Mille Routes: The Guide for Beginners to Roof Tents

Founded by Manon Robert, Mille Routes was born out of a simple observation: there are still few reliable and accessible resources for those looking to get started with roof tents. Behind this project lie several years of hands-on experience and a constant quest for the right balance on the road.

Understanding roof-top tent travel through real-world experience

Since 2019, Manon has been exploring different ways to travel. It all began in South America, with a backpack on her shoulders, before a life-changing encounter with a T2 camper van in Patagonia. An experience that changed the way she views travel.

What followed were several years on the road. A van in South America, a camper van in Europe, and a 4x4 SUV in Canada, all the way to Alaska and the American West. Over 100,000 kilometers traveled and a dozen countries explored.

Every experience contributes to the same quest: finding the right balance. Enough comfort to recover properly, without losing touch with the outside world. This hands-on approach now informs the advice shared on Mille Routes.

How do I get started with a roof tent?

For Manon, the answer lies in a rooftop tent. This way of traveling offers a simple balance between comfort, freedom, and being close to nature.

His current setup is based on a simple choice: an everyday car with a simple, removable interior—discreet and practical—equipped with a rooftop tent.

On paper, nothing special. On the road, it’s a whole different story.

Since 2023, I have spent more than 100 nights in a rooftop tent, mainly in France and Spain. Every camping trip has reaffirmed that this was the right choice.

One thing is clear: you don’t need an expensive vehicle to travel with a rooftop tent. All you need is a car, the right gear, and the desire to set out.

Traveling with a roof tent in an everyday car

She travels in a Berlingo with a rooftop tent. It’s precisely this combination that defines her travel style.

The Berlingo can park just about anywhere, gets decent gas mileage, and is unobtrusive. The tent, meanwhile, sets up in seconds and offers a level of comfort that’s surprising from the very first night.

It’s not luxury camping. Nor is it uncomfortable, rustic camping.

For several years now, Manon has been camping all over the place: from the Pyrenees to the Basque Country, via the Ardèche, Brittany, Spain… and many other places besides.

And that's just the beginning. Europe is already on the list.

It is precisely this hands-on experience that gave rise to Mille Routes: a media platform designed to help those who want to get started with roof tents without getting lost in overly technical advice.

Mille Routes: Guides for Beginners to Roof Tents

It was while searching for information for his own adventures that the idea struck him.

Not much practical content. Not much real-world feedback. And almost no guides actually designed for beginners. Lots of marketing talk, but few real-life experiences.

Mille Routes was created to address this gap and make roof-top tenting more accessible.

The goal is clear: to help you get started on this journey.

Every piece of content is designed with one goal in mind: to help you get started with confidence, without making any mistakes.

His ambition is clear: to make Mille Routes a leading authority in France on the subject, with an approach that is simple, accessible, and rooted in real-life experience.

The project is still in its early stages. But the community is growing, the content is expanding, and the feedback from readers who have taken the plunge thanks to the site keeps Manon motivated to keep going, week after week.

Where should you start with your first rooftop tent experience?

For those who want to get started, or who have just bought their first rooftop tent, Manon has put together a free guide: “Getting Started with Rooftop Tents.”

This guide covers everything you need to know before your first night.

A collection of practical tips designed to help you set off with peace of mind and properly prepare for your first rooftop tenting experience.

Because traveling with a rooftop tent doesn’t require a huge budget or a high-performance SUV. All you need is a car, a tent… and the desire to sleep somewhere new.