December 15, 2002
By SUSAN CATTO
As a young woman, Joan Cain never dreamed that she would go to Antarctica, Alaska and Russia – much less all three in one year. “I only started traveling about 10 years ago,” she said recently, now 59, a paralegal and living in Atlanta. She is planning to take all three trips with the adventure company ElderTreks in 2003. “After my husband died I discovered that traveling was my passion,” said Ms. Cain.
Mature travelers – usually defined as 50 or 55 and over – are the fastest-growing group of consumers in the industry. Dozens of tour companies now cater exclusively to older travelers, promising greater attention to health and mobility concerns, as well emphasizing stress-free travel and comfortable accommodations.
For many older travelers, the companionship is as important as the destination. A 2001 study by the Travel Industry Association found travelers 55 and over nearly twice as likely to participate in group tours as those in other age groups.
Now in her late 60′s, Diana Hage, who works in a latchkey program in Westland, Mich., has been on 20 Elderhostel trips since 1989. “It’s the stimulation of the mind and the interesting people that attract me,” said. Ms. Hage, who often attends new sessions with friends she’s made in the program. Gone are the days when mature travelers were relegated to cruise ships, tour buses and shuffleboard courts, said Ward Luthi, founder of the Colorado travel company Walking the World, which is geared to those “50 and better.”
“Seniors nowadays are not the rocking-chair kind – most of us are in pretty good shape,” said Pat Blackmon of Senior Cycling. Like most such companies, Senior Cycling classifies trips by fitness level; all tours are accompanied by a “sag wagon” that relieves tired riders.
It’s in the interest of both tour operators and passengers to make clear how much exertion will be required, said Gary Murtagh, president of ElderTreks, based in Toronto. No matter how active the days, tours for mature travelers tend to emphasize comfortable nights. Older travelers are less interested in roughing it, said Mr. Murtagh. “Most of them like their own bathroom and something comfortable at the end of the day instead of staying in tents.”
Here is a selection of companies that cater to senior travelers, with a sampling of their offerings. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include meals, but not transportation to the point of departure unless stated. Policies on single supplements vary; if you’re willing to share, most companies will try to match you with a roommate.
Now in its 17th year, ElderTreks offers land and marine adventures on five continents. Tours are limited to 16 people (some of the boat trips are larger or smaller). “There’s a very strong emphasis on cultural interaction, meeting people in off-the-beaten-path villages or going to their homes,” said Gary Murtagh, the president. The 21-day Cultural West Africa trip loops through Mali and Burkina Faso, with a safari on the Niger River and a trip to Timbuktu ($3,995, Feb. 10 to March 2; Nov. 3 to 23). (800) 741-7956, www.eldertreks.com. The lower age limit is 50, but the rule is flexible.
