Let's see. How a spa treatment feels after a glorious ride past idyllic beaches and citrus groves. How exquisite our evening meal tastes after a brisk climb up the California coast. Let's enjoy the best of biking with the best of everything. The American Riviera. A foodie's paradise. Luxury Hotels. And sunsets that just don't quit. Let's, shall we?
Days 1-2 Cruise on a scenic bike path, enjoying sun, surf and pristine Santa Barbara beaches | Pedal through historic Hope Ranch | Bike around the wetlands at Andrée Clark Bird Refuge | Head to the hills and spin above the red-tiled roofs of Santa Barbara | For even more inspiring vistas, take on Gibraltar, a challenging route that’s popular among local riders | Visit Old Mission Santa Barbara and its meticulously manicured grounds | Soak up the scene in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, filled with galleries, surf shops, a distillery and brewery, and some of the region’s best wine-tasting rooms.
Day 3 Discover the oasis of Ojai, a flower-filled city brimming with small-town charm | Orange groves, nurseries and sprawling ranches line our route through Toro Canyon up into the Santa Ynez Mountains | Enjoy a signature Backroads picnic followed by a tasting at a local winery | At our elegant resort, go for a swim or indulge in a famous Ojai spa treatment.
Days 4-5 Behold the Topatopa Bluffs at sunset | Stroll through Ojai’s art galleries and browse its outdoor bookstore | Visit Ojai Vineyards to sample their vintages | Climb from Ojai into the desert-like scenery of the San Rafael Mountains | Explore the village of Ojai and dine on seasonal cuisine under a vine-covered pergola | Savor the sweet smell of citrus as you pedal along the back roads of Ojai past groves of Pixie tangerines.
Perfect.Especially liked having the bikes for the day to explore in both downtowns: Ojai and Sanata Barbarba.Decents down Maricopa Highway and Gibralter were breathtakingly beautiful (and a bit chilly--put an extra layer in your day bag those days). The climbs were also a highlight.Thank you.- Winston-Salem, NC
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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From its secluded vantage point high in the hills, this meticulously restored hotel offers understated elegance and glamor in seven acres of enchanting gardens. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
Where Hollywood's glitterati come to be pampered! This stylish and historic resort offers something for everybody—including a luxurious spa and award-winning restaurant—in a beautiful park-like setting with hillside views in every direction. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 6 reviews)
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100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 6 customers
Displaying reviews 1-6
Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
Perfect.
Especially liked having the bikes for the day to explore in both downtowns: Ojai and Sanata Barbarba.
Decents down Maricopa Highway and Gibralter were breathtakingly beautiful (and a bit chilly--put an extra layer in your day bag those days). The climbs were also a highlight.
Thank you.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Steve
Santa Barbara and the Pacific from Montecito Hills
Images shared by Steve
Channel Islands from Hope Ranch
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Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
The trip was everything we hoped it would be, and more. We were taken care of from start to finish - from the accommodations, meals, itinerary...but most valuable to our enjoyment was the capability, sociability, intelligence and obvious enthusiasm of Jessie, Reika, and Liz.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Cathy and Sam
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Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
Great trip! Wonderful to bike; smell the surf; eat; sample wine, pixie oranges and olive oil; and meet new friends!!
Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
1st class everything and the trip leaders were all fabulous. Exceeded expectations!
Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
Keep doing what you're doing with the experience, equipment, places and most of all, with the people. Hard to beat the weather in this part of CA. The trip support was top notch and very, very helpful to me in dealing with my unexpected prescription needs. And, they were great in dealing with their unexpected when the bike I was using broke while they were adjusting it. They seemed genuinely devastated, but they quickly rallied. Although the did not get me a replacement with electric shifters (which I had not expected in the first place), they did get me an excellent carbon fiber bike with disk brakes (who knew?) which was very helpful on the mountain climb that day. I lost no biking time. Nicely done Backroads!
Comments about Santa Barbara & Ojai Valley Bike Tour:
I loved this trip! The scenery, hotels and food were all terrific, and I felt pampered every night. The riding was a high point for me ~ exploring the chic neighborhoods of Montecito (hoping to spot Oprah's house), riding along the ocean, and especially the two longer climbs up into the mountains, with the beautiful Rose Valley Route to the summit of Pine Mountain being the best, at a gentle grade the whole way up! The hotel pools were a nice treat after a day of riding, and there was always a delicious dinner to look forward to after that. I would actually consider doing this trip again, I liked it so much!
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Images shared by Claire C.
Images shared by Claire C.
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Displaying reviews 1-6
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind—you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
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| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 13* | 500 | 18 | 1000 | 27 | 2000 | ||||
| 2 | 21 | 1500 | 26 | 2300 | 34 | 4100 | ||||
| 3 | 19* | 450 | 29* | 1100 | 49 | 2100 | 59 | 2900 | ||
| 4 | 10* | 200 | 25* | 2000 | 34 | 3300 | ||||
| 5 | 12 | 800 | ||||||||
Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
In designing this unique trip that winds inland from Santa Barbara to the beautiful Ojai Valley, we wanted guests to enjoy truly luxurious hotels. So we chose a pair ranked among the World’s Best by Travel + Leisure. We spend two nights at the secluded Belmond El Encanto where glamour and laidback style infuse acres of landscaped gardens, an expansive outdoor swimming pool and a beautiful boutique spa. And we spend the other two nights at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, a stylish hillside resort offering stunning views in every direction.
In Santa Barbara and Ojai you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
On our Santa Barbara and Ojai trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Choose a Backroads Custom Titanium or Custom Electric Assist bike—both are included in your trip price. Maybe a Specialized carbon-fiber pro model is more your speed or go for double fun on a tandem. Our fleet is the best in active travel, so you don't have to roll the dice on this vital trip component. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders. See the bike options for this trip.
Your ride comes equipped with a Garmin Edge Explore 1000, the best bike-touring GPS device on the market. This is a Backroads exclusive, and it's included with your bike in Santa Barbara and Ojai. If you prefer to bring your own device, we also have downloadable GPS files and of course, our good old paper directions are always available. Read more on why our navigation options are the best.
We design and support our Santa Barbara and Ojai trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Backroads is the only active travel company providing two support vans in Santa Barbara and Ojai—because we know it's essential to ensure a truly great travel experience. It doubles our ability to be there when you need us to offer hydration, lighten your load or give you a lift if it's time to take a break. Read more on why two vans make all the difference.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Santa Barbara and Ojai, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 8 or more. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
