Backroads perfectly blends active travel with ease and adventure!

The Leader in Active Travel

Explore a captivating region under your own power and at your own tempo. From easygoing to avid, all activity levels are welcome – and fully supported! Your adventure. Your day. Your pace

Backroads CUBA Biking Tour
About Backroads

The World's #1 Active Travel Company

Backroads is the leader in active travel. Since 1979, we’ve been doing what we do best: taking people on unforgettable Biking, Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure Trips around the world. What sets us apart? Our thoughtful, meticulous trip design. Our elegant hotels and world-class dining. And our Trip Leaders, who are consistently described by our guests as the best guides they’ve ever had. Backroads sets the benchmark for incredible active vacations worldwide. Never subcontracted, in more than 50 countries and with more dates to choose from than any other company. That’s the Backroads standard.

Backroads Tours

The Joy of Exploring Actively

A Backroads trip has something for everyone—give us your definition of active and we’ll deliver. We set the standard for on-trip support; our leaders, vans and equipment give you the flexibility you’re looking for. From easygoing to avid—all activity levels are welcome.

  • Biking
  • Walking & Hiking
  • Multi-Adventure
  • Dolce Tempo (Easygoing by design)
  • Active Cruises
  • Active Safaris
  • Snow Adventures
  • Active Culinary

Journey on Two Wheels

The joy of exploring new landscapes under your own power, the moments of shared discovery and the satisfaction of celebrating it all with an icy gelato in the next piazza—all at your own pace, with no obligation to slow down or keep up with anyone else.

Savour Every Step

We’ve been exploring the world’s wild trails and ancient footpaths for over thirty years. Hitting the trail with your fellow travelers is exhilarating, immersive and simply fun—and the support of multiple leaders guarantees you can always go at your perfect pace.

The Best of All Worlds

Join us as we bike, hike, paddle and so much more on these active and culturally rich adventures, expertly planned to highlight the unique character of your destination. Experience a region from different angles, discovering exhilarating activities and immersing yourself in its culture and landscapes.
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking

Backroads Trips

Adventures Are Better Together

Over more than four decades, Backroads has built a community around their love of active travel. That’s why the trips are so special: because of the people you share them with. The group sizes are small enough to deliver the personalized support you need, and large enough to keep the conversations interesting. And with unique trip types thoughtfully tailored to different travelers, your adventure will feel like it was designed just for you—because it was.

Trips for Adults

Enjoy enormous flexibility on their small group trips. Discover the world and savor the fun-loving company of your fellow Backroads travelers with as much or as little camaraderie as you like.

  • Couples, Friends & Solos
  • Women’s Adventures
Backroads - Trips for Adults
Backroads Italy Tuscany by the Sea Biking

Trips for Families

Only Backroads offers different Family Trips specifically designed for three distinct age groups, so that kids and adults alike can enjoy the company of their peers.

  • Families with Teens & Kids
  • Families with Older Teens & 20s
  • Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond
Backroads Trips for Families

Your Private Group

Whether you’re traveling with friends, family or colleagues, Private Trips are a great way to see the world. You get the same amazing Backroads itineraries—continually refined and improved for four decades—enjoyed with traveling companions of your choosing. Book early for best availability.
Backroads Trips for Private Groups

Backroads and Sustainability

Sustainability is at the core of Backroads. Inherently, their mode of travel has always been more sustainable! They travel together in vans and adventure by foot and by bike. This lessens the footprint and allows for a sense of wonder and connection to the amazing regions and communities that are visited. They empower their Trip Leaders to educate guests on thoughtful plastics use on trip (e.g. water bottles, snack bags). The Field Operations teams seek creative regional solutions for reducing waste and plastics. These include: donating spare food to (food banks, field partners and vendors, etc); bulk buys to reduce packaging; recycling and donating bottles to local organizations. Their Field Houses maximize recycling and compost opportunities, as pertinent to the region. Additionally, they are reducing their reliance on paper print outs in their offices, among the Trip Leader community and with conveying information to guests. They have migrated to providing Wahoo GPS Navigation units for guests to use for route guidance.
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Guests can take part in sustainable actions by:

  • Bringing their own reusable snack bag, ideally one that can fit in a jersey pocket or Backroads-provided trunk bag. They also encourage reuse of Ziploc bags provided for snacks.
  • Bringing their own water bottle/s or hydration pack.
  • Of course, Backroads provides complementary BPA-free water bottles. They encourage guests to be thoughtful about labeling their bottle on trip, to reduce replacements. Start with one and take more based on personal hydration needs.
  • Use Backroads provided water bottle or glasses in the hotel room versus single-use bottles.
  • Consider hotel turn-down needs for towels and linens. Most hotels invite reducing water use/laundry services and share best practices for doing so.
  • Talk to your family about the sustainable practices they are invested in while traveling.
  • And, don’t forget, you already are taking part! Simply by exploring your environment by your own power. It’s as easy as that.
Ready for your next adventure?

You’re in good hands with The Very Best Leaders!

Backroads travelers get to experience having the best leaders in the world and have given them an overall 98% approval rating along with words of praise that are the envy of other active travel companies. See for yourself how this most carefully cultivated global workforce in the world of travel defines the quality of your trip experience.

Why book Backroads with our team

Your Gravitate Travel personal travel managers can not only help you with your booking but can provide you with our own personal perspective from our experiences with Backroads. All team members on this page have completed the Backroads Training and been on adventures with the Backroads team!

A picture is worth a thousand words, here is why we think you should choose a Backroads. Have a look at the amazing imagery and videos below

Backroads Antarctica Ocean Cruise Multi Adventure
Backroads ARGENTINA Patagonia Lake District Multi Adventure Tour
backroads Bhutan Walking & Hiking Tour
Backroads Costa Rica Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads CROATIA & MONTENEGRO Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads CROATIA Dalmation Coast Ocean Cruise Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Champagne & Alsace Family Older Teens & 20s Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Classic Provence Bike Tour
Backroads ECUADOR Galapagos, Andes & Amazon River Cruise Walking
Backroads FRANCE Burgundy Biking Tour
Backroads FRENCH, ITALIAN, & SWISS ALPS Walking
Backroads GENERIC Active Picnic Lunch Spread
Backroads GREECE Santorini & Crete Family 20sBeyond Multi-Adventure
Backroads ICELAND by Sea Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
Backroads ITALY Amalfi Coast Walking
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads ITALY Parma to Verona Biking Tour
Backroads ITALY Puglia to Basilicata Bike Tour
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Biking
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Family Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Bike Tour
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Walking Hiking Tour
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Mallorca & Menorca Bike Tour
Backroads SPAIN Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava Bike Tour
Backroads SPAIN Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava Bike Tour
Backroads USA Alaska Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA Arizona- Saguaro Tucson Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA California Palm Springs & Joshua Tree Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA -Hawaii - Big Island Multi-Adventure
Backroads USA -North & South Carolina -The Carolinas Biking Tour
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads USA --Wyoming Yellowstone & Tetons Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads Antarctica-Ocean Cruise Multi-Adventure
backroads AUSTRIA & CZECH REPUBLIC Biking Tour
backroads Bhutan Walking & Hiking Tour
Backroads CANADA Canadian Rockies Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads Costa Rica Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads CROATIA & MONTENEGRO Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads CROATIA Dalmation Coast Ocean Cruise Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Champagne & Alsace Family Older Teens & 20s Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Bordeaux & Dordogne Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Champagne & Alsace Bike Tour
Backroads FRENCH, ITALIAN, & SWISS ALPS Walking
Backroads GENERIC Active Picnic Lunch Spread
Backroads GREECE Santorini & Crete Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads ICELAND by Sea Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
Backroads ITALY Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads ITALY Parma to Verona Biking Tour
Backroads ITALY Sardinia & Corsica Family 20s Beyond Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Biking
Backroads JAPAN Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Bike Tour
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Ship
Backroads PORTUGAL Walking Hiking Tour
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Mallorca Biking
Backroads SPAIN Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava Bike Tour
Backroads Sweden to Denmark Family Biking Tour
Backroads USA Alaska Prince William Sound to Denali Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA California California Wine Country Bike Tour
Backroads USA California California Wine Country Bike Tour
Backroads USA California Santa Barbara to Ojai Bike Tour
Backroads USA-California Wine Country Bike Tour
Backroads USA -Hawaii - Big Island Multi-Adventure
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads Antarctica Ocean Cruise Multi Adventure
Backroads BHUTAN Multi Adventure Tour
Backroads CANADA Banff to Jasper Multi-Adventure
Backroads CANADA Canadian Rockies Heli-Hiking Tour
Backroads CROATIA & MONTENEGRO Croatia's Dalmatian Coast to Montenegro Family Multi Adventure
Backroads Croatia Biking Tour
Backroads Cuba Biking Tour
Backroads FRANCE Classic Provence Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Provence Biking
Backroads FRANCE Bordeaux & Dordogne Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Provence to the French Riviera Biking
Backroads FRENCH, ITALIAN, & SWISS ALPS Walking
Backroads GERMANY Berlin to Dresden Family Biking
Backroads GREECE Santorini & Crete Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads ICELAND Multi-Adventure
Backroads ITALY Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Hut to Hut Hiking
Backroads ITALY Parma to Verona Biking Tour
Backroads ITALY Sardinia & Corsica Multi Adventure Tour
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Biking
Backroads JAPAN Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Walking Hiking Tour
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Costa Brava to Spanish Pyrenees Walking
Backroads SPAIN Mallorca Biking
Backroads SPAIN Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava Bike Tour
Backroads SWITZERLAND Family OlderTeens20s Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA Arizona & Utah National Parks Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA California Santa Barbara to Ojai Bike Tour
Backroads USA Georgia & North Carolina- Charleston & Savannah Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA -Hawaii - Big Island Multi-Adventure
Backroads USA -Hawaii - Big Island Multi-Adventure
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion Biking
Backroads ARGENTINA Patagonia Lake District Multi Adventure Tour
backroads Bhutan Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads CANADA Canadian Rockies Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads COSTA RICA -Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads CROATIA & MONTENEGRO Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads CUBA Family Multi-Adventure
Backroads FRANCE Classic Provence Bike Tour
Backroads FRANCE Provence to the French Riviera Biking
Backroads FRANCE Bordeaux & Dordogne Bike Tour
Backroads FRENCH, ITALIAN, & SWISS ALPS Walking
Backroads FRENCH, ITALIAN, & SWISS ALPS Walking
Backroads GERMANY Berlin to Dresden Family Biking
Backroads ICELAND by Sea Ocean Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
Backroads Slovenia & Italy Biking
Backroads ITALY Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Family Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads Italy Dolomites Hut to Hut Hiking
Backroads ITALY Puglia to Basilicata Bike Tour
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Biking
Backroads ITALY Tuscany by the Sea Biking
Backroads JAPAN Walking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Biking
Backroads PORTUGAL Douro River Cruise Ship
Backroads SOUTH AFRICA & BOTSWANA Active Family Safari
Backroads SPAIN Basque Country Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads SPAIN Mallorca & Menorca Bike Tour
Backroads SPAIN Southern Spain's Andalucía Bike Tour
Backroads SPAIN Spanish Pyrenees to Costa Brava Bike Tour
Backroads SWITZERLAND Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA Arizona- Saguaro Tucson Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA California California Wine Country Bike Tour
Backroads USA California- Palm Springs & Joshua Tree Multi-Adventure Tour
Backroads USA -Hawaii - Big Island Multi-Adventure
Backroads USA -Maine Acadia Bike Tour
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Grand Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads USA Utah & Arizona-- Bryce, Zion & Snow Canyon Family Multi Adventure
Backroads VIETNAM & CAMBODIA -Vietnam & Cambodia Biking Tour

Discover your next adventure with Backroads.

Venture out and be bold. There’s nothing better than a Backroads experience.

We’re here to help you plan your next adventure with Backroads. Click on this link to access our easy booking tool online to schedule a time with one of our dedicated Backroads travel professionals.