Summer Stories: Chasing Freedom Through the Alps

Mountain roads, alpine lakes, a camera in hand and nowhere in particular to be. For Marius, life on the road is all about the freedom to explore, discover new places and see where the journey takes him.

In this Summer Story, the Annecy-based photographer and outdoor creator shares his experience with TentBox, from exploring the French Alps to rediscovering the freedom of travel closer to home. He also shares his tips for finding great camping spots, the places he keeps coming back to, and the road trip he’s dreaming about next.

From Annecy to the Alps

Marius' adventures start close to home. Based in Annecy, he's surrounded by some of France's most spectacular mountain landscapes, and his work as a photographer and creator is all about encouraging people to spend more time outdoors. So when TentBox came onto his radar, it didn't take long for him to see how it could fit into the way he already travelled.

Can you introduce yourself in a few words and describe the kind of content you create?

I'm Marius, an outdoor photographer and content creator based in Annecy. Through my images, I try to encourage people to spend more time outdoors – I think it's important to put movement, adventure, and nature back at the center of our lives. To do that, I document my hikes and road trips, mainly in the Alps, to help re-enchant local travel and more responsible adventures. That's kind of the mission I've set for myself with this job.

How did you discover TentBox?

It was Mava, from Northcom, who told me about you. I discovered your whole universe at that point and was immediately captivated – it made me want to work with you right away. After that, I started seeing you everywhere in the outdoor/adventure ecosystem in France, especially on social media through lots of content creators, and even recently on YouTube, with a sponsorship I saw in one of Inoxtag's videos. So really thanks to Mava at first, and then, once I got interested in the ecosystem, I started seeing you everywhere.

What made you want to work with us?

At first, the product itself: I immediately imagined the freedom that owning a TentBox could give me. Then I was struck by the richness of the TentBox universe and by the quality of the briefs and exchanges we had – the seriousness of the teams, but also real creativity and originality in the way the product is presented and in all the stories that go with it. That's really what made me want to work with you, mainly for that.

Did you have any apprehensions before using the product?

Not really, other than receiving a package that size in the middle of downtown Annecy! Luckily, I have a small garage where I could store the TentBox before installing it. Actually, even the installation could have been a worry, but in the end I found it super simple, much simpler than I imagined. It was perfect.

Rediscovering the freedom to travel

For Marius, the appeal of TentBox goes beyond having somewhere to sleep. After years of camping in the mountains and seven months travelling around New Zealand in a van, he's no stranger to life on the road. Instead, TentBox gave him a way to reconnect with that same sense of freedom without needing to leave France behind.

Which TentBox model did you use, and why does it suit your setup (vehicle, travel style)?

I have the TentBox Classic, and since I have a Clio 4 and we often travel as two with my girlfriend – or sometimes alone – it's really the model best suited to how I use it. I immediately loved its shape, how easy it is to use, and its iconic orange color, which creates a beautiful contrast in certain settings, like forests for example.

Why did you choose to shoot in the locations you selected? What mattered most to you in that choice?

I've always chosen locations based on the places I dreamed of exploring. Across all our collaborations, I've been to the Vercors, Lake Serre-Ponçon, the Chartreuse, and the Semnoz as well. I always knew the TentBox could follow me anywhere I went and that the setup would be ideal for discovering all these areas – and it always has been.

What also guided my choice of certain destinations was the aesthetic side: for the photos I wanted to capture, but also for the TentBox content I wanted to bring back. I think it's important to always have somewhat stylish landscapes: mountain lakes, more forested scenery, iconic mountain passes... Those are the kinds of places I like to go, and I find they come through perfectly in TentBox content. TentBox really lets me discover this whole diversity of landscapes, and for that, it's perfect.

What surprised you most about creating content with TentBox?

What surprised me most is the ability to talk about the product without always putting it at the center of the content. I like it when brand storytelling focuses on experiences rather than the product itself, and that's exactly the direction you take with TentBox: showing what the TentBox lets you experience, rather than the TentBox itself. People always buy this type of product for the encounters, the moments you'll share, the nights spent stargazing, or the meals you cook outdoors. And I think TentBox reflects that vision perfectly.

Has this experience changed your vision of travel or camping?

I've spent quite a bit of time camping in the mountains in my tent, and I also lived in a van for seven months in New Zealand to travel across the whole country.

I wouldn't say the TentBox experience truly changed my vision of travel. I'd say instead that it allowed me to rediscover it, here in France – and to my great pleasure. Because after coming back from New Zealand, three years ago now, I dreamed of buying a van in France once I was back in Annecy, and in the end the TentBox opportunity came along, and it's the best alternative for getting back that freedom to travel whenever and wherever you want.

To spend time on the road, stop whenever you feel like it, discover new places easily. I'm not great at planning, and what I love above all is the flexibility and freedom that TentBox gives me, letting me hit the road whenever I want. So I'd say it allowed me to rediscover this vision of travel in France, rather than being a drastic change.

What did you like best about the TentBox?

I think what I liked best is the quality of the product itself, but also how easy it is to use, since I like things to be simple and smooth. I feel like TentBox gets straight to the essentials while still offering a really high-quality experience: right away, I found that everything had been well thought out, well put together, and that it was easy. TentBox really lets me fully live my adventures without any hassle.

How did your community react to this content?

Honestly, I immediately felt that my community grasped the potential of traveling this way. I got a lot of feedback on the TentBox, on what I really thought of it – people know these are collaborations, so they're always a bit wary about what we actually think of a product outside of ads and partnerships. And I felt a lot of interest and real curiosity about the product: I got a lot of questions, and quite a few people even asked me if I had promo codes to buy a box. I get the feeling it's a product that really appeals to this outdoor/travel/adventure niche in France, so that's a good thing.

Marius' guide to life on the road

If there's one thing that comes through in Marius' approach to travel, it's that freedom doesn't necessarily mean having a perfectly planned itinerary. From finding a quiet spot in the Alps to dreaming about a month-long road trip through Norway, he prefers to leave room for discovery along the way. We asked him for his advice on making the most of a TentBox adventure.

What advice would you give someone using TentBox?

I'd say don't over-plan your trip, let yourself be surprised by whatever the road brings. Freedom and flexibility are really the biggest strengths of a product like this, so you might as well make the most of it.

What are your travel tips when you head out with your TentBox?

One practical tip: always keep a camera on you, because the landscapes you pass through can be absolutely breathtaking. Also, find the best camping spots using apps like Park4night – it can only make the experience better. I love alternating between very quiet spots you can have all to yourself, and slightly busier ones where you meet people going through the same kind of experience – it's a great way to meet new people, create good memories, and often get good tips about the areas you're visiting. So yes, it's always more enjoyable to have a really beautiful spot: it's worth spending a bit of time beforehand finding it, so you can fully enjoy the moment rather than wasting time driving around in circles looking for it.

Are there any spots you'd recommend?

The Alps, of course! There are so many places, passes, forests, and incredible mountain roads to explore. I'm more in favour of not always giving away exact spots, but letting the magic happen on the ground: just drive, stumble upon an amazing spot by chance – that's also part of what lets you fully enjoy it. It's great to scout spots ahead of time, but it's also nice, when you have a bit more time – for longer trips or road trips – to have a few spots in mind while still leaving room for the surprise of discovering one on the spot. That said, on a weekend, if you only have one night in the TentBox, you might as well look for your spot in advance.

Are there places you'd dream of going with your TentBox?

After crossing all of New Zealand from north to south, and driving all the way around Iceland in a van, I clearly want to do something similar again, but in a TentBox this time. I especially love long-form travel – trips that let you really get to know a country and its culture in depth. You need to find the time, of course, but roughly a summer-long trip, one or two months. Crossing the whole of Norway really tempts me: discovering the fjords, the mountains, the islands, the glaciers, the tundra... There are so many landscapes to cross and photograph in Norway that I think it would truly be a road trip that would excite me, in any case.

Would you recommend TentBox to your friends? Why?

Of course I'd recommend TentBox, and I already do, because the more of us there are with a TentBox, the more fun it'll be to hit the road and explore together. I also think the whole idea of travel and adventure has changed a lot in recent years. It's been 10 years now – so basically since I was 18 – that I've been hiking, traveling, and doing road trips, and I really feel like it used to be a bit of a niche thing.

Today, there's a much stronger appeal for the outdoors in general, and that's probably a good thing: it means spending more time in nature, appreciating it more, and maybe, ultimately, building a stronger will to preserve it as much as possible. That's roughly what I believe. This kind of travel in a TentBox leaves a much deeper mark than, say, all-inclusive trips on the other side of the world.

I think there's something really intentional about it: you're the one at the heart of the experience, you're the one driving, finding your spot, setting up camp, cooking your own food, exploring the surroundings – you're right in the middle of the action. And for that alone, I can only recommend TentBox.