VBT Bicycling Vacations

Highlights

• Embark on a guided tour of Cordoba featuring a visit to the amazing Mezquita.
• Ride through olive groves and vineyards along the Ruta del Vino Wine Road.
• Sangria!
• Spin downhill past castles, Roman ruins, and mountain villages toward enchanting Granada.
• Explore the Alhambra Palace—one of Spain’s biggest attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Highlights

• Indulge in luxurious accommodations where you can relax on a private sandy beach, soak in natural Etruscan hot springs, dine on elegant meals, and more
• Visit the home of a longtime VBT friend and founder of Cooking in Tuscany, then cook a traditional Tuscan meal with her
• Learn about different olive oils by taste with the family that owns the Fonte di Foiano olive oil mill as your guide
• Cycle past Bolgheri’s Super Tuscan vineyards and along its famous cypress-lined avenue, a prelude to the stunning medieval towns of Castagneto Carducci, Sassetta, and Suvereto
• Explore the fascinating Etruscan city of Populonia, a bustling port in ancient times, and take in breathtaking views of the turquoise waters of Baratti Bay.

Highlights

• Sail the eastern shores with Captain Ed aboard the skipjack HM Krentz
• Feast on the region’s famous seafood
• Ride through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a haven for more than 250 bird species, and learn about Harriet Tubman at the newly opened Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center
• Travel on the country’s oldest privately owned ferry (since 1760), across the Tred-Avon River between Oxford and Bellevue
• Cycle the quiet country roads leading to the charming small towns of Oxford, St. Michaels, Rock Hall, and Easton

Highlights

• Cycle among the dramatic red sandstone landscapes of Snow Canyon.
• Ride to Bryce Canyon City along the Red Canyon Bicycle Trail, a stunning canvas of red earth, low shrub, and rising slopes.
• Marvel at the spindly hoodoos of Bryce Canyon at the park’s famed Inspiration Point.
• Explore the unique geological formations of Bryce Canyon by foot when you opt for a half-day hike.
• Pedal along the Pa’rus Trail, tracing the Virgin River, and follow the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive to the Temple of Sinawava, a spectacular natural amphitheater.

Highlights

• Uncover the treasures of the hillside medieval gem of Mystras, the Byzantine Empire’s cultural capital for nearly a millennium, with an expert archaeologist-guide.
• Savor the recipes and the flavors of ancient Byzantine cuisine during a special dinner.
• Walk through the maze of alleyways in the medieval castle town of Monemvasia, a crossroads of civilizations with Byzantine, Frankish, Venetian, and Ottoman influences.
• Cruise around the monolithic Rock of Monemvasia.
• Join a taverna owner on a shrimp-harvesting excursion, then join him for a cooking lesson and prepare garidopetoules—a savory shrimp pancake.

Highlights

• Unpack once, then bike and boat along the Danube in four countries and three cultural capitals—all on one trip.
• Follow the car-free and scenic Danube and EuroVelo 6 bike paths in this bicycle-friendly region.
• Enjoy an exclusive Viennese concert with the music of Strauss and Mozart.
• Choose to be as active or relaxed as you wish from our menu of cycling routes and walking tours.
• Visit one of the oldest breweries in the world in Weltenburg.

Highlights

• Enter the world of Downton Abbey in Bampton, its stand-in on the beloved PBS series.
• Explore the gardens and staterooms of Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Cycle through a classic English countryside of sheep-dotted pastures, woodlands, market towns, tiny hamlets, and thatched-cottage villages.
• Experience the charms of Bourton-on-the-Water, called the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for its graceful arched stone bridges.
• Probe the region’s Roman heritage on a 2,000-year-old cycling route and end at the ancient ruins in Bath.

Highlights

• Island hop along Canada’s west coast, admiring land and sea views by bicycle and ferry.
• Go sea kayaking from Pender Island on an included excursion.
• Cycle popular bike trails on Vancouver Island.
• Visit Victoria’s spectacular Butchart Gardens