Back-Roads

The Roads Less Travelled

Finding hidden gems on our travels can prove to be eye opening, revealing cultural differences and historical facts, giving us a better understanding of the places we visit, the people who live there and their sometimes fractious past.

One such experience is a Black Taxi Political Murals Tour in Belfast which takes you to sites on both sides of the eight-metre-high Peace Wall, with scribbled messages of peace and hope from people all over the world. Stop at various locations around Shankill Road with its fluttering Union Jacks, and Falls Road, with its memorials and the striking Imagine mural. In between, the automatic gates that were put in place between the two areas, are still closed at night. The tour is absolutely fascinating and sticks in our minds as we explore other delights around vibrant Belfast, including the exceptional Titanic Belfast attraction, Crown Liquor Saloon and venturing further afield taking in Games of Thrones locations and the stupendous Giants Causeway with its Jenga-esque basalt columns.

More views await on the13-day Back-Roads

‘Emerald Isle’ itinerary, including the charming beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, the Blarney Stone, delightful Dublin and the mighty, rugged Cliffs of Moher in County Clare with a sea of velvet-green topping the cliffs overlooking Galway Bay. Designated as an ‘Area of Natural Beauty’, the moniker doesn’t come close to how beautiful it actually is.

THE BACK-ROADS DIFFERENCE

Like the name suggests, travelling with Back-Roads Touring is taking you off the beaten track, not rushing here and there doing a whistle stop at amazing sights and in exotic cities at a pace that leaves your head spinning. Guests have time to savour the moment, take it all in, and discover a local way of life in the company of a small group of likeminded travellers. Best of all, guests will see each place through the eyes of local people, who know the locations best and are proud to show them off.

BACK-ROAD FACTS

UP TO 18 GROUP SIZE

Travelling in a mini-coach with a small group of up to 18 people, the experience will be more personalised. Large crowds and overpopulated tourist destinations are avoided, with tours taking guests to places where they can delve deeper into what a destination is like, and truly go beneath the surface, discovering fascinating cultures, delicious flavours and exploring new places. Learn traditional crafts and recipes and hear local stories and legends as you venture off the tourist trail and behind the scenes with exclusive local experiences.

30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

“Back-Roads is my preferred touring company for those who love small group experiences. Avoiding highways, large crowds and overpopulated tourist destinations, they focus on authentic and local adventures all via a luxury mini coach. Every client who has experienced them firsthand, has sung their praises to me. Highly Recommended!”

LISA CARTWRIGHT | REIS & JAMES TRAVEL ASSOCIATES, ACT

Where To Go

With 30 years’ experience, Back-Roads Touring excels at creating wonderful adventures that customers will remember forever. The itineraries, in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America, give guests the time and space to explore independently, with the perfect blend of time escorted in the group, and wandering on your own. Sample ‘A Taste of the Camino: Porto to Bilbao’ in Portugal and Spain, with the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of Santiago de Compostela sure to enchant. Spend 10 days discovering the ‘Splendours of Sicily’, seeing historic and scenic locations from the popular The White Lotus series, or dive into the treasures of Greece on the ‘Greece: Legends and Landscapes’ itinerary.

Uncover more and reveal your exclusive offer from Back-Roads

Hidden Gem

Back-Roads’ award-winning Europe Tour Leaders play a major role in delivering the ‘Back-Roads Difference’ for guests. They live and breathe the brand essence and do an exceptional job at delivering a unique experience. They take pride in their home country, dine with the group and bring each destination to life.