It’s a big wide world out there and sometimes the hardest part of taking a trip is deciding where to go. As a lifelong learner, you know you want to travel somewhere with history and learn about a culture that is completely foreign to your own.
The village of Oia on Greece’s island of Santorini, with its blue roofs, beautiful hillside setting and the amazing Aegean Sea as a backdrop, is one of Greece’s top tourist spots.
Top 3 Travel Destinations for Seniors
As someone with a sense of adventure, you’ll want to be active and adventurous, with awe-inspiring nature and fascinating historical site within easy reach. And, most importantly, now enjoying your golden ears, you’ll want to do it comfortably. Wake up in a clean, cozy room, sample sumptuous local delicacies and have plenty of time to explore each destination in depth with ample time to recharge between excursions.
With the world at your feet and a near-limitless number of destinations from which to choose, we wanted to make one decision a little easier for you - where to go. We asked our well-travelled clients and senior industry travel professionals about the recommended top travel destinations for seniors. Here are the top three destinations that are consistently top rated:
Classical Greece and the Greek Islands
A civilization that changed the course of history to represent the way of life we know. While recently receiving more bad press than good for economic factors, Greece is nonetheless the founder of democracy, the inventor of the Olympics, home to some of the most idyllic islands in the world, and so much more.
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere that inspired generations of artists, philosophers and pioneers with its mythology and be inspired by sites of antiquity dripping with historical significance.
Taste the extraordinary flavours of the Mediterranean, brimming with fresh products and family recipes perfected over generations. Discover endless blue horizons as you and your group set sail to your very own Greek Island, away from the crowds.
Marvel at a tapestry of modern wonders weaved with mediaeval charms in each uniquely quaint city and village. Greece is a naturally diverse country with soaring mountains in the north and gorgeous white-sand beaches in the south.
It is so much more than just a backdrop to some of the most romantic island getaways. Greece is an easy destination to get to and a hard place to forget. Spring and fall are the perfect times to visit Greece as the weather is still warm, yet the country sees fewer crowds.
Brazil, Chile and Argentina
Construction on the Intendencia de Valparaíso, or Chilean Naval Headquarters, was completed in 1910, and is located in the charming Plaza Sotomayor in Valparaiso, Chile.
Mixing eco-tourism with dynamic and transforming cities, exploring Brazil, Argentina and Chile gives a wide look at life in South America. As the location of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio is once again in the spotlight as the city and country upgraded services making travel more comfortable. In Brazil, begin your tour in the Amazon, the world’s largest river and most diverse eco-system.
Moving south, you’ll encounter a purpose-built capital more reminiscent of the 1960s than the modern day, before escaping to a far-flung ranch with more birds than people. Stand in awe beneath Rio’s towering Christ the Redeemer statue that stands watch over the great city, before experiencing the gentle mist from the waterfall platforms that are so close that they almost touch the world-renowned Iguazu Falls.
The hustle, bustle and colour of Buenos Aires, the so-called Paris of South America, is truly a sight to behold, and the Swiss-inspired villages set deep in the lake- and mountain-regions of the Andes are sure to astound.
Patagonia will pull at your heartstrings as you tour the pampas, glaciers and mountain ranges that make its beauty famous. Set route for the end of the world, where you’ll cruise the Beagle Channel with its teeming birdlife and breathtaking snow-capped peaks.
To warm your fingers and whet your appetite, fly to one of the world’s premier wine regions, Mendoza, where you’ll fall in love with more than the Malbec before crossing the Andes on a series of hairpin switchbacks and finishing in the colonial city of Santiago.
Vietnam and Cambodia
One of our tours meets up with a group of oranged-robed Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It is believed that the colour of the robes originally came from using turmeric, the spice, to dye the fabrics used to make them.
Cruise the natural beauty of Ha Long Bay with emerald green waters, interspersed with over 1,600 scattered islands, each with limestone cliffs rising dramatically out of the waters. Get lost in the eight-and-a-half-century-old Angkor Wat.
Criss-cross the maze of temples, overgrown with banyan trees, massive in size and sprawling an area that needs to be seen to be believed. Experience the dazzle of Hanoi, complete with elegant pagodas, interesting museums and local puppet shows.
Imagine a culture influenced by the civilizations of China and India as well as the colonial rule of Britain and France; an area with dense jungles, exotic animals, peaceful rivers, and the Mekong Delta with its fertile plains providing a feast of fruits for filling up to your heart’s desire.
Planning the perfect retirement vacation starts with selecting a compelling location, rich with cultural experiences and memories to cherish for years to come. Now the only question is, what are you waiting for?
