Active Ocean & River Cruise Adventures

Experience the Backroads way of exploring actively—on a Biking, Walking & Hiking or Multi-Adventure trip, in combination with small luxury ocean or river ships. Unpack once. Explore multiple regions. Travel with best-in-class Backroads leaders. And best of all… go at your pace and connect with locals and the region in a way that no other cruise experience can.

This is a new active approach to water travel on small luxury ships. No waiting in long lines. No crowded tour buses. No superficial visits to mass tourist attractions. Backroads is the pioneer in active travel and we have the experience, resources and onshore staff to create a unique adventure—even when the weather or sailing conditions may cause a change of plans.

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Hikers trekking up a snowy hill in Antarctica with a cruise ship anchored in the background
Multi-Adventure

Antarctica Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Penguins, Icebergs, Glaciers & Epic Grandeur

Small Luxury Ships
Guest/leader cycling down tree-covered road, smiling.
Biking

Bordeaux River Cruise Bike Tour

Vineyards & Châteaux of Garonne, Dordogne & Gironde

Small Luxury Ships
Line of guests on lakeside, arms above head, large mountain vista behind them.
Walking & Hiking

Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Fjords, Cape Horn & Torres del Paine

Two guests walking up stone staircase, Croatian village, river below them.
Multi-Adventure

Croatia Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Biking, Hiking & Cruising along the Adriatic Coast

Cruise ships on the Danube River in Budapest.
Biking

Danube River Cruise Full Ship Celebration Bike Tour

Prague to Budapest with 100+ Backroads Friends

Small Luxury Ships
Panoramic autumn view of Amsterdam city.
Biking

Dutch & Belgian Waterways River Cruise Bike Tour

Iconic Canals, Windmills & Bike Paths from Amsterdam to Bruges

Small Luxury Ships
Iceland Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour - Ponant Ship
Walking & Hiking

Iceland by Sea Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

Passage to the Land of Fire & Ice

Ariel view of town, river, and bridge
Dolce tempo
E-biking

Rhine River Cruise Easygoing E-bike Tour

Dolce Tempo Journey from Basel to Amsterdam

Small Luxury Ships
Eiffel Tower and Pont Alexandre III at Night
Biking

Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Paris Lights, the Land of Monet, & Normandy's D-Day Sites

Small Luxury Ships
Palm trees and white sand beaches in Tahiti
Multi-Adventure

Tahiti Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure Tour

Sailing Idyllic Isles from Tahiti to Bora Bora

Small Luxury Ships
novice monks beating a new dry with palm reeds and splashing water
Biking

Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour

Cycle & Sail along the Mighty Mekong