Featured Special

Tuscany 2008 - New Itinerary, and New Options: We are pleased to announce a new itinerary in Tuscany for 2008. Though it is still Tuscany the first few days are quite different and we think make it better still! First, the tour now starts in the hilltop town of Montepulciano with an overnight and then goes to Cortona (Under The Tuscan Sun). The following day hits Trequanda and Montisi before arriving in Siena and then continuing on our previous route in reverse to Montalcino and Pienza. The full details of the trip can be seen at this link:
http://www.pure-adventures.com/tours/cycling-tuscany-6nights.php

Book this new 6 night Tuscany trip before December 31, 2007 and get $50 off per person!

Also, new for custom groups: Biking & Cooking in Tuscany! Stay in one charming villa just south of Siena and combine loop rides around the Tuscany countryside with afternoon cooking classes. The classes are full participation and the host is a fun and lively leader in the art of "la cucina toscana". Some unpublished departures are possible for individuals and couples to join - contact us for info!

In the Spotlight

Catalonia and Costa Brava: Cycling tours from farmhouses to seaside hotels!

The Catalonia region of Spain is a hot seller year round, not least responsible for this fact is the fantastic weather. However, the cultural and architectural delights of Barcelona bring people from everywhere. There is much more to Catalonia though, and the Costa Brava is a big part of it. This area just north of Barcelona is filled with rolling countryside, sandy beaches, medieval villages, and ancient history. The cuisine and hospitality as well as price, make it a great value!

We have modified our offers in the region for 2008 and have made a few changes to our very popular Gastronomic Cycling Tour. We have narrowed the choices of tours down to 3 with a 7 night Gastronomic Tour, a 4 night Farmhouse/B&B tour, and our Challenge Tour. All trips can be viewed in detail including their very modest prices at this link: Catalonia Spain Cycling

SHORT CATALAN HISTORY:
As early as the sixth century BC, Greek merchants established trading posts along the Catalan coast. By the third century BC, the Phoenicians and Carthaginians had settled in before being replaced, after the Punic wars, by the Romans. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Visigoths swept down from the north and took over as of the early fifth century AD. In the eight century, Catalan Christians sought help from Charlemagne in repulsing the Moorish invaders. The period following the Reconquest is recognized as the origin of the Catalan nation, and Barcelona soon became the dominant political and military force in the region. By the 13th century Barcelona rivaled Genoa and Venice as a maritime power, ruling over an empire that encompassed a large part of the Mediterranean. This is Catatonia's Golden Age. Read more...

What's New

Grindelwald Hiking - New Details, New Price:

The new program is geared toward truly independent outdoor enthusiasts. We have finalized the terms, prices, and inclusions for 2008 and all details are available on Switzerland Hiking pages.

Some notes: we are including some great VALUES for lodging. There are cheaper places to stay, but not at all charming or worth the money. The choices we include were chosen for: location, authenticity, service. You can walk from the train station (sometimes within seconds!). Family run, typical, or in the case of the top option - full luxury. The region is covered with hiking trails. We have selected the "must do" routes, but only as suggestions. There is no orientation on arrival, and you are free to visit. Its a bare bones package but backed up with first rate planning and local knowledge!

PURE News

DELTA AIR LINES will inaugurate two-class, nonstop service to Malaga in the Andalusian region of southern Spain on June 4. Three flights a week will depart New York's Kennedy Airport Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays to the Pablo Picasso Airport. Return flights will depart Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Delta will increase the service to five flights a week July 8. The airline also offers daily flights to Madrid and Barcelona, Spain, from New York and Atlanta.

London & Paris are now 20 Minutes Closer - On November 14 the new London gateway to the continent opens at St Pancras Station. The trip between Paris and London is now 20 minutes shorter for an average travel time of 2 hours and 25 minutes. The new station will feature shopping, a 'champagne bar', and other experiential amenities. Details...

AER LINGUS launched nonstop flights between Dublin and San Francisco Airport Oct. 29 with four roundtrip flights per week. Introductory fares start at $288 each way. See the Aer Lingus site for fare info and details.

Croatia Tour Discontinued: After featuring it last month, we have pulled the trip for hiking and multisport in Croatia. Problems with a local service provider arose and we haven't yet found a replacement.

Go Local!

For high mountain enthusiasts and hikers of all stripes; Grindelwald is the outdoor paradise of Switzerland. We have offered hiking tours in the region for 2 years now and also a combination with Zermatt. For 2008, we will offer only Grindelwald, but there is no lack of hiking and terrain to cover.

Situated just a short train ride above Interlaken, Grindelwald is a mountain village with a typical Swiss mountain ambiance. It sits below the famous Eiger and Jungfrau peaks, among others, and it seems you could fall right off the summit of those and land in town! What is fantastic about the Grindelwald and the surrounding Jungfrau region is the improbable network of mountain trains, buses, and cable cars. With a pass you can ride all these modes of transport and do a seemingly infinite combination of hikes. Take any one of them up to a point and then hike around and down or to another point where you can come back by another mode of transport. High mountain services are possible too for lunches.

The incredible Junfraujoch sits at the top of the chain and overlooks just about everything ...to continue, check out this blog posting from July 2007

Self Guided Travel Tips

To bring your bike or not? Not! Unless you are experienced traveling with your bike and going on a challenging trip for at least a week or longer. This is really a pretty easy question to answer. But, so reader's don't think our only motive is to sell rental bikes, here are some things to think about: breaking your bike down and building it up - can you do it? Can you do it well? Any special tools you need to have to do it, you must bring them. Do you have a bike box? Hard or soft sided? Have you booked connections on your flight to your destinations? What is your plan B if the bike is delayed? Will you do any other travel besides the cycling tour? If so, then you will take your bike along?

There is a lot to think about, and if air travel wasn't complicated enough this won't make it easier. Good rentals are available out there, don't complicate the vacation if can avoid doing so!

Events/Links

Back to the Tuscany theme:

Dining in Tuscany  - Try these special recipes before your trip, or wait to experience them in Tuscany:  bistecca alla Fiorentina: a huge t-bone steak grilled over aromatic charcoal http://www.italiantourism.com/fiorentina.html

Caiccucco: traditional fish chowder: http://www.italiantourism.com/caciucco.html

 Italian food and wines: http://www.italiantourism.com/foodwine.html

 Museums in Florence:  Extending your trip a few days in Florence?  Preview over 70 museums and their special exhibits planned for 2008: http://www.museumsinflorence.com/index.htm