Spain

Our 7th trip and this might be tops, but they are all so good. This trip is easy and we are so glad we did not order eBikes (we are 79 and 82). Our guides were terrific and the trip is planned so there is time for art (Dali two places),Greek and Roman ruins, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, walking the coast, seeing the Costa Brava from the sea, and exploring the old city of Girona as well as an introduction to Barcelona, where we stayed on for a week in an apartment. Hotels were great too.

VBT never disappoints. This was my 4th trip with VBT and it was fantastic. Our guides Oriol and Martin were outstanding. Loved the visit to the Dali Museum and came away with a new appreciation for his work. The landscapes were beautiful and the visit to the cider company was fun. The post trip in Mallorca was a pleasure.

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 my first trip with VBT. I was not disappointed. We did the self-guided tour and it was absolutely amazing. The GPS app worked like a dream and we felt very confident that we would not get lost. The level of ride was perfect and the routes were well thought out for traffic, sightseeing, landscapes, and food/water. Our baggage was moved every 'move-on' day without any problems. The staff was responsive and helpful with all of our questions. We felt safe and looked out for the entire time.

The tour was wonderfully planned with very minor improvements needed. Hotel selection was outstanding, ride support was terrific, chosen routes were thoughtful and beautiful while also being a good mix of hard and easy but still safe, the area is tough to beat for sheer beauty. Travel directions on transfer to/from Barcelona need updating or correction in some cases but hotel staff were able to give excellent directions. Fantastic trip.

We had another amazing VBT guided trip in mid-September. This was our 8th tour with VBT and one of our favorites. The weather was perfect - low's in the 50s, highs in the 70s, and not a drop of rain until departure day. Our routes traversed less traveled roads, breathtaking landscapes, encompassing coastal vistas, olive groves, fruit orchards, vineyards, farmsteads, and the serene shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The diverse terrain of Mallorca presents an array of cycling difficulties, accommodating both e-assist bicycles and road bikes. Our cycling group was evenly divided between these two options. The hotel accommodations were not only aesthetically pleasing but also historical in many instances. Conveniently, we were able to access local shops and restaurants within walking distance. Throughout our journey, the guides were consistently attentive, engaging, and informative about the local culture.

Mallorca was absolutely breathtaking, and this trip was unforgettable thanks to our incredible guides, Jose and Juantxo! From start to finish, they kept us energized with fun and scenic rides, engaging activities, and a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. The hotels were beautiful, the meals were delicious, and every detail was thoughtfully planned. Jose and Juantxo’s passion, humor, and local insight made the experience truly special. Thank you for such an amazing journey—we'll treasure these memories forever!

The guides and the boat and staff were great. However, the trip did not meet the usual VBT expectations. The trip itinerary lists a warm up ride in Porto. This does not exist. The "warm up" and bike fitting are in a small parking lot the next day where there is no space to adequately test the bike. So you're immediately out on a road with no shoulder in heavy traffic for 16 miles along the river. No doubt there are some nice views, but when you're only concerned about safety and figuring out the bike, there is no time for scenery. The next couple days riding were moderately uninteresting scenery. The best ride was the Rails to Trails - Safe, beautiful, interesting. We were looking forward to the final ride to the Atlantic Coast but got rained out. Because of being on the boat there are daily transfers by bus of up to an hour each way to get to the biking areas and back to the boat. Too much time on a bus!! While it was nice to only unpack once, the trade off of charming hotels and villages with our bikes on the property was not worth it.

It was wonderful to visit rural parts of the Douro Valley on e-bikes. I was impressed with the challenging and scenic rides mixed with local tours to olive press, winery, port warehouse, and medieval city tour. We liked not having to pack our bags every morning for a hotel move and it was nice getting to know the service staff on the boat. Well done!

This tour is excellent. The biking routes are interesting and offer challenge for all levels, with the option of a ride in the van always there for bikers who want to avoid some hills or just need a rest. The scenery is spectacular. The tour has a perfect combination of ride days and tour days. Our trip leaders were bright, personable, competent and a fun, integral part of the group. The hotels, food, and cultural events tied it all together. I highly recommend this tour. I want to go back tomorrow!

Fabulous trip! We truly enjoyed ourselves and the other people on the tour. We loved being there during Holy Week, too. The pre and post extensions were wonderful, we especially loved Rondo. All of the guides were terrific! Nico and Juan Carlos were fabulous as well. They both had a wonderful sense of humor and were very patient and helpful. We will highly recommend this tour to others and look forward to doing another tour in the future!

This trip was perfectly balanced with a variety of activities. The walking sections were stunning! There were magnificent coastlines, ancient pathways into medieval villages, expansive mountain vistas, charming towns and beautiful moments under the canopy of verdant forests. Along the way you had the pleasure of greeting pilgrims or experiencing your own version of being a Camino pilgrim. Enhancing this walk with visits to local crafters and cultural activities was the highlight for me. The lodging was exceptional as it continued the theme of history with its location and the buildings itself. How fascinating to stay in a rectory or castle where centuries of stories now live. Finally our guides Manu and Diego were amazing. I have been on many guided trips, these two were the best team I have ever had on a guided tour. Their knowledge was excellent, they were attentive to everyones needs and took care of details with a happy and positive attitude. They bring humor and delight to a group dynamic, which made all of us comfortable, resulting in true bonds and friendship for our group. Essentially they created community. I give them 10 ⭐️ stars! By the end of the trip, I felt like I had been on an epic journey with friends that became family. Thank you Country Walkers Team for planning, creating and building a wonderful trip. I will be back for more next year.

Our tour of Northern Spain was a combination of seeing some of the beautiful landscapes of northern Spain, a flavor of what the Camino de Santiago is like and a wonderful history and cultural experience of this region of the world. Our guides were phenomenal. They took care of every detail of the tour, and made sure we got as many experiences as possible throughout the tour. They managed our safety while still giving us the freedom to explore on our own.

Challenging and interesting hikes each day, gorgeous hotels, delicious local foods, educational and caring guides, variety of locations and experiences. I LOVED this trip to beautiful and historic Mallorca, in the Balearic Islands, off the coast of Spain!

Country Walkers knocked this trip outta the ballpark: breathtaking mountain terrain✔️ gorgeous coastal hikes✔️ beautiful honey-toned villages nestled on mountain sides✔️ local agri-tourism (citrus groves & olive & winery & sea salt plains) ✔️ wonderful local cuisine ✔️ knowledgeable local mountain guides who care deeply about their country and their tour group ✔️ All the boxes were checked on this trip, and while the weather in Mallorca can be changeable in April, it cooperated beautifully during our week. And of note, the guides were very good at finding trails that weren’t touristy but were unmatched in beauty. A couple of the hikes were challenging due to the rocky terrain and slope but…this is a hike not a walk on city streets, right? Our group had great dynamics and our guides, Josep and Elke were caring, kind and went the extra mile (pardon pun) to make the experience worthwhile. The hotels we stayed in were very good, local, often historical and just added to the experience. I had no expectations attached to the trip because my travel to Europe has been very limited, so more experienced travelers might scoff at my enthusiasm (they probably don’t smile at babies, dogs, and flowers either) that’s fine, this was my experience that will last a lifetime.