See You Soon: a van roadtrip across Europe’s surf coastlines
A life-long dream, made real by two riders at heart: hit the road in a converted van, chase waves, meet local athletes, and share the kind of moments you only get when you commit to the journey.
See You Soon is a van roadtrip project built around a simple promise: travel the world by camper van, stop where the ocean lines up, and trade stories with the people who live for glide—surf, kite, wake, snow, and everything in between. No staged adventure, no glossy fiction. Just the road, the coast, and the culture that comes with it.
See You Soon: what is it, exactly?
Two friends decided to drop the routine and fuse what they love most: extreme sports and van travel. Their plan is ambitious: a long-distance journey designed to cross six continents in two years, meeting local riders along the way and capturing interviews, videos, and on-the-ground stories from wild places.
The result is a format that feels both intimate and expansive: you follow the miles, the weather windows, the early alarms, and the small decisions that shape each day—where to sleep, where to paddle out, who to talk to, when to move on.
Who’s behind the wheel?
Céline grew up in the mountains of Savoie. She’s the kind of traveler whose seasons are defined by conditions—snow when it’s on, road when it melts—drawn naturally to skiing and snow sports.
Aurélien works as a photographer and videographer. He’s also a dedicated waterman: surf, wakeboard, kitesurf—sports where timing and feel matter as much as technique.
Together, they chose a life on the move: a converted van as a basecamp, with the freedom to follow swell charts, wind forecasts, and local tips rather than fixed hotel bookings.
The moment it became a project
Their story starts the way many real departures do: not with a grand speech, but with a quiet evening when the idea lands and refuses to leave. From that point, See You Soon takes shape into a clear roadmap: travel the world in a van, stop at iconic outdoor spots, and document encounters with athletes who know their home breaks, peaks, and trails by heart.
They’re not trying to “collect” destinations. The goal is to inspire—to help other dreamers realize that a big trip doesn’t begin with perfection. It begins with commitment, and a first route that makes sense.
First stop: Spain to Portugal, down to the Algarve
For their opening chapter, Céline and Aurélien choose the Iberian coastline: Spain then southern Portugal, aiming for the Algarve—known for cliffs, fishing villages, and raw Atlantic beaches.
They trace a coastal line from Málaga (Spain) toward Burgau (Portugal), with key pauses in and around Albufeira, Sagres, Praia de Castelejo, and the wide, wilder feel of Arrifana.
To follow their detailed story of this first ride, they share their roadbook here: the most beautiful spots and regions of Spain and Portugal.
What this stretch feels like on the road
This is a coastline where your day can flip fast: calm mornings, strong afternoon wind, fog rolling in, then a clean sunset window. Distances can look short on a map but still demand time—especially if you’re stopping for checks, scouting access points, or waiting out a tide. As a rule of thumb, plan 2 to 4 hours of real driving on moving days if you want to keep energy for the ocean (and avoid turning every stage into a late-night arrival).
Planet Ride pro tip: if you’re chaining surf stops, keep at least one “light logistics” day every 3–4 days—laundry, groceries, battery recharge, footage backup, and an early night. Fatigue is the fastest way to make a safe roadtrip sloppy.
Why they share it (and why it works)
The signature of See You Soon is the exchange: talking with local riders, not just about performance, but about place—winds, seasons, hidden constraints, and the reality behind the dream. Their content focuses on what you can’t get from a generic travel brochure: the human layer, and the on-site rhythm that makes an outdoor roadtrip feel true.
The van: their tool for going far
To push the project further, See You Soon launched a crowdfunding campaign to help finance the core piece of the journey: a fully-equipped van. Their choice is an Iveco Daily 4x4, built for long distances and mixed conditions, with one clear purpose: leave France and keep rolling—potentially as far as Thailand.
If you want to support the adventure, their campaign is here: Kickstarter: See You Soon.
Follow See You Soon
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Mini-FAQ
Is a van roadtrip practical for surf in Spain and Portugal?
Yes—if you manage your rhythm. The coast is well-served, but conditions change quickly. Build flexibility into your plan so you can move with swell and wind.
How do you stay connected on a roadtrip while filming and navigating?
Download offline maps before coastal stretches, and keep a simple routine: charge batteries whenever you drive, back up footage each evening, and avoid relying on one single connection method.
What’s the biggest safety factor on a surf-focused roadtrip?
Fatigue management. Long drives plus cold water sessions add up. Keep driving days shorter when you plan to surf, and don’t arrive late to unfamiliar spots.
