Puglia and Basilicata Walking Private

It's been almost 50 years since we made a conscious decision, on the back of a cocktail napkin, to encourage people to "slow down to see the world." Ever since, Butterfield & Robinson has been leading trips that amble where others stride, linger where others inhale, bike where others motor and sip where others quaff. In the words of Gypsy Rose Lee, a woman who, if nothing else, knew the value of doing things very, very slowly: "Anything worth doing well is worth doing slowly."

There’s so much more to B&R than the high thread count of your sheets. Our kind of luxury takes you to a place you never knew existed. It’s a feeling of freedom. A feeling of exuberance. A feeling like you don’t need a watch or a wallet and you haven’t a care in the world. Wherever we travel, we delve deep into the heart of the local culture, your meals are some of the best in your life, and your sleeps every bit as delicious. But this merely sets the stage for the magical, ineffable part of B&R—the moments of discovery—and self-discovery—that you’ll never, ever forget.

The B&R difference is the best biking and walking routes in the world’s most incredible places. It’s the most capable and genuinely friendly guides you’ll find anywhere. It’s the most interesting hotels the region has to offer. It’s amazing culinary experiences. It’s state-of-the-art equipment, great wines at dinner, a water bottle that’s always filled, route suggestions you won’t find in any guidebook, et cetera! Are you starting to get the picture?

Our Expertise

Incomparable Service

From the first phone call to the final nostalgic photo swap, we pride ourselves on anticipating and answering each and every question you might have before, during and after your trip – plus a hundred more we thought you might like to know. That way, the only surprises on your trip are good ones.

50 Years of Experience

BB&R’s been slowing down to see the world since 1966, and while a steady diet of good food, great wine and miles of biking and walking has kept us feeling sprightly, we can’t deny the truth: we’re about to turn 50. Fortunately, “mid-life crisis” isn’t in our vocabulary—in fact, we’re actually pretty excited about it. 

Amazing Routes

We meticulously map out easy-to-follow route notes for our trips. By no means do you have to follow them, but if you do, we promise nothing short of spectacular (think quiet country lanes, glorious vistas and, often, being the only ones in sight). Our guides always have additional scenic routes up their sleeves, too. Up for more of a challenge? Ask and you shall receive.

Impeccable Guides

B&R guides are an exceptional group: consummate hosts, mind readers and raconteurs, among many other things. Think teachers, painters, travel writers, architects, botanists and biologists. The only documents thicker than their CVs are their passports. They’ve lived all over the world. They speak a gazillion languages. And they’re ridiculously fun.

Expert Trip Designers

Our talented team of Trip Designers are the best in the world at what they do—and what they do is turn fantasies into reality. (We thought about changing their title to “Dream Weavers,” but we didn’t want to re-print all those business cards.)

Exceptional Hotels

Winning hotels are a hallmark of B&R; we go to great lengths to find properties that are unique expressions of the region. Often that means they’ve had a previous life as a monastery or a castle. Think of them as the charming and intimate garnish atop your trip. Best of all? We’re friends with our hoteliers, which means preferential treatment for you.