Backroads vs Trek Travel: which is better for a cycling trip?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Backroads and Trek Travel each publish on their own websites, read 5 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Backroads vs Trek Travel: which is better for a cycling trip?

Neither is better for everyone: Backroads publishes a 6-day Tuscany Bike Tour from US$4,499 and rates trips at activity levels 1 to 5, while Trek Travel publishes no price on the pages read, grades road trips at four levels and rides Trek bikes.

What does each company sell?

Backroads designs and runs its own guided biking, walking and multi-adventure trips from its headquarters in Berkeley, California. Its founder Tom Hale started it in 1979. Source

Trek Travel runs its own guided bike trips with Trek bikes and support vans and also sells self-guided trips from its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. It says it is 25 years old. Source

What trips does each company run?

Backroads runs scheduled guided departures across nearly 550 itineraries and lets any trip be reserved as a private departure, with Small Group Savings for private groups of up to 12. Source

Trek Travel sells guided trips, self-guided trips and styles such as Gravel, Ride Camp and Pro Race, with its Classic Climbs collection and Tour de France trips featured on its home page. Source

Where does each company ride?

Backroads runs trips on all seven continents in more than 60 countries and territories, five Canadian provinces and 21 US states. Source

Trek Travel runs trips in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Central and South America and Africa, from the Canadian Rockies and Maine to Patagonia, Sardinia, Thailand and New Zealand's South Island. Source

Who is the riding for?

Backroads rates trips at activity levels 1 to 5 with several routes each day, from easygoing Dolce Tempo trips at levels 1 to 2 up to the Dolomites Bike Tour at levels 3 to 5. Source

Trek Travel grades road trips at four levels, from Level 1 at up to 25 mi (40 km) a day to Level 4 at 40 to 70 mi (60 to 110 km) with up to 8,000 ft (2,400 m) of climbing. Source

Which bikes does each company provide?

Backroads owns and maintains its own fleet of custom-designed titanium bikes for performance, touring and electric-assist riders, with e-bikes in Europe and North America for riders aged 16 and over. Source

Trek Travel provides Trek bikes and names its e-bike models as the Verve+, Checkpoint+, Domane+ and Allant+. Source

Where do you stay?

Backroads sorts trips into Luxury, Deluxe and Casual hotel tiers plus Small Ships. Its Egypt trip uses Mandarin Oriental's Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan and the Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor. Source

Trek Travel sorts its hotels into Luxury, Explorer and Comfort levels, with Comfort hotels placed near Trek Travel activities. Source

What support is on the road?

Backroads sends three or more leaders and two or more support vans on over 95% of scheduled trips, with vans that carry refreshments, repair bikes and give lifts. Source

Trek Travel sends a typical guide team of one guide riding the route and another sweeping in the support van, with shuttle bump ups on any climb. Source

What does a trip cost?

Backroads lists the Tuscany Bike Tour, 6 days, from US$4,499 per person based on double occupancy. Source

Trek Travel does not publish this on the pages read.

What does the price include?

Backroads includes accommodation, most meals, bikes, baggage transfers, porterage and all ground and air transport during the trip, while airfare to the start and from the end is extra. Source

Trek Travel says it covers everything you need, with guides, a support van, Trek bikes and hotels described as part of its trips. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Backroads charges a single occupancy fee on prices based on double occupancy, or tries to pair solo travellers with a same-gender roommate. Source

Trek Travel offers a Single Occupancy option at an additional price that guarantees a private room. Source

How much is the deposit?

Backroads takes a fully refundable deposit on scheduled trips and asks private groups for US$1,000 per person, with private final payment due 185 days before departure. Source

Trek Travel does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if you cancel?

Backroads charges private trips 50% from 96 to 185 days before departure and 100% from 0 to 95 days. Its US$250 Flexible Cancellation Plan returns 75% as future trip savings up to 48 hours before. Source

Trek Travel charges per guest on standard bike tours a US$250 fee or gives 100% credit beyond 90 days, then a 30% fee (80% credit) at 61 to 90 days and a 60% fee (50% credit) at 31 to 60 days, keeping the full price at 30 days or less. Source

Can children come?

Backroads runs Families with Kids & Teens trips for ages 9 to 17 with a minimum age of 4 and Families with Teens & 20s trips for ages 16 and over. Source

Trek Travel does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each company on their own websites.

• Backroads: not the fit if a rider under 16 wants an e-bike, as Backroads sets 16 as its minimum e-bike age whatever local laws allow. Source
• Trek Travel: not the fit if you may need to cancel within 30 days of departure, when standard bike tours give no refund or credit. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 5 November 2026, each from a listing under the company's own name; the figures are never added together.

• Backroads: Google: 4.2 out of 5 from 123 reviews. Read 5 November 2026.
• Trek Travel: Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 556 reviews, newest 4 November 2026. Read 5 November 2026.

The companies at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel cycling page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Which other companies sell the same kind of trip?

These 5 sell guided cycling tours in at least two of the same places and have the most Google reviews of those that do. The full list is on What are the best alternatives to Backroads in 2026?

• DuVine Cycling + Adventure Co.: Guided small-group road and hybrid bike tours
• GravelUp: Guided gravel bike trips in France
• Eat Sleep Cycle: Guided and self-guided road tours from Girona
• Bikestyle Tours: Guided trips to the Grand Tours
• Horizons Cycling: Guided road trips with support vehicle

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 5 November 2026 · updated 5 November 2026