A new year is just around the corner and that means preparations for new motorhome memories can start! Would you like to do something different and spot the northern lights, go on a culinary motorhome trip through the Italian Alps or discover a piece of hidden Greece? Then read on quickly and find out where your motorhome trip is going next year!

The northern lights, a colourful spectacle of light dancing naturally in the sky, are something you must have seen once in a lifetime. The convergence of the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field creates a so-called geomagnetic storm, a kind of collision on the night side of the Earth. This lights up the night sky and creates the green, purple or red aurora: the northern lights. In short: a magical spectacle that is especially good to spot in northern parts of Europe. 

The most famous region to admire the northern lights is Finnish Lapland. The town of Rovaniemi is the capital of this region and is also home to Santa Claus, whom you can visit in person here. The northern towns of Tanhua and Inari also lend themselves perfectly to a (winter) visit to the far north of Europe. Wrapped up in thick clothes, you will discover the snowy landscape of Finnish Lapland on foot, by snowmobile or from behind a dogsled. Would you like to see the northern lights in a unique way? Then book a night snowshoe hike, which will take you out in the dark to look for the northern lights in peace and quiet. Travelling to Finnish Lapland in the summer months? Then the experience will look (and especially feel) different and you'll be completely immersed in the purity of nature. Yet even then it is still possible to spot the northern lights! 

A less known, but certainly no less good hotspot for admiring the northern lights is Scotland. The northern tip of Scotland's Skye peninsula is the place to spot the Mirrie Dancers, as the northern lights are called in Scottish terms, next year. In Cruden Bay and Kalnakill, too, you can see the sky discoloured on a clear day. In places where it is very dark, the light colours appear brighter, for example in the middle of nature. Scottish nature is worth a trip anyway, so a visit to the northern part of the United Kingdom will certainly not disappoint!

Camperstop.com tips for staying overnight: 

- Santa Claus Holiday Village, Rovaniemi, Finland
- Tanhuan Erämajat, Tanhua, Finland
- Nomadic Naali, Inari, Finland  (note: open annually from 15 May to 15 October)
- Uig Bay Campsite, Uig, Scotland
- Port Errol, Cruden Bay, Scotland
- Kalnakill, Scotland

- A special sight: seeing the northern lights!

The Alps run right across Europe and cross several countries, the best known of which are Austria and Switzerland. The Italian Alps, on the other hand, are often forgotten. A shame, because the Trentino-South Tyrol region ranks high on the list of most beautiful mountain regions in the world, and for culinary highlights - in the most literal sense - the Piedmont region is the place to be. For a wonderful motorhome trip at altitude, you should definitely head to northern Italy! 

Trentino-South Tyrol, because of its history related to the Austrian Empire, is often seen as the odd man out. However, nature and culture lovers are in for a treat, as here you will find Italian la dolce vita with a touch of Austrian Mentalität. In winter, you strap on your skis to tackle the 1,200 kilometres of ski slopes of Dolomiti Superski, in summer you hike or cycle across the Seceda crustal crack, through Europe's largest mountain grassland Seiser Alm and around the rock formation Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Touring through the landscape, you pass cute villages, clear blue mountain lakes and breathtaking viewpoints. Culinary delights can be enjoyed in a mountain hut, where again the best of both worlds meet: knödel, pasta, everything in between and views so fine that an extra beer or wine requires no consideration. 

Delicious food is available everywhere in Italy, but in the north-western region of Piedmont, they take gastronomic enjoyment to an even higher level. As the birthplace of the slow-food movement, this region is a paradise for motorhome owners with fine palates and an eye for detail. Wines, truffles and hazelnuts are the basis for a culinary discovery trip through this part of Italy. A visit to Piedmont is therefore not complete without wine tasting or truffle hunting excursions, activities that are right in line with the regional culture. Be sure to tour the hilly countryside, stopping along the way in the picturesque villages for a stroll through the streets, or visit the bustling capital Turin. Nature will not disappoint either, as the hilly landscape makes for great hiking and cycling. Piedmont literally means ‘at the foot of the mountain’, as evidenced by the views that sometimes reach as far as the Alps on a clear day. This diverse region has something for everyone and is definitely worth exploring.

Camperstop.com tips for staying overnight: 

- Piz Sella, Selva di Val Gardena, Trentino-South Tyrol
- Caravanpark Sexten, Sesto/Sexten, Trentino-South Tyrol
- Bar Il Giardino, Moena, Trentino-South Tyrol
- Camping Sole Langhe, Vergne, Piemont
- Parco Ruffini, Torino, Piedmont
- Azienda agricola F.lli Rabino, Santa Vittoria d'Alba, Piedmont

- Head to northern Italy by motorhome next year and feast your eyes!

The middle arm of Greece's largest Peloponnese peninsula forms the southernmost part of the mainland and goes by the name ‘the Mani’. Unlike the popular islands, mainland Greece is much less well known. Yet there is plenty to experience and - above all - see here too! Motorhome owners who like southern European temperatures, delicious Greek food and extraordinary nature, but prefer not to seek out the crowds, have come to the right place. 

The Mani peninsula is only about 75 kilometres long and is perfect for a tour. In fishing village Gythio, you are surrounded by beautiful beaches bordering the azure sea and cosy fish taverns, where you taste the region's cuisine at its best. Mountain village Oitylo, on the other hand, draws its charm from its location on the slope of a mountain. Here you dive into the history of the Ottoman Empire. Further south, you pass Limeni, a small hamlet that offers stunning views of the boat-filled bay from a rocky slope, and Diros, known for its beautiful stalactite caves. Even further south, in the ‘holy harbour’ of Gerolimenas and the picturesque Porto Kagio, you are immersed in the Greek lifestyle: souvlaki, moussaka and ouzo are eaten and drunk at a traditional tavern, where the tables are set with blue-and-white checkered cloths. The eastern side of the peninsula is even less known, but also worth a visit if you really want to get away from it all. In unspoilt nature, you will experience peace and quiet on the Greek coast; that sounds like music to your ears, doesn't it! 

Camperstop.com tips for staying overnight: 

- Gythion Bay, Gythion  (note: open annually from 1 April to 31 October))
- Taverna O Faros, Karavostasi
- Gerolimenas
- Taverna Porto, Porto Kagio
- Kotronas
- Kamares

- The Mani peninsula is a must-visit for next year!

There is plenty to discover in the new year! Are you curious for more inspiration or do you want to know what else is possible by motorhome in Europe? Then take a look at one of the many destination pages!