There’s a Travel Group for You
More seniors than ever these days are foregoing the rocking chair and choosing to travel instead. When you finally reach retirement there’s no reason to worry about squeezing a trip into limited vacation time — the world can be your oyster!
It’s much healthier than sitting in a chair too. In fact, seniors who travel enjoy a wealth of benefits, including a brain boost. Things like navigating a new city, exploring museums, chatting with new people, practicing new languages and seeing new sights can help to flex the muscles of the mind to keep it in tip-top shape.
Of course, one of the primary reasons to travel is to have fun and enjoy the scenery, culture and everything else that comes with it. To make the most of a trip, you may want to consider going on a tour. There are lots of great senior travel groups that offer the opportunity to join like-minded people while getting a more in-depth look at the destination.
We’ve got your covered by pinpointing some of the very best senior citizens travel groups.
Solo Travel Groups for Seniors
Solo travel isn’t just for the young, it can be enjoyed at any stage of life and there’s no better time than the present. There are lots of senior travel tour groups that attract people who either prefer to travel alone or don’t have a travel partner.
Fortunately, some tour operators have recognized that there are lots of seniors who travel solo so they now offer “single-friendly” trips with no-cost or low-cost single supplements or provide “guaranteed share” options.
Singles Travel International offers trips and cruises for all ages, including specific cruises for singles who are 50 and over several times each year. Its Singles Sailing Adventure- Caribbean excursion includes some breathtaking off-the-beaten-path stops in the Grenadines including Grenada, St. Vincent, Bequia, Barbados, St. Lucia and Martinique.
You’ll enjoy a laid-back “barefoot sailing” adventure with top-notch chef-inspired cuisine, minus the big crowds.
Senior Ladies Travel Groups
Adventure Women books women-only luxe trips to over two dozen destinations, many of which are well-suited for adventurous seniors. On their Tanzania: Exploring the Secret Serengeti on Safari tour, you’ll be able to witness the Great Migration on the Serengeti and spend your nights in a private tented safari camp located within a 12,000-acre nature refuge that’s home to elands, leopards, giraffes and rare wild dogs.
Just a few of the other experiences include meeting the Maasai women and learning about their lives, going on night drives to spot nocturnal animals and visiting the famous Ngorongoro Crater, part of an ecosystem that hosts more than 30,000 creatures, including the Big Five. Gourmet meals are included.
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Active Senior Travel Groups
Road Scholar — the creation of Elderhostel, Inc., the foremost authority on lifelong learning in the world with a history that dates back to 1975 — caters to travelers of varying ages who are physically and mentally active. While it attracts many fit seniors, you’ll be traveling with people of all ages from across the globe. Just search through the options based on activity level to find a trip that’s best suited for you.
The Greatest Road in Europe: Camino de Santiago is rated a two out of three in terms of activity level as it involves four to eight miles of hiking each day. This is a small group tour with no more than 24 participants, and it will bring you onto medieval roads, across wooden bridges and Roman causeways, and over mountain passes.
For centuries this trek has been a popular pilgrimage across Northern Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (said to be the resting place of the apostle James) where people journeyed to seek forgiveness of their sins. You’ll enjoy lots of tasty food and wine along the way.
Senior Christian Travel Groups
Globus Cosmos offers faith-based travel for Christians of all ages, though trips tend to attract travelers over the age of 50. Packages include excursions to Poland, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Israel and Jordan — all ideal for those seeking an enriching faith-based travel experience.
Its Biblical Israel tour from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem provides the opportunity to build fellowship and community among fellow travelers while experiencing “the power of Scripture as it comes to life.” It includes time for exploring Nazareth, Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem, walking in the footsteps of Jesus while listening to stories about His ministry, miracles and life.
Luxury Seniors Travel Groups
Stride Travel is a metasearch site for senior tours, which means it searches through more than 700 tour companies and presents the very best options suited to your particular needs and preferences — including your preference (or even need!) for luxury travel.
The Polar Circle Air-Cruise- Ocean Nova tour is geared for travelers over 50 and will bring you to one of the world’s last true frontiers: the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. You’ll have the opportunity to capture photos of penguins, whales and seals, and sail through icy fjords among magnificent icebergs for a trip of a lifetime.
As you’ll fly to and from King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, it eliminates the often rough ship crossing in the Drake Passage, allowing you to make the most of your time in Antarctica.
Looking for a getaway with your significant other? These couples resorts have it all, in some of the most gorgeous settings in the world.
Budget Senior Travel Groups
It’s no surprise that Grand Circle Travel, started by founder of AARP Ethel Andrus, does a great job when it comes to creating vacations that suit the needs and interests of those who are 50 and older. It offers affordable tour packages to destinations across the globe, promising participants unique cultural experiences on every excursion in groups that are no larger than 42.
The Enhanced! Ireland in Depth tour will bring you through history, legend, music and beautifully lush landscapes over the course of 15 days for a total cost of just $3,195 USD, including international airfare. It begins in Dublin and includes medieval Kilkenny, Cork, Cobh, the stunning Ring of Kerry, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher, ending in the music-filled town of Galway.