Commitment to travellers is brilliant!

The Backroads commitment to a personal level of service is apparent and so very appreciated. The genuine interest and execution of so many detailed extras made a significant difference in the experience. Backroads is truly a Small Giant.

Wow what an incredible trip! Backroads thought of everything and the staff were incredible. We had an unbelievable experience.

13 trips and still amazed!

This was my 13th trip with Backroads and it definitely exceeded my expectations, which is harder and harder to do!

Currently on a Portugal tour, at this moment on the Douro river cruise. Sad to say but truely don’t bother. Small little boat we are stuck inside no ventilation limited views and you can’t take pictures due to the closed dirty windows

ANZACs On The Western Front with Steve Western. We did this tour in 2018 and it was way beyond expectations. We visited every major battlefield and also experienced some spectacular accommodation along the way. Steve's knowledge is exceptional and he was very engaging, prepared to discuss and explain various aspects of the war for the ANZACs. The enormity of the challenges faced is well communicated and at various sites the grief at the appalling losses was very real. This tour is so good I intend doing it again once a couple of mates retire.

June 2024 Dalmation Coast tour of Croatia and Montenegro was excellent with an interesting and very comfortable range of accommodation and quality sites and experiences. Excellent tour leader, driver and comfortable bus. In contrast, the Eastern Europe tour a week later was very disappointing. No where near the quality of accommodation, meals and experiences eg no museums open during our one day in Krakow and no tour of the ghetto. Also totally inadequate legroom in bus, too much travelling and missed opportunities. Terrible organised meals. Excellent tour leader and driver. Suggest Backroads reassess this tour as our two experiences were nothing alike.

Backroads is a premium travel/adventure company. They provide structure but also promote making the journey your own. Guides highly trained and totally focused on making each person’s experience safe, fun and memorable. They seek out the best opportunities to play hard and rest well. Hands down the best tour company I have experienced.

I had a wonderful experience touring Italy, this July 2023, with Backroads. Our tour leader was exceptional in her knowledge of all things around us. Our driver did an amazing job under VERY difficult circumstances. Bravo Luciano. The accommodations were fantastic. The provided meals were delicious.(not to mention the wine tasting🍷 or the ‘two a day’ gelato rule🍦, so we won’t)😁 The scenery as we passed through was astounding, particularly Tuscany and then up into the northern mountains. Breathtaking. Thoroughly enjoyable. Roger.

ANZAC on the Western Front I highly recommend this tour for anyone who is interested in the history of WW1; whether a history buff or for those, like myself, who had a basic general knowledge. The information is presented with in-depth detail and immersive style by visiting and walking the battlefields. For me, this provided stark clarity of what transpired and has piqued a curiosity to learn more. Steve, our tour guide of many years experience in leading this tour and of studying the war, was very keen to share his encyclopaedic knowledge. The tour invited us to submit any personal requests and Steve went above and beyond to ensure these were met. It was incredibly moving to watch some of our tour members laying a poppy, a cross or even a cigarette at the grave of a fallen relative. It had a profound impact on myself when I walked on the Bullecourt battlefield where my Grandfather had fought and was wounded. After Steve explained so eloquently the futility and carnage of the battle I had a greater understanding of m age as he was then. There is so much ground to cover on this tour, so be prepared for full days. The accommodation provided an authentic experience. As you would expect the hotels used are older buildings, in-fact on our first night in Lille the hotel had been used by the troops in WW1. While the accommodation was a little quirky they were always very clean with friendly and helpful staff. I would like to thank Steve for bringing together such a diverse group with his humour and easygoing manner. And, I need to acknowledge, his endless patience. We all became a tight knit group, looking out for each other and at times being asked, jokingly, to tone it down at one of our pre-dinner drinks. I honestly don’t know how we had the energy, but obviously enjoyed each other’s company. An absolutely fabulous trip!

First Experience?

This was our first experience with Backroads and it was wonderful!! Your staff at the office and your group leaders are wonderful—you made it so easy to organize and plan all we needed. Truly a 5 star experience!

We have just come off a Back Roads Highlights of Britain Tour 2023! Our tour guide and bus driver were amazing! Shabby our guide absolutely created magic for the whole bus! Magnificent itinerary, incredible commentary from young Shabby with music included to pay homage to the districts we were in! 🎶genius! Talk about an experience of a lifetime! A small group means going to the places the big buses can’t and time to get to know your fellow adventurers! Loved this tour and Back Roads if you’re reading this you have struck gold with your guide Shabby! Highly recommended 👍

Norway Fjords & Glaciers was a terrible experience from start to finish. Driver & guide were definitely not local & neither were knowledgeable about the destination. Driver was erratic & too fast for such treacherous mountain roads. Guide was disorganised & unable to answer basic questions about Norwegian history. Dietary needs were not met and even accessing somewhere to eat was problematic. Accommodation was clean but basic & often very remote. Avoid this tour, Norway is far better experienced from the water.

I am a solo lady traveller living in London. On August 23rd I called Backroads in the U.S. to book a hiking holiday in Bryce and Capitol Ring National Park starting from St George on Sept 19. The person ( Bryan Gillies) was helpful and told me that he would try and accommodate me but was not sure if there was availability at hotels. The email he sent me #960849 also stated that the trip was not confirmed and it would be 5-7 days before they could confirm it. There was no word until Sept 7 ( a full 14 days after my call) when I received an email saying one of the hotels had declined so they could not accommodate me on the tour. The delay caused me to lose other possible tours I could have taken and is unacceptable. I wrote asking if I could be accommodated if I stayed in accommodation close by, but no reply. I had heard such good things about Backroads and was looking forward to the trip but this has been a disappointing experience! Vinati Sukhdev

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

We have solo capacity, however no single share.

What documents will I receive before I travel?

Upon final payments, we will distribute E-Documentation to all of our guests. Dont forget we also have our App to download as an added feature.

Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

Like-minded travellers awaiting the opportunity to explore the less explored regions. Interests in food, wine, history, art as well as wartimes there will be a great mix of people to connect with on tour.

What policies are in place for Covid-19?

We have our COVID Assurance Policy, Book now and relax knowing you are covered under our new COVID-19 Assurance Policy. At no additional cost to you, new bookings are now 100% refundable in the unfortunate event you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or unable to travel due to government-enforced lock downs prior to your scheduled departure date.

What level of mobility do I need?

You need to be fit enough to get on and off the vehicle on a regular basis, and to walk both to attractions and around towns and villages. You also need to be able to walk up and down stairs in the hotels and use a shower over the bath. We frequently use traditional style hotels and the majority will not have lifts or ground floor rooms.

Who goes on Back-Roads tours?

The majority of our guests come from Canada, the USA, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. All tour commentaries are in English. Our tours appeal to those looking for a more relaxing style of travel, and who enjoy culture, good food, meeting like-minded people and exploring destinations in depth.

What is the minimum age for any Back-Roads Touring trip?

The minimum age on all of our trips is 18 years.

Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

All Hotels in line with protocols following the World Health Organisation meet and exceed requirements for all Touring with us.

How long has the tour company been trading?

Back-Roads Touring has been operating from the UK for over 30 years.

What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

Inline with our booking flexibility policy, you are able to make as many changes as required up to 60 days from departue - with 1 last included up until 30 days out.

Can I join the tour once it has departed?

Generally no, but in extraordinary circumstances it can be looked at.