Freewheeling Adventures

Slovakia – the Czech Republic’s poorer partner in the days of Czechoslovakia - came out of the Velvet Revolution, quiet and mysterious. She removed the Eastern bloc uniform to reveal a refreshingly sincere, kind place, so far unencumbered by many trappings of the Western World.

You will begin in Hungary just outside Budapest. After visiting Esztergom’s massive cathedral, the historic seat of the Hungarian church, you will cross the Danube River and enter Slovakia, stopping at Banska Stiavnica to fathom its legacy of mining and minting. You will visit Kremnica, with its castle and seven peaks, and the village of Vlkolinec to see the largest undisturbed collection of traditional architecture in Slovakia.

Climb from there into the thrilling terrain of the Low Tatras before an unforgettable descent to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska where the Stations of the Cross end at an imposing Bernardine monastery. The final stop before Krakow is the awe-inspiring salt mine at Wieliczka where an intricately sculptured salt cathedral attests to generations of workers who toiled and worshipped underground. This is a land where folk traditions have survived foreign attempts at dominance, to which a plethora of castles and watchtowers pay testament, but whose people have maintained their welcoming spirit!

There is a fresh feeling of clean air, water, and mind when you ride the less-traveled moorlands and coastlines of Scotland’s dramatic north. The isolated and profoundly scenic landscape, the ineffably polite and friendly inhabitants, and the echoes of the past among the ancient castles and Iron Age ruins will leave you with a deep appreciation for Scotland, as well as memories for a lifetime.

This challenging adventure starts in Inverness on the northern end of Loch Ness, where you can keep an eye out for Nessie in case she rises from the dark and mysterious depths. Riding north along the west coast you will pass sandy stretches of land that sometimes resemble the Caribbean more than northern Scotland. In Durness you will glimpse Tolkien’s middle earth, and the highest sea cliffs in Britain.

Pedal through John O’ Groats, the northernmost community in Britain, before veering south and plunging deep through the interior of the highlands all the way back to Inverness, thus completing the beautiful North Coast 500 loop. The combination of charming villages, gorgeous landscapes, and abundant wildlife on this adventure is likely to inspire your life-long love affair with Scotland, if it hasn’t taken hold already!

The Laurentian Mountains north of Montreal provide a gorgeous scenic backdrop for a ride through valleys and forests, past fresh water lakes and pristine rivers. On this ride, you can savour the scenery without having to challenge the big hills!

Le P’tit Train du Nord is a restored rail bed converted into a bike path that cuts through the heart of the Laurentians. It reaches north from Montreal through Mont Tremblant and well into rural Québec, from where you will descend toward Ottawa, enjoying the delightful bike paths through La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau and the splendor of Gatineau Park.

This adventure takes you through many picturesque villages, and includes many opportunities to swim in gorgeous lakes and refreshing rivers as you cycle from one unique inn to the next. It finishes by following the delightfully traffic-free bike routes into Gatineau Park. We recommend planning extra time in Ottawa at the end of your adventure to take in some of the capital’s world-class museums, galleries, festivals, restaurants, and performances. This ride in Canada’s heartland connects two vibrant cities with a week of riding in bucolic beauty, with stops in very charming villages. We look forward to sharing both the peace and the excitement with you.

 

Austria waltzes seamlessly from vibrant cities to pristine wildernesses, offering the best of both worlds. Begin with a meeting in the capital city of Vienna, home of some of history’s most prominent contributors to art and intellect: Beethoven, Gustav Klimpt, and Sigmund Freud.

Follow the Salza and Enns Rivers to the gorgeous Austrian Lake District, visit the UNESCO heritage site of Hallstatt by ferryboat, and enjoy a 360-degree vista on Katrin Alm after a cable car ride and hike. Finish in Salzburg, the City of Mozart. If your schedule allows, both Vienna and Salzburg warrant extra time to discover classical music performances, fascinating museums, and baroque architecture.

The isolated culture of rural Newfoundland and the stark unspoiled beauty of the landscapes make this an exceptional experience with unparalleled scenery and visits to truly special places.

The adventure starts and finishes in “the Battery”, a downtown area packed with so many lively spots that nightlife is vividly entertaining. You will start with an introductory afternoon of exploring Signal Hill by foot before venturing west to ride the perimeters of two beautiful peninsulas whose coastal sites include Bell Island, Grates Cove, Ryan Premises, and the astounding village of Trinity, about whose history you will learn as you walk with a theater troupe.

You will probably see whales and icebergs and will appreciate the unspoiled feel of the vast landscapes here. The past two centuries of isolation have preserved a distinctive accent, believed by linguists to be a relatively unchanged Elizabethan dialect. It is very easy to strike up conversation with the friendly folk who live here but whether you understand or are simply bemused by their colourful colloquialisms remains to be seen!

The Bay of Fundy has tides as high as 50 feet - the highest in the world - and teems with so much life that hundreds of whales gather here to feed every summer.

This adventure follows quiet roads around its perimeter on the Evangeline & Glooscap Trails, and gives you options to explore its nooks and crannies in exciting ways. Begin with a hike along the Acadian dykes built to protect rich farmland from the tremendous tides. Float on inner tubes or swim in sun-warmed water near the small university town of Wolfville. Ride to a tiny harbour where you will see significant tidal change while you eat a lobster for lunch. If you like, you can choose to hike to a cliff-top view over the currents and whirlpools below, and descend to explore pristine beaches where agates and sparkling amethysts are the gifts of the wave-wracked rocks.

Cycle to Parrsboro on the Glooscap Trail, where legends tell of the Great Chief Glooscap’s magic. The benevolent hero of the Mi’kmaq tribe is said to have taught them everything they know about hunting, fishing, herbs, and plants. In the legends, Glooscap is credited with changing monsters into harmless animals, and adapting the landscape to be more favourable. From Parrsboro, ride to spectacular look-offs, and hike to waterfalls cascading off the Cobequid Mountains. Near Cape Chignecto Park, you can ride to each end of the park trail, and if inclined, can hike into the park or paddle seakayaks to the spectacular Three Sisters, before a nice, long final ride to the Joggins Fossil Cliffs, recently elected to the UNESCO list.

This adventure takes you to less-visited parts of Nova Scotia, and teaches you about one of the natural world’s greatest phenomena.

This bike tour in the countryside north of London presents the large skies of Britain’s sunniest coast. With ancient cathedrals, English hamlets, Victorian buildings, unspoilt beaches, beautiful countryside, and protected forests and heathland it is no wonder that the royal family chooses to vacation here.

It is conveniently close to London in an area saturated with history, and beautifully situated in gorgeous countryside. The dining is some of England’s best, and the pretty routes are well-salted with excellent pubs.

You will ride the Norfolk coast, stop to enjoy views over the English Channel from a Victorian pier, visit the queen's residence at Sandrigham Estate, ride through the unique landscape of the Norfolk Broads, and explore the colleges at Cambridge – the second oldest university in the English-speaking world and a stronghold of intelligentsia. With the oldest arts festival in the country occuring during the spring, and the largest food and drink festival in autumn, there are ample reasons to visit this fascinating part of the world.

This stunning bicycle tour through the Loire Valley has it all: the finest examples of renaissance architecture, the rocky histories of the French monarchy and relaxing countryside riding filled with soaring sights, sumptuous smells and tantalizing tastes fit for royalty! Whether you want to cruise the river valley and enjoy the rolling hills or get lost in the labyrinth gardens and castle tapestries, there is truly something for all levels and tastes.

Beginning at the famous Château de Chambord, you will begin your journey through dense forests and rural country roads, along ancient river-banks and sculpted parks to the historic town of Blois, Joan of Arc’s base during her efforts against the British. From there you will follow the river through quaint farms and quiet vineyards to Amboise, a UNESCO world heritage site and home of da Vinci’s final dwelling place.

Wander the grounds of these amazingly rich areas, home to some of the most important historical figures. Smelling elaborate royal flower gardens, sitting in quiet, shaded cafes or watching workers tend 18th century castles, you will find yourself in awe with each new destination. You will cross the Valley East to West, hitting every major highlight along the way.

The cycling will be quite relaxed, but the van will support you the entire way if you’d like to just sit back and enjoy the scenery. The end of the trip will wind down away from the Loire River into France’s world-renowned rural cycling paradise. You will meander the quiet roads from village to village, visiting some of the most spectacular estates in the country. This trip’s colours, scents, and tastes enhance the sunshine magnificently, filling each day with the sensual pleasure that makes French exploring so rewarding.

Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island in named Canada’s #1 island by Travel & Leisure, and Canada’s best-kept secret by National Geographic. There are many attractions, and this ride shows you the three top ones. First of all, the Cabot Trail is one of the world’s greatest rides; one that all touring cyclists should have on their “must-ride” list! The beautiful coast – the most dramatic in Nova Scotia - meets the breathtaking highlands in ways that make you appreciate both to the fullest. The scenic magnificence of the paved trail can be really savoured and fully appreciated at the speed of your bicycle, while the landscape and the people may demonstrate to you why Nova Scotia’s name means New Scotland.

Secondly, the small town of Inverness now boasts two of the world’s best-rated golf courses, a fabulous long beach, and a unique whisky distillery nestled in the highlands on the way to the musical town of Mabou – home of the renowned Rankin Family, and the inviting Red Shoe Pub. Lastly, the new Celtic Shores Coastal Trail takes you on a traffic-free route along the Mabou River to the coast, then follows the shore, giving you many miles of uninterrupted views over the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The road is inland, and the views are all yours.

We begin at a refurbished salmon camp in the valley of the Margaree River, and circumnavigate the northern half of the island on the paved Cabot Trail for five days. If you like golf, you can choose to linger at any of three courses considered among the world’s best - Highland Links, Cabot Links, and Cabot Cliffs. You can also expand your rides onto beautiful wooded trails, or to find swimming holes beneath waterfalls. After completing the Cabot Trail loop, we progress to the traffic-free trail along Cape Breton’s western shore, from the musical highland village of Mabou through Port Hood and Judique along the Celtic Shores trail. Views over the water become frequent and magnificent as you approach the Canso Causeway. The cycling, although manageable by most cyclists (and van-supported for the rest!) includes some challenging sections – especially on day three with two 1400ft climbs. Combining such awe-inspiring scenery and out-of–the-way charm with comfortable inns and exceptional cuisine makes this ride an exquisite experience you simply have to add to your list!

Catalonia, home to beautiful Barcelona and the sharp spires of the Pyrenees holds a lot to attract the everyday cyclist. Wedged between mountainous peaks, the beaches of Valencia and the border with France and Andorra, Catalonia is dotted with medieval villages, hidden coves and spellbinding coastal rides. Taking advantage of the Vias Verde network – converted narrow-gauge rail beds that take intrepid cyclists from the volcanic slopes of Garrotxa to the rocky shores of the Costa Brava – you can glide past centuries-old cathedrals and groves of ancient oaks from the solitude of a cycling path. Hitting the rugged coast you’ll find yourself among the landscapes and forms that inspired the surrealist works of the one and only Salvador Dali. Catalonia is known for its rich history, even richer cuisine and as training ground of some of the world‘s top cyclists.

Meet in Ripoll, high in Catalonia near the Pyrenees and easily accesible by train from Barcelona. Ripoll is home to a benedictine monastery with a colourful history. The Santa Maria de Ripoll monastery was built by Count William the Hairy in 879, and was the birthplace of famous troubadour Ponç de la Guàrdia. After descending to the sea through the cyclist friendly city of Girona, you will finish riding on the coast at Tossa del Mar. A final transfer will bring you back to Girona where your tour concludes and trains to Barcelona and other destinations are frequent.