Asia & Oceania

We loved our hiking/biking/kayaking trip to New Zealand South Island. The guides were amazing, there are incredible vistas around every turn and the trip coordination was flawless. Also, because VBT hires all local guides, we received great recommendations for restaurants and optional tours on our extension. We also learned some new Kiwi phrases. A gob-smacking adventure!

Our previous VBT trips were wonderful, but this was over the top. We visited small villages that tourists could never find, rode past ornate Buddhist temples and water buffalo, and tasted dragon fruit out of the field. Our guides were everywhere and their crew was there to be sure no turns were missed or traffic to worry about.

The hotels were fabulous and the meals terrific. This is one we will be talking about for years.

VBT came highly rated from friends and family so we knew we were in for a treat. And we were, for sure! Great value compared to other similar outfits. The guides were professional, knowledgeable, and accessible. Fellow travelers were awesome and fun to spend time with. Of course the countries we visited were beautiful and so friendly. Vietnam was awesome. We are definitely going to vacation again with VBT. No doubt.

Our guides, Dinh and Kha, were superb. Their English was excellent, and I appreciated their teamwork with each other and their willingness to share stories from their personal lives. They struck an excellent balance between the biking, which was easy – as advertised, and seeing important historic and religious sites. I was so moved by what the Vietnamese people have accomplished with their liberation, the beauty and fertility of the countryside, and the welcoming attitude of everyone we met! Bathroom breaks – very important to me – were well-timed and clean. I do agree with others’ negative comments about tipping.The ride support was almost too good, but I especially appreciated it as I attempted Hai Van Pass.

Vietnam is an fascinating country and it was great to see it by bicycle. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and went out of their way to make the trip enjoyable for everyone. Everything was incredibly well organized and all support staff were lovely.

This was the trip of a lifetime! The people, the countryside, and our guides made this an experience we shall never forget. The trip is definitely a “journey” through Vietnam, tasting the flavors of many different regions. The pre and post trips were equally exciting. We had been thinking about this trip for several years, and it was the best travel decision we have made!

We have been on several VBT trips over the years and everyone seems to to be better than the previous. This is true of the New Zealand trip. Our guides, Jan, Josey and Broni where not only helpful with all the loading, unloading and travel; but where extremely knowledgable of the plants, animals and geologic history. We would recommend the New Zealand bike and hike trip for anyone.
Marilyn and Marc

This is our third VBT trip so we had high expectations. This exceeded them. Jan, Wayne & George were fun and were so informative in their knowledge of the flora and fauna of the areas we traveled, knowledge of the landscape, as well as the Maori traditions that we, not only learned but, we felt the pride of country they exuded. These guides were funny and warm and took us to places we would not have seen otherwise. Loved it!!

This was an excellent tour. We learned a great deal about Vietnam and saw parts of the country that you could only see and visit on a bicycle. The trip was very well organized and the guides were outstanding.

VBT’s attention to detail in every way made our trip to Vietnam fun AND informative. Our guides were so knowledgeable about the country and biking while experiencing it all was a great way to go.

This was an eye opening and culturely enriching experience that exceeded our expectations. We loved our exceptional trip leaders, the local people, the blend of cycling, spas, beautiful hotels, resorts, local history and local artesian shopping. Exotic fruits and fish were in abundance. We will never forget this trip. Already thinking about our next VBT trip.

We enjoyed all aspects of our SE Asia tour and were most fortunate to complete it before the Covid worldwide pandemic. All the hotels were first rate. All meals were most enjoyable and we enjoyed the Vietnam beer options. Our guides did a great job and knew the territory. A highlight was the evening Vespa tour of downtown Saigon. Biking was an excellent way to see the back roads of Vietnam; definitely not strenuous as we skipped the uphill segment near Danang. Only suggestion for improvement would be split Saigon visit to two days sightseeing in city, then one night on biking routes to avoid the long and congested commute in and out of the city. Many thanks to our guides!! Hope they are weathering the viral scourge.

Tang and Dat were phenomenal guides. I loved that one was from Hanoi and and one from Saigon so we could get both perspectives. Our guide in Cambodia was also incredible- knew exactly how long things would take and what time we should get to the temples to see sunrise/sunsets and avoid crowds. All hotels were awesome but the Sofitel in Siem Reap was the best hotel I have ever stayed in.

The exquisite beauty of this country is astonishing. I love cycling in every country I’ve been to. You really feel and see the local way of life. I enjoy experiencing local culture up close and with local guides.

A wonderful introduction to a marvelous country that left us hungry for more. The trip was a smorgasbord of sights and experiences that comprised a very rich reward for the accompanying travel. The knowledge and insights on cultural and geological history shared by our experienced, enthusiastic guides took each segment to a another level. Auckland (pre) is great while Queenstown (post) is off the charts.

We very much enjoyed the diversity of activities that VBT offered, the beautiful South Island and our wonderful guides. We have previously traveled to NZ but this VBT trip allowed us to experience the diversity of the South Island. Everyone we encountered was friendly and welcoming.

We had an incredible time on our VBT multi-sport adventure to New Zealand. This was our third VBT trip. New Zealand is a special place and our guides, Jan, Josie and Broni brought magic to the tour. Their knowledge of the country, the people and the natural beauty of the South Island so enhanced our trip. If you like to hike, bike and kayak, enjoy good wine and great beer, fresh seafood, and love the natural beauty, amazing landscapes and warm friendly people, this is the trip to take.

New Zealand is a beautiful country with really fun and interesting people. But the trip leaders made this an exceptional experience. The trip was well organized and the leaders were knowledgable about the country, its history, and people. They even provided some unexpected fun activity option. The leaders kept us laughing the whole trip.

VBT’s New Zealand hike & bike tour is fabulous! I really enjoyed the amazing scenery on both our trail rides and our hikes. The guides were super enthusiastic and knowledgeable, I learned so much about the culture and flora and fauna of New Zealand.

Just as on our Peru trip, every detail was attended to. The guides were personable, knowledgeable and fun. Our like minded group of 20 got along perfectly, new friends! The itinerary and excursions were top notch. SE Asia is amazing and VBT is a great company, do this trip!

Biking is such a great way to visit Vietnam — out of the city and riding through the villages, seeing the natural beauty. It’s hot and humid (in the tropics, duh!) so come prepared to sweat. The guides are fantastic, very knowledgeable about their country, and totally on top of things.

This trip far exceeded my expectations. The insight provided by the guides Dat and Kha into the culture and history of Vietnam was exceptional. Flying to three different portions of the country provided a nice perspective. The post trip to Cambodia was also wonderful with our guide Jun. He was thoughtful in his presentations and attention to our needs. Our accommodations were exceptional. The breadth of experiences both in the Vietnam trip and the post trip to Cambodia were outstanding.

This trip revealed scenery unmatched anywhere in the world. We went from tropical rain forests to glaciers to the ocean. The bike trails were great and the accommodations and guides were outstanding. The trip exposed us to the people and natural treasures of the South Island.