Enjoyed the bike ride, the small cities and towns, the archeological site at Empires and the trip leaders. A delightful corner of Spain.
Europe
Delightful Daliland
Don Ricardo, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Spain: Girona & Costa Brava
Scenery, riding history, art, food - it has it all
This was one of the best VBT tours we have taken. Food, riding, scenery, exploration of the art of Dali, wonderful guides and fantastic accommodations. Pre-trip in Barcelona is a must do to see the Gaudi architecture and Picasso museum as well as experience Catalonia at its best.
mecrr, Red Bluff, CA, United States
Spain: Girona & Costa Brava
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
Provence is a Pleasure!
Bike routes were beautiful and enjoyable! Loved the town of St. Remy and the location of our hotel. Really enjoyed Avignon and again, the location of the hotel made exploring the city very easy.
Idaho21, Idaho
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon
5 Star Trip
Portugal was our 11th VBT trip and 12th biking trip. It was the best or at least equal to our other great trips. The guides were the best ever and the hotels , especially the Farm House, were excellent. The biking was challenging at times but very good overall. We highly recommend the trip and very much want to return to Portugal. Great food, great wine and a beautiful country. We felt very safe on the roads and highways as Portugal drivers are very courteous to bikers. Absolutely nothing to complain about and as with all VBT trips, a great value.
Ernie,
Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve
A trip for the bucket list
As with all our VBT experiences Portugal did not disappoint. The trips are planned well from the time you take off from home until you land back at home. The transfers, the accommodations, and the in between are well thought out and planned. Any necessary changes are planned for. Portugal is tourist friendly, they are ahead of the curve with the pandemic, follow the rules. It is tough to find a bad meal, the weather was great; there is a lot of history. The cycling was easily doable for all who cycle 25 miles with some wind or hills. If you take only a few trips, make this one.
Marc from MA, Natick, MA
Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve
VBT did it again
VBT has done it again. For over 20 years, my wife and I have been taking bicycle trips. We had long been hoping that VBT, our favorite tour company, would add a trip to Scandinavia. When we found out about this new trip last year, we signed up within days. It did not disappoint. Our leaders were friendly, knowledgeable and always ready to help. We had nice weather. Our mid-September departure had temperatures in the mid to upper 60s, and occasionally in the 70s. The rides were beautiful. We usually ride road bikes, but were glad to be on hybrids because there were some gravel surfaces and even a few miles of dirt road. The local people were a bit reserved, but quite friendly when approached. English is widely understood and spoken in Scandinavia. We chose to do both the pre trip in Copenhagen and post trip in Helsinki. We are glad we did. The evening cruise to Helsinki through the Stockholm archipelago was stunningly beautiful.
Graham,
Scandinavia: Denmark & Sweden
A Great Nordic Adventure!
I have wanted to visit the Nordic countries since 1974 when I was an exchange student in Europe. Thank you, VBT, for finally making it an affordable destination! As always, the travel arrangements were seamless, the leaders were phenomenal, and the experience was second to none!
Esbehr, Clark, NJ, United States
Scandinavia: Denmark & Sweden
Not very relaxing
The tour directors, Cotswolds, and Bath were all wonderful. So my “3” rating does not reflect THEM. I’m rating the activity level rating and the bikes: this trip is not “easy/moderate” even with an e-bike. I ride at least three times per week at home and found myself struggling with the hills and daily distance. VBT advertises this trip as one with quiet roads, when many of the roads were actually very narrow, commercial, and busy. The bike design made them hard to get on and off, leading to falls. It was more stressful than the relaxing trip I’d hoped for.
Ca C,
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Beautiful cycling, great guides - loved the trip!
We loved our VBT cycling trip in the Cotswolds. The countryside and charming villages we passed through were beautiful, and and we learned so much from our two guides, both local to the area. We've taken many cycling trips, and this was among our favorite. Highly recommend this trip!
Lorraine B, Palo Alto, CA
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Biking Trip France & Switzerland
I absolutely loved this trip. From the moment we started the trip, our guides (Luigi and Eve) made us feel welcome and supported. Lodging was another highlight—charming inns and boutique hotels with local character, great food, and warm hospitality. The rides along the countryside were spectacular. What made this trip stand out was the perfect blend of physical activity, cultural immersion, and pure joy. I can honestly say it was one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. Highly recommended to anyone who loves cycling, food, history, and a bit of adventure. I can’t wait to do another tour with this company!
MariaM, Bridgeton, NJ
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Good itinerary with a variety of scenic wonders.
Very pleasant riding in mountain valleys & around lakes with a nice mix of city and village life. I enjoyed the longer miles. Hotels for the most part were very good. Food included in the tour varied from OK to great.
Caroline N, VA
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Gorgeous views, rewarding rides and delicious food
This VBT trip does not disappoint! The attention to detail for every visit and experience was remarkable. I live in the mid-west and don't have many hills to train on so these rides were challenging for me, but doable and once I was done I felt very satisfied. The accommodations were all different and great in their own way. The guides were energetic and informative. I highly recommend this tour - it's a great way to see Greece!
Jaymers,
Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula
Wonderful trip
The experience with VBT went beyond expectations as did the part of Greece where we cycled. The Peloponnesian Peninsula is a relatively undiscovered biking jewel, I enjoyed it far more than biking various Greek Islands. Accommodations were excellent and Greek food speaks for itself. VBT and the guides went out of their way in providing a 5 star experience. The bikes were new and top quality, the routes were varied and interesting. The guides bent over backwards to please us and provide a great biking as well as cultural experience.
Marcia B, Boise, Idaho
Greece: Sparta, Monemvasia & the Peloponnesian Peninsula
Mille Grazie VBT!
This was our Favorite VBT tour (number 3 for us). Others were “Tuscany by the Sea” (2011) and one in Southern France (2015). We particularly enjoyed the diversity of experiences - especially being near around and even on the 3 lakes! Hotels were lovely, the scenery was amazing and the trip into the Swiss Alps was breathtaking. We really loved the entire experience and can’t wait for another amazing time (VBT how can you top this???). BTW - other “veteran VBT guests - some with with as many as 17 SEVENTEEN!!! VBT tours IN ITALY!” Thought this was one of the best - if not THE BEST. It was great NOT to be in the crowded popular areas - “off the beaten track” - places that according to our guides, not even typical Italian tourists visit. The guides were incredible - knowledgeable, informative and fun! Giovanni and Angelo. Mille Grazie VBT!
Michael and Leigh from FL, Florida
Italy: Lake Como & the Italian Lake District
Perfecto
The tour guides Angelo and Roberto were so helpful and lots of fun! The trip was exciting and very informative. Vbt runs a well-organized and well -prepared biking tour. The hotels and planned dinners were excellent. I will book another bike trip with VBT for sure!
M Glose, Buffalo, New York
Italy: Lake Como & the Italian Lake District
A Beautiful and Varied Riding Environment
With a two adjustments, the trip would be a five star trip. One is to move the warmup ride from the congested, cobblestone streets of old town Passau to an easier riding environment. Second is to be more selective in the room choices in the hotel in the Wachau Valley. Otherwise, the trip met my expectations and more. The riding is in varying environments - forests, mountains, riversides, vineyards, orchards, and small, ancient villages. The elevation changes are minimal, there are long stretches where there is no stopping at intersections, and best of all, for all but small portions, you are riding on dedicated bike trails or bike lanes without having to worry about vehicles. Navigating was easy with Ride with GPS, and we took cues from the trail signs and the bicycle traffic. The luggage transfers and shuttles operated flawlessly.
Skiergal, Park City, Utah
Germany & Austria: The Danube River
A dream-come-true vacation
This trip was everything I'd hoped for: idyllic scenes, charming accommodations, amazing food, and the thrill of taking it all in on a bike. The navigation app was easy to use and very helpful. My only suggestion would be to include a lakeside stop at Lunz am See - it's not to be missed!
Kai S, Rock Island, Illinois
Germany & Austria: The Danube River
VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers