Before we try to show you what a typical day on one of our trips might look like, you should be aware that there really is no such thing. Yes, our trips are meticulously well organized. But they’re also designed to be as flexible and unstructured as possible. That means smelling the roses, tasting the wine, indulging in a siesta, chatting with locals, enjoying the views and checking out the sights.

No two trips are ever the same. Which is, we suppose, the only typical thing about it: they’re typically atypical. One thing you can be sure of? Once you read what a typical day might look like, you’ll really start to “get it.”

What does a typical day look like? Click on one of our four main types of trips—Biking, Walking, With the Kids or Grand Journeys—to get an hour-by-hour account of what a typical day might look like.

• Want to start with a blank canvas and create your own days? Check our custom Bespoke trips.

Jennifer Cosgrove
Bordeaux to Dordogne Valley Biking, 2009
“The trip was a great blend of good riding, delicious food and wine, fun people and memorable moments of coasting through gorgeous country, thinking, why don’t I do this more often?!”

Diana Cooney 
Piemonte Walking, 2009
“The hikes were perfect for my ability. The views were spectacular and the food and wine were beyond words. I can’t wait to plan my next trip. I would not consider going with any other travel company. B&R provides the perfect balance between outdoor physical activity and luxurious hotel experiences.”

Nothing typical about it
Whether you want longer, more challenging routes, or the time to linger over lunch, the day is always yours to discover. We provide the options, you make the choices.

Depending on your choices, your day might look like this:

Provence Biking
8:02 am I roll out of bed in Le Couvent des Minimes. This was a 17thC convent? Talk about transformation.  Torture myself with the Herald Tribune crossword and café au lait in bed.
8:37 am Dive into scrumptious poolside breakfast. Half-listen as guide tells me about the day's options. I am on holiday, after all.
9:18 am Guide is waiting with my bike. It has my name on it, route suggestions are in the handlebar bag, water bottle has been filled, seat has been adjusted. I feel like Lance (until I start riding).
9:34 am On my bike, following the route suggestions. Rather, following my wife following the route suggestions.
10:27 am Arrive at the small town of Forlcalquier, a sleepy village that today is bustling with its weekly market—Aix and St-Rémy have nothing on this place.
Noon-ish Say “mooo” to cow. Most traffic I've seen all day.
1:11 pm Just as we’re starting to get hungry we round a corner and we can’t believe it. The guides have (THIS SECTION CENSORED BY B&R STAFF). Incredible!
2:14 pm Drastic measures: I remove the battery from my wife’s BlackBerry. Enough already... the firm can survive without her!
2:25 pm Back in the saddle; my wife jumps in the van and heads to the hotel for pool time. Glimpse the Lure mountain rearing up in the distance. To Century Ride or not to Century Ride, that is the question—for tomorrow.

• Read more about Provence Biking.
• View all of our Biking trips.
• Learn more about B&R's Activity Levels.

Stephen Miller & Carolyn Zaslaw
Verona to Venice Biking 2009
“The cycling was amazing—small roads and lanes with beautiful scenery and the written route directions were so well done and thought out! We are so happy with B&R we are planning our next trip!”

Jennifer & Ken Alterman, first-time travellers
Argentina Biking 2009
“Argentina is a vast and beautiful country. If we had to pick one of our favorite experiences it would have to be our last ride. It started at 13,000 feet and finished at the salt flats. On our way down we saw burros, vicuna (from the llama family) and horses, haciendas in the mountain valleys, sheep and goat herders, a rock formation called Turtle Rock and incredible mountains striped with vivid color. It was breathtakingly beautiful and we loved seeing the country this way. B&R doesn’t just provide you with incredible guides, drivers, accommodations and meals; they immerse you in the culture in a very up close and personal way.”

Carolyn Zaslaw
Provence Biking 2010
“There are so many things I would like to say about the trip. First and foremost, Thilo was amazing in just about every way! There are so many wonderful things to say about him. The design, plan and execution of the trip were flawless. We loved all the activities Thilo had planned. The trip to the observatory and perfumer were things we would not have had a chance to experience in our normal lives! He is also an amazing planner regarding hotels! La Coquillade was one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever been to. My husband and I are planning a trip back there as soon as we can go! Annik was also an excellent guide. She was a pleasure to me with and very helpful in answering so many of our questions. This was our fourth B&R trip and it was magnificent. Provence was the most beautiful landscape yet! We are busy planning next year’s trip as we are always so pleased with the quality of the guides, the food and wine, the activities and of course the cycling. Thank you once again B&R!”

Nothing typical about it
Whether you want longer, more challenging routes, or the time to linger over lunch, the day is always yours to discover. We provide the options, you make the choices.

Depending on your choices, your day might look like this:

Amalfi Coast Walking
8:02 am Roll over in bed for a little spooning. Unfortunately, bedmate has left for the Herald Tribune and cornetto downstairs. Life on Capri is a bowl of cherries, despite the lack of spoon.
8:37 am Private launch from Marina Piccola to mainland. Acqua minerale, sea air and sunshine make every day a good hair day.
9:18 am Shuttle from Marina Grande to another world. It’s called the Pathway of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) and here the aforementioned sea air is scented with lemon (groves).
9:34 am Take in mountain views that surely the gods themselves crafted. Remind yourself how fortunate you are.
10:27 am A plaque points out that an economist named Giustino Fortunato named the pathway. Remind yourself how Fortunato you are.
12:32 pm Salvatore’s salsiccia, bocconcini and pane rustico next to a tiny stone hut. Doze off under lemon tree.
2:14 pm Awake to see Salvatore’s hand-penned (in Italian) salsiccia recipe tucked into your shirt pocket. It seems as though you were raving about it.
2:25 pm Faced with a fork in the road, you take the path more often travelled. It makes no difference— they’re both stunning.
3:38 pm The path finished, an awaiting vehicle whisks you to the Hotel Le Sirenuse in Positano. Bellini? Molto buono!
5:11 pm Partner heads off for Swedish massage. You pull off a truly impressive cannonball and soak up sun poolside.
7:05 pm Have a view-inspired chat with the two architects in the group about building on hillsides. Talk about steep learning curves!
8:23 pm Adjourn to dinner under the candlelight of true chandeliers, the sparkling lights of the town and yachts below. Sip grappa and share a laugh with owner Antonio, whose noble ancestry vacationed in this very room a couple of centuries ago. A setting fit for a duke indeed. 
11:03 pm Read three paragraphs under fresh white sheets. Bedmate displays that in Italy spooning is nocturnal. Bellissimo.

• Read more about Amalfi Coast Walking.
• Take a look at all of our Walking trips.
• Learn more about B&R's Activity Levels.

Diana Cooney
Piemonte Walking 2009 
“The hikes were perfect for my ability. The views were spectacular and the food and wine were beyond words. I can’t wait to plan my next trip. I would not consider going with any other travel company. B&R provides the perfect balance between outdoor physical activity and luxurious hotel experiences.” 

Elaine Hoffman & Larry Miller
Peru Walking 2009
“This trip far exceeded our expectations. From the food, lodging and special events—to of course all of the fabulous hikes planned—it was exceptional, breathtaking and beyond memorable! (We took over 1000 photos)”

Mary Anne Boyer
Amalfi Coast Walking 2010
"The trip was an outstanding experience—we are already looking forward to our next one—the big problem is picking which one! Our guides were exceptional—there was nothing that was left unattended or not dealt with very professionally. Hard to pick the most memorable (I took 800 pictures) but I would say our lunches the first two days were my favorites times—very rustic, yet exceptional food."

Nothing typical about it
With the Kids trips are all about balance. You want quality time together, of course, but you also want to relax and explore on your own. All parents need a little time without the kids. And vice versa!

That’s why we structure these trips so that mornings are for the whole family, while in the afternoons and evenings we whisk junior travellers off for fun, supervised activities. The kids might explore a castle while you try the spa. While you enjoy a Michelin-starred meal, they might hit a pizzeria. Or maybe you’ll decide to spend the entire day together. It’s up to you.

Depending on your choices, a typical day might look like this:

Loire Valley With the Kids
7:56 am Still waiting for mom and dad to get out of bed. What’s so great about coffee and croissants anyway? Sarah says she’s Sleeping Beauty.
8:38 am Last chance to run around the castle. This place is totally like a fairytale. It even has towers! Definitely the coolest place ever. A real queen stayed in the same bedroom as mom and dad.
9:26 am We leave ma mère and mon père (that means mom and dad) behind while we get to go canoeing. So cool! Mom and dad are doing something for grown-ups.
10:27 am The guide says mom and dad are riding to some famous goat cheese place. Yuck. Splash Sarah with my paddle.
12:18 pm Picnic at some lady’s house in a valley. Pretty nice I guess. She’s nice, too. All the guides seem to know her.
12:28 pm Done lunch. Mom and dad still eating. Kick around a soccer ball ’til some of the French kids join in—they’re GOOD. One guy, Louis, can juggle the ball with his feet over 100 times. Wait ’til my friends back home hear about him.
1:11 pm Holy moly—this whole place is built above CAVE DWELLINGS. House just got way cooler. We go down to look for troglodytes. (That means cave people, I had to teach my dad that.)
1:45 pm Ride our bikes with one of the guides. Sarah has this neat tandem bike attached to Dad. Mom and the other guide get a lift in the van. Sunflowers and real castles are everywhere.
3:20 pm Visiting some reeeeally old monastery. Richard the Lionheart was REAL? Practice our fencing moves from yesterday. En garde! I win again.
5:10 pm Ride to our “château.” It’s like our own private mansion only way bigger! A bunch of the other kids on the trip and me explore the grounds. They’re pretty cool, I guess. The guys from Boston are nice, even though they like the Red Sox.
6:30 pm A medieval feast! Eat like kings. Dad still won’t let me eat with my hands.
9:24 pm Can’t sleep. Sarah won’t stop talking about the horses tomorrow.

• Learn more about Loire Valley With the Kids.
• Take a look at all of our With the Kids trips.
• Learn more about B&R's Activity Levels.
• Thinking about doing a With the Kids trip of your own? Go private with B&R Bespoke.

Marcia Lucas
New Zealand With The Kids 2010
“This trip is a perfect family trip! The landscape is spectacular, and biking is the best way to enjoy it at its most. There is a good variety of activities and the people of New Zealand are very nice. The highlights were the surprise picnic Rob prepared for us on a wonderful spot by the lake, the lunch at a local family's farm, the wine tasting followed by a scenic helicopter flight and the t-shirt delivered as a floating iceberg, and also the bungee jump for our three kids.”

Nothing typical about it
Whether you want longer, more challenging routes, or the time to linger over lunch, the day is yours to discover. We provide the options, you make the choices. On our Grand Journeys, the only difference is it’s done on an epic scale, with an impossibly ambitious itinerary. Hey, it’s not called a Grand Journey for nothing.

Depending on your choices, your day might look like this:

Indochina Grand Journey
6:15 am Gently wake to the sound of gongs chiming, signalling the end of morning prayers at the temple beside our hotel. Grab a coffee (thank God for the French!) and welcome the sunrise from your suite or pool side Wow. A civilized start to the day, indeed.
8:45 am Catch our private jet (so keen, we leave early—good thing we have our own flight crew!) from World Heritage Luang Prabang to Imperial Hué. Breakfast in Laos, lunch in Vietnam. Not bad.
11:45 am Early lunch overlooking the Perfume River. Can see why the governor built his home here; nice of him to let us use it. Fuel up for the afternoon ride with an extra helping of ginger chicken. Note to self: lotus root is yummy.
1:00 pm Hop on waiting bikes and head out into rural Vietnam. Opt for a more serene, easygoing ride today. Roll down small country lanes past canals and local fish farms. Everyone really does wear those great hats! Who finds these routes, anyway?
2:00 pm Cohort opts for a local walk through the outskirts of Hué. Snaps some incredible shots of rice paddies and street stalls. Huge piles of fresh baguettes stacked beside the road.
4:04 pm Rush hour. Fluttering white ao dai outfits and bicycle bells fill the streets as girls leave school. I think I see a car. No, I was wrong—it’s a water buffalo.
4:46 pm Partner already back at the hotel, happily ensconced in the spa and working out the kinks from Day 1’s elephant ride.
6:03 pm Head to the Imperial Forbidden City for sunset (the best time, according to our guide—fewer people, better pictures). Two World Heritage Sites in one day: again, not bad. Wave to our hotel across the river.
7:13 pm Back in time for cocktails and dinner beside the saltwater pool. Spring rolls, fish hot pot, shrimp on sugar cane, beef in lalot leaves…and I thought it would be impossible to top Thai and Lao food. Apparently tomorrow we’re eating in a royal house? Please don’t let it stop.
11:12 pm Drift off while daydreaming about tomorrow’s pagodas, tombs and riverboat cruise. Three countries down, one to go! And they said travelling would be hard…

• Learn more about our Indochina Grand Journey.
• Take a look at our other Grand Journeys.

Terry & Ron Paschich 
Indochina Grand Journey 2009
“The entire trip was fabulous and we appreciate how much effort you put into making sure all of us had a wonderful time. We had the best trip of our life!! Thanks again for a wonderful experience.”