Get that festive feeling with us

There’s something special about winter: the nights draw in, mornings become frosty, and a hush falls over many of Europe’s landscapes. The approach of winter also means that the festive season is drawing near once again. For many, it really is the most wonderful time of the year, as we look forward to good times spent with family and friends over some filling festive fare. The familiar tinkle of Christmas songs can be heard as we begin the search for the perfect gift for our loved ones – and there’s always a party to look forward to!

Why not try something a little bit different this winter and head off on a tour of some of Europe’s most festive destinations with Back-Roads Touring? We’ve got a new range of delightful winter-time tours which are bound to get you into the spirit of the season.

Discover England at Christmas

If you've always wanted to experience a cosy English Christmas, our English Christmas Markets tour was made for you. Join us as we don our winter woollies and make our way around some of the country’s magical markets: from London to Bath and the Cotswolds. We’ll take in the beautiful English countryside at it frosty best before getting into the spirit of things at Choral Evensong services and delving into bygone traditions. What better way could there be to welcome the season of goodwill?

Experience a Traditional Alsace Christmas

Explore the chocolate-box villages and picturesque scenery that characterise heart-stealing Alsace on our A Traditional Alsace Christmas tour. Stroll through the fairy-light adorned laneways of medieval towns like Eguisheim, or hunt down the perfect gift for that special someone in the atmospheric Christmas markets filling the lively squares. After all that, why not settle into a comfortable corner of a local restaurant and indulge in some hearty and warming local cuisine? See how Alsace comes in to its own at this time of year on this idyllic wintry jaunt.

See the best of Bohemia and Saxony

Take another look at some of Europe’s best-loved cities on this yuletide tour. From the Gothic spires of pretty Prague to the original German Christmas market in Dresden, our Christmas Markets: our The Best of Saxony and Bohemia tour takes in historic cities at – arguably – their most beautiful and charming. Delve into the centuries-old traditions of Germany and the Czech Republic and savour delicious local delicacies before we get out of the cold and enjoy a relaxing and rejuvenating soak in the thermal spa of Karlovy Vary.

An authentic Austro-Hungarian Christmas

History-laden cities, delicious food and some fascinating festive traditions – what’s not to love? From the elegance of refined Vienna to the festive buzz of beautiful Budapest, our An Austro-Hungarian Christmas tour serves up Christmas cheer in spades! From gazing at mesmerising Lake Bled to losing yourself in the cobbled streets of fairy-tale Ljubljana and perusing Europe’s most beautiful Christmas Market in Zagreb, this tour is the perfect introduction to culturally rich Central Europe.

Winter under the Northern Lights

Snowy landscapes, fragrant pine forests, ice-encrusted lakes and an otherworldly light show streaking across the inky sky: nothing beats the magic of the far north in winter. Join us on a journey to the wintry wonderland of Finland, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, on our Northern Lights: A Lapland Winter tour. We’ll stop off at some of the country’s most picturesque towns for a taste of Finnish culture, tick off world-famous sights like the SnowCastle at Kemi, and explore some scenic national parks. A morning spent in the company of none other than Santa himself at his home in Rovaniemi also awaits us!