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.
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, non-traditional, and adventurous destinations,” he said, adding that they anticipate continued growth in this segment.
“Safety is a prime concern for senior citizens as this age group looks for ease of travel and convenience. Post-Covid, demand for travel has boomed,” said Gaurav Kumar, founder of Delhi-based travel company for seniors, Phurr Group Tours, which started in 2018 and has catered to close to 5,000 tourists in the age bracket of 50-75 till date. Between 2021 and 2023, the company saw a 100% year-on-year revenue growth.
Factors like disposable income and financial stability allow seniors to prioritise travel. Pittie added that retirement provides the luxury of time to explore new destinations. “Around 51% of baby boomers and around 39% of the silent generation (aged over 80) favour once-in-a-lifetime vacations. Older travellers are redefining adventure, with almost 21% expressing interest in adrenaline-filled trips,” he said.
Discounted air or train fares, accessibility and amenities like ramps, elevators, wheelchairs at airports, stations and monuments have improved. As per Ved Khanna, board member, Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality (FAITH), spiritual and cultural hubs such as Varanasi, Prayagraj, Puri, Rameshwaram, Rishikesh, and Tirupati are in demand. Some destinations offer facilities like shorter routes to temples, dedicated seating during ceremonies, and quick and easy access to spiritual landmarks to make the experience stress-free for seniors.
Exclusive packages by travel agencies, including Tourwala, a company that specialises in personalised travel services, focus on slower-paced itineraries, frequent rest stops, expert tour guides, and even medical support during the journey. “We ensure their unique needs are met,” said Khanna, also the MD of Tourwala.
“We prepare seniors for the destination almost a month before the trip and prefer rooms on the ground floor or a hotel with elevators,” added Kumar of Phurr.
Allied Market Research reports that globally the senior citizen travel insurance market was valued at $3.6 billion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $16.7 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 18.3% from 2024 to 2032.