Backroads Pumps Up Popular River Cruise Category With Active Bike Touring, Walking & Hiking Trips, and More Locations for 2016

Only Active Travel Company to Offer Active River Cruising; Offering 72 Departures to Europe and Southeast Asia


BERKELEY, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 30, 2015) - For travelers who want to do more than float down the river, Backroads, the leading active travel company, today announced 72 active river cruise departures for 2016. Teaming up with AmaWaterways, the leader in river cruising, Backroads new River Cruise Biking and River Cruise Walking & Hiking trips are now open for booking on a range of scenic destinations in Europe and Southeast Asia. Backroads' first active river cruise in 2015 on the Danube sold out quickly and earned rave reviews from Backroads guests.

River cruises are one of the top trending categories for Backroads and the company has responded by expanding its offerings with itineraries for river cruising through some of the world's most captivating cityscapes and countryside -- along with the outstanding trip leaders, custom routes and support that travelers expect from Backroads. Families can join the fun on new active river cruises designed just for them, including Family Breakaway trips for families with older teens and 20-somethings. Additionally, active river cruising is drawing much interest from multigenerational travelers as the perfect way for family members of all ages to travel together.

In 2016 Backroads will launch new river cruise trips along the Danube, Rhine, Seine, Portugal's Douro and Mekong Delta. In September, an entire ship just for Backroads guests will set sail on a Danube Full Ship Celebration River Cruise Bike Tour

New Backroads River Cruise Trips

  • Danube River Cruise Bike Tour (adult-only and family trips offered)
  • Danube Full Ship Celebration River Cruise Bike Tour
  • Danube Cobblestones & Countryside River Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour
  • Mekong River Cruise Bike Tour
  • Portugal's Douro River Cruise Bike Tour
  • Rhine River Cruise Bike Tour (adult-only and Family Breakaway trips offered)
  • Seine River Cruise Bike Tour

Travelers booking one of these exciting new departures will enjoy the comfort and amenities of an AmaWaterways river cruise combined with Backroads' immersive, expert-curated biking or walking & hiking tours. These Backroads routes are thoughtfully designed to integrate riding or hiking with historic and cultural discoveries. Every Backroads tour will feature the same high quality experience guests expect on all Backroads trips including multiple expert trip leaders, custom titanium bikes (electric-assist, tandem and Specialized bikes available for rental upgrade), support vans, and flexible itineraries with a range of cycling routes ideal for all abilities. Backroads guests will also enjoy the luxury of only unpacking once while living aboard an AmaWaterways ship. 

"River cruising is the hottest new way to travel and we are excited to put our Backroads active travel spin on it," said Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale. "Whether it is biking along the scenic Danube bike path or through the fairy-tale beauty of the Wachau Valley, we offer an active travel experience along with the intimate elegance of an AmaWaterways ship. It's the perfect way for active adults and families to enjoy river cruising together."

About Backroads
Backroads (www.backroads.com) was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale. The company has been in business for more than 36 years and hosts thousands of guests in hundreds of locations across the globe, 80% of whom are repeat guests or referrals from past guests.

Named one of the top 100 places to work by Outside magazine in 2014, Backroads is a founding member of the Adventure Collection. For more information, please visit www.backroads.com or call 800-462-2848 daily, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Pacific Time.

Contact Information:

Backroads
Liz Einbinder
415-577-8255