THE BACKROADS BLOG

Sicily often gets ignored besides some of the more popular Italian tour destinations, like Tuscany, Rome and Venice. But this jewel of an island, sitting off the Italian coast, is a draw all its own and that’s why we added a Sicily biking tour for families to our 2013 active travel line-up.

The Italian bike tour, which runs March through June, lets parents enjoy an active European family vacation while keeping the kids plenty occupied and learning a lot without even realizing it!

On the Sicily family tour, groups will bike past Mount Etna (Did you know it’s Europe’s largest volcano? Shh, don’t tell the kids they learned something J!), taste freshly-made olive oil, stroll through a local fish market and tour Siracusa’s old city, Ortygia.

Sound too boring for kids? Just wait! They’ll have a chance to paint pottery in Caltagirone, inhabited since the Bronze Age, where we’ll also race them to climb 142 stairs; dance to local folk music; hit the countryside in Jeeps; bake biscotti; and try to eat their gelato before it melts! There’s even a scavenger hunt just for the kids in the town of Ragusa Ibla, and your family will get to visit two World Heritage sites. Oh, and they get to eat pizza with French fries on top. That’ll make a great story to tell their friends when they return home!

Spring break is a great time of year to travel to Sicily, especially for those from cooler climes who are looking for a warm weather getaway. The flowers are in bloom from the blossoming almond trees to fragrant citrus trees and wild rosemary. It’s a wonderful time to be out in the open air on your bike so you can take in the wonderful smells all around you.

Plus, you don’t have to worry about the kids plopped on the couch playing video games all spring break. They’ll be out in the sun, getting exercise, expanding their mind and learning a wealth of new things no textbook could teach them.

There now, have we convinced you that your family should come biking in Sicily with us this spring? Good, now call us to book it right away before you change your mind! Call us 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848 and start counting down the days till spring break. Ciao!

We know a handful of celebrities who’ve made Italian lakes into national news. George Clooney would be one! These lakes are definitely hot spots among the elite due to their beautiful landscape and scenery.

You can pretend to be a star yourself when you join Backroads for our Italian Lakes Hiking Tour. This walking and hiking tour takes you along Italy’s “great” lakes: Maggiore, Como (Clooney’s favorite), Lugano and Orta.

Start your Italian hiking trip at Lake Orta (in Italian lago d’Orta) and explore the medieval hamlet town of Orta San Giulio. This area inspired the likes of Flaubert and Tchaikovsky and you’ll see why! Enjoy dinner and accommodations at Villa Crespi, built in 1879 and known for its Mediterranean cuisine.

On Day 2, you’ll hike 4000 feet above Lakes Ort and Maggiore and visit the towns of Stresa and Isola Bella, famous for its fountains and art. The next couple of days let you stroll past chapels and bridges on this Lago Maggiore walk, enjoy a wine tasting, see huge villas and castle ruins and take a ferry to Bellagio, “the pearl of the lake.”  There, you’ll get some cooking tips from a local chef.

On your final two days, head to Villa Melzi, one of Lake Como’s grand estates (sorry, it’s not George Clooney’s J), visit a farm known for its cheeses, milk and yogurt for a local lunch, and explore an 18^th century villa.

During your hike of the Italian lakes, you’ll get to spend your evenings at lovely villas and hotels, including the Grand Hotel des lles Borromees, the setting for part of Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms; and the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, built in 1872 as a retreat for an aristocratic family and featuring Murano chandeliers.

Which lake do you think will be your favorite? It’s pretty difficult to choose, we have to warn you!

Call us at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pacific to reserve your spot on this Italy hiking tour. Departures run throughout May, June, August, September and October of 2013. Let us know if you spot George Clooney out on his yacht!

Walking tours, whether you’re hiking the Alps or walking through sunflower fields in Tuscany, are wonderful ways to get outdoors, burn some calories and experience the beauty of the world. But if your feet start to hurt or you run out of water to drink, your fun may dissipate in a hurry.

As a leader in active travel, Backroads takes guests on hundreds of walking trips every year and our Trip Leaders make sure everyone enjoys their walking trip the fullest. Here are 10 tips from our Trip Leaders to make sure you have the best walking tour:

1. Strengthen abdominal muscles before your adventure trip to prevent lower back pain.
2. Train by time, not by miles. You’ll be spending most of your day hiking on a Backroads trip. Get comfortable going slower for longer periods of time.
3. Eat and drink small amounts often.
4. Consider using a personal hydration system (such as a CamelBak); if you’ve never tried one, use it before leaving home since some people find them uncomfortable for the neck and shoulders.
5. Dress in layers: a breathable synthetic layer (never cotton, which stays wet once you’ve begun to sweat) next to your skin; a light insulating layer or vest; a windproof/waterproof layer on top. If you’re comfortable for the first 10 minutes of activity, you’re overdressed!
6. Use high-quality socks. Your feet will thank you for wrapping them in padded, insulated, breathable materials such as Capilene or Smart Wool.
7. Think about resting the leg that is not active. While hiking, this means relaxing your foot as you swing it forward to the next step.
8. When you start feeling tired or sore, change your pack position while hiking.
9. Loosen your shoe laces at the first sign of foot discomfort; feet swell after prolonged physical activity.

What are your best tips for preparing for and getting the most from a hiking tour? Be sure to browse our vast selection of hiking trips like our popular Vietnam and Cambodia Walking and Hiking Tour or our New Tuscany Cooking and Walking Tour. Call us at 800-462-2848 today with your questions or to book a hiking tour. Happy travels!

Imagine someone with the ultimate entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for the outdoors and you’ve got Tom Hale, the leader of Backroads, the No. 1 active travel company in the world.

Back in 1979, Hale, a competitive runner in high school and at the University of Oregon, was inspired in the middle of the night to start a bike touring company. That “bright idea” led him on a 5000-mile solo bike trip throughout the West to plot the beginnings of Backroads, which has become the largest active travel company in the world.

His first tour, a Death Valley bike tour, took just four people, including his mom. Today, Backroads leads some 1800 trips each year to 36 countries around the globe.

Hale’s spirit of exploring the world through the “back roads” and up close and under one’s own power resonates throughout every bike tour and walking tour we offer today.

When not planning Backroads adventure tours or traveling the world, you can usually find him exercising so he can stay as fit as all of his Trip Leaders! His regimen includes the unique sport of skate-skiing during the winter months, as well as biking, core work and the occasional hike.

You can also find Hale with his family, including wife, Liz; daughters, Avery and Georgia; and son, William. He recently celebrated his daughter’s high school graduation with a Private Trip for 40 to Czechoslovakia!

We’re glad he couldn’t sleep that night and hope you are, too! We look forward to having you experience Backroads. Just give us a call at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m Pacific for more information or request our 2013 catalog.

A new addition to our 2013 line-up of bike tours and hiking tours is our California Winter Fit Trip. It’s a great spring break choice, as the dates run through March and into April.

Lots of people head on vacation to relax and overindulge on food and as a result end up with some extra pounds when they return home. This healthy vacation lets you get away, take in some amazing views, enjoy top-notch cuisine – and you may not gain an ounce… you may even leave a few pounds behind!

California Winter Fit takes you to the winter playground that is northern California from the Sugar Bowl to Mount Tamalpais. Get ready to do everything from show-shoeing and cross country skiing to biking and even yoga on this California tour! But we promise it won’t seem like exercise; it’ll just seem like the trip of a lifetime.

We start at Donner Summit, which offers some fantastic skiing and snowshoeing. End your day with a downward facing dog yoga pose to stretch those hard-worked muscles. Next, we’ll head to Sonoma County and enjoy a hike in Jack London State Park followed by a wine tasting, of course. Then get ready to enjoy a meal at Michelin-starred Santé restaurant and a visit to the Sonoma Mission Inn Spa (see, you get rewarded for your hard work!).

The last three days take us to Mount Tamalpais region where we’ll start with a hike among the redwoods. We’ll also take a bike ride on one of the Bay Area’s most popular cycling loops. We’ll cap off the week with a ferry ride from Sausalito to San Francisco and enjoy a finale lunch.

Are you ready to get fit with us this winter? Call us today at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific Time to reserve your spot on this Spring Break adventure vacation.

Backroads is known for our amazing Trip Leaders, with all of our guests consistently rating them a 9.7 out of 10 on post-trip surveys. We work hard to find leaders who are passionate and knowledgeable about the regions where they are leading tours and who love nothing better than to share that part of the world with you.

This week, meet Namgay Tshering, who leads our Bhutan Walking Trip and our Multisport Bhutan Biking Tour.

A longtime friend of Backroads, Namgay truly knows Bhutan as a former member of Bhutanese parliament and is able to open doors to you which are normally closed to foreigners. He serves not only as a trip leader but as host to his country and he’s excited to show you its abundant mountains, forests, plants and birds.

As a resident of his country, Namgay gives you the true flavor of what it’s like to live there and can answer any question you throw his way. When you travel on our active Bhutan tour, you get to participate in the daily Bhutanese life led by Namgay.

For example, you’ll receive a blessing at a 15^th century temple and hang traditional prayer flags. That’s just what Backroads is all about – getting you outside the car and into the world to meet locals, smell the scents and see the sights as you cycle or hike past.

We love Namgay’s spirit of giving in his community. He’s very involved, overseeing many programs to help disadvantaged children with their education and to improve their living conditions.

Want to travel with Namgay? Call Backroads today at 800-462-2848 to get scheduled on an upcoming Bhutan adventure tour.

Forget packed beaches in Florida, long drives across the country or crazy kids out of control. Let us give you a truly memorable, relaxing and enjoyable adventure of a lifetime for your family spring break instead. Imagine a vacation where you’re active, where it’s warm and where everyone learns a thing or two – all while having fun!

Our family adventure tours are packed with kid-approved fun, all designed with a pint-size traveler in mind. Plus, they offer plenty of opportunities for separate children’s and adult activities.

Although we’re just headed into the holidays, now’s the time to secure your spring break adventure vacation before we’re all booked. Let us make a couple family spring break suggestions for some of our bike tours and multisport tours around the world:

• Multisport Costa Rica Biking Tour – This is a popular trip for families who enjoy traveling with Backroads. Here are just a few of the amazing activities you’ll enjoy: jungle treks, white-water rafting and horseback riding.
• Sicily Bike Tour – New in 2013 is our Sicily Bike Tour that takes you past volcanoes, lets you eat pizza with French fries on top (no, we’re not joking!), tour the rugged countryside in Jeeps, bake biscotti and enjoy a scavenger hunt.
• Death Valley Biking – If you want to stay a little closer to home, try our Death Valley bike tour. You’ll get to see a castle with an indoor waterfall, gaze on a mirage, look for ancient lava flows, and view rock formations that look like Neapolitan ice cream.

We offer dates in February, March and April to fit your unique spring break needs. Come “join the party” with us on spring break this year – you’ll never go to a crowded beach again!

Call us at 800-462-2848 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pacific time to book your spring break now.

In November, President Obama traveled to Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as the first sitting U.S. president to do so. The visit, according to Christian Chumbley, Backroads regional manager of Asia, Pacific and Africa, helps legitimize the democratic process in the country and sends a signal they’re headed in the right direction.

Backroads is giving travelers the opportunity to visit this long closed-off country beginning January of 2013 on the heels of the President’s visit to the country. Long a favorite of Trip Leaders who enjoyed side tours to Myanmar while traveling to neighboring countries, Backroads is excited to finally be able to offer this Myanmar tour to groups looking to discover truly off-the-grid destinations. For the last year, we’ve had many requests to travel to Myanmar and the volume only increased after President Obama’s visit.

We are extremely excited about the itinerary and think you’ll be surprised that Myanmar, also called “the Golden Land,” is such as sunny scenic place. On the bike tour, you’ll participate in an evening candle-lighting tradition at a sacred Buddhist site, travel past 2000 temples and pagodas, hike up 777 steps to the summit of an extinct volcano and visit a cave filled with more than 2,000 Buddha statues and shrines. You also get to interact with its people, many of whom have never met anyone from outside their village, much less their country.

We’ve chosen only our most sought after Trip Leaders to guide you on this Myanmar biking tour. Trip Leader Matt Allen, for example, grew up in the region and lived in what was then Burma for several years with his family as a young man. Matt has been in and out of the country dozens of times and has witnessed firsthand its changes over the last 20 years.

Chuck Bartlet, who comes highly recommended by past guests for his extensive knowledge and above-and-beyond service, has been leading our popular Vietnam biking tour for years along with our India adventure tours and will also be leading the Myanmar tour.

While our January dates are all booked up, we still have room in February and March, but hurry because this bike tour itinerary is filling up fast. This is your chance to explore a country largely undiscovered by outsiders and enjoy its natural charm. “Myanmar’s character has not been all that influenced by travelers and feels really emergent and genuine,” says Chumbley. “There’s something truly authentic about all the villages, towns and people.”

We’re also working on a Myanmar walking/hiking tour for the end of 2013 if you miss this one. Call us today at 800-462-2848 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pacific to discover Myanmar for yourself!

Here at Backroads we all share a spirit of wanderlust, that eternal desire to explore and find yourself in new and amazing places throughout the globe. We’re not the first to experience that longing. Many before us and many contemporaries feel just the same way. We love quotations that put into words just how we feel on many of our biking tours and hiking tours be it a European bike trip or a New Zealand hiking tour. No matter where you go, there you are J.

Here’s a compilation of some of our favorite travel quotes that we feel captures the spirit of Backroads adventure travel:

“My favorite thing is to go where I have never been.”
– Diane Arbus, American photographer

“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
– Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
–Albert Einstein

“Exploration is the essence of the human spirit.”
– Unknown

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”
–St. Augustine

“Keep close to Nature’s heart.”
– John Muir

“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old; we grow old because we stop hiking.”
– Fins Mitchell

“Great things are done when men and mountains meet.”
– William Blake

And last but not least, from our fearless leader:

“Bicycle touring is travel’s live theater.”
– Tom Hale, Founder & President of Backroads

Got a travel quote that you love? Please share with us!

For more information about Backroads or any of our adventure tours that will fulfill that wanderlust, call us Pacific time 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily at 800-462-2848.

While there’s nothing quite like experiencing a Backroads bike trip or Backroads walking tour in person, lots of our guests like to “try” to capture the magnificence on video and in photos. While on your next Backroads bicycle tour or hiking vacation, we challenge you to get it on film and share the results with us.

Now, we know you’ve probably got more than one video clip to choose from. Feel free to submit up to 10 or you can edit them yourself into one video. We do ask that you keep the length to two minutes or less, but feel free to mix in people talking with jaw-dropping landscapes along with royalty-free music and transitions.

To get your creative juices flowing, take a look at this submission from Meg Preston of our Utah Bryce & Zion Biking Tour:

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So what do you get for all your efforts? We award three grand prize winners each year, both for photography and for video. First prize is a $3000 trip credit, second is a $2000 trip credit and third is a $1000 trip credit. The trip credit is automatically applied to the winner’s account, is redeemable immediately, is applicable to any Backroads trip and has no expiration date. Where will you go?

We only accept entries for this year until Dec. 31. So get busy editing that footage you have of your Backroads vacation or hurry and book a getaway for November and December so you can take advantage of your chance to win big. Winners will be notified by Feb. 15, 2013.

Submit your prize-winning adventure video right here. Good luck! We can’t wait to see all of your submissions!