Destinations

The New York Times’ annual “52 Places to Go” list is once again talk of the travel world and full of inspiration! It’s no surprise to see 11 destinations included that you can travel to with Backroads.

Travel trends are obviously something we keep tabs on at Backroads, and for 2026, our experts are noticing even more solo travelers signing up for our immersive, active adventures. We see you, solo travelers! And we’re here to help you get out there. Backroads recently launched more than 100 trip dates featuring reduced single supplement fees—and on some trips you’ll pay nothing extra to stay in your own private room.

Our guests talk about these hotels long after the trip ends—and we understand why. These hotels accentuate local traditions, exude old-world charm and simply cannot be matched anywhere else. From a retreat on stilts in the Cambodian countryside to a clifftop Aman sanctuary in Bali, each is a traveler favorite for a reason—serene, beautiful and ready to welcome you back from a day of adventure with that unmistakable "I never want to leave" feeling.

Backroads adventures inspire treasured memories, but not every highlight happens on the trail. Our Italy trips feature hotels that feel like welcoming and elegant homes away from home, spots that tell the stories of Puglia, Tuscany and the Dolomites through delicious details. Here are a few of our favorite places to rest and reset after a day of adventure.

If there’s a better month for travel than May, we don’t know what it is. The weather is mild; the crowds are small. And the sense of possibility that comes with fully-sprung spring leavens every adventure.

Enthusiastic, genuine, endlessly resourceful—just a few words to capture the spirit of Backroads Trip Leaders.

Set sail on an unforgettable European journey where adventure flows as effortlessly as the river itself. By day, cycle or hike past vineyards and castles, explore medieval villages and experience history up-close. By night, unwind in comfort aboard our intimate river ships.

Banff is no ordinary mountain town. With fewer than 10,000 permanent residents, it sits inside Canada’s first national park—a place where jagged peaks, rushing rivers and quiet forests frame daily life. Long before trains and tourists arrived, the area was home to the Stoney Nakoda, an Indigenous people of the Canadian Rockies who traveled these valleys for centuries. In 1885, the creation of Banff National Park brought a new wave of people, and the town quickly became a magnet for explorers and adventurers year-round.

There’s a lot to love about Santa Fe, but for us here at Backroads, the thing that makes this high desert city so special is its rich blend of cultures, arts and gorgeous Southwestern landscapes. Earning its nickname as "The City Different," Santa Fe proudly mixes Native American, Spanish and Anglo influences in its historical adobe architecture, art galleries and celebrated annual traditions. Santa Fe stands out as a city that feels both deeply rooted in history and creatively contemporary.

With spring in full swing, April is a great month for adventures that make the most of mild temperatures and beat the summer crowds. Here at Backroads, we choose our April adventures to get the best of early-season Europe, autumnal South America and the dry season on equatorial islands.