WHAT'S NEW IN 2009
Resting - on our laurels or otherwise - isn't something that comes easy to us here at Backroads. Our trip planners are passionate about finding new destinations for you to explore, and we think our 2009 lineup showcases our finest offerings to date. We've uncovered hidden gems ripe for biking and hiking and put new twists on some old favorites.
A New Way to Travel!
In 2008, we introduced Insider Trips - a whole new way of traveling with Backroads that leaves the biking jerseys and hiking boots at home. On an Insider Trip you experience the essence of a place in even more depth with less focus on physical activity. Enriched by our network of local experts and welcoming friends, Insider Trips highlight inspiring travel experiences you couldn't orchestrate on your own. New in 2009 is an Insider Trip through Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks where geysers erupt with plumes of steam and wildlife appears around every bend. We invite you to explore this dramatic landscape with days spent exploring alpine meadows carpeted with mountain bluebells and Indian paintbrush. Then, recount the journey in the warmth and comfort of grand lodges.
New Biking Trips
Ride through the majestic northwest corner of India on an epic ten-day biking journey into one of the world's most spectacular regions. The route from princely Jodhpur through the heart of the Thar Desert to regal Udaipur is perfectly suited to fantastic rides on two wheels and the more traditional transport mode, on the backs of camels!- Coveted by France and Germany for centuries, Alsace is a compelling blend of these two cultures - a region sure to capture your imagination and heart during our biking adventure. Discover medieval towns whose feudal ruins tell of battles won and lost. Pedal along the famed Route du Vin as it hugs the misty foothills of the Vosges mountains and links a string of idyllic wine villages.
- For an epic Rocky Mountain experience, bike with Backroads in Glacier & the Canadian Rockies, passing through five national parks - Glacier, Waterton, Kananaskis, Banff and Jasper. See for yourself why Montana is called "Big Sky Country", ride along Glacier's Going-to-the-Sun Road and bike the spectacular Icefields Parkway.
- Suspended between Africa and Europe in the Mediterranean's cobalt waters, the enchanting islands of Sardinia & Corsica are the setting for our new eight-day biking odyssey. Sardinia exudes a unique and magical essence of Italy and the Mediterranean, while Corsica blends the flavors of Italy, France and Spain in one of the world's most breathtaking locations.
- Take some of North America's most beautiful scenery, add in four days of glorious - and challenging - biking, sprinkle in historical sites and friendly folks, and you've got the perfect active getaway in Colorado.
New Walking Trips
Delve into two different captivating regions of Italy during this one-of-a-kind walking trip through Cinque Terre & Tuscany. Savor unsurpassed coastal views as you hike amid the gardens, cacti and lemon trees of the Cinque Terre. Then head to the famed wine region of Chianti, a landscape adored for its archetypal hilltop villages, vineyards and cypress-flanked lanes.
*Backroads guarantees the departure of every trip with confirmed guests, excepting only in cases of force majeure, and special departures as indicated on our Web site, in which case all payments received to date will be refunded, which constitutes full settlement.