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An Introduction

Great Explorations is a boutique tour operator specializing in providing active vacations in North America, Europe and around the world. Our mission is to create and operate exceptional, one-of-a-kind trips for spirited individuals and groups who prefer active travel as a way to see the world. Bicycling and walking/hiking are our preferred means of travel as we believe these to be the most rewarding ways to explore a place and to interact with its people.

For press enquiries, please contact Robbin McKinney at +1 800 242 1825 or +1 604 730 1247 or by email at info@great-explorations.com.

Great Explorations’ Programs in Brief

Biking Trips

A guided biking trip with Great Explorations typically has clients biking from hotel to hotel along quiet roads passing important cultural sites and villages where travelers can engage with locals. When designing trips, Great Explorations seeks out regions that have interesting culture, great scenery with quiet, low-trafficked roads, distinctive and charming hotels and a variety of excellent restaurants.

Hiking Trips

Great Explorations walking trips include many of the same regions that we offer biking trips, but for walkers and hikers, utilizing trails and hiking paths to link up interesting villages with great hotels and accommodation choices.

Custom Trips

Great Explorations specializes in creating custom trips for couples, families and small groups.

Background on Robbin McKinney, owner

“It is likely that Robbin has guided more cycling trips in more places for longer than anyone on the planet.”

Robbin McKinney has always been a keen cyclist, avid hiker and an insatiable traveler. Robbin worked at a bike shop as a teenager and raced bikes well into his 40’s. But it was while leading cycling tours for Butterfield & Robinson (starting in 1984) that Robbin found his métier. Over a period of 18 years, Robbin lead trips and created magic for B&R throughout Europe and the world, gaining experience and making friends. In 1996, after working in other fields and obtaining a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Robbin started Great Explorations, a tour operator specializing in guided bike tours, now in more than 26 countries. Robbin also started an event management subsidiary that created and produced cycling events for organizations such as Canadian Tire/Jumpstart that raised funds for worthwhile causes. Other events have included those to raise awareness and funds for mountain bike trails in British Columbia (Sea to Sky Trail Challenge; Sunshine Coast Trail Challenge) and a Gran Fondo in Prince Edward County, Ontario that generates funds for local charities. Some of these continue as annual events that Robbin and team produce. In 2005, Robbin acquired Randonnée Tours, which compliments what is offered by Great Explorations.

As the owner of Great Explorations & Randonnée Tours, Robbin has the resources, passion and commitment to ensure that the company remains the leader in this style of travel. Robbin still guides several tours each year and spends a great deal of time perfecting trips with his dedicated team.

Affiliates of Great Explorations

Randonnée Tours – www.randonneetours.com
County Gran Fondo – www.countygranfondo.com

Fact Sheet Summary

Great Explorations Headquarters

109-1529 West 6th, Vancouver, BC Canada

First trip offered

Camino de Santiago, Spain

Top-selling biking trips (most recent year)

Japan, Croatia, Prague to Vienna

Top-selling hiking trips (most recent year)

Catalonia, Spain; Canadian Rockies, Alberta

Number of countries Great Explorations offers trips in

25

Length of trips

Trips vary in length from 4-14 days

Bikes & Equipment

Great Explorations owns and maintains a large fleet of Cannondale and custom built European model hybrid and racing bikes. Great Explorations has the largest number of bike depots in Europe of any bike tour operator. Being avid cyclists ourselves we made a decision to invest in the highest quality bikes and equipment, to differentiate ourselves from other operators and to provide a consistent experience everywhere in the world that we operate trips.

Web

www.great-explorations.com

Biking Trips

Europe & the Mediterranean: Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Holland & Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.
Canada: British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia
United States: Utah, California, Maui
Caribbean: Cuba
Africa: Morocco
South America: Argentina, Chile
Central America: Costa Rica
Asia: Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Japan
Australasia: New Zealand
Eurasia: Turkey