Active travel tour company Backroads has announced a new set of 34 itineraries created to match the interests and pace of travelers in their 30s and 40s. These small-group biking, hiking, and multi-adventure tours open for booking on June 26 for trips launching in the spring of 2026.
What does it mean, to tailor trips to this age group? According to Avery Hale-Smith, Backroads’ Chief Experience Officer, the big draw is the chance to connect with others of similar ages: “With these trips, we want to bring together people in the same life stage to adventure together.” The company already has a solid track record doing this with its family trip portfolio, which offers separate trips for families with school-aged kids, teenagers, and young adults.
Tours are set to include a Dolomites walking and hiking tour, a lodge-to-lodge Peru trekking tour, a Canadian Rockies heli-hiking tour, and a Kentucky bike tour. Hale Smith says that Backroads is already seeing a lot of interest in the trips. “So far, travelers are especially excited about like the Dolomites and the Alps, destinations that aren’t as easily accessible to independent travelers and spots that feel slightly less discovered.” And, she says, that while cycling trips remain popular, so far, walking and hiking trips are getting the most buzz.
TourScoop takeaway
This is one of the first times I’ve seen a tour company actively engage with travelers in this age group. For a long time, tours were a travel style people tended to age into. While there were a few tour specialists focusing on college-aged travelers (like Contiki) and families (like Adventures by Disney), most tour companies targeted travelers who were in their empty-nest-through-retirement eras. And while that was a little less true with active travel outfitters (like Backroads) that attracted outdoorsy and athletic travelers of all ages, folks in their 30s and 40s generally weren’t a primary demographic for guided group travel companies.
But in the last decade or so, tour companies have started expanding their offerings to include more age groups and travel styles. Many, including Backroads, now cater to families. And Backroads’ move to craft trips that appeal to the interests of travelers in their 30s and 40s feels like the next evolution of the movement.
Because the thing is, tours aren’t a crutch for people who need help planning, they’re an opportunity to go deeper into a destination and get more out of vacation. As Hale said when I spoke with her, “No matter your age, it’s nice to let go of the reins” when it comes to vacation planning. And for active travel, the chance to cycle, hike, and paddle alongside like-minded adventurers is both deeply practical and pretty special. Bonus: Backroads’ focus on luxury active travel means comfort and adventure live side by side on trips.
I straddle the line between Gen X and Millennial and love seeing trips that bring people in this stage of life together to move at such a human speed through some of the world’s most beautiful places.
