It’s what Back-Roads Touring doesn’t include in the tours that separate them from the competition.
Don’t expect oversized buses brimming with dozens of passengers, nor endless days of driving or constantly hopping on-and-off your coach, and forget highway travel too as you only move on scenic back roads through charming small towns and villages the big buses can’t access.
Add to this a professional tour guide and a leisurely paced itinerary allowing for plenty of free time and you have the making of a holiday of a lifetime.
Here are just six reasons why you’ll love a Back-Roads tour.
1. Small-group touring
Like the back roads taken on tour, the size of your travel group is equally pleasing. With no more than 18 like-minded travellers on any tour (20 for French barge cruising), the small-group experience is one of intimacy. The smaller group also means a more personalised experience from your professional tour guide.
2. Leisurely paced itineraries
There are no sunrise starts or day-long drives or constant hopping on and off your coach with Back-Roads. Each stop is given the attention it deserves so you can enjoy each location for all its hand-picked moments with ample free time to explore on your own.
3. No highways
True to the name, Back-Roads is all about the winding country lanes, coastal beauty and breathtaking mountain passes. Departure is rarely before 830am with driving kept to a minimum, so you can enjoy longer stays in each destination to give it the attention it deserves.
RELATED BACK-ROADS STORIES …
- Behind-the-scenes with a Back-Roads tour guide
- What to expect on a small-group journey
- Experience a barge canal cruise through France
4. Hand-picked accommodation
Rather than staying at big chain hotels, Back-Roads opt for accommodations that perfectly reflects the destination. Classic family-run inns, elegant chateaus; each day will end with a hotel of character befitting the surrounds.
5. Culinary discoveries
From visits to local farms, wine and cheese tastings, cooking demonstrations, fresh food markets and celebrity restaurants, the local cuisine is a great way to understand and appreciate the culture. Not just reserved for fine food, you can also sample a tipple at a Whiskey Distilleries in Scotland, a Sherry tasting in Spain, or various wine tastings in France and even Croatia.
6. Authentic experiences
Back-Roads takes the time to seek out the local experiences and take you to the heart and soul of a region. That means tours by locals, quality accommodation, family or locally owned restaurants that specialise in the tastes of the region and attractions that reflect the destination’s culture and heritage.
