Rolling hills, warm colors, cool mornings invite you. Round the corner and you're high above in the Green Mountains. Later, you're in quiet farmland. Taste the maple. Savor the brilliant foliage. Take a break in Woodstock and walk the quaint shops in biking shoes. It's okay. They've heard the clip-clop before. Southern Vermont was made for the ride.
Day 1 Pedal past manicured farms, wooded mountains and pastures dotted with black-and-white Holstein cows | Don't forget to look up for striking views of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak | Explore the idyllic surroundings and historic architecture of Stowe Village.
Days 2-3 Bike through maple forests and rustic farmland from beautiful Stowe to enchanting and historic Warren, stopping along the way in charming Montpelier, the smallest state capital in the United States | Spin through the postcard landscape of the Mad River Valley beneath the Green Mountains to the Pitcher Inn, a luxurious Relais & Châteaux property and our home for two nights | Pedal rolling rural roads to quaint East Middlebury | Challenge yourself on scenic Lincoln Gap Road.
Days 4-6 Birch, pine and vibrant maple trees flank your path to Woodstock, a quintessential New England village | Stop at the Billings Farm & Museum for a peek at American history | Ride tranquil roads through farmland and rural towns | Cross the celebrated Appalachian Trail to arrive in the town of Quechee, known for its 90-foot-long covered bridge spanning the Ottauquechee River | Watch local glass artisans ply their trade at the hydroelectrically powered Simon Pearce factory | Ride to South Woodstock, past beautiful horse stables and the famous South Woodstock Country Store.
The trip was great!!! We were all made to feel special by guides. When my girlfriend pulled her back out we were helped out (in the middle of the night!) and they never left out side.Though out the trip this kind of attention is given to every guest.- Boise, ID
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Built as a private residence in 1833 and now tastefully restored, this historic inn was once a stagecoach stop. (pool)
Sitting at the edge of a stream, this elegant property features charming porches, a gabled roof and unique guest rooms. A Relais & Châteaux member.
An "imposing landmark resort hotel facing the village green in a beautifully preserved village noted for its restored 18th-century homes," according to Andrew Harper. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 7 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 7 customers
Displaying reviews 1-7
Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
The trip was great!!! We were all made to feel special by guides. When my girlfriend pulled her back out we were helped out (in the middle of the night!) and they never left out side.
Though out the trip this kind of attention is given to every guest.
Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
Excellent guides, beautiful places to stay, lovely, lovely rides, and OMG the food was fabulous!
Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
My wife and I wanted to go to Vermont on a bike vacation to see the fall foliage for our 25th anniversary. For weeks, we thoroughly researched the many options and price points available. And I will say up front, Backroads was not the cheapest. But we figured, we probably aren't going to do this again, so let's do it first class. And we could not have been happier that we chose Backroads. The trip met and exceeded our expectations! Our trip leaders, Annie and Rachel, were awesome!! They made our trip a pleasure and so memorable. This was truly the vacation of a lifetime!!!
Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
Everything was just fine. Backroads is always very acertive on things it chooses. The leaders are always very well prepared and nice to everyone. Everything is possible when you ask for anything. They are always there to help make your journey the more pleasant it can be. Everything happens smoothly. This was my best riding moment because I was very relaxed about the routes and the girls would help me make it easier. Thank you.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
Everything about this trip exceeded my expectations...in spite of a couple of days of rainy weather. Our guides were outstanding. Our group has already booked another Backroads trip in the fall.
Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
Impeccable service, world class operations, stunning routes and all this with our best friends on the planet.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Vermont Bike Tour:
We wanted to take our own bike...a tandem. Backroads made special arrangement to carry our bike.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Beautiful Fall Colors surround our bike
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Displaying reviews 1-7
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 14 | 400 | 24 | 900 | 34 | 2200 | ||||
| 2 | 19* | 500 | 37* | 1900 | 52 | 3100 | ||||
| 24* | 1300 | |||||||||
| 3 | 24* | 800 | 30* | 1900 | 44* | 2600 | 58 | 4500 | ||
| 4 | 24* | 900 | 34* | 1300 | 43* | 2000 | ||||
| 50 | 3500 | |||||||||
| 5 | 28* | 1800 | 36* | 1900 | 41 | 2500 | ||||
| 6 | 12 | 500 | ||||||||
Note: There is less than 10% of riding on hard-packed dirt on this trip. Since the overwhelming majority of the trip is paved, we've elected to use standard road bike tires on our titanium road bikes. Most guests find this to be the right answer. If you prefer to skip the dirt, a shuttle is always a possibility. Vermont's landscape is characterized by constant rises and valleys, and the continuously rolling terrain can make routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
No other Vermont biking trip stays at the Pitcher Inn, a Relais and Châteaux property that's been named one of the 25 best hotels in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler. After a quarter-century of offering trips in the region, we've forged deep relationships that give you this kind of unique access – not just to great hotels and restaurants, but also to friends like Jeff at Thunder Mountain Maple, who welcomes you on a private syrup-making tour and tasting.
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Vermont, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Vermont. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Vermont—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
On our Vermont trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
In Vermont you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Vermont that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for one or two people (or a family of three or four), subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 8 or more. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
