The Private Trips Issue, July 2009

Dear Traveler,

What better way to live life to the fullest than to spend time with friends and family? Stop the daily dash and step into a new world, enjoying breathtaking scenery, the perfect amount of activity, great food and wine and the relaxation that only comes when all the details are taken care of so you don’t have to.

We invite you to pause, reflect, dream and gather together with your favorite people to share a Backroads active adventure – on a Private Trip perfectly matched to everyone’s activity levels and personal tastes. We’ll use our 30 years of expertise to help you create an unforgettable experience that everyone will be talking about for years.

Start dreaming at www.backroads.com/WishBook.

We look forward to hearing from you,

Tina DiCello tinad@backroads.com
Carol Irving caroli@backroads.com
Your Private Trip Concierges

Backroads Trips that are perfect for private include:

WINE COUNTRY BIKING: Pedaling from Wine to Waves

Often reserved for milestone birthday celebrations, the Wine Country is our most popular destination 30 years running. How can you not make merry when you’re biking through world-famous vineyards, stopping to taste the region’s best elixirs? Pedaling through forests of soaring redwoods en route to the dramatic Pacific coast? Feasting on the Wine Country’s seriously good food, inspired not only by the wines but also the fresh—and distinctly—Californian ingredients? Indulge in a massage, a mud bath or few laps in the pool. In the Wine Country, the options are abundant and the choices are yours.

TUSCANY BIKING: Easy Biking South of Siena

A universally appealing Private Trip—especially with couples of varying biking abilities. Pedal on your own or hop in our convenient van shuttles that whisk you to Tuscany’s quintessential hill towns, including Cortona, immortalized by Frances Mayes in Under the Tuscan Sun, and Montepulciano, filled with glorious Renaissance buildings. Feast on delectable cuisine, sip sublime Vino Nobile de Montepulciano and learn the finer points of piatti tipici toscani (typical Tuscan dishes) during a hands-on cooking class. At day’s end, retreat to elegant inns and toast la dolce vita.

FRANCE & GERMANY BIKING: From Wine-Rich Alsace to the Black Forest

Several of our repeat Private Trip organizers have rated this trip their favorite ever! The allure? Mile after mile of scenic pedaling highlighted by tastings of stellar Alsatian wines (rieslings and gewürtztraminers), storybook towns, fairy-tale castles, majestic mountains and Germany’s mythical Black Forest. Not to mention a trio of elegant hotels including the striking Château d’Isenbourg, set on the Route du Vin, surrounded by vineyards with views extending to the Black Forest.

PAYS BASQUE WALKING: The Pyrénées Foothills in France & Spain

Often popular with women friends traveling together, this is a unique European experience in the Basque Country, a peaceful area well off the beaten track. With its own culture, language, music and food, the Pays Basque presents endless opportunities for shared discoveries—shop at a traditional market, hike trails between villages in the foothills, play a round of the traditional handball game of pelote, and savor Michelin-starred cuisine. The trip finale: picturesque St-Jean-de-Luz with its charming old town, colorful port and beautiful beach.

MOROCCO MULTISPORT: From Marrakech to the High Atlas & Essaouira

A perfect choice for corporate groups and seasoned-travelers seeking an adventure, Morocco serves up a dreamy concoction of exotic delights. As one of our guests stated: “Our Backroads Morocco trip was simply amazing, from start to finish. What a way to explore a new country with different customs and way of living! We were treated like royalty by our leaders, and I felt privileged to share a peek into the real culture of such a fascinating country.”

View the Morocco Multisport Itinerary.

PERU INSIDER: History, Culture & Natural Delights in Cusco & Machu Picchu

The perfect Private Trip for a special occasion—this is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Explore Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, Sacsayhuamán (called the “Stonehenge of the Andes”) and the famed Salineras saltpans. In the Sacred Valley, meet world-renowned artists and traditional weavers. And in wondrous Machu Picchu, your private guide illuminates everything from Inca astrology to the building of the magnificently set Gate of the Sun. Return to Cusco on the Orient Express Hiram Bingham train, accompanied by live music during our gourmet feast.

View the Peru Insider Itinerary.