We recently completed a survey of our alumni travelers on potential new tour locations. We asked them to rate each of 25 possible new tours as their Top Destination, Very Likely to Do, Somewhat Likely to Do, or Not Interested. The Top Locations The top locations in order were as follows: Greek Islands Hiking Adventure: Continue Reading →
Category: Italy
Europe is Open for Travel
Europe is open for travel. After some confusion in late August when the European Union removed the United States from its “safe list” of countries from which travelers can easily enter the EU, things have settled down and travel is on. Consider this: We recently completed an Ireland tour Yesterday we started a Bavaria Hiking Continue Reading →
The Dreamscape of Tuscany on Foot
One of the best aspects of running a tour company is getting to know small regions of the world really well. I can’t say I know all of Europe or even all of Italy, but in the areas we run tours, we get to know the paths, hotels, restaurants, people, and culture fairly intimately. In Continue Reading →
The Best Less-Visited European Bike Tour Locations
Taking a bicycle tour in Europe is perhaps the most famous and beloved type of “adventure” or active travel. For good reason – biking through Europe often offers wonderful scenery, interesting culture, outstanding food and wine, and healthy exercise. We believe Europe offers the best bicycle tour locations in the world and have run many Continue Reading →
The Pros & Cons of E-Bikes
On our recent Sicily Biking Adventure (which we rated as Moderate/Difficult, due to the hills), nearly half the group of 22 bikers elected to use an e-bike. What is an e-bike, you ask? The “e” stands for electric. You might imagine a scooter or electric motorcycle, but e-bikes are like regular bikes with the addition Continue Reading →
Important Life Lessons Learned From Italy
Italy is many things to many people – a wine and food heaven, an art and architecture paradise, a cultural delight. To me, Italy is all those things but more specifically it is a place of learning and self-discovery. Last year, I had the honor and pleasure of guiding the Tuscany and Cinque Terre Bike Continue Reading →
5 Interesting Facts About the Island of Sicily
As you may be aware, this year is Zephyr Adventures’ 20th Anniversary and to celebrate we added five new adventures to our schedule, including the Sicily Bike Adventure coming up this fall. As we gear up for our inaugural tour of this iconic island, we thought it would be fun to share a few fascinating facts about Sicily: Continue Reading →
Discovering Sicily, the Pearl for the Mediterranean
“Sicily is the pearl of this century…Since old times, travelers from the most far away country…boast of its merits, praise its territory, rave about its extraordinary beauty, and highlight its strengths…because it brings together the best aspects from every other country.” – Al-Idrisi, Arab geographer, The Book of Roger, 1138 – 54 This September, Zephyr Continue Reading →
An Open Invitation to Explore Your Love of Italy
Buongiorno fellow travelers, lovers of wine, diners of homemade pasta, and of course, those thrill seeking, bike riding, old souls that feel at home where I do, in my beloved Italy. There is a reason Italy historically ranks as one of the top 5 travel destinations in the world each year. This country has given rise Continue Reading →
Exploring Cinque Terre – A True Historical Delight
Known for its slow pace, breathtaking sea views, and lovely and antiquated architecture perched on impossible peaks, Cinque Terre is a little slice of heaven for many a traveler. Kerry Dopler, one of our bright and friendly guides, will be co-leading (along with Giovanni) a group of adventurers on the Tuscany & Cinque Terre Bike Continue Reading →