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Meet our team: Lindsay Juley

From the coast of Australia to the skyscrapers of NYC and back to her home state of Wisconsin, Lindsay uses her wealth of experience and passion for exploring the world to lead the charge on building and creating awesome relationships with travel agents across the country looking to sell the vacation of a lifetime.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, my idea of a vacation pre-college was either flying to Arizona to visit my grandparents or going camping at many of the local state parks. I did not need to go far to have a great time. However, after studying abroad in London in college, a whole new world opened up for me. I completely fell in love with traveling, and I knew I needed to find a job that would allow me to continue exploring the world. I ended up landing the perfect post-college job with STA Travel, a student-focused travel agency, where I became a full-service travel agent. Not only did I get to talk about travel all day, but I was able to take multiple trips per year myself.

Lindsay Juley Trek Travel Cycling Vacations

My job with STA Travel led me to do a working holiday in Melbourne, Australia, where I lived for almost a year still working as a travel agent. Instead of planning very short spring break and winter break holidays, I began to put together elaborate round-the-world trips, and 3 month long backpacking trips for my Australian clients. It challenged me every day, and I learned quite a bit about different markets and cultures that I never was exposed to back in Wisconsin. Since new destinations around Australia and southeast Asia were now all of a sudden very accessible, I also was able to take several trips while abroad, continuing to check off more countries and continents off my bucket list.

After returning from Australia with a passport full of stamps and more vacation planning experience, I became the store manager at my Madison office. Due to a company re-structuring, I was selected to work at one of the New York offices, but the Midwest kept calling me back. After almost 6 years and hitting all 7 continents, I parted ways with STA Travel and moved back to my favorite state of Wisconsin. I knew I wanted to stay in the travel industry while remaining in Madison, so the natural option was to pursue a role at Trek Travel. I used to book the travel for the Trek Travel guides when I was at STA Travel, so I already was very familiar with the company!

Lindsay Juley Trek Travel Cycling Vacations

My first job at Trek Travel was as the guest services coordinator, doing mostly admin work and communicating with guests after they were booked on a trip. Shortly after that, I became a trip consultant, selling our trips to our guests. I noticed there was no set travel agent program in place, so I started to develop a plan to provide more structure and training in order to grow our company’s travel agent business.

Now, after more than four years with Trek Travel, I am focused mainly on creating and cultivating relationships with travel agents, which I love! Since I previously was a travel agent myself, I have a great understanding of what it is like to be on the other side of the business and what resources agents may require to sell active vacations. I also understand the benefits a travel agent brings to our guests, being able to assist with all planning aspects of their vacation. I look forward to continuing to grow this important part of our business, and hopefully meeting more agents in person!

 

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Meet Our Team: Diego Villasenor

A man of many countries who has spent his first year with Trek Travel guiding in Costa Brava as well as on L’Etape du Tour, Diego has a strong passion for exploring the world, a taste for new adventures and the travel journals to prove it.

So to start off, where are you from?

This is probably one of the hardest questions to answer. I was born in Mexico City, but grew up in Bolivia and spent a few years in Gainesville, Florida. I have three nationalities, Mexican, Bolivian and Swiss. Yes Swiss, but that is a story for when you come to one of my trips. For the last couple of years I’ve just been saying “I’m a citizen of the world.”

What did you do before you became a guide?

When I finished my degree in sustainable tourism and felt like I needed to do something more I grabbed my bicycle and started traveling to visit new towns and taste new cultures. With a group of my best friends we started to ride together and produce a radio show to promote sustainable tourism practices. Being in academia I also had the opportunity to travel around Mexico participating in rural tourism national conventions.

What has been your favorite part about guiding thus far?

Everyday is different. Each week is unique. Even if the days look the same on the website, our trips are memorable. I have the opportunity to meet amazing people from different parts of the world with incredible stories to share. And let’s not forget that we share the passion to ride the bicycle in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

What has been the biggest surprise?

Everything! Last year I had no clue what I was going to do in 2017. My closest friends kept asking, “What’s your plan?” And the only answer I kept repeating was, “I don’t know, but I will surprise myself!”

Well, here I am in Milan, Italy finishing eating the best pizza I’ve ever had while I write these few humbled words to share with you. Meanwhile I also try to imagine who might read this and then who will I have the honor to meet in person. The bonus, and one very important thing for me, is that I’m guiding bicycle trips in Europe with a fantastic group of people that I proudly call my Trek Travel family.

How did you come up with the travel journal idea?

Ever since I was 5 years old I have been traveling by plane alone. Back then, traveling was just a means to get to the final destination. Now I travel to enjoy every single part of the trip.

Since 2016 I started drawing a line and writing the names of the states I was crossing while we were on a road trip from Florida to Washington D.C. And that is the first official drawing in my journal. Now, each detail that happens during the trip I try to put it inside my notebook. I even ask people I meet randomly during my travels to sign their name or write a message. It’s a way to remember where I’ve been and what I’ve done.

Favorite trip to guide?

This year I have been guiding Costa Brava in Spain and during the Tour de France I had the opportunity to guide L’Etape du Tour. I love mountains, they are my favorite place to be. Riding in the French Alps was the most fantastic combination of challenging riding and amazing views.

Costa Brava on the other hand, is just the perfect combination of beautiful roads, rich culture and amazing places to visit. An all around great trip that gives us a new gift every week. Bright red poppy flowers at the beginning of spring or shining yellow sunflower fields towards the end of summer. And let’s not forget that every day we get the opportunity to dip our feet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Trip you’d love to guide soon?

I am very excited for our new trips in South America! I grew up in national parks in Bolivia and when I heard that Trek Travel is introducing Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands to the itinerary my explorer soul jumps from emotion.

And the biggie…favorite ride of all time?

Again a hard question!! I have two in mind. The 385km trip around the biggest lake in Mexico with really good friends. We had never done this together and we tackled every challenge we had on the road. It was the moment I knew I wanted to do multiple day trips by bicycle.

The second all time favorite is when my ex-partner and I gave away all our belongings and started a bicycle trip with our two dogs. We traveled with our bicycles visiting places that we never knew existed, also met wonderful people that open their homes to us so we could sleep in order to continue our trip.

Like I said before, now traveling for me is not only about the final destination. It’s all about the small details along the way.

 

Catch up with Diego in Costa Brava

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A Day in Zion

Summer is ending soon, but that doesn’t mean the fun should! Join us in Zion National Park this fall and make your “summer vacation” last just a bit longer! It’s time to sit back and relax (or lean forward and pedal your heart out) and pretend like you’re a kid at summer camp.

It’s not often that we find ourselves within a group of people we don’t know, but all with a similar interest: a desire to explore by bicycle. Many might find a two-hour ride in a ten-person passenger van with a group of strangers quite uneasy or claustrophobic. As the initial shy kid at camp, these thoughts crept into my head while packing my bags to meet my group on Day 1. But I quickly forgot about that when I caught sight of the scenery just outside of St. George. Cue entire van jaw-drop. I’m a Midwesterner who’s accustomed to rolling green hills, cornfields, and forests, so this new landscape had me clutching my iPhone in camera mode the entire shuttle to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. After prancing around in the sand like a little girl at the beach (note: there are no bodies of water here), I met back with the group for a picnic before our ride. Food always has a way of bringing people together, just like it did at camp when I was ten and I was beaming ear to ear and chatting away.

Trek Travel a Day in Bryce & Zion

After twenty-six miles through a vast desert landscape, I satisfied my inner child-like craving to visit with the ‘farm’ animals at Zion Mountain Ranch before sitting down to dinner with my new friends (the other guests, not the animals). Chickens scurried over my toes, horses tried nibbling my fingers, and a foreign sense of delight swept over me as I felt like I was back at the summer state fair. Except the chaos of the fair was nowhere to be found, and the sunset in the distance was starting to blanket the Ranch in hues of blue and pink—a sight that I didn’t appreciate enough as a child.

As we rode west closer to the entrance of Zion National Park on Day 2, I could tell I was going to have a hard time focusing on the task at hand: staying in my lane. Sloping towards the sun on either side of the rust red road were petrified sand dunes and towering mesas. My mom’s voice popped into my head a few times, “Keep your eyes on the road, Ashley.” I wanted to look at everything around me, it was all so stunning! But I thought back to when I was a child with skinned knees from tripping over my feet because I was too busy looking at everything around me. So I slowed my speed, and stopped from time to time to soak it all in. Trust me when I say you’ll need to do this more than just a few times!

Trek Travel a Day in Bryce & Zion

Both Day 2 and Day 3 offer our guests the chance to explore Zion National Park and the quaint town of Springdale on their own before closing out the weekend with a victory lap through the canyon. After hiking to what felt like the clouds (Observation Point) on Day 3, I was able to see the entire canyon from a bird’s-eye view, vastly different from what I perceived the canyon to be on the bike the day before. While I chomped on my more sophisticated sack lunch at the cliff edge, I could see hikers attempting Angel’s Landing, the Park shuttle buses unloading the morning’s first explorers below, and vultures circling even further above our heads. Climbing trees at camp served me well as a child, because I was now able to experience the same feeling, only now (safely) at 6,500 feet.

To say that this weekend fulfilled some sort of childhood dream is an understatement. My group, the guides, and this place left me feeling energized and inspired. By the end of Sunday, I wasn’t ready to leave Springdale. However, I refrained from the kicking and screaming I may have done when I was younger and quietly packed myself back into the van.

Trek Travel a Day in Bryce & Zion

“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he seeks.” -John Muir

Muir was an incredibly wise man, and the founding father of our National Park system, and he hits the nail right on the head with this quote. I’ve always enjoyed spending time outside, but I didn’t expect for this trip to bring me back in time and relive some of my greatest childhood experiences. So go ahead, order that ice cream cone in Springdale and buy a silly souvenir to remind yourself of when you were a kid again for a weekend!

 

Ride the spectacular Zion National Park

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Meet Our Team: Amy Davison

Amy Davison knew that practicing law wasn’t the end-all-be-all. That’s when, after a little soul-searching, she decided to take a leap and blend the things she loved the most into a career she could be passionate about.

Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?

After several years of practicing law in Chicago, I was questioning my career choice. It took a couple of years of soul-searching and brainstorming about what should come next but ultimately, I decided to blend the things I loved most – traveling, athletic activities, cooking and learning about other cultures – into a career. I was just starting to learn about cycling at the time and found Trek Travel via a Google search. The rest is history.

Can we get a quick run-down–what does it mean to be a Trip Designer? What’s your design process?
It’s kinda like a funnel. We cast the net wide in terms of possibilities for a new trip and narrow it down by researching several key criteria…hotels, roads and scenic beauty come to mind. Once we have a general concept that we are really excited about, we start drilling into the endless details that need to be nailed down to make it the experience of a lifetime!

Tell us about your favorite trip you’ve ever designed and why.
Well, I am relatively new to the trip design department, so I have not designed many from scratch. I have to go with our new Yellowstone Tetons trip. I am enamored with the raw beauty of the Teton range, the roaming wildlife, and the amazing network of bike paths in Jackson Hole that are flat and separated from the road. This means anyone and everyone can take it all in from a bicycle – the absolute best way to see the world, in my book.

What’s your dream travel destination?
Mongolia

Tell us about your best travel adventure.
It’s hard to choose, but I would say trekking in the Himalaya. The mountains were stunning. The trek was challenging. The people were gracious and kind. Life became so simple.

 

Meet Our Team: Amy

Tania’s Turkey Taco Recipe

You’ve eaten Thanksgiving leftovers before. But have you tried Tania’s world-famous turkey tacos?

Thanksgiving is the favorite holiday of Trek Travel’s guide-in-chief, Tania Burke. And this year, she’s got the perfect solution to your leftovers crisis: Tania’s Turkey Tacos. It’s always a big winner at Trek Travel Worldwide Headquarters. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Like everything we do, it’s guaranteed to be the World’s Best. Just follow her simple recipe below to turn your Thanksgiving leftovers into a delicious day-old meal.
 
 
Trek Travel President Tania Burke shares her Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Taco Recipe
 
 

Taco Ingredients

Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Sweet Potatoes or Squash
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Sliced Avocado
Corn Tortillas

Cranberry Salsa

12 oz. Cranberries
½ Cup Chopped Cilantro
½ Cup Diced Green Onion
1 Diced Jalapeno Pepper
1 Lime Juiced
¼ Cup Sugar

Start by preparing the cranberry salsa. Either finely dice the ingredients and stir together, or mix them in a food processor. Warm the leftover turkey and potatoes in an oven or microwave. Dice the turkey into small cubes. Grill the corn tortillas individually until they puff and turn slightly brown in spots. Note: Tortillas are best grilled over the open flame on a gas stove, but can also be warmed in a skillet. Build the tacos to your desired taste using cheese, potatoes, turkey, avocado and cranberry salsa. Sprinkle cilantro on top and enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Trek Travel.
 
 
Trek Travel President Tania Burke shares her Thanksgiving Leftover Turkey Taco Recipe
 
 

Biking in Bohemia: A Timeless Ride

Within minutes of touching down in Prague, a distinctive sense of history overwhelmed me (and many other first time visitors on the plane). It should have come as no surprise, as trusted friends and travel companions had informed me that the Czech Republic capital is truly one-of-a-kind. But a city largely untouched by time itself was nearly impossible for me to imagine.

 
Trek Travel Czech Republic and Austria Cycling Vacation
 
 
If boundless firsthand recommendations didn’t confirm the area’s appeal, then my first view of the iconic red rooftops most certainly did. And in the days that followed, the trip would take us through even more authentic and historic regions of the Czech Republic before continuing into Austria. All made better by experiencing it on a bike – as is the case with most things in life.

Scenic farmlands hinted at the quiet lifestyle of rural Czech Republic. Restaurant menus detailed the ingredients of their delectable beef goulash with just one word recognizable to my American eyes – Pilsner. I knew this was going to be a truly cultural experience and inimitable ride all-around.

Those who make the journey just a bit further east than classic regions such as Tuscany and Provence are rewarded with spectacular, albeit distinct, views. History abounds with walking tours, ancient ruins, and regular conversations with locals who’ve become part of the Trek Travel family. You’re guaranteed immersion into those bygone days.
 
 
Trek Travel Prague to Vienna Cycling Vacation
 
 
Like a professionally prepared multi-course meal, the highlight of our Prague to Vienna trip was saved for the finish. A stay in the historic Romantik Hotel Richard Lowenherz is the perfect endcap to six days of riding amongst monasteries, castles and monuments. With a name referencing its most famous guest, King Richard the Lionheart, Hotel Richard Lowenherz let’s you walk, dine and sleep in the exact location of one of the region’s most famous man. It was here that the King was held prisoner for over two years before England paid a hefty ransom for his release.

A short hike into the neighboring bluffs serves as a perfect overview of the weeklong tour, which provides an authenticity that’s rivaled by few locations and a chance for unprecedented historic immersion.
 
 
Trek Travel Prague to Vienna Bike Tour
 

Visit Prague and Vienna

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Preparing for the Ride of Your Life

Perspective New Guide applicants eagerly ask me year after year, what is it about Trek Travel that you love the most? My answer, without a doubt: the people.

We have a vibrant, strong and uniquely faceted team at Trek Travel. A global team that works together and supports each other like none-other; a team that I proudly call family.

Beyond our team, our guide hiring and training process is another dear passion of mine. Since 2011, this beast of a process has held a special spot in my heart. That spring, I jumped on the greatest ride of my life as a New Guide applicant. I buckled up, bared down and never looked back. Did I know anything about guiding? No. Was I a bike mechanic, picnic queen or even a logistical magician? Not yet. Did I like travel, people and bikes? Of course. Better yet, did I have a zest for life and thrive in fast-paced, ever-changing work environments? You bet! An essential building block for any applicant looking to work for Trek Travel.
 
 
Trek Travel Bike Tour Guide Hiring
 
 
The Trek Travel Guide position is unique, and not for everyone. But as veteran guide Jake Young once said, “For those that it is for, get ready for the ride of your life.” That perfectly sums up this opportunity which attracts some of the hardest working people around the world. It is a lifestyle full of unimaginable cycling, fairytale travel and some of the most kind, fascinating people on this planet. Being a Guide also means continual change and life on the road for most of the year. A road with unexpected twists and turns that requires major responsibility and quick thinking to maneuver.

I affectionately refer to the process to become a Trek Travel Guide as a “beast”. It has been known as the “World’s Toughest Hiring Process” and we certainly do everything in our power to recruit, train and prepare our New Guides for a successful career with Trek Travel. This beast is a crucial piece of the puzzle that we take very seriously and I think it shows with our team’s five year retention rate.

We believe in top-notch experiences at Trek Travel, from start to finish. This year I am excited to announce we have incorporated an online interview tool that allows candidates to complete the first step of the interview process at any time. In other words, for those traveling the world or tied up in meetings, online interviews are a great solution! No need to step into a conference room at the office or hop off your bike early from a ride to be on time for your first interview. These can be done anytime, at your convenience.

If you’re selected to advance to the first round of interviews, you will receive a notification and link via email on how it works. We ask questions that you have the opportunity to read, prepare for, and answer using video capabilities on a web and video-enabled device. Round-two of the interview process (for those chosen to advance) is a Skype video interview with a Trek Travel team member. This is the last step before being selected to attend our hiring event held in Madison, which kicks off the hiring and training series detailed online.

Learn more about the Trek Travel Guide position, an opportunity that’s been known to produce the most epic campfire stories ever told!
 
 
Trek Travel guide hiring and application process
 

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Meet Our Team: Marcel Peeperkorn

Marcel Peeperkorn has always embraced a transient lifestyle. From Johannesburg to Shanghai, London to Boston, Marcel has lived and worked in many regions around the world. But no matter his location, the bicycle has always remained a constant. And it was his search for simplicity in this ever-changing world that led him to Trek Travel.

Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
After many years working professionally as an architect, completing an MBA, and working in consulting, interior design and property development, I was searching for a different way of living and existing. I was determined to find a way to earn money in a world that demands so, while sharing in something I care about greatly–the bicycle. The bicycle has always been in the background, it is my meditation where I can forget about everything going on, and a place where I can reflect and consider life. It is both simple and complex, a tool for exploring mentally and physically.

Tell us about your favorite ride.
It is impossible to answer in a singular, as each ride is different and gives something different. From dark stormy mornings to beautiful sunny days and midnight commutes through the city, each ride offers something special in different quantities to mind, body and soul.

A ride that I’ll always remember was my first Cape Argus Cycle Tour, one of the first races I ever entered. It stands out more for completing than anything else. Hitting a car in training the week before, and battling wind gusts of 100km/h that sent fences and portaloos flying, let alone the riders! Completing that day was rewarding enough!
 
 
Trek Travel guide Marcel Peeperkorn rides Cape Argus Cycle Tour
 
What is the best view you’ve seen from the seat of a bike?
Most likely the next one, wherever that may be! If I had to answer the question, I’d say the most impressive view to date was riding through the Chinese New Year fireworks in Shanghai.

When you’re not guiding, what are you doing?
If I’m not on the bike I will be exploring new places/food/drink and always reading, topics that interest me specifically are Philosophy, Economics, Psychology, and Sociology. I do enjoy the finer things in life but to be happy simply. I don’t need more than good company, bread, cheese, wine or beer, coffee with a book, and a bike to explore the world. I live life by a simple philosophy of “better,” inward and outward, for myself and to the world.

What excites you most about the opportunity to show people the world from the seat of a bike?
To show people where their body can take them, and what they discover about themselves while moving under their own mental and physical strength.

What is one thing people should know, but don’t, about being a Trek Travel guide?
We are all very different with different approaches, outlooks and philosophies toward life but share a love for the bicycle and the variety of things that it shows and teaches us.
 
 
Meet Trek Travel guide Marcel Peeperkorn
 

Join Marcel in Ireland this summer!

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Meet Our Team: Grace Heimsness

A new guide for Trek Travel, Grace Heimsness is saying yes to the life she’s always dreamed of. Leaving the comfort of the familiar for the allure of something new is never easy. “I keep waiting for someone to jump out from behind a tree or from the bottom of a slot canyon, punch me in the back of the head, and shout, ‘Gotcha! Go home.'” But there’s beauty in the possibility of finding a new home.

Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
A few years ago, I was a wrench at a local mom ‘n pop bike shop in my hometown when one day our sales rep dropped off a few Trek Travel brochures. I picked it up, thought “Wow, that would be my dream job,” and put it in my back pocket–literally as well as figuratively. It was around the same time that I typed the sentence, “Home is whom you hang your thoughts on.” It was a nice thought, but just that. I wasn’t yet ready to live it, to leave the safety of that familiar hook on which I hung my jersey, to ride without the company of Jerry and Jens and Greenie and the rest of them.

Two years later, I was working as an arts nonprofit administrator and aching to be outside discovering the world instead of hearing about it from a desk. I applied, but didn’t expect to make it to the interview stage, forget receiving a job offer. I was that kid who cried on the first day of summer camp. I was also that kid who cried on the last day of summer camp. Deep and quick attachment is my forte and my fault, and I’ve done my best to live a life that leans least on the discomfort of personal—and personnel—changes. But over the last six months, I have fallen hard for the truth that has for so long been fighting to burn in me. I am ready to live that sentence, ready to hang my jersey on a new hook each night, to burn my legs up on climbs that leave you breathless, to work harder than I’ve ever done in my life in order to give people experiences they’ll never forget.
 
 
Trek Travel Bryce and Zion Utah Bike Tour
 
As a kid, what did you think you’d be when you grew up?
I was absolutely certain I was going to be a writer. I started writing stories in the fourth grade and just never stopped. I still write when I can–my blog and personal essays, mostly. Now well into my 20s, I can say with that same certainty that I want to be a writer in some capacity, regardless of how grown up I am.

When you’re not guiding, what are you doing?
Sleeping! Really though, I like to update my blog when I have a chance, read, maybe catch a re-run of Seinfeld or work on my Netflix queue. I love making dinner with my co-guides at the guide house and starting random dance/karaoke parties, usually simultaneously. Dancing and cooking go well together.

What is one thing people should know, but don’t, about being a Trek Travel guide?
How much you trust and depend on your co-guide for almost everything–not only on-trip, but also in your non-guiding life. This goes far beyond the logistical or practical; being out in the field and away from home for so long throws you into a sort of alternate universe, and your co-guide is the one person who understands completely the unique challenges this situation can introduce to your relationships and lifestyle. It’s a powerful bond and can teach you a lot about communication, commitment, and trust. This immediate bond with my co-guides has been probably the loveliest surprise, for me.
 
 
Meet Trek Travel new guide Grace Heimsness
 
Tell us about your favorite ride.
That’s a tough one. I’d have to say the last day of our Bryce & Zion trip, a simple out-and-back up the canyon of Zion National Park to the Temple of Sinawava. It’s stunning–six or so miles of the Virgin River wend alongside the park road as you make your way up-canyon, the morning is calm and cool, and there’s this incredible morning light shining onto peaks like the Court of the Patriarchs. With 800 feet of climbing, it’s just enough to take the itch out of your legs and give you a great start to the day. And if you’re ever looking for some perspective on life, staring up at 2,000 vertical feet of petrified sand dunes that have existed for 200 million years is one way to find it.

What is your favorite view from the seat of a bike?
I love seeing my hometown from the seat of my bike. I’ve seen a few incredible places by bike and I’d love to see a whole bunch more, but there’s something about cruising down Main Street at dusk, waving at old friends and “checking in on the neighborhood,” that makes me sublimely happy.

What excites you most about the opportunity to show people the world from the seat of a bike?
I’m really stoked every time we roll into a place that I know will make our guests Ooh and Ah. It’s so satisfying to be the person who introduces someone to an entirely new setting, one beyond what they even imagined, and to watch them react. A lot of guests become kids again, in a way—sometimes you can see, if you really look, what they might have been like as an 8-year-old. It brings you back to when you saw this place for the first time, and it’s awesome to think about the fact that our guests will remember their first moments in this place forever, and that you were the one who got to share that with them.
 
 
Trek Travel Bryce and Zion National Parks Bike Tour
 

Join Grace in Crater Lake this summer!

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Meet Our Team: Trevor Pickard

An air traffic controller, professional wedding photographer, motorcycle aficionado, and Ironman triathlete, Trevor Pickard isn’t just a Trek Travel guide. He’s proof that you can make a living while making a life, that you can turn your passion into your profession, and that it’s better to go all in than wonder what might have been.

Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
That’s quite a question to answer. I graduated from the aeronautic Air Traffic Control program at Middle Tennessee State in 2011 at the age of 21, but couldn’t hold a federal aircraft dispatch license until the age of 23 due to federal regulations. So I pursued my passion for photography and focused my attention on further establishing myself as a wedding photographer in the Southeast region. After saving up for a couple of years working odd-end jobs, I backpacked throughout Europe during the summer of 2013. Visiting 9 counties and 21 cities gave me exposure to many cultures and environments that ignited my interest in further engaging with the people and places that surround me. Coming back to the States and working full-time aviation jobs in Southern California, and later Northern Florida, I knew I needed life experiences outside of the corporate grind. And this is where Trek found me!

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Simple. I thought I’d be one of two things: roller coaster designer or test car driver for an automobile magazine.

Tell us about your favorite ride.
My love for two wheels started with motorcycles. Even though I have a fully custom Harley, which I built from the ground up, my first love is a 1996 Honda Rebel 250cc that I bought after saving up money working as a lifeguard during the summer after high school. She’s a two-tone red and white beauty that runs like a sewing machine down the road. I’ve put 25,000 miles on her and she isn’t worth much more than beer allowance during spring break, but nothing puts a bigger smile on my face and for that, I’ll never get rid of her.
 
 
Trek Travel guide Trevor Pickard
 
When you’re not guiding, what are you doing?
Simplicity is key for me. Traveling on my Harley with a pair of running shoes and a camera wrapped around my neck would boil down my logic. I enjoy training for Ironman triathlons, trail-running, anything on two wheels, and good conversation over a few fingers of bourbon and a good cigar.

What is one thing people should know, but don’t, about being a Trek Travel guide?
What an intimate setting Trek Travel offers. Not only on the bike but the moment you step off the pedals as well. From the amazing backgrounds of guests to the passionate guides in the field, it truly is an experience of a lifetime.
 
 
Trek Travel guide Trevor Pickard in Grand Teton National Park
 
What is your favorite view from the seat of a bike?
The brand new bike path connecting Jackson Hole, Wyoming to Teton Village and Grand Teton National Park. I worked in Jackson during a summer in college but never experienced the Yellowstone environment quite like I have now: one pedal stroke at a time.

What excites you most about the opportunity to show people the world from the seat of a bike?
The allure of traveling and being engaged with my surroundings is terribly exciting. Everything else falls into place from there.
 
 
Trek Travel Guide Trevor Pickard
 

Join Trevor on our Cross Country USA trip!

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Private

If a date is marked as Private, it is reserved for a private group.

Don’t see exactly what you are looking for or looking for a custom date?
Call our trip consultants at 866-464-8735

What is the Difference?

Ultimate Luxury:

Savor some of the most spectacular, 5-star properties in the world. Exuding luxury and elegance, these one-of-a-kind accommodations offer the chance to rejuvenate at award-winning spas, dine at Michelin-starred restaurants, and more.

Luxury:

Enjoy luxurious accommodations handpicked for a refined experience. From signature spa treatments to delicious local cuisine, you’ll be more than provided for; you’ll be pampered.

Explorer:

These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.

Combined:

On select cycling vacations, you’ll stay at a mix of Explorer and Luxury hotels. Rest assured, no matter which hotel level you’re at, our trip designers carefully select every accommodation.

Activity Level

Level 1:

Road: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 25 mi (40 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Gravel: 1-3 hours of riding. Up to 20 mi (35 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 1-3 hours of hiking. Up to 5 mi (8 km). Up to 1,000 ft (300 m).

Level 2:

Road: 2-4 hours of riding. 20-35 mi (35-60 km). Up to 2,500 ft (750 m).

Gravel: 2-4 hours of riding. 15-30 mi (25-45 km). Up to 2,000 ft (300 m).

Hiking: 2-4 hours of hiking. 4-8 mi (6-12 km). Up to 1,500 ft (450 m).

Level 3:

Road: 3-5 hours of riding. 25-55 mi (40-85 km). Up to 4,500 ft (1,500 m).

Gravel: 3-5 hours of riding. 20-40 mi (35-60 km). Up to 3,000 ft (900 m).

Hiking: 3-5 hours of hiking. 6-10 mi (9-16 km). Up to 2,000 ft (600 m).

Level 4:

Road: 4+ hours of riding. 40-70 mi (60-110 km). Up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m).

Gravel: 4+ hours of riding. 30-50 mi (45-80 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

Hiking: 4+ hours of hiking. 7-15 mi (11-24 km). Up to 4,000 ft (1,200 m).

What are your trip styles?

Classic - Reserve:

Savor the finer things as you relax in luxurious 5-star accommodations and wine, dine, and ride in some of the most unforgettable destinations around the world.

Classic - Signature:

Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.

Classic - Discover:

Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.

Ride Camp:

Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.

Pro Race:

See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.

Cross Country:

Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.

Self-Guided

Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.

Single Occupancy

Sometimes it’s more convenient and comfortable to have your own room while on vacation. We understand and that’s why we offer a Single Occupancy option. The additional price guarantees a private room all to yourself