Talented & Engaging: Backroads Expert Trip Leaders
We believe you'll find Backroads Trip Leaders are the best you've ever traveled with. That's not an idle claim - it's backed by the most rigorous recruiting, hiring, training and guest satisfaction programs in the business.
As thousands of guests tell us, year after year, our leaders are what make each Backroads trip truly unforgettable. Boundlessly enthusiastic, inspiring and caring, these outstanding men and women are renowned for their ability to transform a great vacation into an authentic, enriching—and sometimes profoundly life-changing—experience you would never have on your own. In short, these people are our greatest asset and guests who have traveled with other outfitters tell us that our leaders are head and shoulders above the rest.
We invite you to read guest reviews about our leaders.
Our leaders are what really set us apart. Choose Backroads and travel with the world’s best. Among our talented Trip Leaders are:
Trip Leader Since 1999
Pam Fritz grew up in small-town Canada and spent her summers playing on the shores of Georgian Bay. A varsity athlete and always a lover of the outdoors, she received degrees in biology and education with the intention of becoming a teacher. But the desire to travel and spend her days outside led her to Backroads and she’s never looked back. Six months of trekking through the Andes and volunteering in the Galápagos Islands sparked a genuine passion for life in Latin America. Now based in Costa Rica, Pam leads trips throughout Latin America as well as Asia and South Africa, always traveling with her camera—she’s a regular contributor to the Backroads catalogs.
Trip Leader Since 1999
After earning her international relations degree from Northwestern University, Caeli set out with Backroads, leading biking and hiking trips around the world. In 2003, she settled in Whitefish, Montana, near Glacier National Park, just as scientists were exposing the serious effects of climate change on Glacier’s trademark glaciers and its ecosystem. Inspired and determined to positively affect the issue of climate change, Caeli, along with another Backroads leader, founded the Climate Ride, a five-day bike ride from NYC to the steps of the U.S. Capitol to raise awareness.
Trip Leader Since 2005
Born in Chile and raised in the U.S., Bryan has always felt the pull to explore new cultures. After receiving an MBA in international management and working in the corporate world for ten years, Bryan applied to be a Trip Leader because it combined his love for travel and nature. He says the highlight for him is leading in his beloved Patagonia. “From the quaint little towns in the Lakes region to the open spaces of the southern pampas and glacial fields, there is no spot on earth quite like it, and the best part for me is that its home. I feel a great sense of pride when sharing my knowledge and passion for Chile and seeing guests’ appreciation for the country’s culture and natural beauty. It makes me feel thankful for where I've come from and where I am today.”
Trip Leader Since 1990
A history major and a former minor league baseball player, Paul Smith has led more trips than anyone in Backroads’ history. Married to another long-time Backroads leader—and now a dad to two sons—Paul has been sharing his passion for China, Bali, New Zealand and the Northwest for nearly two decades and looks forward to new discoveries with every visit. His attention to detail, witty humor, knowledge of the local haunts and uncanny ability to discern the needs of each guest is legendary.
