Austria

For nature lovers Austria is a paradise with stunning scenery in an unspoilt environment. The scenery offers great variety, ranging from the high Alps in the west to the beginning of the Hungarian Plain at the eastern border. In between lie rolling hills, cool forests, neat meadows and the picturesque lakes of the Salzkammergut area. Along the river Danube, particularly the Wachau Danube Valley, you will find one of the most romantic areas of Europe where the river is flanked by vineyards, orchards, castles and charming medieval towns. The province of Vorarlberg reveals great scenic variety: the plain of the Rhine Valley, the imressive Lake Constance, the rolling hills of the Bregenz Woods. [Austria] [walking] [cycling]

Belgium

Besides its status as one of Europe's little countries, Belgium's appeal is wide and varied. In the south, the wooded Ardennes roll over gentle hills; near the North Sea the Flemish cities of Bruges and Ghent bask in Guild House splendour surrounded by picturesque countryside. Afrikaans-speaking people will find it easy to communicate with the Flemish-speaking Belgians in the northern parts of the country. [Belgium] [cycling]

Croatia

Croatia stretches along the Adriatic coast. The country borders Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro and Slovenia. The country's landscape ranges from small villages in the interior to the dramatic Dalmatian coastline. In the north, the Istria peninsula includes the major coastal resorts of Porec, Pula, Opatija and Rovinj; the Kvarner region has many islands and islets with good beaches. Further south, are the Split and Makarska regions. Zagreb, the economic, cultural and administrative heart of the region, sits prominently on the River Sava. Dubrovnik was once considered to be the most beautiful city in Croatia with its medieval walls and palaces. It is one of the oldest cities and one of the youngest European capitals. Split was founded in the fourth century AD by the Roman Emperor Diocletian. The enormous palace he built and the walled town now form part of the old quarter. Concerts, opera and dance all take place within the palace. Plitvice Lakes National Park consists of a string of 16 beautiful blue-green lakes in a valley between high forested mountains. Foodwise, visitors should sample manistra od bobica (beans and fresh maize soup). [Croatia] [walking] [cycling]

England

The Cotswolds can be seen as England at its finest; from the soft green hills, freckled with prehistoric and Roman ruins, the Severn Valley and the Vale of Evesham seem to seep into infinity. In East Anglia the peat marshes of the southern Fens and the brooks of the northern Broads are a haven for wildlife. Cycling along the byroads will take you through medieval villages with old churches, stately home and thatched cottages covered in rose trellises. [England] [walking] [cycling]

France

France offers an extraordinary variety of provincial landscapes. In the Loire River Valley, the so-called "Garden of France", hundreds of chateaux, castles and palaces of unparallel grandeur dot the landscape. The famous wines from Burgundy is today an integral part of the country's gastronomy. The affable Midi to the south is unforgettable with its white-walled houses and burnished skies. In Provence the vineyards and olive groves carpet the valleys between the hills flushed with lavender and mimosa. [France] [walking] [cycling]

Germany

The geographic diversity of Germany is at once familiar and startling. Away from the big cities, the old image of Germany as a land of half-timbered villages survives. In the Bavarian Alps you can satisfy your Wanderlust, but you can also wander the beautiful hills of the Black Forest or cycle along the famous Rhine. Lake Constance [the Bodensee] forms a graceful three-nation corner between Austria, Switzerland and Germany. The mild climate and a Mediterranean flair give the area all around Lake Constance its special charm and make the region a paradise for cyclists. Well-planned cycle paths run mostly along the banks through the wonderful countryside and offer various panoramas. [Germany] [walking] [cycling]

Greece

Greece may be the home of Zeus and his fellow Olympians, but at first glance its bustling, traffic-ridden capital, Athens, is anything but divine. Yet here, as all over Greece, are reminders of the country's glory - from Athens' Parthenon and Delphi's Temple of Apollo, to the ruins on Crete of the Minóan city of Knossós, a civilisation reaching even further back into history.
Scattered throughout the calm blue waters of the Aegean are the islands, each with its own special story.

Visit Zakynthos in the spring to see why it is 'the island of flowers', or the volcanic Santorini, where the blackness of the sand accentuates the brilliant whiteness of the villages. The serenity of islands like Skópelos contrasts with the hedonistic party islands such as Mykonos and Páros where the worship of Dionysus the god of revelry continues to the beat of garage and house music.

It is easy to forget that from this fertile land of mythology, olive groves and retsina, sprang political, philosophical and artistic ideas that shaped the whole course of western civilisation. Greece today offers the traveller the comforts of modern Europe in close proximity to the stark beauty of the ancient world. [Greece] [cycling]

Holland

Horizons of limitless expanse, cows grazing around a windmill, dyke-rimmed fields: this is the Holland of storybooks. In the quiet countryside, this is still the reality. The Netherlands, as the country is more formally known, is pre-eminently a bicycle country. In addition to the extensive cycle track system without motor traffic, the country also contains a vast network of waterways. Almost every spot in Holland can be reached by boat or bicycle. You will enjoy the green Dutch landscape with quiet roads and villages. [Holland] [cycling]

'Irish eyes finally smiling'

Long gone are the days when Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe and its natives fled to all corners of the globe in search of refuge. Today, it is cool to be Irish and, thanks to the likes of the Corrs, Boyzone and U2, evocative images of Ireland now pervade popular culture across the globe. The Ireland of the new millennium is a modern, progressive European nation whose 'Celtic Tiger' economy is booming, but it is not only Irish eyes that are smiling as more and more tourists discover Ireland for themselves.

Dublin is undoubtedly the spiritual and cultural heart of the Emerald Isle. Crowding around the banks of the murky River Liffey, the city, like the country, is bound in rich layers of history, back to the days when Celtic tribes wandered the peat bogs, to the present that sees the city overflowing with trendy bars and nightclubs. Elsewhere, the cities of Cork, Galway and Limerick boast their own charms, but it is out in the rolling countryside that you can unearth the idyllic Ireland of the movies. Here, in the atmospheric old pubs, you can experience the legendary 'craic' where music and song lead the course of an evening. Alternatively, ramble over the hills of Glenmalure or sail through the mist shrouded Pater-Noster Lakes, places that seem a million miles away from the tourist maelstrom of Dublin. [Ireland] [walking] [cycling]

Italy

Visitors to Italy are always charmed by its vibrant atmosphere, its wealth of art and architecture and its lust for the good life, food and wine. Tuscany is the largest region of Italy and perhaps its most varied. It includes rolling hills with silvery-green olive trees and well-tended vines. The smaller cities all have long, illustrious histories and contain important monuments and past glories. In Umbria, known as the Green Heart of Italy, the works of God take precedence over human accomplishments. The region includes mountains, hills, valleys and plains, lakes and rivers. The subtlety of the country's influence on the visitor is the reason it is difficult to try to recreate its visual impression in words. [Italy] [walking] [cycling]

Scotland

Cycling in Scotland is otherworldly. Our packages allow ample time to explore this land of hills, glens, lochs, seashores, folklore and history while cycling on quiet roads and byways. If you think Scotland is not an ideal country for cycling, we can prove you wrong. Yes, there are hills, but not too many! Most roads go through glens and along rivers. It may be necessary to climb from one glen to another, but just think of the magnificent views and the exhilarating downhill run as a reward! [Scotland] [cycling]

Spain

Spain is the land of siestas, troubadours, red wine, bullfights, flamenco and much more. The country is also home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and some of the most famous buildings and art works. One of Europe's most diverse countries, Spain will continue to surprise you long after your first glass of sangria. A visit to Spain is always an interesting and enjoyable experience. [Spain] [walking] [cycling]

Switzerland

Switzerland is a country of fascinating contrasts: Alpine regions with glaciers and snow-covered peaks, crystal blue lakes, endless lush green meadows, breathtaking mountain passes, tiny villages and cosmopolitan cities. The country offers a changing array of life styles, customs and scenery unequalled anywhere else in the world. Our tours were planned with special care along the most scenic routes. The itineraries are structured to show you as much as possible but at a leisurely pace. Walking and cycling pleasures come with clock-like precision. [Switzerland] [walking] [cycling]

Across the borders

Several of our itineraries include more than one country. Four countries converge on Lake Constance [the Bodensee], therefore it is an ideal starting point for excursions into Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria. From the Salzburger Land in Austria one can walk or cycle to the Berchtesgadener Land in Germany or vice versa and from Switzerland one can cycle into Italy. Two famous cities in Holland and Belgium are the first and last stops for a Bike & Boat holiday. The cycling tour "Hungarian Rhapsody" connects three famous cities on the Danube: Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. [Across the borders] [cycling]