Is Backroads a good company to book a luxury trip with?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
Backroads is an active travel company founded in 1979 by Tom Hale. It employs some 192 people at its Berkeley headquarters and regional offices, plus more than 800 Trip Leaders worldwide. It sells biking, hiking and walking, multi-adventure, family and private trips.
Is Backroads a good company to book a luxury trip with?
It depends on what you need: Backroads suits travellers who want an active biking, hiking or multi-adventure trip led by its own Trip Leaders rather than contractors, with a scheduled trip deposit its terms call fully refundable, subject to conditions, or a US$1,000 deposit for a private trip.
What does it sell?
What Backroads's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Trip types: Offers Biking, Multi-Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Family, Dolce Tempo, Women's Adventures, 30s & 40s trips and Private trips. Source
- More styles: Its range also includes Active Ocean & River Cruises, Unplugged Bike Tours without e-assist, Lodge-to-Lodge Hiking, Safari, Culinary and Home Base Trips. Source
- Hotels: On its Egypt Multi-Adventure Tour, new for 2027, hotel stays include Mandarin Oriental's Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan and the Al Moudira Hotel in Luxor. Source
Who is behind it?
What Backroads's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Founded: Was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale. Source
- Staff and offices: Employs some 192 people at its Berkeley headquarters and regional offices in Utah, Canada and France. Source
- Trip Leaders: Also employs more than 800 Trip Leaders worldwide. Source
- No contractors: Does not use independent contractors as its Trip Leaders. Source
- Trade body: Joined the United States Tour Operators Association as an active member in April 2026. Source
What are its deposit and cancellation terms?
What Backroads's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Scheduled trip deposit: Its terms call the deposit on scheduled trips fully refundable, subject to the conditions in its deposits, transfers and final payment chart. Source
- Private trip deposit: A private trip is reserved when the organiser pays a US$1,000 deposit before the 7-day hold ends; each guest then has 21 days to pay a US$1,000 deposit. Source
- Private trip refunds: All private trip deposits are refundable during the 21-day booking window and transferable until final payment; after the window a cancelled US$1,000 deposit is non-refundable but can be moved to a Backroads account or another trip. Source
- Private trip final payment: Final payment on a private trip is due 185 days before departure. Source
- Private trip cancellation: After final payment, cancelling a private trip 96 to 185 days before it starts costs 50% of the trip price per person; 0 to 95 days costs 100%. Source
- Late private booking: A private trip booked within 185 days of departure is reserved with a non-refundable US$1,000 organiser deposit; each guest books with a non-refundable US$1,000 deposit within 21 days; final payment for everyone is due at the end of that window. Source
What help is there while you travel?
What Backroads's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Travel protection: Strongly encourages the Arch RoamRight Travel Protection Plan, or another plan, to protect against loss from cancellation fees. Source
How is Backroads rated?
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.
Backroads: the questions people ask
What kind of trips does Backroads sell?
Biking, Multi-Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Family, Dolce Tempo, Women's Adventures, 30s & 40s and Private trips, plus active cruises, safari and culinary trips.
When was Backroads founded and by whom?
In 1979, by Tom Hale.
Where is Backroads based?
At its Berkeley headquarters, with regional offices in Utah, Canada and France.
How many people work for Backroads?
Some 192 people in its offices, plus more than 800 Trip Leaders worldwide.
Are Backroads trip leaders contractors?
Backroads does not use independent contractors as its Trip Leaders.
Is the Backroads deposit refundable?
Its terms call the scheduled trip deposit fully refundable, subject to the conditions in its deposits chart. Private trip deposits are refundable only during the 21-day booking window, then transferable but not refundable.
When is final payment due on a Backroads private trip?
185 days before departure. After that, cancelling costs 50% of the trip price per person from 96 to 185 days and 100% from 0 to 95 days.
Does Backroads belong to a trade body?
It has joined the United States Tour Operators Association as an active member.
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.