Experiences

Discover the world your way—powered by you. Savor fresh olive oil in Chianti. Tap your toe to bluegrass in Kentucky. Embark on a multi-country adventure with your kids, creating memories that last a lifetime. Travel is about so much more than the destination.

Two women with walking poles on top of a grassy hill
March 26, 2025

Why Women Are Choosing Active Travel

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!

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Indian curry
February 7, 2025

What Is Curry and Where Did it Come From?

If you've spent any time traveling internationally you've undoubtedly encountered some form of curry on menus and local tables in just about any region of the world, and especially in South Asia. So what exactly is curry, and why does it seem to be everywhere? With a little bit of knowledge about this delicious culinary tradition, your traveling adventures (and your palate!) will be enriched as you learn to appreciate all that curry has to offer. I'm here to help you out!

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Domaine Hauts de Loire
January 29, 2025

Seven Must-Stay Backroads Hotels in France

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.

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Three bikers on an empty road, surrounded by grass
January 3, 2025

Four Reasons to Take a Dolce Tempo Trip

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.

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Group of women hiking up a dirt trail, with grassy mountains in the distance
October 16, 2024

The Five Best Places to Vacation If You Have Teens

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.

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Backroads guests riding through green fields
October 16, 2024

The Ten Best Vacation Tours in the US

If you’re staying within the United States, there’s no shortage of amazing destinations to discover. With so much natural beauty across the country, adventure is closer than you might think. Here are our top ten vacation tours in the US.

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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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Woman playing a traditional instrument while wearing a traditional outfit
March 21, 2023

The Best Trips for Music Fans

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. 

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Tom Hale - President of Backroads Travel
May 28, 2020

A Message from Tom Hale: Inspiration in the Outdoors

When I first decided more than 40 years ago that I was going to start an active travel company leading bike tours around the country, a lot of people thought I was crazy. But I knew that something special happens when you combine physical activity with exploring new and inspiring places.

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Backroads Hiking Trips in Iceland
February 6, 2020

Why "Journey" Should Be Your Word of the Year

According to U.S. News & World Report, about 80% of New Year's resolutioners will lose their resolve by mid-February.

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