VBT Bicycling Vacations

Highlights

• Explore three countries on a single journey—on one memorable day you eat breakfast in Switzerland, lunch in France, and dinner in Germany.
• Cycle through idyllic countryside, framed by the Vosges Mountains, providing a stunning backdrop for your adventure.
• Immerse yourself in the dual French and German culture of Alsace, and learn about the region’s history as a hotly contested territory.
• Behold Eguisheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France. It’s even won awards for its overflowing flower boxes decorating the half-timbered buildings and cobblestone streets!
• Stroll through the cobbled streets of Colmar’s old town and embark on a “floating tour” of La Petite Venise (Little Venice) aboard a small boat.

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

• Discover the historic old town of Passau at the confluence of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz Rivers.
• Stay at comfortable lodges with spectacular river views and hotels brimming with history.
• Ride along one of Austria’s most famous bike paths, the Ybbs Valley Cycle Trail (Ybbstalradweg), formerly a railroad connecting the Alps with the Danube.
• Bike on one of Europe’s most well-known bike paths, the EuroVelo 6, along the banks of the Danube combining easy terrain with fabulous views from both sides of the river.
• Taste the famous white wines of the UNESCO World Heritage Wachau Valley whose vineyards date back to the medieval Roman settlements.

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

• 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

• Savor delicious Mediterranean cuisine, including paella, all flavored with unique Majorcan touches and accompanied with delicious local wines.
• Complement your cycling days with stays in luxurious boutique hotels, each a unique property with its own character and history that embody the region.
• Ride in a cyclist’s paradise of diverse landscapes: turquoise Mediterranean waters, dramatic Tramuntana mountains, coastal wetlands, emerald farmland and vineyards, rice fields, and more.
• Stroll small coastal villages with deep farming traditions, each graced with beautiful honey-stoned buildings and a breathtaking setting of mountains and valleys.
• Meet the owner of one of Mallorca’s oldest fincas and learn how his family has been producing olive oil for 17 generations using the only traditional press on the island.

Highlights

• Ride along Rockefeller’s historic, car-free carriage roads through Acadia National Park
• Browse Bar Harbor’s enticing shops, art galleries, and seafood bars
• Ride through a refreshing and unspoiled landscape of rugged coastline, forested coves, and idyllic fishing harbors
• Pause at Jordan Pond’s pristine waters reflecting the beautiful curves of the Bubbles, two of Acadia’s distinctive small peaks
• Sample the Pine State’s famous mouth-watering scones, pies, cobblers, and martinis infused with Maine blueberries