VBT | Country Walkers

Company and destinations

VBT runs its own guided biking, walking and discovery tours, today under the combined name VBT | Country Walkers. The awards page says "Since 1971, VBT Bicycling Vacations has proudly crafted experiences," and that "Together as VBT | Country Walkers, we bring decades of expertise." The about page says VBT | Country Walkers "has been a leader in the travel industry for 50 years," helping thousands of people explore the world each year from its home in Vermont; prices are in US dollars. It describes the brand as a US-based active travel company. The site states that Country Walkers carries a similar tradition of distinction with active walking trips designed for specific interests and experiences. The site notes that the company is recognized by Travel and Leisure magazine, having won their World's Best Awards eight times. The homepage title bills them as guided bike, walking and discovery tours.

Tours shown on the site run in Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia and Northern Ireland), North America (Canada and the US) and further afield (Japan and French Polynesia). The site describes trips as ranging "from biking adventures amidst Vermont's autumn foliage to walking tours through the serene Amalfi Coast." Specific biking destinations shown include Vancouver Island with the Gulf Islands (Canada), Spain and Portugal coastal regions, Northern Ireland, Poland and Slovakia through the Tatras, and various US routes including the Natchez Trace, Chesapeake Bay, Charleston to Savannah, and Florida coast. The site indicates new tours for 2027 are being added regularly, with recent additions including a Northern Ireland Bike Tour, Poland and Slovakia Walking Tour through the Tatras, Japan Discovery Tour, and Tahiti Discovery Tour.

Tour formats and pricing

The site sorts its tours into biking, walking and discovery. Guided biking tours shown on the site include Vancouver Island Bike Tour with the Gulf Islands (6 days, $4,795 per person, double occupancy, activity level easy to moderate, e-bikes available), Spain and Portugal Coastal Bike Tour (7 days, $5,295 per person, double occupancy, easy, e-bikes available), Istrian Peninsula Bike Tour Through Croatia & Slovenia (7 days, $5,745, moderate, e-bikes available), Northern Ireland Bike Tour (7 days, $5,345 per person, double occupancy, easy to moderate, e-bikes available), and US-based tours including Natchez Trace across Mississippi (6 days, $3,245, easy to moderate, e-bikes available), Chesapeake Bay (6 days, $3,195, easy, e-bikes available), Charleston to Savannah (6 days, $3,045, easy, e-bikes available), and Florida coast (6 days, $3,145, easy, e-bikes available).

Walking tours are also offered internationally and across the US, with the site highlighting Poland and Slovakia Walking Tour through the Tatras (7 days, $6,295 per person, double occupancy, moderate activity level). Discovery tours are described as immersive, hands-on, cultural experiences for active minds, with options including Tahiti Discovery Cruise with Bora Bora and Moorea (8 days, $7,045, easy activity level) and Japan Discovery Tour from Tokyo to Kyoto (9 days, $8,545, easy to moderate activity level). The site indicates these are new tour options for 2027 and beyond.

Self-guided biking packages are also available, described on the site as "the perfect travel style for small groups, couples, or riders who are looking for freedom," and its trending list includes a self-guided ride down the Dolomites, a guided ride through coastal Puglia and a guided walk-and-wine trip in Portugal. Each tour card carries an Activity Level, from Easy to Moderate, and every price shown is "Price per person, double occupancy."

What is included and how it works

The awards page says the company takes "care of all the details, from accommodations, meals, and route planning to expert local leaders." Trip Leaders are described as local, bilingual, passionate experts who guide trips and know their destinations "like the back of their hand" while guiding travelers toward "hidden gems and stories you won't find in guidebooks." The site emphasizes that Trip Leaders are handpicked and described as passionate experts.

The about page says "All you have to do is show up at the airport," and that the company books flights and arranges transfers, accommodations, luggage transport between hotels, and support vehicles available to assist on climbs or to fix flat tires quickly. Meals are included and described as featuring local restaurants and family-owned inns, with the site noting that meals involve experiences like "learn to make pasta with an Italian grandmother." The site indicates travelers stay in "high quality, boutique hotels and charming, family-run inns" selected for their character and quality.

For guided tours, groups are described as "small enough to foster connection and leave less environmental impact." The site emphasizes "authentic exploration," ensuring that every interaction with landscapes and cultures is genuine through "local leaders, interactive experiences, and enriching routes." A catalog is available by request (phone 1.800.245.3868) with over 200 pages of tour information. Group travel planners are mentioned as available to help arrange private group tours and group travel experiences. The site indicates a travel consultant line (1.800.245.3868) is available for questions and to help travelers find the perfect vacation.

Booking and support

Tours are found through the Find a Tour search, which filters by destination, tour style and departure month, and booked online (the site has a cart and favorites list) or through a VBT Tour Consultant on 1.800.245.3868. A printed catalog "with over 200 pages of tour information" can be requested. For groups, the site says "VBT | Country Walkers has expert group travel planners," and "Worried your group is too big? We have private travel options that are just right for you." The footer links to Changes & Cancellations, Health & Travel, Travel Protection, a Sustainability Commitment and a section for travel advisors.

The awards page lists Newsweek Readers' Choice "Best Adventure Travel Company" in 2024 and 2025, the USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Award in 2024, AFAR Magazine's Travelers' Choice Awards in 2020, and National Geographic's "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth" in 2009. The site also says "Over 98% of guests tell us they plan to travel with VBT | Country Walkers again."

What the site does not settle

The homepage and about pages do not set out a cancellation window, refund terms, the deposit or the payment schedule; those are on the separate Changes & Cancellations and Terms & Conditions pages, which are worth reading before paying. The site does not give a number for its "small" groups, does not show a single supplement next to the double-occupancy prices, and does not list which meals each tour includes. Daily distances and hours are not on the overview cards, only the Activity Level.

VBT | Country Walkers suits travelers who want a fully arranged, guided bike or walking vacation with hotels, most logistics and a support van taken care of, and who are happy at an Easy or Moderate level. The wide choice of e-bike tours in the US and Europe makes it an easy fit for mixed-ability couples and groups.