Backroads

Backroads vacations tours are unlike anything else in luxury travel. Since 1979, Backroads has set the gold standard for active, immersive, and personal travel — taking discerning travelers around the globe on extraordinary adventures that combine:

• Exhilarating physical activity
• World-class cuisine
• Breathtaking scenery
• Genuine cultural connection

Every Backroads vacation is fully escorted by 3 to 4 expert trip leaders and supported by 1 to 2 dedicated support vans — so every guest travels at their own pace, in complete comfort and style.

What Makes Backroads Vacations Tours Extraordinary?

Deluxe Biking Tours

Explore the world’s most magnificent landscapes on two wheels:

• Rolling lavender fields of Provence
• Golden vineyard roads of Bordeaux
• Dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast
• Ancient temple paths of Kyoto

Every route is carefully designed to maximize scenery and minimize traffic — for every level of cyclist.

Walking & Hiking Tours

Discover breathtaking landscapes at the most rewarding pace — on foot:

• Gentle vineyard walks through the Loire Valley
• Coastal path hikes along Croatia’s Dalmatian coastline
• High-altitude treks through Peru’s Sacred Valley
• Dramatic Patagonian wilderness adventures

Multi-Adventure Tours

For travelers who want it all — Backroads multi-adventure tours combine:

• Biking
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Swimming

A completely different perspective on every destination — every single day.

Family Vacations

Backroads family tours create genuine shared adventures for all ages:

• Age-appropriate activities for every family member
• Exceptional family-friendly accommodations
• Authentic cultural experiences that bring families closer together
• Extraordinary destinations that create lifelong memories

Active River & Ocean Cruising

One of Backroads’ most unique offerings — combining:

• The elegance of luxury river cruises
• Guided cycling and hiking excursions at every port
• A seamlessly integrated active luxury cruise experience

Culinary Tours

For travelers who love both active exploration and extraordinary food and wine:

• Cycling through Bordeaux vineyards with private estate tastings
• Walking through Tuscan truffle country with farm-to-table lunches
• Hiking through Provence lavender fields with authentic French market visits

Active Safaris

Backroads active safaris redefine the traditional Africa experience:

• Big Five game drives
• Guided bush walks
• Cycling through wildlife corridors
• Kayaking on Africa’s most spectacular waterways

Weekend Getaways

For travelers with limited time but unlimited appetite for adventure:

• Extraordinary active travel experiences close to home
• Perfectly designed for spontaneous exploration
• Full Backroads experience in a shorter format

Active Snow Adventures

Explore the world’s most spectacular winter landscapes:

• Cross-country skiing in the Canadian Rockies
• Snowshoeing in the Swiss Alps
• Winter hiking through Iceland’s geothermal wilderness

Dolce Tempo — Backroads Vacations for Every Pace

Not ready for intense activity? Dolce Tempo trips are perfect for you.

Dolce Tempo Backroads tours offer:

• Relaxed e-biking and gentle walking
• Unhurried multi-adventure itineraries
• A slower, more savored pace of exploration
• All the hallmarks of the classic Backroads experience:
  
  • Expert trip leaders
  • World-class accommodations
  • Extraordinary cuisine
  • Deeply immersive cultural encounters

Backroads Responsible Travel

Backroads has taken responsible travel seriously since 1979. Traveling on two feet or two wheels is the ultimate minimal-impact way to explore the world.

Backroads is committed to:

• Supporting local guides, restaurants, and accommodations in every destination
• Minimizing carbon footprints through active travel
• Partnering with conservation organizations worldwide
• Ensuring every journey leaves a genuinely positive impact

Combining Backroads Tours With Luxury Travel Experiences

At Tasteful Voyages, Joan Qualls specializes in seamlessly combining Backroads vacations tours with the world’s finest luxury cruises and river journeys.

Backroads + Luxury Bordeaux River Cruise

Cycle through Bordeaux wine country on a Backroads biking tour — then connect seamlessly with the best Bordeaux river cruise aboard Riverside Luxury Cruises for the most complete French wine country experience available.

Backroads + Belmond Trains Europe

Backroads tours through Provence, Tuscany, or the Loire Valley pair magnificently with Belmond Trains Europe — combining active cycling with the golden-age romance of luxury train travel.

Backroads + South America Luxury Tours

Backroads tours through Peru’s Sacred Valley, Patagonia, and Argentina’s wine country connect beautifully with South America luxury tours — creating complete continent-spanning adventures.

Backroads + Luxury Iceland Cruises

Backroads Iceland hiking and cycling adventures pair perfectly with luxury Iceland cruises aboard Silversea — combining active volcanic landscape exploration with extraordinary Arctic luxury cruising.

Backroads + Riverside Luxury Cruises

Backroads cycling and walking tours through Europe’s most spectacular river valleys connect seamlessly with riverside luxury cruises — creating multi-layered luxury travel experiences across Europe’s finest destinations.

Why Book Backroads Tours Through Tasteful Voyages?

At Tasteful Voyages, Joan Qualls is a trusted Virtuoso luxury travel advisor with deep personal knowledge of every Backroads vacations tour itinerary.

When you book through Tasteful Voyages, you receive:

• Expert personal guidance from a dedicated Virtuoso luxury travel specialist
• Access to the finest Backroads tour itineraries and most sought-after departures
• Seamlessly curated connections to luxury river cruises, Belmond Trains, and South America tours
• Fully personalized luxury travel itineraries combining Backroads with the world’s finest travel experiences
• Dedicated personal support from your first consultation to your return home

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of tours does Backroads offer?

Backroads offers nine extraordinary active travel experiences:

• Deluxe biking tours
• Walking and hiking tours
• Multi-adventure tours
• Family vacations
• Active river and ocean cruising
• Culinary tours
• Active safaris
• Weekend getaways
• Active snow adventures

What is a Dolce Tempo Backroads tour?

Dolce Tempo tours are Backroads’ easygoing active travel option — featuring relaxed e-biking, gentle walking, and unhurried multi-adventure itineraries designed for travelers who prefer a slower, more savored pace of exploration.

Is Backroads suitable for families?

Absolutely. Backroads family tours are specifically designed for travelers of all ages — combining age-appropriate activities, exceptional family-friendly accommodations, and authentic cultural experiences that create genuine shared adventures and lifelong memories.

Can I combine a Backroads tour with a luxury cruise?

Yes — and Tasteful Voyages specializes in exactly this. Joan Qualls can seamlessly combine your Backroads vacation tour with the world’s finest luxury river cruises, Bordeaux river cruises, Belmond Trains Europe journeys, and South America luxury tours for a complete and deeply immersive travel experience.

Begin Your Backroads Vacation Tour Today

Backroads vacations tours represent active travel at its most extraordinary — delivering deluxe biking, walking, hiking, and multi-adventure experiences with expert guidance, world-class accommodations, and deeply personal service.

Whether you dream of:

• Cycling through Bordeaux wine country
• Hiking through Patagonia’s breathtaking wilderness
• Paddling through Croatia’s crystal-clear Adriatic waters
• Combining a Backroads tour with a luxury Bordeaux river cruise

Joan Qualls at Tasteful Voyages will design every extraordinary detail to perfection.

Contact Tasteful Voyages Today and let your most extraordinary Backroads vacation tour begin.