europe

Savor the slow pace of life in southern France on a journey for the senses through Provence. Bike amid the Alpilles, where olive trees glisten silver in the sun. Then pedal in the Lubéron, where the air is rich with fragrant flowers and trees. Celebrations of color vie for your attention, be it poppies and wildflowers in spring, lavender in summer or changing vineyard leaves in fall. Ride quiet roads to medieval hilltop villages, taking in views of vineyards, orchards and pastures. Visit the historic towns of Gordes and St-Rémy, and stop at the market in picture-perfect Bédoin to sample delicacies such as fresh goat cheese, olives and pastries. Find your bliss in Provence on a bicycle with Backroads.

Who were the people that built monuments older than the Pyramids? The Irish! On our Ancient Ireland Adventure Tour explore their passage cairns, exquisite art, and carved stone heads rising from the earth. Clamber through age-old fortresses, castles, and ancient abbeys. Then treat yourself to a medieval banquet filled with scrumptious food and ribald music. Take a walk through time and feel the power of this land. Take our Ancient Ireland Tour and prepare to be amazed!

Based in Sorrento, you will be perfectly positioned for visiting some of Italy's finest ancient sites, spectacular coastlines, and small islands. Take a treasure hunt in Pompeii, visit the wonders of Naples, take optional trips to Herculaneum and Vesuvius, rub shoulders with the fabled super-rich in Capri, and learn to cook authentic Napoli pizzas. Enjoy the food of the area and visit a farm at Paestum, savour local tomatoes, oil and mozzarella, famed for their wonderful flavors.

From Michelangelo's statue of David to the echoes of gladiators at Rome's Colosseum, the art and drama of the ages inspire this journey. Visit the Doges’ Palace in Venice, see St. Mark's Square, and take a gondola ride on the canals complete with a serenade. Explore the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Take a private boat across Lake Como at the foot of the Alps, and a high-speed train ride to Florence. See the Colosseum in Rome, and view the inspiring treasures of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel during a private, after-hours guided visit. So make sure to book your airfare and start your Italy tour today!

This taste of Ireland tour is a great way to start your Irish vacation & see all the major sites that Ireland has to offer. Start with an exciting tour of Dublin and then venture off to Blarney Castle & Killarney. Then embark on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Attend a medieval banquet, enjoy dinner and a traditional show in Dublin, kiss the Blarney Stone and view the Cliffs of Moher. This is one Ireland tour you won't soon forget!

Our week long France tour takes you from the fabled French Riviera and the romantic south of France to ever famous Paris. The vibrant colors of the south of France and the turquoise shades of the Côte d'Azur will leave you amazed. See first-hand the artistic inspirations of Vincent van Gogh in St-Remy-de-Provence. The experiences include an olive oil tasting and lunch in Mas des Barres, a guided adventure walk on the 2,000-year-old Pont du Gard, and a three-night stay in Paris that's highlighted by a guided tour of the Musee du Louvre and a dinner cruise on the River Seine. If you have limited time to travel, there's no better way to experience the country's many charms than on this memorable one-week France tour.