The Silk Route Motorcaravan Network.

The Silk Route Motorcaravan Network consists of the English-speaking members of the French motorcaravan club l'Association Camping-Cars sur les Routes de la Soie et du Monde.

The club specialises in overlanding by motorhome to many exotic destinations including, most famously, China.

The club has successfully organised four major group trips from Europe to Beijing and back, in 1998, 2000, 2002 and most recently in 2006. In addition, the English-speaking members have organised group trips to Siberia and Mongolia in 2004 and South, Central and North America in 2006-2007.

Innumerable other journeys have been made by members with the advice and support of the club. Indeed, the principal business of the club is supporting members who organise their own expeditions.

The club owes its success to:

1. the monthly club bulletin which reports trips in progress, announces members' projects (and invites other members to join them), and informs people about the formalities of travel to unusual locations

2. a strict application of a cooperative, not for profit principle. Everyone pays, everyone contributes, everyone benefits. There is no personal or organisational financial gain, whether you are talking about a few days in France, or trans-continental journey lasting more than a year.

This approach has some disadvantages. If you do not like adventure, or if you need to know, each morning, where you will end up each evening, don't come with us! (See the links page for less adventurous motorcaravan clubs!)

Background Information.

The club has over 500 members and was formed in France in 1993. Currently about 60 members are native English speakers. Annual membership in 2008 cost £35 (UKP) (one van/two people) or £25 (UKP) (one van/one person.).

To find out more about the club - or to join it - please explore this web site and if you have any queries, contact either:

Lynda Kovach (e-mail in English)

Jean-Pierre Pillot (e-mail in French)