Welcome to The Slow Road, a B&R travel chronicle consisting of “postcards” from our guides and Regional Directors; the unveiling of new trips crafted by the most creative trip designers on the planet; personal accounts from our travellers as they see the world others miss; and all the latest and greatest travel news from B&R.
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March 03, 2010
Passport: A Traveller's Tale of the Galapagos
Good Works: The B&R Fund in Peru
Ten Spot: Best Hotel Spas Around the World
February 03, 2010
B&R News: New Self-Guided Biking Trips
A Day in the Life: Prague to Vienna Biking
January 06, 2010
Departure Lounge: Catalonia Biking
Postcards: Chris Wahl's Loire Valley With the Kids
December 02, 2009
Iceland & Greenland: Places on the Verge
Departure Lounge: Perfect Puglia
Ten Spot: Top Ten Bespoke Moments of 2009
November 04, 2009
Emerging Destinations: Jordan by Bike
Stellar Guides: Leading the Way in Morocco
Notes From the Road: A Patagonian's Perspective
October 08, 2009
Seasonal Fare: A Taste of the Exotic in Vietnam
Good Works: The B&R Fund on a Roll
48 Hours In... Bangkok
September 03, 2009
Ten Spot: The allure of New Zealand in 10 points
Passport: A traveller's tale of Argentina
Departure Lounge: Silk Road Biking
August 06, 2009
Seasonal Fare: Truffle Season in Piemonte
Departure Lounge: Wine Grand Journey
July 23, 2009
Emerging Destinations: Laos to Vietnam Biking 2010
Departure Lounge: Provence Biking 2010
July 09, 2009
Seasonal Fare: Classic Greek Islands by Sea
48 Hours in... Leah Howe's Rome
June 25, 2009
Departure Lounge: Galapagos Islands By Sea
Emerging Destinations: Amazon
Ten Spot: Ten Things You Didn't Know About the Amalfi Coast
June 11, 2009
Postcards from... Simon Elliott's Japan Biking
B&R News: Trip Videos Now Online!
Departure Lounge: Of Fairways & Birthdays
May 28, 2009
Seasonal Fare: Bordeaux vs. Burgundy
Postcards from... Tyler Dillon on the Indochina Grand Journey
B&R News: 2009 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen
May 14, 2009
Stellar Guides: The Boys of Summer
B&R News: Sneak Peek of "Once in a Lifetime Trips"
Departure Lounge: The Hidden Pleasures of Japan
April 30, 2009
Emerging Destination: Kerala
48 Hours in... Vancouver
Ten Spot: Great Swimmin' Holes
April 02, 2009
Emerging Destination: Oman
Travel Tips: Family Matters
48 Hours In... Paris
Passport: A Traveller's Tale of the Galapagos
It’s an all too common concern we hear at B&R: “Group travel?... You mean with strangers?” There have been many reluctant travellers uncertain about what lies ahead on the B&R path when walking or pedalling it in the company of others. And we’re always entertained and encouraged by the remarks we receive once the journey is complete. Take Shirley Clement and her husband John, who recently embarked on our Galapagos Islands Walking trip. While we can usually count on a journey like this to stir the adventurer in anyone, as Shirley recounts, taking our lead she never lacked for inspiration… even among strangers who didn’t remain strange for long:
“The Galapagos had been on John's ‘bucket list’ for years, so when we heard of Butterfield and Robinson’s trip to these fabled islands, we decided to take the plunge. We had always avoided guided and group trips before (usually opting for the ‘do-it-yourself’ vacation), and were frankly a little worried that we would not get along with the other members of the group. We couldn’t have been more wrong!
As someone who had never done an ‘active vacation’ before, I was also a little concerned that the activity level would be too much for me, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up—or, worse, that I would hold the group back. But our two B&R guides—along with being amazingly experienced, enthusiastic and socially adept—gave me great advice about which hikes were ‘must-do's’ because of the wildlife we’d see, and which were ones I could afford to spend relaxing or reading on the deck of the Isabella II with a glass of wine (after all, I was on vacation!). The great thing was that there were always lots of options, so John and I could each get as much or as little activity as we wanted without holding the other one back (or me feeling like a wimp!). Our fellow travellers, a number of whom were B&R veterans, and others like us who were ‘first timers’, were all thoughtful, widely-experienced individuals with whom I really enjoyed spending time. They too were all living different versions of ‘life off the beaten track’!
The Galapagos were full of unique and breath-taking experiences, but I think the one that stands out for me was snorkelling with 2 white-tipped reef sharks on the last day! Our guides had told us that we might be lucky enough to see them along this particular reef and, as usual, in helping us spot them, they concentrated on our experience—not their own!
I could also go on and on about the helpful pre-trip literature, great food, perfect accommodations, spectacular scenery, well-maintained equipment, and informative Ecuadorian naturalists who travelled with us. But I think that the highest praise I can offer is that B&R seemed to have the same values that we do: decisions about details both large and small echoed ones we would have made ourselves and money was spent in exactly the right places—on top-notch staff, excellent food, professionally-maintained equipment and spot-on accommodations.
We are delighted to recommend B&R to anyone who loves to live life thoughtfully and enjoys new experiences with an influx of fun. Really—who could ask for anything more?!”
It’s an all too common concern we hear at B&R: “Group travel?... You mean with strangers?” There have been many reluctant travellers uncertain about what lies ahead on the B&R path when walking or pedalling it in the company of others. And we’re always entertained and encouraged by the remarks we receive once the journey is complete. Take Shirley Clement and her husband John, who recently embarked on our Galapagos Islands Walking trip. While we can usually count on a journey like this to stir the adventurer in anyone, as Shirley recounts, taking our lead she never lacked for inspiration… even among strangers who didn’t remain strange for long: 
As someone who had never done an ‘active vacation’ before, I was also a little concerned that the activity level would be too much for me, and was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up—or, worse, that I would hold the group back. But our two B&R guides—along with being amazingly experienced, enthusiastic and socially adept—gave me great advice about which hikes were ‘must-do's’ because of the wildlife we’d see, and which were ones I could afford to spend relaxing or reading on the deck of the Isabella II with a glass of wine (after all, I was on vacation!). The great thing was that there were always lots of options, so John and I could each get as much or as little activity as we wanted without holding the other one back (or me feeling like a wimp!). Our fellow travellers, a number of whom were B&R veterans, and others like us who were ‘first timers’, were all thoughtful, widely-experienced individuals with whom I really enjoyed spending time. They too were all living different versions of ‘life off the beaten track’! 
The Galapagos were full of unique and breath-taking experiences, but I think the one that stands out for me was snorkelling with 2 white-tipped reef sharks on the last day! Our guides had told us that we might be lucky enough to see them along this particular reef and, as usual, in helping us spot them, they concentrated on our experience—not their own! 
