Away from the Crowds

17/11/2024

Jenny and Tony met Lizzie and Simon in Borneo when they were travelling in their teens!
They've done a holiday together almost every year since, depite Jenny and Tony living in Melbourne, Australia and Lizzie and Simon living in London, UK! They've completed two walking holidays with us and this year they did Cycling Segovia, an Ebike adventure!

"We had wonderful rides on our trusty electric bikes, Pegasus, Zelda, Trigger and Sancho! The hotels were beautiful and we loved discovering all the medieval villages. Watching the griffon vultures circling above us and seeing them roosting on the rocks and feeding their chicks was magical!" Lizzie and Simon

14/11/2024

10/11/2024

Our home city of Segovia is a top destination for many Aftc travellers, whether it's cycling or walking...

07/11/2024

Cycling along the unspoilt Green Coast of Cantabria and Asturias, Northern Spain
"...We had a great time, the cycling was pretty challenging but we managed to get up nearly all of the hills(!) and it was lovely to be in such an interesting and unspoilt part of your beautiful country. All in all, we'd recommend Senderos y pueblos very highly, particularly for their organisation and great communication and helpfulness, and certainly will plan to travel with them again!"
Anthea and Rosie, Essex, Uk.

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-spain-green-coast.html

03/11/2024

"On our Sevilla to Cadiz cycle tour.....The Parador accommodations were amazing! This is only my second bike tour but these were the best accommodations I've ever had. I have never have stayed anywhere this nice even in my personal life. All of the towns we visited were great! If I had a suggestion for other customers it would be to stay longer at some of these towns"

Edna Gonzalez Huff, Portland, USA

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-sevilla-to-cadiz.html

31/10/2024

"We really enjoyed the trip: the landscape in spring, the nature, the towns and cities, the routes, the Paradores obviously, the contacts with the Spanish people... We were also very lucky with the weather. Neither intense heat nor heavy spring rain. Taking this trip at the end of April was ideal. It is such a beautiful and interesting excursion that you will surely want to repeat this trip. It's worth it!"
Dr Ulf Heyden, Germany

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-extremadura-the-paradors.html

27/10/2024

"Thank you for the perfect organisation and letting us discover Spain in an original way!" Sportive greetings Luc and Brigit, Brakel, Belgium.

"For the second time we had a very good experience with 'Senderos y Pueblos'! The mix of landscapes, variations in hotels, the fantastic clear roadbook, the kms, everything ok ....Looking forward to another Spain experience!"

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-across-pico.html

24/10/2024

Sometimes the boss gets out and enjoys the opportunity to meet Aftc friends!!
Here, we spent a lovely morning with Alan and Tricia Botteril from the UK, sending them off on their Salamanca cycling adventure.

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-roman-route-to-salamanca.html

17/10/2024

"This company is by far the best in Europe"
Vanda & John Tillotson, UK.

"La Rioja - Vineyards and Medieval Towns. This trip was an absolute delight from start to finish. We cycled through vineyards and small towns on quiet roads and dirt tracks at the tail end of the vine picking harvest. We had time to explore, and sit in cafes, to absorb the culture. Every evening we arrived in the most fabulous 4* monasteries, convents or local hotels full of character. All hotels welcomed us as cyclists and some even had Bike Friendly secure rooms. The route was exceptionally well chosen and introduced us to not only medieval towns but also the Camino de Santiago."

¡Muchas Gracias! Thank you so much! Aftc

13/10/2024

Here are the runners-up from our September Photo Competition. We love the photo of Michal cooling off in the crystal clear river in Extremadura, Marion jumping through the waves in the Green Coast, Catherine's fabulous Griffon Vulture and Marion admiring the view in Cantabria!
Thanks so much to all who participated, we love receiving your photos!

Check out our cycling and walking holidays ://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/

09/10/2024

Congratulations to our Aftc friends Catherine and Michal for winning 'Photo of the Month' for September! They completed our luxury Extremadura tour in early September...never has a chilled beer tasted so good!
We love the blue sky, colourful houses, the locals sitting in the decorated square chatting, the bikes and the prize at the end of a challenging day in the saddle!

Check out this fabulous holiday @
https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-extremadura-the-paradors.html

07/10/2024

Our friends Simon and Sharon have been travelling with us since 2015 and have done an amazing SEVEN trips with Away from the Crowds! What a recommendation!!
This year they enjoyed their cycling adventure in La Rioja and sent us lots of fabulous photos, as they always do! We love receiving your photos, putting names to faces and seeing you enjoying the holidays that we work so hard to create!

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-to-la-rioja.html

22/09/2024

We're enjoying receiving all your entries...keep them coming throughout September!

📷The photo competition is open to all who travel with us in 2024. No expert photogrpahy needed. We love images that tell a story, preferably featuring bikes, cyclists or walkers!
📷The winner will receive an Digital Photo Frame (or an AFTC Voucher)
📷Your photos and videos will go forward to the 'Photo of the Month' and will be posted on our social media.
📷For further information: [email protected]

18/09/2024

Adrienne and Marcus had a great time 'Away from the Crowds' discovering the Roman Route of Salamanca and the surrounding mountain villages.
On this trip, you'll visit the stunning monumental cities of Avila and Salamanca then get off the beaten track to discover towns, villages and hidden hamlets that most tourists don't get to! Authentic travel...Away from the Crowds!

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-roman-route-to-salamanca.html

15/09/2024

Looking for a last minute autumn cycling break? Asturias, Northern Spain...

Hi, we have just returned from our ‘Mountains to Sea’ holiday and wanted to let you know how great the whole trip was - organisation before and during was exceptional, routes were beautiful (what a stunning area), hotels were all very unique and full of character, and everyone we met along the way were helpful and cheerful. We had a fantastic holiday with extra days at the beginning and end.
Thanks again
Fiona & Richard Hartley, UK

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-across-pico.html

12/09/2024

Presenting our AFTC photo of the month for August...
Thanks to Adrienne and Marcus from Bath, UK.
This fabulous photo captures a traditional celebration in the village of Candelario, on the Salamanca-Roman Route cycling holiday. Aftc travellers often experience local processions and celebrations as we take them through villages steeped in tradition and history!
Here you see the respresentation of a traditional village wedding which takes place in Candelario every August. The whole village enjoy traditional music and dance, processions and comunal meals, dressed in typical costumes!

Away from the Crowds is an alternative travel agency specialising in nature and cultural tours away

24/08/2024

It's not too late to book the Perfect Autumn Cycling Adventure: La Rioja

"The ride as a whole was almost overwhelmingly rich culturally and historically, the La Rioja area fascinating and lovely with vineyards, bodegas, ancient towns and of course wonderful wine. ... we were delighted to be surrounded by wildflowers and birdsong for much of the ride – and the weather was lovely. The quality of the trip was maintained from start to finish, the communication, organisation and attention to detail was excellent throughout...we cannot praise it highly enough. The accommodation... was invariably spectacular, of excellent quality...
A big thank you to all at Away from the Crowds, we are sure we will be back"
Peter and Gunilla, Hertford, UK.

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-the-best-of-la-rioja.html

18/08/2024

Looking for an autumn adventure?
Extremadura, the perfect place for a sunny Spanish cycling adventure...with a touch of luxury!

Come and discover this fascinating area that oozes history, delights the culture vulture and enthralls the nature enthusiast! You'll be enchanted by the outstanding Parador hotels in beautifully restored historic monuments, set in the sweeping landscapes of central Spain, full of springtime wildflowers. You'll explore the birdlife paradise of Monfragüe National Park and lose yourself in the cobbled streets of the UNESCO city of Caceres, Jarandilla de la Vera and Plasencia. The perfect combination of cycling, exploring and relaxing.

Our travellers agree that the Monastry of Yuste is a particular highlight: "such a peaceful place steeped in so much history that it seems like Charles V has just left." You'll mix with the locals and see few foreign tourists, if any! Your host in Monfrague, Carmen, has been voted a “national treasure” by our travellers! They also agree that extra nights is a must, to give you the opportunity to really explore on foot and by bike-having time to steep yourself in history or simply enjoy a chilled beer in the 'plaza' as the swifts dance above you... What are you waiting for?!!

https://www.awayfromthecrowds.com/cycling-extremadura-the-paradors.html