VBT Bicycling Vacations
Country Walkers
According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, the Top 5 New Year’s resolutions for 2014 were “Lose Weight”, “Getting Organized”, “Spend Less & Save More”,“Enjoy Life to the Fullest” and “Staying Fit and Healthy.” While the millions of Americans who make resolutions may feel that losing weight and enjoying life to the fullest is a paradoxical endeavor; we’d like to ask them—have you ever cycled for miles along the pristine waters of the Adriatic Sea while taking in the sights, smells and sounds of Croatia?
You’ve probably noticed a friend or coworker eating healthier or working out more than they usually do in order to make up for the excess calories and relaxation (well, inactivity is probably more precise) they anticipate encountering on their upcoming vacation. We’ve always wondered why the two have to be mutually exclusive. Why can’t you relax, eat amazing food, drink wine and stay fit and healthy at the same time? The answer is, you can.
This brings us to small-group active vacations, perhaps the hottest new trend in travel. The “Wellness Tourism” market increased its value by $55 billion dollars from 2013 to 2014 alone; and the Adventure Travel Trade Association has stated that adventure travel worldwide has grown at an average of 65 percent per year since 2010. These numbers clearly support an evolving mindset that living healthy doesn’t mean you have to be confined to a sterile gym environment or a boring treadmill in your basement for a part of your day. You can venture out and discover all the amazing places that you’ve always dreamed of while still staying true to your resolve.
You see, when you take an active vacation—picture yourself biking through acres of gorgeous French vineyards or walking ancient footpaths in the Andes or strolling along the cobbled streets of Old-World European cities— not only do you see the world up-close and personal, you do so in a very eco-friendly way by leaving a smaller carbon footprint. This can’t be achieved by sitting in the back of a tour bus or visiting whatever tourist-laden port town that your cruise ship docks in for the night. The freedom of exploring new places, in the moment and at your own pace, is what makes active travel so rewarding.
Plus, as more and more travelers are seeking a more authentic cultural experience that they may not be able to organize on their own; active tour companies like VBT are able to provide engaging and unique itineraries that give guests the enriching cultural experience that they crave. Our signature discovery moments are designed to immerse travelers in the daily life of each destination through activities like home-hosted meals, wine tastings, demonstrations from local craftsmen, cooking classes, and guided tours of historical sites with local experts. So instead of spending your hard-earned money and vacation time lazily sprawled out alongside some homogeneous hotel’s pool, how about hopping on a bike or going off the beaten path to discover fascinating cultures and magnificent landscapes. After all, isn’t that why we travel to begin with?
VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations has been bringing its travelers closer to local life for over 40 years on our award-winning active vacations. Our low prices include many meals, all accommodations, complimentary use of VBT bikes and walking poles, expert local Trip Leaders, a support van, and round-trip international airfare from over 30 gateway cities. VBT’s commitment to consistently providing excellent vacations at an unbeatable value was once again recognized when we were voted as the #2 Tour Operator in the world in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2014 World’s Best Awards. That makes five consecutive years we were voted on to the prestigious list. If you would like to request a free VBT catalog please click here. If you would like to reserve a vacation or speak with one of our Tour Consultants, please call 800-245-3868. They are available Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 6:30pm EST and Saturdays from 10:00am to 3:00pm EST.