I never imagined I would look out my window at a snowy field and think, “Looks like a good day for a bike ride,” until I met Daymon Miller, general manager of Discover Banff Tours. An avid cyclist, Miller joined me on a fat bike excursion to Sundance Lodge, a backcountry retreat reachable only by foot, horse or bike, set against the Sundance Mountain Range in Alberta, Canada. A fat bike is a bicycle with oversized tires designed to handle unstable terrain like sand or snow. We put the bikes to the test as we pedaled through snowbanks, threaded single-track through stands of pine, and paused along the route to catch our breath and take in the mountain scenery.
All around us, the quiet was punctuated only by the soft crunch of snow under tire treads as our line cut a clear path along the trail. For much of the ride we moved in companionable silence, relying on the camaraderie of the group to keep the pace, pushing steadily up the incline. On our final approach to the lodge, we couldn’t help but shout with joy at the thought of a well-earned hot, hearty meal after a day spent outdoors.
Active travel has surged in popularity in recent years, and biking and walking tours are now offered in cities and regions around the world. These experiences appeal to travelers who want to engage with a place through movement rather than by observing it from the window of a vehicle.
“In the last six or seven years, walking and biking tours have really picked up,” says Marianne Abraham, a private trip planner with Butterfield & Robinson. “With biking and walking tours, guests still have access to activity but they don’t have to be extremely fit. These tours become more about being part of the landscape as opposed to just sitting on a beach. You see so many small, amazing things when you’re walking or biking that you simply can’t experience the same way if you’re whizzing around in a car.”
Abraham has worked with Butterfield & Robinson for nearly two decades and has witnessed significant growth in active trip offerings. The company began offering biking and walking tours 50 years ago with the goal of encouraging travelers to “slow down to see the world.” Today its active itineraries span Asia, the Pacific, Europe and the Americas, and travelers can choose private guided trips, self-guided adventures, or join regularly scheduled group departures to meet like-minded explorers.
“Active travel has a way of bonding people together,” Abraham adds. “Doing activities alongside friends, family or even strangers creates a shared experience that becomes part of your stories for years to come. Whether you’re walking or biking, activity places you in the heart of the landscape, and the sights, smells, and people you encounter stay with you long after the trip ends.”