Tired of Gen-Z Trends? You Can Soon Book Millennial-Only Group Trips.

Every generation seems to be a world apart from the one that comes after it, and millennials and Gen-Z’ers are no exception. And when it comes to travel, those differences are pronounced. Younger travelers tend to prefer budget-friendly accommodations, and are more likely than millennials to plan trips based on what they’ve seen on Instagram. Gen-Z travelers are more likely to follow travel influencers on TikTok, and millennials are more keen on researching trips and finding deals. Gen-Z is more likely to book on a whim, though both generations are more likely to book last minute than boomers.

With the oldest millennials into their 40s, travel preferences have likely changed, too. Many people may prefer to stay out late and endure a few hardships when they’re young and full of energy, but may want something a little more luxurious by their fourth decade of life. And according to a new announcement from cycle tour company Backroads, it’s for all these reasons that the brand is introducing trips with a new angle: they’re just for travelers in their 30s and 40s.

Photo: Miljan Zivkovic/Shutterstock

“After 45 years, we’ve learned the magic of a Backroads trip is about more than the places you visit,” writes the release. “It’s about the people you experience it with.” While other Backroads trips may have families with kids and teens — or adults anywhere from their late teens to late 80s — the new trips are targeted exclusively to millennials and 40-somethings (though the company can’t technically stop buyers of any age from booking).

Trip organizers told Matador Network the decision to create 30- and 40-something trips was inspired by two points. First, that they noticed attendees on their family trips really enjoyed traveling with other likeminded travelers in a similar stage of life. The Backroads team also heard from guests that they were finding a lack of high-end travel experiences well-suited to millennials and young Gen-Xers, and wanted to fill the void.

For now, that’s the primary difference on these trips — though the website promises that they’ll be “culturally rich, physically engaging, wellness-inspired, and socially vibrant. It’s likely that they’ll include the same busy and physically active adventures of trips for younger people, but include slightly more luxurious hotels, with extra free time for guests to fit in a little wellness time or a gourmet dinner.

Millennials and GenXers are more likely to value indulgences like local, higher-end cuisine. Photo: View Apart/Shutterstock

Bookings for the new millennial group travel trips don’t open until mid-June 2025 — but since they’re based on existing Backroads trips, a preview of the upcoming trips is already available online.  These are the four trips we’re most excited about for 2026 and beyond.

A Kentucky Bourbon Country Bike Tour: The Kentucky Bike Tour is a multi-day cycling trip covering about 160 miles through central Kentucky, focusing on the Bluegrass region known for its horse farms and bourbon distilleries. Riders will have scenic views of farmland and rolling hills by day, and in the afternoons and evenings, they’l visit bourbon distilleries for tours and tasting or visit historic landmarks like Kentucky Castle. Accommodations are in a mix of boutique hotels and historic properties, with a focus on local southern cuisine.

A Dolomites Hut-to-Hut Hiking Tour: This Euro-adventure is a six-day trek that traverses northern Italy alpine landscapes like wildflower meadows, pine forests, and glacial valleys. Each night, participants stay in traditional mountain lodges, or rifugi, and will pass through multiple national parks. Days are long and on foot, requiring a decent amount of fitness while traveling through areas known for wildlife like ibex and chamois.

A Quebec City to Montreal Bike Tour: Quebec is the primarily French-speaking province of Canada, so exploring this region on a bike will likely feel a lot like cycling through Europe, but without the long flight. If this trip is anything like the current family-focused trip, it’ll include chances to cycle along the St. Lawrence River, explore small towns and cute artisan workshops, and maybe even fit in a few activities like whale watching or paddling.

Vietnam and Laos Cycling Tour: Cycling tours are what Backroads is most known for, and this upcoming 30- and 40-something trip through Southeast Asia is exactly what the brand does best. Participants will likely get the chance to cycle past rice paddies, explore historic Angkor Wat, and visit small towns and big cities. Vietnam is long and narrow, so it’s possible to cycle along the coast and through the jungle without traveling very far between the two.