Backroads is an active travel company that leads cycling, hiking, and multi-sport adventure trips in 40+ countries around the world, with destinations across Europe, Canada, Latin America, The Caribbean, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, Antarctica, and the United States.
Immerse yourself in the life of a region, explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus, or in a few excursions from a cruise ship or a secluded resort. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world.
Backroads Leaders are quick-thinking, team players, intuitive, funny, dynamic, active, decisive, professional, poised, motivated, friendly, empathetic, authentic, hardworking, assured, inexhaustible, creative, flexible and inspirational… phew! We know we’re all unique, and we don’t all possesses each of these characteristics, but these are the qualities that define some of our most successful Backroads Trip Leaders.
At minimum, you must be at least 21 years of age and have a valid driver’s license and excellent driving record. Leaders based in the U.S., Canada and Europe are eligible to work in Europe, and a small number of new Leaders will be sent overseas in their first season. The key factors in determining European trip leading schedules are language skills, European travel experience, and the ability to confidently drive a manual transmission van and pulling a trailer with guests in the vehicle with you.
There are three stages to the hiring process. After each stage Backroads will let you know if you will, or will not, be advancing to the next stage. Once the Hiring Team has reviewed your application, they may contact you to schedule a Skype/phone interview. Similarly, after a Skype/phone interview Backroads may invite you to attend a Hiring Event (with dates beginning in January). Finally, before leading trips, every new Leader must graduate from the Backroads Leadership Training Program.
Leaders receive their trip leading assignments near the end of the training process. Several factors determine where you might work, including an individual’s experience, performance in training, language skills (if applicable), ability to drive manual transmission (if applicable), availability and, above all, our company need.
Benefits & Activities:
- Weeklong staff bike ride in different country every year
- Itineraries feature some of the worlds’ best hotels, restaurants and scenery
Meals: Provided, varied
Housing: Provided: varies by trip
Staff size: 100+
Seasons: Spring, summer, fall, winter, year round
Positions:
- Adventure trip leaders
Apply: Online
Contact: 800-462-2848
