Williston, VT – Sept. 5, 2024 – VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers, leaders in active vacations for more than 50 years, today unveiled new tours for 2025.

From cycling through the British Isles and exploring medieval Portuguese villages to hiking the Swiss Alps and soaking up the rich history and cultures of northern Spain, each itinerary offers the perfect blend of active adventures that go deep into a specific region, allowing travelers to explore under their own power so they can truly experience the local culture. An added bonus: VBT guarantees access to e-bikes on 99% of itineraries, so guests can get the extra help they need to take in more of the great outdoors.

“Similar to this year, all signs indicate Europe will be highly sought after in 2025, which is why we are excited to introduce new itineraries across the continent to capitalize on this demand,” said Timo Shaw, President of Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations. “We know our guests enjoy learning about a destination through its people, history, culture and cuisine, and we've designed all of our itineraries to include hyperlocal, authentic, and meaningful experiences that truly connect them to the people and places they encounter along the way.”

VBT Bicycling Vacations and Country Walkers offer five active travel styles: Guided Walking and Self-Guided Walking (Country Walkers) and Guided Biking, Self-Guided Biking and Guided Bike & Boat (VBT Bicycling Vacations). All itineraries include multilingual trip leaders, local restaurants, and small, family-owned accommodations that exude the local culture in the most authentic ways.

The new tours complement a robust offering of over 101 itineraries to more than 29 countries in 2025 and include:

VBT Bicycling Vacations

England & Scotland: Lake District to Edinburgh (guided biking). Enjoy a cycling trip through England and Scotland far away from the crowds. With VBT's insider access to remote corners of the British Isles, you'll be led over hill and dale through some of the most coveted regions of England and Scotland, including the rugged, scenic Lake District, the remote and pristine expanse of Kielder Forest, and the sweeping vistas of the Honister Pass. Highlights include riding to the ancient Neolithic monument at Castlerigg Stone Circle, strolling atop Hadrian's Wall to see the excavations at Vindolanda Roman Fort & Museum, and savoring Scotland's national dish, haggis, accompanied by Scottish whiskey.  Starting at $5,595 for 7 days, per person, double occupancy (May - October). Enjoy a short preview of highlights from the tour here. Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of every tour participant to a local chapter of the Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association, ensuring walkers in the fells are able to receive help from mountain rescue teams if necessary.

Italy: Sardinia, Carloforte, Sulcis & Chia (self-guided biking). While other travel companies focus on Sardinia's heavily trafficked northeast seaboard, VBT offers an off-the-beaten-path itinerary with flexibility and support, focusing on the island's unsullied west coast instead of the usual tourist traps. VBT's local experts have plotted out an itinerary of unhurried coastal byways with little car traffic, with all the flexibility in the world to pedal at your own pace. Highlights include a ferry ride to San Pietro Island for a two-night stay in charming Caloforte, exploring Sant'Antioco Island's ancient archeological site at Sulci, and a stay in the seaside town of Torre dei Corsari near the beach with the tallest sand dunes in Europe.  Starting at $2,695 for 6 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water, an international organization providing access to clean drinking water and emergency supplies in water-challenged regions.

Italy: Umbria, Spello, Montefalco & Assisi (guided biking). VBT's deep Italian roots mean guests will enjoy the best biking experience along Umbria's most scenic, low-traffic cycling routes. Highlights include an epic spin through the “green heart” of Italy including the stunning hilltop city of Assisi and many hidden gems with authentic local flavor, the charming medieval village of Scheggino for black truffles and local olive oil tastings, exploring medieval Montefalco and Bevagna, tasting traditional dish torta al testo during a home-hosted lunch at a cozy agriturismo, savoring a delicious dinner with perfectly paired wines at a famous enoteca, and stays in gothic Spello and an authentic Italian castle near Perugia. Starting at $4,995 for 7 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive Impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Portugal & Spain Bike & River Cruise: Douro (guided bike & boat). On VBT's newest guided bike and boat tour through the Douro Valley River, guests unpack once and disembark to cycle the back roads and scenic countryside of Portugal and Spain.  Enjoy invigorating rides through historic fincas and small medieval villages, past lush vineyards and rural landscapes, including Marialva and its splendid 12th-century hilltop castle. Other highlights include tastings at an exclusive wine cellar in Pinhão, exploring the “Golden City” of Salamanca with its stunning cathedrals and ancient bridges, savoring fresh seafood and farm-to-table produce and cured meats, and luxuriating in the amenities of the intimate river cruise ship the MS Emerald Radiance. Starting at $7,095 for 8 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: VBT makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Country Walkers

Spain: Landscapes from the Camino de Santiago (guided walking). Soak up the rich history and cultures of northern Spain while exploring scenic local paths and highlights from the Camino de Santiago. Country Walker's team has selected from over 50,000 miles of trails lacing the Iberian Peninsula to curate the very best of this trail network. Starting in the heart of Basque Country, a walk along the Camino's Northen Way brings guests to the spectacular coastal scenery of Cantabria. Walk the most idyllic segments of the Camino's French Way, visiting the charming, thatched huts of O Cebreiro, tasting traditional Galician orujo, and exploring a local vineyard perched above the Ribeira Sacra Canyon. Enjoy a scenic slice of the Camino's Finisterre Way while walking among fragrant pines and eucalyptus into Santiago de Compostela, followed by an opulent evening at the incomparable Hostal dos Reis Católicos located on the Plaza del Obradoiro next to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Starting at $4,695 for 8 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: Country Walkers makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

Switzerland: Zurich, Lucerne & the Alps (guided walking). Country Walkers' newest walking tour of Switzerland includes Zürich, Lake Lucerne, and the best of the Swiss Alps to immerse guests in the alpine spirit. Highlights include an enchanting boat ride on Lake Lucerne; traveling by train, gondola, and cog rail past the famous peaks of Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger; hiking along rugged mountain ridges, stopping to appreciate sparkling waterfalls and fields of edelweiss and gentian; discovering the tradition of Swiss alpine cheese-making while hiking the famous “Cheese Trail” and stopping for a tasting at a local farm; and enjoying warm Swiss hospitality in traditional settings, where mouth-watering farm-to-table fare, luxurious spas and saunas, and the cheerful chorus of alphorns form the capstone of this epic walking adventure. Starting at $5,995 for 6 days, per person, double occupancy. Positive impact: Country Walkers makes a donation on behalf of each guest to Wine to Water.

For additional details and travel inspiration, visit www.vbt.com (or call 1-855-202-1008) or www.countrywalkers.com (or call 1-800-234-6900).

About Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling

For over 50 years, Country Walkers and VBT Bicycling Vacations have been providing active, experiential, and stunning travel experiences throughout the world. From their shared location in Williston, VT, the companies' unique adventures and insider access bring the beating heart of a destination to life with well-crafted itineraries for walking and biking vacations. A range of guided and self-guided options highlight local cuisine, authentic accommodations, and immersive cultural experiences. Country Walkers and VBT are recognized as leading providers of active vacations worldwide, having garnered countless awards including AFAR's “Traveler's Choice” Awards, Travel + Leisure's “World's Best” Awards, Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards and USA TODAY 10Best's “Readers' Choice Awards.” For more information, visit vbt.com and countrywalkers.com.

Media Contact:

Kathie Gonzalez, kathie@percepture.com