Spain

It starts with the guides and they deliver on a continuous basis. Andrea and Javier (Javi) are excellent at delivering the experience promised by VBT and go above and beyond to make it all work and make sure you are happy. There are always glitches along the way, mostly created by the guests. They work tirelessly and effectively to solve every problem. Like all the other trips (we have done many). It's so much more than the wonderful biking. The farm visit to the apple orchard is amazing. Who knew so much science and technology are needed to be successful in this day and age. They explained why more than 150 apples stresses the trees and produce inferior apples. They showed us the technology they use to eliminate excess blooms. The resultant apples, juices and ciders are wonderful. The enjoyment of our visit to the Dali museum was magnified many times over by the enthusiasm and knowledge of Kim, our guide. I had no idea how many elements were in each Dali painting and how his mind worked.

Our favorite VBT trip to date. The cultural experience rivaled the well planned cycling routes. Time spent on and off the bicycle created lasting memories for joyful reflection.

We loved this trip! Beautiful and varied biking routes; knowledgeable, competent and engaging guides, top-notch hotels, delicious food and interesting cultural activities. I wish I could do it all over again!

We thoroughly enjoyed our first VBT experience. The tour route was very well laid out and we cannot not say enough about how impressive our tour leaders, David and Frederico, both of whom are natives of Portugal. Kudos to VBT for the way they planned and conducted our tour!

This was our first VBT and it will not be our last! We loved the self-guided trip through quaint medieval villages, quiet country lanes, mountain climbs in the foothills of the Pre-Pyrenees, apple orchards, to the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean. We had a great group of 7 travelers we met up with along the path, and for many dinners. We choose the self-guided because we wanted to go at our own pace. Our local hosts were amazing and always a phone call or text away! We made the right choice by going with the E-bikes! We had never tried them before, and they were amazing!

The cities of Girona and Empuries provided interesting cultural context to the trip. Easy access to Barcelona before or after the trip also added a significant plus to the trip. The only slight downside were the routes that had a bit more traffic than expected. Accommodations were great.

Mallorca is bicycling heaven. There are roads throughout the island that are well maintained yet have very little traffic. Drivers are courteous to bicyclers. There is surprising geologic diversity on the island, with mountains and plains. The places we stayed were all nice, and the guides were wonderful. I highly recommend the trip!

The VBT biking in Mallorca was outstanding. The views, scenery, and guides leadership some of the best we've had and seen on our dozen or so VBT bike trips! The traffic was manageable and the trails and paths OK. We had very comfortable overnights and opportunities to see the local culture, dining and people. I had expected more hills and more effort to negotiate them, but the electric bikes solved that issue while still offering to an opportunity to get in enough physical exercise. At 77, I appreciate that. Palma and Barcelona were outstanding pre- and post trip experiences, both a must. Special kudos to our VBT guides--friendly, helpful, professional, kind, and considerate. We were in good hands the whole time and each of us given individual attention. I believe Mallorca is a must do for European biking.

This trip was the perfect combination of biking and cruising. The Emerald Radiance was a top-notch level Riverboat with a crew that felt like family by the end of the trip. The rooms were small but had every important amenity. In the evening were entertained by local dancers and singers that were an excellent representation of the local culture. This trip should be on everyone’s list.

What an amazing trip! The Douro Valley was nothing short of magical. Cannot recommend this trip highly enough. The bike-boat experience was phenomenal (Emerald Cruises was top notch) and the Portuguese VBT leaders and entire boat crew made it an unforgettable experience. The exposure to the historical culture and centuries-old commerce along the Douro were a highlight. Bravo VBT

Trip #2 with VBT and once again the entire tour exceeded my expectations. The towns of Spain via bike were breathless. The leaders were knowledgeable, friendly, fun and organized. Loved by Trip #2 and plan to do more......

Great way to experience Andalusia from rural, small town, big city. Very much impressed with it all.

Outstanding guides who make the days and evenings fun, stunning and variable terrain, lovely paradors - and beautiful, beautiful Northern Spain.

Another great experience with CW, this time in Northern Spain. Top quality guides (who were also a lot of fun), carefully curated walks (including parts of the various Caminos), interesting and authentic places to stay and great meals, especially the fantastic lunches (in places we would never have found). The walks were accurately rated at easy to moderate. Overall, a fantastic vacation - I learned a lot about Northern Spain and had a great time doing it.

Mallorca is, of course, a spectacularly beautiful place to explore on foot. And when the explorers have the most personable and knowledgeable local guides ever, daily delights abound! We loved the gorgeous views, the satisfying and educational snack breaks (where we enjoyed fresh local fruits and treats, and even sampled the traditional mallorquin sausage, sobrasada, prepared and cured by our lead guide, Jaume!), the cultural and historical education shared by our two proud Mallorquin guides - everything!

Lovely island setting with gorgeous panoramic vistas. Food and accommodations were very nice. The behind the scenes services were spot on ie., luggage, meals, reservations etc etc. provided by two incredible mountain guides: Josep and Elke. Not enough can be said about these guides.