THE BACKROADS BLOG

With St. Paddy’s day only two months away, we thought it would be a great time to highlight Backroads’ Ireland biking tour and Ireland walking tour. Although we don’t travel to the Emerald Isle on St. Patrick’s Day itself, you can head there during the warmer months of June, July, August and September to see Ireland beautiful and green in all its splendor.

On our Ireland Walking & Hiking tour, Backroads’ Trip Leader Mike Murphy (could that sound any more Irish?!) will lead you on an inside tour of County Kerry, Ireland. A local, who’s been with Backroads since the early 90’s, he knows just where to take you for the best fish and chips, and, if you’re lucky, an afternoon pint.

You’ll see the Irish countryside at its finest, strolling down country roads and along coastal cliff walks. We’ll take you hiking around Caragh Lake, and be sure to hold on to your hat at Windy Gap! Then get some culture in Killarney where you can browse local boutiques and craft shops. Hear long-told stories by a local storyteller at 15^th century Ross Castle.

We’ll also take you to Killarney National Park full of lakes, mountains and gorges and through charming Kenmare with its cheerfully painted row houses. Finally, enjoy a private whiskey tasting and trek over Mount Knockagarrane where you’ll find one of the largest stone circles in County Kerry.

If you enjoy biking, try our Ireland bike tour where you can travel a bit further. Start in Moll’s Gap and the Gap of Dunloe where you’ll see emerald hills, small farms, quaint cottages and woolly sheep. Do a five-mile climb (gradually) to Caha Pass, take a ferry to Garinish Island where you’ll hear local songs and legends and ride to Ring, a waterfront hamlet where the famous Irish rebel Michael Collins was born. We’ll also make sure to work in time for a pint or two should you need to wet your whistle J.

Does a bike trip or walking trip to the land of shamrocks, moss and jade strike your fancy? Then give us a ring 7 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Pacific time to set up your guided Ireland tour.

Spring is on its way and with warm weather comes a renewed vigor to head outdoors, explore the beauty of the world and try new daring adventures. Traveling solo can be an experience of a lifetime whether you’re just looking for some “me” time or you want to meet others traveling single.

Backroads offers active vacations for singles and solos to a host of warm destinations across the world this spring that will give you just what you need to say goodbye to winter and hello to a new you! Here’s our top 5 spring singles vacations:

1)      Piedmont Biking – This is a new singles bike trip for Backroads in 2013 and we chose it because of its wonderful combination of gourmet cuisine and beautiful vistas. The Piedmont area of Italy is known for its wines, truffles, hazelnuts and cheeses, and you’ll get to sample a bit of each, as well as explore several vineyards. The Piedmont bike trip also takes you through medieval towns with ancient castles and views of the Alps. The singles tour of the Piedmont region runs June 2-7.

2)      Tuscany Biking – One of our most popular Italy bike trips is Tuscany biking. You’ll pedal through many of Tuscany’s most famous towns like Pienza, Siena and Montalcino and get plenty of opportunities to sample fine wines and nosh on delicious local cuisine – the perfect place to strike up a conversation with one of your trip mates. Get ready to cycle past cypress trees, rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards to your heart’s content! Our singles Tuscany tour runs for five nights in May, June, August and October.

3)      Andalucia Biking – Olé! On this Spain biking tour for singles, you’ll get to enjoy all the best things about the Andalucia region of Spain from flamenco dancing and fiestas with your fellow travelers to gazpacho and tapas for refueling. Can you smell the orange and lemon trees’ fragrant blossoms? You will as you cycle past sweeping vistas through ancient whitewashed villages and the beautiful cities of Sevilla and Granada. Our singles bike trip through Andalucia runs for five nights in April and November.

4)      California Wine Country Biking – Single travelers love our California Wine Country biking tour, which takes you through five valleys of world famous vineyards. Chat up others while mingling over glasses of wine after a great day on the bike. You’ll also enjoy Northern California’s famous gourmet cuisine without worry of calories since you’ll burn plenty while biking. The singles Wine Country bike tour runs 5 nights in May, September and October.

5)      Bali Biking – Go exotic on our singles bike trip through Bali and experience this tropical paradise with new friends. Ride past emerald rice terraces, lovely villages, amazing temples and giant teak trees. Explore the vibrant art scene, cycle up a volcano, snorkel the wreckage of the USS Liberty and engage in a host of adventures. Our Bali singles trip runs April, October and December for 7 nights.

Have you considered traveling solo? Get more information about Backroads’ well-known Singles-Solos program designed specifically for this great group of travelers.

Call us at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pacific time to book your singles vacation and get ready to have a spring you’ll never forget.

Backroads offers a range of deluxe camping vacations to destinations in North America where travelers sleep in roomy domed tents in plush sleeping bags and enjoy gourmet meals around crackling campfires.  If you’re an outdoorsy person who loves to travel, our adventure camping trips are perfect for you. We handle all the work of set-up and tear down; you just have to show up and enjoy it!

If you’re planning a camping vacation soon, here are 8 tips that we recommend for all our adventure campers:

• Consider taking a guide to the constellations. In many of the settings Backroads’ visits, you’ll have access to stars from a different side of the world in a dark environment with fewer city lights that lends itself to seeing lots of astronomical bodies.
• Bring out the Scout in you and learn a few good knots. A bowline, for example, will never work itself loose; a figure eight will not slip but is easy to untie. These come in handy during camping trips.
• Unpack only the items you need to use. Keep items you may need in the middle of the night within arm reach.
• Beam me up Scottie! Enjoying a campground by moonlight is a special treat. However, on evenings when the moon is less than full, it’s helpful to have on hand a small flashlight with a strong beam. If you prefer to keep your hands free, head lamps make a great alternative option.
• Meet new people. Part of the fun of a Backroads’ adventure vacation is meeting people from all walks of life, especially your fellow travelers at the campsite. You never know what fun might happen around the campfire!
• Bring a spirit of adventure! Think of all the people before you who’ve lived and camped in the great outdoors. There’s nothing quite like sleeping under the stars in the fresh air. Dare to take a jump in the lake or hike that intriguing trail around the bend.
• Keep a journal. There’s nothing like documenting your outdoor adventure for the future by journaling about your experience daily. Curl up in your tent and write away! You’ll cherish it for years to come.
• Get up early. Enjoy the sun rising each morning at our gorgeous destinations. It’s a wonderful way to start your day and the beauty of the sunset just might unexpectedly take your breath away.

Backroads offers camping trips for families, camping trips for singles and solos and traditional camping adventures. Pick from destinations like Montana, Alaska, Wine Country and the Canadian Rockies. For more information about Backroads’ camping vacations, please call us 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific daily at 800-462-2848.

With much of the country covered in snow or experiencing freezing temperatures, dreaming of summer sure sounds good! Now is the perfect time to begin planning your summer vacation and we can’t think of a better vacation than a guided biking trip with Backroads to some of the most amazing locations around the world.

As you begin to map out your plans for summer, we present 5 Fun Biking Tour Destinations to tempt your travel taste buds:

Tuscany, Italy Biking Tour – All we have to do is say the word “Tuscany” and most people are ready to pack their bags. Fields of sunflowers, rolling hills, cypress and olive trees, Tuscan red farmhouses…it’s a winter daydream’s perfection. Backroads offers this popular Tuscany biking tour throughout April through October, so select a date that works best for you. Plan to sample cheese and olive oil, and pedal past medieval structures, Renaissance architecture and charming hilltop towns. You might want to start reading Under the Tuscan Sun right now to get your mind off snow and onto your upcoming Italy bike tour.

Spain Biking – Biking Spain is a great summer choice with its many sparkling, sunny, white-sand beaches. Our Pyreness to Costa Brava Biking Tour gives you the best of Spain starting off in vibrant Barcelona, through the Pyrenees foothills and onto Costa Brava with its Mediterranean beaches and blue seas. Stop by the Dali Museum, sample “cava” (Spain’s version of champagne), cycle past sunflower fields and tour a medieval castle. This Spain biking trip runs May-October, leaving you plenty of summer vacation choices.

Loire Valley, France Biking – Picturesque castles as far as you can see make the Loire Valley a fantastical choice for summer. With flowers and gardens in full bloom, you’ll be privy to France at its finest. On this France Biking tour, you’ll explore several castles, take a private tour of a wine cave and enjoy gourmet French cuisine. Loire Valley Biking tours run April through October.

Wine Country Biking – Anytime is a good time to visit Wine Country, but summer brings with it a special charm. The rolling hills are lush and verdant in early summer, making it not just a trip for the taste buds but a feast for the eyes. Our Wine Country Biking tour takes you through five valleys of world-famous vineyards, including Sonoma and Napa. Enjoy a stop at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve and a bike through beautiful Bodega Bay. Tour the wine country by bike March through December.

U.S. National Parks Tours – No need to stray further than the U.S. of A. for an adventure-filled summer vacation. Backroads offers bike tours through National Parks, like Yellowstone, Acadia, Grand Teton and Death Valley. Choose from a family bike tour, a singles tour or a traditional bike tour of some of America’s most beautiful landscapes. National Park bike tours and hiking tours run all throughout summertime.

Where are you dreaming of traveling this summer? Let us know if we can help take your gaze away from the snow outside your window and onto the bike trip you’ll be taking with us this summer. Call us 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848.

Dreaming of an adventure to New Zealand full of dramatic waterfalls, lush valleys and breathtaking vistas at every turn? If you travel to New Zealand with Backroads, the legendary Paul Smith just might be one of your Trip Leaders.

A history major and a former minor league baseball player, Paul recently celebrated leading his 300^th trip to New Zealand and is a true expert on this gorgeous country. With 22 years as a Backroads leader who’s led more adventure tours in Backroads’ history, it’s safe to say he’s seen it all.

Paul didn’t start his Backroads journey in New Zealand, however. His first start was a bit of a rough initiation with a camping trip on the Russian River. He and his co-leader (now his wife and mother of his two sons) forgot their sleeping bags and slept wrapped in tablecloths in their van while it rained outside. He hasn’t forgotten his sleeping bag since!

Paul’s attention to detail, witty humor, knowledge of the local haunts and an uncanny ability to discern the needs of each guest is well-known and celebrated. During his 22 years with Backroads, Paul has fallen in love with Chinese culture and the joy of riding a bike through its sometimes crazy countryside; learned about world religions by leading Bhutan walking tours and Bali bike tours, where he became fascinated with prayer wheels and Hindu gods; and lived each summer in the San Juan islands, knowing the way the light looks on the water at all hours of the day, from all viewpoints, like a local knows it.

Plus, Paul can add to his list of credentials that he’s done more laps around the South Island of New Zealand than anyone in Backroads history! “All it takes is a single visit to fall in love with New Zealand’s extraordinary scenery and down-to-earth welcoming people,” says Paul. “And if you’re like me, you’ll find it’s a destination you dream of returning to again and again.”

Interested in taking a New Zealand walking tour or New Zealand bike tour with Paul? Give us a call at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific.

Have you taken a Backroads walking trip or Backroads bike trip with Paul? Give us some firsthand insight to this wonderful Backroads Trip Leader! Here’s to another 300 trips!

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!

Asia is a popular destination for many of our Backroads travelers. We wanted to share with you some of our favorite Asia bike tours and Asia walking tours as you plan your travels for 2013.

Myanmar – This year, Backroads is introducing an 8-day, 7-night Myanmar bike tour running through March and a Myanmar walking tour, which runs in December. Traveling to Myanmar is an experience few have had the opportunity to enjoy, as this country has largely been closed to tourism. Many of the locals you meet on our bike tour to Myanmar may never have seen someone from outside their country. On our bike trip, you’ll explore the “golden land” including temples, rivers, ancient ruins, a monastery and an extinct volcano and meet a few monkeys along the way.

Thailand – Elephants, rice paddies and fire balloons, oh my! These are just a few of the adventures you’ll experience on our Thailand biking tour. The 8-day, 7-night trip lets you take in the best of Thailand with help from the locals. You’ll receive a blessing from village elders, light a fire balloon and make a wish, eat incredible homemade Thai curry and sample the country’s delicious street food, and conclude the trip with a jungle trek on an elephant. Looking for adventure? This is the one! Thailand biking runs in January, February and December.

Bhutan – We offer a Bhutan walking tour and a Bhutan multisport tour for those looking for a more active exploration of Bhutan. Namgay, a longtime friend of Backroads and Bhutanese local, will give you an inside tour of this lovely country hidden deep in the Himalayas. He’ll lead you on a hike to a 14^th century temple accessible only by foot, rafting down the Po Chhu River, to a visit to an impressive giant Buddha statue,  past a temple hanging on a cliff and to a local teahouse for a warm brew. The 8-day, 7-night Bhutan adventures run March and April and September through November.

China – See China like you never imagined by bike. Our China bike tour lets you pedal through this ancient country through both rural villages and modern cities. Don’t be surprised when local children rush out to greet you, so excited to see visitors! You’ll also take a private boat cruise down the Li River, visit local street markets, see the famous Terra Cotta warriors, pedal the 500-year-old city walls of Xian and see the Great Wall. China Biking is a 9-day, 8-night adventure running April, May, September and October.

Vietnam/Cambodia – See Vietnam and Cambodia by bike or by hiking through these areas. These are some of our most popular Asian bike tours and Asian walking tours. If you choose by bike, you’ll share the road with many others, like food carts, water buffalo and locals and kids headed to school and work; it’s quite an experience! Visit Hoi An, Vietnam’s oldest town, bike over Cloud Pass, stop at Cam Kim Island, ride through Angkor Wat at sunrise and visit famous ancient temples. Our Vietnam bike tours and Vietnam walking tours run January-March, November and December and are 9-10 days.

Where have you visited in Asia? Are there any Asia tours you’d like to add to your bucket list or 2013 travel plans? Let us know!

If you have any questions about our adventure tours to Asia or would like to get one booked, please give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and we can’t think of a better gift for your significant other than an adventure tour to a romantic destination. Just picture yourselves biking the great outdoors together, exploring a new country and enjoying gourmet dinners and magnificent wines as your reward in the evening.

Here are our top 3 recommendations for a surprise Valentine’s Day vacation with Backroads:

Loire Valley Biking — With its fairytale castles full of towers and turrets at every turn, this is your chance to play princess and knight in shining armor. The Loire Valley in France is a countryside full of castles like the romantic Chateau de Chenonceau built in the 1500s and the home of the king’s mistress Diane de Poitiers and later Queen Catherine de Medici. We’ll also visit Chinon, known for its full-bodied red wines, and Leonardo da Vinci’s last residence, Clos Luce. Join hands as we head to the centuries-old wine cave and enjoy quintessential French cuisine throughout the France bike tour. The trip is 6 days and 5 nights and runs April through October.

Bali Biking – Looking for an exotic Valentine’s getaway to a warm weather locale? Look no farther than Bali! On our Bali bike tour, couples can swim in the famed Blue Lagoon, visit an ancient temple and cycle past lush green landscapes in Bali where romance is sure to bloom. Enjoy the adventure of rafting the Ayung River, cycling up a volcano and relaxing at the spa. The trip is 8 days and 7 nights and runs March-April, October and December.

Wine Country Biking – Closer to home, rekindle the romance on our California Wine Country bike tour. Pedal along rolling hills and endless vineyards and enjoy a picnic under the majestic redwoods. Of course, there’ll be plenty of wine to taste along the way. Our 6-day, 5-night wine country biking tour heads through Sonoma and Napa and along the coast, and includes several Michelin-restaurant starred meals. This is one of our more popular trips and it runs March through December.

When you travel with Backroads, we provide the ultimate in service with three trip leaders and two support vans on every trip to move baggage from hotel to hotel and provide you with anything you need from a snack to a ride to a bike repair. You focus on the romance; we’ll focus on the details J.

Hurry and call us soon at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific to surprise your sweetie with a Backroads adventure tour of a lifetime on Valentine’s Day!

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.

You’ve heard about Paris in the springtime, right? Well, that holds for most of Europe, as well! We love traveling Europe in the spring, as the weather is just right for an active tour, and most of the crowds haven’t arrive quite yet. Of course, we like to take the “backroads,” so you’ll mostly avoid the crowds with us anyway!

Some other benefits of taking a European hiking tour or a European bike tour during this time of year include the fact that airfares are often lower in spring (not to mention there are fewer people on the planes) and you have a better chance of meeting more locals. Most Europeans vacation in summer, plus the nice weather has them out and about, allowing you to strike up a conversation as you hike past or hop off your bike.

Where to go? Here are some of Backroads’ top active tours for Europe in the spring:

Loire Valley – Can you picture this magnificent land of castles in all its glory with lush green grasses, gardens in full bloom and migrating birds? That’s the Loire Valley in spring. Take a Loire Valley biking tour with us for the chance to see these beautiful castles in the open air, indulge in top-notch French cuisine, explore vineyards, and if you take our Loire Valley family biking tour, try your hand at fencing! The Loire Valley tours run March through October 2013.

Provence – Ah, Provence, what isn’t there to like? On a spring Provence tour, expect to see the cherry orchards and almond trees blossoming as you hike Provence or bike Provence under a bright sunny sky. Try our new Provence Biking tour, which takes you from the windswept Alpilles to perched Luberon Villages. Pedal past red-tiled roofs, vineyards and 12^th century castles and ruins, and enjoy delectable French cuisine. Other options include our Provence Walking and Hiking Tour, our Provence and Costa Brava Walking and Hiking Tour, which takes you into Spain, and our original Provence Biking Tour through the Cotes du Rhone vineyards, Crillon Le Brave and the Luberon.

Tuscany – Travel Tuscany in March and look forward to blooming azaleas and camellias to add to the overwhelming beauty already offered by the Italian countryside. Whether you like to walk, bike or cook, Backroads has a Tuscany tour for you! Our new Tuscany Cooking and Walking tour lets you cook with Italian nonne (grandmas), sample honey made by monks, tour a working cheese farm and work off all the calories as you hike to your next destination.

Spain – Can you smell the orange trees in bloom, yet? You will when you arrive in Spain in spring! The almond trees, as in France, cherry trees and camellias are also blooming. There’s also a host of religious and secular festivals that happen in spring, so as you walk or bike past a small town or village, you just might come across a wonderful local celebration. Backroads offers many Spain tours like Andalucia Biking, Mallorca Biking, Pyrenees to Costa Brava Biking and Spain Hiking. Which will you choose?

Greece – Our Greece Biking Tour takes you to the gorgeous island of Crete, where spring means lots and lots of wildflowers. What better way to see them than pedaling past and smelling their sweet scent? On our Crete biking tour, you can ride coast to coast, relax at the beach, see ancient ruins and sample olive oil. Departures begin in March.

What do you bring to mind when you think of Europe in the springtime? If you’ve never experienced it, please join us on a European biking tour or a European walking tour and enjoy this wonderful time of year to travel across the pond. For more information on booking an active European vacation in the spring, give us a call 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848. See you beside the blooming f