Excellent experience overall. We’ve taken as many as ten VBT European tours, all guided. This was our first self-guided, and we loved the flexibility and freedom. Don’t get me wrong, Jan, our Guide met us and set us up for the ride, installing our pedals and saddles. He also checked in on us every day with a text. It was great to know he cared. Excellent trip overall, with excellent views and hotels. Highly recommended!
Europe
First self-directed tour, but not last!
DenisDH, North Andover, MA
Germany & Austria: The Danube River
Self-guided Danube Bike Tour
Our self-guided Danube bike tour was glorious from start to finish. The bikes were excellent. The prescribed routes were beautiful and easy to navigate. (About 50km/day was perfect.) Lodgings were sublime, lovely locations with amazing breakfasts. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. Thank you VBT!
DC Mary, Washington DC
Germany & Austria: The Danube River
Molto bene!
This was an excellent VBT trip. We were in a part of Italy that we had never visited before, and it was visually stunning. Highlights of the trip: the train ride into Switzerland, which provided wonderful vistas, and biking in the Swiss Alps at 10,000 ft elevation; Lake Iseo and the pleasant biking around the lake environs, the Hotel Riva Lago in Sulzano, and the lunch and wine at Al Rocol winery. The leaders of trip, Elena and Roberta, were excellent guides, leaders, coaches, and mentors. They were attentive to our biking issues and great at making suggestions and problem solving when the need arose. Bellagio was crowded, but charming, with plenty of opportunities to visit various villas and their gardens. The Ride with GPS walking tour in Bellagio was a highlight and a nice transition from being on the bike to a more relaxed way of being! The only negative I can mention at this point is that there were more challenging hills than expected, and the bike path and road surfaces were pretty rough and made the biking more tiring (I was using a hybrid bike for most of the trip, but had to switch to an e-bike due to some physical issues).
squeezebob, Downingtown, PA
Italy: Lake Como & the Italian Lake District
This was my first trip and definitely not my last!
This was my first trip and it far exceeded my expectations. The Guides, the route, the bikes, the accommodations, the local connections… it all was amazing.
Pam from NH,
Italy: Lake Como & the Italian Lake District
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
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
Mountains, Valleys and Lakes..perfect combination.
Another fun and beautiful trip with VBT. We have wanted to go on this trip since we first saw it a couple years ago and it was always booked. This year we planned way in advance. It was easy riding through the valleys of these beautiful countries.
Iarteen, California
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
Biking trip
This was a great trip. Beautiful rides every day on great biking paths. The guides, Cedric and Sarah, were two of the best. Knowledgeable about each of the towns we visited and always friendly and patient. Best ever.
Nancy B, Texas
Switzerland & France: Lake Geneva, Annecy & Valleys of the Alps
The Cotswolds
Really enjoyed our cycling trip through the Cotswolds. Our guides and cycling companions were fabulous. A better description of the road conditions and elevations would have been helpful. Roads were narrow and quite pocked with loose gravel in many places. Scenery was simply amazing!
Cyclist from NY, Buffalo, New York
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
A great ride through beautiful country.
It was a beautiful trip, well paced with excellent guides. We were lucky with the weather so our photos are great. The Cotswolds did not disappoint with their charm; Oxford and Bath were educations in history.
Nancy Low, Chestertown, Maryland
England: Bath & the Cotswolds
Beautiful locales and local dining
This was our first VBT vacation. We were very impressed with the planning, accommodations, and route. It was a wonderful experience to bike along country roads with guides who knew the area. The hotels were lovely and the meals were delicious. Everything was top-notch.
Ebike Ellen, Minneapolis MN
Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve
Great week of biking, wine and dining - perfect!
The trip was a perfect way to visit southern Portugal. The guides were awesome, always there to lend a hand or offer guidance. The bikes were outstanding - brand new fleet. The routes were interesting and scenic with little traffic. The food and wine were great. And above all the opportunity to spend time with old friends and to meet new friends was rewarding. Thanks
bikemonger, Tampa
Portugal: Lisbon, Évora & the Algarve
Great Biking & Interesting Cities
We've taken 16 VBT trips and the Scandinavia trip is definitely in the top two or three trips we've taken with them. Whoever laid this trip out really knew what they were doing. Great biking, three beautiful and most interesting cities: Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Helsinki, ferry ride experiences, the Stockholm Archipelago, great hotels, good food, incredible museums and wonderful guides who really knew the area and culture. This trip is one of VBT's very best and it won't surprise me to see it become their signature trip!
BikedItLikedIt, Springfield, IL, United States
Scandinavia: Denmark & Sweden
Awesome
I have done 9 trips with VBT so far, all have been great, but I must say this went to #1. The 2 best guides, the entire 20 guests like instant friends, with our leaders Prunella and Philip. I wish we had more time everywhere. The post trip to Helsinki was truly amazing, so glad we did it, only 4 of us went, sorry to say the others missed out. Jean Vermeeren
Danish jean, Anaheim, Ca
Scandinavia: Denmark & Sweden
Delightful Daliland
Enjoyed the bike ride, the small cities and towns, the archeological site at Empires and the trip leaders. A delightful corner of Spain.
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
Exceptional vacation
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.
CMMitch, Arlington, VA, USA
France: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Les Baux & Avignon