From adventure and cultural holidays to Golden Gap Years, solo travel and skip-gen trips, discover the travel trends shaping later life for today’s over 55s.
Today’s over 55s are reshaping the travel market. According to Smithfield, mature travellers have significant spending power and leisure and travel brands are increasingly tailoring experiences to them. Research cited by Emirates found that 62% of over-50s surveyed wanted to see the natural wonders of the world, while 27% were planning a safari or wildlife adventure.
For many, retirement is no longer about simply booking a week in the sun. With more time and greater flexibility, older travellers are seeking active adventures, cultural experiences, extended stays, solo trips and holidays with grandchildren – making travel a major part of this new stage of life.
The idea that active and adventure holidays are only for younger travellers is increasingly outdated. Many over-50s see themselves as younger, fitter and more active than previous generations and are looking for holidays that offer challenge, time outdoors and memorable experiences.
Popular options include walking and trekking, horse-riding, hot-air ballooning, safaris, desert treks and even white-water rafting. Morocco offers desert experiences involving tents, Jeeps and balloon flights, while mature travellers can choose wildlife safaris that balance adventure with comfort.
Closer to home, European walking holidays are another option. Cinque Terre in Italy offers a network of paths linking coastal villages, while Provence combines hills, olive groves and picturesque walking routes. Sailing holidays range from the Western Isles of Scotland to Greece, Turkey and the Caribbean.
For inspiration, the source document highlights Flash Pack and Bold Trip as places to explore adventure travel ideas for over-50s.
Travellers aged over 55 are also prioritising passion-led holidays and shared cultural experiences. These trips are about learning, engaging with new ideas and discovering different histories and cultures, often alongside other people with similar interests.
Art holidays can combine travel with expert tuition in destinations such as Italy, France, Spain and Greece. Language holidays offer the chance to learn among native speakers, mixing classroom sessions with markets, museums, cafés and social events. Imagine learning Italian in Tuscany or improving your French in Provence.
Archaeology and history tours are another popular choice, with trips available across the UK and destinations including India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Japan and Armenia. The source also points to cultural tours of English villages, combining guided walks, museums and historic destinations across counties including East Sussex, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, Devon and Cornwall.
The phrase ‘Golden Gap Year’ is increasingly being used for extended trips taken by people over 50, typically lasting between three and twelve months. Unlike a conventional tour or resort holiday, the idea is to spend enough time in one place to develop a routine and experience what it feels like to live there.
Most Golden Gap Year travellers base themselves in one or two regions. Popular choices include the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Japan. For Schengen destinations, post-Brexit rules still limit UK visitors to 90 days in any 180-day period, but that can still allow time to get to know a destination in much greater depth.
The source describes many Golden Gap Year travellers as being aged between 58 and 72, often recently retired or semi-retired. A notable proportion travel solo, particularly women. Emirates research cited in the document found that 67% of over-50s surveyed wanted to visit places they missed when they were younger, while 29% were interested in an extended break because later life felt like ‘a new chapter for learning and discovery’.
Comfort remains important. The same research reported that 32% placed a high priority on flying comfortably and 24% of over-50s booked premium economy, business or first class.
Italy combines food, historical landmarks, mountains, lakes and coastline, making it well suited to a longer stay within the permitted Schengen period.
Japan offers culture, scenery and an ageing-friendly society. The source document notes that extended-stay options may be available subject to eligibility and recommends checking current visa requirements carefully before making plans.
Thailand combines established travel routes, quieter islands, cultural attractions and scenery with relatively affordable living costs. Again, longer stays depend on meeting the current visa and insurance requirements.
Longer trips require more planning than a typical holiday, from finances and insurance to accommodation and practical arrangements at home. The document notes that some travellers rent out their homes while away to help fund their time abroad.
Solo travel among older holidaymakers has grown significantly. Saga research cited in the source found that in 2024, 20% of 3,000 customers surveyed said they were planning to travel solo, with women more likely to do so than men.
For many, solo travel is about independence and adventure rather than solitude. The same research found that 47% of solo travellers who joined a group formed long-term friendships and 11% formed romantic relationships. Of the single travellers planning a trip, 82% were heading outside the UK and 91% were already experienced solo travellers, having taken an average of five previous trips. Nine per cent were travelling alone for the first time.
The document highlights several operators aimed at older solo travellers, including One Traveller, Solos Holidays, Explore and Riviera Travel. Options range from walking holidays and European breaks to long-haul tours and river cruises.
‘Skip-gen’ holidays – trips where grandparents travel with their grandchildren without the parents – are another growing trend. They offer grandparents and grandchildren the chance to spend concentrated time together and create shared memories.
Ideas range from short breaks in Scandinavia and visits to Lapland with younger children to educational and adventure-led trips for older grandchildren. Egypt can combine history with adventure, while teenagers might enjoy destinations such as Peru or a South African safari. Closer to home, Bordeaux offers historic streets, vineyards and plenty to explore together.
The emphasis is less on simply visiting a destination and more on sharing meaningful experiences across generations.
What links these trends is a desire to make the most of time and freedom. Today’s over-55 traveller is increasingly adventurous, curious and willing to travel differently – whether that means learning a language abroad, spending several months in one place, joining a solo group or sharing a memorable trip with grandchildren.
For people with the flexibility to lock up and leave, retirement can open the door to a much broader style of travel: slower when you want it to be, more adventurous when the mood takes you, and shaped around the experiences that matter most.
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