Explore, a tour operator specializing in small group adventure vacations, conducted a survey that found that 40 percent of travelers over the age of 55 believe that they are at their most adventurous age. These travelers are not afraid to try new experiences and are seeking new ways to travel.
"Adventure is at the core of our business so these survey results have been very significant for us," said Ashley Toft, managing director at Explore. "The over 55s are a key market for us, and we are thrilled that many of our customers are becoming increasingly adventurous."
Key to getting to know what makes these travelers tick is understanding that they are actively seeking a sense of adventure when they travel. Travelers over the age of 55 define "adventure" as visiting a place they have never been to before, as stated by 67 percent of the Britons polled in Explore's survey. One in six of these travelers see adventure as pushing boundaries and 40 percent cite being fearless as their reason to try something new.
Explore is working with television presenter Michaela Strachan to highlight that with age comes confidence and experience, which is something else that the survey revealed.
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"Throughout my adult life, adventure has never been far away and I've found that the older I get, the more willing I am to try new things. Travel is something that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age," said Strachan.
The survey revealed that the willingness to step outside of their comfort zone and the increased desire for a sense of adventure have developed with age. Forty-six percent of those surveyed plan to visit at least one new country on their next holiday and 37 percent said that they are looking to travel further for their holiday, with New Zealand topping the list.
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But perhaps this demographic has been more adventurous from the get-go. The survey noted that one in 10 respondents has climbed a mountain and a quarter of them have traveled across a country by train.
Of all ages surveyed, more than one-third said that their interests in vacations had evolved over time. Those who once sought out the "fly and flop" holiday when they were younger are now looking for something with a little more depth. One in five said that they are looking for a cultural experience when traveling and one-third said that they would love to visit one of the Wonders of the World. One-fifth said that seeing the Northern Lights was on their bucket list.
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