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Biking the Canary Islands
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New Destinations for 2027
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Trips for Solo Travelers
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Follow the Leaders: Their Top Trip Picks for 2026
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Turning Values into Action: The Give Back Field Project Program Year in Review
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Welcome to The BackBeat!

Welcome to The BackBeat. Looking for pro tips and a peek behind the scenes on trips around the world? Tips and tales from the road and trail? Inspiration for your next epic adventure? Find it all on The BackBeat.

Introducing the Backroads Touring Bike
June 29, 2020

Video: Meet the Backroads Hybrid Bike

Check out our video to get reacquainted with a tried-and-true classic, the Backroads titanium Touring Bike.

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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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Tom Hale Bike Tour in France
April 30, 2020

From Tom Hale: How We're Preparing for a New Year of Travel

While the world has been transformed in big ways, I can confidently say that when this is all said and done, the essence of a Backroads trip will remain unchanged. I say this because, without quite realizing it, we’ve spent the past 40 years crafting our own style of active travel that has now turne…

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Tom & Liz Hale
March 27, 2020

A Message from Tom Hale

There's no doubt about it—these are difficult times. As I write this, I'm at my home in the Bay Area with my wife Liz and the kids. Like everyone else in California and so many others worldwide, we are sheltering in place and learning to adapt to new realities that would have seemed hard to believe…

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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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tres
January 31, 2020

Six Tips to Improve Your Adventure Travel Photography

People often ask us for advice on how to improve their chances of winning our annual photo contest. Read on for some tips to improve your travel photography and come up with some prized photos!

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Tom Hale with Backroads in India
January 21, 2020

Tom Hale: My Year with Backroads

As the founder and owner of Backroads, people often expect me to have some special insight into how our trips run. It's true that I was a Trip Leader in the earliest days of Backroads, but nowadays I'm busy running the company from Berkeley and every chance I get to visit the field is precious. Ah,…

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Hahnenkamm Ski Course
January 17, 2020

Hahnenkamm Streif - Austria's Epic Ski Race

Imagine blasting down an icy slope, blinded by fog and flat light, nothing protecting you besides a helmet, goggles, and a spandex speed suit. Enter Hahnenkamm Streif: the world’s most demanding and dangerous downhill course.

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Castle ruins in scotland
January 7, 2020

Scotland : Land of Music, Myth and Whisky

As a former Glasgow bartender, I’ve spent most of my working life writing lists of “cool Scottish stuff” on napkins for passing tourists. I couldn’t be more excited to give you some bona fide inside knowledge that will bring your Caledonian adventure to life!

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Dogsled Race in Alaska
January 7, 2020

Alaska's Iditarod: "The Last Great Race"

The Iditarod is one of the most epic dogsledding races in the world, but outside of Alaska, few even know what it is. How long is it? Why is it known as "the last great race"? And do they really race with dogs? As a man who has mushed a few teams myself, I like to start with a brief history, dispel…

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