Our Story
Creating transformative travel experiences for over 55 years
B&R began in 1966 in the same vein that it continues today—with a few friends getting together to share their common passions for life, travel, companionship, great food and a bottle of wine. On that trip we explored by hiking, train and, importantly, on bicycles. At the time, getting around on two wheels was a revolutionary way to see Europe, and a new style of travel was born.
That combination of active exploration and a priority on forming and fostering community has made B&R an industry leader. We love designing exceptional active experiences for the world's most discerning travellers who are united by a thirst for new challenges, new frontiers and new friends.
Our trips are rooted in authenticity, local connection and responsible exploration to honour the communities hosting us. While we appreciate the finer things, like exceptional hotels and rare vintages, the trip moments we value most are the ones where something can be learned, shared and experienced.
Whether you’re joining one of our Scheduled trips or creating a fully customized Bespoke experience, you can be sure that we align with your travel priorities and that, on every trip, we’ll deliver a touch of B&R magic to create lifelong memories.
Our Founders
Since day one, Butterfield & Robinson has been a family affair, founded by George Butterfield and siblings Sidney and Martha Robinson. George and Sidney are friends from school, George and Martha are very happily married and still travelling the world together.
The first B&R trip was planned by George, Sidney and Martha in the living room of the couple’s Toronto home. They designed then guided a 45-day journey through Europe for students looking to see new sights, meet new people and relax in the sun. Very quickly the trio knew that travellers of all ages would love to explore the world this way.
As the company quickly grew, and Sidney moved on to another career, George and Martha remained hands on, finding new ways for travellers to see the world and new countries best seen on two wheels or on foot. They opened a European headquarters in Beaune,
France, then another in Arezzo, Italy, where some of our team members are stationed today.
Their personal and innovative approach to seeing the world led to the development of Bespoke trips, then Self-Guided journeys. And their philosophy of slowing down to really see the world has informed the development of B&R’s sustainability initiatives and our Slow Fund, which supports local conservation and preservation projects in many of the places we visit.
Where to next? Join a Small Group trip to journey with like-minded B&R travellers, or have us craft a private Bespoke adventure for you and your crew.
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