Introducing a new generation of touring, with Back-Roads Touring

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25th June 2025

Not all tours are created equal. For those who seek more than just ticking off landmarks, Back-Roads Touring offers something quite extraordinary: journeys that are as much about connection as they are about discovery. This is travel that favours depth over distance, where intimate group sizes, hand-picked experiences, and scenic country routes combine to create something truly one-of-a-kind.

It’s not just where you go – it’s how you get there. And why you choose to go at all.

Why Our Advisors Recommend Back-Roads Touring

At Travel Associates, we’ve seen first-hand what makes a holiday unforgettable – and time and again, our advisors return to Back-Roads Touring as a top recommendation. Why? Because it offers our clients what so many are quietly craving: authenticity, comfort, and a pace that allows you to breathe it all in. This isn’t about rushing from one hotspot to the next, or blending into a crowd of camera-wielding tourists. With no more than 18 guests per tour, Back-Roads feels more like travelling with friends than following a guide. It’s that sense of ease, of being known and looked after, that makes all the difference.

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Our advisors love that Back-Roads prioritises small group touring to enhance every tour for each guest.

A Different Kind of Journey

Imagine winding through the lavender fields of Provence or the rolling green hills of the Cotswolds – not from a highway, but along charming country lanes that larger coaches simply can’t navigate. You stop in storybook villages, visit family-run vineyards, and dine in places that don’t advertise, because they don’t need to. These are experiences that happen off the tourist trail and instead are curated with care. The focus here is on slow travel. It’s about uncovering a place’s character, not just its postcard views. Back-Roads tours include plenty of two- and three-night stays, meaning fewer hotel changes and more time to soak in each destination.

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Explore winding country lanes that larger coaches can’t navigate.

Guides Who Feel Like Hosts

Every Back-Roads journey is led by a thoughtful tour leader who’s more than just knowledgeable – they’re passionate, personable, and often locals themselves. Our clients return home speaking just as highly of their guide as the places they visited. These are people who know the best local markets, the hidden courtyards, the quiet museum corners that most miss. They don’t just explain a destination, they reveal it.

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Back-Roads' tour leaders are experts in their region and can often introduce you to hidden gems you would otherwise overlook.

Small Groups, Big Experiences

What sets Back-Roads apart – and what our advisors love – is how the small group format of no more than 18 guests enhances every moment. Whether it's a truffle-hunting walk through an Italian forest, or an exclusive tasting at a countryside château, the size of the group allows for flexibility, spontaneity, and access. And in a post-pandemic world where many travellers are seeking more space, less crowds, and meaningful encounters, Back-Roads Touring has become more relevant than ever.

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With Back-Roads, guests enjoy meaningful experiences centred on spontaneity and exclusive access.

Comfort Without Compromise

Back-Roads guests enjoy thoughtfully chosen boutique accommodation – converted manors, charming guesthouses, heritage inns – places that reflect the character of the region. It’s not luxury for luxury’s sake, but comfort with soul and story. And on the road, the experience is just as polished. Spacious mini-coaches with oversized windows, premium seating, and personal service make the journey feel as enjoyable as the destinations themselves.

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Back-Roads offers personal service and luxurious journeys on every trip.

Touring Re-imagined

Back-Roads isn’t just another tour operator. At its core is a philosophy of travel that prioritises insight over itinerary, people over places, and quality over quantity. It’s for the culturally curious, the independently minded, and anyone who’s ever thought group touring wasn’t for them. Let Travel Associates help you uncover this new generation of touring – one that blends curated discovery with a sense of genuine connection.