Six European biking and hiking tours are planned for 2007 through the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s School of Health Promotion and Human Development, which has offered trips for cyclists and hikers of all levels since 1985.
UWSP’s Bicycling and Hiking Adventure Tours is offering four Itineraries of 30 to 70 miles per day for cyclists and two itineraries of five to ten miles for hikers, letting participants bike or hike as little or as much as they wish. Accommodations are typically at comfortable, charming 3-star hotels that are often family-run and characteristic of the area. Local cuisine is featured as well as cultural and historical sites such as castles, vineyards, open markets, architectural gems and distinctive landscapes.
On bike trips, a van is used to transport luggage. Buses or trains transport travelers from one locale to another on hiking trips. All ages are welcome. Past participants have ranged in age from 18 to 84. To learn more about the trips, visit the Web site, www.uwsp.edu/hphd/bikehike, e-mail bikehike@uwsp.edu, or call (715) 346-4080.
The 2007 trip offerings are as follows:
- Amalfi Coast, Italy, January 1 – 13 (hiking) – This cultural walking and low-impact hiking tour will feature Sorrento, Capri, Mount Vesuvius, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and the temples of Paestum, as well as two nights in Rome.
- Mallorca, March 15 – 25 (bicycling) – Mild weather, excellent roads, spectacular scenery and outstanding accommodations are the highlights of this trip. This island in the Mediterranean is a cyclist’s paradise!
- France, June 12 – 28 (bicycling) – Enjoy the lavender and sunflowers of Provence! Features will include historic villages, Roman ruins, the Papal Palace in Avignon, the medieval fortress town of Les Baux, and an optional ride up Mount Ventoux. We’ll explore areas made famous through the paintings of Van Gogh and Cezanne: Arles, St. Remy, Aix-en-Provence and Mt. St. Victoire.
- Germany, June 30 – July 15 (bicycling) – The Mosel and Rhine valleys will offer cyclists magnificent views of meandering waterways with castles looming above. Villages of half-timbered houses like Tries-Karden and Bernkastel-Kues will take you back in time. Three days in the ancient Roman capital of Trier with its array of museums and churches will provide many cultural opportunities.
- England and Scotland, June 30 – July 15 (hiking) – A Celtic tour of three different areas of Britain will begin on the peaceful Isle of Man where we’ll enjoy coastal walks, visit unique villages, and ancient Viking ruins and castles. The Lake District will be next, home to poets and galleries, with abundant hiking opportunities. Oban in Scotland, with hiking excursions to the Isles of Kerrara, Mull and Staffa, will also be featured.
- Norway and Denmark, July 21 – August 12 (bicycling) – Starting in Oslo, we’ll spend the first two days seeing historic and cultural sites. We’ll cycle down the coast of Norway, exploring harbors and forts. A ferry will take us across the North Sea to Denmark, where we’ll pedal westward to coastal resorts, finally spending two days in Copenhagen.
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