, the creators stopped often, sometimes for pizza, photographs, or simply just to take in the views. The journey itself was the experience.
During the days in the mountains, the group explored the landscape on foot and from the water. Hiking trails led into the mountains while kayaks offered a different perspective on the region's lakes.
For outdoor adventures, Tom Jünemann and Julia Haase, it reflected exactly why they travel this way.
“The best point about travelling with our camper is being somewhere in nature, to have a good time and calm down after a stressful day somewhere in the city.”
Back at camp, every vehicle revealed a different philosophy of mobile living. Some focused on simplicity. Others on long-term travel and self-sufficiency. Many had been shaped over years of use and countless kilometres on the road.
Steff and Christian's Iveco Daily represented one of the most ambitious builds in camp.
“It was nine months and it was a labor of pain, tears, sweat and love.”
Built for life on the road with their young family, the project combined custom craftsmanship with integrated Dometic solutions (opens in new tab) throughout the vehicle. Refrigeration (opens in new tab), power (opens in new tab), cooking (opens in new tab) and shelter (opens in new tab) were designed into the build from the start, helping transform the Iveco into a fully functioning home on wheels.
“We had the support of Dometic, so it's a combination of really handmade stuff with top-notch technology.”
With the grill lit at the basecamp overlooking Lake Ledro, dinner preparations began. Golden hour light filled the camp as children ran between the vehicles, climbed onto benches and repeatedly interrupted conversations. Nobody seemed to mind. Laughter drifted across the campsite as stories were exchanged long after the engines had cooled. For a few days, the group felt less like a gathering of creators and more like a travelling neighbourhood.
Seated outside their camper overlooking Lake Ledro, Andrea and Jochen enjoyed a quiet moment between the day's activities. With the mountains rising behind them and the camp slowly came to life around them, the conversation turned to what makes long-term travel enjoyable.
Their camper is equipped with a Dometic refrigerator, cooktop and sink combination, allowing them to indulge in their shared passion for cooking. But after years of travelling, reliability is what they value most.
“Our main focus was always to have a solution that works. We have the fridge, the heating, the cooking — everything. It just works, no problems.”
As the days passed, the conversations grew longer. Creators compared vehicle layouts, swapped stories from the road and exchanged the small pieces of knowledge that only come from years of travelling and building. From solar power systems and cooking setups to improvised roadside repairs, every vehicle had a story to tell.
“We've become so close that yesterday Dominik said we became a small family.”
By the final evening, the camp above Lake Ledro was filled with as much discussion about future projects as memories from the week itself. Different vehicles. Different journeys. Different ways of travelling. But a shared passion for the road had brought them all to the same place.