A growing number of travellers aged between 50 and 80 looking for more opportunities to explore the world, participate in exciting activities, meet like-minded people, enjoy new cultures and food, and experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
“As they say, 70 is the new 50 and we are seeing that these travellers are fit and invested in fulfilling their wish list. These ‘silver travellers’ are also aware that in their lifetime, global warming and their own future mobility issues may restrict visits to much-loved sites, so Machu Picchu, the Galápagos Islands, Iceland and Venice – to name a few – are on their lists,” says Robyn Christie, Director of Development Promotions.
Intrepid Travel’s Head of PR and Communications EMEA, Chloe Berman, told Travel News that Intrepid had seen strong growth in adventure travel demand across age groups, and particularly large growth among travellers over 50 years of age.
Intrepid’s itineraries focus on mindful travel, connecting with local communities, enjoying immersive experiences, eating local food and exploring at a comfortable pace, a combination that attracts both younger and more mature explorers.
“It is not uncommon for us to hear from a traveller in their 20s who may have shared a room with a person in their 70s and they formed a deep and lasting friendship,” said Berman.
Comfort is key
According to Christie, there has been significant demand for small group tours where silver travellers can visit locals with likeminded travellers, but also go off on their own if they so choose. This trend has reflected in increased demand for Development Promotions’ G Adventures and BackRoads itineraries.
Silver travellers still sought a degree of daily comfort on their adventures, said Christie, which was why expedition cruises and trips that included transfers and comfortable accommodations were popular among this age group in particular.
Christie explained why expedition cruises like Development Promotions’ Hurtigruten portfolio fitted silver travellers’ criteria.
“Expedition cruising offers so much in terms of daily activities and visiting new countries without the stress of lugging suitcases through numerous airports and train stations.
“Plush ships, onboard experts and fewer passengers translate to slightly higher fares than conventional cruises, but the modern ships are a far cry from the original expedition cruise ships. ‘Stress-less’ travel is a thing and that’s what they want.”
Intrepid says its Premium itineraries, introduced in 2021, are particularly popular among silver travellers.
“The Premium range is still the Intrepid style of travel, with a few more inclusions to make the trip even more comfortable – such as airport transfers, more comfortable hotel accommodation and signature accommodation stays,” said the operator.
In a recent poll on the topic by Travel News, 35% of respondents said they had perceived an increase in interest in adventure travel by the age group. Christie pointed out that, despite silver travellers’ dreams of seeing extraordinary, untouched destinations, there were often concerns about whether the trip would be suitable and be able to accommodate their needs – comfort and safety.
“We get many questions asking if older people can go on adventure trips – and our answer is YES! What they really need is an attentive, knowledgeable and helpful travel agent that will book them the ‘right trip’,” said Christie.
