Backroads

Back-Roads Quick Facts

Age Range: 50+

Average Tour Price:  $2,000-$4,000

Average Tour Duration: 8-13 days

Group size: Small groups for immersive experiences

Travel Style: Focused on cultural immersion and sightseeing

Back-Roads Touring, rebranded as Blue-Roads in November 2018 for the North American market. They are dedicated to providing off the beaten path experiences for true cultural immersion.

What Makes Back-Roads (Blue-Roads) Stand Out?

• Slow travel
• Small group tours
• Expert guides

Blue-Roads strives to provide meaningful experiences that go deeper than the typical tourist routes to the heart of the destination. Travelers can expect to take their trip at their own pace so they can really see and experience all the destination has to offer. You’ll truly get the opportunity to talk with locals, taste traditional food and see the culture from an immersed point of view.

Group sizes stay small, no more than 18 travelers. These smaller groups allow for travelers to go on the paths less taken and have truly authentic experiences. Each group is led by a guide who has extensive local knowledge and connections. Touring with them is like visiting a good friend who can’t wait to show you the best hidden gems and introduce you to their culture and history.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With Back-Roads?

• Cultural enthusiasts
• Sightseers
• History buffs
• Ages 50+

Back-Roads travelers are passionate about experiencing new and exciting cultures while they travel. These travelers want to feed their curiosity of a destination by going to places less traveled, talking with locals and trying new things. Learn traditions of the local people, hear stories, learn recipes and make lifelong memories.

Traveling with Back-Roads includes a lot of sightseeing. Travelers who enjoy seeing temples, historical buildings as well as iconic natural landmarks. You don’t mind riding in a car to get to each new destination because sightseeing and learning insider knowledge is what you love to do.

The age range often skews a bit older - catering to active and adventurous 50+ travelers eager for a relaxing yet invigorating trip. However travelers anywhere from the mid 30s and above will enjoy traveling with them. Especially if you’re the type of traveler for whom the more party-focused companies that serve the 18-30 range are not appealing.

Top Destinations

Back-Roads offers itineraries around the world, though they are especially well known for UK and Europe travel. You can find trips throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe - including the Nordic and Baltic countries. They also provide Asia tours, primarily in the southeast to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Back-Roads Travel Style

Tours take the form of small groups, and the activities range from easy walks or hikes to visits to cultural and historical sites. They offer a few broad themes, such as battlefield tours, culinary tours, sailing tours, history tours, and nature tours. 

Accommodations with Back-Roads are handpicked and generally in local and traditional hotels or guest houses. These usually have stairs, and are sometimes old buildings - you may encounter funky showers and not have the luxury of an elevator. They advise that you should be able to carry your luggage up and down flights of stairs. 

Back-Roads is perfect for you if you don’t mind forgoing a few luxuries if it means having more character and local charm to your accommodations.

When commuting from place to place, travelers have multiple options. They can travel in their own vehicle or ride in a Back-Road’s luxury mini-coach, yacht, barge, train, gulet boat or internal flight.

Why Back-Roads?

The small group tour experience is at its best with companies like Back-Roads. They provide top notch customer service and guides, dedicated to showing you the best of what a country has to offer. For travelers who want a chance to experience a new place through local eyes, as well as learn the history and enjoy good food and company - within a wide age range - Back-Roads is a great choice.