Some might even name Chamonix in France as the greatest mountain town in the world. We might not go that far, in part by being humble enough to say we have not been to every mountain town and in part because we have an affinity for the Rocky Mountain West. But it is undeniably true Continue Reading →
Tag: Hiking
Try Vermont for a European-Style Hiking Tour
I grew up hiking the Cascade Mountains of Washington State and spent 14 years underneath the Rockies while living in Boulder, Colorado. And Zephyr’s home base is located in Red Lodge, Montana just under the Beartooth Mountains, which is why I tend to think peak bagging when I think hiking. But that sometimes does me 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 →
Are you a Ferdinand or a Heather?
On our active trips – whether it be hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing or skating – we generally like to have one guide toward the front of the pack to help steer the group, and a “sweep” guide toward the back that makes sure nobody gets left behind. This summer on our Beartooth Hiking Adventure in Continue Reading →
How To Choose The Right Tour Operator for your Inca Trail Trek
There are many different levels of Inca Trail trips you can take and in general, “you get what you pay for.” But what’s right for you? You can go from bare bones trips where corners can be cut (with substandard equipment, poor food, low wages for staff, no training, etc.) to luxury trips where many Continue Reading →
In The Words of Alumni: Portugal Hiking & Wine Adventure
This is the third post in a series we are calling “In The Words of Alumni” that shares feedback about a trip directly from the travelers who were just on it. Online ratings are becoming increasingly important for small businesses like ours (see our blog post on this topic). We are happy to tell Continue Reading →
Experience the Real Montana: Red Lodge and the Beartooth Mountains
I moved to Red Lodge in October of 2000 after doing a thorough search for the best mountain town in the Rocky Mountains to move myself and my fledgling company, Zephyr Adventures. Red Lodge earned the distinction of becoming Zephyr’s “world headquarters” for many reasons: Its population of 2,300 is much more diverse and interesting than Continue Reading →
Why Is Iceland So Expensive?
If you’ve been looking into a vacation in Iceland or have friends who have traveled there, you probably know the price tag of such an adventure can be high. According to Numbeo, Iceland ranks as the second most expensive country in the world! So, why is Iceland so expensive? Supply and Demand: Tourism has been Continue Reading →
Difference Between a Trek and a Hike: A Slovenian Example
We pride ourselves in offering a variety of hand-picked active tours that fit an array of preferences and abilities, which is why we offer a selection of both treks and hikes each year. But what is the difference between a trek and a hike? To help illustrate the difference, let’s take a look at two Continue Reading →
Tucson: Skating in the Winter Sun
Years ago I spent six months living in Tucson, Arizona. I very much enjoyed the city, including the people, the university, the sunshine, and the seasonal monsoons. Two of the activities I most enjoyed were skating on the paved paths of the city and hiking on the surrounding trails – especially in the winter sun. Continue Reading →