Backroads
Backroads
Tom Hale, Backroads founder and president, built Backroads with his passion for exploring the world’s most fascinating places actively. Thirty five years later, each Backroads employee and legions of loyal travelers could not imagine a better way to travel—immersing yourself in the life of a region and exploring hidden corners while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus, or in a few excursions from a cruise ship or a secluded resort. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.

Articles Written

Guest cycling past mountain town, large mountain range in background.
August 25, 2025

The Best Bike Routes in Italy

At Backroads, we’ve been leading guided bike tours in Italy for over three decades. Check out a few of our favorite routes and learn more about some of the best cycling destinations in the country.

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Outdoor hot tub surrounded by tall plants and trees
June 27, 2025

As Seen on Screen: The 8 Best Trips for Movie & TV Buffs

We love watching Hollywood make fantastical worlds out of some of our favorite travel destinations, but there’s nothing quite like experiencing them in real life.

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Guest with bike on pier, overlooking bay full of sailboats.
April 21, 2025

Five Reasons to Travel to Maine

Ready for an epic New England adventure? Get an insider's perspective on why Maine is a perfect place for an active vacation.

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April 17, 2025

Two Backroads Leaders in Love

Lauran and I met on a school bus. She was wearing a propeller hat and fake glasses with tape on the bridge and rainbow suspenders to hold the outfit together. It was love at first sight. Ok, not really, but we did meet on the school bus during the Backroads California Staff Ride in 2010 and the theme was "Back to School."

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Person biking with a field of sunflowers surrounding them
March 5, 2025

The Best Places to Bike in France

We’ve been leading Backroads guided bike tours in France for nearly four decades. From historic routes in Normandy to the sunny villages of Provence, here are what we think are the best cycling destinations in France.

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Backroads Director of Operations Matt Fletcher introduces our new e-bike.
February 10, 2025

Video: Meet the New Backroads Hybrid E-bike!

Check out our new video featuring our completely redesigned, ready-to-roll titanium e-bike, which made its debut this summer! See Backroads Director of Operations Matt Fletcher introduce the Equalizer below.

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Introducing the new Backroads Performance Bike
February 29, 2024

Video: Meet the Backroads Performance Bike

Check out our new video to get acquainted with the Backroads Performance Road Bike.

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January 18, 2024

A Day in the Life with Backroads in New Zealand

A day in the life of a guest on our New Zealand trip.

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Four bikers on a road full of leaves and surrounded by forest
January 4, 2024

Top Ten Travel Trends for 2024: Unique Outdoor Experiences Are Trending

Camino de Santiago, Scandinavia and Women’s Adventures Top the List of our top ten active travel trends in 2024 to help inspire your next grand adventure.

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2023 travel trends
January 6, 2023

2023 Travel Trends

The start of a new year can feel fresh and full of possibility. Maybe you’ve set a health or fitness goal, or you’re looking at an open week in your calendar, ready to ink in some vacation time.

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