From the Alpine bucket-list hike of the Tour du Mont Blanc to emerging destinations like Uruguay and Cyprus, Backroads’ 2027 trips reflect what travelers are asking for now—more challenging routes, quieter regions and immersive experiences designed by local experts.
One of our favorite things about travel is new places. And one of our favorite things about Backroads is that we’re always looking for more of them. We’re launching more than a dozen new trips in 2027. So from Cyprus to the Canaries, from Wales to Wallonia, the world as seen through our sunglasses is bigger than ever.
How is a new trip born? Sometimes you request, and we answer the call. Sometimes one of our Trip Leaders or Trip Experts advocates for an idea, and we follow them. And other times, we see an opportunity to experience one of our favorite regions in a new way.
But don’t take my word for it. I chatted with some of our Trip Experts, Regional Leads and Regional Directors who are bringing next year’s new trips to life. My questions: why this trip? Why now? And what are these expert adventurers excited to share with that first group of guests?
As usual, they has a lot to say. Read on to hear all about it—in their own words.
Tour du Mont Blanc Hiking Tour
Kelsey Harrity, Regional Lead:
“Tom Hale, our founder and CEO, was the main voice behind this trip. The Tour du Mont Blanc is among the most famous through-hikes in the world. There’s also the closely followed UTMB ultra trail race every year in August, which adds to its fame. Normally, to do the full hike, you have to stay in small refuges along the route, but our goal was to make it as luxury as possible. So we shuttle to and from hotels most days. We aren’t doing the full hike but rather using strategic shuttles to get to our favorite sections of the routes.
This trip is unique because it’s the only trip rated Activity Level 4-5 in the whole company! We’re gaining and losing a lot of elevation each day, and there aren’t many bail-out options. We also stay at five hotels over five different nights. There’s an incredible sense of journey, and we hike stunning passes through incredible scenery and Alpine landscapes. We’re making the highlights of this bucket-list hike accessible for our guests in just six days.”
Challenge Yourself on the Tour du Mont Blanc
Costa Rica & Panama Multi-Adventure Tour
Alba Morer Bonastre, Trip Expert:
“Costa Rica is one of those countries you never get tired of. Its incredible biodiversity and the richness of its ’pura vida’ culture make it an ideal holiday destination. This trip is particularly special because it takes us to a different region than our other itineraries—we explore the central mountain range of Costa Rica, in Pérez Zeledón. It’s an off-the-beaten-path area that offers wonderful local experiences and close encounters with nature. We’ll also have the opportunity to stay at one of the country’s most beautiful and luxurious hotels, Hacienda Alta Gracia.”
Shauna Pugliese, Regional Lead:
“I’ve lived in the Bocas del Toro for eight years, so I’m most excited to share the variety that the archipelago of Bocas has to offer. From the vibrant, colorful energy of Caribbean villages to the untouched beauty of the outer islands, each day feels completely different. Guests get to experience everything from glassy turquoise waters and coral reefs to lush jungle, wildlife and remote beaches only accessible by boat. And what makes it special is the laid-back rhythm of island life. It’s a place that invites you to slow down, connect with your surroundings and experience something that feels both adventurous and deeply grounding all at once.”
See a Different Side of Costa Rica + Panama
Canary Islands Bike Tour
Lara Petinal Coll, Regional Lead:
“Trip Expert Davide Cattaneo’s passion for the region he calls home, where he is raising two adorable daughters, has been crucial. Davide knew that La Gomera—the island new to this trip—was a perfect crowd-free destination. Perfect biking terrain, smooth roads with little traffic, the green of the prehistoric laurisilva forest tunneling the roads... His passion painted it so vividly that we got excited about the idea of opening a new area where no other company like us is operating yet.
And the arrival of the new performance e-bikes was the icing on the cake. This is one of those parts of the world where a strong cyclist will be able to play with a performance e-bike like a little kid on Christmas. Do you have any idea of all the different landscapes—and seasons!—they will go through, not just during the week, but in a single day?”
Mallorca Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Tour
Miguel Angel Soto Ripolles, Trip Expert:
“This trip showcases a side of Mallorca that many travelers never get to experience. While the island is famous for its beaches, the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range offers an entirely different world: ancient stone paths, mountain villages, dramatic coastal scenery and a rich cultural landscape that feels surprisingly untouched.
The idea came from the growing interest in immersive lodge-to-lodge hiking experiences. With our extensive presence and experience on the island, we realized that Mallorca has one of Europe’s most iconic long-distance hiking routes, yet very few travelers experience it in a true lodge-to-lodge format. This trip allows guests to move through the landscape each day in a way that feels authentic and rewarding, connecting villages and mountain passes and on most days, hike directly from hotel to hotel.”
Hike Lodge-to-Lodge in Mallorca
Austrian Alps Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking Tour
Cat McNally, Trip Expert:
“This is the trip you take if you want to feel on top of the world. Due to the extensive cable car system, every day we get to hike on quiet trails up above the tree line for eagle’s-eye views. And those same cable cars mean we spend the evenings in wonderfully comfortable lodges in picture-postcard villages down below. If you want the feel of a through-hike through the Alps but you’re unsure about sleeping in a hut, this is a great trip for you.
We also get to explore a quieter corner of the Alps on this trip—no mass tourism here. We expect to see lots of wildlife, and the majority of folks we’ll meet along the way are locals and through-hikers. It’s a place to really challenge yourself on mountaintops during the day, then relax into the lodges and villages in the evening.
Lodge-to-lodge trips are so popular right now, and our Bavaria & Tyrol region is full of Luxury Hotels trips around Activity Level 2-4. So we had the idea to design a trip with Deluxe Hotels and hiking options at our most challenging level.”
Have the Alps to Yourself in Austria
Cyprus Bike Tour
Mark Selcon, Regional Director:
“Just because Cyprus is new to Backroads doesn’t mean it’s new to tourism. Europeans have been coming here on beach vacations for decades. The quality of the roads is amazing for cyclists, it’s super safe and there are some incredible hotels. What’s new is that cycling is taking over the island! It almost feels like it’s going to be the next Mallorca. These roads up in the mountains are so quiet, you only see a few cars for miles and miles. And it’s epic, challenging riding. Then the other thing we’re excited about are the hotels we’ve found specifically for this trip. We stay in some boutique properties, and in small villages, that feel authentic and intimate and are just really special.”
England & Wales Hiking & Walking Tour
Rollo Reeder, Trip Expert:
“We are really excited about being able to experience two countries that are very different—more different than people realize—and tell the story of how they are linked. I love how England’s landscapes flow into Wales. Hiking both sides of the border allows you to see and feel these beautiful differences in the landscape and culture and make sense of the shared history that binds them. It’s also going to be a trip with a lot of variation, which we think guests will love!”
Hike Through History in England & Wales
Dolomites Bike Tour
Filippo Graglia, Trip Expert:
“We’ve always been aware of how tough the biking in the high Dolomites can be, so we’ve been holding off on offering a truly challenging biking trip here. But a few things have changed in recent years. E-bikes, including our new performance e-bike, have made epic rides more accessible. So the time is finally right for an itinerary that will allow our guests to immerse themselves in the heart of the Dolomites.
The riding combines sections along enchanting bike paths with climbs up some of the area’s epic passes, culminating in Day 5’s climb of Fedaia Pass—right up to the foot of Marmolada, the mountain nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Dolomites.’ All whilst staying as far away as possible from the region’s summer traffic.”
Ride Mountain Passes in the Dolomites
Uruguay Bike Tour
Cameron Breslin, Regional Director:
“For me, Uruguay really feels like a hidden gem of South America. It’s a small country that punches way above its weight class in terms of culture, art, wine and personality. It’s also not a place people automatically think of for an active trip, which is why it’s so compelling. This is exactly the kind of destination our repeat guests are asking for. People who’ve done Europe and want something new, but still want that high-end, immersive Backroads experience. Uruguay hits that sweet spot: it’s approachable, safe, uncrowded and still feels like a discovery.”
Bike Off the Beaten Path in Uruguay
Michigan Bike Tour & Michigan Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Kate Clark, Regional Director:
“These trips were put together by a former Trip Expert and Regional Lead who has personal ties to the area. She made a solid pitch for the riding, Americana vibes and slow summer magic of Mackinac Island. Once we announced it, I had several leaders and office staff reach out expressing excitement that Backroads is featuring a place they love. Michigan even got a standing ovation from leaders when it was announced as part of the New Trips list at our annual all-company meeting. It may not be the most hyped destination, but the energy here has caught our attention. We hope our guests feel the same spark of curiosity and let it lead them to explore the hidden gems waiting in this beautiful corner of the country.”
Enjoy a Classic Summer in Michigan
Luxembourg to the Netherlands Bike Tour
Fabrice Verheyen, Trip Expert:
“In 2025 we launched a new Netherlands & Belgium Multi-Adventure where we included biking in Belgium’s mountainous Ardennes. While researching this, we realized that this area offers great opportunities to launch a full biking trip. Not only is it a popular training ground for many pro cyclists, with incredible biking infrastructure, but it was possible to design a trip that offers hotel-to-hotel biking across four countries without the need for shuttles. Add the historic hotels, great spa facilities and cultural elements like WWII history, medieval castles and varied regional cuisine, and we saw a golden combination for a Backroads trip! There's even the opportunity to make it a five-country vacation if guests want to stay in Paris before the trip, as Luxembourg is only a short, direct train ride away.”
Iceland & the Faroe Islands Hiking & Walking Tour
Alison Iles, Regional Director:
“The Faroe Islands seem so remote and far away, but they are only an hour-and-a-half flight from Reykjavik. They are a dramatic, untouched Nordic region full of stunning natural wonders. Sheer sea cliffs. Incredible waterfalls that plunge into the North Atlantic. And puffins—lots of puffins. It’s a place that feels otherworldly and definitely on the road less traveled.”
See Puffins on the Remote Faroe Islands
The above is far from exhaustive. Our list of new adventures in 2027 goes on: will you explore Tuscany from our fabulous home base in Bagno Vignoni, an ancient Roman spa resort? Give the lodge-to-lodge trend an even tonier twist as you hike between the Alpine grand hotels of stunning Switzerland? Or chase the legend of Dracula along Romania’s Via Transilvanica and Carpathian Mountains?
Wherever 2027 takes you, if it’s with us, you already know some of what you’ll find there: full snack baskets, leaders who’ve planned ten steps ahead and plenty of fellow travelers with whom to share the discoveries.
The rest is a surprise. And that’s just the way we like it.
