Vanlife Ukraine — Mikael Colville-Andersen

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey Through Ukraine

This October, I’m setting out on Vanlife Ukraine – Roads of Resilience: a 4–6 week road trip across one of the most beautiful and misunderstood countries in Europe.

This is not a war story. It’s a story of landscapes, culture, and everyday life in a resilient nation. I’ll travel through Ukraine’s safe and stunning regions—the Carpathian Mountains, Odesa and Bessarabia with its vineyards and Black Sea coast, and the capital, Kyiv—documenting what the world rarely sees: beauty, endurance, and energy.

Why This Matters

For the past three years, I’ve volunteered in Ukraine, creating therapy gardens for mental health, community gardens, and new public spaces. I’ve seen the realities of life there up close.

This project is more than content. It’s tourism diplomacy.
Tourism is one of the strongest ways we can support Ukraine right now. The west of the country is safe, welcoming, and waiting to be discovered. Showing these regions through the lens of vanlife sends a powerful message: Ukraine is alive, creative, and worth visiting.

The Journey

Imagine a van winding through the wild Carpathian Mountains.
Parked by lakes and rivers as I cycle the landscape, paddle an inflatable kayak, or hike to mountaintops. Visiting vineyards in Bessarabia, rolling along the Black Sea coast, and exploring Kyiv—a capital alive with history and modern creativity.

This trip blends adventure, culture, and resilience, turning vanlife into a window onto a remarkable nation.

Beyond the Roadtrip

Along the way, I’ll also deliver humanitarian goods—used laptops, smartphones, and warm clothing collected in Copenhagen. I’ll donate my expertise to towns and cities in Ukraine, advising on urbanism projects like community gardens, public spaces, and cycling infrastructure.

But the core story remains: vanlife as a lens for Ukraine’s resilience and beauty.

Who I Am

I’m Mikael Colville-Andersen—urban designer, author, and host of the global TV series The Life-Sized City, broadcast in 30+ countries. My work blends storytelling and urbanism, and I’ve built a dedicated social media audience that already engages deeply with my Ukraine content.

Instagram: 30k followers (@colvilleandersen)

YouTube: 45k subscribers (@thelifesizedcity)

Facebook:10k followers

Additional reach through Analogville Urbanism:

Instagram: 9k (@Analogville.urbanism)

Facebook: 24k (@analogville)

Audience Demographics

My audience is dominated by people in their late twenties to early forties: peak career-age professionals who value sustainability, socially conscious living, and the freedom of mobility. This is exactly the demographic most likely to consider buying a camper van.

Instagram Age Range:

13–17: 0.15%

18–24: 7.05%

25–34: 29.65%

35–44: 34.8%

45–54: 18.1%

55–64: 6.9%

65+: 3.3%