Here’s a trippy stat: adventure travel is trending for older people.
Research reveals that Further readers are even a bit young for things like transcontinental bike trips or days-long hikes (i.e., the Appalachian Trail). Post-pandemic, several adventure travel companies report that the average customer age has crept up to 62+, with women 65+ representing the highest increase in solo adventure travel.
Like the unretirement trend, Boomers are paving the way to redefine the so-called “leisure years.” Better stock up now on moleskin for calluses and carbon offsets for your flights.
Trust Your Wanderlust
Here at Further, we often discuss the transformative power of travel. From modern pilgrimages to a midlife gap year, it’s clear that novel experiences can be game-changers.
But adventure travel, a $2 trillion global industry by 2032, offers its own unique benefits. As Allison Fleece, co-founder of WHOA Travel, which takes women on challenging and empowering trips (i.e., summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro), notes:
It’s not a beach vacation our travelers are after when they choose to travel with us. There’s usually a greater purpose involved.
That higher aim can be anything from pushing physical and psychological limits to inviting immersive cultural experiences. You don’t have to “rough it” to consider travel an adventure; you just have to be willing to wander from well-worn tourist paths to discover new vistas.
Plus, it’s not just about where you go; it’s also about who you go with. Organized trips where you meet like-minded, equally adventurous people can be a terrific way to cultivate new friendships — an essential component of thriving as you age.
Set a Course for Adventure
At first glance, you might think that adventure travel is just for those with copious time and money. While trips can range from $3,000-$10,000(+), dedicated travelers like 51-year-old Teri McCoy can help reframe how you think about cost vs. investment:
“Travel is very high on my list of priorities when I budget,” she says. “It fuels me and it helps me grow, so I make it a part of my financial plans. It’s not discretionary.”
That said, there are budget-friendly ways to go, too. For example, you can exchange labor for lodging and access to explore far-flung places through organizations like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farm (WWOOF). You can also connect with others who share your interests and budget inside private communities like Sisters Traveling Solo (which started as a Facebook group in 2015 and is now a full-on adventure travel company).
Considering we were the first generation to grow up with the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books, you’d think that as adults, we’d take that directive seriously. You only get so many trips around the sun, so now’s the time to take full advantage of adventure.
Adventure travel is a growth industry thanks to women over 40 (The Washington Post gift article)
