If you’re in your 30s or 40s and itching for a trip that’s more than just photos and poolside lounging at all-inclusive resorts, there’s a new option on the market for you.
Backroads has something exciting on deck: a brand-new collection of active travel itineraries designed for your age group. Think less cookie-cutter tour, more “big vacation energy, small group vibe.”
Launching June 26, 2025, and setting sail in spring 2026, the 30s & 40s collection includes 34 culturally immersive trips and over 70 departures worldwide. Whether you’re biking along California’s wine country, trekking to Machu Picchu via lodge-to-lodge in Peru, heli-hiking the Canadian Rockies, or exploring the hilltop villages of Italy’s Dolomites, these trips promise curated adventure with a peer crew.
Designed for Connection and Exploration
Backroads wasn’t just checking boxes when they created these trips. They spotted that travelers in their 30s and 40s crave active, immersive experiences, along with the flexibility to choose their own pace. Each day brings options: go all-out on a challenging hike, or spend a slow morning sipping espresso in a mountain lodge. The goal? Blend connection, culture, and well-earned wanderings.
These aren’t mega-tour excursions. Think groups under 15, accompanied by top-rated Trip Leaders (average rating: 9.8/10) who are as adept at logistics as they are at storytelling. You’ll stay in boutique hotels, eat at local favorites, and soak up real culture, not tourist traps.
Itinerary Highlights
There are a number of different options for these trips, but some of our highlights from this collection include:
- Dolomites Hut-to-Hut Hiking (Summer 2026): Trek through alpine passes and sleep in cozy mountain huts.
- Peru Lodge-to-Lodge Trek (May, August, October 2026): Follow sacred Andean paths and arrive at Machu Picchu with epic views and even better memories.
- Costa Rica Highlands to Coast Multi-Adventure: Zipline, hike, and explore everything from cloud forest to Pacific beaches.
- Canadian Rockies Heli-Hiking: Reach higher altitudes by helicopter, then hike through turquoise lakes and jagged peaks.
Age Isn’t the Limit
Backroads’ CEO Tom Hale says this season responds to “travelers who want adventure but don’t have the time or energy to plan it themselves,” while CCO Avery Hale Smith notes that this generation is “prioritizing experiential travel over the typical.”
If you’re in your 30s or 40s and craving an escape that blends adventure, culture, and connection (with none of the planning hassle), these Backroads trips are calling your name. Booking opened June 26 for departures starting spring 2026. It’s a perfect fit for travelers ready to trade routine for something real.
