Backroads Media Center: Press Releases
August 2023
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced the launch of Women’s Adventures, a new offer exclusively for women travelers. Since 1979 when Backroads was founded by Tom Hale, more than 50% of its executive team and leader population have been women. The launch of Backroads Women’s Adventures, inspired by his wife Liz and daughter Avery, is a highly anticipated addition that celebrates this commitment, as well as the unique camaraderie and chemistry of all-women groups.
July 2023
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced the launch of Dolce Tempo Easygoing Active tours for Families with Older Teens & 20s and Adult Kids 20s & Beyond. Dolce Tempo tours feature the same expertly designed itineraries of other Backroads active adventures at a slower pace with even more down time to enjoy the pool, explore town and engage in all the delights of a destination.
June 2023
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced an impressive 36 new active adventures for 2024—nearly triple that of typical years past—with dates open for sale immediately. This also marks the earliest in the company’s history that it has released a full collection of new trips for a coming year. With novel offerings in Biking, Multi-Adventure, Walking & Hiking and Dolce Tempo Tours, Backroads is well positioned to indulge travelers’ increased appetite for getting out and exploring the world.
May 2023
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced its support of World Bicycle Relief’s (WBR) mission to empower women and girls throughout the world by participating in the organization’s annual Pedal to Empower ride on World Bicycle Day.
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today released their top picks for a last-minute family adventure – the perfect antidote to summer doldrums and vacation procrastination. With a few clicks of the mouse or a phone call, families open the door to a world of possibility and discovery in iconic US national parks, such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon. Or they can venture farther from home to discover the natural beauty and rich cultures of France, Iceland, Switzerland and Canada, among other Backroads destinations.
April 2023
AmaWaterways and Backroads - together leaders in active river cruising - today announced an exciting 2023 and 2024 lineup of more than 140 European river cruise departures featuring Backroads enhanced biking tours. During this eighth year of collaboration, guests can join these designated departures that bring Backroads best-in-class bike adventure tours to the Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers of Bordeaux; the Danube, Douro, Rhine and Seine Rivers; and the Dutch & Belgian Waterways.
January 2023
December 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced its 2023 top adventure travel trends based on guest bookings to date. From people reserving trips further in advance than in prior years to increased demand for active adventure vacations for all ages and fitness abilities, Backroads is tracking interesting shifts in how and where people want to travel next year.
October 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced a new online search tool that makes it easier than ever to find and book Private Trips, increasing access and visibility for guests interested in organizing a private group trip to anywhere Backroads travels.
August 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced the 2023 launch of a new Multi-Adventure Tour in Argentina’s Andes, exploring the renowned Mendoza Wine Country region. The itinerary – which includes biking, hiking, wine tasting and luxurious boutique lodging among lush vineyards in the shadow of the snow-covered Andes mountains – is the latest addition to the company’s offerings in Argentina’s Patagonia, where Backroads has been running trips since 1995.
July 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced a slate of new small-group adventure tours in Mexico’s Baja California, Vancouver and Washington’s San Juan Islands, the Carolinas, Santa Barbara Wine Country, Italy’s Dolomites to Lake Garda, Sardinia and more. With international COVID-19 restrictions lifted and pent-up wanderlust at an all-time high, families and friends are looking to make up for lost time by touring the world together in unique ways.
May 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced special activities to honor World Bicycle Day on June 3rd. These activities will include biking events at their global hubs to help raise money for World Bicycle Relief’s Pedal to Empower campaign. The company also announced a selection of bike tours as we conclude May’s National Bike Month.
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced its long-awaited return to New Zealand as the country reopens to tourism. The company also announced that it would resume its active adventure tours in other far-flung locations including Vietnam and Cambodia, Bali, India and Nepal with a fresh lineup of biking, hiking and multi-adventure journeys.
April 2022
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced their top travel picks for family adventure tours this summer. From perennial family favorites like Alaska, Croatia, Iceland, Italy, France and Spain to the US National Parks, Backroads runs trips in 45 countries across the globe. Backroads is the only company to offer family trips designed for three distinct age groups—Teens & Kids (typically 9-16), Older Teens & 20s (17+) and 20s & Beyond (adult kids in their 20s)—so that kids and parents can spend quality time together and independently enjoy the company of their peers.
March 2022
AmaWaterways and Backroads—together leaders in active river cruising—today announced an exciting lineup of more than 150 Bordeaux, Danube, Douro, Rhine and Seine departures in 2022 and 2023, including nine full-ship charters and select sailings on board AmaWaterways’ most innovative new ship AmaMagna. Marking the seventh year of their collaboration, Backroads will also bring their best-in-class adventure tours to Dutch & Belgian waterways with the Backroads River Cruise Bike Trip.
January 2022
Backroads, the leader in small group active travel tours, today announced their top 10 romantic trips ahead of the Valentine’s Day holiday.
December 2021
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced their forecast for top travel destinations in 2022 based on advance bookings and inquiries. Europe is at the top of many travelers’ lists next year, with huge demand for trips in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Greece and Iceland.
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced a lineup of brand-new trips in 2022 for a variety of travelers. With these additional departures, the company has added even more options to their exciting array of trips announced this fall, including biking in Switzerland, multiple new adventures in Portugal and easygoing walking in Morocco. With trips in more than 50 countries, and a demonstrated track record of successfully running active adventures since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Backroads is projected to welcome a record-breaking number of guests on trips in Europe and beyond in 2022.
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced personalized trip recommendations for loved ones who want to give the gift of experiences, not things, this holiday season. From Bourbon lovers to history buffs, serious cyclists to foodies and families, every type of traveler can find something to love in Backroads’ diverse catalog of Biking, Walking & Hiking, Multi-Adventure, Family, easygoing Dolce Tempo and Private Adventures in more than 50 countries across six continents.
October 2021
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced 13 new trips launching in North America in 2022, including Bryce & Capitol Reef hiking and biking adventures, a new Glacier to Banff Bike Tour and family offerings in the Great Smoky Mountains, Oregon’s Bend to the Cascades and more.
July 2021
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced that the company is experiencing a boom with record sales slated for 2022, along with a strong rebound for US and European travel in 2021. Business is up more than 100 percent when comparing 2022 to 2019 numbers, the last full year of travel before the global pandemic.
May 2021
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced new trips launching across the globe in 2022. This sweeping new offering includes adventures from Bali to the Pyrenees featuring incredible new destinations like Oman, Chile and Italy’s Gran Paradiso to Matterhorn. The company is also launching a Rhine Full Ship Celebration River Cruise Bike Tour as well as a new Active Safari adventure that visits Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe for an opportunity to get up close and personal with the dunes, waterfalls and wildlife of Africa.
April 2021
Berkeley, CA – Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced additional departures surging demand for active North American adventures during the shoulder season months of April, May and October. The company also has seen increased booking interest for the new Dolce Tempo segment, an easygoing active option for guests looking for opportunities to get outside and enjoy hiking, biking and multi-adventuring at a more relaxed pace.
February 2021
Backroads, the leader in active travel, in conjunction with Outdoor Afro, the nation’s foremost network for celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature, today announced their new Historic Underground Railroad Multi-Adventure Tour in Georgia and South Carolina. Launched in celebration of Black History Month, this new one-of-a-kind journey offers the opportunity to travel deep into the Black history and culture of the Southeast, exploring our nation’s past while hiking, biking and kayaking through the lush landscapes surrounding Savannah and Charleston.
December 2020
Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced the launch of five new premiere and unique North American adventure tours to destinations across the US and Canada. The new itineraries take guests out west to the beaches and rainforest of British Columbia, as far east as a traveler can go on the Atlantic coast to Fogo Island, and from sea level to the top of giant peaks in Colorado, Wyoming and Alberta.