Traveling the world is an exciting adventure. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that it’s only for the young. This statement isn’t true – the young at heart can also enjoy these endeavors! Many tour groups are designed specifically for seniors or meant to adapt for men and women of every age group.
Just because you get older doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling. Keep reading as we discuss a few of the best tour companies for seniors to enjoy, from those focused on walking to those for seniors who are capable of a little more. With these options available, you’ll be on your next adventure soon.
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is easily one of the most active tour groups on this list, and since seniors tend to lose mobility, it might make it seem like it’s less for older individuals and more for a younger audience. However, this isn’t the case. The CEO has been very open about his desire to have an age-inclusive model.
Intrepid claims that if you are of decent health and mobility, you will enjoy their trips. They provide walking and hiking adventures, cycling trips, and treks through multiple cities to offer an exciting experience to any senior ready to tackle the world and visit the globe from a new perspective.
For those who aren’t as mobile, Intrepid specializes in travel groups split by age, and those trips designed for those 55+ can still sometimes be feasible, just be sure to read the trip details before booking.
Related: 13 Tips and Tricks for Enjoyable Travel as a Senior
Road Scholar
Learning a new skill can help with cognitive aging, and no one knows that better than Road Scholar. This tour company provides tours to over 50 states and 100 countries, focusing on curious learners in their latter years of life – the median age of attendees is 72 years old. Of course, that doesn’t mean those older or younger can’t join in.
One of the best parts of Road Scholar is that they divide their tour groups up by the level of activity one will experience. For example, their lowest level is labeled as “EasyGoing” and tends to emphasize learning in the classroom more than activity outside. Those who take on “Outdoor: Challenging” programs will experience more physical adventures to see the world.
There’s even a tour option that allows seniors to change their activity level daily. Also, they have programs available for seniors who want to travel to another country or state with their grandchildren. No matter your travel preference, Road Scholar is to help you learn and see the globe!
Trafalgar
If you think about world travel, one of the first companies to pop into your head might be Tralfagar. This business has more than a century of experience, and most of their participants fall into the 50-71 age range. Thus, it seems they are more than equipped to help seniors travel and enjoy their time on the go.
Trafalgar uses local specialists in various locations and travel directors to pull all the details together, offering a time you won’t find anywhere else. They take care of everything, from where you’re going to go to the health and safety protocols of the locations to determine if it’s safe for those in the older age category to visit.
Globus
Globus is easily one of the best tour guide groups for seniors and has been for nearly 100 years in the travel market. They understand that one tour type doesn’t work for everyone and offer the chance to personalize a destination and tour style to the individual preferences and needs of the traveler.
Those traveling with Globus have the opportunity to visit some of the biggest attractions in a country if they are a first-time tourist or take something a little more unconventional if they’re seasoned travelers and want to dive deeper into the world. You also have the chance to choose your activities at each location to customize your adventure to your needs and goals.
Related: The Best (And Worst) Destinations for Senior Travel
Backroads
Backroads is an option if you are in love with outdoor pursuits. Although a large chunk of their offerings are devoted to the uber-athletic younger audience, they also have selections available for those in the older age category for a more laid-back sightseeing endeavor. There’s tons of flexibility in the plans for seniors who need more time to move.
Maybe you have a partner, and one of you is more athletic than the other – each trip with Backroads comes with an e-scooter option, so no senior is left out of the mix if an upgraded trip package is selected. Also, cycling trips provide two support vehicles so seniors can take a break whenever necessary to conserve energy.
Walking the World
Walking can reduce your risk of heart disease significantly. Thus, seniors who are mobile and able to take on gentle to moderate trails will enjoy taking on the planet with Walking the World. This tour group aims to show people various sights on their feet, providing almost two weeks of multiple-mile hike days.
Though seniors might want to avoid the more advanced tours like the Rocky Mountain National Park tour, they may enjoy the slightly more low-key Ireland tour. This option explores various points and provides 4-8 miles daily treks with low-intensity hikes.
Firebird Tours
Firebird Tours has a cool name and also focuses its attention on clients 50 years and older. They provide group trips in smaller sizes to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East to keep value, quality, and comfort in reach for clients throughout the experience. All these items are vital in a travel trip once you reach your senior years.
There are tons of themes to pick from if you decide to use Firebird Tours for your adventure. A few of the most popular include history, Northern Lights, theater, gastronomy, opera, and more. You can create your group if you want a more private tour and have multiple people who want to come along with you around the world.
ElderTreks
Small group adventures come easy in ElderTreks, a company designed with the senior traveler in mind. They offer more than 100 countries to tour with small-group adventures available. Items you can participate in with ElderTreks include safaris, cultural journeys, small hiking trips, and more, depending on what you’re looking for in an endeavor.
Like many companies aimed at seniors, ElderTreks rates their adventures based on the activity level. For example, level one might include a 1-2 hour hike, while level five could mean hiking for around half a day at a time. Keep these in mind when choosing your ElderTrek endeavor.
Senior Cycling
For those who love cycling but don’t think they can keep up with a younger group, Senior Cycling is the answer. These adventures are made for those over 50 years old and are limited to thirteen people per group, so you don’t have to worry about being left behind or forgotten during your adventure.
There are two levels to pick from with Senior Cycling. The first is Intermediate, which provides flat terrain and bike paths over 20-40 miles a day. The second is Advances, which offers some traffic in the ride and up to 50 miles a day. Also, it’s possible to make a custom tour if you have a group you want to go with.
Overseas Adventure Traveling
Overseas Adventure Traveling is a tour company that is devoted specifically to the over-50 age group. They have tons of ways they assist seniors, from their extended trip times to optional pre and post-trip extensions. Most O.A.T. endeavors are at least two weeks long for optimal retiree enjoyment.
O.A.T. provides an activity level selector so seniors can pick the adventure that best fits their abilities. Level one provides an easy experience, while picking level five will be far more intense. Travelers by themselves can even take advantage of discounts for a more affordable senior experience.
Grand European Travel
Finally, we want to talk about Grand European Travel. This company is preferred by AARP, which says much about what they offer interested customers. They provide AARP discounts and an entire planning experience for seniors who need assistance from the very first step of the process to the last. They function as a one-stop shop selection.
Insight Tours and Trafalgar are both represented here, so it’s the best of many worlds in one company. You can visit seven continents, take a luxury or budget excursion, participate in a multigenerational adventure, and even head out on a cruise if that’s more your speed. From the all-inclusive to the self-guided, you will find it with Grand European Travel.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are many tour company options for seniors who want to leave their homes and continue to explore the world. From Senior Cycling to Grand European Travel, there are plenty of choices. Whether you want stress relief or to see something new, they’re here for you.
Traveling the world (or your own country) can be a great way to challenge the mind and improve any lifestyle. Take a peek at a few of the available tour companies to see if there are any that suit your travel budget. You never know what you might experience!
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