If sixty is the new forty, the travel industry is making the most of it, offering curated packages for the sexagenarians, septuagenarians and even octogenarians. From cruises to skiing, Europe to Japan, there is something for everyone, even a trip to Antarctica.
Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2025 suggest baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) are redefining adventure travel, with 30% interested in high-octane activities (up from 11% in 2024) like sand surfing (42%), skydiving (34%), cave diving (36%), visiting Antarctica (22%) or even volcano boarding (22%). One of four boomers seek to push their comfort zones and reconnect with their adventurous spirit.
Travel portal EaseMyTrip offers special discounts for those aged 60 and above. “Popular cities for this age group are Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, and London. There has been around 20% yearly growth in bookings by seniors, and outbound trips have almost tripled since 2021,” said Rikant Pittie, CEO & co-founder of EaseMyTrip.
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Domestically, destinations like Varanasi, Ayodhya, Haridwar and Rishikesh are popular for spiritual travel, while Kerala’s backwaters and Goa’s beaches are relaxing vacations. Sikkim is preferred for natural beauty while there is enthusiasm even to see the northern lights at the North Pole or adventures to the Antarctic.
Senior citizen travel specialist KareVoyage’s outbound travel numbers have tripled between March 2021 and March 2024, driven by increased interest in non-traditional and adventurous destinations. “While the demand has exceeded 10,000 travellers every year, we intentionally cap it below 10,000 to maintain quality and operational standards,” said Shefali Jain Mishra, founder of KareVoyage.
Last year, the company organised a 10-day trip to Antarctica for 10 senior citizens, which included a 75-year-old as well. “Planning such an expedition required meticulous preparation, and extra care was taken for health and other factors,” said Mishra, whose company has also organised tours to Japan’s cherry blossoms, Finland’s winter landscapes, Norway’s fjords, Iceland cruising, sailing along Europe’s rivers, among others.
SD Nandakumar, president & country head – holidays & corporate tours – SOTC Travels, also said places like Iceland, Japan, and eastern Europe are popular choices. “The demand for international travel among Indian senior citizens has seen significant growth in recent years, representing 10-12% of our total clientele, a demographic increasingly seeking unique,
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