ICELAND HOLLAND
BERLIN TO DRESDEN
IRELAND BRITISH COLUMBIA
PRAGUE TO VIENNA
DALMATIAN COAST CALIFORNIA RIOJA NIAGARA
JAPAN
AUGUSTA MASTERS GOLF
CATALONIA BHUTAN MOROCCO
ANDALUCIA
CHINA LAOS INDIA
VIETNAM
COSTA RICA ECUADOR
RWANDA
F
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ARGENTINA URUGUAY
TANZANIA
ALY & IT
PERU
CE N RA BURGUNDY
MYANMAR
THAILAND
ALSACE & CHAMPAGNE PIEMONTE
ITALIAN LAKES
NORMANDY
SOUTH AFRICA
CHILE VERONA TO VENICE LOIRE VALLEY
TUSCANY UMBRIA
BORDEAUX TO DORDOGNE
PUGLIA
PROVENCE
AMALFI COAST CORSICA
THE WORLD OF BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON 2014
ICELAND HOLLAND
BERLIN TO DRESDEN
IRELAND BRITISH COLUMBIA
PRAGUE TO VIENNA
DALMATIAN COAST CALIFORNIA RIOJA NIAGARA
JAPAN
AUGUSTA MASTERS GOLF
CATALONIA BHUTAN MOROCCO
ANDALUCIA
CHINA LAOS INDIA
VIETNAM
COSTA RICA ECUADOR
RWANDA
F
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ARGENTINA URUGUAY
TANZANIA
ALY & IT
PERU
CE N RA BURGUNDY
MYANMAR
THAILAND
ALSACE & CHAMPAGNE PIEMONTE
ITALIAN LAKES
NORMANDY
SOUTH AFRICA
CHILE VERONA TO VENICE LOIRE VALLEY
TUSCANY UMBRIA
BORDEAUX TO DORDOGNE
PUGLIA
PROVENCE
AMALFI COAST CORSICA
THE WORLD OF BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON 2014
BIKING
WALKING
Alsace & Champagne Biking. . . . . . . . 21
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking. . . . . . . 30
Andalucia Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Amalfi Coast Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Argentina Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Burgundy Self-Guided Walking . . . . . 13
Atlantic France Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Corsica Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Berlin to Dresden Biking . . . . . . . . . . 39
Iceland Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking . . . . . . 21
Italian Lakes Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Burgundy Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Morocco Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Burgundy Bistro Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Myanmar Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Burgundy Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . 13
Peru Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Catalonia Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Piemonte Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chile Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Provence Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Dalmatian Coast Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Tuscany & Umbria Walking . . . . . . . . . 25
Holland Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tuscany Self-Guided Walking. . . . . . . 25
India Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Vietnam Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Indochina Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Ireland Bistro Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
MULTI-ACTIVE
Ireland Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Augusta Masters Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Japan Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Loire Chateaux Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
FAMILY
Morocco Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Iceland Family Multi-Active. . . . . . . . . 41
Morocco Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Loire Valley Family Biking . . . . . . . . . . 18
Myanmar Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Morocco Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Normandy Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Myanmar Family Multi-Active . . . . . . 47
Normandy Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Normandy Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . 15
Normandy Self-Guided Biking . . . . . . 15
Peru Family Multi-Active . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Piemonte Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tuscany Family Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Prague to Vienna Biking . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vienna to Prague Family Biking. . . . 39
Provence Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking. 49
Provence Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Provence Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . . 17
REST OF BOOK
Puglia Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Activity Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Puglia Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
How We Go. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Rioja Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Our Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Tuscany Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Private Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Tuscany Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Fine Print. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Tuscany Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . . . 23
Tripfinder by Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking. . . . . 26
What’s Included. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Vietnam Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
What’s New. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Wine Grand Journeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
BIKING
WALKING
Alsace & Champagne Biking. . . . . . . . 21
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking. . . . . . . 30
Andalucia Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Amalfi Coast Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Argentina Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Burgundy Self-Guided Walking . . . . . 13
Atlantic France Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Corsica Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Berlin to Dresden Biking . . . . . . . . . . 39
Iceland Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking . . . . . . 21
Italian Lakes Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Burgundy Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Morocco Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Burgundy Bistro Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Myanmar Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Burgundy Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . 13
Peru Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Catalonia Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Piemonte Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chile Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Provence Walking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Dalmatian Coast Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Tuscany & Umbria Walking. . . . . . . . . 25
Holland Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tuscany Self-Guided Walking. . . . . . . 25
India Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Vietnam Walking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Indochina Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Ireland Bistro Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
MULTI-ACTIVE
Ireland Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Augusta Masters Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Japan Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Loire Chateaux Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
FAMILY
Morocco Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Iceland Family Multi-Active. . . . . . . . . 41
Morocco Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Loire Valley Family Biking . . . . . . . . . . 18
Myanmar Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Morocco Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Normandy Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Myanmar Family Multi-Active . . . . . . 47
Normandy Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Normandy Family Biking. . . . . . . . . . . 15
Normandy Self-Guided Biking . . . . . . 15
Peru Family Multi-Active . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Piemonte Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Tuscany Family Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Prague to Vienna Biking . . . . . . . . . . 39
Vienna to Prague Family Biking. . . . 39
Provence Biking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking. 49
Provence Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Provence Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . . 17
REST OF BOOK
Puglia Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Activity Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Puglia Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
How We Go. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Rioja Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Our Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Tuscany Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Private Trips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Tuscany Bistro Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Fine Print. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Tuscany Self-Guided Biking. . . . . . . . . 23
Tripfinder by Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking. . . . . 26
What’s Included. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Vietnam Biking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
What’s New. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Wine Grand Journeys. . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
We believe in nourishing the body and soul. At B&R we’re inclined to agree with Frederico Fellini, who once observed that life is a combination of magic and pasta. The pasta we leave to the experts—after all, they’re usually willing to let us watch them make it in the kitchen. And the magic? Leave that to us. We know that planning the perfect trip can be stressful. That’s why we make it our mission to do everything— magically—from detailed planning to flawless execution. We wave our wand and whisk you away, stress-free. We’re constantly tweaking our favourite trips, conjuring up new surprises, and providing insider access to undiscovered places. Of course, the real magic stems from our travellers: the kind of fun, curious dining companions that make a good meal great. After all, we’re also devoted fans of Julia Child, who said that people who love to eat are the best people— especially, we would add, if they like to whet their appetites with a little biking or walking.
— George & Norm
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON 窶｢ WHY B&R
Why B&R? 4窶ェOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
WHY B&R • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Peerless Routes We plan our routes like crazy. We nurture and craft them like fine wines, tap our local connections, tweak, rehearse and iron out the glitches. They’re endless works-in-progress. We just can’t help ourselves.
Culinary Immersion Since our first forkful of cannelloni au brocciu, we’ve believed that true cultural adventurers don’t eat to live. They live to eat. So if you see the biking and walking as mere interludes between one unforgettable meal and the next, you’ve come to the right place.
Unique Hotels The best hotels aren’t always hotels. They’re a private château, our Moroccan friend’s secluded riad, a French auberge in an unmarked alley or an isolated estate on an Andalucian hilltop. Good thing we know the secret handshake.
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 5
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • WHY B&R
Your Pace We’re big on marching to the tune of our own drummer, so you don’t have to worry about keeping time with anyone but yourself. Feel like doing wheelies and extra hills? Be our guest. Prefer to go at a glacial pace? Hop in the van? Be our guest.
Awesome Guides Our guides have the globetrotting expertise of a secret agent and the joie de vivre of an escaped goat. Equally prepared to summit a mountain, build an aqueduct or sing an aria, they’re fascinating and fluent. You should see their CVs.
Cultural Immersion We like to get up close and in deep. But to get the inside scoop, you have to know the locals, or spend so much time on their turf that you actually become one. Count on doors opening for you. And an experience you could never, ever have on your own.
6 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
Why B&R?
Why B&R?
No Worries We take care of absolutely everything, from arranging a Yin yoga class for you, to finding a pharmacist to refill that prescription you forgot about, to ensuring your water bottle is always full. We anticipate your every need. We’d rather you deliberated about more pressing matters. Like when to hit the spa.
Fellow Travellers Our travellers have one thing in common: they prefer to see the world moment by moment, rather than rushing to cross stuff off on their bucket list. They’re exceptional people. Exceptionally down-to-earth as well. And many of them choose to travel with us again and again.
Exceptional Wine One way to a culture’s heart is through its wine cellars, so we explore them as obsessively as the region’s customs and cuisine. Prepare for private tours, tastings, and access to our favourite artisanal winemakers. Novice or oenophile, we’ll find you something spectacular to sniff, swirl and savour.
8 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
ALSACE, AMALFI COAST, ANDALUCIA, AUSTRIA, BORDEAUX, BURGUNDY, CATALONIA, CHAMPAGNE, CORSICA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DALMATIAN COAST, DORDOGNE, GERMANY, HOLLAND, ICELAND, IRELAND, ITALIAN LAKES, LOIRE VALLEY, NORMANDY, PIEMONTE, PROVENCE, PUGLIA, RIOJA, TUSCANY, UMBRIA
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • FRANCE
Burgundy Biking Sip legendary Côte de Nuits, Grand Crus and Pinot Noirs in French wine’s ancestral home. Dine on Michelin meals and hearty country fare at local haunts which only we can find, because our lineage here means we are the locals. Stunning landscapes? Of course. But mostly wine, wine every where. And every drop to drink.
Jayne Eyre-Renard, Domaine Newman’s winemaker and tasting pro extraordinaire, is our go-to Burgundy wine expert. Jayne worked in a Melbourne wine boutique, moved to Burgundy to learn more, and never left! Recently featured in the prestigious La Revue des Vins de France, she loves sharing her knowledge of the best of Bourgogne with B&R. Read more about Jayne at: Butterfield.com/blog
Working off that plate of boeuf bourguignon. Our guide said there's a medieval hospital in Beaune if I get sluggish. Hope she's kidding.
12 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
FRANCE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
BURGUNDY
Trips BURGUNDY BIKING Explore the unhurried pleasures of historic Beaune, our second home, where our countless friends tip us off about the best patisseries, cycling routes and picnic spots. You’ll bike the Hautes-Côtes and Ouche Valley, sip Grand Crus in the vineyard where they were born, and dine at Abbaye de La Bussière. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JULY, AUG, SEP MODERATE FROM US$5,495 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
BURGUNDY BISTRO BIKING A vintage B&R trip. Literally. Pinot in the north, Chardonnay in the south, and superb riding between. Pedal the red wine route through the spectacular Côte de Nuits to a private picnic. Explore Beaune’s unique wine heritage. Pinch yourself daily. This is a Bistro trip, so it's slightly pared down from our marquee trip, but equally fabulous. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, OCT MODERATE US$3,995 (+$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
BURGUNDY SELF-GUIDED BIKING We may have planned everything—meticulously—but you set the course and go at your own pace. Ride the famed Côte d’Or, head for the Hautes-Côtes and Ouche Valley. Crave varied landscapes? Blink and the scenery changes. Long for local camaraderie? Hang out with our Beaune friends. (We go way back.) Dine at spectacular Abbaye de La Bussière.
BURGUNDY SELF-GUIDED WALKING We've paid painstaking attention to every last detail so you don't have to. Stroll Côte de Nuits vineyards. Tread Beaune’s ancient cobblestones. Enjoy superb hidden vineyards, deep woods and gastronomic pleasures at La Cueillette. Our best friends soon become yours. They share insider secrets about all the best everything.
5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES
5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES
MODERATE
EASYGOING TO MODERATE
FROM US$3,295 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FROM US$2,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 13
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • FRANCE
Normandy Behold history at every turn in this stunning strip of white sand beaches with thatched cottages, exceptional biking and rich cultural heritage. You’re in France, after all. Adult time: Camembert, Calvados, fruits de mer. Kid time: horseback riding, sand-yachting on Utah beach, the wonderfully wacky Satie Museum. Family Time: bear witness to the extraordinarily moving past.
Don’t even think of dining in Normandy without sipping on Calvados. This Basse-Normandie apple brandy is typically served as a digestif post-meal, but it’s also traditional to sip smaller shots as a palate cleanser mid-meal. Called the trou normand (literally, the Norman hole), the name means the pause between courses. Read more about Calvados at: Butterfield.com/blog
The salty French sea air has done something remarkable to my hair. I think it's a sign. 14 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
FRANCE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
NORMANDY
Trips NORMANDY BIKING History is inescapable here. Cycle the Channel coast past white sand beaches, thatched cottages, ancient abbeys, and feel its pages turning. The locals know stories. Meet Monsieur Heintz, resistance fighter and raconteur extraordinaire. Visit two Norman classics (Deauville and Bayeux), enjoy a seafood dinner quayside and plenty of kir normands. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL, AUG MODERATE FROM US$5,295 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
NORMANDY BISTRO BIKING For those who desire the B&R magic, but with fewer bells and whistles, we offer this Bistro trip. Pedal through the past from 1066 to 1944, meet locals whose love for the land and sea is nonpareil, and immerse yourself in nine centuries of cultural refinement. Invasion is a must. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL MODERATE FROM US$3,995 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
NORMANDY FAMILY BIKING Want your tech-jazzed kids to understand why history matters? Bring them to a place where what actually happened trumps virtual reality. Bike past landing beaches and tour the American cemetery together. We promise they’ll be transfixed. And for R&R? They ride horses and chariot-sail. You sip Calvados in a 16thC castle. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL MODERATE FROM US$5,495 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
NORMANDY SELF-GUIDED BIKING NEW! We’ve been planning trips here practically since the Norman conquest so we know the quiet roads, quaint villages and local farm for homemade ice cream. Historic landing beaches. Impressionist Honfleur. The monumental Bayeux Tapestry. Cycle with a veteran of the 101st airborne whose stories of heroism will move you to tears. 5 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$3,295 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 15
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON 窶｢ FRANCE
I have adopted a goat. The locals assure me it's the only way to recreate their flawless Banon cheese. A worthwhile investment, in my opinion.
PROVENCE
It takes ten pounds of olives to make one litre of oil. And a lot of Provenﾃｧal patience The Greeks believed olive trees were a hallmark of civilization. They introduced the tree to Provence 25 centuries ago. Since then, the groves have become a culinary fixture, bearing fruit that takes months to harvest and press. Read more at: Butterfield.com/blog
16窶ジE LOVE TO TALK TRAVEL 1.866.902.8977
FRANCE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Provence If you’re prone to OD-ing on breathtaking beauty, you won’t stand a chance in the landscape that drew Cézanne and Van Gogh. You can’t gaze at shimmering light and smoky cypress spires all day without fainting from sensory overload. Don’t worry, though. We’ll revive you with an emergency infusion of lavender chocolate. It works wonders.
Trips PROVENCE BIKING You call it Provence. We call it magnifique. The light is astoundingly beautiful. Ask Van Gogh. The locals are so authentic you’d think they were sent by Central Casting. Lavender landscapes, gnarled olive trees, majestic cypresses, centuries of history, culture and cuisine. Plus some twinkling Michelin stars, of course. As we said, magnifique. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE FROM US$4,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PROVENCE BISTRO BIKING For those who crave the B&R touch, but prefer fewer bells and whistles, consider our Bistro trip. Cycle the Alpilles (think moonscapes), the Luberon Valley (think lush vineyards and perched villages), Vaucluse (think blankets of lavender). Tour Les Baux with Marie, and swoon tasting wine at Le Domaine de Marie. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: SEP, OCT MODERATE FROM US$3,995 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PROVENCE WALKING Meet our friends Mathilde, Mireille and Coco, who’ll bring St-Rémy to life for you. You’ll stroll vineyard paths, enjoy Michelin dining in Les Baux, and walk sweet trails in Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lacoste. Life moves in slow-mo here, so it’s perfect for seizing the moment. Luckily, they’re all sublime.
PROVENCE SELF-GUIDED BIKING We set the stage; you decide how the drama unfolds. Will you sip on a glass of Gauby’s Muntada in the ochre-red village of Roussillon, ride a bike up the “bald beast of Provence,” tour the vistas Van Gogh made famous, or drift lazily in the pool? Your call entirely.
5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, SEP, OCT
5 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES
MODERATE
MODERATE
FROM US$4,995 (+$1,400 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FROM US$3,295 (+$1,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 17
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • FRANCE
Loire Valley Expect the royal treatment in the storied heart of rural France where gallant knights wooed fair maidens and kings entertained consorts in grand châteaux. But this is also gastronomic heaven, so plan on delectable Saint-Maure de Touraine goat cheese, bracing Chenins, crisp Sauvignon Blancs, peppery Cabernet Francs and that happy epicurean accident—the Tarte Tatin.
Trips LOIRE CHATEAUX BIKING Live like Richard the Lionheart, if only for a week. Dine in a Michelin chef’s home and ride it off the next day cycling strikingly beautiful country roads. Receive red carpet treatment at a trio of palatial châteaux and manor houses. Plan on wine inauguration into the Entonneurs Rabelaisiens at Chinon. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, SEP EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,695 (+$1,200 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
LOIRE FAMILY BIKING How would you like to live a fairytale and share the magic with your kids? You hang out in royalty’s ancient playground indulging your passion for splendid cycling, regal landscapes and Rabelaisian tales. Your kids indulge theirs for canoeing, carousing and wildly fun swordplay. Only the young and young-at-heart need apply. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL, AUG EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,695 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
LOIRE FAMILY PRIVATE Maybe you wouldn’t mind spending time in the centuries-old playground of the French aristocracy. Maybe you have a penchant for pastoral countryside, riverside paths and storybook castles. Maybe your tastes lean more toward travelling by hot air balloon to a royal feast. Your wish is our command.
LOIRE VALLEY
5 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,995
18 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
FRANCE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
The kids went ziplining, so we had the château to ourselve s. Hey, there are worse things…
Take two French sisters, a pastry flop, and a pressing need to improvise. The result? Mind-blowing Tarte Tatin. The hotelier-restaurateur Tatin sisters lacked an oven to cook an apple tart so they used the stove, but the pastry always burned and the apples ended up raw. They tried flipping the order, and voilà! The Tarte Tatin was born. Find the recipe for Tarte Tatin at: Butterfield.com/blog
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 19
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • FRANCE
Rest of France We could mention the tranquil biking, ravishing vistas, rugged white cliffs and windswept seascapes, but the scenic wonders of Bordeaux, the Dordogne, Corsica and northern coastal France are far more memorable when paired with renowned vintages, fresh foie gras, transcendent dining, and oysters that travel from sea to table in a matter of hours.
Bordeaux winemakers like to mix up their grapes. Just don’t tell the Burgundians. Burgundy natives consider it blasphemy, but Bordeaux winemakers happily blend varietals. Since crop quality varies annually, combining Merlot, Cab Sauvignon and Cab Franc grapes means more dependable, albeit slightly less exclusive wines than their Burgundian cousins. Read more about Bordeaux wines at: Butterfield.com/blog
The French have many sides to them. Cliffside, seaside, riverside. And roadside, my favourite for snacks.
20 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
FRANCE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
CHAMPAGNE
Trips BORDEAUX CORSICA
BORDEAUX TO DORDOGNE BIKING We begin in Bordeaux, where the biking is flatter and the wine is anything but, then delve deeply into the medieval charm and verdant splendour of the Dordogne Valley. Pedalling back in time past castles and prehistoric caves, relishing two dinners prepared by phenom chefs in the Michelin way—ah, La France Profonde! 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, AUG, SEP MODERATE FROM US$5,695 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ATLANTIC FRANCE BIKING NEW! Cycle islands those in the know consider the most fashionable on the French Atlantic coast. Savour our favourite bivalves (Marennes-Oléron oysters), sailboat picnics and flat seaside biking. Like the windswept ride to your candlelit dinner in a medieval castle, these radiant isles nestled secretly between Brittany and Bordeaux will take your breath away. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP EASYGOING US$5,795 (+$1,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
CORSICA WALKING NEW! Blue lagoons, white cliffs, green maquis and startling azure waters. Or maybe they’re aquamarine. You’ll debate the colour all day. Take in a bronze-age castle and farm-fresh meals on this idiosyncratic island. Not quite French, but not quite Italian either. Plan to be happily marooned. Just bring your supersized sunglasses. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, SEP MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$5,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ALSACE & CHAMPAGNE BIKING NEW! Two French traditions and tastes, both dreamy for the soul and palate. You’ll encounter proud Alsatians, stars of the Michelin (and more ethereal) variety, sleep above Anselme Selosse’s own Champagne cellar, enjoy perfect days drifting through villages and vineyards, and more bubbly than you can possibly imbibe, but will try anyway. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, SEP EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,995 (+$1,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
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B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • I TA LY
Tuscany Biking Every day’s a feast for the palate and soul. Feast on panoramic vistas as you cycle rolling hills to fabled towns that have stood sentry since the Middle Ages. Feast on Super Tuscans nurtured by maestros whose skills have been honed over countless generations. Feast on pappa al pomodoro and exquisitely nuanced extra-virgins. Feast on life.
Tuscans don’t usually raise pigs, but they sure can cure prosciutto. Producers fiercely guard recipes. The Medicis were renowned art patrons, but less celebrated for perfecting the art of making Prosciutto Toscano, Italy’s most prized version. Ask for hand cut (the electric slicer’s heat alters flavour), and eat immediately. As if you could wait. Read the full story at: Butterfield.com/blog
The best thing about riding up the Tuscan hills was coasting down. Especially with Michelangelo waiting for us at the bottom. 22 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
I TA LY • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
TUSCANY
Trips TUSCANY BIKING There will be moments on this trip when you’ll start doing the math so you can ditch your life and stay here forever. Happens every time. The views! The olive groves! The hilltop towns! The Super Tuscans! The pecorino on Signor Bindi’s family farm! As the kids like to say, OMG! 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT MODERATE FROM US$5,295 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
TUSCANY BISTRO BIKING For those who prefer fewer bells and whistles, consider our Bistro trip. Five days biking in southern Tuscany cures just about anything. Here’s our magic potion: Start in Chianti, finish in Chiana. Between, historic Siena, hip Cortona and all the pecorino, olive oil and Brunello you can handle. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$3,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
TUSCANY FAMILY BIKING Take your kids biking in Tuscany and spark their adrenaline in our idea of a kick-ass theme park. Bike the famed Crete Senesi; stay at hotels that LOVE children; they learn about flag throwing and make pizza, pici pasta and tiramisu; you sample Chianti, Prosecco and other big-kid pleasures. That's an E-bike! (Optional on most trips)
5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL, AUG MODERATE FROM US$4,495 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
TUSCANY SELF-GUIDED BIKING A self-guided trip, with B&R’s legendary planning and inside access. Freewheel it across the stunning hills south of Siena and more easygoing Val di Chiana, stopping to meet our many Tuscan friends enroute. Picnic of panini terracina or gourmet lunch? Walking tour of Siena, biking to Spaltenna or dip in the pool? You’re in charge. 5 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$3,495 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
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B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • I TA LY
Today we discovered that everything tastes better with wild boar sauce. Pasta? Better. Steak? Better. Mints I found in my breast pocket? Better. TUSCANY UMBRIA
Relatively dry, Chianti wines are remarkably versatile. You can take them anywhere. Ruby in youth, garnet in maturity, primarily made with Sangiovese grapes, Chianti reds complement pasta, roasted white meats, red meats and game. Try Vino Nòbile di Montepulciano, the “king of all wines” according to a 17thC poet. Read more at: Butterfield.com/blog
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I TA LY • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Tuscany Walking It’s not your average country stroll since it comes with cypress trees, Roman battlefields, Renaissance cathedrals and storied views, but we promise you’ll acclimate quickly. We also promise a sublime epicurean experience every step of the way. Care for torta al testo? Mamma Dina’s homemade pasta? Put on your walking shoes. Adventure beckons—culinary and otherwise.
Trips TUSCANY & UMBRIA WALKING What do you get when you cross Tuscany with its lesser-known but equally charming neighbour? Assisi’s famed basilica (and chic spa hotel), eclectic Cortona bustling with artists, majestic Spoleto in the heart of Umbria’s wine country, and sensational walking across a landscape of rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, SEP MODERATE FROM US$4,795 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
TUSCANY SELF-GUIDED WALKING Want to run the show? Spend the morning doing an extra trail loop? The afternoon doing some piazza sitting? Feel free. We supply our famous planning, insider access, stellar walking routes, varied scenery, Montepulciano and Pienza, plus Giovanni, a hilarious, Roberto Benigni-esque Italian who knows everything about and everybody in Cortona. 5 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$2,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ROME, FLORENCE & CINQUE TERRE PRIVATE NEW! Travel trio extraordinaire. Rome and the Vatican by foot with Romans who care passionately about their birthplace. Florence’s Piazza della Signoria and incomparable Uffizi. Shift gears and hike terraced hillsides with sublime sea views. On the Ligurian Riviera, colourful Camogli and picturesque Portofino. Centuries-old culture and gastronomy. Varied. Fascinating. Fabulous. 9 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$6,295
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B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • I TA LY
Northern Italy What if you visited cities that inspired Shakespeare to pen Romeo and Juliet and Shylock to ask, “What news on the Rialto?” What if we told you you’d pedal flat farmland and riverside bike paths in the land of Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamic vinegar and pumpkin tortelloni? Should we go on—or have you heard enough?
Trips VERONA TO VENICE BISTRO BIKING NEW! This is the land of Parmigiano-Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, pumpkin tortelloni and Parma ham, so don’t plan on restraint. Ride through charming villages such as Borghetto and Sabbioneta, catch the buzz of small city life while staying in the heart of Ferrara and Mantova, and glide in gondolas to your private Venetian hosts in the legendary city of canals. Timeless and extraordinary in every sense, scenic and culinary. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT EASYGOING FROM US$4,495 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ITALIAN LAKES WALKING So here’s the deal: Old World elegance, minus the cravat. Rustic pleasures. Mind-bogglingly beautiful walks linked by private boats and a cog railway. The charm and chic of Lugano, Stresa and Bellagio. A beer over Lake Lugano. A morning cappuccino gazing at snowcapped Swiss Alps. The good life, full stop. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$6,495 (+$2,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
Write this down: if New York had gondolas instead of cabs, I think we'd all be a lot happier. 26 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
I TA LY • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
ITALIAN LAKES VENETO PIEMONTE
Trips PIEMONTE BIKING This is where foodies dream of retiring. They imagine spending their days taking a pasta class with a master chef in the birthplace of Slow Food, doing some Michelin-starred dining in the Roero hills and spectacular biking through legendary vineyards (while scoping great local trattorie). Fortunately, we offer retirement previews. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, SEP MODERATE US$5,295 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PIEMONTE WALKING Think Burgundy—elegant small hotels, quiet vineyard trails, insanely great food—but a little hillier, with an Italian stamp, and hardly any North American tourists. Hunt for truffles with great views of the Alps and sample wines with our friends the winemakers. Foodie Shangri-La, plain and simple. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, SEP MODERATE US$5,295 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
Piemonte You don’t have to come for the truffles alone. You can come to savour Barolos or the birthplace of Slow Food. But if you do come just for the truffles, rest assured you won’t be the first. Feel like expanding your horizons? Non c'è problema. Piemonte has the most Michelin stars in Italy. And the Alps.
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B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • I TA LY
Puglia Tuscany: You’d better look over your shoulder. Puglia is gaining on you. Its location may be down at the heel, but there’s nothing remotely shabby about its sun-dappled coastal cycling routes, whitewashed villages and charming locals. This Greco-Italian offspring boasts Roman ruins, trulli, and for the locavores, field-to-table cucina rustica and handmade orecchiette.
Our guide joked that it's trendy take over Puglia. Everyone's done it: the Spanish, the Turks, the Greeks, the Germans…but one look at her emerald waters and suddenly I was in a conquering mood too.
28 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
I TA LY • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Trips PUGLIA
PUGLIA BIKING Perched on the Adriatic, marked by Greeks, Romans, Venetians, Normans and Spaniards, Puglia embodies the magic of Old Italy. Picture olive groves, whitewashed towns, stone trulli, sublime coastal rides, sun-soaked villages, charming locals, remarkably undiscovered biking, apéritifs in Lecce’s Piazza del Duomo and a porcini lasagna at a local trattoria. Seriously. 6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,295 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PUGLIA BISTRO BIKING For those who prefer fewer bells and whistles, we offer this Bistro trip. Soul-stirring cycling across a coastal landscape marked by civilizations. An exclusive olive oil demo at the Masseria Monacelli and a boutique hotel just a stone’s throw from the beach. UNESCO-protected trulli, Renaissance Lecce, and prosecco in a famed cathedral’s shadow. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, SEP, OCT EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$3,995 (+$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
You can’t visit Puglia without scoring a great recipe for homemade orecchiette Named for its shape (translation “small ear”), the hands-down favourite Pugliese pasta dish orecchiette comes from the cucina povera tradition: use nourishing local ingredients, flavour with herbs and spices. Read the full interview at: Butterfield.com/blog
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B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • I TA LY
Amalfi Coast On the coast, everything sparkles, from jewelled coves to glitterati. At the lakes, it’s all about Old World grandeur. Further south, travel from the fabled coastline to the Path of the Gods (is that Capri over yonder?) to Le Sirenuse for a Champagne millésime (OMG, I think it’s Reese Witherspoon!). Boredom? Impossibile!
Trips AMALFI COAST WALKING Beauty and glamour writ large, from Capri to the cliffs of Positano, from Amalfi Town to Ravello. They don’t call it The Path of the Gods for nothing: you’ll be speechless. Hungry? Salvatore brings lunch from the village... by horse. This place is so ravishing, your heart will stand still. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$7,995 (+$3,200 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
AMALFI COAST BISTRO WALKING See the coast as it was meant to be seen—from the water, and OD on beauty: colourful fishing villages clinging to towering slopes, dramatic cliffside vistas, hidden bays and beaches (explored by private boat), historic Ravello, Positano and Amalfi Town. Slightly pared down from our marquee trip, but still fabulous. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$5,995 (+$1,400 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
As our guide says,"what happens in the devastatingly beautiful Path of the Gods stays in the devastatingly beautiful Path of the Gods."
AMALFI COAST
30 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
I TA LY • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Amalfitano lemons are lemons on steroids. Ideal for making limoncello, an elixir for the gods. Take a sfusato amalfitano, basically a beach ball-sized lemon (okay, we exaggerate), peel it, steep it in grain alcohol to release the oils, then add simple syrup. Presto! Limoncello. A tart, refreshing liqueur for a scorching Amalfi day. Read more fascinating limoncello lore at: Butterfield.com/blog
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 31
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N 窶｢ S PA I N
Maybe it's the tapas. Maybe it's the Jerez. But that Salvador Dalﾃｭ I saw earlier is starting to make a lot of sense. RIOJA CATALONIA
ANDALUCIA
Go on a tapas crawl in Rioja. Just remember to ask for pintxos. Start with bread. Stack with scallops, prawn, anchovy and more. Stick the towering concoction with a toothpick. (Pintxo means spike or thorn in Basque.) The toothpick holds the pintxos together and tells the waiter how many you inhaled. Brilliant, no? Read more about tapas at: Butterfield.com/blog
32窶ジE LOVE TO TALK TRAVEL 1.866.902.8977
S PA I N • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Spain Andalucia, Catalonia, Rioja: three astonishingly different regions of Spain with one thing en común: stunning biking. Pedal your way through a captivating Spanish-Arab cultural mash-up; bike through bucolic countryside in the shadow of the Pyrénées (fueled by mouth-watering tapas, of course); or cycle from one Old World vineyard to the next, stopping to soak up mind-boggling art and architecture along the way (not to mention the wine).
Trips ANDALUCIA BIKING NEW! This swath of Spain has a startling Arabic streak. By day, pedal the stunning Abdalajis valley (endless orange groves, shimmering wheat fields); by night, linger over honey-coloured Jerez. Learn the art of carving a jamon iberico and savour real gazpacho. If we can drag you inside, your legendary hilltop estate awaits. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$5,695 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
CATALONIA BIKING Pedal cycling heaven (volcanic flats dwarfed by the Pyrénées, rolling pastoral hills, the ruggedly beautiful Costa Brava) in a place we’ve travelled longer than anyone. This is Gaudí, Picasso and Dalí territory. (You’ll learn about the latter at the museum in Figueres.) Villages character-stamped by the ages. Habaneras singers, too. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE US$5,295 (+$700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
RIOJA BIKING Think Rioja and you tend to think award-winning wine, but artistic and culinary creativity has exploded here, plus there’s the gravity-defying architecture; so now think wine and cutting-edge design. Don’t forget spectacular rides along gorgeous vineyard roads, the ever-changing landscapes, fortified towns, medieval history and Michelin dining. Bottom line? Divine. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, SEP, OCT MODERATE FROM US$5,995 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 33
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • I R E LAND
Ireland Biking Take a mythic landscape that’s remote, unspoiled and gleams like an emerald. Fill it with some of the warmest people on the planet. Add a fiddle, a jig, and a pint (or three) of Guinness. Dine on Connemara lamb, sip an Irish coffee, and hear a spellbinding story about the leprechaun’s gold.
You haven’t really lived until you’ve tasted Kate and Simon Kennedy’s superb, mouth-watering mussels. Killary Fjord is the perfect petri dish for raising rope mussels. The Atlantic tide flows down the fjord carrying phytoplankton, their natural food source. (Apparently mussels demand organic, too.) Seawater combines with fresh water from mountain steams, creating sweet, distinctive mussels.
Can't understand half of what these people are saying, but their friendly hugs are explanation enough. (So are the glasses of Guinness they keep handing us.) 34 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
IRELAND • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Trips IRELAND BISTRO BIKING Cycle heart-stoppingly beautiful and windswept terrain, at times verdant, and lunar. Enjoy oysters on the beach, a quiet pub dinner in Leenane, lunch at locally revered Healy’s in County Mayo. Fewer bells and whistles on this Bistro-style trip, but always a warm, embracing Irish welcome. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL, AUG MODERATE FROM US$4,495 (+$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
IRELAND FAMILY BIKING Explore the heart of Connemara: Jaw-dropping coastal rides, sheep herding, pony rides on the beach, learning to dance Sean-nos, and impromptu songs. Kids swing through the forest in the shadow of the Mweelrea Mountains while mom and dad learn what craic means over Guinness. Smiling eyes everywhere. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL MODERATE FROM US$4,495 (+$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
IRELAND PRIVATE NEW! Grab a pint, dance a jig, laugh 'til it aches, relish riveting stories and warm welcomes wherever you go. It’s been said the Irish know life will break your heart. That’s probably why they live every moment as if it’s their last. You’ll love this place. Guaranteed. 6 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$5,995
IRELAND
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 35
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • HOLLAND
Holland Bike the North Sea coast’s picturesque farmlands, dunes and polders, where windmills dot the landscape and the works of Dutch Masters spring magically to life. For the culinary aesthete: Michelin dining at Manoir Inter Scaldes. Brandade of sea sturgeon, white grapes and olive oil, anyone? Finish with a hit of urban sophistication in The Hague.
Trips HOLLAND BIKING The North Sea coast inspired the Dutch Masters. Now it’s your turn to be moved by its beauty. Wonderfully flat biking along endless towpaths, polders and dykes. Coastal dunes. Farm roads where windmills spin into view. The Hague and Holland’s grandest, most elegant hotel. Tulips, of course—and Michelin dining, too. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, MAY EASYGOING FROM US$5,795 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
HOLLAND
Our guide keeps reminding us that we have lives and families back home. "You can't all drop everything and become Dutch farmers," she insists. 36 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
DA L M AT I A N C OA S T • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
CROATIA DALMATIAN COAST
Trips DALMATIAN COAST BIKING How do you feel about cruising barely explored inlets, swimming in the Adriatic, cycling spectacular coastal roads? And base camp? Our private gulet—sleeps eight max. Your wish is the crew’s command. Hvar Town, Korcula, Dubrovnik, too. Thought you might like the lineup. What don’t we offer? Teeming ferries, horrendous waits. 7 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL, AUG, SEP MODERATE TO CHALLENGING US$9,995 (+$5,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
CROATIA PRIVATE NEW! Sailors have long explored the Dalmatian Coast, but not like this! By bike and foot, roam the remote countryside and spectacular beach-side trails of these breathtaking islands. Coast into towns where our private gulet awaits to set sail for secluded coves and villages. A sumptuous, stylish way to experience the sparkling Adriatic. 7 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$8,500
Dalmatian Coast Set a course for coastal roads less travelled and a sparkling turquoise necklace of islands and inlets few have explored. Evenings, repair to the deck of our private gulet (a.k.a. yacht) for smart cocktails, supreme service and stunning sunsets. Other roadside attractions? Dubrovnik. Korcula. Vis. Hvar. History and stupefying beauty at every turn.
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BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • EASTERN EUROPE
Eastern Europe
LOCAL FLAVOUR
The pedalling is serene between Vienna (where enjoying a leisurely mokka and slice of Topfenstrudel is practically a moral imperative) and Prague (where raising a glass of Pilsner is equally obligatory). Follow the lazy Danube through largely unexplored countryside. Breakfast on hléb in Bohemia’s breadbasket. Want a checklist? Pastoral beauty. Urban sophistication. Stately elegance. History. Modernity.
Move over Riesling. Austria’s Grüner Veltliner is an exotic dry white with a swagger. If Riesling is to Austrian wine what the Habsburgs were to the country, Grüner Veltliner stands Austria’s Crown Prince. The heir apparent, the people’s favourite, lurking behind a marble column or moss-covered oak tree, dagger in hand. And what does it taste like? It tastes the way a delightfully fresh and refreshing white wine should taste. It’s zesty and zingy, tart and with pizazz. Read more at: Butterfield.com/blog
There's no sunset quite like a sunset in the fields of an Austrian fortress. Except sunset in the fields of an Austrian fortress with a bottle of 1992 Grüner.
38 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
EASTERN EUROPE • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
CZECH REPUBLIC
AUSTRIA
Trips PRAGUE TO VIENNA BIKING Picture Prague’s bohemian chic, Vienna’s stately Old World elegance and the two majestic rivers they bestride. Picture delightfully flat vineyard cycling along the Danube, and Vienna in grand style. Picture towering castles and hilltop monasteries. And to complete the picture? An intimate, private dinner at the oh-solegendary Landhaus Bacher. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
VIENNA TO PRAGUE FAMILY BIKING Ride Austria’s Wachau Valley past thousand-year-old towns, and bike along the Danube through vineyards, villages and medieval ruins to the Czech Republic (stopping for a falconry demo enroute). Enjoy Czech hospitality, goulash, Pilsner, and cycle past Bohemia’s castles and churches to fairytale Český Krumlov. Your Bohemian rhapsody ends in Prague. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL, AUG EASYGOING TO MODERATE US$4,495 (+$500 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
BERLIN TO DRESDEN BIKING In counterpoint to the urban sophistication of Berlin, Potsdam and Dresden—three dynamic cities teeming with culture—you’ll discover the “lost” Germany of the former East, the craggy cliffs of the Swiss Saxony woods (they stretch into Bohemia), the Elbe River valley, Sanssouci’s gardens and palaces, and tons of riveting history. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP EASYGOING FROM US$5,795 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 39
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • ICELAND
," our " Don't step in the lava say . But he didn't guide quipped t the geysers. anything abou s. r the caves. Or the waterfall O ICELAND
Hákarl and Brennivin, Iceland’s answer to tea and biscuits, are not for the faint of heart. Anthony Bourdain called hákarl the single most disgusting thing he’d ever eaten. Gordon Ramsay violently spit it out. But in Iceland, fermented shark meat is a delicacy. It’s often served with the 80-proof liquor Brennivin, literally “burning wine.” Bring Tums. Read more fascinating facts about both Icelandic specialties here: Butterfield.com/blog
40 WE LOVE TO TALK TRAVEL 1.866.902.8977
ICELAND • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Iceland Legendary is the most overworked word here. It covers everything from the landscapes and lore to the wildlife and hospitality of the people. The world’s largest puffin colony lives in the Westman Islands. Even Icelanders consider them remote. Mindful eating? Icelanders have always been ahead of the curve: the Vikings brought grass-fed cows in the 8thC.
Trips ICELAND WALKING This is take-your-breath-away country: rugged coastline, soaring mountains, bubbling geysers, lunar lava fields and towering waterfalls. Hike volcanic craters around Mount Hekla followed by a lobster dinner in Stokkseyri. The land may be icy, the locals, anything but. Our off-road ride? A Super Jeep, the ultimate adventure vehicle. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN, JUL, AUG MODERATE TO CHALLENGING US$6,495 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ICELAND FAMILY MULTI-ACTIVE Consider this our magical mystery tour for kids: discover a fantasyland of untamed natural beauty where ancient sagas of sword-wielding Vikings spring to life, and trolls and elves are thought to roam the lava fields (which you’ll hike, by the way). You’ll also ride horses, go caving and glacier trekking. Entrancing. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL, AUG MODERATE US$6,295 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ICELAND PRIVATE NEW! A fantasy straight out of The Lord of The Rings where Viking legends come alive and elves are still thought to roam the lava fields. You’ll travel to hike them, trek glaciers, go caving and horseback riding in our own 4x4. Mt. Hekla and Snæfellsness lead right to Middle Earth. 6 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$6,995
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 41
B UT TERFIELD & ROB INSON • WIN E G R AN D JOU RN E YS
Wine Grand Journeys Oenophiles, experts or novices, combine your thirst for wine, travel and learning in the heart of Europe’s primo wine regions. Craving a crash course in French bubbly? Cab Sauvignons? What about Riojas or Alsace Rieslings? Prefer an embarrassment of rich Brunellos and Super Tuscans? Oh yeah, you'll amble, cycle vineyards and eat pretty well, too.
Trips GERMANY & FRANCE WINE GRAND JOURNEY Le Tour for wine lovers, but in France and Germany, and all gain, no pain. Two nights in the Mosel River Valley, three in Alsace (home of Riesling), three in Champagne (home of Moët), three in Michelinstarred Auberge de L’lll, twin bubbly capitals Epernay and Reims, marvelous vineyard biking, and exclusive everything. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUN EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$14,495 (+$2,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
ITALY WINE GRAND JOURNEY NEW! Sniff and sip your way through Piemonte and Tuscany (a viticultural embarrassment of riches). Sample sublime Barolos, full-bodied Brunellos and superb Super Tuscans (definitely no kitschy straw flasks). Visit three of the country’s finest producers, charming Alba and Montalcino, too. You’ll think you died and went to wine heaven. 9 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: SEP MODERATE FROM US$16,995 (+$3,700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
SPAIN & BORDEAUX WINE GRAND JOURNEY NEW! The great reds of Europe’s southwest: up-and-comer Ribera del Duero, stately Rioja, majestic Bordeaux (the Medoc and St-Emilion). Tastings, flights, and pairings, yes, but how to describe the unrivalled hotels, the sublime biking, the superb dining and the stop in chic, seaside San Sebastian? Just grand. 9 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, SEP
GERMANY FRANCE
SPAIN
ITALY
MODERATE FROM US$15,495 (+$2,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
42 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
WIN E G R AN D JOU RN E YS • B UT TERFIELD & ROB INSON
Deep. Delicate. Floral. Briery . Jammy. Leafy. Plummy. Tart. Beautifully unctuous. And those were just the vintners' personalities.
Meet Anselme Selosse: vintner, hotelier and rock star in Champagne and beyond. He was the first to use oak barrels to magnify his wines and think terroir in a region not an obvious choice for it. His encyclopedic wine list consists of vintages made exclusively by personal friends in France and abroad. Read more about Anselme’s remarkable innovations here: Butterfield.com/blog
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 43
ARGENTINA, BHUTAN, CAMBODIA, CANADA, CHILE, INDIA, JAPAN, LAOS, MOROCCO, MYANMAR, PERU, RWANDA, SOUTH AFRICA, TANZANIA, URUGUAY, USA, VIETNAM
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • M YA N M A R
Myanmar
LOCAL FLAVOUR
Discover serenity in the land of awakening democracy, floating villages, golden temples and the majestic Ayeyarwady. Sample complex cuisine influenced by five neighbouring countries and amplified with its own signature elements. Mornings: aromatic mohinga. Lunch: thoke—loosely translated as salad but such a riot of tastes and textures, you’ll have no trouble eating your greens.
Forget chai latte. For breakfast, try a rich, aromatic fish broth called mohinga. You'll love it. Look for street hawkers doing their morning rounds carrying a soup cauldron on a stove on one side of a shoulder pole and rice vermicelli, utensils and more piquant garnishes and sauces than a hot dog vendor offers on the other.
It turns out the best place to think isn't in the shower listening to The Village People: it's floating down the Ayeyarwady listening to the birds. 46 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
M YA N M A R • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
MYANMAR
Trips MYANMAR BIKING In one of the last untouched places in Southeast Asia, this extraordinary trip (a B&R standout) offers ancient cities, gentle, welcoming locals, lush countryside, golden pagodas and cycle-mad Mandalay. We cruise the Ayeyarwady in a deluxe vessel that's travelled the river since Kipling and Orwell did so many years ago. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JAN, FEB EASYGOING FROM US$7,695 (+$1,100 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
MYANMAR WALKING Myanmar’s compelling beauty, tranquility and mystery will slowly unfold as you traverse its lush countryside, explore its ancient villages and temples, drift along its currents in a riverboat and watch a sunset over the stupas. Breathtaking old Yangon, too. Experience this extraordinary land at a gentle, reflective pace. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JAN, FEB EASYGOING FROM US$7,395 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
MYANMAR FAMILY MULTI-ACTIVE NEW! Tell the kids they’ll go on a scavenger hunt through Yangon city, make Burmese puppets, have their fortunes told, and take part in a boat race on Inle Lake. For you? Shwedagon Pagoda, strolling through Mandalay’s glass palace and the forbidden city, dinner at hip La Planteur, and a chat with monks. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: CALL FOR DETAILS EASYGOING PRICE: CALL FOR DETAILS
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 47
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • VIETNAM
Is it bad to belly-laugh until you cry in front of the descendants of Vietnamese royalty? Not when they told the joke, right? VIETNAM
CAMBODIA
The Vietnamese consider serving mi Quang a love offering. It’s that good. This popular noodle dish from Quang Nam is made with turmeric-flavoured rice noodles, shrimp, pork or chicken broth seasoned with fish sauce, black pepper, shallots, garlic, peanuts, bánh tráng (toasted sesame rice) and more. Unlike pho, it has minimal broth.
48 WE LOVE TO TALK TRAVEL 1.866.902.8977
VIETNAM • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Vietnam Some say the people’s warmth and grace stole their hearts; others point to the region’s rich history and traditions. Still others hail its astonishingly varied cuisine. (And really, what doesn’t taste better with bird’s eye chili, Kampot pepper or Saigon cinnamon?) But we can’t distill its allure to a single element; there’s magic wherever you turn.
Trips VIETNAM BIKING (WITH CAMBODIA POST-TRIP) Roll past friendly villagers and groups of laughing schoolchildren. Experience the early morning bustle of the Hoi An market. Dine privately with royal descendants. Stay at the stunning Six Senses Hideaway. Then make an extraordinary experience even more so by spending three days post-trip exploring the spectacular Temples of Angkor. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JAN, FEB, MAR, DEC EASYGOING TO MODERATE US$6,995 (+$1,700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
VIETNAM TO CAMBODIA FAMILY BIKING Ten years in the making, this Vietnam trip is our pièce de résistance: ride cyclos in chaotic Hanoi, cruise the Perfume River, sign up for riverside cooking classes, savour a meal by one of Vietnam’s hottest local chefs, ride elephants through the jungle, and much, much more. Something for everyone. 8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: DEC EASYGOING TO MODERATE US$6,995 (+$1,600 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
INDOCHINA BIKING Cambodia. Laos. Vietnam. Three wildly different yet consistently captivating cultures in one unforgettable trip. Plan on exotic everything: from Angkor temples and heritage architecture to famed limestone islands and floating villages. You’ll cruise for miles along the Mekong River and receive a classic Lao welcome at a century-old villa. Triple threat.
VIETNAM WALKING (WITH CAMBODIA POST-TRIP) Think sensual feast: sunrise amble through Hoi An; twilight stroll through the Forbidden City; lazy boat ride up the Perfume River; scenic walks through tranquil countryside; incomparable stay at Six Senses Spa. Add three not-to-be-missed post-trip days exploring the Temples of Angkor. After that, your senses deserve a day off.
7 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, MAY, OCT, NOV
8 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JAN, FEB, DEC
EASYGOING TO MODERATE
EASYGOING TO MODERATE
FROM US$7,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
US$6,795 (+$1,700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 49
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • A S I A PAC I F I C
Asia Pacific Japan. India. Bhutan. Three countries. Countless wonders. In the magnificent Sha Valley, you certainly won’t lack for eye candy. In your meditative moments, you'll sip tea with monks, visit Buddhist shrines, Shinto temples, and soak in mountain hot springs. These cultures are complex, piquant and sweet, just like their cuisines. And incredibly soul-restoring.
Sake is to the Japanese what wine is to the French. Everything. Centuries ago, wet rice was accidentally left out to ferment in a pot. Today, tojis practice the fine art of sake making. Different aromas and flavours distinguish labels of this complex rice wine. Don’t forget to pour for guests first. Read more about sake here: Butterfield.com/blog
"Go on without us!" we cried, from the soothing bubbles of the traditional onsen."I'll send sake," our guide replied calmly.
50 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
A S I A PAC I F I C • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
BHUTAN JAPAN
INDIA
Trips JAPAN BIKING Who needs modern Japan’s neon hurly-burly when you can meander old Japan’s coastline and visit kimono makers, bonsai tenders and ryokan guest houses? Cycle the slow road, stopping now and then to gaze at rice paddies, visit Buddhist shrines and enjoy onsen baths. More our speed. Yours too? Bye-bye stress. 7 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAY, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$9,495 (+$1,600 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
INDIA BIKING The only sane thing to do in the land of sensory overload is embrace the chaos, so that’s what we do. Plan on traversing ancient alleyways, lodging in opulent palaces, learning about dhurrie rug making, visiting Hindu temples, cycling rural Rajasthan, and tasting the best lassi ever. Riotously wonderful. 7 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: OCT, NOV, DEC EASYGOING TO MODERATE US$7,995 (+$1,600 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
BHUTAN WALKING PRIVATE In a country that measures its prosperity by citizens’ happiness levels, we’re guessing the GNH must be off the charts. You’ll find your bliss here, too. Life–altering moment #523: sipping tea with monks at remote Tashigang monastery and receiving their elaborate musical blessing for our journey. Tell your friends. Now. 9 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$9,495
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 51
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • AFRICA
Africa Imagine perfect (and perfectly spectacular) pedalling or walking everywhere you go, ditto stylish hotels, wildlife you’ll only see on the Discovery channel or safari (your show’s the one in 3D), a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, private tastings in the winelands, a braai (barbecue, South African style), Kigali’s urban gumbo. And that’s just the beginning.
For South African culinary adventurer Bruce Robertson, food and travel are inextricably linked. He’s travelled the world and worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay, and Anton Mosimann (who cooked for William and Kate’s wedding). Robertson’s focus is seafood; he fuses his greatest influence, the sweetspicy flavours of Cape Malay, with international trends. Read more about Bruce Robertson here: Butterfield.com/blog
The penguins were surprisingly good therapy. (So were the hilarious locals, wine tastings and dips in the sea.)
52 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
AFRICA • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Trips RWANDA TANZANIA SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA CULINARY PRIVATE NEW! Corral your pals and walk, cycle or hitch a lift in our van and go directly to the Constantia Valley’s foremost wine estates. A cultural, viticultural and culinary adventure. Golden bobotie, anyone? Fragrant potjiekos? Spectacular coastal drives, Table Mountain, penguin colony, game drive and a gourmet picnic from The Boathouse. 9 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$9,950
SOUTH AFRICA ACTIVE PRIVATE NEW! Cycle the Western Cape winelands, then head off on a safari. Meet the animals of the African wild and predators that eat them. Celebrate your enviable spot atop the food chain with organic wine and a traditional braai (barbecue). Triple threat territory: superb pedalling, elegant hotels, staggering beauty. 9 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$9,750
RWANDA PRIVATE NEW! Honour its troubled past and explore its vibrant future in Kigali, mountain forests, lake islands, coffee plantations and more. Experience an emerging new Africa where reformed poachers now make a living by sustainable means. Everywhere, encounter a moving determination to remake the country peacefully, viably, authentically. A truly remarkable place. 7 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$7,950
TANZANIA FAMILY PRIVATE NEW! An anything-but-standard expedition for the adventure-loving family that prefers to experience nature up close and personal. Walking and game drives (just not the drive-only variety) across a legendary landscape of rolling hills, expansive plains and massive volcanoes. The Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and storied Serengeti. Trip of a lifetime. 8 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING FROM US$9,975
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 53
B UT TER FIELD & RO B INSO N • MOROCCO
Morocco Did we mention the breathtaking beauty of the High Atlas, the sun-bleached coastlines, ravishing oases and desert dunes? How about exotic Marrakech and hip Essaouira? Throw in storied hospitality and a cuisine so subtly inventive, and we’re at a loss for words. After a mouthful of pastilla, you’ll be speechless, too.
Haggling in the souk provides a fascinating opportunity for insight into Moroccan culture. The Moroccans were born to sell; they’re masters of the ancient sport of haggling, so always know your bottom line, start at a tenth of the asking price, and don’t be afraid to walk away (it often works!). Read more on the art of haggling here: Butterfield.com/blog
Sadly, our guide was right: the hand-woven carpets wouldn't fit in our fanny packs. Good thing there was a B&R van.
54 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
MOROCCO • B UT TER FIELD & RO B INSO N
MOROCCO
Trips MOROCCO BIKING Channel your inner Lawrence of Arabia in the ultimate Moroccan experience. Bike from bustling souks to Berber villages and crumbling kasbahs; experience the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains and magic of Marrakech. The food is unimaginably good. Stay at the exclusive and private Ryad Farnatchi and spend an unforgettable night under desert stars. 7 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAR, APR, OCT EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$8,995 (+ FROM $3,400 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
MOROCCO BISTRO BIKING For those who prefer fewer bells and whistles, we offer this Bistro trip. We still hit all our marks: sublimely exotic Marrakech, time-stopped Berber villages, ridiculously fabulous food, a kasbah hotel, traditional Moroccan hammam, the magnificent High Atlas Mountains and pristinely beautiful Essaouira with its 18thC seafront ramparts and ocean-to-table catches. 5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, OCT, NOV EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$4,495 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
MOROCCO WALKING NEW! To discover Morocco's heart, you have to venture off the beaten path. Luckily, our compass is a little off-kilter. Explore the High Atlas and remote Berber villages, break bread with locals, stay at a private riad and at the legendary La Mamounia, stroll wondrous Marrakech, and drink port atop 16thC ramparts. You may only come once, so we give you the very best.
MOROCCO FAMILY BIKING We’ve compiled Morocco’s greatest hits for you and the kids in this truly exotic country: mythical Marrakech with its snake charmers and storytellers, ancient Berber villages, desert plains, spectacular oases, camel rides, food you’ll feel compelled to post pictures of on Instagram, the mountains and, by the sea, shimmeringly white Essaouira.
6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAR, OCT, NOV
5 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAR, APR
MODERATE
EASYGOING TO MODERATE
US$6,995 (+ FROM $1,700 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
US$4,495 (+$800 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 55
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • PERU
Peru In this small country with huge heart, there’s something for everyone: nature, culture, adventure, history, and fantastic cuisine. There’s more of everything, too: birds, ecosystems and pre-Colombian ruins. They’re scattered everywhere in the Sacred Valley and you won’t soon forget the climb to Machu Picchu. A modern-day Eden. You really must go.
For Brisa Deneumostier, cooking is as much about providing a sense of well-being as pleasure. Native Peruvian Deneumostier draws from her country’s incredible biodiversity, using organic, local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible to create deliciously healthy food. Philosophically, she follows Hippocrates, who said: “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine thy food.” Read more about Brisa Deneumostier at: Butterfield.com/blog
56 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
PERU • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
PERU
Trips PERU WALKING Walk back in time through the ruins of the Sacred Valley. Hike the cloud forests of the Inca Trail. Feast on pachamanca, a delectable, herbed concoction cooked in the ground on heated rocks. Experience Machu Picchu the way it should be—after the tourists have gone. Talk about spiritual healing. 6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR, MAY, AUG, SEP, OCT MODERATE TO CHALLENGING FROM US$5,995 (+FROM $1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PERU FAMILY MULTI-ACTIVE NEW! Want your kids to have a sense of history? Make them power down and follow the trail of the lost Incas. Walking the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, history is inescapable. Then have them power up rafting on the Vilcanota River and playing soccer with local kids. 6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: JUL MODERATE US$6,395 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
PERU & GALAPAGOS PRIVATE NEW! Explore Incan civilization (capital Cusco, fantastic Piscaq, magnificent Machu Picchu), the valley's Spanish colonial art and architecture, and meet Peruvian hat makers and fabric weavers. Then step straight into a wildly entertaining 3D nature show and gambol with giant tortoises. Wrap with a day in Quito, a UNESCO gem. 12 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$12,495
PERU CULINARY PRIVATE NEW! Alert your foodie BFFs! Peru’s stunning range of local ingredients, pre-Spanish culinary traditions and cutting-edge chefs, (Javier Wong’s best-in-theworld ceviche, anyone?) make it (especially Lima) a leading world culinary destination. Tour a local fish market and organic farm. Watch a pachamanca being made. Rich history, culture, art. An embarrassment of indulgences. 9 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$7,995
We had to pick our jaws up off the ancient ground of Machu Picchu. .) (Especially because we needed them to gorge on pachamanca, ceviche and tamales FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 57
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N 窶｢ L AT I N A M E R I C A
" Today I changed my voicemail greeting to: Sorry, I can't take your call, I'm coasting through a sun-soaked Argentinian canyon on two wheels and a prayer." It. Felt. Great.
URUGUAY CHILE
ARGENTINA
Empanadas can be found across much of Latin America and flavours vary wildly. Who makes the tastiest? We tend to favour beef empanadas from our friends in Argentina. Maybe it's the lean ground beef, onions, chili powder, olives and raisins. Or maybe it's the cumin, oregano and... hard boiled eggs! Empanadas are easy-peasy to make. See our recipe at Butterfield.com/blog
58窶ジE LOVE TO TALK TRAVEL 1.866.902.8977
L AT I N A M E R I C A • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Latin America You could take in the Andes, Salta, a Pacific sunset. Maybe strolling colonial towns and chatting with gauchos is more your thing. Then again, if all you wanted were to immerse yourself in the incredibly rich culinary scene, you could do that, too. To whet your appetite, imagine empanadas, chivitos and head-swivelling southern hemisphere vintages. New world wine? More like out of this world.
Trips ARGENTINA BIKING Cycle past cardon cactus, then on to empanadamaking and the Sunday asado; a boutique winery dinner (with spectacular views over Cafayete), Inca trails, exquisite Salta. We haven’t even mentioned polychromatic Humahuaca Canyon or the descent to Salinas Grandes and the salt flats. Drink wine or luxuriate in a spa treatment containing it. 6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAR, APR, OCT, NOV MODERATE US$6,495 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
CHILE BIKING NEW! Geographically narrow; expansive in every other way. The Andes and Pacific. Old school European feel and dynamic culinary scene. Should you tire of beautiful rolling hills, black sand beaches and Pacific sunsets, we have internationally acclaimed wine and a private dinner with celebrated Chilean chef Maria Eugenia Terragno. Just in case. 6 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: MAR, APR, OCT, NOV, DEC MODERATE US$6,795 (+$1,000 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
URUGUAY BIKING PRIVATE Small country. Giant impression. Expect sleepy colonial towns with a strong European flavour, sparkling beach resorts, fabled gauchos, festive plazas, a vibrant cultural scene and devout soccer worshippers. You’ll observe hacienda life, cycle Anchorena Park, wander Colonia del Sacramento’s cobblestones and explore marvelous Montevideo. Bring your sunhat. The weather’s unremittingly lovely. 8 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,895
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 59
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • NORTH AMERICA
North America From the gulf stream waters to land where living the good life is a cultural imperative to the continent’s most fabled greens, it’s all here: peace, beauty, tradition and wine, wine, wine. In the west, locavore and cycling heaven. In the south, legendary swings and beer and pimento sandwiches. Packed yet?
Trips NAPA SONOMA PRIVATE Calling all foodies. Round up your friends. Here be the Good Life, writ large. Mom and Pop wineries next to world famous appellations, exquisite organic everything, the famed Oakville Grocery Store (unlike any general store you’ve ever seen), scenic bike routes wending along tranquil country roads. It’s all Good. 4 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$6,400
AUGUSTA MASTERS GOLF Indulge your Green Jacket fantasies: practice with the pros, play legendary Cuscowilla, then grab your coveted Masters Patron Badge and pull up a chair or walk the 18 holes (a.k.a. trekking in the Himalayas). Some serious Southern charm and a private villa overlooking Georgia’s Lake Country. Dreams come true here. 3 NIGHTS | DEPARTS: APR EASYGOING US$5,995 (+$900 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT)
GULF ISLANDS PRIVATE Saltspring. Mayne. Galiano. Three transcendent and unique islands, plus a magical chain of hidden gems. Swim and kayak in pristine bays and inlets. Keep company with orcas. Beach comb. Lounge on a beach where hot sandbars warm the rising tide. The mesmeric beauty of this place rivals that of any islands in the world. 6 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING TO MODERATE FROM US$5,560
60 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
NORTH AMERICA • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
Maybe it's the southern sweet tea. Maybe it's the legendar y Amen Corner. Maybe it's the famo us guy feeding me tips. But my swing has never been better.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
CALIFORNIA
GEORGIA
Meet Alberto Rafanelli: the Sonoma winemaker who stops only for prohibition. He began growing grapes in the 1900s. After the jazz-era dry spell, his son moved the family to a rustic knoll overlooking Dry Creek Valley. They've been quietly crafting remarkable zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon and merlot ever since. Read more at: Butterfield.com/blog
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 61
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • C O S TA R I C A
Costa Rica Studded with volcanoes and waterfalls. Steeped in Mayan and Aztec culture. This verdant land will put the kick in your café and the orchid in your hair. The only rule is to put your feet up: your horse, gondola, and zipline harness await.
Trips COSTA RICA FAMILY PRIVATE Up for adventure? Adore the outdoors? Bring the kids to nature’s playground. After kayaking thrilling rapids, riding horseback to the stunning La Fortuna Waterfall, zip-lining the lush rainforest canopy and wandering the Chocolate Trails, you can use up your last ounce of energy swinging in a hammock at the spa. 7 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES MODERATE FROM US$5,995
I bet them $10 they'd forget Youtube even exists. Thanks for contributing to Mom and Dad's retirement fund, kids. 62 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
G A L A PAG O S I S L A N D S • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
COSTA RICA
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Trips GALAPAGOS ACTIVE PRIVATE NEW! Discover the volcanic islands—a.k.a. nature’s laboratory— where otherworldly species and the theory of evolution evolved. (Unlike Darwin’s nature walk, however, yours ends with Champagne.) In one afternoon, you’ll swim with penguins and wander tropical forests. Talk about climate change. You’ll also meet the locals. Our fave is a sea lion named Frank. 10 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING FROM US$8,995
GALAPAGOS BY SEA PRIVATE NEW! It’s not easy getting off the beaten track in the Galapagos these days, but you won’t see a boat for at least two days, and you’ll hike trails so out of the way, sometimes they require special permits. Walk a volcanic rim, snorkel with sea lions, and face off with a 500-pound tortoise. 9 NIGHTS | CHOOSE YOUR OWN DATES EASYGOING FROM US$8,595
Galapagos Islands Hankering to hang out in the fantastic free-range zoo where Darwin had his eureka moment? Post a Twitter pic of the blue-footed booby? Walk the Chocolate Trail? It’s buzzworthy beyond belief here: buzzing wildlife and the buzz you’ll attract for biodiversity cred. For the record, we’ve never met a red-eyed tree frog we didn’t like.
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 63
WELCOME TO PRIVATE TRAVEL, à la B&R
Sometimes the time is right to travel your own way. We make it incredibly easy for you to journey with friends, family, colleagues or on your own. Choose a private trip that’s Ready-to-Book, or have our Bespoke team design a custom trip just for you.
BESPOKE
READY-TO-BOOK
Whatever your heart’s desire, we’ll put one of our seasoned trip designers on the case. Deep knowledge and ridiculous passion for travel results in a totally custom B&R experience that you’ll never, ever forget
We’ve crafted an amazing selection of private itineraries that span the globe. Self- or locally guided, they’re ready to rock, and ideal for travellers with an independent streak.
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 65
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • P R I VAT E T R AV E L
Private trips made to fit You want to dig up your own truffles—in six countries. Or retrace your ancestors’ footsteps in Iceland, right down to the shots of brennivín. Or get fifteen grandchildren to a tiny mountain village in India for Diwali. Our Bespoke trips are tailored to every contour of your imagination. If it doesn’t exist, we’ll simply invent it. Just say the word. Visit Butterfield.com/Bespoke for all the details.
P R I VAT E T R AV E L • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Prêt-à-porter In 2014 you might be snorkelling with your wife in Thailand, swapping fishing lore with sea lions on Galapagos, or mistakenly roasting your best friend’s camera at a traditional South African braai. With the freedom of being self- or locally guided, every Ready-to-Book trip is simply waiting for the right troupe of adventurers to pack their bags. Visit Butterfield.com/Ready-to-Book for all the details.
GUIDES
GUIDES GUIDES
GUIDES
S
SS
S
GUIDES • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
ABBY
ALESSIO
ALEX
AMINA
ANTHONY
CRISTINA
Our Guides ABBY VAN OERS A proud Dutchy, Abby is a fitness expert by day and a fine Belgian beer aficionado by night. Of course, she also has the traditional B&R skills: Renaissance dancing, speed skating, and sheep shearing. AGUSTIN CALVETTI Agustin claims he’s “50% anthropologist, 50% hotelier,” but we discovered those numbers are a nefarious lie: he’s also a restauranteur, trekking guide and polyglot. Oh, and blues guitarist. ALESSIO FRANGIONI A gifted carpenter, Alessio has spent time restoring aged Italian homes. If you don’t need any cornices fixed on your trip, he’s also a trained veterinarian. (Handy when the camel breaks down.) ALEX GRAEFE Alex is a Berliner with over 50 B&R trips under his belt who migrates to Tuscany for the summer and Africa for the winter. Our private investigator swears she saw him biking in Brazil, too. ALEXANDRE MALLORY He can cook “the best quiche of all time” for groups of 40, do an effortless front flip (he learned it in China), and ski the Swiss Alps like a pro (which he is). He asked us to also mention his modesty. ALICE VAN DER VOORT When she’s not jabbering away in six international tongues like a possessed guide, Alice works with schoolchildren in Laos and dances on tables in Italy. AMINA ABDELJAWAD With a Masters in social sciences, Amina can regale you about culture in six languages. She also dives in Malawi, dances in Andalucia and bikes in Burgundy. We’ve never seen her sleep. ANNIK BOULVA She’s the proud holder of B&R’s “most exotic Masters degree” — in Psychosocial Aspects of Sport. But we suspect it was all a ruse so she could spend more time in the saddle, hockey skates or mountains. ANTHONY WEERSING Anthony is in Hawaii living out the American dream: occasionally escaping to Japan. He practiced traditional woodworking and still gets giddy about Japanese culture and cuisine — hence his twinkling eyes. CAMILLE RIVIERE Camille splits her time between Paris, New York, San Francisco and France’s vineyards. As we’ve always said: tasting and importing biodynamic French wines is a thankless task, but someone’s got to do it. CARLO PRIMIANI Carlo can usually be found literally waist-deep in Québec, restoring rivers and wetlands. But this former Dubai resident says all that engineering stuff is “mostly just a bad habit”: food is his real raison d’être. CHRIS GOODWIN One day, Chris decided he’d rather be scaling Table Mountain in South Africa than playing solitaire in a plush corner office. Over 40 B&R trips later, he’s still terrible at solitaire. There’s a lesson in this. CHRISTINA NICK Some say she’s rehabilitating cheetahs in northern Namibia. Others insist she’s showcasing her world-renowned sculpture at an art show in Hungary. CRISTINA FOGALE Half Vancouver-based linguistics teacher, half human tumbleweed. Cristina has studied in Canada, France, Italy and Switzerland, volunteered in India and Peru, and gobbles up art history like it’s lunch. DALE SHERROW Based in Copenhagen, Dale is an intoxicating blend of surfer dude, MBA and cultural explorer. First explaining derivatives to aspiring economists, then debating Volnay Premier Cru with sommeliers. DANA QUINN In her former life, she was a high-octane insurance consultant. But over 130 B&R trips later, she’s savouring the slightly slower life in southern France. DANE TREDWAY After wandering from Cape Town to Katmandu, Dane finally returned to Toronto for a mild-mannered life of writing and photography. (Except when he’s wearing his superhero costume. Then he’s spelunking, skiing, scuba diving and trekking.) DANIEL BOWER He’s biked, snowboarded, scuba dived, mountaineered, bunjee jumped and Frisbee-competed his way across six continents. Despite his wild streak, he’s managed to keep practically all of his fingers and toes. DARIUS ARJANG Errant spitballs inspire Darius to spontaneously trade teaching for guiding each summer. (That’s how we tell it, anyway.) Whipping up the notoriously finicky Sachertorte is among this guide’s proudest achievements. DENIS LUCCANTONI Still wreathed FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 69
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • GUIDES
DALE
DANE
DANIEL
DARIUS
DENIS
ERIC
ERIK
ERIN
FANNY
Our Guides in that golden glow every former Olympian perpetually has, Denis spends his winters speed skating, teaching skiing in the French Alps, and being frustratingly down-to-earth. DOMINIC GIOSSAN Lately, this Renaissance man (and possessor of five degrees) has been hiking and biking in Brazil. Hear him say “Holy @#$%! Look at that bear!” in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and Italian. ELAINE HALL We found Elaine on a dance floor. Something about her moves — which we’d describe as “brave” — told us she’d be an exceptional guide. Since then, she’s been travelling (and gyrating) around the world. ERIC SPONSELLER Eric has worked with HIV/AIDS affected kids in Lesotho, baked bread in New York City, and ran a successful artisan kombucha business in South Africa. We just had to have him. ERIK RUTHERFORD Every time we’ve tried to visit Erik, he was living somewhere else: Paris, Toronto, Vancouver, Berlin. Fortunately, during our last sighting we managed to tag him with a tracking device. Found you, Erik! ERIN REED As a veteran guide, Erin coined the classic B&R motto: “When you’re charged by a giraffe and have to dive from your bike into a bush of thorns, don’t climb back on right away. Wait a few minutes.” FANNY VIRET Fanny has worked with Doctors Without Borders in the Congo, cycled through Kyrgyzstan, and now lives and studies in Lausanne. France is her backyard, so drop by for mouthwatering croquembouche anytime. GIACOMO FANO Italian native Giacomo has never spent a single day in an office—so he can scale a cliff, but don’t bother asking him to fax a memo. He just wrote a book about trekking through the Rockies. GINA LOES A native of Phoenix, Gina is an accomplished ceramic artist and studies ethnomusicology. (Ask her to play Ice Ice Baby on her zhongruan.) GIORGIO VALVASSORI Giorgio is our speedy Cortina d’Ampezzo-born cyclist who dreams of steep hills and Tuscan vistas. Warning: attempting to race Giorgio is not advised. GIOVANNI BETTIO A native of Venice who can both order nihonshu and apologize for the consequences in fluent Japanese, Gio is our Okinawa surfing expert. GORANA GAVRILOV She’s an avid photographer, speaks nine languages (ish) and occasionally helps run the Olympic Games. Somehow she picked up her Masters along the way. JACOPO DI LORENZO Option A: Live in a hammock on a Thai beach. Option B: Train horses in Australia. Option C: Bike New Zealand’s South Island. Option D: All of the above. (We call this option Jacopo.) JAMES BOYD A fearless climber and one of our prized in-house photographers at B&R, James is studying with one of the great photographers of Spain. (He’ll get a terrific shot of saving you from a precipice.) JEFF CONDRY Based in Portland, Oregon, Jeff loves mountain biking, eating off his companion’s plates — usually with their permission, 70 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
GUIDES • BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON
JUDIT
LEWIS
LUCA
NANCY
OSCAR
PINUCCIA
RAFA
SAKIS
GIORGIO
Our Guides though not always — and everything French. JENNIFER MOORE Hitchhiking from Tibet to Nepal. Teaching English in Thailand. Living in the Jersey Islands. Running the London Marathon. Someone give this woman a book deal. JUDIT ILLES We found this Hungarian native in a South African bike race. After mopping her dust off our faces, we learned she’s also a Chianti-trained oenophile. No hard feelings, Judit. LEWIS EVANS Lewis can order coffee in five European languages. And while he is often served a crusty cheese sandwich, he’s terrific at pretending it was what he wanted. LISA LILJEBERG Two benefits to holding a Masters in interior architecture from Accademia Italiana: first, you can build your own house from the ground up. Second, you can brag about it in Italiano. LUCA PACCHIONI Luca’s parents loaded him into a camper van for a whirlwind Portugal trip at the age of eight. Now this Italian is a wanderer and aspiring Madrid architect. MARCELA CALDAS This Colombia native is an architect and designer, lives in Paris and Barcelona, rides horses in La Costa Brava, and could make a garbage bag look posh. MATT O’HARA Formerly B&R’s regional director of Central and Eastern Europe, Matt has guided in over a dozen countries. Now he’s a Boston-based entrepreneur, but he’s still just “that Matt guy” to us. MELANIE WEBB Melanie has been paddling in Bali, snowboarding in the Andes, and watching the Baja 250 off-road race in Mexico between bowls of ceviche. Her pocket calendar looks like a Jackson Pollock. NANCY TOWNS Nancy is a lovable Spanish-speaking Hispanophile who claims in a convincing tone that she loves biking Albanian mountain roads. In the winter. OSCAR BIEDMA Oscar is the kind of athlete who pedals out of a Vancouver driveway one morning and ends up in Mexico. As cyclists, all of our guides are “avid”…Oscar is more like “ravenous.” PINUCCIA SCATIZZI A Tuscany native, Pinuccia left a fast-paced career in marketing to become B&R’s queen of Arezzo. Lost in a 13thC palace? Accidentally signed up for a duel at the Saracen Joust? She’s your white knight. RAFA PRIETO MARTIN Born in Spain, Rafa’s first word was aventura. (Of course, he then repeated it in German, English, Italian, Portuguese, French and Japanese.) Now he lives the hard life on Brazilian beaches. RICCARDO PASQUIN Born in a Venetian village, Riccardo has since wandered through Ireland, Bolivia and Portugal. His party trick is getting teary-eyed over glasses of Giuseppe Mascarello about il bel paese (the beautiful country). SAKIS MITSOULIS With a Masters in Fine Art, Sakis is happily steeped in the finer things in life (probably how he ended up in the luxury boating industry). Hang out with Sakis and eat very, very well. SARAH LEWIS A Masters from the London School of Economics. Fluent in five languages. Has visited more countries than a diplomat. Yes, FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 71
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • GUIDES
SARAH
SEBASTIAN
STEPH
TATIANA
JENNIFER & TOM
TIM S.
Our Guides Morgan Freeman could narrate Sarah’s life. SCOTT MCEWEN Scott ditched a career in Canadian television to pursue cinema at the Sorbonne. And work with UNESCO. And conquer the Alps. And, of course, cycle like a maniac. SEBASTIAN ROMERO He’s our resident filmmaker and photographer extraordinaire. A native of Germany, Sebastian is always one drink away from flopping down on the mountain to make snow angels. SONIA TER HOVANESSIAN Our favourite FrancoArmenian jazz singer / classical flautist / budding photographer from the UK now calls Bologna home. Yes, she can serenade you in Italian. Yes, you will swoon. STEPHANE LECLERC Stéphane is a French-Canadian graphic designer who loves dropping into Venice for the week and can get red-faced (in a cute way) about hockey. STEPHANIE BONIC Though she has a Masters in the politics of education, you’re more likely to find Steph in the kitchen than the classroom. No, she’s not a chef; she’s a genius woodworker. And skier. And painter. STEPHANIE GULLEDGE Although she’s journeyed through Europe, South America and Asia on two wheels, Stephanie has been hinting (heavily) that she has a hunkering for more tapas in Myanmar. TABITA MIOTTO Tabita is a witty and charming native Italian with a passion for biking, wandering and perfecting her golf swing. Cuba and Catalonia are her favourite planetary hangouts. TATIANA BRISOLLA A Brazilian, a biologist, a massage therapist, a proud new resident of France, and a yoga teacher cycle into a bar. (At this point, the joke falls apart: they’re all one person, and we call her Tati.) TELMO BARROS After growing up surfing and sailing on the Portuguese shores of the Atlantic Ocean, Telmo swapped the sea for the Catalan Pyrenees and bike paths of Copenhagen. The sea misses him. He’s just that nice a guy. THILO ERHARDT Thilo is B&R’s in-house chameleon. Throw him in the sea? He becomes an expert diver. Send him to the European Space Agency? He walks out with a job. This German Parisian is everything. TIM RICHARDSON He’s our go-to guy in Bhutan, Nepal and his native New Zealand. Why? Because he can cook anything on a barbecue, cut a tree like a lumberjack and repair bikes like they’re made of Lego. Simultaneously. TIM SCHELLENBERGER Tim recently earned his Masters in South American anthropology, politics, and international relations. A Brazil-based intellectual, he happily shuts off his brain every few days to dive, drum and DJ. TOM McCARTHY Wrapping up a PHD in physics at CERN, our resident science genius (and B&R veteran) now has more time to bike, row, and cross country ski. We’re still waiting on his time travel machine, though. WILLIAM DEBOST Born and raised in Paris, William switched continents to canoe through Canada. But unable to escape his Frenchness, he still likes a slice of clafoutis while listening to jazz and musing about the world economy. YVONNE POWER Every time Yvonne tries to leave her southeast Ireland home, we send her back to craft new itineraries for B&R. Unfortunately, we’re forced to ask some hard things of her: like sampling fine Irish whiskies.
Go to Butterfield.com to learn more about our guides 72 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
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TEAM S TA F F • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
The Team
TEAM TEAM Behind every spontaneous and mind-blowing B&R trip is a team of detail-obsessed, type-A overachievers.
The people of B&R are a little strange. We study Tibetan monasteries until four in the morning and fly to the Western Cape on anonymous wine tips. We are wanderers, trip designers and cultural interpreters. We believe in travelling slowly. And perfectly. Even if it kills us. A few of our faces:
GEORGE BUTTERFIELD
NORMAN HOWE
CEO (Chief Executive Oenophile)
Chef de Cuisine (El Presidente)
PAUL CHRISTOPHER
CHRISTOPHER MARK
Master Beancounter
Dean of Trip Architecture
KRISTI ELBORNE
SIMON ELLIOTT
BFF of Travel Agents
Head Travel Coach
BRAD CROCKETT
ROBIN WARK
Head Tailor
Director of Scouting
TRISH KALICIAK
ADRIANO BASSO
Queen of Creative
Tech Guru
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 73
What’s Included Flights aren’t included in the price of your trip (B&R travellers come from all over!), but once your trip starts, we pay for everything it makes sense to pay for. Great wine? Of course. Your shopping spree at Hermès? Umm, no.
Hotels Winning hotels are a hallmark of B&R. Sometimes grand, sometimes charming and intimate, always perfect for your trip. That’s the B&R style.
relationships with our hoteliers, restaurateurs and chefs make it easy for us to accommodate your every dietary need. Even in France.
Signature B&R Guides All services of B&R guide(s), who are adept at wearing many hats. They will do whatever it takes to make your trip hassle free, and are on call 24/7.
Easy Starts Our trips start where it makes the most sense: we choose convenient locations that enable a smooth transition into your trip.
Great Meals We include all meals when it makes sense, yet we understand that making a great dining discovery is rewarding, too. So sometimes we leave room for exploring on your own.
Table For Two? Each trip offers the opportunity to dine or lunch independently from the group… and we’ll happily make arrangements for you. Dietary Restrictions? B&R’s personalized service doesn’t end at the dining room door. Decades of building close
Transportation Included are all on-trip transfers by yacht, train, 4X4, plane, helicopter (and camels). All Baggage Handling Your baggage is transported from one hotel to the next. On signature trips this is done by local handlers so guides are devoted to you. All Tips We look after all the support along the way, including tips. We grease the wheels wherever it’s necessary—so all you have to worry about is having fun. Perfect Moments To really get to know the region, we experience it in deep and up close. That’s why every trip includes: tastings (local wines, olive oil, artisanal cheeses...); private tours of historic sites, galleries and museums
with local experts; and visits with our local friends. Everything You Need to Know Before each trip, travellers receive a link to a Trip Planner filled with local info. On the road, we provide a Travelogue with insider tips on everything from where to shop to the best places to hang out with locals.
Fine Wine Wine (delicious and well-chosen) is included with meals. Of course! Nice Briefs Each morning, our guides brief you on the day’s options. We like to do this quietly, one-on-one, so you never get the feeling you’re in a meeting. There’s enough of that at the office. Amazing Routes All biking and walking outings include meticulous, easyto-follow route notes. By no means do you have to follow them, but if you do, we promise nothing short of spectacular—we like quiet county lanes, glorious vistas, and no one but us. Our guides
74 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
W H AT ’ S I N C L U D E D • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
Pre-Trip Our guides complete a dry run of each trip the week before it departs. (We like to think of it as a dress rehearsal.) This way the only surprises on your trip are good ones.
sonal relationships we’ve cultivated with everyone from hoteliers to chefs and local experts; and the dozens of people who work hard behind the scenes. Walking Sticks Included on all walking trips, the use of lightweight Leki telescoping walking sticks, and water bottles in padded hip or pack-strap holsters that are yours to keep after your trip.
always have additional scenic routes up their sleeves, too. Up for more of a challenge? All you have to do is ask.
Bike Helmets Don’t bother packing your noggin protector—we provide fantastic Bell or Giro helmets.
There When You Need Us Our support vehicles are present along the day’s route to distribute refreshments, carry your purchases, and offer a lift when needed.
Custom Bikes B&R has a customized fleet of fully equipped Cannondale hybrids and road bikes for all our European trips. For trips running outside of Europe, we offer the very best bicycles for the region. We have men’s and women’s models in five frame sizes. For the kids, Burley tandems, trailers and youth helmets. To view photos and review full specs of our bikes and other equipment, please visit Butterfield.com.
Local Support, 24/7 Heaven forbid anything should ever go amiss on your trip, but if it ever did, we have people on the ground—everywhere—who can pull whatever strings need pulling. Family Trips These trips are not simply adult trips with kids tacked on. Anything but! They are three crafted trips in one: a trip for the parents; a trip for the kids; and a trip for the family. Time together, time apart… we find the balance. And we bring along kid equipment galore. From bikes, helmets, tandems and trailers to extra guides, vans and even cribs, we’ve got you covered. Intangible B&R Tangibles The years of exhaustive research we’ve done on the ground; the countless per-
E-Bikes Want a little boost every now and then? Need help keeping up with your wife? Our e-bikes are regular pedal bikes that provide electric assistance whenever you want it. We plug it in at night, you get extra juice when you need it.
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 75
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • WAY S T O G O
Ways to Go
B&R travellers like to travel in a few different ways, and we’re more than happy to oblige them. It’s all the same to us: B&R, through and through.
Family At B&R, kids aren’t dragged along: they’re specially invited. These trips have extra guides (and extra-youthful adventures) so nobody wants to tear anyone else’s hair out. Decide on the fly if you’d like more action or less, and finally bridge that tense family divide between whitewater rafting and jewelry shopping.
Private Ready-to-Book If your small group is getting stir-crazy, our Ready-to-Book trips are the most hands-free way to make a run for it. We’ve crafted these itineraries to cover all the most special cultural bits of the region. (And don’t worry about your freedom: our expert local guides will make sure to disappear when the moment is right.)
Bistro
Self-Guided
Travel lighter. Our Bistro trips have the same ingenuity with a little more independence. You’ll have more meals on your own and stay in stylish 4-star hotels instead of off-the-charts, but get everything else on B&R’s signature silver platter… right down to your glass of prosecco at sunset.
Rebellious spirit? Introverted? Mild control issues? That’s all right. Self-guided trips have the same brilliant routes, hotels and local contacts of every B&R trip, but with the intimacy and daring of ditching your guide. We simply arrange some can’t-miss meals and events, transfer your bags and turn you loose.
Multi-Active Look out over mist-covered forests. Better yet, zipline through them. Then kick off your hiking shoes, strap on your snorkelling gear and talk politics with a stingray. Next, climb into your swimsuit for a sun-drenched surf (or raft, or kayak). All our versatile multi-active trips are missing is the dramatic soundtrack.
76 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
AC T I V I T Y L E V E L S • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
How far do you want to go?
Choose your activity level, modify it on trip. We’ve classified our trips according to how far you might want to go each day, and how hilly the terrain is. But Day 3 dawns and you’re ready to up the ante? We’ve got extra routes. Day 4 brings a mysterious ache that can only be assuaged by a nice, long lunch? No problem—today you cruise. Once you’re on trip, you’re in control of how much you do—the choice is always yours.
Biking EASYGOING 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day over relatively flat terrain with a few small hills—very manageable for a first biking trip. If you’re in relatively good shape, you’ll be just fine MODERATE 40-50 km (25-30 mi.) a day in gently rolling countryside, with occasional longer climbs to points that are well worth the effort. CHALLENGING
50-60 km (30-45 mi.) a day over both level and tougher, hillier terrain with multiple 100 km options. Designed for avid cyclists.
Walking EASYGOING 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day on country lanes, footpaths and trails, on relatively flat terrain, with an occasional hill. You don’t have to be a fitness buff, just relatively active. MODERATE 6-10 km (4-6 mi.) a day over rolling terrain on a variety of surfaces. Most days, one or two steeper climbs to spectacular viewpoints. CHALLENGING 11-15 km (7-10 mi.) a day in regularly hilly terrain. Routes follow paths and/ or well-maintained cliffside or alpine trails, with a few steep ascents.
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 77
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • T R I P F I N D E R BY DAT E
TRIP
ACTIVITY LEVEL
(USD)
Alsace & Champagne Biking NEW!
E-M
$5,995 / 1,100
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking
M-C
$5,995 / 1,400
Amalfi Coast Walking
M-C
$7,995 / 3,200
Andalucia Biking NEW!
M-C
$5,695 / 900
Argentina Biking
M
$6,495 / 900
Atlantic France Biking NEW!
E
$5,795 / 1,100
Augusta Masters Golf
E
$5,995 / 900
Berlin to Dresden Biking
M
$5,795 / 800
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking
M
$5,695 / 1,000
Burgundy Biking
M
$5,495 / 800
Burgundy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 500
Catalonia Biking
M
$5,295 / 700
Corsica Walking NEW! Chile Biking NEW! Dalmatian Coast Biking
M-C M M-C E
$5,795 / 1,000 $6,295* / 900
M
$6,495 / 900
India Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 1,600
Indochina Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 900
Ireland Bistro Biking
M
$4,495 / 500
Ireland Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 500
Italian Lakes Walking
M-C
$6,495 / 2,000
Japan Biking
M-C
$9,495 / 1,600
Loire Châteaux Biking
E-M
$5,795 / 1,200
Loire Valley Family Biking
E-M
$5,695* / 1,000
Morocco Biking
E-M
$5,495 / 3,400
Morocco Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 800
Morocco Family Biking
E-M
$5,295* / 800
Morocco Walking NEW!
M
$6,995 / 1,700
Myanmar Biking
E
$7,695 / 1,100
Myanmar Walking
E
$7,395 / 1,000
Myanmar Family Multi-Active NEW!
E
Normandy Biking
M
$5,295 / 800
Normandy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 700
Normandy Family Biking
M
$5,495* / 800
Peru Family Multi-Active NEW!
M
$6,395* / 900
Piemonte Biking Piemonte Walking
$5,295 / 700
M
$5,295 / 700 $5,995 / 900
Provence Biking
M
$4,995 / 900
Provence Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 800
Provence Walking
M E-M
Puglia Bistro Biking
E-M
10
17
MARCH
24
3
10
17
24
16-22
31
30-5
26-1
26-2
23-28 30-5 4-12
18-26 15-23
8-16 29-6
$4,995 / 1,400 $5,295 / 900 $3,995 / 500
Rioja Biking
M
$5,995 / 1,000
Tuscany & Umbria Walking
M
$4,795 / 700
Tuscany Biking
M
$5,295 / 900
Tuscany Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 900
Tuscany Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 800
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking NEW!
E
$4,495 / 700
Vienna to Prague Family Biking
E-M
$4,495* / 500
Vietnam Biking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,995 / 1,700 $2,995 / 600
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking
E-M
$6,995* / 1,600
Vietnam Walking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,795 / 1,700 $2,895 / 600
Germany & France Wine Grand Journey
E-M
$14,495 / 2,000
Italy Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$16,995 / 3,700
Spain & Bordeaux Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$15,495 / 2,100
SS: SINGLE SUPPLEMENT guarantees travellers their own room LEGEND:
3
$5,995 / 1,000
M
Puglia Biking
27
Call for details
E-M
Prague to Vienna Biking
FEBRUARY
20
$9,995 / 5,000
M
M-C
13
$5,995 / 900
Iceland Family Multi-Active
Peru Walking
6
$6,795 / 1,000
Holland Biking
Iceland Walking
JANUARY
PRICE FROM/SS
■
Biking
■
Walking
■
Multi-Active
ACTIVITY LEVELS: Easygoing/Moderate/Challenging *Please call for kids pricing. **Price based on 4 travellers.
8-16 16-19
5-13 13-16
18-26 26-29
■
Post-Trip
■
28-8 8-11 12-20 20-23
17-25 25-28
Family
78 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
T R I P F I N D E R BY DAT E • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
TRIP
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Alsace & Champagne Biking NEW!
E-M
$5,995 / 1,100
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking
M-C
$5,995 / 1,400
Amalfi Coast Walking
M-C
$7,995 / 3,200
Andalucia Biking NEW!
M-C
$5,695 / 900
Argentina Biking
M
$6,495 / 900
Atlantic France Biking NEW!
E
$5,795 / 1,100
Augusta Masters Golf
E
$5,995 / 900
Berlin to Dresden Biking
M
$5,795 / 800
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking
M
$5,695 / 1,000
Burgundy Biking
M
$5,495 / 800
Burgundy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 500
M
$5,295 / 700
M-C
$5,995 / 900
Catalonia Biking Corsica Walking NEW! Chile Biking NEW!
M
Dalmatian Coast Biking
E
$5,795 / 1,000
M
$6,295* / 900
$7,995 / 1,600
Indochina Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 900
Ireland Bistro Biking
M
$4,495 / 500
Ireland Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 500
Italian Lakes Walking
M-C
$6,495 / 2,000
Japan Biking
M-C
$9,495 / 1,600
Loire Châteaux Biking
E-M
$5,795 / 1,200
Loire Valley Family Biking
E-M
$5,695* / 1,000
Morocco Biking
E-M
$5,495 / 3,400
Morocco Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 800
Morocco Family Biking
19
26
2
9
16
30
18-23
4-9
25-30 13-18
23 22-27
8-13
4-9
8-13
6-12 18-23
15-20
29-4
1-6
15-20
29-4
1-6
15-20
29-4
12-15 9-14 11-16
25-30
8-13
25-30
22-27 22-27
9-15
21-26
28-3
4-9
15-22 29-4
E-M
$5,295* / 800
Morocco Walking NEW!
M
$6,995 / 1,700
Myanmar Biking
E
$7,695 / 1,100
Myanmar Walking
E
$7,395 / 1,000
Myanmar Family Multi-Active NEW!
E
Normandy Biking
M
Normandy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 700
Normandy Family Biking
M
$5,495* / 800
Peru Family Multi-Active NEW!
M
$6,395* / 900
24-29 19-24
9-14
30-5
20-27
6-13
25-30
15-20 22-27
29-4
23-30 6-11 13-18
Call for details $5,295 / 800
29-4
M
$5,295 / 700
Piemonte Walking
M
$5,295 / 700
E-M
$5,995 / 900
Provence Biking
M
$4,995 / 900
Provence Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 800
M
$4,995 / 1,400
Puglia Biking
E-M
$5,295 / 900
Puglia Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 500
11-17
27-3
$5,995 / 1,000
Piemonte Biking
19-25 25-30
9-14
25-30
8-13
15-20 29-4 15-20
1-6
18-23
29-4
11-16 30-6
7-13
4-10
14-20
11-17 15-20
Rioja Biking
M
$5,995 / 1,000
Tuscany & Umbria Walking
M
$4,795 / 700
Tuscany Biking
M
$5,295 / 900
Tuscany Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 900
Tuscany Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 800
E
$4,495 / 700
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking NEW!
JUNE
12
23-28
E-M
Provence Walking
5
$6,495 / 900
India Biking
Prague to Vienna Biking
28
25-30
$6,795 / 1,000
Iceland Family Multi-Active
M-C
21
1-6
Holland Biking
Peru Walking
MAY
14
11-16
$9,995 / 5,000
M
7
18-23
M-C
Iceland Walking
APRIL
PRICE FROM/SS
(USD)
1-6
18-23
16-21
26-31 4-9
25-30
1-6
19-24
15-20 30-5
9-14 22-27
11-16
Vienna to Prague Family Biking
E-M
Vietnam Biking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,995 / 1,700 $2,995 / 600
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking
E-M
$6,995* / 1,600
Vietnam Walking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,795 / 1,700 $2,895 / 600
Germany & France Wine Grand Journey
E-M
$14,495 / 2,000
Italy Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$16,995 / 3,700
Spain & Bordeaux Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$15,495 / 2,100
1-6
15-20
$4,495* / 500
SS: SINGLE SUPPLEMENT guarantees travellers their own room LEGEND:
■
Biking
■
Walking
1-9
■
Multi-Active
ACTIVITY LEVELS: Easygoing/Moderate/Challenging *Please call for kids pricing. **Price based on 4 travellers.
■
Post-Trip
■
12-21 Family
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 79
B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N • T R I P F I N D E R BY DAT E
TRIP
ACTIVITY LEVEL
PRICE FROM/SS
(USD)
Alsace & Champagne Biking NEW!
E-M
$5,995 / 1,100
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking
M-C
$5,995 / 1,400
Amalfi Coast Walking
M-C
$7,995 / 3,200
Andalucia Biking NEW!
$5,695 / 900
M
$6,495 / 900
Atlantic France Biking NEW!
E
$5,795 / 1,100
Augusta Masters Golf
E
$5,995 / 900
Berlin to Dresden Biking
M
$5,795 / 800
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking
M
$5,695 / 1,000
Burgundy Biking
M
$5,495 / 800
Burgundy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 500
M
$5,295 / 700
M-C
$5,995 / 900
Corsica Walking NEW! Chile Biking NEW! Dalmatian Coast Biking
M
11
SEPTEMBER
18
25
1
8
15
22
29
14-19
6-11
28-3 28-3
7-12
21-26
25-30
11-16
21-26
8-13 31-5
6-11
28-3
17-22
7-12
14-19,19-24,23-28
7-12
14-19
21-26
28-3
3-8
13-18
7-12
21-26 28-3
14-19
$6,795 / 1,000 $9,995 / 5,000
Iceland Family Multi-Active
M
$6,295* / 900
Iceland Walking
M
$6,495 / 900
26-2
2-9
27-4
5-10
7-12 14-19
India Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 1,600
Indochina Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 900
Ireland Bistro Biking
M
$4,495 / 500
Ireland Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 500
Italian Lakes Walking
M-C
$6,495 / 2,000
Japan Biking
M-C
$9,495 / 1,600
Loire Châteaux Biking
E-M
$5,795 / 1,200
Loire Valley Family Biking
E-M
$5,695* / 1,000
Morocco Biking
E-M
$5,495 / 3,400
Morocco Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 800
Morocco Family Biking
E-M
$5,295* / 800
Morocco Walking NEW!
M
$6,995 / 1,700
Myanmar Biking
E
$7,695 / 1,100
Myanmar Walking
E
$7,395 / 1,000
Myanmar Family Multi-Active NEW!
E
Normandy Biking
M
$5,295 / 800
Normandy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 700
Normandy Family Biking
M
$5,495* / 800
Peru Family Multi-Active NEW!
M
$6,395* / 900
13-18
20-25
17-22 27-1 8-13
20-25 6-11
7-12 27-1
22-27
14-19
21-26
28-3
10-15
Call for details 10-15
13-18 6-11
20-25 27-1 24-30 1-7
$5,995 / 1,000
Piemonte Biking
M
$5,295 / 700
Piemonte Walking
M
$5,295 / 700
$4,995 / 900
Provence Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 800
M
$4,995 / 1,400 $5,295 / 900
Puglia Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 500
14-19
21-26
7-12
14-19
21-26
28-3
14-19
14-19
$5,995 / 1,000
Tuscany & Umbria Walking
M
$4,795 / 700
Tuscany Biking
M
$5,295 / 900
Tuscany Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 900
Tuscany Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 800
E
$4,495 / 700
14-19 7-12
28-3 29-4
15-20 14-19
3-8
13-18 28-2
21-26
8-13
11-16
7-12
$4,495* / 500
Vietnam Biking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,995/1,700 $2,995/600
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking
E-M
$6,995* / 1,600
Vietnam Walking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,795/1,700 $2,895/600
Germany & France Wine Grand Journey
E-M
$14,495 / 2,000
Italy Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$16,995 / 3,700
Spain & Bordeaux Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$15,495 / 2,100
■
28-3
10-15
13-18
E-M
28-3
3-8
20-25
Vienna to Prague Family Biking
Biking
7-12
7-13, 10-16, 17-23, 24-30, 28-4
M
■
17-22
15-20
Rioja Biking
SS: SINGLE SUPPLEMENT guarantees travellers their own room LEGEND:
3-8
20-25
$5,995 / 900
M
E-M
28-3 21-26
E-M
Puglia Biking
21-27 7-12
6-11
Provence Biking
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking NEW!
4
5-10
$5,795 / 1,000
Provence Walking
28
27-1
E
Prague to Vienna Biking
21
7-12
M-C
M-C
AUGUST
14
14-19
Holland Biking
Peru Walking
7
14-19
M-C
Argentina Biking
Catalonia Biking
JULY
29-8
Walking
■
Multi-Active
ACTIVITY LEVELS: Easygoing/Moderate/Challenging *Please call for kids pricing. **Price based on 4 travellers.
■
Post-Trip
■
19-28 Family
80 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
T R I P F I N D E R BY DAT E • B U T T E R F I E L D & R O B I N S O N
TRIP
ACTIVITY LEVEL
OCTOBER
PRICE FROM/SS
(USD)
Alsace & Champagne Biking NEW!
E-M
$5,995 / 1,100
Amalfi Coast Bistro Walking
M-C
$5,995 / 1,400
Amalfi Coast Walking
M-C
$7,995 / 3,200
Andalucia Biking NEW!
M-C
$5,695 / 900
Argentina Biking
M
$6,495 / 900
Atlantic France Biking NEW!
E
$5,795 / 1,100
6
19-25
E
$5,995 / 900 $5,795 / 800
Bordeaux to Dordogne Biking
M
$5,695 / 1,000
Burgundy Biking
M
$5,495 / 800
Burgundy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 500
5-10
Catalonia Biking
M
$5,295 / 700
5-10
M-C
$5,995 / 900
Dalmatian Coast Biking
$9,995 / 5,000
Holland Biking
E
$5,795 / 1,000
Iceland Family Multi-Active
M
$6,295* / 900
Iceland Walking
M E-M
$7,995 / 1,600
20-27
Indochina Biking
E-M
$7,995 / 900
19-26
Ireland Bistro Biking
M
$4,495 / 500
Ireland Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 500
Italian Lakes Walking
M-C
$6,495 / 2,000
Japan Biking
M-C
$9,495 / 1,600
Loire Châteaux Biking
E-M
$5,795 / 1,200
Loire Valley Family Biking
E-M
$5,695* / 1,000
Morocco Biking
E-M
$5,495 / 3,400
Morocco Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 800
Morocco Family Biking
E-M
$5,295* / 800
Morocco Walking NEW!
M
$6,995 / 1,700
Myanmar Biking
E
$7,695 / 1,100
Myanmar Walking
E
$7,395 / 1,000
Myanmar Family Multi-Active NEW!
E
Normandy Biking
M
Normandy Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 700
Normandy Family Biking
M
$5,495* / 800
M
$6,395* / 900
Peru Walking
M-C
Piemonte Biking Piemonte Walking Prague to Vienna Biking
DECEMBER
24
1
8
15
22
29
9-15
21-27
10-17
31-7
22-29
2-9
6-11
8-15
29-5 19-24
12-18
9-14
2-8
Call for details $5,295 / 800
5-11
$5,995 / 1,000
M
$5,295 / 700
M
$5,295 / 700
E-M
$5,995 / 900
Provence Biking
M
$4,995 / 900
Provence Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 800
Provence Walking
M
$4,995 / 1,400
Puglia Biking
E-M
$5,295 / 900
Puglia Bistro Biking
E-M
$3,995 / 500
13-19
5-10 13-18 5-10 8-14 15-21 12-17 5-10
Rioja Biking
M
$5,995 / 1,000
Tuscany & Umbria Walking
M
$4,795 / 700
Tuscany Biking
M
$5,295 / 900
5-10
Tuscany Bistro Biking
M
$3,995 / 900
6-11
Tuscany Family Biking
M
$4,495* / 800
E
$4,495 / 700
Verona to Venice Bistro Biking NEW!
17
$6,495 / 900
India Biking
Peru Family Multi-Active NEW!
10
2-8
26-1
$6,795 / 1,000
M-C
3
12-17
M
M
27
12-17
Berlin to Dresden Biking
Chile Biking NEW!
NOVEMBER
20
5-10
Augusta Masters Golf
Corsica Walking NEW!
13
5-10
Vienna to Prague Family Biking
E-M
$4,495* / 500
Vietnam Biking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,995 / 1,700 $2,995 / 600
Vietnam to Cambodia Family Biking
E-M
$6,995* / 1,600
Vietnam Walking (with Cambodia Post-trip)
E-M
$6,795 / 1,700 $2,895 / 600
Germany & France Wine Grand Journey
E-M
$14,495 / 2,000
Italy Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$16,995 / 3,700
Spain & Bordeaux Wine Grand Journey NEW!
M
$15,495 / 2,100
SS: SINGLE SUPPLEMENT guarantees travellers their own room LEGEND:
■
Biking
■
Walking
24-1 22-30
■
Multi-Active
ACTIVITY LEVELS: Easygoing/Moderate/Challenging *Please call for kids pricing. **Price based on 4 travellers.
27-4
■
Post-Trip
■
Family
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 81
BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON • FINE PRINT
The Fine Print The terms “B&R”, “we” and “our” refer to Butterfield & Robinson Inc., an Ontario corporation, and a tour operator registered under the Travel Industry Act of Ontario (Registration Nos. 01321983/01322989), which offers and operates all the trips listed herein. All trips are offered subject to B&R’s standard terms and conditions, which are found in our online trip planners, at Butterfield.com and by request. Please review the terms and conditions carefully prior to completing your reservation. Some of these terms and conditions are set out below to draw your attention to the fact that our obligations to you are limited. Prices, Reservations And Payment* Our prices are in U.S. dollars. We charge a single supplement to individual travellers who wish to ensure that they have private rooms throughout a trip. To reserve your trip, we require a deposit of US $1,000 per person. The balance of your payment is due 95 days prior to departure. If reserving your trip within 95 days of departure, full payment is required. To complete your reservation, you must complete, sign and return a Traveller Information Form and an Acknowledgement of Risk, Release and Indemnity within 14 days of the receipt of your confirmation package, which will include these forms. These forms include additional terms and conditions of travel, including limitations of our obligations to you. Prices for our ‘Private’ trips are quoted as part of the trip design process, and are not final until 30 days prior to departure. Cancelling / Switching Trips* If you must cancel your reservation, the fees for doing so are as follows: Should you cancel your reservation 96 days or more in advance of the departure date, you may roll the entire US$1,000 per person deposit into a future trip credit to be used towards a B&R trip departing within 12 months of the original trip cancellation date. This credit can only be rolled over once. DAYS PRIOR
CANCELLATION
TO DEPARTURE
FEE
270+
None (Full refund of US$1,000 deposit will be paid)
96-269
Traveller’s option of refund of US$500, or US$1,000 trip credit
61-95
25% of trip price
31-60
50% of trip price
0-30
100% of trip price
Cancellation Insurance We strongly recommend you purchase cancellation insurance to protect yourself from unexpected circumstances that may cause you to cancel your trip. A summary of Butterfield & Robinson’s travel protection will be included with your confirmation package and can be found on our website at Butterfield.com or by request. The price of travel protection is automatically added to each reservation and will appear on your invoice. If you notify us of your decision to decline travel protection, or if we do not receive payment for the travel protection at the time of your final payment for the trip, that will indicate that you have declined it. Cancellation By B&R B&R reserves the right to cancel any trip at any time for any reason, including if there are too few participants, or if the quality of the trip or the safety of travellers is judged by B&R in our sole discretion to be compromised. After cancellation of a trip, refund of payments received by B&R to affected travellers in accordance with these terms and conditions shall constitute full and final settlement. B&R is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air tickets. Eligibility We require that travellers be at least 18 years of age (at time of travel) on all trips, with the exception of ‘Family’ trips, where age limitations may apply, and travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Preparing For Your Trip Our trips entail risks— and rewards—beyond those encountered at home. We count on our travellers to ensure they are healthy and fit; to read our pre-trip materials about clothing, training and medical requirements; and to appreciate that in some countries local living standards, practices, services and accommodations may differ from those in North America or Europe. Travel Documents and Passports The visa and passport requirements of countries to which we travel vary according to the nationality of each traveller and may change at any time for reasons beyond our control. Although we endeavour to provide you with accurate information about these requirements it remains the responsibility of each traveller to verify that he or she has the appropriate travel documents for his or her nationality. B&R is not liable for any expenses or costs arising from any traveller being prohibited from entering a country scheduled to be visited on a trip.
External Travel Services B&R may recommend the services of external travel companies or other support services in response to requests made by travellers for services outside of the scope of a B&R trip. Although we endeavour to recommend only companies that provide the highest levels of service and work closely with them to try to obtain special treatment for B&R travellers, we do not guarantee the services provided by third parties. B&R is not liable for any injury, expenses or costs arising from any services, or lack thereof, provided by any third party nor the standards of care that travellers experience when using those services. Health By sending a deposit toward your trip purchase and returning your Traveller Information Form, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a hazard for you or other travellers and that you have received all appropriate or necessary vaccinations indicated by your proposed trip. Please consult your doctor. Insurance Before travelling on a trip, we strongly recommend you review your personal insurance and health insurance to ensure you have coverage appropriate to meet your needs, and the needs of your family and dependants, in case of any loss of property or illness, injury or death. Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity When pricing each B&R trip, we strictly and expressly rely on each traveller to read, sign and return our standard Acknowledgement of Risk, Release and Indemnity form. This document will be sent to you after you have paid your initial deposit. If you wish to review it prior to sending your deposit, you may review it on our website at Butterfield.com. Please read it carefully. The document must be completed and returned to us prior to the trip’s departure. Our receipt of the completed and signed form will complete your reservation.* *The Terms and Conditions for Bistro trips, Masters trip, Myanmar trips, ship-based trips and some ‘Private’ trips are different Terms and Conditions for those trips are found in their respective online Trip Planners, at Butterfield.com or by request. Please call us for details. Trips within Canada are subject to the applicable federal value added tax (GST or HST), some of which may be recoverable by some travellers. Copyright © 2013 Butterfield & Robinson Management Services Inc. Issued October 2013. Butterfield & Robinson and B&R are registered trademarks of Butterfield & Robinson Management Services Inc.
82 FOR MORE INFO, TALK TO YOUR TRAVEL PROFESSIONAL OR CALL A BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON TRAVEL ADVISOR AT 1.866.902.8977
FOR DETAILED ITINERARIES, SLIDESHOWS, GUIDE PROFILES, TRIP SUGGESTIONS, VIDEOS AND MORE, VISIT US AT BUTTERFIELD.COM 83
PHOTO CREDITS: Alex Graefe, Amina Abdeljawad, Anthony Weersing, Antonio Polverini, Chris Dekoos, Christina Cain, Christina Nick, Christopher Michel, Cindy Drukier, Daniel Bower, Ellen Barone, James Boyd, Jesse Bertke, Joe Gorecki, Miki Duisterhof, More.Wanna, Norman Howe, Olivier Maillard, Phil Haemmerle, Saucesupreme, Sebastian Romero, Stephane Leclerc, Stephanie BonicStephanie Gulledge, Thilo Erhardt, Tom Abraham, Tyler Dillon Being a Canadian company based in Toronto, we reserve the right to spell traveller with two Ls, colour and neighbour with a U, and manoeuvre with an O. (We still have a few ticks left over from our colonial past.) That said, we promise never to use the word “eh.” DESIGN & COPYWRITING: Key Gordon Communications Inc. ILLUSTRATION: Elise Goodhoofd PRINTING: Andora Graphics Inc. FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL: Why not encourage your company to print on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper? Go to FSC.org. Someday soon, maybe we’ll all be breathing a little easier.
Load quickly to see the world
ICELAND HOLLAND
BERLIN TO DRESDEN
IRELAND BRITISH COLUMBIA
PRAGUE TO VIENNA
DALMATIAN COAST CALIFORNIA RIOJA NIAGARA
JAPAN
AUGUSTA MASTERS GOLF
CATALONIA BHUTAN MOROCCO
ANDALUCIA
CHINA LAOS INDIA
VIETNAM
COSTA RICA ECUADOR
RWANDA
F
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ARGENTINA URUGUAY
TANZANIA
ALY & IT
PERU
CE N RA BURGUNDY
MYANMAR
THAILAND
ALSACE & CHAMPAGNE PIEMONTE
ITALIAN LAKES
NORMANDY
SOUTH AFRICA
CHILE VERONA TO VENICE LOIRE VALLEY
The journey is immersive. The taste is exquisite. Getting lost is a consummate pleasure. And that's just our website.
TUSCANY UMBRIA
BORDEAUX TO DORDOGNE
PUGLIA
PROVENCE
AMALFI COAST CORSICA
THE WORLD OF BUTTERFIELD & ROBINSON 2014