Photo by Monkey Business Images at Shutterstock
The benefits of travel, whether you’re looking for a refreshing weekend trip or a month-long getaway to a far-off destination, are unquestionable. And for retirees with the time and travel budget, the opportunities are endless.
Their city, state, and even the rest of the world are all waiting to be explored. While their abilities, interests, and habits may differ, it can definitely be said that for many folks, travel is in their retirement plans. Retirees might want to travel to visit family.
But they also want to learn about the countries of their ancestors or explore new places. Many seek educational opportunities, immersive experiences, or adventure.
And travel companies respond to their needs and wishes by offering senior-friendly travel groups that range from budget to luxury, independent to fully guided, and group to individual.
We’ve done the research and compiled a list of the 8 best senior-friendly travel groups out there, with highlights about each one so that you can have the time of your life!
While this senior-friendly travel group primarily caters to travelers over 50 years old, tours are open to adults of all ages and function on every continent except Antarctica.
The organization’s “soft adventure” trips, which concentrate on the history and culture of a destination, don’t include any brutal activities. However, a fair degree of fitness and walking ability ARE required.
Trips are rated from one to three based on physical activity, with the first level featuring only leisurely walks and level two meaning more time spent on your feet every day.
Level-three trips include walks or hikes on uneven ground for about three to seven hours, though still at a leisurely pace. An the best part about them is that specific trips are offered for each activity level for easier planning.
Launched initially and known as Elderhostel in 1975, this senior-friendly travel group rebranded in 2010 with the name it has today, identifying the interests and values of lifelong learners who have participated in their tours, lectures, field trips, and educational experiences over the years.
Participants are generally over 50 years old and ready to focus on a specific interest or learn from travel.
Trip themes like grandparent adventures, which are certain types of trips you can take with your grandkids, art and history, cruises, urban exploration, historical sites, and academic topics can be browsed by activity level, destination, and interest to aid their clients in selecting their ideal tour experience.
Running out of Grand Junction, Colorado, this senior-friendly travel group offers walking and hiking tours, especially for travelers over 50 who want to be absorbed by their chosen destinations.
Experienced hikers will love its Rocky Mountain National Park tour, for instance, with treks of up to 10 miles on certain days during their 8-day itinerary.
On the other hand, they also plan an Ireland trip that covers 11 days of exploring fishing villages, the stunning Cliffs of Moher, rolling green hills, the Dingle Peninsula, and Killarney National Park.
The daily walks with this senior-friendly travel group range anywhere from 4 to 8 miles and are known to be “gentle to moderate.”
With a diverse mix of trips available to destinations on every continent, this senior-friendly travel group makes a fantastic choice if you want to see the world through small-ship cruises.
Besides the guided land tours for groups of 8 to 16, this company offers sailing excursions through the Norwegian Fjords, along West Africa’s coast, and throughout the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas.
Adult travelers are usually attracted to the flexibility of the trips and the capability of personalizing their activities. Overseas Adventure Travel recognizes that many of their customers travel alone, including a whopping 85% of their female clients.
So this senior-friendly travel group has created its getaways with solo travelers in mind, whether they’re first-timers or experienced risk-takers.
This senior-friendly travel group is an AARP-preferred travel provider. So you might want to check the website for members-only discounts. It promotes itself as a one-stop shop to help customers plan their dream travel experiences.
The company represents a collection of 30 travel brands, including the likes of Insight Tours and Trafalgar, which, altogether, cover seven continents. They offer everything from budget to luxury getaways and cruises to land tours.
Suppose you’re thinking of taking a multigenerational trip. In that case, you can browse the company’s family experiences section, equipped with tours fit for all ages, whether you’re into all-inclusive European river cruises or exploring our country’s national parks.
If you want to devise a fully customized, privately guided trip based on your group’s travel preferences and precise needs, look no further than this senior-friendly travel group.
Their expertise in over 100 destinations around the world makes planning easy, whether the goal is enjoying fine wine and dining, a culturally immersive experience, discovering the history of a location, or unwinding.
While these trips are ideal for older travelers who appreciate ease and luxury, the company also provides experiences for multigenerational travel in countries like Japan, Thailand, Iceland, and South Africa, featuring child-friendly trips that come with local guides, private vehicles and dining options perfect for the whole family.
This senior-friendly travel group aims to introduce travelers to new landscapes and cultures worldwide by traveling on foot. Founded in 1979, the Vermont-based company offers walking tours in Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and South America.
They offer guided tours in a small group of up to 18 and self-guided: in a private group of up to 12, providing an ideal option for independent exploration if that’s what you choose.
Travelers can select from five levels, starting with “easy walking,” which includes a daily length of 2 to 6 miles for up to 4 hours a day. “Moderate walking,” the mid-range option, suggests 4 to 10 miles and up to 6 hours of daily walking.
And trips at the “challenging walking” level may go up to 7 hours each day on foot, covering anywhere from 6 to 14 miles. Travelers of all ages should be able to find a destination and tour best suited to their fitness level and interests.
A top adventure tour operator known for its measures to make travel accessible to everyone, this senior-friendly travel group offers a good mix of customized and ready-made itinerary options that can be adjusted to suit your group’s comfort level.
Intrepid’s Accessible Tours are highly inclusive, with trips designed for all kinds of travelers.
And no matter the journey you decide to book, you’ll have access to local destination specialists to help you select the perfect places to stay and organize activities, transportation, and guided tours, depending on your requirements.
The company’s Walking and Trekking trips, which are appropriate for a vast range of fitness levels, are especially popular with retirees, though adults of all ages are free to join in on the fun.
Be sure to let us know which of these senior-friendly travel groups you choose, and don’t forget to pack your camera!
In the meantime, our site has many more fantastic options for your next trip. For instance, check out: 8 Breathtaking Canadian Destinations You’ll Want on Your Travel Bucket List
Check out these cozy winter lodges for a perfect cold-weather getaway! In the winter, we…
Check out one of these US hot springs before booking your next trip! Once the…
Check out these unique travel experiences for an incredible learning vacation! Looking for some inspiration…
You won't believe the forgotten ruins hiding under our streets! Sometimes, our nation's cities have…
These newly added UNESCO sites are begging to be on your travel bucket list! The…
These are some of America's most beautiful and walkable US cities When you plan a…