Experiences

When we launched our new Women’s Adventures at Backroads, we figured there’d be interest. We had high expectations the first few departures would fill, but we didn’t expect just how fast it would all take off. Within weeks, the response came pouring in—and just like that, we were working overtime to keep up. I’ll be honest, I was surprised at first. But when I really sit with it, maybe I shouldn’t have been.

Adventure travel isn’t always about peak performance or picture-perfect moments—it’s about pushing boundaries, embracing discomfort and discovering strength

When traveling with Backroads, be ready to find yourself in the right place at the right time. Imagine hiking on a sunny day at 6,500 feet of elevation in the Swiss Alps. It’s the second day of a Women’s Adventure trip. After conquering some steep hills in the morning, we have lunch by a lake in Switzerland before crossing the invisible country border back into France. We see the Chamonix Valley in the distance where our beautiful hotel waits for us in the middle of town. We are ready to come down, after a day well spent outdoors.

In a country as magnificent as France, where class and style are as prevalent as the grapes in the endless vineyards, selecting our favorite Backroads hotels is a nearly impossible task. But we’ve done our best! Here are seven exceptional properties visited on Backroads trips in this remarkable country. To stay at any of these incredible accommodations is to immediately recognize that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. Whether enjoying a Michelin-starred meal, vistas of imposing mountain peaks or the scent of immaculate gardens, each of these hotels promises a complete sensory tableau.

We all remember our teenage years—some of us more vividly than others. Looking back, I remember I was both unsure of who I was and convinced I knew everything.

They say that the memory of tastes and smells is the strongest and longest-lasting of them all. Well, if I had to describe what my childhood tasted and smelled like, I would say olive oil and warm bread.

Did you know that 63% of travelers are women? What about the fact that 85% of solo travelers are female? We here at Backroads are celebrating the women traveling around the world with our brand-new collection of Women’s Adventures!

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.

If you've ever thought a bike tour was just for athletes, or that a walking tour may be too challenging, think again! Our Dolce Tempo trips are a more easygoing version of some of our best-selling active adventures, created for guests looking for a mellower pace and the company of other travelers who also like to savor the journey. These thoughtfully crafted itineraries allow for ultimate flexibility—whether that’s enjoying hand-picked routes over gentle trails, cruising on an e-bike, relaxing spa treatment at the hotel or anything in between.

From the infectious rhythms of Cuba’s iconic salsa music to the down-home pluckiness of Bluegrass by-the-fire in Kentucky, the live music on the trips below strikes just the right chord.