Catalan couple trades van life for Swiss Alps home and business

A young Catalan couple, Sílvia Torres (28) and Ferran Casas (29), left their stable jobs and lives in Catalonia to travel Europe in a camper van, intending to reach Turkey. But a stop in the Swiss Alps turned into a permanent move: three years later, they have bought a house and started a business there Source: Clarin. They now run Cleo Experience, a guesthouse that hosts up to eight people, sharing their love for the Alps with visitors Source: La Vanguardia.

The journey

Torres and Casas, from Manresa and Navàs, felt their conventional life "didn't fill us" and were captivated by van travel Source: Clarin. They set off with their dog Cleo, but after less than 1,500 kilometers, they stopped in the Swiss Alps and felt "at home," imagining a future there Source: La Vanguardia.

Settling in Switzerland

The first months were tough: they spent winter in a campsite that allowed them to stay, sometimes showering with frozen water Source: Clarin. Ferran found a job with a permanent contract within three months, which enabled them to get a B residence permit—comparable to Spanish residency—and through that, buy a house and create their company Source: La Vanguardia.

Cleo Experience

Their goal was to "create community," and they found a three-bedroom house in the mountains, ideal for hosting guests Source: Clarin. The guesthouse offers communal spaces and guided access to Alpine routes, aiming to make the mountains accessible to those who might be hesitant Source: La Vanguardia. As they put it, "We want them to come here and have the feeling we had of arriving and being amazed" Source: La Vanguardia.