Trek Travel, one of the leaders in personalized cycling vacations, offers a variety of cycling vacations that will fit your active clients’ lifestyle, while also offering a little R&R via wine tours, beer tastings, and yoga. Agents can gain a segment of the growing cycling tours trend with Trek Travel’s 2015 offerings.
“People have realized that active vacations are the way to go and they feel more rested and rejuvenated after their trip,” says Meagen Coates, trip design manager, Trek Travel. “Seeing the world by bike provides a unique perspective and allows travelers to see more than on walking or bus tours.”
The new Cinque Terre tour has guests cycling Lucca through the Tuscan hills and the Apuan mountain range. Cyclists will also make pesto with an Italian master and have a wine tasting in the Tuscan vineyards. Rates start at $4,399 pp. On the new Bordeaux tour ($4,599 pp), travelers cycle through vine-lined roads in Sauternes, blend signature flavors at wine schools in Saint Emilion, and relax poolside at Hotel Golf du Medoc, near Margaux. Another addition is the Ride Across Italy bike tour, where adventure-seekers bike from Italy’s east coast to the west coast. Trek Travel has also redesigned a few tours including Puglia, Tuscany Luxury, Mallorca Luxury, California Wine Country Luxury, and the Zion Long Weekend.
Beer aficionados will enjoy the Bend Mountain Bike Ride Camp launching in 2015, a cycling adventure through Central Oregon’s forests and volcanic landscapes with stops at world-class micro and craft breweries.
The 5-day journey combines single track cycling through lush trails, highlighted by the McKenzie River Trail, known as “America’s #1 trail” by Bike magazine. When travelers aren’t biking, activities include tastings along Bend’s Ale Trail of breweries, sampling locally sourced foods, and paddleboarding the waters of the Deschutes River.
“It’s the perfect place to bike off-road and the brews taste that much better after a long ride,” says Greg Lyeki, Trek Travel trip designer.
The Bend Mountain Bike Ride Camp will be offered nine weekends in 2015—the first one will take place on May 31, with additional dates throughout June and July. Rates start at $1,399 pp. For more information on tour dates, visit trektravel.com/trip/bend-ride-camp-bike-tour/#dates-prices.
The company has also launched a Ladies Club, which is a cycling experience designed for women (and run by women, too).
“I love to ride with my girlfriends and it is so exciting to design trips for women to ride and travel together,” says Coates. “Women share a great sense of community, whether it is in a competitive or relaxed setting.“
Across the country from California to the Carolinas, women meet new friends, learn riding skills, and sometimes even ride alongside female pros such as Pro Trek enduro mountain biker, Heather Irmiger. While on road bike trips, a Trek Woman demo unit will be on hand to offer support and showcase the newest Trek bikes that cyclists can test out.
Ladies will enjoy activities such as wine tastings, yoga classes, and optional skills clinics. Some of the Trek Travel Ladies Club itineraries include the Solvang Ride Camp—a 4-day cycle tour through vineyards, hills, and along the Pacific Ocean through the Santa Ynez Valley, offered November 2014 and January 2015; the Greenville Ride Camp—a 4-day tour through the Appalachian Mountains along the official race course of the USA National Champions—offered Oct. 16-19, and additional dates in 2015 include Feb. 23-26; and the Moab Ride Camp—a 5-day ride along the Colorado River at the foot of La Sal Mountains with cyclist Heather Irmiger, offered Oct. 22-26, 2014 and in 2015, April 12-16, among other dates. These Ladies Club tours start at $899 pp. For more information on the Ladies Club and additional tour dates, visit trektravel.com/destinations/women-specific-bike-trips.
“Travel agents play an important role developing new clients for our business. We offer an industry standard commission rate, and are always looking for ways to increase our involvement in this area,” says Mark Thomsen, marketing manager, Trek Travel. “Agents gain a dedicated support person on the Trek Travel side to work with them on all aspects of our business. Plus they gain an international bike backed brand of cycling vacations, unrivaled support, and staff,” he adds.
Trek Travel offers supported mountain bike vacations with expert Trek Travel guides and professional state-of-the-art bikes featuring Garmin Touring Plus GPS devices and Di2 electronic shifting. According to Trek Travel, their itineraries include these bikes as a standard, while most cycling companies charge a $300 – $500 upgrade fee for pro-level bikes. All bike tours include hotel accommodations, most meals, and entrance fees to all private tours, group events, and activities. For more information, call (866) 464-8735 or visit trektravel.com.
