2013 has arrived and we know you like to travel as much as we do. So we’ve listed out some of our top 10 New Year’s resolutions specifically dedicated to travel. Lots of people make “travel” itself a New Year’s resolution, but we wanted to go deeper and make some suggestions of how to improve your travel experience in 2013.

Here are Backroads’ top 10 New Year’s travel resolutions:

1)      Travel somewhere you’ve never been – At Backroads we travel to hundreds of destinations around the globe, and we can help you find a bike tour or hiking tour to a place you’ve yet to discover. Instead of taking the same trip you do every year, be bold and try something new!

2)      Travel somewhere unexpected – Sure, everyone wants to take a Tuscany bike tour or a Provence walking tour, but consider traveling to a location more off the beaten path. For 2013, Backroads has introduced bike trips to Myanmar, for example, a country that has largely been closed to the modern world for many years. By biking through Myanmar, you will truly discover an “undiscovered” world untouched by tourism.

3)      Add activity to your trip – At Backroads, we believe half the fun of travel is the way you travel. Step out of the car or tour bus and hop on a bike, walk or even kayak down the river. Your travel experience will be so much richer out in the open air with some activity mixed in. You’ll even be able to enjoy all the gourmet dinners we provide without the guilt!

4)      Bring your kids along – Afraid to travel with your kids? Don’t be! We offer wonderful family adventures that will make a trip with the kids a great experience. Our family bike tours and family walking tours are designed with lots of kid-friendly activities, whether it’s a scavenger hunt, eating gelato in Sicily or fencing in the Loire Valley, that will entertain and educate not just them, but you, as well. Browse our family adventures.

5)      Try a solo trip – Traveling alone can be a life-changing experience and you can do it without worry with Backroads’ Singles + Solos travel program. We offer trips around the world designed for traveling solo. You’ll enjoy meeting other solo travelers on the trip and get plenty of time to explore the world on your own with the unparalleled service, support and guidance of the Backroads team. Browse our singles trips.

6)      Travel at a different time of year – Always take a summer vacation? Try traveling at the holidays to create once-in-a-lifetime memories. Paris in the spring? Yes, it’s lovely, but Europe in the fall can also be a wonderful time to travel. Mix it up this year!

7)      Try a new food – Backroads offers gourmet meals at many Michelin-starred restaurants and plenty of opportunities to try food local to your destination. It might be a little out of your comfort zone, but be brave and try a new food or dish. You just might be surprised at how good it tastes!

8)      Try something adventurous – Add some adventure to your travel! With Backroads, you can fence in Loire Valley, zip line in Costa Rica, hike a volcano in Hawaii and Sicily, visit ancient temples and the list goes on. No ho hum vacations for us! Make your travel exciting in 2013!

9)      Engage the locals – To really get the most out of travel, try to immerse yourself in the local culture. When you bike or hike a destination, you’re more likely to stop and have a conversation with the farmer selling produce by the road or chat with the couple next to you at the café. Make an effort to talk to the locals, ask them about the area and their favorite things to do. You’ll likely come away with a new world view.

10)   Learn a new language – It’s easier to engage the locals if you know a little bit of their language. Challenge yourself a few months before your trip to learn some key phrases in the language of the region you’ll be visiting. Not only will you feel more confident and comfortable, you may just be inspired to learn the language fluently.

Have you set any resolutions related to travel? Let us know what they are and if we can help you meet them! Give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific any day of the week if we can help you stick to those travel resolutions with a Backroads bike tour or Backroads hiking tour. Happy New Year!

You may have heard of the Italian Lake District, but did you know Argentina has one, as well? This Argentina bike trip, which was new for us in 2012, lets you do everything from seeing 300-year-old trees to learning the tango!

Our Argentina Bike Tour takes you through what is called the “Seven Lakes” area in the Patagonia region of the country and through three of Argentina’s national parks. You’ll pedal past beautiful mountain vistas, quiet scenic roads and shimmering lakes. Also in on the Argentina biking tour, you’ll see glaciers, arrayan trees and ride along the Continental Divide.

Love adventure? Take a tango lesson on this bike tour, ride the single-track trail on the Quetrihue Peninsula and kayak and fish at a lodge set along Lago (Lake) Nahual Huapi.

Love food? We got you covered! Sip yerba mate, enjoy homemade empanadas and sample acclaimed wines just like the locals.

Here’s how several of our riders described their bike tour to Argentina with Backroads:

“What a beautiful part of the world this is. Rich in culture, nature, outdoor activities, great food and amazing people!”

“Overall, this trip definitely ranks among my very favorite Backroads trips ever (of six so far). The leaders, the accommodations, the biking, the scenery, the weather – everything was fantastic! And the rafting on this trip was SO much fun. The local guides were great and made navigating the exhilarating rapids the most fun rafting experience I’ve ever had.”

The bike trip is 7 days and 6 nights of amazing scenery and adventure and is a great winter weather escape. Enjoy Argentina’s Lake District Biking January through March and in December of 2013. Call us to book your spot at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific daily.

Argentina is a stunning country that has a lot to offer, from some of the highest peaks in the Andes Mountains to some of the most unique wines in the world. And who hasn’t heard of the Argentine Tango … the intoxicating dance that heats up dance floors from South America all the way to the set of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars!

Backroads has put together a bike tour of Argentina that captures the essence of this South American beauty, giving you a taste of the country and its locals complemented by Backroads’ outstanding service.

Our six-day, five night trip begins in San Miguel de Tucaman, a city that is nicknamed “The garden of the Republic” because in the springtime there are flowers as far as the eye can see. From San Miguel, you’ll head to Cafayate, a region known for having the world’s highest-altitude vineyards. Speaking of high altitudes, on the way to Cafayate, you’ll face the challenge of pedaling a 10,000-foot pass!

Have you ever heard of a gaucho? In the U.S., we call them cowboys! Raising cattle is a way of life in this South American country, and gauchos are a great part of the Argentine landscape. On your Argentina biking tour, gauchos will share with our group their passion for horses, music, wine and storytelling. We’ll also enjoy the fruits of their labor, and that of those who work on local farms and vineyards.

On this bike trip, you’ll gain some serious elevation between the Andes and the Quebrada de Cafayate (a brilliant canyon). Each day, your reward is the simple yet breathtaking scenery and the interaction with locals along the way. You can also look forward to relaxing the last two days in Salta at the House of Jasmines, a Relais & Châteaux member. Here you can indulge at the spa or hop back on the saddle for one final steep climb before descending toward Ciénaga Lake.

Of course, daily mileage options are up to you and we provide two vans along the route to help you with whatever you need as you bike Argentina, whether it’s to fix a flat or you’re ready to head back to the hotel. Come bike with us in Argentina. We’ll leave you with memories of this stunning country full of wonderful people and plenty of natural wonders to go around.

To book your Argentina trip today, call us 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848.

When Backroads put this new Panama multi-sport trip together, we wanted to offer an amazing trip that would evoke “oohs” and “ahs” from even the most seasoned traveler. We think we did it, but most importantly, we want to know what you think! J

This 6-day, 5-night adventure tour gives you plenty of incredible biking and hiking with highlights that include seeing the epic Panama Canal. You’ll get a special look at the canal from your seat in a motorized dug-out canoe as you cruise up the Chagres River, the chief source of water for the Canal.

You’ll also venture into the jungle, where you’ll see some magnificent wildlife (green iguanas and capuchin monkeys, anyone?). You’ll hike in the realm of the tallest mountain in Panama, Volcan Baru, a dormant, but potentially active volcano. In addition to the hiking and biking, we’ve also thrown in a little snorkeling on the second largest coral reef in the Pacific Ocean that’s sure to cool you off after your jungle walk.

The dining options on this trip, of course, make the most of local cuisine and culture. For example, on our first night, you’ll enjoy dinner overlooking the Panama Canal, where you’ll likely see the busy locks in action. You’ll also visit a lush coffee plantation, where you’ll tour and taste, and savor gourmet cuisine at the Panamonte Inn & Spa.

The lodging we’ve lined up ensures you’ll be able to rest, relax and recharge. First stop is the Gamboa Rainforest Resort (formerly the residence of the Panama Canal’s administrators), Panamonte Inn & Spa (highly rated by Condé Nast) and Cala Mia Boutique Hotel, an incredible eco lodge located on secluded Boca Brava Island.

For more information on this and other Backroads trips, please visit our website or call one of our representatives at 800-462-2848 to request a catalog.