Tag Archives: Country Walkers

Active Travel, bike trips, cycling trips, European travel, Uncategorized

VBT Bicycling Vacations, Country Walkers Introduce New Itineraries for 2025

March 7, 2025 MoralCompass

The Douro Valley, Portugal. On VBT’s newest guided bike and boat tour through the Douro Valley River, guests unpack once and disembark to cycle the back roads and scenic countryside of Portugal and Spain © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Williston, VT – VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers, leaders in active vacations for more than 50 years, unveiled six new European Itineraries to England, Scotland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland for 2025.

From cycling through the British Isles and exploring medieval Portuguese villages to hiking the Swiss Alps and soaking up the rich history and cultures of northern Spain, each itinerary offers the perfect blend of active adventures that go deep into a specific region, allowing travelers to explore under their own power so they can truly experience the local culture. An added bonus: VBT guarantees access to e-bikes on 99% of itineraries, so guests can get the extra help they need to take in more of the great outdoors.

“Similar to 2024, all signs indicate Europe will be highly sought after in 2025, which is why we are excited to introduce new itineraries across the continent to capitalize on this demand,” said Timo Shaw, President of Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations. “We know our guests enjoy learning about a destination through its people, history, culture and cuisine, and we’ve designed all of our itineraries to include hyperlocal, authentic, and meaningful experiences that truly connect them to the people and places they encounter along the way.”

VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers offer five active travel styles: Guided Walking and Self-Guided Walking (Country Walkers) and Guided Biking, Self-Guided Biking and Guided Bike & Boat (VBT Bicycling Vacations). All itineraries include multilingual trip leaders, local restaurants, and small, family-owned accommodations that exude the local culture in the most authentic ways.

The new tours complement a robust offering of over 101 itineraries to more than 29 countries in 2025 and include:

VBT Bicycling Vacations

England & Scotland: Lake District to Edinburgh (guided biking).With VBT’s insider access to remote corners of the British Isles, you’ll be led over hill and dale through some of the most coveted regions of England and Scotland, including the rugged, scenic Lake District, the remote and pristine expanse of Kielder Forest, and the sweeping vistas of the Honister Pass. Highlights include riding to the ancient Neolithic monument at Castlerigg Stone Circle, strolling atop Hadrian’s Wall to see the excavations at Vindolanda Roman Fort & Museum, and savoring Scotland’s national dish, haggis, accompanied by Scottish whiskey. Starting at $5,595 for 7 days, per person, double occupancy (May – October). Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of every tour participant to a local chapter of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, ensuring walkers in the fells are able to receive help from mountain rescue teams if necessary.

Italy: Sardinia, Carloforte, Sulcis & Chia (self-guided biking). While other travel companies focus on Sardinia’s heavily trafficked northeast seaboard, VBT offers an off-the-beaten-path itinerary with flexibility and support, focusing on the island’s unsullied west coast instead of the usual tourist traps. VBT’s local experts have plotted out an itinerary of unhurried coastal byways with little car traffic, with all the flexibility in the world to pedal at your own pace. Highlights include a ferry ride to San Pietro Island for a two-night stay in charming Caloforte, exploring Sant’Antioco Island’s ancient archeological site at Sulci, and a stay in the seaside town of Torre dei Corsari near the beach with the tallest sand dunes in Europe. Starting at $2,695 for 6 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water, an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions.

Italy: Umbria, Spello, Montefalco & Assisi (guided biking). VBT’s deep Italian roots mean guests will enjoy the best biking experience along Umbria’s most scenic, low-traffic cycling routes. Highlights include an epic spin through the “green heart” of Italy including the stunning hilltop city of Assisi and many hidden gems with authentic local flavor, the charming medieval village of Scheggino for black truffles and local olive oil tastings, exploring medieval Montefalco and Bevagna, tasting traditional dish torta al testo during a home-hosted lunch at a cozy agriturismo, savoring a delicious dinner with perfectly paired wines at a famous enoteca, and stays in gothic Spello and an authentic Italian castle near Perugia. Starting at $4,995 for 7 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Portugal & Spain Bike & River Cruise: Douro (guided bike & boat). On VBT’s newest guided bike and boat tour through the Douro Valley River, guests unpack once and disembark to cycle the back roads and scenic countryside of Portugal and Spain. Enjoy invigorating rides through historic fincas and small medieval villages, past lush vineyards and rural landscapes, including Marialva and its splendid 12th-century hilltop castle. Other highlights include tastings at an exclusive wine cellar in Pinhão, exploring the “Golden City” of Salamanca with its stunning cathedrals and ancient bridges, savoring fresh seafood and farm-to-table produce and cured meats, and luxuriating in the amenities of the intimate river cruise ship the MS Emerald Radiance. Starting at $7,095 for 8 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Country Walkers

Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago (guided walking). Soak up the rich history and cultures of northern Spain while exploring scenic local paths and highlights from the Camino de Santiago. Country Walker’s team has selected from over 50,000 miles of trails lacing the Iberian Peninsula to curate the very best of this trail network. Starting in the heart of Basque Country, a walk along the Camino’s Northen Way brings guests to the spectacular coastal scenery of Cantabria. Walk the most idyllic segments of the Camino’s French Way, visiting the charming, thatched huts of O Cebreiro, tasting traditional Galician orujo, and exploring a local vineyard perched above the Ribeira Sacra Canyon. Enjoy a scenic slice of the Camino’s Finisterre Way while walking among fragrant pines and eucalyptus into Santiago de Compostela, followed by an opulent evening at the incomparable Hostal dos Reis Católicos located on the Plaza del Obradoiro next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Starting at $4,695 for 8 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: Country Walkers makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne & the Alps (guided walking). Country Walkers’ newest walking tour of Switzerland includes Zürich, Lake Lucerne, and the best of the Swiss Alps to immerse guests in the alpine spirit. Highlights include an enchanting boat ride on Lake Lucerne; traveling by train, gondola, and cog rail past the famous peaks of Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger; hiking along rugged mountain ridges, stopping to appreciate sparkling waterfalls and fields of edelweiss and gentian; discovering the tradition of Swiss alpine cheese-making while hiking the famous “Cheese Trail” and stopping for a tasting at a local farm; and enjoying warm Swiss hospitality in traditional settings, where mouth-watering farm-to-table fare, luxurious spas and saunas, and the cheerful chorus of alphorns form the capstone of this epic walking adventure. Starting at $5,995 for 6 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: Country Walkers makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

For additional details and travel inspiration, visit www.vbt.com (or call 1-855-202-1008) or www.countrywalkers.com (or call 1-800-234-6900).

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Benefits of Travel & Tourism, Conservation, Importance of Tourism, international travel, Responsible Travel, Sustainable Travel

Country Walkers Offers Responsible Travel Itineraries That Support Conservation, Charitable Projects

February 16, 2020 MoralCompass

*Porto, a delightfully walkable city in northern Portugal, is featured on Country Walkers’ Porto-Lisbon tour which also supports “Farming for the Future” initiative* © *Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com*

Williston, VT –By 2030, 1.8 billion people – about 20 percent of the global population – are predicted to be tourists traveling the world. As the demand for global travel increases, consumers are faced with numerous decisions on how to make their trips more sustainable, including where to go, what to pack and how to get there. Country Walkers, a leading provider of walking adventures and a leader in responsible tourism for decades, offers travelers the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable world through preserving indigenous cultures, supporting local economies, conserving wildlife and protecting the environment.

“At Country Walkers, we are committed to a healthier planet and to giving back to the destinations we explore,” said Timo Shaw, President of Country Walkers. “Sustainability is one of our core values, from staying in locally owned and operated hotels whenever possible and seeking out environmentally and socially responsible accommodations, to our ardent support of the Slow Food movement in order to preserve culinary traditions and support biodiversity. As a result, those who travel with us contribute to a more sustainable world as well.”

To further support special conservation and charitable projects in communities and habitats worldwide, Country Walkers created The Travelers Fund, which makes a donation on behalf of every traveler who books a specific tour. More than half of Country Walkers’ tours are associated with an initiative, including:

Mountain Rescue at Club Alpino Italiano (Country Walkers tour: Italy: The Amalfi Coast & Capri). Safety comes first on the Amalfi Coast with a donation to the local mountain rescue team, which primarily relies on volunteers and donations to obtain and maintain equipment for rapid emergency response for visitors and locals.

Wildlife Conservation in the Rocky Mountains (Country Walkers tours: Montana: Glacier National Park and Wyoming: Grand Teton & Yellowstone [KG1] ). The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative seeks to re-connect segments of land that have been separated by development, allowing animals to safely move from region to region on wildlife-friendly highway overpasses. Contributions are used towards constructing one of these wildlife structures.

Therapeutic Travel for Cancer Survivors in Quebec (Country Walkers tour: Quebec: Quebec City & the Saguenay Fjord). Country Walkers supports the Fondation Sur La Pointe des Pieds (“On the Tip of the Toes”), which provides young people ages 14 to 29 living with cancer with an opportunity to regain their sense of well-being through therapeutic adventure expeditions.

Assisting Pilgrims on Camino de Santiago (Country Walkers tour: Spain: Classic Camino de Santiago). The Federación Española de Asociaciones de Amigos del Camino de Santiago coordinates a vast national network of hostels, volunteers, parishes, churches and shelters in an effort to keep more than 200,000 pilgrims safe, healthy and informed as they walk the Camino de Santiago.

Clean Water in Zambia (Country Walkers tour: Zambia Safari: Exclusive Camps & Bush Walks). In Africa, currently 345 million people live without access to clean drinking water. Together with local partners in Zambia at Charity Begins Home, Country Walkers supports the “Commit to Clean Water” Fund, an initiative that seeks to transform rural communities by drilling wells into deep aquifers and pumping potable water to the surface.

Maintaining the Long Trail in Vermont (Country Walkers tour: Vermont: Fall Foliage). A highlight of the tour is walking along one of the most spectacular portions of the legendary 270-mile Long Trail, the nation’s first long-distance hiking trail. Country Walkers supports the Green Mountain Club, the stewards of this “footpath through the wilderness,” who also promote conservation of and education about Vermont’s mountains and rural land.

Advocacy for Small Businesses in Palermo (Country Walkers tour: Italy: Sicily). Country Walkers supports the nonprofit Addiopizzo movement, a grassroots coalition of over 850 shopkeepers aimed at squashing corruption in Sicily and educating locals about ethical business practices.

Conserving a Historic Chapel in Monterosso (Country Walkers tour: Italy: Portofino & Cinque Terre [KG2] ). In 2013, severe landslides destroyed the grounds of the historic Convento dei Cappuccini chapel and monastery. “Let’s Rebuild Monterosso’s Paradise” raises funds for the restoration, a cost far beyond the modest means of the town or diocese.

Cornwall Coastal Preservation (Country Walkers tour: England: The Cornwall Coast). The South West Coast Path Association advocates for improvements to more than 630 miles of this historic coastal trail system. As maintenance is costly, donations from Country Walkers on behalf of guests help maintain these paths that are heavily utilized on the tour.

Farming for the Future (Country Walkers tours: Portugal: Sintra, Óbidos & the Coast and Portugal: Porto to Lisbon). The Herdade do Freio do Meio farm applies principles of sustainability within the context of the Portuguese montado, a traditional pastoral agricultural system in which reducing reliance on fossil fuels and marketing regionally to provide fresh foods and minimize transport costs are key policies. The farm processes and sells many products on site, providing training and employment for locals.

Campobello Whale Rescue Team (Country Walkers tour: New Brunswick: Bay of Fundy & Campobello Island). Created by Mackie Green, the same captain who offers a whale watching excursion and boat transfers on the Country Walkers tour, the team is trained to dive and rescue whales trapped in fish netting. Donations support equipment and training.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Country Walkers tour: England: The Cotswolds). Stretching over 790 square miles, the Cotswolds is the largest recognized Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England due to its breathtaking scenery and rolling hills. Country Walkers supports efforts to keep the area well-preserved on behalf of every Cotswolds guest.

For more information on The Travelers Fund and Country Walkers’ sustainable travel initiatives, visit www.countrywalkers.com/sustainable-travel/ or call 800-234-6900.

For more than 40 years, Country Walkers has provided active, experiential, and stunning travel experiences on five continents. Based in Williston, Vt., the company’s specialized adventures and insider access bring the beating heart of a destination to life with well-crafted itineraries for Guided Walking and Self-Guided Walking. All walking trips highlight local cuisine, authentic accommodations, and immersive cultural experiences. Country Walkers is recognized as one of the leading providers of Walking Adventures worldwide, having garnered countless awards including National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards.