Land Travel Planning — Buffalo, NY
Guided tours through ancient cities. Scenic train journeys across mountain ranges. Custom adventures built around your passions. We plan land travel that goes far deeper than any itinerary you'd find online.
Why plan land travel with UEB?
Anyone can book a tour online. What you can't book online is an advisor who has been there, knows the operators, and can tell you which departure has the best guide, which hotel is worth the upgrade, and which "must-see" attractions are actually worth your time.
At UEB Travel, land trips are designed around who you are — your pace, your interests, and the moments that matter most to you.
We've traveled to and personally experienced many of the destinations we sell. Our recommendations come from real visits — not brochures or algorithms.
As affiliates of Travel Planners International and Signature Travel Network, we have direct contacts at every major tour operator — giving you access to perks, upgrades, and personalized service you won't find booking direct.
Flights, transfers, hotels, touring, dining reservations, travel insurance — we manage everything so you can pack your bags and simply show up.
Something changes mid-trip? You have a real person to call. Kathleen and Claudia are with you from the first conversation to the day you get home.
Life is meant to be enjoyed — and travel is one of the most meaningful ways to do that. Everyone deserves to experience the world in a way that feels true to who they are.— UEB Travel philosophy
How would you like to travel?
Whether you want a fully escorted tour where everything is handled, a self-guided adventure with a custom itinerary, or something in between — we plan land travel across every style and budget.
Expert-led small group tours where everything is handled — transport, hotels, meals, and guided experiences at every stop. Perfect for travelers who want depth without the logistics.
Fully bespoke itineraries built around your interests, pace, and travel style. No group schedules, no compromises — just your perfect trip, designed from scratch.
Where the journey is as extraordinary as the destination. Iconic rail routes through mountain passes, coastal cliffs, and countryside that simply can't be experienced any other way.
Hiking, trekking, rafting, cycling — active travel experiences in some of the world's most spectacular landscapes. From gentle walking tours to serious expeditions.
Adventures by Disney, custom family itineraries, and kid-friendly guided tours designed to delight every age group while still giving parents a genuinely great experience.
Golf travel, culinary tours, wine and beer journeys, photography trips, and more. If you're passionate about something, there's a travel experience built around it.
Guided vacation partners
We work with the most respected guided tour operators in the world — from intimate small-group experiences to classic escorted coach tours. We know their differences inside out and will match you to exactly the right one for your travel style.
Small Group · Worldwide
Premium small-group journeys across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond. Insight's carefully curated Moments and Stays with Stories make every trip feel genuinely personal.
Escorted · Worldwide
The world's most awarded tour operator. Trafalgar's Be My Guest local experiences and expert Travel Directors bring destinations to life in ways no guidebook can.
Women-Only & Solo
Small group tours designed exclusively for women and solo travelers. A welcoming, supportive environment to explore the world with like-minded adventurers.
Family · Disney
Guided family adventures that combine Disney storytelling magic with real cultural immersion. Every detail is handled — kids and adults are equally wowed.
Ireland, Scotland & UK
The specialists in Celtic travel. Brendan's local guides bring Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales to life with unmatched depth, humor, and warmth.
Custom · Worldwide
Fully customized independent travel across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and beyond. Avanti builds trips to your exact specifications — no group, no set schedule.
Luxury Custom
Private guided journeys at the highest level. Kensington's expert local guides and tailor-made itineraries deliver extraordinary experiences on every continent.
Sports Travel
The world's leading sports travel specialist. Golf at Augusta, the Masters, the Super Bowl, the World Cup — Road Trips gets you inside the world's greatest sporting events.
Adventure
Adventure travel pioneers since 1969. Hiking the Inca Trail, trekking in Nepal, rafting the Colorado — MT Sobek leads the world's most iconic active adventures.
And so much more
Hundreds of operators & destination specialists
These are just a few of the partners we work with. Through our affiliations with Travel Planners International and Signature Travel Network, we have access to hundreds of tour operators and destination specialists across every country and travel style. If you have a destination in mind, we have the right partner to make it happen.
Scenic train journeys
There are places in this world that reveal themselves slowly — through a window, at 60 miles an hour, as the landscape shifts from valley to summit to coast. Scenic train travel is one of the last truly unhurried ways to see the world, and we plan every detail so you can simply watch it unfold.
From the Canadian Rockies to the Swiss Alps, the Scottish Highlands to the Australian Outback — we book iconic rail journeys worldwide and build complete itineraries around them.
Rocky Mountaineer
Canada's legendary glass-dome train through the Canadian Rockies. Banff, Jasper, Vancouver — some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, viewed in complete luxury.
Canada · IconicWorldwide Rail & Famous Trains
The Orient Express, Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Caledonian Sleeper, and hundreds more. We book iconic trains across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond through Railbookers.
Worldwide · RailbookersSwiss Alpine Routes
The Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz, the Bernina Express through mountain passes — Switzerland's scenic railways are among the world's most breathtaking journeys.
Switzerland · PanoramicScottish Highlands
The Caledonian Sleeper and West Highland Line offer journeys through some of Scotland's most dramatic and remote landscape — lochs, glens, and castle-dotted coastlines.
Scotland · ClassicJapan Rail Journeys
The Shinkansen bullet train network makes Japan one of the world's great rail destinations. We build complete Japan itineraries around the rail pass — efficient, seamless, unforgettable.
Japan · CulturalLuxury Train Experiences
Belmond's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Blue Train in South Africa, Rovos Rail — the world's most luxurious trains where the on-board experience rivals the scenery outside.
Luxury · WorldwideAdventure & active travel
The best way to understand a place is often through your feet. Whether you're a seasoned trekker or looking for your first active adventure, we plan experiences that challenge, inspire, and genuinely connect you to the landscapes you visit.
From Patagonia to the Dolomites, the Scottish Highlands to the Inca Trail — guided hiking and trekking journeys at every level, from gentle day walks to multi-week expeditions.
MT Sobek · Kensington Tours · Avanti Destinations
White-water rafting on the Colorado, kayaking in Patagonia, sailing the Greek islands — active adventures on the water planned with the same care we bring to everything we do.
MT Sobek · Custom itineraries
Self-guided and guided cycling itineraries through Tuscany, Provence, the Loire Valley, coastal Portugal — experiencing a destination at the perfect pace, with luggage transferred ahead.
Avanti Destinations · Custom routes
Tee times at the world's greatest courses — St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, Augusta, Royal Portrush. We handle the golf, the accommodation, and everything in between.
Road Trips · Custom golf itineraries
Cooking classes in Bologna, wine tasting in Burgundy, street food tours in Bangkok — travel designed around the conviction that the best way to know a place is through what it eats.
Insight Vacations · Custom itineraries
Small group tours designed specifically for women and solo travelers — safe, welcoming, and full of the kind of connections that tend to last long after the trip ends.
Insight Vacations Women-Only · Trafalgar
About UEB Travel
Unique Excursions with Bear Travel is a Buffalo, NY-based travel agency with over 20 years of experience planning land vacations for clients across the country. Founded by Steve "Bear" Kuznik in 2005 and now led by Kathleen Klein and Claudia LaFlash, UEB Travel brings genuine destination expertise and trusted supplier relationships to every itinerary we build.
Whether you're looking for a classic guided tour of Italy, a custom self-drive through Ireland, a scenic rail journey through the Canadian Rockies, or an adventurous trek in Patagonia — we've planned it, we know the operators, and we'll make sure it's exactly right for you.
As affiliates of Travel Planners International and Signature Travel Network, we have direct relationships with business managers at every major tour operator — giving our clients access to perks, upgrades, and personalized service that simply isn't available when booking direct.
Popular destinations we plan
Common questions
A guided or escorted tour means you travel with a small group and a professional guide who handles logistics, commentary, and experiences at every stop. Everything is pre-planned and included. A custom itinerary, on the other hand, is built entirely around you — your dates, your pace, your interests — with hand-picked hotels, private transfers, and no group schedule to follow. Both have their advantages: guided tours are great for first-time visitors to a destination and for solo travelers who want built-in companionship; custom itineraries are ideal for travelers who want total flexibility and a more personal experience. We can help you figure out which is right for you.
For popular departures — peak-season Europe tours, Adventures by Disney, and small-group itineraries with limited space — we recommend booking 6 to 12 months in advance. Some departures sell out much earlier than that. For custom itineraries, 3 to 6 months is usually sufficient, though more time is always better for securing your first-choice hotels and experiences. That said, we've also put together excellent last-minute trips when the timing calls for it.
Absolutely — solo travel is one of our specialties. We work with tour operators that offer solo-friendly small group departures (including women-only options through Insight Vacations), and we plan custom itineraries for solo travelers who want a fully independent experience with the security of knowing everything is arranged and someone is on call if needed. We'll also advise on single supplement policies and how to avoid or minimize them.
Yes — and this is actually one of our favorite things to design. A pre- or post-cruise land extension can transform a great cruise into a truly complete trip. We regularly combine river cruises with guided tours of surrounding regions, ocean cruises with custom city stays, and expedition cruises with overland adventures. Because we plan both land and sea, everything is coordinated seamlessly from a single point of contact.
We plan land travel to destinations all over the world — but some of our deepest expertise is in Europe (particularly Italy, Ireland, Scotland, France, and Portugal), Japan, the Canadian Rockies, and adventure destinations like Peru and Patagonia. Claudia's background living in Japan gives us particularly strong insight into Japanese travel. That said, through our tour operator partners we can plan trips to virtually any destination on earth — if you have somewhere in mind, ask us.
Yes — group land travel is one of our specialties alongside group cruises. Whether it's a milestone birthday trip through Italy, a corporate incentive journey, a family reunion in Ireland, or a special-interest group tour built around a shared passion, we manage all the logistics so the organizer can actually enjoy the trip. Check out our groups page for current departures and to inquire about a custom group journey.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go — or where you've always dreamed of going. We'll handle everything from there.