Holidays for the more mature, from Japan’s ‘Golden Route’ to India’s cultural highlights
When it comes to travelling, there’s nothing quite like finding like-minded people to share your experiences with. So having people of a similar age can make all the difference between an enjoyable experience and a holiday you’ll want to forget.
Luckily there are a whole host of tour operators that cater specifically for the over-50s – whether you’re after adventure or a dose of culture.
From gentle cycling through French vineyards to luxury train journeys through Persia, here are 10 of the best holidays for the more mature traveller.
How about learning to sail in luxury through Greece? Yacht Getaways allows guests to either learn the ropes from their professionally trained on-board skipper, or simply sit back and relax while their captain does the hard work. The tailor-made packages take place on board a fleet of modern, well-equipped yachts with options ranging from fast-paced sailing to a week of indulgence on some of the Med’s most beautiful, secret breaches. There are excellent culinary and hospitality on board, with personalised menus ensuring fresh and appetising breakfasts and two-course lunches throughout your week’s cruise. Seven nights’ from £796pp, including accommodation onboard your yacht a qualified RYA Yacht Master Skipper, an onboard host, breakfast and lunch with wine. [Photo: Getty]
Gentle walking holiday experts Adagio are ideal for over-50s seeking a mix of sightseeing, food and wine and relaxed walks both on and off the beaten track. Their Magnificent Mont Blanc trip offers an easy alternative to mountain walking – taking guests to some of the Chamonix Valley’s legendary peaks via cable cars, tramways and trains. You’ll glimpse incredible mountain views of peaks including Aiguilles du Midi, the Grandes Jorasses and Mont Blanc but with far less effort. Opt in or out of walks thanks to the flexible lift pass and visit the farmers’ market to sample local produce. Seven nights from £1,575pp, including flights to Geneva, accommodation and most meals. [Photo: Getty]
The UK’s leader in solo holidays for over 50s, One Traveller, offers a range of expertly curated holidays with exclusive excursions, such as a 16-day Delhi, Royal Rajasthan and Bombay tour. Highlights include a half-day excursion to rural Rajasthan with its villages and markets, lunch overlooking the lake in Udaipur and a visit to the Sahelion-ki-bari water gardens. You’ll also get three safari drives, and experience the Red Fort and the gleaming white Taj Mahal. 15 nights’ full-board costs from £3,790pp, including international flights, transfers and guides. [Photo: Getty]
Self-guided tour operator Headwater specialise in holidays for the over-50s, with trips that blend gentle exercise and cultural highlights with excellent food and drink. Sample some of Italy’s finest landscapes and cuisine on a 10-day cycling trip that takes you from the high altitude spa village of Villabassa, through the Dolomites to the shimmering waters of Lake Garda. Staying in 4* hotels, from quaint Tyrolean-style properties to relaxing spa hotels, you’ll sample the best of the region’s food, which is an Austro-Italian fusion. Don’t miss German beef pancake soup (Fladlesuppe) or the sliced steak salad (tagliata). [Photo: Getty]
Known as “the slow holiday company”, Inntravel specialise in walking and cycling holidays to some of Europe’s lesser-known regions, encouraging travellers to discover local culture and cuisines at their own pace. Their included route notes, maps and luggage transfers are ideal for more mature guests. Wander between hilltop villages, past lavender fields, historic chapels and castles of Drôme Provençale, the Provence that the French like to keep to themselves, on a self-guided hotel-to-hotel Secret Provence trip. Highlights include a truffle trail through the woods, where walkers can learn about the mysteries of these “black diamonds” and their culinary uses. Six nights’ B&B, including five dinners, one picnic and luggage transfers, from £965pp. [Photo: Getty]
There’s more to the Lake District than walking – rail connoisseurs should head there for a Steam Extravaganza trip with Ffestiniog Travel. The week-long tour allows steam railway enthusiasts to enjoy visits to miniature railways, traction engines and standard gauge locomotives. You’ll also get a cruise of the majestic Lake Windermere on the National Trust Steam Gondola, and visit the Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum Steam Gala. Seven nights’ B&B costs from £1,150pp, including three lunches, one dinner, excursions and a tour leader. [Photo: Getty]
