Spirit of Adventure

We are very excited to introduce a selection of new self guided walking and cycling adventures in Europe! These holidays are perfect for those seeking a flexible and independent experience travelling with just their partner, family or friends. An itinerary, detailed route notes and maps are provided by us, and your accommodation in comfortable hotels and lodgings, as well as luggage transfers, are booked for you, allowing you to walk or cycle from one place to the next at your own pace! Plus self guided does not mean unsupported, as our local offices are always only a call away, 24-hours a day.

Whatever your choice of destination, our self guided adventures will take you into the heart and soul of Europe’s most spectacular regions. Just one of these journeys is our new 7 day Jewels of Liguria; Cinque Terre & Portovenere, a region recently explored by our very own Paddy Scott.

“Strolling through Portovenere at the end of our Ligurian adventure it was clear that this was a special place to be. The beautiful Italian fishing port, dominated at one end by a fairytale church perched high up on a cliff, is made up of brightly coloured Fishermans’ houses, so painted to aid the view from the sea for the returning fisherman. These days the fishing is still in evidence, but the harbour has now been overtaken by enormous multi-million dollar yachts, and the rocky cliffs are now home to sunbathing Italians, to whom posing is a full time job. This is the Italian Riviera at its very best!

Ducking up through a gate in the castle walls you reach the ‘main street’, dotted with ‘trattorias’ and delicatessens that send your taste buds crazy. Finally you burst out to a ‘plaze’ and take some steps that lead up to the church, proudly overlooking the Byron’s Grotto, where Lord Byron is said to have cooled off in the sea on hot days. The view from the church stretches along the entire coastline that houses the Cinque Terre’s beautiful villages.

At night, the port comes alive with the clinking of glasses and laughter of friends enjoying dinner at one of the post side restaurants. Our weary legs, from days of spectacular walking, gladly sank into the inviting chairs. The food was as exceptional as it was simple – grilled fish, caught that morning by the local fishermen, washed down with a cold glass of the local white wine. We were right – this really was a special place to be!”

Charity: Humane Society International
Dates: 12-23 March 2010
Fundraising target: A$7,500
Duration: 12 days
Cycle through Rajasthan - the Land of Kings, a quintessential Indian state, with its walled cities, forts and palaces onto our final destination Agra. Throughout the tour, stay at battle forts like Ras Fort and Tordi Garh; palaces like Phool Mahal Palace; and farm houses like Rawla Bagh, where our hosts personally help us explore their villages. In Agra, visit the incomparable Taj Mahal and have a full day at the Agra Bear Rescue Sanctuary.

Contact our Private Groups team for more information on this great charity challenge!

A Peregrine Charity Challenge is a unique travel adventure for those keen to make a difference in the world. Together with our partner, Inspired Adventures – who create and manage charity challenges on behalf of Australian charities, we are offering a series of incredible journeys across the globe, one of which is the Camp Quality Trek and Cycle Peru Challenge.

Charity: Camp Quality (Northern Territory)
Date: 15-25 November 2009
Fundraising Target: $8,200
Trip Duration: 11 days
Having explored Lima and the old Inca city of Cusco take on a two-day bicycle ride into the beautiful Sacred Valley, stopping at numerous Inca sites along the way. Discover the colourful market town of Pisac and the fortress village of Ollantaytambo, then hike along old Inca trails, on to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. This is Peru at its best!

The secret is out… autumn is the best time to explore Europe! Peregrine runs a number of great walking, cycling and cultural tours in Europe throughout September and October, and there are lots of reasons why you should consider venturing into the luxurious European countryside in autumn:

• The temperatures are milder and the days are clear and crisp, which are ideal conditions for walking, cycling and touring.
• Travelling during autumn means less visitors and you will escape the hordes of the peak tourist months of July and August.
• Restaurants offer wonderful autumn menus with culinary delights such as truffles and wild mushrooms.
• Autumn is the harvest season for olives and grapes, with many towns and villages celebrating this season with food and wine festivals.
• The vines and foliage are ablaze with stunning bright colours making the countryside even more spectacular - the clear autumn light also makes for great photographic opportunities!
• Make the most of the numerous Europe airfare specials currently on offer for travel in September and October; these deals are helping to make travel during this time of year great value for money.

Here are some amazing adventures you can enjoy in Europe during autumn…

Colours of Tuscany
Flavours of the Dordogne
Crete & Santorini Explorer

For the last two to three years, the alluring charms of Croatia have made it Europe’s ‘hottest’ must-see destination. Ancient Roman cities, medieval walled villages and restful fishing hamlets co-exist with a simply stunning coastline lapped by, unarguably, the clearest and most inviting azure waters in all of Europe. Croatia’s appeal is further strengthened to the savvy traveller by its seemingly permanent sunshine, beneath which golden sand beaches beckon after a day of exploration, fresh food and sublime vistas.

In 2008/09 Peregrine has two trips that encapsulate the visual, historic and cultural diversity of this beautiful region. The Dalmatian Coastal Explorer spends eight sun-soaked days focussing on the outdoor delights of Croatia’s magnificent coast, whilst the two-week Jewels of the Adriatic snakes at a leisurely pace from Venice through stunning Slovenia and on, via the turquoise waters and waterfalls of Plitvice National Park, to Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik.

Dalmatian Coastal Explorer (8 Days): Beginning with three nights in historic Split, once home to Emperor Diocletian, we spend our initial days exploring the spectacular islands of Brac and Hvar on foot, by minivan and on two scenic morning cycles (support van available). We leave these lavender scented and sun speckled islands and head south to the lush verdant forests of Mjlet National Park for two days of walking, boating and relaxing, before heading to Lord Byron’s Pearl – Dubrovnik – for our last two nights.

Jewels of the Adriatic (15 Days): Great cities such as Venice, Dubrovnik and Slovenia’s classy capital Ljubljana; the unparalleled natural beauty of Lake Bled, Plitvice Lakes and the Dalmatian Coastline; off the beaten path, fascinating night-stops in ancient Pula and peaceful Zadar – all of these elements combine with the camaraderie of your small group, to deliver a memorable experience on a truly unique itinerary.

As a one-off special, we are offering a 10% discount off the 13 April Jewels of the Adriatic departure and the 20 April Dalmation Coastal Explorer trips to anyone booking online. The discount only applies to the land section of the trip and does not apply to international flights, transfers, extra accommodation or the carbon offset payment.

Amber Osborn, Peregrine’s Finance Manager, has just returned from a cycling trip through Vietnam:

I recently travelled on the Peregrine Cycle Vietnam trip and had an absolutely amazing time. Travelling through a country by bicycle gives you a totally different perspective than a standard bus trip.  From the moment I hopped off the plane in Saigon I was mesmerized by the amount of traffic on the road, mainly in the form of motorbikes, and how they all ride in an organized chaos – yes, there are rules of the road; it just looks like no one follows them!  I soon learnt to go with the flow (while holding my breath) and confidently strode across the road. If you keep a steady pace at all times, somehow the traffic always misses you!

From the frantic hustle and bustle of the local traffic, through the lush green rice fields, colourful markets, and the grins on the kids’ faces, Vietnam is one country that you must see. The people, in particular the kids, are really what makes Vietnam such a special place. While travelling through the towns we were constantly greeted with excited cries of “xin chao!” (Vietnamese for hello) and the kids would run from school to slap our hands as we peddled past, awarding us congratulatory high fives for the effort of cycling. The locals appreciate tourists getting into the spirit of their culture and travelling around on the same mode of transport as they do – the trusty bicycle.

In Vietnam, as elsewhere in Asia, the humble bike is used variously as a family saloon, a pick up truck and even a hearse. Have you ever imagined what you could carry on a bike? At different times during the trip I saw being carried on a bike: gas cylinders; electric motors; kilos and kilos of rice; mum, dad and three kids; a coffin; the list goes on and on – and yes, even the kitchen sink!

Another highlight was the markets; they are certainly the place for hunting out a good bargain. Personally I am not a good bargainer, but you can always have a bit of fun and everyone, including the market vendors, enjoys the experience. It is almost compulsory to bargain for everything and anything you wish to buy, always with varying degrees of success! The only rules are:

•    Always have a smile on your face – it’s fun!
•    Never compare prices with fellow shoppers; you will always have paid differently!
•    If you are happy with the price you paid, then it’s a good price!

Not only did the people and the scenery enthrall me, but so did the amazing local food and aromas that go with it. The spices, chillies and flavours that make up Vietnamese food are such a delight, as is along with the amazing array of seafood that is available. If you enjoy seafood as I do, you will be in heaven. I have never eaten so much fish, squid, muscles and shrimps - all of it ridiculously fresh and tasty. For anyone travelling to Vietnam I strongly urge you to take part in a cooking class in either Hanoi or Saigon. My nine fellow cyclists and I took a cooking class in Hanoi and probably had the best night of the whole trip. For US$10 you can learn to cook an entire meal from spring rolls and squid with lemon grass, to prawn wontons with a vegetable sweet and sour pork or beautiful cod cooked in banana leaves. The best part of all is sitting down at the end and devouring every last morsel!

The Cycle Vietnam is an amazing trip and a fantastic way to see such a beautiful country – getting in amongst the locals and stopping on the way to take in the views of the rice fields and local villages. The memories will stay with me for a very long time!