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A Typical Biking Day with VBT
Discovery, comfort and choice
What goes into a perfect VBT day? Start with spectacular cycling routes. Add character-filled villages. Toss in a few unique activities. Season liberally with free time. Finish with memorable meals and charming lodgings. There’s no set recipe, but there is a secret ingredient: choice. We know that your tastes vary from day to day, so we provide all the elements, and invite you to mix them up as you wish.
”If end-to-end quality service appeals to you, then VBT’s Under the Andalusian Sky bicycling trip delivers. Faultless hotels, fabulous meals, supportive and encouraging tour leaders, excellent routes, and attention to detail mark each step of this fascinating exploration ...”- Judith D., Spain: Under the Andalusian Sky
8 - 10am in the California Wine Country
A stack of buttermilk pancakes? Oysters Benedict? Huevos rancheros? They serve breakfast the way you like it at the Inn at the Tides on Bodega Bay. Can’t tear yourself away from the sea views? Not to worry, there will be more vistas as we cycle the Pacific coast towards Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. Trip Leaders hand out directions and maps, explain route options, do a quick bike check, and you’re off!
10 - 12pm in the Czech Republic
After exploring the Baroque residences and Gothic basilicas of Zlata Koruna monastery, you find yourself pedaling along wide open meadows. At the top of a hill your Trip Leader flags you down to enjoy a bottle of water and a fruit bar. Back on your bike, you continue cycling to a local farm in Plav. Your hosts welcome you like family, and invite you to experience a bit of Bohemian life, first-hand.
12 - 2pm on the Tuscan Coast
You’ve cycled the Strada de Vino wine route, arriving at the Fonte di Foiano agriturismo. After a tour and tasting at the old olive oil mill here, your host and chef Michael di Gaetano wows us with a terrific lunch spread – Tuscan pasta e fagiole soup, fresh mozzarella and ripe tomatoes, hot crusty semolina bread, an array of cured salume meats, and dozens of salads made with organic produce from his garden.
3 - 5pm in the Netherlands
Pedaling through the forests and heather fields of the Veluwe, you come upon the seaport of Harderwijk. Park your bike, and wander the old cobbled streets lined with churches, shops, and a lovely monastery. The barge awaits nearby and you join your travel mates on the deck for cocktails before dinner in town.
5 - 10pm in Provence
After a swim in the pool you amble into St. Remy for dinner on your own. There are many Michelin-starred restaurants in the little pedestrian center, but your Trip Leader suggested a place for cuisine bonne femme, or French comfort food. The tip was spot-on, and walking back to the hotel, you admire the sky, wondering if the starry night was just as brilliant when van Gogh gazed at it a century ago.
Day at-a-Glance
This schedule represents the general structure of a day with VBT. Times and activities will of course vary.
7:00 – 8:00 am
Breakfast is always included, with wholesome, protein packed fare to fuel our activities. You’ll find fresh regional morning dishes, some familiar favorites, and plenty of hot coffee and tea.
8:15 – 9:00 am
Your Trip Leaders prepare you with a briefing that outlines the day’s highlights. Detailed maps are distributed before we begin cycling towards our first destination. Take your time, choosing the route that best suits your mood.
9:45 am
Round a bend, crest a ridge and lo and behold, our support van may be waiting there with a cool drink, an energy-boosting snack, and lift for anyone who wants one.
10:00 am
Arrive at the first location of the day – perhaps a vineyard, or an archaeological site. There will usually be a guided tour or activity. Since our lodgings are always close to points of interest, whenever possible we schedule vsits in the off-hours to avoid crowds.
11:30 am
After our morning activity we may cycle or shuttle to our next destination. Our Trip Leaders might detour to introduce you to a local person of interest, or take advantage of a spontaneous opportunity for discovery. During transfers Trip Leaders often conduct informative narratives or brief language lessons.
12:00 - 1:30 pm
Roll into our next stop for lunch. Some days your Trip Leaders will surprise you with a picnic made from specialties they picked up at a local market, or treats prepared by the chef at our inn. Other times lunch will be included at a special venue, or on your own in town, with free time afterwards.
2:00 pm
Fortified and rested we proceed towards our afternoon destination. Cycling will be offered and we might also use local transportation – a ferry, for instance. Touring usually concludes mid- to late-afternoon but you’re welcome to explore further, or shuttle back to the hotel.
4:00 – 6:00 pm
Before dinner you’ll have free time to enjoy hotel amenities – perhaps a pool, garden, sauna, or spa services. There may be a late afternoon activity at the hotel, such as a wine tasting, cooking class, or a cultural presentation.
7:00 pm
Every day presents meals to remember, whether you’re sharing an included group dinner at the hotel or a local restaurant, or dining out on your own. Included dinners always feature menu choices (with options for vegetarians). We mainly use lodgings within walking distance of town; Trip Leaders have plenty of restaurant recommendations.
8:30 pm onwards
We don’t schedule evening activities but often enough, the socializing continues after dinner. Perhaps you’ll join fellow travelers on the terrace for a nightcap … head into town to hear some music … enjoy a massage before bedtime … or turn in early and rest up for another rewarding day.
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