Backroads Adventures: Let’s Go

Some people vacation to indulge in the bliss of doing nothing. For others, travel looks a little different: diving in the Galapagos, hiking the Dolomites, biking through Bali... As a preferred partner of Backroads, SWT clients love heading out on these active journeys. Read on to explore just a few of the incredible Backroads adventures we can book for you.

Biking Japan's Coast

SWT has planned amazing trips to Japan, and we can't wait for clients to explore the country in a totally new way: by bike. Can you think of a more unique way to go from Tokyo to Kyoto than riding along the forested coast of Japan's Noto Peninsula? Imagine days passing through traditional fishing villages, fields of terraced rice patties, and under countless torii (Japanese gates). Or winding your way around the base of the Japanese Alps and picking up local crafts in the country's oldest outdoor markets. Spending nights luxuriating at seaside resorts and indulging in traditional Japanese massages to prepare for the next day's ride doesn’t sound so bad either.

Walking Through Maine

If you haven't been to Maine, what are you waiting for?! (Can you tell Maine is a personal favorite for this SWT author?) Absolutely gorgeous through every season, there is truly no end to its natural beauty and local charm. Hike Acadia National Park for breathtaking 360-degree views, bike along the sparkling coastline, taste the best lobster roll of your life, and stroll past the quaint homes and boutiques that line the historic New England streets.

Iceland Like Never Before

Jaw dropping at any time of the year, Iceland's wild landscape is especially striking in the winter. One day you might be hiking near Iceland's largest natural lake in Thingvellir National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the few places in the world you can walk between two tectonic plates—and the next you're exploring remote frozen waterfalls in a private Jeep before soaking in a geothermal hot spring. Ice-walking a glacier and riding traditional Icelandic horses across stunning valleys could only get better if you are lucky enough to see the magical Northern Lights.

Actively Eating in Provence

After learning about Backroad's "active culinary" adventures, we quickly realized that almost all of the personal travel we do could fall into this category. In fact, a journey through Provence seems tailor made for us: strolling through picturesque vineyards to pick olives and "hiking" back to enjoy them with herbed goat cheese, "climbing" the cobblestoned roads of local villages to visit farmers markets and fresh produce stands, and "jumping" into a car taking us to a private cooking class. These very taxing activities call for lots of wine! This is a very well-rounded itinerary.

Backroads was founded with the intention of spreading a certain philosophy on travel: that “the absolute best way to see a new landscape, a new corner of the world... was on the seat of a bike." While we at SWT aren't huge bikers, we do agree that the best way to travel is to just get out there.