Stories

The Azores are defined by their connection to the ocean. For travelers, that often means kayaking on quiet bays or spotting whales offshore. For locals, daily life is shaped by their historic seafaring ties. With that connection comes a responsibility for stewardship, and one local nonprofit is leading the way.

I’ve been leading trips in Iceland since my first year with Backroads in 2019, and I’ve returned every summer since. It’s one of those places that’s relatively close—but feels like another planet. Raw, untouched landscapes. Glacier-fed rivers. Clean air. You feel the elements in your bones—whether you’re hiking across black sand or standing beside an active volcano. Iceland is one of the few places left where nature is still fully in charge. That intensity is what keeps pulling me back.

Marikarmen, a 73-year-old Basque woman, is the only fisherwoman in the area and is in love with the ocean. During our Basque Country Multi-Adventure trip, we are lucky enough to visit Marikarmen, her house and her little town, Elorriaga, hidden in the heart of one of the most unique and mysterious regions of the world. She is one of just 25 people who live in this town, and her house sits on top of one of the most beautiful beach and rock formations of Spain, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On a remote stretch of Nova Scotia’s South Shore, where the roads are unpaved and the ocean breeze carries stories from generations past, sits Big Tancook Island, a place that has welcomed Backroads guests for over a decade. With just 150 year-round residents, this close-knit community has long been a highlight of our Nova Scotia trips, offering a rare and genuine cultural connection shaped by local traditions, homemade lobster lunches and the unforgettable "kissing the lobster" ceremony.

This is the story of Robin Schoenthaler—a journey of profound loss, resilience and the unexpected ways travel can help us heal. After the heartbreaking loss of her infant son, Robin’s Backroads trip to Thailand became a turning point in her path toward hope. We’re deeply honored to share her story.

When my partner Brian and I moved from Boston to Cape Town, we were excited for a new adventure, but sad to be so far away from the people we love. Living an ocean and hemisphere away from my parents is not always easy, but through Backroads we’ve been able to keep our connection strong by meeting up for epic trips. Since we all have overloaded schedules, having someone else handle the logistics helps us get the most out of our limited time together.

Backroads first introduced Cuba People-to-People tours in 2013. These tours follow an itinerary licensed by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under a category called “Support for the Cuban People.” The Support for the Cuban People license allows us to travel in Cuba with a planned schedule of meaningful interactions with Cubans.

In my family, our vacations look a little different. Through my childhood and into adulthood, our family get-togethers consisted of biking through the Spanish Pyrenees, across the Croatia/Montenegro border, or hopscotching the mythical Greek isles. By the age of 22, I had been on five Backroads trips all around the world. Each adventure provided me with a challenge and memories I hold with me today. As I reflect on the formative years of my life, at every adolescent milestone, a Backroads trip has been there.

As a CEO, I’m used to leading. I’m used to planning the route, setting the pace and carrying the weight of decisions. But when I travel with Backroads, I get to set all of that down—and it’s one of the healthiest, most soul-refreshing choices I make all year. This spring, I had the joy of taking my sixth Backroads trip: a six-day hiking adventure in Peru, including unforgettable hikes along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Llamas followed us along winding mountain paths, ancient ruins rose around us and every step seemed to carry a deeper lesson—not just about travel, but about life, leadership and creativity.

Guest Raman Pfaff on taking ten trips in one year.