Bike
Whooshing down rolling hills and through the vineyards of southwestern Tuscany is a calming and invigorating way to explore the Mediterranean coastline. One tour operator that knows it well, Backroads, offers a Tuscany & Maremma Biking tour through medieval hilltop villages, past wine estates and tufa cliffs, offering charming hotel accommodations and hearty homemade cuisine.
www.backroads.com
Train
One of the most efficient travel modes might also be the most convenient; nowadays, companies like RailEurope make it even easier. Their Glacier Express Tour, for example, provides thre transfers for second-class rail travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz on the world-renowned Glacier Express, plus two nights accommodation at three-star hotels.
www.raileurope.com
Walk
Walking tours, like those provided by tour operator Country Walkers, are perhaps the best way to notice the small details of a region and burn calories along the way. On Country Walkers’ nine-day Southern Coast of Greece tour, for instance, clients embark on day hikes of various difficulties, packed with history and picturesque seascapes, including the Bay of Itylo, Roman mosaics, Frankish fortresses and Byzantine churches.
www.countrywalkers.com
Car Rental
Taking the wheel of a Merecedes Benz or BMW on the Autobahn has its obvious advantages. Rental companies, like Auto Europe, offer more than a wide range of cars (from a VW Beetle to a Porsche 911), but also mobile phone and GPS rentals.
www.autoeurope.com
River Cruise
Whether taking an afternoon cruise or a multiday journey, a river cruise along the Rhine reveals a landscape rich in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On Uniworld’s 14-day Legendary Rhine & Moselle cruise, guests will pass 2,000-year-old cities and, supposedly, the infamous singing Lorelei at Lorelei Rock.
www.uniworld.com
