The Experience
Learn more about a bicycling and active vacation with Sojourn
There's no better way to experience a region than through a Sojourn bicycling and active vacation. Engage your senses, ride to your heart's content, engage in other adventures like hiking, rafting, kayaking or sailing, pause to explore , and be enthralled by spontaneous encounters along the way. Choose a trip based upon your preferred level of cycling or activity. Intermediate trips offer the greatest flexibility for cyclists of mixed abilities or interests, with various daily route options for intermediate or avid cyclists. Easier tours are excellent choices for those who are newer to cycling or who prefer a more relaxed pace on gentle terrain. Regardless of the trip you choose, you will experience Sojourn's thoughtfully selected cycling routes, active sport options, deluxe accommodations, delicious meals, and exceptional tour leaders. Just pack your bags and leave the rest to us.
A Typical Day
While each day of a Sojourn vacation is unique, there are similar elements to every day. Your tour leaders will share the selection of options with you and guide you through the day. Choose to do it all or customize the options to your personal preference.
The Cool Of The Morning
Rise in time for breakfast with your fellow travelers and tour leaders who will provide an overview of the day. They will share with you the highlights and mix in a bit of local lore.
After breakfast you’ll have time to return to your room before you head off on your ride or to another activity. Of course, if you choose, you can lounge by the pool, arrange for a massage, or a host of other things that suit your fancy.
A morning ride might take you through a historic covered bridge, past a series of cascading waterfalls, or through a spectacular stand of cacti. Stop to snap some photos, walk along the falls, or perhaps visit an old-time general store. Everyone is encouraged to ride and explore at their own pace.
Let The Sun Shine
Leaders will host a gourmet picnic lunch along the ride or you will have opportunity to eat at one of several venues in a small town along the way. Naturally, everyone’s favorite lunch is a spread put on by the tour leaders. It’s always fun to see what they’ve conjured up and enjoy some laughs with your fellow travelers over lunch.
You might visit a local museum or winery, or crank out a few extra miles if you choose. Devouring a good book in a lounge chair overlooking the pool or the sea is also a favored afternoon activity. From a short hike to a waterfall to a visit to small family farm, our bike tours offer much more than simply riding down the road.
As The Moon Rises
Join your fellow travelers for a delicious dinner either at the inn or a nearby restaurant. Evening meals seem to incite conversation and laughter over the day’s events. You’ll hear stories of spontaneous encounters and great feats such as milking a cow for the first time – you do what?
Meals are sumptuous three to five-course affairs and include options for vegetarians. Folks often go for a little evening walk or retire to the front porch of the inn before drifting off to their rooms. Enjoyable hours in the out of doors are the perfect prescription for a good night’s sleep!
A Typical Day Walkthrough
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8:25pm
Dinner is winding down and folks are heading outside to sit around the fireplace on the terrace. The sky is clear and it looks like there are millions of stars in the sky. We laugh, get excited for tomorrow, and finally drift off to our rooms for the night.
I fall asleep dreaming of spinning through rolling farmland and exploring those cute little towns the leaders say are on tap for tomorrow. What a wonderful day and a wonderfully comfortable bed to envelope me. Zzzzz... -
7:00am
I roll over to light peeking through the curtains and the rich aroma of coffee brewing. Nothing but deep, rhythmic breathing from the other side of the bed so I slip out and tiptoe downstairs.
Mmm…a pot of fresh coffee is on the verandah. Pour myself a cup and go for a stroll through the gardens before filling a cup for my husband and heading back to the room. "Wake up, honey, coffee in bed to start the day." -
8:10am
We’re all eager to hear what’s in store for the day as our leaders arrive at breakfast.
Two ride options, meet up for lunch at a park overlooking a lake, then more for the afternoon – think I’ll wait until after lunch to make that call. -
9:05am
Time to start turning those pedals. Nice to have our tires already pumped and our water bottles full. I’m off on the longer ride while my other half is going to take it easy.
Great to have choices to keep everyone happy. -
9:40am
Stop to take my vest off as the combination of sunshine and activity heats me up.
Nice views of the valley unfold before me and I snap a shot of a couple others as they ride by. -
10:55am
Another gal and I roll into a cute little town and decide to visit a small museum – well, it’s in a small house that an abolitionist was born in.
Lovely antique store nearby and a tempting ice cream stand but we’re saving room for the spread the leaders are putting on – rumor has it that their lunches are not to be missed. -
12:35pm
Roll into lunch on a sprawling lawn along a pretty lake. Folks are crowded around the lunch table and filling their plates with lots of delicious looking fare. Caprese salad, fresh baked bread, crudité, wraps for carnivores and vegetarians alike, tabbouleh, chips, and more – wow!
No room for those yummy looking cookies that must have come from the same bakery as the bread. These two leaders know how to put together a lunch spread! -
2:10pm
Most of us are still lounging along the lakeshore soaking up the afternoon sun. That was such a feast for lunch that I’m not interested in going anywhere too quickly.
My husband joins me for a wade in the water. He said his ride was just perfect and that a couple of the other husbands joined him which was fun. -
2:50pm
One of the guides is offering to take everyone on a short hike to a waterfall – can’t pass that up! The walk is easy and the water is much colder than the lake but feels refreshing as we all take a dip in the stream.
It’s a short ride back to the inn and our wet clothing keeps us cool on this warm afternoon. Lemonade and cookies are out for us at the inn when we return – still too full from lunch! -
4:30pm
After a shower we grab our books and head for the terrace. Beautiful gardens surround the stonework and the shade is beckoning.
A couple of chapters later I’ve had enough and venture inside where a few of the others are enjoying a beverage in the inn’s tavern. It seems that a couple of folks who tackled what the leaders call “the epic extra” caught a glimpse of a mother bear and two cubs crossing the road – amazing! -
7:00pm
Everyone arrives for dinner, chatty and enthusiastic about their day. We’re all split between two large tables which is just right for the lively conversation that ensues over appetizers of bacon wrapped scallops and vegetarian stuffed mushrooms.
I order the halibut and my husband the lamb – both are delicious and served up with fresh vegetables from the inn’s garden. Dessert is a heavenly lemon tart with homemade ginger ice cream topped with mint.
-
8:25pm
Dinner is winding down and folks are heading outside to sit around the fireplace on the terrace. The sky is clear and it looks like there are millions of stars in the sky. We laugh, get excited for tomorrow, and finally drift off to our rooms for the night.
I fall asleep dreaming of spinning through rolling farmland and exploring those cute little towns the leaders say are on tap for tomorrow. What a wonderful day and a wonderfully comfortable bed to envelope me. Zzzzz... -
7:00am
I roll over to light peeking through the curtains and the rich aroma of coffee brewing. Nothing but deep, rhythmic breathing from the other side of the bed so I slip out and tiptoe downstairs.
Mmm…a pot of fresh coffee is on the verandah. Pour myself a cup and go for a stroll through the gardens before filling a cup for my husband and heading back to the room. "Wake up, honey, coffee in bed to start the day." -
8:10am
We’re all eager to hear what’s in store for the day as our leaders arrive at breakfast.
Two ride options, meet up for lunch at a park overlooking a lake, then more for the afternoon – think I’ll wait until after lunch to make that call. -
9:05am
Time to start turning those pedals. Nice to have our tires already pumped and our water bottles full. I’m off on the longer ride while my other half is going to take it easy.
Great to have choices to keep everyone happy. -
9:40am
Stop to take my vest off as the combination of sunshine and activity heats me up.
Nice views of the valley unfold before me and I snap a shot of a couple others as they ride by. -
10:55am
Another gal and I roll into a cute little town and decide to visit a small museum – well, it’s in a small house that an abolitionist was born in.
Lovely antique store nearby and a tempting ice cream stand but we’re saving room for the spread the leaders are putting on – rumor has it that their lunches are not to be missed. -
12:35pm
Roll into lunch on a sprawling lawn along a pretty lake. Folks are crowded around the lunch table and filling their plates with lots of delicious looking fare. Caprese salad, fresh baked bread, crudité, wraps for carnivores and vegetarians alike, tabbouleh, chips, and more – wow!
No room for those yummy looking cookies that must have come from the same bakery as the bread. These two leaders know how to put together a lunch spread! -
2:10pm
Most of us are still lounging along the lakeshore soaking up the afternoon sun. That was such a feast for lunch that I’m not interested in going anywhere too quickly.
My husband joins me for a wade in the water. He said his ride was just perfect and that a couple of the other husbands joined him which was fun. -
2:50pm
One of the guides is offering to take everyone on a short hike to a waterfall – can’t pass that up! The walk is easy and the water is much colder than the lake but feels refreshing as we all take a dip in the stream.
It’s a short ride back to the inn and our wet clothing keeps us cool on this warm afternoon. Lemonade and cookies are out for us at the inn when we return – still too full from lunch! -
4:30pm
After a shower we grab our books and head for the terrace. Beautiful gardens surround the stonework and the shade is beckoning.
A couple of chapters later I’ve had enough and venture inside where a few of the others are enjoying a beverage in the inn’s tavern. It seems that a couple of folks who tackled what the leaders call “the epic extra” caught a glimpse of a mother bear and two cubs crossing the road – amazing! -
7:00pm
Everyone arrives for dinner, chatty and enthusiastic about their day. We’re all split between two large tables which is just right for the lively conversation that ensues over appetizers of bacon wrapped scallops and vegetarian stuffed mushrooms.
I order the halibut and my husband the lamb – both are delicious and served up with fresh vegetables from the inn’s garden. Dessert is a heavenly lemon tart with homemade ginger ice cream topped with mint.
Still on cloud nine from our trip. First class from beginning to end. We’ll be traveling with Sojourn again, guaranteed.
