Featured Special

Croatia Discovery in 2008: hiking, biking, and discovery of the Dalmatian Coast from the Island of Mljet. Just a short ride by Catamaran from Dubrovnik to the island, your hotel is surrounded by the National Park of Mljet and offers a most natural encounter. 4 days of guided hikes at 3-4 hours each) plus a day of biking and a day to go on a guided visit of Dubrovnik are included. This modified itinerary is slightly different than what was offered this year and will be possible for booking from the end of October. New dates with guaranteed departures start in April and go through October with at least one departure per month. We can do custom groups and dates for a minimum of 6 persons. The hotel is a charming 3 star property on the water and the tour itself is nearly all inclusive. It is also possible to do some sea kayaking, sailing, or diving. See full tour details at

http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/hikling-croatia.php

Some of the famous and important sites on this trip include: Dubrovnik old city, benedictine monastery on the islet of St Mary (12th c), Odysseus Cave on the southern coastline (from the work of Homer's Odyssey). Other roman and christian historical sites as well as time on the beach.

In the Spotlight

Trophy Hunting in France: Alpes, Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux!

Trophy hunting, as in achieving a summit by bike from some of the most famously difficult routes of the Tour de France. A certain segment of our client base that is growing steadily is in search of some of these great rides to add to their personal collection of achievements. And why not!? Speed is not a matter, these rides are not races. To conquer these 'hills' is an exercise in endurance and mental strength. Of course, you have to be in shape and trained too. We are booking more and more multiple summits like the Club des Cingles which is 3 summits of Mont Ventoux in one day.

Thought it may no be for everyone, we accommodate people of different abilities or can combine a big challenge with a more modest cycling adventure through more moderate countryside. Our company Cycling Classics addresses these adrenaline junkies. Because the Mont Ventoux self-guided trip is only 3 nights it easily fits into a longer cycling program in Provence. The Alpes start at 4 nights and go up to a week. We do also offer a TROPHY TRIP we call Personal Tour de France that offers up all these famous rides in one week's time.

Pure Adventures offers Cycling Classics programs but can also supply the high end road bikes used for these trips for the moderate cycling adventures throughout the south of France. Cycling Classics features Eddy Merckx carbon frame CHM bikes with triple chain rings for climbing anything. Details of the Eddy Merckx bikes are available at www.cyclingclassics.com/rentalbikes.php

opron... See full tour details here...

What's New

New Tuscany Tours in 2008

Guided cycling, Biking & Cooking, and a new self-guided itinerary will all be available in 2008. The new self-guided tour offers many of the existing Tuscan classic stops like Siena, Pienza, Montalcino, but also adds Cortona and Montisi. The Biking & Cooking tour is based in a villa and has daily afternoon cooking lessons that lead right into dinner! Details should be available by the end of October. To be notified with more information, drop us an email:

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PURE News

NEW BELGIUM/BRUSSELS ACCESS - Travel to Belgium is now more convenient with Jet Airways’ new direct service to Brussels from New York (JFK), Newark (EWR) and Toronto (YYZ). Train travel to Brussels will evolve on November 14, 2007 when Eurostar launches passenger services from St. Pancras International Terminal in London (new station), cutting journey time between London and Brussels from 2 hours & 45 minutes down to one hour, 51 minutes.

Go to Paris in Style: Business and Pleasure - for those who do business in Europe and combine your active vacations, here is one for the expense report: Business class only air between New York and Paris. L'Avion, is a new service to address business class only style seating and service. From $2100, the Boeing 757-200 is outfitted with only 90 seats (versus regular 220) in a 2x2 configuration. For more info, see www.lavion.com

Cycling in Holland: a cyclist's paradise - that is if you live there and you enjoy riding a bicycle. In Holland, approximately sixteen million people own approximately 13 million bicycles! Nearly everyone has one, and some people even have two. Most of those bikes are therefore "utility" bikes - heavy bikes adapted for all weather and terrain as well as carrying lots of stuff. Renting a bike in Holland can be a challenge for those who want a lighter touring model, but finding your way by bike couldn't be easier. Signs, bike lanes including special passages only for bikes, and detailed maps are easy follow. For more see the Holland.com website and to see more about the Pure Adventures tour in Holland see this link: http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-holland.php

Go Local!

Banyuls sur Mer - on the southern Mediterrean coast of France just north of Spain. This little town is both a beach town and a wine town. The beach part is obvious as it sits on the Mediterranean coast and offers some fine sandy beaches, a boardwalk, shops, and activities. Its a great beach destination for a day and just a short trip from another similar spot at Collioure. However, another great part of Banyuls is its impossibly good wine made from the seemingly impossibly cultivated grapes on the steep hillsides overlooking the town. The slopes are so steep that the grapes can only be cultivated by hand - no machinery can pass. However, these grapes are not new and this not some new use for useless land. In fact, this region has been growing grapes and making wine since centuries before the time of Jesus Christ. Greeks and Phoenicians first planted here. The wine is unique and there are several varieties; the largest coop is called Le Cellier des Templiers and it offers a museum and visitation as well as tasting. See details at www.banyuls.com

Self Guided Travel Tips

Cell phones - does your cell phone travel? Most people who come on a self guided trip are prepared and comfortable for the independence and freedom this kind of trip offers. Having a cell phone that can travel is part of that preparation. Throughout most of Western Europe now, and especially in Central and Eastern Europe, the cell phone is the best way to communicate. That is, opposed to finding a pay phone somewhere. Most public phones/pay phones have disappeared and finding one in the middle of the countryside is not easy. How do you make your phone ready to travel? First, find out what your phone can do and if your service provider has any coverage or partners in Europe. You will probably need a new SIM card to work on a European network, so see if your provider can help. You can compare the cost of this with the cost of renting a cell phone. We do offer cell phone rentals to every customer, and while price isn't always the deal of the century, they are convenient and that is like a little insurance policy that should you need it may serve you very well.

Events

The 4th Brussels Art Nouveau Biennial Event will take place over the 4 weekends of October 2007. Its theme will be the myriad of European influences that met in Brussels to create “Art Nouveau”. The innovative, artistic and creative aspects of the work of the great Art Nouveau architects will be presented through guided visits of exceptional Art Nouveau buildings and interiors, as well as through other happenings. Visitors can obtain a passport for 1 weekend of for all 4 weekends. Also single entrance tickets are available per location.
www.voiretdirebruxelles.be

CHESTNUT TIME in Tuscany: Very large areas of Tuscany, particularly in the North, are still covered in Chestnut - Castagna - forests, and it is during October that you'll first see the locals out in the woods to collect them. You'll see special pans for roasting the chestnut for sale everywhere (basically a frying pan full of holes), but if you don't have access to an open fire you can find hot-chestnut sellers in most towns leading up to Christmas.

Insomnia is the activity en vogue on Nuit Blanche in Paris, which is taking place on the night of October 6th this fall.  This night-long 'urban holiday' has taken up quite well among the inhabitants of the city, as well as with tourists everywhere: rooting itself in community and the arts, people unify themselves for a single, expressive cause, trying to create their own vision through light and sound exhibitions and projects.  The incredible light installations contrasted up against the night of the city make Nuit Blanche a unique and incredibly innovative opportunity to explore, anywhere and everywhere in the city.