Vermont Bike Tour - Active Weekend Getaway

The tour is 3 days long with all 3 days being cycling days.

Every trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. The tour operator knows your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companions may differ somewhat from yours. So they present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Guests are sometimes surprised to discover how hilly Vermont really is, so be prepared! The routes include some short steep hills as well as stretches with longer inclines. You'll also be biking some sections along hard-packed dirt, where the riding is a little rougher. Most of these dirt roads are less than 1 or 2 miles long and are solid enough to provide for relatively smooth riding. Of course, the rolling hills are one of the reasons it's so much fun to bike here, and the rural dirt roads winding through the quiet countryside are also part of the state's charm. And while you'll generally bike on quiet rural roads, you do encounter busier stretches at times,
especially during peak foliage season.

Remember, take your time and go at your own pace—you're on vacation! Your Trip Leaders are there to provide the support you need when you're ready for a snack, a cool drink, or a lift back if you're done for the day. Most days you'll have a choice of mileage options, so you can decide how active you want to be— it's always up to you.

Each of your Trip Leaders plays many roles during your vacation: guide, host, caretaker, naturalist, chef, historian, troubleshooter, interpreter. These remarkable individuals have highly developed instincts for making people comfortable, for seamlessly handling the logistics of travel and for successfully navigating a wide range of unexpected situations.

They're passionately committed to ensuring you enjoy an exceptional vacation—smooth, flexible and tailored to your needs. With their knowledge, professionalism, enthusiasm and service ethic, they're the number-one reason people return to travel with the tour operator again and again.

Gratuities for most services during your trip are included in the price. While the tour operator has thought about including a Trip Leader tip as part of the overall trip cost, they acknowledge that gratuities are often customary as a way to recognize excellent service on a more personal level. They offer specific Trip Leader tip recommendations because guests have consistently asked for them.

The recommended gratuity for this trip is $100 per guest. Our gratuity recommendations are in US dollars. You can pay by cash (preferred) or PayPal. Some leaders also have Venmo accounts. For US trips, checks are also accepted.

If you use PayPal, your leaders’ email addresses serve as their PayPal IDs. (You will receive a list of their email addresses at the beginning of the trip.) Regardless of the number of leaders on your trip, you can pay the full amount to any one of them. All gratuities are then divided among your leaders.

Please note that if you are on an international trip and intend to use PayPal, your account must be set up prior to departing the US.

Food is an important part of the tour experience. For lunch, the tour operator looks for the best way to capture the essence of the region. It may be a Grand Picnic, where your Trip Leaders prepare the freshest and healthiest local fare at a carefully chosen setting along the day's route; a boxed lunch; a packed lunch; a meal together at a favorite restaurant; or the opportunity to have lunch on your own.

Dinners typically feature seasonal, contemporary American fare with an emphasis on local ingredients. All breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners are included in the trip price. Be aware that vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free and low-carb dishes are not always available. If you have special dietary requirements, please indicate them when booking.

Alcoholic beverages at meals are not included in the trip price, unless otherwise noted.

September in southern Vermont may still have warm days; by October, temperatures cool down considerably. Rain is possible during either month, so be sure to bring waterproof, windproof and breathable raingear!

There is also a chance of downright cold temperatures and even a slight possibility of snow, especially later in October. Make sure to pack cold-weather biking gear and warm clothes for evenings.

Yes, you can choose from 3 different types of bike, or pay a little extra for a carbon pro bike.

If you'd prefer to have your own pedals, helmet or seat, feel free to bring these along. Your own gear can help to make your time on the bike as comfortable as possible, especially if you're someone who likes to log a lot of miles. Your leaders will be happy to put on your pedals and seat for you at the beginning of the trip.

The following items are included with all bikes.

Yes. If you plan to bring your own bike, it should be tuned and in excellent mechanical condition and ready to ride before the trip starts. Otherwise, you are welcome to use the tour operator's bikes.

If your bike is new, ride it at least 50 miles (to break it in) and then have it adjusted by a professional mechanic. Please bring only one bike per person.The following items on your bike should be properly adjusted and in good condition: brakes and brake pads; the headset, pedals, cranks and hubs; gears; derailleurs; handlebars; tires and tubes; brake and derailleur cables; and the chain. Make sure the bike is well lubricated, the wheels are true, and the seat, seat post and handlebars are adjusted and tight.

If you are bringing your own bike and are comfortable doing minor on-the-road adjustments, you may want to bring a multi-tool. If your bike is highly specialized, bring any tools—and extra spokes and tubes!—that are specific to your bike.

The Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 declared by the World Health Organization and the US Department of Health and Human Services expired May 11, 2023.

Effective June 1, should a guest choose to travel when positive or symptomatic with COVID-19, they will be required to wear a mask indoors and in vehicles, and to dine separately from the group.

Additionally, traveling unvaccinated may cause trip disruption. Backroads will not offer refunds or expense reimbursement to those unable to join a trip or take part in certain activities due to not meeting requirements. We ask that all guests carry a mask, as local regulations or vendors may require them in certain settings.

Travel Insurance: In the event a physician recommends you discontinue travel or not join your Backroads trip due to COVID-19 or other illnesses, consider trip insurance to help protect your travel investment.

Regional Entry Requirements: Please note that some regions (especially international destinations) have COVID-19 requirements and/or documents needed for entry.

Last update: Oct 2023