“I’m kind of an iced-tea guy most of the time, but a cold beer after a long bike ride on a hot day sure tastes good. Especially when it’s a “beermosa,” orange juice blended with some suds. For avid cyclists who prefer craft beer, Trek Travel will offer three separate cycling tours this summer and fall that the active travel outfit says serve up some of the country’s best microbrews.”
Brian E. Clark | May 17, 2016
“I guess you could call it a midlife crisis. I’d flown across the Atlantic Ocean for a weeklong cycling trip on this Spanish archipelago off the coast of Morocco.”
Lori Rackl | May 4, 2016
The crisis part came as I watched a Trek Travel guide hoist my Domane road bike onto the roof rack of the support van, and I sheepishly crawled into the passenger seat while the other cyclists on the trip pedaled up the hill and out of sight.
“Going-to-the-Sun Road, which follows a dizzying path along a mountainside in the heart of Glacier National Park, is considered one of America’s most spectacular routes. Most experience it from a car, but a cycling tour lets you breathe in the fresh mountain air along the way.”
Lindsey Olander and Ryan Krogh | May 4, 2016
On Trek Travel’s six-day tour through the park, riders will bike through the lake-filled Blackfeet Indian Reservation, spot bighorn sheep on moderate mountain climbs, and raft down the Middle Fork Flathead River.
There’s a whole unexpected side of Europe that’s more popular than ever, and Trek Travel takes you there. Destinations like the historic Dalmatian Coast of Croatia or the exotic charm of the Canary Islands will introduce you to a Europe that the news doesn’t cover. So what are you waiting for? Dig out that passport.
1. Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast
Hvar to Stari Grad Loop
Approximately 25 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing
This is a ride that you will remember forever! As you cycle along the limestone ridge of the island, a stunning vista unfurls with ancient white stone walls terracing green valleys, set against the blazing blue of the ever-present sea. Centuries ago, these walls were built by farmers clearing the land so that crops could be planted. Today, the stones remain and in between are gnarled vines, silver tipped olive trees and lush vegetables. You’ll then descend into the valley and pedal quiet roads bordered by vineyards and olive groves to the seaside port of Jelsa. As the road narrows, your ride will come to an end in Stari Grad, the original capital of Hvar until the Venetians declared the nearer Hvar Town more convenient.
Caragh Lake to Gap of Dunloe to Kenmare
Approximately 43 miles with 4,600 feet of climbing
Begin your day on the winding road beside Caragh Lake and eventually follow the shoreline of the Upper Caragh River. The stunning views of Glencar Valley will lead you to the Gap of Dunloe, the most famous and picturesque pass in the Ring of Kerry. Enjoy a stunning ride past all five lakes and over the ‘Wishing Bridge’, or perhaps choose to take a “jaunty car” powered by sure-footed horses. Either way, be sure to capture the panorama of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks before enjoying a well-earned descent into the Black Valley, the last place in Ireland to receive electricity. From there, master one final climb up Moll’s Gap before enjoying a long descent into Kenmare.
Český Krumlov to Weitra
Approximately 47 miles with 3,800 feet of climbing
This ride will take you south into the picturesque Waldviertel region of northern Austria, and the small 13th-century castle of Nové Hrady stands ahead as your guiding landmark. Before leaving, however, you’ll enjoy one last spin through the patchwork patterns and vivid colors of the southern Czech countryside. As you cross the border, you will notice a stark change in landscape and the nearby town of Weitra and its historic “Altstadt” (old town) are the perfect introduction to Austria. At one time this town had over 36 breweries, and it’s still a great place to enjoy a cold stein of Austrian beer.
Otranto to Santa Maria Di Leuca
Approximately 33 miles with 1,330 feet of climbing
This morning, the sea is never out of sight as you make your way along the some of the most breathtaking coastline in all of Italy. To your right, stone fences crafted centuries ago from local limestone adorn windswept fields, while the shimmering clear waters of the Ionian Sea beckon from your left. You‘ll ride all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet and a large Italian flag marks the southern-most tip of Italy. Afterwards, jump back on your bike and continue your seaside explorations.
Mogan to Valley of Tears Loop
Approximately 50 mile with 8,400 feet of climbing
You’ll be amazed at the teeth on this small gem of an island, easily ranked with some of the toughest climbs in Europe. Your ride starts out along the coast for a nice warm-up before you start pushing hard on the pedals. You’ll make your way through the town of Mogan before turning toward La Aldea, your last refuge before entering the long, isolated Valley of Tears. From this point, every kilometer takes you higher and higher, with grades reaching 25%. Just keep pedaling along until you reach the peak to refuel at the top before making your way back toward Mogan over the coils of Tauro Pass.
The season begins again when the days get longer in Spain, and heats up to full thrust when the sun warms the rest of Europe. Summer is finally on its way, there’s no excuse not to get outside and make this a season to remember. These are our favorite destinations for June:
It’s not every day you have the road to yourself as you traverse four mountain passes in the Alps: Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Télégraphe, the lofty Col du Galibier, and finally Alpe d’Huez. The French don’t go on holiday until later in the summer, so June is the opportune time to stay on the Alp you know, love and lust for.
2. Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast
In this hot-spot destination, every corner tells a story. Traveling in June will give you the opportunity to discover them all without fighting the crowds. Many active vacationers have never even considered a cycling tour of Croatia. Shame, really, since this region offers incredible beaches, glorious riding, and some of Europe’s most varied and elaborate historical sites.
While there’s always a chance you’ll find yourself throwing back a pint or two (or three) at any and every local pub to escape the rain, June in Ireland typically offers the best weather. So while the rest of those tour buses strain to get a view of the Ring of Kerry, you can discover the winding roads, weathered stone walls and dramatic coastlines from the seat of a bike.
No matter how hard core of an adventurer you are, sometimes it’s nice to let someone else do the planning, the researching, the relationship-building, and lugging of all your stuff around so that you can go along for the ride without a worry weighing you down.
Originally published in Big Life Magazine
There are a number of reputable bike tour companies with year-round national and international bike adventures for all levels of ability that are sure to light your fire. For the sake of stoking your spring fever, we talked to Trek Travel’s Rebecca Falls (AKA “Bama”) to learn about the benefits of traveling with an experienced outfitter. As both a guide and a trip design coordinator, Rebecca gets the best of both worlds, a hand in planning the trip and the chance to be out there, pedaling with clients.
Founded on the philosophy that the world is best experienced from the seat of a bike, Trek Travel has been showing active travelers some of the world’s most interesting cultures and best rides since 2003. Led by world travelers, bike enthusiasts, and cultural adventurers, Trek Travel’s trips offer great spring getaways no matter where you want to go.
BIGLIFE: Nickname?
REBECCA FALLS: Bama. When I first came to work for Trek Travel there was no one else on staff from Alabama. I’m not sure who said it first but it definitely stuck! Some of my closest friends, whom I got to know as co-guides, haven’t called me by my real name in years!
BIGLIFE: What’s your Trek Travel origin story (AKA, how did you land a job with TT)?
RF: All through college at the University of Alabama, I worked at a bike shop—the sadly-no-longer-in-business venerable Cycle Path. When Trek Travel started running trips in 2003 I was finishing my senior year and our Trek rep told me about TT and suggested that I apply after I graduated. I did, never thinking I would actually get the job, but here I am. I worked as a seasonal guide for four years while also working part-time as an environmental consultant. After two years spent getting a masters degree from the University of Tennessee, I came back to Trek Travel as a project manager for charity rides and a trip design coordinator, and now I work in all three roles—trip designer, guide, and charity ride director for Bo Bikes Bama, a ride started by Bo Jackson for victims of the 2011 tornado that devastated Alabama.
BL: What’s your ride of choice, as in the bike that you ride?
RF: Ahh, now THAT is like trying to choose a favorite child! I live in Asheville, North Carolina, which has some of the best roads in the country for riding, both paved and gravel—so I spend a lot of time on my road and cyclocross bikes (Trek’s 7-Series Madone and Boone, respectively). We also have really fantastic mountain bike trails in western North Carolina, and I recently got a Fuel EX, which I am excited about riding more if the trails will ever dry out—it’s been a wet, cold winter.
BL: What’s your process in designing a trip? What kind of research do you do?
RF: We decide on new destinations as a team—the Trip Design Department and Sales Department, taking into consideration things like guest requests, guide ideas, travel trends, and whatever generally gets us excited. We want to plan trips that we would want to go on, after all.
Once we decide on a destination there is a process for putting a trip together, but there is also room for taking a creative approach. I like to start by gathering input from the most knowledgeable people I can find from the region—this is often someone who works for Trek Travel, as our guides live in pretty cool places. But it could also be staff from the local bike shop, former guests, or other contacts.
Once we have an idea of the signature rides and local activities we want to include, we look for the best hotels and restaurants in the area. Then we try to put it all together in a way that has a nice flow—our guests want to feel like they saw the region, but not be exhausted by too much moving around. We also try very hard to work with smaller, locally-owned businesses that we can forge and grow relationships with. A great example of this is Summit Lake Vineyards, a very small family-owned vineyard and winery in Napa Valley that we have worked with for over a decade. Our guides happened across this tiny operation when doing the initial trip research, met the family and decided it would be good to bring our guests to meet these amazing people and hear their story, while also tasting great wine, petting their goats, taking in their views—all mid-route on a great ride through the Pope Valley. In a perfect world, these are the types of places we want to take our guests—to have experiences they couldn’t have on their own, and to see a place through the eyes of the people who live there.
BL: Can you change your own flat? Tune your own bike? etc.
RF: Yes and yes—all of the guides have to pass a mechanic certification test so being able to do this stuff is required! I don’t always have the tools or the expertise for the more complex repairs—I won’t be rebuilding a shifter anytime soon—but I can do most things that are required for road and cross bike maintenance.
BL: Your favorite Trek Travel trip?
RF: The trip I usually recommend (to active cyclists) is our Bryce & Zion trip. It takes you to see some of the most extraordinary landscapes in the country—the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the beautiful remote desert around Boulder, Utah (the last place in the lower 48 to receive its mail by mule), the unique and impressive amphitheater of the Bryce Canyon hoodoos, and the stunning, sheer walls of Zion Canyon. It’s an amazing week in the red rock desert and an unforgettable week on a bike.
BL: Your elevator pitch about Trek Travel trips?
RF: A lot goes into planning and executing a Trek Travel trip: 1) Finding the best rides, the best places to stay, and the off-the-beaten path things that make travel worthwhile. 2) Having a great bike to ride and a van to pick you up when you want a break. 3) Hiring a guide to show you where to go and tell you about their experiences in the region. Unless you happen to have a great friend with lots of time, a guest house, a fleet of spare bikes, and a support vehicle, you probably will spend a lot of time and effort to go on a great, stress-free cycling trip to a specific area. As an alternative, you can go on one of our trips and have everything set up for you—just book your plane ticket and pack your bag—and we do the rest. You’ll never have to find out what a pain it is to fit your bike in one of those cases.
BL: Biggest “Oh-No Moment” on a Trek Travel trip you’ve been on or involved with?
RF: There was that time when we thought a lightning storm was going to prevent us from descending off L’Alpe d’Huez after the stage finish in 2014 (the storm miraculously parted and went around the mountain)… Or that fun moment when the turbo went out on the TT van (after just having the van fully serviced) on Day 1 of a sold-out trip at the start of a four-hour drive (hello, emergency box truck rental). If you do this long enough, you will have plenty of these. The trick, the hope, the goal anyway, is to always make sure the show goes on.
BL: One of the reasons Trek Travel exists is because you believe the world is best seen from the seat of a bike. Give us your best “view from a bike seat” moment or memory.
RF: It has to be climbing any of the classic mountain roads during the Tour de France, right before a stage. The sides of the roads are crammed with crazy cycling fans and roads themselves are packed with people of all sorts on every kind of bike—everyone is there to see their heroes and watch history unfold. You can watch the race coverage on TV but nothing does justice to the energy in the air before the racers come through.
BL: For a supported bike trip first-timer what trip do you recommend? For a seasoned bike traveler, what do you suggest?
RF: For the first-timer, I would suggest our California Wine Country Long Weekend trip. Travel to and from the region is pretty straightforward, and the time and financial commitment is less than the week-long trips. The wine country is a great place to be guided around too—there are a lot of hidden spots that may be your favorite memory from the trip that you would ride right past on your own. It’s a great way to find out if a group trip suits your traveling style without biting off a whole week.
For the seasoned bike traveler, I recommend the Asheville to Highlands. This region is more off the beaten path of guided bike travel (only a handful of operators have trips to the area currently), but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the greatest place to ride that you may never have thought about. It’s a bike-, creative food-, and beer-lover’s paradise that’s perfect for the seasoned bike traveler who’s been on several trips already and is looking for a fresh, different type of destination.
BL: You must be a pro packer for trips like this. What packing tips can you give a would-be Trek traveler?
RF: Friends, bring your saddle. If you have one you like to ride, that is the saddle you should bring on your trip. Even the greatest saddle in the world, well-suited for your anatomy, will probably have a little break-in time on your sitbones, and that’s not something you want to work through on your vacation.
Behind every great Trek Travel trip is a trip designer that has spent countless hours handcrafting the most perfect experience from start to finish. For our new collection of mountain bike trips, that person is Tony Ferlisi. A guide for Trek Travel since 2006, Tony drew upon his years of experience in the field when he designed our trips to Peru, Iceland, Whistler and Switzerland.
Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
I’m originally from Jacksonville, Florida. It was a great place to grow up but after college, I yearned for something different. At 22, I moved to Jackson, Wyoming, worked at a resort hotel in Teton Village and fell in love with the west. Soon after moving to Jackson, I met Mark Thomsen, our Trek Travel marketing manager. He was a bellman at the hotel at the time. In addition to working together, we climbed, skied and drank beers together. One summer, he got a job with Trek Travel. We kept in touch that year while he guided at the Tour de France, in the Alps and other spots. All along, I was discovering that the hotel management career track wasn’t something I was inspired to pursue. I asked Mark about my chances of becoming a guide and at his behest, I applied. That following March, I put the few things I owned in storage and started with Trek Travel. I’ve been with Trek Travel since 2006 but took the years of 2010-2012 to attend graduate school in Idaho, work as a Wilderness Ranger with the US Forest Service and run a program with a small conservation non-profit in Wyoming. I returned to Trek Travel full-time in 2013 and have been guiding since.
How do you spend your off-season?
I call Lander, Wyoming home and typically dedicate a good chunk of my off-season to being there. Chopping wood for the woodstove is a daily activity (warm yourself twice!), cooking, spending time with friends, reading and skiing are a big part of those few months. I’ve spent considerable time the past few winters riding my mountain bike in Moab, Utah, Sedona, Arizona and Southern California, but regardless of the activity or location, the off-season is a rejuvenating time for all guides at Trek Travel.
What is your favorite trip you’ve ever guided and why?
I draw consistent inspiration in my life from the ancient landscapes of the Colorado Plateau. I’ve had the opportunity to guide there, more specifically in southwestern Utah for over 10 years with Trek Travel. The privilege of being able to witness the reactions and responses of our guests as they ride across those vast, remote landscapes of Escalante, Bryce and Zion canyon country brings me renewed joy every single day I go to work there. When some aspect of that place resonates with one of my guests or a co-guide, I know that I belong there.
Is there an especially memorable story from the road that you find yourself telling again and again?
Too many to count. One in particular comes to mind that folks seem to enjoy hearing, except for my mother. Guiding in Glacier National Park years ago, I had a day off and decided to hike to a lake I’d heard amazing things about. On the hike, alone of course, I encountered a grizzly bear on the trail. If I hadn’t looked up, I probably would have walked right into him. I thought my time was up. Long story short, I’m still here.
Tell us about your best WOW.
This past fall, Zack Jones and I guided a private trip in California Wine Country. Most of that trip takes place up in Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Beautiful, super unique country. In casual conversation, a few guests mentioned that they had never been to the Pacific Coast. Zack and I decided that we had to do something about that. After a quick morning brainstorm, we scrapped the original ride. As a group, we rode out along the Russian River to the Pacific Coast Highway and north to Bodega Bay (accompanied by a stout tailwind), ate lunch at a crab shack right on the Salmon Creek estuary overlooking the ocean. To cap it off, we loaded up bikes after lunch and drove everybody back to taste wine at one of their favorite wineries. It was pretty awesome.
You recently took on the role of Trip Designer, creating our new mountain bike collection. What is your process in designing a trip?
With the trips that we’ve designed for our mountain bike collection, we took an already outstanding product provided by Big Mountain Bike Adventures and re-shaped it a bit. This involved a few specific trip itinerary changes to reflect our Trek Travel standards as well as creating an entire marketing and guest services platform. Everything from arranging pre and post trip logistics to how we would present these new trips to the world. There’s a creative element to trip design that I really enjoy. From beginnings as a sketch on a paper napkin to a full-color spread on our website, witnessing the growth of a brand new trip is pretty exciting.
How has your guiding experience influenced your role as a trip designer?
I think about it like this: My friend and housemate Mark builds furniture. I think we’ve probably had three different kitchen tables in the time we’ve lived together. He builds one. Learns through the process of building. We eat at that table for a year. Maybe it’s a little too tall. It blocks the kitchen door a little too much. He builds and replaces it with another, taking into account a year of feedback and the lessons he learned from building the first one. Same process again. All along, he gains a better understanding of what makes a good table, not only for our house but for any house it lives in. As a guide, you quickly gain a keen sense of understanding what works and what doesn’t in the field. We always encourage our guests to provide us with feedback while we’re on the trip. Often times, they’ll offer thoughts on what might be done differently and why. All this feedback carries equal weight when it comes to making decisions to refine the details of our trips. After years of receiving feedback and tweaking trips from my guide role, I’m really confident in my ability to identify trends and nuances that make designing a trip from the ground up much simpler.
What excites you most about Trek Travel’s new partnership with Big Mountain Bike Adventures?
We’re thrilled about this new partnership. In teaming up with Big Mountain Bike Adventures, we now have the opportunity to take the Trek Travel level of service and meld it with the logistical expertise of one of the world’s preeminent mountain bike guiding companies in some of the most sought-after destinations on the planet. There’s some really exciting things to come from this.
Whistler, Switzerland, Iceland or Peru. Pick one and tell us why.
I knew you would ask this question. Not an easy one. I appreciate open space. Coming to the realization that you are in on your bike in a truly wild place is intoxicating for me. All of these regions provide for that but something about Iceland is a little different. Riding between remote backcountry huts is a pretty surreal experience. The adventure here extends far beyond Iceland’s awesome trails.
We believe the world is best seen from the seat of a bike. Tell us about your best view from a bike seat.
There was a light post just down the road from the house I grew up in. When I was just a little guy, my mom only allowed me to ride my bike as far as that post before I had to turn around. The day that she told me that I could ride past that old light post, my world grew 1000%. It was all in front of me now. Those childhood dreams of whatever laid beyond that light post are the realities that I see today from the seat of my bike. Subalpine Crested Butte singletrack, remote stretches of Montana highway, the Lander dirt jump park or the grocery store parking lot. Pretty good views.
“The Lesic Dimitri Palace was not only one of the most memorable hotels I have ever stayed in, but also one of the most luxurious. With each residence having a different theme based on Marco Polo’s journey along the Silk Road, we had a blast showing each other our meticulously-designed spaces.”
– Lindsay Juley, Travel Coordinator at Trek Travel
The Lešić Dimitri Palace stands within the heart of the old town of Korčula, with a refined elegance that represents the rich history and culture of its destination. Celebrating the marriage between old and new, this boutique property has just five unique and spacious suites. They were designed by an Asian-Croatian team of architects and interior designers and inspired by Korčula’s famous resident, Marco Polo, and his travels along the Silk Road. Now restored and adapted as a first-class hotel, the buildings of the Lešić-Dimitri Palace originally evolved as part of Korčula’s medieval urban matrix.
Towards the end of the seventeenth century, the aristocratic Lešić family, local landowners prominent in trade and commerce in Korčula, began to acquire a number of contiguous properties in town in order to create a prestigious urban residence. By systematically merging six buildings that lay in two back-to-back rows, the basis for a prestigious urban palace was obtained. The separate properties date back to the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, and three more floor levels were later added to accommodate the family’s needs and reflect its significant social position. While the simple forms of these late medieval cottages have substantially survived to the present, the Palace itself displays the more sophisticated revisions and decorative detail characteristic of the later eighteenth century.
By the time of Napoleonic rule in the early nineteenth century, the buildings were suffering neglect. Ill-suited to the needs of more modest family living, the buildings were put to public use. For a period, part of the property was leased as a school, while part was given over to occupation by a large number of tenants. Finally, the Palace stood empty. It’s future was unsure. Soundly constructed and secure, the buildings’ structural masonry did not suffer from this abandonment. Timber elements were less fortunate and without proper maintenance roofing spars, floor and ceiling beams, windows and doors were all considerably damaged. The old cottage properties were left roofless and the space within their walls was used for a long time as a garden.
From this depressing and uncertain state the Lešić-Dimitri Palace was rescued in 2000 when the complex was purchased by a new owner. By 2008, following a necessarily prolonged period of painstaking survey work, archival research, architectural intervention and high quality craftsmanship, the restoration and adaptation of the Palace was largely complete. Not only do the buildings now provide tourist accommodation of the highest category, but an important part of Korčula’s unique urban fabric has been secured to be enjoyed by Korčulani and visitors alike. In developing this new residential accommodation, the existing spatial organization of the Palace has been stringently respected. Each floor is a single large apartment, lavishly appointed with everything needed for relaxed modern living. The cottages are being adapted to house a restaurant, bar and health spa.
The restoration of the Palace maintains the building’s historical detail. Existing structural masonry and ornamental stonework are harmonious with more contemporary elements. And while the historic townscape scale continues to be respected, smooth rendered walls subtly but clearly differentiate the old from the new.
STAY AT LESIC-DIMITRI PALACE ON TREK TRAVEL’S CROATIA BIKE TOUR»
When your job title is “Cycling Guide,” it’s no more descriptive than handing someone a business cared that reads, “Jack of All Trades.” For Jessica Singerman, tour guide is a catchall for a variety of endeavors including mother, artist, yoga instructor, cyclocross racer, and trip designer for Trek Travel.
Tell us your story. How did you end up at Trek Travel?
In 2005, I was teaching art at the University of Delaware and working at a bike shop where I spotted a Trek Travel catalog. I had done some self-supported bike touring, but I didn’t know companies like Trek Travel existed. I found the company website and saw they were looking to hire guides. I grew up abroad, have done a lot of traveling, and love riding–it looked like a dream job! I put my application together and went through the grueling hiring process. Lo and behold, I got the job!
When did you begin cycling?
I got around by bike as a kid–it was the ultimate freedom. I remember riding my bike across town to the local swimming hole every day in the summer. But I didn’t get the bug until the end of college, when my roommate and I went mountain biking on a whim. We were totally unprepared for what we got ourselves into, and I remember the elation after that first ride in the woods. It sparked something in me, and I kept riding my bike all summer and into autumn as I started grad school. I told myself that if I rode that bike all winter, I’d earn myself a new road bike. Sure enough, I walked into a shop toward the end of the winter and found a tiny road bike just my size. I eventually started racing on the road, then mountain, then eventually cyclocross, where I met my husband. I was hooked.
Tell us about your best travel adventure.
When my husband and I lived in Australia, during the second trimester of my pregnancy, we made a trip to New Zealand’s South Island, and spent ten days hiking and boating together. The glacier hiking on Fox Glacier blew my mind. Between the experience of the glacier and the feeling of crampons on ice, I loved it. We also went on an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound. Even if I got seasick, the lush cliffs and waterfalls of the Sound were gorgeous, and dining and sleeping on the boat was super fun. It was our last vacation before we had our son a few months later. Maybe knowing that made the holiday all the sweeter. Either way, we had a blast.
Tell us about your best day on a bicycle.
There are too many to count! I can honestly say that for me, any ride is a good one. Biking changed my life and I’m grateful that it helped me find my way – while sometimes getting lost too! I love riding with friends as well as on my own. I love super challenging rides with searing lungs and screaming legs. And I also love a day of meandering in the woods, stopping for leisurely snacks and chatting with friends.
How has guiding influenced your role as a trip designer?
As a guide, you see what people genuinely enjoy and what experiences truly impact guests. You notice what it is about hotels that make them special – the passion with which people work, the extra attention, the super luxurious touches, or the renowned restaurant. It’s those experiences in travel–the ones that change you as a person–that I’m most interested in when I design a trip. I work to balance riding with cultural experiences and downtime so guests have time to let it all soak in.
What is your favorite vacation spot and what makes it a unique destination?
My favorite vacation spot is anywhere in the mountains. If I can scramble over rocks or on a dirt path with friends and family, I’m happy. Camping or in a simple mountain house, cooking together, chatting, making things, reading by a fire, and crisp sunny days. That’s bliss.
What advice would your give our readers when planning a vacation?
I prefer to stay in one place for some time to get a feel for the life there, rather than jamming as much as possible into a holiday. My husband and I have a rule when we travel–to visit no more than one museum or site per day, and to allow ourselves time to stroll, sit in parks and cafés for hours, read, draw, and people watch. Before we go, we make a list of the things we want to do, write down opening days and times, and make a vague plan that includes maybe one site a day with some parks and restaurants we might want to check out in that area. We generally decide what we want to do each day over breakfast, and the plan almost always changes. We play things by ear and stay open to serendipity.
What are your top five must-dos or must-sees when traveling in Europe?
Wow, that’s a tough one. I’d say my three favorite cities are Paris, Venice and Prague. All three cities are beautiful: the architecture, the culture, and the energy. Tuscany is a wonderful place and very friendly for new travelers. The rolling hills and small villages are incredibly picturesque, the people are warm, and the food is easy to love. Last but not least, the Dolomites in the Italian Alps are hands down my favorite place. The landscape is visually stunning, the people are friendly, the riding and hiking are second to none, and the food is super tasty. It’s a bicultural region, having been fought over by Austria and Italy, so there’s a lot of history and multiple languages spoken. The region has something for everyone.
When Mac Tichenor, a close friend of Trek Travel, wanted to celebrate his birthday in style, he put together the guest list and we took care of the rest. What followed was a floating party, an unforgettable bike-n-barge vacation from Paris to Champagne. Together, Mac and nine of his closest friends cruised the Marne River and set a new bar for the ultimate birthday celebration.
What inspired you to take a bike and barge vacation?
The inspiration came from the Trek Travel trip designers. I presented them with a nascent idea, and, very creatively, they came up with a spectacular trip. Even after the idea was hatched, we weren’t certain what we were getting into. But our previous experience on a Trek Travel trip made us confident that it would be well done and fun, and our expectations were far surpassed.
Tell us about your favorite day of the trip.
It is really hard to pick a favorite. Each day had its own flavor, with different intensities of riding, different types of scenery, and different kinds of off-the-bike activities, all of which made each day interesting and exciting. But the first full day was probably the most memorable. Our group of 10 was already wowed by the elegance of our accommodations on the barge, the conviviality of its crew, and how our guides were almost giddy about the plans for the week. The excitement of starting off that first morning still sticks with me.
How does a bike and barge trip compare to a classic cycling vacation?
1. A big benefit was that we did not have to pack up and move out of our rooms for the whole week. After we departed the barge each morning on our bikes, it would motor on to the next port of call, where we would meet it at the end of the day. We had the same room but a different view every day.
2. The barge had a great bar, wine cellar, and an extraordinary chef. It was particularly nice to stay aboard after a long day of riding and be treated to a Michelin-quality meal.
3. When someone in our group didn’t want to ride on a given day, they had the option of staying on the barge to read and relax on deck during a pleasant trip down the Marne River.
What made the bike and barge trip a unique travel experience?
I think the true uniqueness of this trip was the melding of two activities, either one of which makes a great trip in itself – a Trek Travel bicycling adventure and a river barge excursion. It led to a confluence of magic ingredients: good friends, engaging and helpful guides, gorgeous scenery, great bikes, the novelty and unexpected luxuriousness of the barge experience, and some of the best food and wine in the world. The excitement and camaraderie generated among our group, our guides, and the crew grew over the week and made it especially enjoyable.
Why did you choose to celebrate your birthday with Trek Travel?
My wife and I had recently been introduced to bike touring on a Trek Travel trip to Vermont, which we loved. Some friends on that trip had been on Trek Travel trips in Europe that they raved about, so we filed away that idea. Somehow the idea of adding in the barge element surfaced, and the Trek Travel trip designers took it and ran with it.
Do you have an especially memorable story from the trip?
On our first full day of riding, our guides told us we would stop at a French country inn for lunch. That sounded fine, but we didn’t really have any idea what we were in for. It turned out to be a charming spot in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by an apple orchard, with a great outdoor dining area. We were fêted with too many courses to count of delicious food (for which we had built up big appetites by riding all morning). The meal lasted almost two hours and, after a brief recovery period (i.e. naps on the grass), we set out to ride it off and be ready for dinner. That day brought us to realize what a highly civilized experience was in store for us.
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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.
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.
These handpicked hotels provide relaxation and fun in a casual and comfortable environment. Delicious cuisine and great service mix perfectly for a memorable stay.
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.
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).
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).
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).
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).
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.
Explore beautiful destinations by bike, enjoy extra inclusions, savor delicious local cuisine, and enjoy the perfect mix of accommodations.
Enjoy a casual cycling vacation with fantastic routes and comfortable accommodations.
Train like the pros in some of their favorite riding destinations.
See the pros in action at the biggest cycling events of the year.
Tackle an epic adventure that takes you point-to-point across mountains, countryside, and more.
Enjoy a bike tour on your schedule with just your chosen travel companions.
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
