With a lifetime of travel experience behind you, you’ve surely learned a trick or two about what makes a trip run smoothly. While older adults planning getaways have the same lifespan in common as their later-year peers, travel organizations recognize that this demographic is extremely diverse in terms of interests, budgets, values, habits and abilities. Your years of history — in varying careers, hometowns, experiences and beliefs — have taken you in many different directions; your needs and wants while traveling should reflect that.
From independent to guided, budget to luxury, and group to individual, organized tours give older adults the chance to engage in immersive experiences, educational opportunities and adventure while visiting family, learning about foreign countries and exploring new destinations.
Learn more about a few of the travel organizations that specifically cater to mature clients or offer flexible experiences to accommodate a range of ages:
Adventures Abroad
Describing its clientele as “curious, active, and often very well-traveled,” Adventures Abroad largely looks after travelers 50 and over, but their more than 350 itineraries to 120 countries are open to all ages. Some of the most popular destinations include New Zealand, Switzerland and the Greek Isles. The “soft adventure” trips concentrate on the culture and history of a destination and promise no strenuous activities — though a reasonable degree of fitness and the ability to walk are required.
Backroads
Looking for an active vacation? Across the United States and overseas, Backroads excursions are grouped by biking, hiking or walking, and the new Dolce Tempo tours offer “a relaxed pace, stylish comfort, authentic experiences and unique access.”
Firebird Tours
Focusing on clients 50 and over, Firebird Tours take guests to destinations in the Middle East, South Africa, Morocco, and North America, although this organization is best known for its tours to Scandinavia and Russia. Private family tours are also available with locations and activities suitable for a wider age range depending on the group. Every Firebird tour can be customized to your requests.
Overseas Adventure Travel
Mature travelers are drawn to the flexibility of the trips and the ability to personalize activities that Overseas Adventure Travel offers. The company creates getaways on every continent, including experiences for solo tourists and some tours exclusively designed for female travelers.
Road Scholar
Participants in Road Scholar are typically over age 50 and eager to learn from travel or focus on a specific interest. Offerings such as “From the Outback to the Reef: Australia with your Grandchild” round out the wide selection of cruises, city exploration, national parks and historical trips that can be filtered based on duration, activity level, price and other details to find the ideal destination and experience.
Senior Cycling
Specializing in bicycle tours for active adults ages 50 and up, Senior Cycling limits groups to a maximum of 13 participants and always includes a “sag wagon,” in case someone needs a break from riding. Available throughout the United States and Canada, tours are rated at three levels from easy (for the occasional rider) to advanced (for those comfortable riding about 50 miles per day).
Envisage helps you to live your best life by offering resources such as our Wellness Education for Long-Term Living (WELL) program and partnership with Masterpiece, which focuses on emotional, physical and social well-being, along with peace & fulfillment.