Backroads: Small-Group, Big Smiles, and the Joy of Moving Through a Place

If you’ve ever paged through a Backroads brochure and thought, “How could one brand possibly cover this much of the world?”—you’re not wrong. Backroads runs thousands of departures across all seven continents, with trips in 55+ countries and styles that match how you like to move: biking, walking & hiking, or multi-adventure (the “why choose?” of active travel). And yes, e-bikes are common and confidence boosting on many biking days.

What we love about Backroads is the fit. They’re masters at pairing you with like-minded companions and the right level of activity. Traveling as a couple or with friends? Opt for the Classic Journeys. Want the deep camaraderie that can come from trail talk and shared miles? Look at Women’s Adventures, perfect for pilgrim spirit routes like Spain and Portugal’s Camino or big sky places like Bhutan. Traveling with kids or grown kids? Their Family Adventures are cleverly grouped by age so your teens (or twenty-somethings) find peers and you find your pace.

Backroads isn’t just bikes anymore. Snowshoe the Dolomites in winter, paddle a glacial lake in Lapland under dancing auroras, or thread the medieval lanes of Basque Country between pinxtos bars, then hop on a support van if you’d rather toast the evening than crush another climb. Lodging flexes to your style, too: choose casual boutique stays that feel local and unfussy, or go full-on premier with properties from the Relais & Châteaux/Auberge/Belmond crowd. Either way, it’s about waking up somewhere wonderful and getting back out there.

A few insider angles to consider:

• Dolce Tempo = easygoing joy. If you like the idea of active travel but not the lung-busting bits, Backroads’ easygoing “Dolce Tempo” trips keep distances gentler (often with e-bikes available) so the focus stays on scenery, stories, and a great glass of wine at day’s end.

• Women’s Adventures that go deep. Some trips just sing in a women only format. Think meaningful Camino days that somehow turn strangers into trail sisters.

• Bring the whole crew. Multi-adventure itineraries in places like Croatia are catnip for families: kayaking the walls of Dubrovnik, e-biking on Hvar, and a parent sneaking in a dawn “big ride” with a guide before regrouping for gelato.

• River & ocean pairings. Backroads charters or partially charters select river ships (notably with AmaWaterways) and collaborates with ocean lines on certain sailings, so you can unpack once and ride daily with Backroads leaders, bikes, and support.

• Privatize it. Traveling as a club of ten? Ask about buying out a date so your “chosen family” gets the trip, the guides, and the stories all to yourselves.

Finally, a reminder from the travel agency corner: booking a Backroads trip with Pique costs the same as booking direct.  Best of all Backroads is a preferred partner, so we can add extra value such as handling the “how do I get to that tiny village to start my trip?” puzzle before you’re wheels-up.  As well as share unbiased advice comparing other active tours hosted by Butterfield & Robinson and Duvine.