Butterfield & Robinson —

Founded in 1966, this award-winning company has built a solid reputation by offering small group and private luxury cycling tours, walking tours, and a variety of mulitsport trips. B&R guests enjoy the comfort of incredible lodgings with rich histories and unique features (castles, country manors, monasteries, palaces), and amazing culinary experiences – a mix of top restaurants and authentic meals at local homes.

B&R caters to everyone from the super athletic to the couch potato. Their cycling tours in Europe even have electric-assist bikes for those who need a boost riding uphill.  All equipment is included, from bikes and helmets to walking sticks, so guests can focus on the experience at hand. An integral part of your B&R cycling trip is the support van. B&R guides and their well-stocked van make regular sweeps of the day’s route, and can whisk you back to the hotel at a moment’s notice. Meet the van at one of the pre-arranged rendezvous spots or simply hail it on its sweep, whether for snacks, storage or other needs.

B&R also offers a variety of trip styles.  Their Bistro trips offer the same walking and biking routes in a more casual style. Instead of five-star hotels, four-star hotels are used and there are more independent meals. On Culinary trips, food is the focus with visits to markets, cooking classes, access to growers and farmers plus meals prepared by local renowned chefs. They even have Family trips with added experiences just for kids and alone time built in for parents.

Their Self-guided trips have pre-determined routes but no set dates and no guide, so travelers have more flexibility when exploring each region by biking or walking. Their Walking trips are designed for walking and hiking and are chosen to reflect the beautiful scenery of each region.