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!

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.

Looking for a totally unique, unexpected way to spend the holidays? Surprise the family, your spouse or your parents with a hiking trip to the Galapagos Islands! Backroads’ Galapagos and Andes multisport tour lets you discover the amazing views from the snowcapped Andes mountains and get up and close and personal with ancient tortoises, lizards and even white-tipped sharks!

Our bike tour dates for this 8-day, 7-night Galapagos adventure during the holidays run Dec. 18-25 (what a Christmas Day that would be!) or over New Year’s Dec. 30-Jan. 6. Imagine welcoming 2013 right on the equator and amidst the beauty of the Andes. If you’d prefer not to travel during the holidays, this Galapagos tour is available throughout 2013, as well.

Begin your wildlife adventure tour in Ecuador in the Andes where you’ll experience the region’s vast arts and culture, including a visit to the studio of a master weaver as you bike and hike these stunning mountains. Next, hop on a horse and explore the pastureland of the Zuleta Valley and hike up the mountains for some incredible views. You’ll stay overnight in a restored estate whose history traces to 1602 and in the former president of Ecuador’s home – deluxe indeed and a full cultural immersion experience.

For days 4 through 8, it’s time to head to the Galapagos Islands and meet some amazing creatures. We’ll pair you with a naturalist who will guide you from island to island and share their knowledge of this beautiful part of the world. On your journey, you’ll come across blue footed boobies, fluorescent fish, sea lions, marine iguanas and more. You’ll take time to snorkel, swim, kayak and hike these beautiful islands, including a trek around the rim of the 6-mile across volcano, the second largest in the world.

While in the Galapagos, rest overnight at some fantastic lodges, including Aventura Lodge nestled in a mangrove forest on Santa Cruz Island, and Isabela Lodge, known for its white sand beaches.

How does that sound for a holiday adventure? Everyone else will be plodding through snow while you catch plenty of sun out on the Pacific Ocean. We promise it will be a holiday or New Year’s everyone will be talking about for years to come.

Call our Trip Consultants 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Pacific at 800-462-2848 to plan your holiday today!