How to Choose the Right Backroads Trip
Updated: Sep 26
BACKROADS PLANNING GUIDE Elli Travel Group's independent, advisor-sourced answers to the questions travelers ask before booking · Informed by a June 25, 2026 advisor briefing with Backroads How to Choose the Right Backroads Trip A decision framework for narrowing 500-plus itineraries down to the one that actually fits your travelers The trip type matters less than the activity level, the group, and the timing — in that order. |
This guide draws on a June 25, 2026 advisor briefing with Nick McConnell, Travel Advisor Account Manager at Backroads (Northeast territory), hosted by Elli Travel Group, combined with Elli Travel Group's direct experience matching travelers to Backroads itineraries. |
With more than 500 itineraries across 62 countries, the hardest part of booking Backroads isn't deciding whether to go — it's narrowing down where. Most travelers start by picking a destination, which is usually the wrong first filter. The stronger approach is to work through four questions in order: activity type, activity level, who you're traveling with, and timing. Destination falls out of that process, not the other way around.
This guide walks through that framework using the specifics Backroads shared directly with Elli Travel Group, plus the questions worth asking before you commit to a departure.
Step 1: Pick the Activity Type
Backroads' three core trip types are roughly equal in popularity — a broader split than the brand's cycling-focused reputation suggests:
● Biking — covers more ground and more landscape per day, with e-bikes standard (four assist ranges) and a titanium-frame performance e-bike newly available in 2026. Unplugged departures, expanded for 2026, are acoustic-bike-only for riders who want to skip e-bikes entirely.
● Hiking & Walking — closer immersion in the landscape at a generally more demanding pace than biking, since there's no e-bike to close the effort gap.
● Multi-Adventure — combines biking and/or hiking with a regional activity (zip-lining, river rafting, surfing, horseback riding, depending on the destination) — usually the best fit for travelers or families who don't want to commit to one activity for a full week.
● Dolce Tempo — the same three activity types, restructured to one activity a day instead of two, for travelers who want the Backroads format without the pace.
Step 2: Match the Activity Level, Not the Destination
Every Backroads trip is rated 1 through 5. Per Backroads' own account team, a routine gym-goer working out two to four times a week is generally well-matched to a level 3 — it's built with enough range that you can increase or decrease daily mileage, rather than feeling capped at the bottom of the scale. Elli Travel Group's own guidance to first-time travelers: don't default to level 1 assuming it's the safer choice. A level 1 trip can feel underwhelming for anyone with a baseline of regular activity, while level 3 and 4 trips build in enough flexibility — shorter and longer route options most days — to still feel comfortable.
Biking mileage numbers can look intimidating out of context. A 30-mile day, for example, typically unfolds across a full six-hour day with stops, not a two-hour sprint — and elevation, not distance, is usually the better predictor of actual effort.
A Structural Note Worth Understanding
Backroads groups are not "follow the leader." Everyone on a trip follows the same route, but travelers move at their own pace and aren't required to stay with the trip leader — leaders and the support van are positioned at points along the route, and travelers choose who they hike or bike alongside at any given moment. That structure is a major reason activity-level mismatches matter less on Backroads than on a fixed-pace group tour: level 3 and level 4 travelers can comfortably be on the same departure.
Step 3: Match the Trip to Who's Traveling
Couples, Friends, and Solo Travelers
The standard departure type, open to travelers 18 and up, with a typical age range of 50 to 65 on non-family departures — a wider range than most people expect, since activity level rather than age is what determines fit. Group sizes run up to 26 on biking trips (usually 16–17 guests) and up to 20 on hiking/walking trips (usually 13–14 guests).
Women's-Only Travelers
Launched in 2024 and expanded each year since — now roughly 80 departures — built for girls' trips, mother-daughter travel, or solo women who want built-in community without traveling entirely alone.
Families
Backroads splits family departures into two life-stage categories: kids-and-teens, and teens-and-20s. The former "20s and beyond" category was retired, on the finding that families with adult children in their 20s or older often fit as well, or better, into standard couples/friends/solo departures. Family departures add a fourth, kids-only trip leader and build in one or two kids-only activities or dinners alongside shared family time.
● Popular family picks named directly by Backroads: Vietnam & Cambodia family bike tour, Utah's Bryce & Zion glamping trip, Hawaii's Big Island multi-adventure, Switzerland multi-adventure, Iceland family hiking & walking
Private Groups
Any itinerary and departure date can be booked privately, for a family reunion, milestone birthday, or anniversary. Backroads recommends booking roughly a year out for popular destinations (Japan, the Dolomites, Argentina) and closer to six months for niche itineraries — Backroads' cited sweet spot is 8 to 9 months. A departure can be held for one week with no deposit, and per-person pricing improves with more travelers, with 10–12 guests recommended to avoid a per-person premium.
The detail most travelers don't know to ask about: Elli Travel Group can share a specific departure's group composition — age range and family mix, not identifying details — before you book. If your travelers are a couple hoping for a quiet, adult-paced trip, or a family hoping for other kids on board, this is the single most useful pre-booking call to make. |
Step 4: Choose the Trip Format
● Point-to-point (lodge-to-lodge) — hiking from one lodge to the next with no backtracking, offered in Peru, Nepal, the Dolomites, and Patagonia. Best for travelers who want the feel of a continuous journey without carrying their own luggage.
● Home-base — one property for the whole trip, with daily excursions launching from and returning to the same hotel. Best for travelers who dislike repacking and prefer to settle in.
● National parks & glamping — Under Canvas partnerships in Yellowstone, Acadia, Bryce & Zion, and Utah's Arches, pairing elevated comfort with a national-parks setting; strong for families.
● Active river & ocean cruises — Backroads runs its own itinerary aboard partner ships (AmaWaterways, Emerald, Ponant, Galápagos Go/Silver Sea), giving guests both the Backroads program and access to the ship's own activities. Good for travelers who want an active trip without giving up the comfort of a cruise.
● Weekend & four-day trips — North America only, for travelers without a full week to spend; popular examples include Vermont, Cape Cod, and Palm Springs & Joshua Tree. A low-commitment way for a new-to-Backroads traveler to try the format.
Not Sure Which Trip Fits? Elli Travel Group will walk through activity level, group dynamic, and timing with you before you commit to a departure — including checking group composition on your behalf. Reach out to a Backroads Specialist: Travel Request Meet Our Team: Our Travel Advisors |
How This Should Inform Your Booking
Choose activity level before destination. A level 3 traveler will have a very different experience of the same country at level 1 or level 5 — settle the activity level first, and let it narrow the itinerary list.
Book early for point-to-point and remote-lodge trips specifically. Because point-to-point itineraries (Peru, Nepal, the Dolomites, Patagonia) often rely on small, remote properties with limited room counts, booking roughly a year ahead protects your ability to stay at the trip's actual overnight stops rather than a substitute property farther away.
Ask about group composition before assuming a public departure is the right fit — especially for couples hoping for an adult-paced trip, or families hoping for peers for their kids.
Who Should Consider Each Path
First-Timers Unsure of Their Activity Level
Start at level 3 rather than level 1 if you have any regular activity baseline — the built-in flexibility of longer/shorter daily routes means you can scale down more easily than you can scale up mid-trip.
Families Choosing Between Kids-and-Teens and Teens-and-20s
Call ahead if your children's ages sit near the edge of a bracket — Backroads' own team notes that an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old on the same kids-and-teens departure can have a meaningfully different experience.
Groups of Eight or More
A private departure is usually worth pricing out once you're past eight travelers — the per-person economics improve meaningfully at 10–12 guests, and you control the group dynamic entirely.
Travelers Deciding Between Biking and Hiking
If you're torn, multi-adventure is often the better entry point than committing to a full week of either — it samples more of what a destination offers without requiring a single-activity commitment.
Biggest booking mistake Choosing a destination first and reverse-engineering the activity level to fit it. This routinely leads to travelers landing on a level 4 or 5 itinerary because it's in a bucket-list destination, when a level 2 or 3 itinerary in a different country would have actually matched their fitness and given them a better trip. Activity level should be the first filter, not the last. Reach out to a Backroads Specialist: Travel Request |
Before You Book Q&A
What if my travel companions want different activity levels?
Because Backroads trips aren't "follow the leader," travelers at different comfort levels can often be on the same departure and choose their own daily mileage — level 3 and level 4 travelers frequently travel together comfortably. We'll flag it if a specific itinerary's day-to-day structure makes that harder.
Can I find out who else is on a departure before booking?
Backroads' reservations team can share a departure's general age range and family mix — not names or identifying details — and we'll make that call on your behalf before you book.
Is a private trip worth it for a smaller group?
Private pricing improves as the group grows, with 10–12 guests as the point where per-person cost stabilizes — below that, a public departure is often the better value. We'll run the comparison for your specific group size.
How far in advance should I book?
For popular destinations like Japan, the Dolomites, or Argentina, roughly a year ahead. For more niche itineraries, six months can work. Private trips have a similar rule of thumb, with 8–9 months as the practical sweet spot.
Can kids join an adult-focused itinerary instead of a family trip?
Family-structured departures (kids-and-teens or teens-and-20s) are designed with age-matched peers and an added kids-focused trip leader — we'd generally steer younger children toward those rather than a standard adult departure.
FAQ
What's the difference between Backroads' biking, hiking, and multi-adventure trips?
Biking covers more distance and landscape per day with e-bikes standard; hiking and walking trips are generally more physically demanding without that assist; multi-adventure combines biking and/or hiking with a regional activity specific to the destination.
What do Backroads' activity levels 1 through 5 mean?
Level 1–2 trips are gentler, with shorter distances and less elevation, suited to beginners. Level 3 offers more consistent activity for travelers with a regular fitness routine. Level 4–5 trips involve steeper terrain and are built for travelers seeking a real physical challenge — though every level includes shorter and longer daily route options.
Is Backroads good for a first-time active traveler?
Yes — the flexible daily pacing and route options make it a lower-risk entry point than a fixed-pace tour, especially at level 3, which most Backroads' team members point beginners toward.
How big are Backroads groups?
Up to 26 on biking trips (typically 16–17) and up to 20 on hiking/walking trips (typically 13–14).
Are Backroads trips good for solo travelers?
Yes — couples/friends/solo departures are the standard trip type and open to any traveler 18 and up, and Backroads introduced a reduced single-room supplement on select departures in 2026.
What's the difference between the kids-and-teens and teens-and-20s family trips?
They're built around different life stages so children and young adults travel with age-matched peers; Backroads retired its former "20s and beyond" category after finding those travelers were often better matched to standard adult departures.
How do I choose between a public departure and a private trip?
A private trip makes sense once your group is roughly eight or more travelers, since per-person pricing improves meaningfully at 10–12 guests and you control who else is on the departure.
Can I ask who else will be on my trip before booking?
Yes — Backroads' reservations team can share general age range and group dynamic for a specific departure. We do this as a standard part of matching travelers to the right trip.
Read Next
Links pending — will connect to "Is Backroads Worth the Price?", "How Difficult Are Backroads Trips, Really?", and the Backroads Luxury Hub Page once published, per the confirmed-URLs-only rule.
Ready to Narrow It Down? Elli Travel Group will match your travelers to the right activity level, group, and itinerary before you book. Reach out to a Backroads Specialist: Travel Request |
About This Guide
This guide was written by Elli Travel Group drawing on a June 25, 2026 advisor briefing with Nick McConnell, Travel Advisor Account Manager at Backroads, alongside Elli Travel Group's direct experience matching travelers to Backroads itineraries. Elli Travel Group is a Virtuoso-member luxury travel agency based in Westchester, New York. Luxury Travel Advisors listed are independent affiliates of Elli Travel Group.
Elli Travel Group is a Virtuoso-member luxury travel agency. This guide is informed by a June 25, 2026 advisor briefing with Backroads' Nick McConnell, attended by Juan Fernandez and Janelle Wood. Itinerary details, group sizes, and program structures are confirmed as of the briefing date and are subject to change by Backroads.
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