What we’re about
Hello! Do you like adventure, travel, challenging-but-fun activities, walking, the outdoors? We do! And we hope you'll join us on some of the many exciting meetups we are planning, and help build a community of like-minded, easy-going people who enjoy new experiences, exploring the world, meeting new people, making friends and having fun.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- MAY 4 - 12 - (BANK HOL) TREK THE LYCIAN WAY, WESTERN HIGHLIGHTS (TURKEY)Dalaman Airport, Dalaman, MU£699.00
Backabush is going back to Turkiye to trek the highlights of the Western Lycian Way!
Cost £699. Number of nights - 8. Maximum group size - 16.
Accommodation in small hotels, guesthouses and homestays. This is an 'Inn to Inn' trekking trip with luggage transfer.
The Lycian way is a long distance trail that spans over 300 miles along Turkey's stunning Turquoise Coast. Our plan is to do the best day hikes on the western half of the trail, along spectacular coastline, between rural towns and villages. We will have the chance to visit ancient Roman ruins, wild swim in secluded coves and enjoy home cooked food at our local guesthouses.
We plan to do six days of hiking along the famous Lycian way through meadow and forest, past the sandy beaches of Kabak and Kalkan Cove through the ruins of Delikkemer and Patara. We will finish our trek in the beach town of Kas, a centre for adventure tourism where we will have a free day to rest & recover or join an excursion such as sea kayaking to the sunken city of Kekova or catch a short ferry to the Greek island of Kastellorizo.
ACCOMMODATIONS
On this trip we will be staying in six different places as we journey along the Lycian Way. Accommodation will be a combination of small hotels, guesthouses and one homestay, for one or two nights each.
We will sleep in shared twin rooms with one night at the homestay where there will be 4 beds in each room.
DIFFICULTY
This trip is best suited to hikers with a good level of fitness, our longest day of hiking will be approximately 9 miles with over 800m of ascent on rough trails. There will also be some shorter days finishing earlier in the afternoon so we can enjoy the beaches and ancient ruins.
We will be supported on our trek by a local organiser who will provide a luggage transfer between accommodations so we can hike each day with just a light daypack.
On this trip we don't have local guides, the trail is well marked and signposted throughout. Detailed route descriptions inculding GPX files to use with navigation apps will be provided but if you are not confident in navigation don't worry, we will always be hiking together as a group and supporting each other throughout the trip.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
- 8 Nights hotel, guesthouse & homestay accommodation in shared rooms.
- All breakfasts, 2 simple packed lunches and 3 evening meals.
- Private airport transfers and transport to/from hikes.
- Luggage transfer between accommodations.
- 6 days of organised hikes (self guided).
- Trip organiser.
- Full financial protection as per the Package Travel Regulations.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED?
- Flights to Dalaman Airport (see recommended flights).
- Remaining lunches and dinners.
- Travel insurance.
- Optional excursions in Kas.
RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS
Our airport transfers will be organised to meet these flights, if you choose to book alternative travel you will need to either meet us at Dalaman Airport at 20:45 or make your own way to our first nights accommodation in Kayaköy.
Outbound - Saturday 4 May
easyJet EZY8563
Departs - Gatwick 14:25
Arrives - Dalaman 20:35Return - Sunday 12 May
easyJet EZY8564
Departs - Dalaman 15:00
Arrives - Gatwick 17:25HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP
To book onto this trip please email backabushxplorers@yahoo.com and send full payment to the Backabush account. Please use LYCIANWEST as your payment reference.
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622Your RSVP alone is NOT enough to secure your place, full payment is needed to make a reservation.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We consider safety to be our number one priority and while we never take unnecessary risks, we do recognise that any outdoor activity involves a danger of personal injury or death. Remember that you should be aware of and accept these risks as you are responsible for your own safety and you should not undertake anything beyond your abilities. It is also your responsibility to be correctly equipped for the weather and activity you have chosen to participate in.
- MAY 23-27 (SPRING BANK HOLIDAY) – GERMANY’S FAIRY-TALE BLACK FORESTSchwarzwaldhotel Gengenbach, Gengenbach£379.00
Backabush is going to Germany’s enchanted Black Forest (Schwarzwald), one of Europe's most beautiful hiking regions, for the late May bank holiday.
Cost - £379 (twin share). Group size - 14. Accommodation - 4 star hotel with twin (or double) rooms & breakfast.
Known for its forested hills, gorgeous valleys and picturesque villages, the Black Forest is an ideal walking destination with an excellent network of well-maintained trails. The area gets the most sunshine in Germany and late May is a perfect time to hike here, with pleasant temperatures and fruit orchards blooming in the valleys.
Our base will be the charming, medieval town of Gengenbach, located in the idyllic Kinzig Valley between forested hills and vineyards. This pictururesque town is full of pastel coloured historic timber-frame houses, traditional German restaurants and beer terraces.
From here we have easy access to numerous local hiking trails by means of the Black Forest railway, one of the most scenic railway lines in Germany. During our three full days of hiking, we will have the chance to explore the diverse scenery of the Central Black Forest region.
Our hotel will provide us with the KONUS Guest Card which provides free 2nd class travel on all public transportation (trains and buses) throughout the Black Forest region for the duration of our stay (from check-in up to and including our departure day). Train journeys to/from our hikes will be between 15-35 minutes.
ACCOMMODATION:
We have booked comfortable twin share rooms in the 4 star Schwarzwaldhotel Gengenbach, a short walking distance from the train station. The hotel offers a wellness area incl. heated indoor pool, Finnish sauna and steam room.
ITINERARY:
Thu 23 May – Arrival, time to explore Gengenbach
Fri 24 May - Oberharmersbach to Wolfach via Brandenkopf, the highest peak of the Central Black Forest (946m) (20km, 850m ascent/descent)
Sat 25 May – Hausach to Hornberg along a ridgeway with series of peaks on the Westweg long distance trail (20km, 1000m ascent, 860m descent)
Sun 26 May – Triberg's famous waterfalls, cicular hike (18km, 540m ascent/descent)
Mon 27 May – Departure
Please note this hiking itinerary is provisional and subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors.
DIFFICULTY:
This trip does not involve technical mountaineering but the hikes will be challenging due to their length/elevation profile so you will need to have a good level of hiking fitness, capable of walking up to up to 12.5 miles (20km) and 3300 feet (1000m) ascent/descent.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- 4 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel
- 4 breakfasts
- KONUS card offering free local public transport
- An itinerary of organised hikes for our 3 full hiking days
- 1 trip organiser
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED:
- Lunches/ dinners (we will buy lunch supplies locally and sample the local cuisine at restaurants for dinner)
- Flights and airport transfers (see details below)
- Travel insurance
- Entrance fees (minimal fees expected for the waterfalls and observation tower)
RECOMMENDED FLIGHTS AND TRANSFERS:
The Black Forest is well connected with 4 different airports in the vicinity. Return flights currently priced from just £100!
(shortest transfer times by train/bus to Gengenbach in brackets)
- EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg - BA from Heathrow and Easyjet from Gatwick (2hr 20min)
- Strasbourg - Volotea from Gatwick (1hr 20min)
- Stuttgart - BA and Eurowings from Heathrow (2hr 28min)
- Karlsruhe / Baden Baden - Ryanair from Stansted (1hr 10min - outbound too late to catch the train, works for return flight)
Outbound flights: It is recommended to book a morning flight on Thu 23 May to arrive in Gengenbach in the afternoon. Afternoon flights are possible however keep in mind that you may only arrive at the hotel after 9/10PM.
Inbound flights: It is recommended to book an evening or late afternoon flight on Mon 27 May to ensure you have enough time to get to the airport. Earlier flights may be possible (please consult train schedules).
Train/bus transfer costs vary with one way prices between 11-28 EUR depending on the airport. Consult Google Maps or the Deutsche Bahn website to find bus/train connections/prices.
Contact the organiser if you need help finding suitable flights/ airport transfers.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
To confirm your place on this trip use online banking. Your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use BlackForest as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622Only payment secures your place. Please email ingridhansen1@gmail.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you.
- MAY 25 - 31 (SPRING BANK HOLIDAY) - ORKNEYInverness, Inverness£659.00
Backabush is going to Orkney for some Scottish island hopping in the far north!
Cost - £659. Group size - 18. Accommodation - Hostel with twin rooms.
Orkney is an archipelago off the north coast of Scotland, famous for its tall sandstone cliffs, neolithic sites, wildlife, and seemingly endless daylight at midsummer. Come island hopping with us to a place with it's own unique Scottish character. The relatively low level walking on Orkney is in complete contrast to so many of the Scottish hiking trips that we have run in the past, Orkney's rolling hills, meadows, miles of coastline and archaeological sites provide hikers with so much to explore.
Our plan is to drive from Inverness on Saturday May 25th and catch the ferry across to St Margaret's Hope on South Ronaldsay, Orkney. From there our road hops across a few little islands all connected by narrow causeways before reaching Mainland, which is the largest of the islands. We will stay for 6 nights on Mainland in the town of Kirkwall, Orkney's largest settlement, comparatively busy with restaurants, shops, picturesque harbourfront and historic Norse centre.
For our 5 hiking days we will have the chance to explore Mainland Orkney as well as some of the neighbouring isles accessible by short ferry rides. Some of Orkneys walking highlights include:
- Skara Brea & the Western Coastline, one of the best preserved stone age villages in Europe.
- The island of Hoy, with its craggy coast and sea-stack 'The Old Man of Hoy.'
- The island of Westray, 'Queen O' the Isles', RSPB reserve and broad bays of Tuquoy and Mae Sands.
- South Ronaldsay, the Tomb of the Eagles and Windwick Bay.
- Deerness, the eastern tip of Mainland, a beautifully rugged Orkney classic.
ACCOMODATION
We have hostel accommodation with a difference in Orkney. There are shared twin and private room options, bathrooms are shared.Shared twin room £659
TRAVEL TO SCOTLAND
The meeting point will be in Inverness town centre at 10:45am on Saturday 25th May. We will meet in the car park outside the Morrisons Supermarket, which is just next to the train station.We must depart Inverness no later than 11am in order to catch our ferry to Orkney. For this reason we would recommend travelling to Scotland the day before on Friday 24th and staying overnight in Inverness or nearby. There are plenty of hotel, b&b and hostel accommodation options to choose from in Inverness.
DIFFICULTY
Although ascent on this trip will be minimal (Orkney's highest summit is 481m high) this is a wild and remote area with rough trails and some steep routes winding up and down the island coastal cliffs, surefootedness is necessary. On this trip we will need to be fit enough to walk 10 miles a day.WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 6 nights quality, hostel accommodation (we will sleep in twin share rooms booked exclusively for our group)
- All transport in Scotland and Airport transfers from Inverness.
- Guided hikes. Our leaders are Mountain Leader trained and qualified first-aiders.
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Meals - Our accommodation will have self catering facilities and there are many local pubs and restaurant nearby
- Travel to Scotland
- Travel Insurance
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP:
To confirm your place on this trip use internet banking your RSVP is not enough to reserve a space on this trip. Please use ORKNEYMAY as your payment reference. The account details are:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622Only payment secures your place. Please email backabushxplorers@yahoo.com as soon as you send payment so that we can confirm everything with you. Thanks. :)
- JUNE 1 - 5 - WILDS OF ASSYNT, FROM ULLAPOOLInverness Airport, Inverness£349.00
Backabush is going back to Scotland to hike the North Highlands of Assynt.
Group size - 12. Nights - 4. Cost - £349. Accommodation - Sea-front hostel.
Assynt is in the far north of Scotland on the west coast. It's mountains are unique, individual islands of torridonian sandstone rising steeply from a vast, glacially scoured moorland. They call it a 'knock & lochan' landscape and it's found in few places worldwide.
Our plan is to meet at Inverness Airport. From there we will drive north to the town of Ullapool to find our hostel overlooking the sea on the shores of Loch Broom. Located in the town centre of Ullapool, we will not only have great access to the surrounding wilderness but also the convenience of the local shops, restaurants and the famous Seafood Shack.
For our 3 full hiking days in Assyst we plan to visit the some of the highlights of Northern Scotland. If the weather allows then this means mountain summits such as the magnificent Suilven (pictured above) an iconic fin shaped lonely mountain and a destination on many hikers UK tick list.
We will also plan to visit the wild coastline and playful lower summits around the popular Stac Pollaidh a unique collection of rocky towers atop an accessible 400m peak. We are really spoiled for hiking choices in Assynt, a wilderness littered with alluring peaks. Other classic hikes in the area are the triple corbetts of Quinag and the grand munros of Ben More and Conival.
Due to the nature of the hills in the area our hikes will involve lengthy walks (up to 12 miles/21km) through mountain terrain with no opportunity for short cuts. Therefore this trip is suitable only for fit and experienced hikers.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- 4 nights hostel accommodation in shared dorm rooms booked exculsively for our group
- All transport from Inverness.
- 3 full days of guided hikes by trained Mountain Leaders and qualified first aiders.
- Financial protection in accordance with the Package Travel Law 1992.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- Meals - There are many local restaurants in Ullapool and we can help make some reservations so our group can dine together. There is also a self catering kitchen at the hostel.
- Transport to Inverness.
- Travel Insurance.
TRAVEL & MEETING DETAILS
The meeting point will be at Inverness Airport on Saturday 1st June at 14:30. We will drop you off at Inverness Airport on Wednesday 29th June at 13:00.
Our airport transfers will be timed to meet the following flights:
• OUTBOUND - Saturday 1st June
easyJet flight EZY847
Departs - 12:25 London Gatwick
Arrives - 14:10 Inverness• INBOUND - Wednesday 5th June
easyJet flight EZY848
Departs - 14:55 Inverness
Arrives - 16:35 London GatwickIF YOU CHOOSE TO BOOK ALTERNATIVE TRAVEL PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 14:10 ON 1st JUNE AND DEPART NO EARLIER THAN 14:55 ON 5th JUNE.
We can also do a pick up/ drop off in Inverness town centre for those catching trains or staying in Inverness.
HOW TO BOOK A PLACE ON THIS TRIP
To book onto this trip please email backabushxplorers@yahoo.com and send full payment to the Backabush account. Please use Assynt as your payment reference:
Account Name: BACKABUSH XPLORERS
Sort Code: 090127
Account Number: 22440622
Your RSVP alone is NOT enough to secure your place, full payment is needed to make a reservation.
