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Backroads

Name: Backroads
Address: 801 Cedar Street, Berkeley, CA, 94710, US
Telephone: +18004622848
Price range: $$$
Rating: 4.8

Explore, discover and connect with the world on a Biking, Walking & Hiking or Multi-Adventure trip! Fast-forward 44 years of nearly consistent growth to 2023.
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A native of Moraga, California, Tom Hale possesses a passion for two seemingly divergent interests—business and back roads—which he has powered into the world's most successful active travel company. It was the back roads that first attracted him, as a competitive runner at Campolindo High School (where he still holds the two-mile record at 8:57.2) and at the University of Oregon, where he was a t

eammate of legendary runner Steve Prefontaine. Armed with a Masters in Environmental Planning from UCLA, Hale was six months into an environmental planning position in Las Vegas when the back roads called again—big time. A middle-of-the-night inspiration to start a bike touring company motivated him to pedal 5,000 miles alone through the West, all the while formulating plans for his new business. Settling in Berkeley, Hale washed fondue pots by night and built his fledgling travel company by day. In true entrepreneurial fashion, he did it all—designed the itineraries, maintained the bikes, led the trips, produced the catalog. His first trip—a bike tour of Death Valley—attracted four guests (one of them his mother.) Today Backroads annually hosts thousands of guests on biking, walking & hiking and multi-adventure trips worldwide. Their 289 trip itineraries showcase the best lodging, dining, cultural attractions—and of course back roads—in destinations from California's Wine Country to classic settings in France, from the pampas of Patagonia to the hill country of Thailand. Backroads is staffed by some 200 people in its Berkeley headquarters and regional offices in Utah, Canada and France, and also employs approximately 800 Trip Leaders worldwide. From the beginning, Hale has strived for and succeeded in offering off-the-charts trips, believing that the world is best experienced up close and under one's own power. Backroads' success is largely measured by an exceptionally high rate of repeat guests—on average about 80% become repeat and referral guests. When he's not at the Berkeley office or on the road as Backroads' most eagle-eyed quality controller, Hale can be found at home in Kentfield with his wife Liz, daughters Avery and Georgia, and son William.

06/14/2024

Update from Iceland! We've been having a blast so far this season hiking, ice walking and exploring on our Glaciers & Coast Multi-Adventure Tour. Thanks to Trip Leader Guillermo Valverde for sending through these snapshots!

Find all the details of the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/4bWroaY

06/12/2024

Springtime in Yosemite truly shines! We just got these photos back from one of our last departures of our new California's Yosemite Valley Walking & Hiking Tour. We already can't wait to get back here next April!

Check out all the trip details here: https://backroadsgo.com/44RQTr5

06/11/2024

Backroads Hotel Spotlight! Our new Germany's & Bavaria Walking & Hiking Tour is all about settling in to the amazing mountain retreat of Schloss Elmau.

Nestled in the heart of the Alps, this haven is our home for all four nights and offers the perfect blend of relaxation and luxury with its own library, bookstore, concert hall and hammam.

Check out all the details of the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/3wKlESw

06/10/2024

Last week, Backroads hubs in Berkeley, Canada, France, and Italy organized bike rides to support World Bicycle Relief's Pedal to Empower Campaign! Together, these 112 riders from around the globe pedaled an impressive 4,357 kilometers, bringing us more than halfway to our monthly goal of 25,000 kilometers (~15,500 miles). We look forward to making even more progress toward our goal in the coming weeks!

Check out our fundraiser page here: https://www.pedaltoempower.com/fundraisers/backroads

06/06/2024

This year marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, pivotal moments when allied forces liberated occupied France and ultimately brought an end to World War II.

Check out our recent article written by Backroads Trip Leader Lydia Brannen who has witnessed firsthand the profound impact of revisiting this history and the sense of pride and hope this day instills. https://backroadsgo.com/3URa5AR

06/05/2024

Traveling to far-flung destinations on your own can take a lot of planning, so why not let us take care of all the details?

From trekking permits and sublime lodges in Nepal’s Himalayas to private flights connecting South Africa and Botswana’s wilderness reserves, a Backroads trip has you covered from day one. Whether you dream of riding camels in the dunes beyond Marrakech or soaking it all in from a hot tub in Chile’s Lake District, these trips make far away feel closer than ever – and there’s still space this fall!

06/01/2024

Happy National Trails Day! For everyone who loves to strap on a pair of hiking shoes, we hope you're able to get some fresh air and honor the occasion today! What's your favorite hiking trail in America? Comment below!

Photo by Backroads guest Stuart Fiedler on our Wyoming's Yellowstone & Tetons Walking & Hiking Tour. Find all the details here: https://backroadsgo.com/3wP1ere

05/31/2024

Rafting, rock climbing, zip-lining, kayaking, horseback riding, snorkeling, ice walking, surfing... what's your favorite Backroads Multi-Adventure activity?

Check out our full catalog of trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3K0O9hG

05/28/2024

Brand-new for 2025! From Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle to tropical island beaches, we're thrilled to introduce our Thailand Family Multi-Adventure trip!

Join us to experience ornate temples, towering Buddha statues, lush forests, majestic limestone cliffs, vibrant markets, and dazzling flavors. We can't wait to show you why Thailand is called the "land of smiles."

Check out all the trips details here: https://backroadsgo.com/3UV7yqq

05/27/2024

Happy Memorial Day—the unofficial kickoff to summer! We're excited for the long days, warm nights and endless adventures that lie ahead.

Photo by Andrew Opila on our Sardinia Bike Tour

05/25/2024

Just a couple more weeks until we're back enjoying magic Maine sunsets!

Join us on a New England Biking or Walking & Hiking adventure - find all the details here: https://backroadsgo.com/3UEvY7u

Photo by Backroads guest Steve Sauer

05/23/2024

Timeless Kyoto, formerly the Imperial capital of Japan for more than a thousand years, it's the grand finale of our epic bike trip from Tokyo along spectacular Japanese landscapes.

Learn more about the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/44v7alC

Photo by Mark Edward Harris

05/22/2024

There's so much to love about our new Scotland & England Family Multi-Adventure Tour. Medieval castles, bike routes through the Yorkshire Dales, scenic hikes along Hadrian's Wall, the list goes on. And the adventure doesn’t end there—after the trip, hop on a train to London to effortlessly extend your stay in the UK.

Check out the full trip itinerary here: https://backroadsgo.com/4doJIe5

05/20/2024

From spring bike rides in North America to summer hikes in Europe to fall safaris in Africa to winter adventures in South America - read our picks for Trips for Every Season Spanning Every Continent: https://backroadsgo.com/3QyPgZw

05/18/2024

Greece checks all the boxes for a proper beach vacation. With a dry and consistently hot landscape, life naturally congregates at the water’s edge, where the refreshingly cool water and ocean breezes bring relief to body and soul.

Relax on a lounge chair in the shade, sink your feet in the sand, sip a cocktail at a beachside café, or stroll through one of Santorini’s famous whitewashed villages. Sun, sand and beauty all in one.

Find our full offering of trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3w5wfXQ

05/17/2024

Italy's Dolomites are one of the most picturesque mountain ranges in the world and these shots by Trip Leader Simone Boccaccio show just what an alpine wonderland this place can be. Here's to crisp air, mountaintop views, luxury hotels, winding trails and the magic of the mountains!

Check out all the details on our Dolomites Multi-Adventure Tour here: https://backroadsgo.com/4aToq6I

05/16/2024

New destination alert! If Greenland isn't yet on your travel bucket list, it's time to change that! Our brand-new Greenland & Iceland Walking & Hiking Tour was made for those who gravitate toward the Earth’s hinterlands.

Dine on delicious Greenlandic flavors, hike past pristine rivers, enjoy grand views of floating icebergs, admire otherworldly white nights of the midnight sun and so much more! Check out the details of this epic new trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/44nJWOf

05/14/2024

California is celebrated in countless songs, movies and dreams, but nothing compares to experiencing it firsthand.

The smooth cool texture of Yosemite’s massive granite domes. The grounding fragrance of giant redwoods. Napa Valley’s most iconic flavors, barrel-aged to award-winning perfection. And in Santa Barbara, an intangible joie de vivre nurtured by a Mediterranean climate and a nature-forward lifestyle.

Join us this summer or fall in the Golden State! Find our full offering of trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3JELTfL

05/13/2024

We're still mesmerized by the stunning Northern Lights display from this weekend! Thanks to Trip Leader Austin Sills for capturing this breathtaking scene in Wyoming ✨

If you missed the show, join us to witness the aurora in Iceland this winter. We still have space on our Northern Lights Multi-Adventure trips in December. Check out all the details here: https://backroadsgo.com/4dF7vX0

05/12/2024

Happy Mother's Day! To all the incredible moms who fill our lives with love and adventure—thank you. Whether you're exploring with Backroads or finding magic in daily life, your impact is profound.

If you're looking for the perfect way to celebrate Mom this year, check out our Women's Adventures here: https://backroadsgo.com/3UcWYti

05/10/2024

New Dolomites Snow Adventure! This winter, experience the magic of one of Italy's most stunning landscapes. Snowshoe along the Seiser Alm, ride gondolas up blanketed hillsides and be welcomed by warm South Tyrolean hospitality in cozy mountain retreats. Come see the Dolomites in a whole new light.

Discover the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/49Iyxd6

05/09/2024

Our very first Women's Adventure trip kicked off this week in Sedona, AZ! We're having so much fun already! Looking to join us this summer? Check out our full catalog of Women's Adventures here: https://backroadsgo.com/4br47NI

05/08/2024

If you haven’t yet been to Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, you’re missing out. It’s a nature-lover's paradise and the “crown jewel” of the Pacific Northwest.

Mount Hood (Oregon's tallest mountain) is a dominant feature on the landscape throughout our Columbia River Gorge & Willamette Valley Bike Tour. The peak is home to 12 named glaciers and snowfields, and the valley that surround the mountain is one of the most picturesque in the Pacific Northwest.

Discover the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/44rFwpX

05/04/2024

Backroads in the News! We were recently featured in an article in Forbes about our newly launched Family Trips for 2025.

Backroads Founder & President, Tom Hale, says in the article "the flexibility on our trips means everyone, including grandparents and grandkids, can have an experience tailored to their interests. Backroads is the only active travel company to offer family trips designed for different age groups so that guests travel with other families in the same life stage, nurturing great camaraderie and connections on every trip.”

Check out the full article here:

At Backroads, a leader in adventure travel, 38% of their trips cater to multigenerational family travel.

05/02/2024

NEW TRIPS for 2025! From Greenland to the Baltics, we're so excited to share this new collection of adventures with you.

Our expert trip design team has been hard at work researching new destinations, hotels and activities from winter hiking routes in the Dolomites to boutique castle-retreats overlooking France’s Lot River Valley. Check out our newest trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3JW7SiF

04/30/2024

Ever basked on a Basque beach? Nibbled on pintxos? Learned to surf with the pros? Biked from Spanish ports to French pastures? Get ready for all this and more in Basque Country.

Check out our Basque Country Biking, Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3xFoZCn

04/29/2024

This just in! Backroads Trip Leader and Staff Photographer Austin Sills-Trausch recently captured these photos from different routes on our new Tasmania Multi-Adventure trip - anyone else counting down the days until our first trip here?!

Check out all the details here: https://backroadsgo.com/3UfgBCh

04/26/2024

Known as Canada's "Castle in the Rockies," the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is our home for the first night of our epic Canadian Rockies Bike Tour.

On a trip full of high points, including emerald green lakes, shimmering glaciers and thundering river gorges, this hotel sure holds its own as a true highlight of the week. Click here to join us here this summer: https://backroadsgo.com/3UgDd5k

Photo by Backroads guest Neil Shapiro

04/24/2024

Calling all foodies! Our Active Culinary trips take cuisine and adventure to a whole new level. We combine the classic active Backroads experience with cooking classes, personalized visits to local farms, tastings of local specialties and, of course, unforgettable meals.

Delve into the details of our Provence and Tuscany Active Culinary trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/49v3Vvm

Photo by Andrew Opila

Address

801 Cedar Street
Berkeley, CA
94710

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm
Sunday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18004622848

Website

https://www.backroads.com/?p=D444

Alerts

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Videos

We’ll never get over the turquoise waters of Menorca 💦 Tap the link in our bio for all the details of our Spain’s Mallorca & Menorca Walking & Hiking Tour. 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Judit Ruiz

Our excursion into the Sleeping Giant Ceremonial Cave is always a highlight on our Belize & Guatemala Family Multi-Adventure Tour. We explore this fascinating underground world of stalactites and stalagmites, encounter bats and observe ancient clay pots used by the Mayas to store offerings for their gods. Tap the link in our bio for all the trip details. 🎥: Backroads Trip Leaders Raph Rivest & Mitra Ghaffari

Some of the spectacular faces at recent BLUEs (Backroads Leadership Updates & Education) around the world 🕶️

Lakes so clear you can see to the bottom. Vast expanses of snow-capped peaks. Silence punctuated by gusts of whistling wind. Welcome to the pristine beauty of Argentine Patagonia. Tap the link in our bio for our full offering of trips. 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Mitra Ghaffari

Paradise found! Learn more about our Costa Rica Highlands to Coast Multi-Adventure Tour here: https://backroadsgo.com/3yIjcwn

Flamenco to fiestas, gazpacho to tapas, bodegas to bullrings—the essence of Spain is found in Andalucía. Discover our epic Southern Spain’s Andalucía Bike Tour via the link in our bio. 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Judit Ruiz (@judit___rh)

A cave-exploring, reef-diving, drum-beating, Maya-ruin-wandering, Caribbean-blue-water-rejuvenating, tropical-rain-forest-hiking, lagoon-kayaking adventure. Discover our Belize & Guatemala Family Multi-Adventure Tour at the link in our bio. 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Raph Rivest (@raphtravels)

A big shoutout to our global crew of Trip Prep Specialists (TPSs) who play a crucial role in managing facilities, logistics and ensuring our bikes, vans and trailers are in top shape. Working closely with Trip Leaders, they're the heroes behind our trips' success. Hats off to this dedicated team!

Green hills rolling down to the dazzling Atlantic coast. Moorish castles and pastel palaces. Experience it all on our Portugal Walking & Hiking Tour. Find all the details here: https://backroadsgo.com/48AMWaD 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Judit Ruiz

So. Much. Ice. A highlight of our Argentina's Patagonia Walking & Hiking Tour: cruising in crystalline waters among towering icebergs in the Upsala Glacier channel. Check out all the details of the trip: https://backroadsgo.com/49lJzW4 🎥: Backroads Trip Leader Raul Herrero Couto

This is quintessential Norway, welcoming you with beautiful scenery and a wonderfully unique perspective. Discover our epic Multi-Adventure trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/3MoE142

Ahh, Mallorca. You’ll feel the irresistible allure from the moment you ease your bike onto the roads of this enchanting Spanish island. Come fall in love with it all - tap the link in our bio for all the trip details.

Backroads in the News! Check out this awesome segment on Good Morning Arizona TV, featuring Tara Hitchcock's recent Croatia & Slovenia trip with us. From the snowcapped peaks of Slovenia’s Julian Alps to the crystalline waters of the Adriatic Sea along Croatia’s renowned Dalmatian Coast, plus the verdant fields and forests of the countryside in between, spectacular vistas await at every turn. Discover the trip here: bit.ly/3ZubEFM

Backroads & ATTA AdventureConnect Mixer

Last week, in partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), Backroads was delighted to host an AdventureConnect networking gathering at our Berkeley headquarters. We had a wonderful time speaking with our colleagues in the adventure travel space and are excited for future community gatherings!

Argentina Patagonia Lake District Multi-Adventure Tour

Explore the spellbinding Seven Lakes region by hiking, biking, kayaking and horseback riding, and be astounded by the beauty of Argentina's Patagonia national parks. Our Multi-Adventure trip is all about discovery. Read the trip details and download the full itinerary here: https://backroadsgo.com/3CPvqmg

Thanks, Julia!

Thanks, Julia, for this sweet message. We’re so lucky to have the opportunity to help create memories for people like you and your family. Best job in the world! Looking forward to seeing you on your 16th trip soon!

Mallorca Bike Tour

Welcome to Mallorca, Spain. You'll feel the allure from the moment you ease your bike onto the roads of this enchanting Spanish island. From gorgeous serpentine roads clinging to the coast, detours through the heart of medieval hill towns, coastal beach escapes and soaking in the warm sunshine of the Mediterranean, it's impossible not to fall in love with the riding and the irresistible vibe of Mallorca. This is our Mallorca Bike Tour: https://backroadsgo.com/3OlYBjR

Brittany & Normandy Bike Tour

Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in D-Day lore or simply spend a week biking through one of the most scenic regions of France, our Brittany & Normandy Bike tour is an experience that deserves a spot at the top of your list. Discover the trip here: https://backroadsgo.com/3NoccqM

Canadian Rockies Tours

The Rockies are calling... Find our full offering of Canadian Rockies Walking & Hiking and Multi-Adventure trips here: https://backroadsgo.com/3a0Iqtn