VBT Bicycling Vacations

Highlights

• Ride inn to inn, assisted by island ferries, soaking up the magnificence of the stunning Pelješac Peninsula and Marco Polo’s Dalmatian Island of Korčula.
• Cycle along numerous beautiful beaches and coves kissed by the crystalline waters of the Adriatic, stopping as you wish for a refreshing dip.
• Pedal the scenic byways of Dalmatia’s famed ancient vineyards and olive groves and sample their wines and oils during delectable meals at VBT-recommended restaurants.
• Discover the birthplace of legendary traveler Marco Polo among the charming, medieval streets of Korčula’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Explore Dubrovnik, an astonishingly preserved, red-roofed medieval treasure and UNESCO World Heritage site encircled by dramatic ramparts.

Highlights

• Explore the tiny village of Komiža on the island of Vis and enjoy a delicious seafood risotto for lunch.
• Cycle into historic cities central to the past and culture of the Dalmatian Islands: Korčula, Hvar, Jelsa, Stari Grad, Postira, Pučišća.
• Learn some Croatian cooking tips during a demonstration with your onboard chef—and savor the results for dinner.
• Visit one of the last remaining stonecutters’ schools, on the island of Brač.
• Taste unique Dalmatian wines in one of the well-known local wineries.

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

• Cycle along tranquil rivers and past meadows, dairy farms, quaint villages, and polder countrysides.
• Get acquainted with local people — and local life — during a visit to a family home.
• Join a local guide for a boat tour of Ghent, whose history dates to around 600 AD.
• View the famous Kinderdijk windmills, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Sip authentic Belgian beer during a special tasting on board.

Highlights

• Explore Girona’s cultural treasures, including the old Jewish quarter, medieval walls, Gothic churches, and Romanesque architecture.
• Savor superb Catalan seafood and farm-fresh cuisine, complemented by excellent local wines including sparkling cava.
• Cycle through history, stopping to view Greco-Roman ruins at Empúries, Gothic gems in Girona, and charming medieval villages.
• Discover the most important Greco-Roman ruins on the Iberian Peninsula at the coastal archeological site at Empúries.
• Immerse yourself in authentic Catalonian village life in historic Pals.

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

• Experience three countries—Germany, Luxembourg, and France—up close, by bike.
• View quaint villages, lush vineyards and forests, and fairytale castles as you roll along a scenic river.
• Explore the ancient Roman and medieval treasures of Trier.
• Enjoy a private wine tasting.
• Relax on your barge and sip Germany’s finest Rieslings and beers.

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.