ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours Teams with Whole Foods Market for Fall Culinary Tours of Tuscany and Provence
OutdoorHub 02.13.13
ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours, that in 1972 became the first North American tour company to offer guided cycling adventures in Europe (http://www.experienceplus.com/), is partnering with Whole Journeys, a division of Whole Foods Market to launch two active foodie cycling adventures.
Italy’s Tuscany and France’s Provence, both culinary destinations, are accessed on eight-day guided bicycle tours that focus on sourcing healthy foods and local culture. The nearly all inclusive, per person double rate for each is $4,295 (single supplement $500).
“We’re all about authentic experiences and rich cultural connections. I encourage guests to open themselves to the culture in each destination, and share their own perspective with the people there. When the trip is over, everyone comes away with a wider worldview and, hopefully, a deeper appreciation for global diversity and food culture and traditions,” said Kathy Dragon, Executive Director of Whole Journeys.
Toscana in Bicicletta engages guests Sept. 28 to Oct. 5 in the Chianti Classico region south of Florence and Siena where the trip begins with a guided tour of Siena. Guests cycle south to Bagno Vignoni, a Roman spa town in the Val D’Orcia. Wine cellar visits and a cooking class bring local specialties such as pecorino cheese alive. The last few days guests cycle through the Chianti Classico region characterized by short and steep hills dotted with vineyards and forest. While riding on average 32 miles a day, guests are introduced to such regional specialties as pecorino di fossa (sheep’s cheese served with marmalade and honey), and a very tender meat, chianina, from the local breed of cattle.
Pedaling Provence, timed to coincide with the annual olive harvest, runs Oct. 11-18. This tour includes such culinary highlights as Mediterranean feasts accompanied by Côtes-de-Rhône wines, exquisite olive oils and Provençal herbs and cheese. The trip begins in Arles dating to first century AD Romans before cycling to St. Rémy for olive oil, the Roman quarries of Les Baux and on to the melon fields in the Luberon. Guests ride on average 18 to 31 miles a day.
