We are honored to announce that Shape Magazine has named Trek Travel a 2018 Healthy Travel Award Winner and a Best Activity Outfitter.
“This bicycling outfitter offers custom trips or preplanned tours. Popular options include a 42-day cycle from Santa Barabara to Myrtle Beach and a multisport tour of Iceland. The boutique hotels along the way and the first-class bikes are the cherries on top.”
We are honored to announce that Shape Magazine has named Trek Travel a 2018 Healthy Travel Award Winner and a Best Activity Outfitter.
“This bicycling outfitter offers custom trips or preplanned tours. Popular options include a 42-day cycle from Santa Barabara to Myrtle Beach and a multisport tour of Iceland. The boutique hotels along the way and the first-class bikes are the cherries on top.”
What makes a trip with Trek Travel a “cycling vacation of a lifetime”? Is it the best bikes? The best gear? The best guides? The ability to make each day your own? Well, it’s all the above, and then some.
Our guides and trip designers work to build strong local connections, which allows us to make each trip a unique experience. Last month, I was fortunate enough to witness one of these experiences in Scotland.
We finished our first day’s ride and arrived back at the Deeside Inn in the royal highland town of Ballater. When you walk in the hotel, you feel that you’ve stepped back into the 19th century. The hotel is complete with traditional tartan patterns, overstuffed sofas and an inviting fireplace.
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As we enjoyed drinks before dinner, our guides went over the next day’s route. They had received word from the hotel that Queen might be participating in tomorrow’s parade down Bridge Street (the main street). We’d have to slightly alter the ride to accommodate the parade at noon. The group agree to the alterations, so we could catch a glimpse of the Queen passing by in her Rolls Royce.
After dinner, one of our guides, Will, reached out to his local contact to confirm the timing of the Royal Parade. Will was quickly informed that the Queen was not confirmed to be a part of the scheduled parade. The Queen would, however, be inspecting the Royal Regiment of Scotland as part of her summer residence at Balmoral Castle. Will took down details of the Queen’s inspection and quickly planned out a new route.
By morning, our guide team was ready to go with a new route. They shared the revised option with the rest of the guests. Everyone was excited for a quick out and back, with just enough time to get past the road closures. We also had the option to ride again in the afternoon.
The road was scheduled to close at 11:00 am. We finished our ride out to Glenmuick, and passed the police road block near the back of the group without any problem. I knew there were three more guests and another guide behind me. Our group joined about twenty others waiting to catch a glimpse of the Queen. We chatted with some of the other onlookers to find out that most happened to be passing by when they saw others gathering in front of the gates and stopped. No one I spoke with planned to see the Queen.
After about an hour of waiting, we were greeted by the sounds of the Scottish National Anthem played loudly by the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment moved into position and stood patiently. Less than 15 minutes later, a regal purple Rolls Royce pulled up to the gate. The door opened, and a small woman opened the car door and shook hands with local royalty from the region.
Everyone stood in awe as the Queen slowly walked closer to us and began her inspection of the Royal Regiment. The commander walked her around patiently as she looked over the regiment, including inspection of Lance Corporal Cruachan IV, the regiment’s Shetland Pony mascot.
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It was all over in less than 30 minutes, but it was undoubtedly an experience that will stick with each guest for a very long time. After the Queen stepped back into her Rolls Royce I sent photos to my coworkers, friends, and family back in the U.S. I even sent a picture to a friend from Edinburgh, who was shocked, as she had never seen the Queen in person. One of our guides made the joke, she was dressed in Trek Travel blue for our group.
While not every trip is going to include a visit from the longest reigning monarch, each trip is going to stay with you for a lifetime. If you’re celebrating an anniversary, birthday, retirement, or other special occasion, make sure to let your Trip Consultant know when booking. We want to help make it extra special for you. Even if you’re just traveling on a fun filled vacation, our guides strive to make each trip unique and uncover exclusive experiences by tapping into their local network.
Explore the braes of Scotland
Like the hum of cicadas on a coffee farm at dusk, the buzz around Colombia has become almost deafening. Beat the crowds and hit the ground rolling on two wheels in this increasingly popular destination with luxury operator Trek Travel’s new six-day Colombia Bike Tour.
Calling the country “South American cycling heaven,” Trek takes riders through the Andes Mountains, the Cocora Valley, and the coffee region, tackling the kinds of long climbs that the pros train on, winding down quiet byways, breaking for day hikes, then perking up with coffee tastings. (Psst! You don’t have to bike to join. This trip welcomes non-riding friends and family of biking enthusiasts.) Scheduled departures leave in March and April, making this a great spring escape, but specialization is the name of the game with Trek: Contact them to arrange a trip on other dates. —From $3,899 per person, based on double occupancy, for six days.
What do you get when you combine the lightweight stability and comfort of the Domane with the superior safety and stopping power of disc brakes? A match made in cycling heaven.
Starting in 2019, we’re upgrading our fleet to feature the award-winning Domane SL 7 with Shimano Ultegra Disc brakes. Plus, it’s included in the trip price, because let’s be real, it isn’t the cycling vacation of a lifetime unless you have the industry’s best bike along for the ride.
So whether you’re pedaling the stunning sandstone canyons of Zion National Park or taking on Sa Calobra in Mallorca, part of what makes a cycling vacation great is the bike you’re riding. Nobody gets that more than us. The new Domane Disc is the kind that rides so exceptionally, you’ll want one for your own when the trip is done.
Experience the new Domane Disc in 2019
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If you’ve imagined yourself spending your days riding across the countryside, tackling pro-worthy climbs and banking the miles you need to get stronger. If you measure your free time in epic climbs and KOMs then Ride Camp is calling your name.
So how is this different from any other Trek Travel destination? Ride Camp is designed to take you beyond your typical day. To push your limits. To accomplish your training goals. You’ll pedal your way through pro-favorite destinations like Mallorca and Girona and tackle climbs like Sa Calobra, Caesars Head or Mount Figueroa.
A mix of guided and self-guided routes, Ride Camps focus on building your base miles for your cycling season or preparing for a big event. As a result, these trips focus on the physical dimension and not the site seeing incorporated into our other vacations. Guests also tend to be a little more self-sufficient than our ‘all-inclusive’ style trips.
You’ll take on each route with the support of our world class guides and industry-leading gear. But there’s a few specific things you can expect from a Ride Camp:
Trip accommodations are handpicked in the region’s best location, convenient to our postcard-worthy rides and equipped to handle the specific needs of cyclists.
A hearty, fueling breakfast will be provided every day to prepare you for the saddle time ahead. Nutritious roadside lunches will be available mid-ride to keep your legs charged, and casual group dinners will help you unwind. Looking for upscale dining options? See our luxury bike tours»
Discover the world from the saddle of your race-ready Trek Domane, guided over ribbons of tarmac by your Garmin Edge 1030. You’ll live like a pro and return in the shape of your life.
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To put it simply, you’re there to ride hard and kick butt. Our Trip Design Manager, Jenny, says it like this,
“Ride Camp gives guests the opportunity to experience incredible and challenging training rides in world-class cycling locations with like-minded cyclists. Get off the trainer and onto amazing routes in beautiful locations!“
Time to ride the way you’ve always wanted to, like it’s your job.
These trips combine days of hiking, biking and other sports, featuring detailed all-inclusive itineraries with first rate lodging, special local experiences like museum and winery tours, and they are fully guided and supported – your luggage is moved for you, routes are meticulously planned, and guides accompany the group (or your private party, as all these companies offer a bespoke option).
They go all over the world, from Africa to the Arctic, Southeast Asia to the American Southwest. Trek Travel has a fascinating Cuba “People to People” cultural immersion trip that melds cycling, hiking and even snorkeling in the famed Bay of Pigs.
Here, you’ll lavish in every luxurious touch, whether it’s taking a break on the rooftop pool with a panoramic view of palm trees and Pacific shoreline or treating your skin to a decadent treatment at the surreal spa. Even the facade tells a special story, with history dating back to the original 1925 hotel itself.
Our newest addition, this hotel may be called Hotel Californian, but is pure Santa Barbara from its trendy Funk Zone neighborhood location to its two signature restaurants. This is truly one of the most impressive, incredible hotel options we’ve ever offered. Will it make you fall in love with the city? No doubt. Will you want to leave and actually see the sights? That might be up for debate.
Settle into a magical mix of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and Moroccan flourishes, with modern touches from celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard.
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Take a day to relax at the rooftop pool or Spa Majorelle and discover the sublimity of one-of-a-kind spa treatments tailored to your personalized expression—an essential luxury along the path to wellness.
Classic meets contemporary at Hotel Californian’s signature Santa Barbara restaurant, Blackbird, featuring exquisite Mediterranean-influenced cuisine with an emphasis on Santa Barbara-sourced, hyper-seasonal ingredients. With the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, Blackbird offers a sleek, yet approachable and wholly unpretentious atmosphere with a pulse on contemporary Santa Barbara.
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Kick back and relax in Santa Barbara
One of the best jokes I’ve heard in a while is, “How do you know someone is a triathlete?” “They’ll tell you within the first five minutes of meeting them.” Fulfilling that stereotype in this post–I have been competing in one or two sprint races a year for the last four years, and I love them. Prior to starting with Trek Travel, most of the riding I had done was relatively flat and easy to train for the relatively flat and easy 15-mile rides nestled lovingly between a quarter mile swim and a 5k.
I knew a few days after starting my new job that I would be going on the Crater Lake and Oregon Cascades trip, and although I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience a Trek Travel trip in an area of the country I’d never been before, looking at the daily mileage and elevation profiles I knew I would have a challenge ahead of me.
While I managed to complete some training the in the few weeks before my trip, I knew that a couple of the rides would be far and away the hardest riding of my life. Day 1 did not disappoint, a huge day of 34 miles and a 5,000 foot elevation gain around the rim of Crater Lake. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and although I definitely struggled at some points, the sense of accomplishment I felt after I completed the ride with the support of our two awesome guides was incredible. That feeling of awe and pride continued for the entire week, riding through amazing and ever-varying scenery. We pedaled through ancient lava fields, past glacial streams and down a switchbacky mountain pass descent, terrain that was the perfect way to challenge myself every day in a beautiful setting. And sitting down to a wonderful meal, with interesting people who quickly became new friends, added to the magic of the experience.
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Going on a Trek Travel trip was a formative part of how I look at my job every day, thinking of how we can create “wow” moments for every guest, on every trip. It was also a formative experience in that I learned I can be a little unsure and more than a little unprepared and still make it through with a sense of achievement and motivation to continue to improve in a new hobby or sport. It’s all about getting a little bit better, every day.
Take on Crater Lake
We’ve gone and overhauled some of our most popular adventures with some extra-special additions, moments and features. Whether it’s wine, luxury or lavish itineraries, you’ll find more of what you love, and more magic in every moment.
See all new 2019 trips
Close Encounters of the Wildlife Kind in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Growing up, I was a bit of an animal fiend (okay, I still am). When asking for a puppy every Christmas and birthday did not work, I had every small animal I could sell my parents on, from gerbils to rabbits. Spending summers camping in the many Wisconsin state parks, I had a blast catching minnows off the beach, fishing, and exploring the many trails in hopes of running into a friendly deer or raccoon (spoiler alert: friendly raccoons do not exist). So, to say I was ecstatic to join our Yellowstone and Grand Tetons trip this July, a destination that always makes the top 5 list of National Parks for wildlife spotting, is an understatement.
Our adventure began with a bike ride to the Jackson Lake Lodge, which has an unobstructed view of the Teton Range and Willow Flats, an area prime for wildlife spotting. It did not take long for us to spot our first animal of the trip–a moose–while we watched the sun creep below the mountains.
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Our second day of the trip began bright and early, with a day trip into Yellowstone National Park in safari-style vehicles. It became quite apparent within a half hour of our excursion that there is a valid safety reason we do not bike within the park itself. As our guide, Paul, started to explain how we likely will not see a grizzly bear due to their dwindling population within the park, we began to slow down for a traffic jam ahead. It was what they call a “bear jam”, due to there being, yes, a grizzly bear, within 40 yards of the road.
With our safari vehicle capabilities, we opened our roof hatches to get unobstructed views of the massive predator without putting ourselves in danger. It was clear we were in the bear’s territory, and that it did not feel threatened by our presence. We were each provided with a set of binoculars to get a better look at the bear, which spent about an hour digging around in the tall grass.
Throughout the day, the park continued to provide us with up-close viewings of bison, elk, and mule deer. With a spotting scope in tow, we were all able to get telescopic views of herds of bison with their babies. Paul knew exactly where the hotspots were, and the other cars gave us further hints as to where to get the money shots.
As our day within the park came to an end, we had one more amazing encounter with a black bear crossing the road (there’s a knock-knock joke in their somewhere).
Though Yellowstone National Park had the highest concentration of wildlife we saw all week, our sightings did not stop there. Throughout each day’s ride, we witnessed mule deer grazing right off the bike path in Grand Teton National Park, two bald eagles fighting over food, a fox carrying a mouthful of food, a moose and its baby on our way up the tram in Teton Village, ospreys in their massive nests, and a river otter playfully swimming parallel to our boat while whitewater rafting on the Snake River.
Absolutely go on our Yellowstone and Grand Tetons trip for the riding. It is stunningly beautiful, and relatively mild in terms of the hills (my dream). However, don’t forget about the other reason that our National Park trips are so popular–the wildlife encounters that you will remember forever.
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Experience Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons
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
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
