Butterfield & Robinson or Backroads: which is better value?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
Butterfield & Robinson lists a 6-day Portugal Alentejo Biking small group trip from US$6,995 per person, about US$1,166 a day; its pages do not state what the price includes. Backroads lists a 7-day Peru Hiking & Walking trip from US$6,299 per person based on double occupancy, about US$900 a day. These are different trips: a biking trip in Portugal and a hiking trip in Peru.
Butterfield & Robinson or Backroads: which is better value?
Butterfield & Robinson suits travellers who want Small Group or Bespoke private journeys with local, tenured guides; its Portugal biking trip works out at about US$1,166 a day. Backroads suits travellers who want an active trip with Trip Leaders who are not independent contractors; its Peru hiking trip, a different trip in a different country, works out at about US$900 a day.
What does each company sell?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Sells Small Group experiences and Bespoke private journeys built around the people taking them. Source
- Backroads: An active travel company offering Biking, Multi-Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Family and Private trips. Source
How big are the groups?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
- Backroads: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
Who leads the trips?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Uses local, tenured guides. Source
- Backroads: Does not use independent contractors as Trip Leaders. Source
What do they cost?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Lists a 6-day Portugal Alentejo Biking small group trip from US$6,995 per person. Source
- Backroads: Lists a 7-day Peru Hiking & Walking trip from US$6,299 per person. Source
What does the price per day buy?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Works out at about US$1,166 per person per day on its 6-day Portugal Alentejo Biking trip from US$6,995 per person. Its pages do not state what that price includes. Source
- Backroads: Works out at about US$900 per person per day on its 7-day Peru Hiking & Walking trip from US$6,299 per person, a different trip from the Portugal biking trip. Source
What does the price include?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
- Backroads: Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Trip prices include accommodations, most meals, bikes, baggage transfers, porterage, all ground and air transportation during the trip and port fees on active cruises. Airfare to and from the trip start and end is extra. The deposit on scheduled trips is fully refundable. Source
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Butterfield & Robinson: On Bespoke trips an initial Trip Development Fee comes first. A per-person deposit then confirms the trip, with full payment due 95 days before departure. We could not read its cancellation terms. Source
- Backroads: Private trips are held with a US$1,000 deposit, with final payment 185 days before departure, then charges of 50% at 96 to 185 days and 100% inside 95 days. Source
What do reviewers say?
Each platform's figure for each company, never added together.
- Butterfield & Robinson: Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 33 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 209 reviews, newest 29 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
- Backroads: Google: 4.2 out of 5 from 123 reviews; Trustpilot: 2.3 out of 5 from 12 reviews, newest 28 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
Butterfield & Robinson vs Backroads: the questions people ask
Is Butterfield & Robinson or Backroads cheaper?
They are different trips. Butterfield & Robinson lists a 6-day Portugal Alentejo Biking trip from US$6,995 per person, about US$1,166 a day, without stating what the price includes. Backroads lists a 7-day Peru Hiking & Walking trip from US$6,299 per person based on double occupancy, about US$900 a day.
What does a Backroads price include?
Backroads trip prices include accommodations, most meals, bikes, baggage transfers, porterage, all ground and air transportation during the trip and port fees on active cruises.
What is not included in a Backroads price?
Airfare to and from the trip start and end is extra.
Are Backroads prices per person?
Yes. The Peru trip price is per person based on double occupancy.
What does each company sell?
Butterfield & Robinson sells Small Group experiences and Bespoke private journeys. Backroads is an active travel company offering Biking, Multi-Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Family and Private trips.
Who leads the trips?
Butterfield & Robinson uses local, tenured guides. Backroads does not use independent contractors as Trip Leaders.
How big are the groups?
We found no group size for Butterfield & Robinson or for Backroads scheduled trips.
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
On Butterfield & Robinson Bespoke trips an initial Trip Development Fee comes first, then a per-person deposit confirms the trip, with full payment due 95 days before departure; we could not read its cancellation terms. Backroads says scheduled-trip deposits are fully refundable. Its Private trips take a US$1,000 deposit, with final payment at 185 days and charges of 50% at 96 to 185 days and 100% inside 95 days.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 3 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.