Our Commitment to Responsible Travel
Backroads has been taking responsible travel seriously since our first trip in 1979. After all, traveling on two feet or two wheels is the ultimate minimal-impact approach to travel. But we also recognize that any travel – even active travel – has an impact, so we’re dedicated to building programs that create positive change for our communities and for our planet. In our efforts to promote responsible travel, we’ll strive to minimize our footprint, maximize our impact and move with integrity while maintaining the highest quality experience for our guests.
Our Give Back Program
Since Backroads was founded in 1979, we've supported the communities where we travel and the communities where we live by contributing donations to local nonprofits, investing in community-led tourism and activating our people through volunteerism.
Our Donations
We’ve dedicated resources to support nonprofits and projects in our communities.
World Bicycle Relief
We are delighted to support World Bicycle Relief's mission of improving rural access worldwide to education, healthcare and livelihoods. Through the power of bicycles, WBR supports communities to conquer the challenge of distance, achieve independence and thrive. Our commitment over the years to WBR has helped provide thousands of Buffalo Bicycles to those in need across multiple regions in Africa and in Colombia. Since 2021, our international Backroads community has rallied around WBR's annual Pedal to Empower campaign, raising awareness and funds by hosting group rides and by sharing WBR's mission with guests. In June 2024, we tracked over 40,000 kilometers and raised over $26,000 for WBR.
Trust for Public Land
We are thrilled to be supporting Trust for Public Land (TPL), who is on a mission to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. Like TPL, Backroads believes that access to the outdoors is a fundamental human need and essential to our well-being. TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most, and where they can be enjoyed by everyone for generations to come. Expanding local and national parks, building greener schoolyards, creating trail systems and protecting community forests and cultural sites is just part of TPL’s important work. We’re proud that TPL supports Backroads’ commitment to preserve hiking and walking trails and are committed to helping TPL further their mission across the country.
Adventure Travel Conservation Fund
We’re a founding member of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and support their mission to protect threatened communities, cultures and wild places to preserve their cultural and recreational integrity. ATCF believes in the power of travel to protect and conserve, and that all travelers and the global travel community can become stewards for the planet.
Trips for a Cause
We're able to contribute to a great number of worthwhile causes by supporting community groups in their fundraising efforts. In previous years, we donated trips as auction prizes to approximately 150 organizations. Please Note: We’re happy to consider participating in live auctions; however, fundraising silent auctions and raffles are not eligible.
Environmental Sustainability
Backroads champions a travel style that allows guests to explore slowly, experiencing the natural world on foot or by bike. In an effort to preserve our planet for more adventures, we’re on a journey to minimize our environmental footprint in our hubs and across our trips.
In our office spaces around the world, we strive to reduce our waste and embrace lower impact lifestyles by utilizing reduce, reuse and recycle principles, implementing energy-efficient lighting and equipment and promoting public transit and bike-to-work commutes through rewards programs. In 2021, we installed solar panels on the Berkeley office roof to reduce energy consumption and in 2024, we upgraded all of our packaging materials to be comprised of 100% recyclable materials.
In the field, we train and empower all of our field staff to buy local products and responsibly dispose of leftover food and materials through donations to community organizations or municipality-aligned recycling. In 2024, we kicked off an official Compost Program for our field staff houses to divert leftover food from landfills in our busiest regions. Backroads also supports Leave No Trace, a non-profit educational program that promotes responsible outdoor recreation, by incorporating the "Leave No Trace" principles on our trips wherever possible.
Sustainability
Sustainability
How Guests Can Contribute to Our Responsible Travel Objectives:
- Travel Light: Consider reaching your destination via train or bus instead of flights. If air travel is necessary, prioritize direct flights.
- Pack Responsibly: Bring a reusable water bottle/hydration pack and reusable snack bags (or reuse Ziploc bags provided).
- Reduce Plastic Use: Label your Backroads-provided BPA-free water bottle to minimize replacements. Avoid single-use plastics at hotels by using your own water bottle and toiletries.
- Limit Housekeeping: Minimize hotel housekeeping needs for towels and linens by using the "Do Not Disturb" sign to reduce laundry and water usage.
- Steward the Environment: Stick to marked paths when hiking to protect flora and fauna. Keep a respectful distance from wildlife (e.g., animals and corals) and avoid touching them.
- Respect Communities: Learn about the countries you’re visiting and respect local customs. Dress respectfully, especially at religious sites, and consider appropriate swimwear for pools and beaches. Always ask for permission before photographing or videoing people.
- Shop Local: Support traditional artisans by buying locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive. Favor local products over imported items and avoid giving gifts or money directly to strangers and children.