Most top active travel companies now offer river cruise trips, especially in Europe, but there’s growth in Asia and South America as well.&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson, generally credited with inventing the luxury cycling and hiking vacation category, offers these river cruise trips on the Danube and Rhine, as well as trips on smaller sailboats or yachts in the Adriatic, to Sardinia and Corsica, and on the Dalmatian Coast. Just as Backroads uses AMA, Butterfield also uses a prestigious line,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uniworld.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 56, 145); background-color: rgb(252, 252, 252);">Uniworld Boutique River Cruises</a>.

The Newest Trend In Active And Adventure Travel - Boat Trips And Cruises

It was way back in 1966 when founder George Butterfield, together with a few friends launched&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson (B&amp;R)&nbsp;as a way to share time together while enjoying their enthusiasm for travel and fitness activities. Designing, planning and guiding trips for over 50 years, the Canadian-based company, best known for pioneering the concept of luxury cycling vacations in Europe, was built on the mantra “slowing down to see the world” and according to Laura Benn, B&amp;R sales manager that has been their guiding mantra ever since.Decades of Creating Authentic Local ExperiencesDecades of experience and on-the-ground research has resulted in B&amp;R being able to design programs that combine the best biking and walking routes with unique local experiences. “Access to authentic experiences is the bread and butter of B&amp;R,” says Benn. “Our tours venture far off the crowded tourist track, instead taking the path less traveled to find the most authentic local cultural, artistic and culinary experiences possible.”

Butterfield & Robinson—Pioneer for Active Vacations

Much like last year, people are eager to get out and see the world in 2023. And many travelers want to do that while pedaling a bike, hiking through breathtaking landscapes, or paddling down a river. That’s why active and adventure travel tours are a popular choice for visiting bucket-list destinations near and far.&nbsp;"Throughout the pandemic, as people got active through walking, hiking, biking, or on their Peloton, more people are wanting to keep that movement going even when on vacation," says Graeme Montgomery, brand manager for luxury travel tour company&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson. "Multi-active trips (a mix of biking, hiking and other activities) are really popular, as people are looking for well-rounded itineraries that bring the adventure, change pace from day to day and showcase the best of the region. Think rafting in Northern Greece, camel riding in Morocco, riding horseback in Iceland, or kayaking in Uruguay."

Adventure travel tours for 2023 are already booking up, more active tour trends

To be fair, companies will likely lose money doing this, and they hope to do it rarely, but as a result, guaranteed departures tend to be an extra offered by the more expensive, luxurious tour operators. In the cycling and hiking world,&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson&nbsp;is generally considered the most luxurious of the companies offering scheduled group trips, and they are one of the few with guaranteed departures. However, not every scheduled trip in their vast catalog is guaranteed, though most are and it is clearly indicated when you select a date.While many companies do not formally offer guaranteed departures, there are some workarounds to give you peace of mind. One question to ask any tour operator not guaranteeing departures is, “what is the minimum group size?” For many better companies it is just three, and that usually means two parties: a couple and a single, or two couples. However, if you have three in your group and that’s the policy, you can essentially guarantee your own departure. Similarly, some tour operators show the status of trip dates on their websites, and you can select one that is already well beyond the minimum threshold.

Why ‘Guaranteed Departures’ Are Important For Your Next Vacation

Since summer is prime vacation travel time and many Americans are starting to plan their return to travel right now, I’m devoting June to profiling and speaking with the women who run some of the best tour operators in the business. After all, the majority of travel decisions and bookings are made by women, so whether you are traveling solo, with other women, or with your husband, boyfriend or partner, you might appreciate the perspective these women have about what will make your trip the best. This is the first and make sure to read the other entries as well.Today I chat with Kathy Stewart, co-CEO of Toronto-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Butterfield &amp; Robinson</a>, a legendary and oft-awarded company generally credited in the industry with inventing the entire category of upscale guided active travel. B&amp;R, as its loyal customers call it (they enjoy very high repeat rates and travelers who take trips with them annually) was founded around cycling in Europe in 1966, and in the more than half-century since, has expanded to hiking, walking, e-biking, paddling, sailing, wellness, safaris, active cruises, multi-sport and expedition trips. Today they cover pretty much the entire world, and their catalog has so many stunning trip options of various activities and destinations it can be overwhelming to peruse.They make&nbsp;Travel + Leisure’s&nbsp;World’s Best list almost every year (20+ times), have taken the coveted title of World’s #1 Best Tour Operator (of any kind) and countless awards from many other leading publications. They are famed for local connections, the most curated accommodations and world-class guides, and having traveled with B&amp;R, I know all of this is true, it’s a seamless, complete, and perfection-oriented travel experience. They offer both&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/how-to-travel/scheduled-trips" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scheduled small group departures</a>&nbsp;on which you can book a slot as one or more travelers, the same trips as privates just for your group, or totally&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/how-to-travel/bespoke-travel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bespoke trips</a>. B&amp;R is definitely a luxury company, but if that pushes your budget, they also offer several&nbsp;<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/how-to-travel/self-guided-trips" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more affordable self-guided trips</a>, featuring the same great lodging and itinerary with local support, routes, luggage moved for you and such, but no guide or van following.Stewart has been in the travel business her entire life and started in the mailroom before becoming a Trip Designer and eventually taking the reins. As she recalled in an interview, “I simply picked the company that I dreamed of working for, got a job in the mailroom, and moved up from there.”

Published by Forbes

The Best Active Travel With A Woman’s Touch

Tap into inner healing in Estonia with sauna rituals and a shaman. Or practice yoga under the Tuscan sun, followed by a soak in thermal hot springs beloved by the Medici family. Meet&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson, Experience Designers who will curate your journeys with insider knowledge from local contacts.Choose the latest small-group itinerary travelling the scenic path of the English Lakes and Yorkshire. You’ll explore the region’s rich heritage while indulging at the UK’s top health spa hotels. And dining on farm-to-table and Michelin-starred cuisine, naturally.Other active well-being experiences include biking across the Cotswolds and hiking Italy’s hidden gems of the Amalfi Coast. Or visiting three spa hotels in Portugal – including the extraordinary Six Senses – with plenty of time for yoga, meditation, massages and nature walks across the Douro Valley.

The 25 Best Wellbeing Experiences in the World

Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s trips often include biking and hiking, though you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy strolling a serene country lane or pedaling an e-bike on a flat path.&nbsp;The company’s family trips cater to children as young as eight and are designed and test-driven by actual parents to prioritize a balance of family togetherness and adults-only time.&nbsp;Families with young adult offspring may participate in special itineraries for families with older teens and young adult children. A&nbsp;<a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/peru-walking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">walking trip in Peru</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;biking in <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/cambodia-vietnam-biking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cambodia and Vietnam</a>&nbsp;allows your family to bond in a whole new way. The presence of other young people creates the opportunity for peer friendships to blossom.&nbsp;All trips leave room for independent activities and cultural experiences, so you’re not tethered to the group.&nbsp;On Butterfield &amp; Robinson trips, accommodations are curated to fit the region you’re visiting; you’ll never stay at a cookie-cutter chain hotel. And while meticulous planning goes into each trip, you can expect impromptu pitstops and last-minute simple pleasures that make travel so worthwhile.&nbsp;<a href="https://tourscoop.com/best-guided-tour-companies-for-family-tours/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the full story on tourscoop.com &gt; </a>

10 Best Guided Tour Companies for Family Vacations

What we love:&nbsp;Two wheels (and some sake) in Japan.Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, Butterfield &amp; Robinson’s eight-day “Central Japan E-Biking” journey is loaded with activities on and off the e-bikes it provides. Cyclists stop for a paper-making lesson in an artist’s studio and a sake tasting at a fifth-generation brewery, then relax in ryokan accommodations and hot springs.

These 10 Epic Trips Are Adventurous & Eco-Friendly

<h3>Exploring Peru – Oct 1-7&nbsp;(Plus dates in&nbsp;April, May, September and October 2023)</h3>Whether hiking through the Inca Trail’s misty cloud forests or biking along paths sculpted over centuries, the real Peru reveals herself best on two feet and two wheels. By day, you can find inner healing through traditional Andean ceremonies before exploring the ruins of the Sacred Valley. Come sunset, sip pisco sours in an ancient Incan palace and see for yourself why the best time to witness Machu Picchu is long after the tourists have left.

Published by Travel to Wellness

Wellness Retreats Guide 2022

<a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/uruguay-active" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Uruguay Active</a>&nbsp;says it all, an active trip to the east coast of South America, to a country that relatively few Americans have visited. Because this is a Butterfield &amp; Robinson trip, you won't be roughing it. It begins in the capital of Montevideo, with easy biking through the countryside, with time to walk white-sand beaches and sample Uruguay's little-known wines. It's the opportunity to travel through the wine region known as the "Uruguayan Tuscany," going to the resort of Punta del Este, and ending in the hamlet of Jose Ignacio on the Atlantic coast. Rated level 2 (out of 5), this seven-day trip is $9,995.

5 New Multi-Adventure Trips For 2023

If you’re anything like us, you’ll be anxious to get outdoors by the time spring rolls around. In&nbsp;the spirit of “it’s never too early,” you can begin planning now for sunny adventures with the new&nbsp;The Road Less Travelled Northern Vietnam Walking luxury tour&nbsp;from&nbsp;Butterfield &amp; Robinson.This trip includes multiple opportunities to set off on foot to discover the beauty, culture, history and fascinating culinary traditions of Northern Vietnam.Dates determine specific itinerary details, but a sample tour of the country’s sensory-rich&nbsp;locations begins in Hanoi, with visits to Hoan Kiem Lake, the city’s lively Old Quarter, and&nbsp;guided Cyclo jaunts to explore temples and fortresses. Learning about the country’s coffee&nbsp;culture also comprises part of the experience, along with chef-led cooking classes and plenty of time to shop and peruse museums.Long hikes will take in peaceful countryside locations beyond the city, where rice fields and limestone cliffs make up the landscape. Along the way, meet members of the Tay community and visit with local farmers who use centuries-old agricultural traditions.

Northern Vietnam Walking Tour with Butterfield & Robinson

One of the first companies to offer e-bikes on their regular tours, the luxury bike tour company B&amp;R has several e-biking trips. One of them is&nbsp;Alsace E-Biking,&nbsp;which starts in Strasbourg and goes to Dachstein, follows the famous Route des Vins and goes to Colmar, with a final dinner at Frères Haeberlin, a Michelin-starred restaurant. The level is "Recreational," with 25 to 31 miles of daily riding. The 6-day trip is priced at $6,495 per person.

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