This was our first VBT vacation and we have already registered for a second trip. Provence and the Alpilles is a beautiful region of France with abundant fruits, vegetables and other agriculture. The bicycle travel through the French countryside gives an up-close and personal travel experience.
France
Exceptional vacation
CMMitch, Arlington, VA, USA
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon
loved our rides thru Provence!
Great trip! Our guides were great hosts and made sure everyone was safe, comfortable, and getting the most out of each day. Gorgeous part of the world.
TrishB, Northern California
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon
Highly recommend - VBT and Alsace Region
This was our first VBT trip and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The guides were knowledgeable, positive, friendly, helpful and very professional. The GPS navigation was great. The routes were scenic, culturally diverse, and well thought out. The excursions/tours were interesting too. Recommend the ebike for the hills!
L Byrne, Outside Philadelphia PA
Switzerland, Germany & France: The Black Forest & the Alsace Wine Route
Best views of France's Alsace Region
This trip was better than anticipated. We expected a great time, but this was outstanding in service, leadership and bike friendliness.
Meadows Two, New Meadows, ID, USA
Switzerland, Germany & France: The Black Forest & the Alsace Wine Route
Incredible trip
We had a wonderfully-planned week of cycling along small, beautiful farm roads with itineraries bringing us to the coast of most days. Riding in August in 70 degree weather was great. We all loved seeing the texture of rural, historic France and learning more about Normandy and Brittany. The trip includes a focus on local food culture - the visit to the Cider farm was really special, as were the Cancale oysters and dinners at local restaurants. We also got so much out of learning more about WWII even though I did not choose this trip primarily for that reason. There were helpful guided tours, and the option to visit museums if you wanted more depth. I'm so glad we could take advantage of this aspect of visiting France. The Trip Leaders were extremely knowledgeable, good humored, well-seasoned guides who knew the area well and had set up a number of local experiences. We found the cycling to be engaging - beautiful rolling farmland that left me in a little better shape by the end of the week but wasn't overly challenging. (The shorter option was also always available.)
bostonfam, Boston, MA, USA
France: Normandy & Brittany
Amazing trip!
We had a wonderful experience. The itinerary, guides and bike routes couldn’t have been any better. Everything was planned the minute we landed in Paris. Would definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in the Normandy history.
Tami O,
France: Normandy & Brittany
Best vacation ever.
This was our first Vermont Bike vacation but it certainly will not be our last! What a great time .For us it was a perfect mix of activity,culture ,wine and food. The countryside is just delightful and beautiful. The guides were excellent and our fellow travelers were wonderful .
Goldenboy1, Vancouver, WA, USA
France: Burgundy, Beaujolais & Dijon
Fantastic trip!
The Burgundy Wine Route trip was an exceptional vacation...it was a great mix of activity, leisure, learning and sightseeing. The trip leaders were personable, knowledgeable, and fun-loving, our fellow travelers were all interesting and friendly people, and the food, accommodations, and scenery were all first class. The daily route length choices ensured that everyone would be happy with their activity level, too. I’d highly recommend this trip to anyone who loves good food, wine, and outdoor activity. The pre and post trip extensions are also well worth it...especially the pre-trip in Lyon...there was so much to explore there!
karen27, Denver, CO, USA
France: Burgundy, Beaujolais & Dijon
Bike and learn
Wonderful people, great food, very comfortable room on the Emerald river cruise boat. Biking on long dedicated bike paths through beautiful country was great. Some biking in heavy traffic areas requires caution. VBT takes care of everything! VBT guides were fantastic. If you are in good shape for biking, you will love this adventure through historically important regions of Germany, France and Amsterdam. Guides and local people share their knowledge and thoughts about recent as well as centuries of old history.
BAFe,
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
VBT Rhine Bike and river cruise
We had 2 guides that rotated driving the sag wagon and riding with the group. Guides were very easy to relate to, knowledgeable about the area and fun to be with. I would rate the level of biking to be easy but beautiful country's to ride threw on a bike. The ship was top notch in every way. The food, staff and ammenities on board were the best. I wouldn't hesitate to sign up for this trip.
Stephen A, Syracuse, New York
Rhine Bike & River Cruise: Basel to Amsterdam
Unforgettable Scenic Biking
Bicycle riders, cyclists, and food and wine fanciers alike should not miss this Mosel River Valley immersion. The history, the sights, the food and drink and total experience are unforgettable. The trip was enhanced by the VBT guides with their extensive regional knowledge and expertise. The Magnifique I barge was the perfect platform for the river.
Colorado Dave, Grand Junction, Colorado
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
The beautiful ride along the Mosel
Beautiful scenery, great easy bike paths. The trip along the Mosel is where the allied forces marched in WWII. Architecture was stunning. Vineyards were amazing.
Germany, Luxembourg & France Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Mosel was magnificent
The Mosel River Valley trip was outstanding. The guides were exceptional, as were the Captain and crew on the barge. The scenery, company and food were amazing. If I had two things to change or comment on, they would be that I would spend a day and a half in Luxumberg City and one day less in Munich. Also, the hotel in Munich could not have had a nicer, more gracious staff, but it is quite a ways out from the city center and the rooms/showers are very small. It may be that for financial reasons that is why the locale. However, despite the locale there is a superb Italian restaurant very near. I heartily recommend people take this trip, especially if you don't want a degree of difficulty in biking and want to enjoy spectacular scenery.
Mick Taleff, Great Falls, Montana
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
Blog equivalent
Don’t bring your bathing suit because you will not swim in the river! Do bring a bar of soap and a small flashlight so you can see into your cubby/closet. The meals are spectacular! Biking is so much fun!
France, Luxembourg & Germany Bike & Boat: Mosel River Valley
5 star Selfguided 🚴♀️ tour - VBT
A remarkable selfguided bike trip! Because it was selfguided, we took our own time pedaling and sight seeing. The bike app that loaded each and every turn and maps was amazing! It was also very good to have a short and a long loop biking so individuals can choose how many miles they want to bike every day. One suggestion would be to have rest days in between and make the trip longer. Chateau Pizay was superb as the other places we stayed. All in all i will give a 5 star rating. I am waiting for VBT to put up other self guided cycling tours.
Sully Ahamed, Mystic, CT
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
Reasonable Value
The self-guided Beaujolais tour is a reasonable value and can be enjoyed without the guide (although the VBT guides are always great). We appreciated the excellent lodging and quality bikes, per usual with VBT. Locals in this region are very friendly but fewer folks speak English than in the big cities. The Beaujolais tour has a few really nice views, but the views and scenery aren't as good as other VBT tours. Twice on our tour, the hotels said they didn't have our luggage (not a great thing to hear when you arrive bedraggled after a day of riding) but eventually the hotel found it after some haggling. This tour includes a miserable hilly detour around what appeared to be a perpetually closed tunnel, and it was hard (for us and other riders) to find our way back on the route once we slogged the unplanned hills. The "Ride with GPS App" was okay in general but gave confusing and contradictory directions more often than I'd think...but it wasn't much of a problem.
bob28, Washington DC
France: Vineyards of Beaujolais
Scenic and Relaxing Biking
Beautiful scenery, great leaders and relaxed biking made for a great trip.
Nancy H, Cleveland, Ohio
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Alps
The Switzerland and France tour was outstanding! Our guides, Jean-Marc and Eve, were knowledgeable and helpful, and the countryside was absolutely stunning. Although the extended forecast had called for thunderstorms, we had amazing weather every day of the tour - temps in the 80's and 90's. (Rain gear stayed stowed!) Highlights included taking the tram up to Mt. Blanc in Chamonix, cycling through beautiful Montreaux along Lake Geneva, and biking around Lake Annecy. Nearly all of the rides were on dedicated paved bike paths, which made things even more enjoyable. Hotels were great, even though a few didn't have air conditioning. The only down side was not being able to stay longer in Lyon at the end of the trip. Our bus pick-up time for the airport was 3:45 am. This trip was well worth the time and money spent. 5 stars!
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Vbt bike and boat
I loved riding the e bikes and Bruno and Sophie were great getting us into the feel of every new town. The staff on the ship was a delight. We loved the Paris and Nice extensions. The hotels were in very convenient Transfers were also coordinated to the minute.
Donna Schreiber, New York and Florida
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
well planned beautiful countryside and 5* ship
We had a wonderful time with 16 friends traveling from Lyon to Arles. The biking was great. The bikes were exceptional and the guides were also wonderful. The food on the ship is outstanding and the crew was also five star. Couldn't ask for a better vacation.
France Bike & River Cruise: Lyon to Nice
VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers