7 epic adventure holidays for the over 50s

Adventure holidays aren't just for the kids. There are plenty of adult adventures you can have that aren't too taxing.

If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, book one of these amazing adventure holidays designed for the over 50s.

A two-week trip through Namibia (opens in new tab)

What could be more adventurous than striking out into the wilderness in search of stunning wildlife? In Namibia – on the west coast of southern Africa – there’s an astonishing array of animal life wandering its national parks and deserts. Go with Riviera Travel and you’ll see the striking sand dunes of the world’s oldest desert, and have the option to climb the tallest in the world.

You’ll take a scenic flight over the incredible coastline, soaring above flamingos as you gaze down at beaches dotted with seal colonies and ancient shipwrecks. Then there’s the game drives. You’ll get a full day safari in Etosha National Park, where elephants, giraffes and skulking lions can be spotted among the bush. Get your khakis on and book this amazing adventure of a lifetime.

The details: This adventure costs from just £3,149 per person for 13 nights in three or four-star accommodation, including 12 breakfasts, three lunches and eight dinners, as well as all excursions and guides, and return flights from your chosen airport. Request the brochure here > (opens in new tab)

A tour of magical Bhutan (opens in new tab)

This beguiling land is shrouded in mystery. It’s certainly not the kind of place you can just book a flight and explore, so travelling with experts like Tranindus means you’ll really make the most of your time in incredible Bhutan and have all the logistics taken care of.

The trip starts in Kathmandu before crossing the border into Bhutan, where you’ll then get to explore amazing places like the Tiger’s Nest – we all remember that photo of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoying their hike up the hundreds of steps – and traditional towns like Paro.

The details: A tour with Transindus costs from £2,145 per person, including nine nights in hotels, all excursions and activities, guides, a flight between Nepal and Bhutan, and all meals in Bhutan. International flights not included. Book it here. (opens in new tab)

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Meet the great apes of Uganda (opens in new tab)

Have you ever wanted to live out your own David Attenborough documentary? In Uganda, you can make that happen. Get your hiking boots on and join Titan Travel on a proper adventure into the jungles of East Africa.

It’s a hard slog on incredibly tough terrain, so this is really only for the fittest of adventurers, but once you find the gorillas with the help of your guide and trackers, you’ll be amazed at how human-like they are. You’ll get to spend an hour observing them from a safe distance, and come at the right time and you might even spot some babies.

It’s not all about gorillas here, though. Uganda is also home to chimpanzees, and a plethora of wildlife in its national parks and on its lakes, from hippos to tree-climbing lions.

The details: This amazing African adventure costs from £4,099 for 12 days, including all accommodation, nine breakfasts, eight lunches and eight dinners, gorilla and chimpanzee permits and all other excursions. Find out more here. (opens in new tab)

Take a famous railway in India (opens in new tab)

India is an adventure wherever you go. Prepare for a culture shock as you land in Delhi – a chaotic but quintessential Indian city – and explore its colourful old town. Spend a few days touring the famous Golden Triangle, taking in ancient forts and fabulous palaces, before visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra.

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The breath-taking building has one of the world’s greatest love stories attached, and you’ll be spellbound by the changing light as you arrive for sunrise.

Finally, you’ll end the trip with a spectacular rail journey up to Shimla, in India’s north. The ‘toy train’ is rickety but a wonderful experience, with incredible views of the mountainous scenery as it crosses 800 bridges and travels through 100 tunnels over 60 miles.

The details: It’s just £2,549 per person for this 15-day, solo-traveller trip with Riviera Travel. The price includes return flights and transfers, plus a daily programme of activities, all accommodation and nine breakfasts, two lunches and six dinners. Request the brochure here > (opens in new tab)

See where the Chernobyl disaster happened (opens in new tab)

After a new Netflix show has caught the attention of viewers all over the world, Chernobyl has been put on the map again. The site of the tragic nuclear disaster in 1986 is a fascinating place to visit, and you can see it for yourself on Explore’s Discover Chernobyl short break.

The tour includes two days exploring inside the Exclusion Zone, featuring the town of Pripyat, the Red Forest, Chernobyl Docks and the ‘New Safe Confinement’ structure shell around Reactor 4.

You’ll meet a self-settler, someone who has chosen to return to their home after the accident and has been living within the outer Exclusion Zone ever since, and visit Kiev and take a metro trip to Arsenalna (the deepest station in the world). You’ll also visit to the Lavra Historical and Cultural Reserve to see the ‘Monastery of Caves’, which was founded in AD 1051.

The details: This five-day trip costs from £730 per person. The price includes flights, transfers, four-nights’ accommodation, breakfast, two lunches, one dinner and an expert Explore tour leader. Get the full itinerary here. (opens in new tab)

Take a voyage to Antarctica (opens in new tab)

Forget all the usual holiday destinations. This is a cruise with a difference. Head to the bottom of the Earth with Riviera Travel on their Antarctica cruise, starting in Argentina and taking in the Drake Passage – don’t worry, the ship has specially adapted equipment to keep it steady in this infamously rough crossing.

On this epic adventure you’ll sail from the tip of Argentina to the wilds of Antarctica, where you’ll meet penguins aplenty on the South Shetland islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, where impressive icebergs float in the ocean. See hundreds of seabirds in flight and nesting on rocks, and even catch a glimpse of whales and seals.

The details: This trip-of-a-lifetime costs £8,999 per person for 14 days, including international flights, transfers, a full-board cruise, onboard activities such as lectures, excursions and more. Request the brochure here > (opens in new tab)

Traverse Persia and the Silk Road by train (opens in new tab)

Follow in the footsteps of ancient traders through some the world’s most remote corners on this unique new rail journey between the capital of Kazakhstan and Tehran, in Iran. Travelling on luxury train The Golden Eagle you’ll see some of the most magnificent, yet rarely visited, sites from the ancient world.

You’ll venture into the Shahdad Desert to see the Kalouts, the beautiful, ever-changing sand formations carved by the wind, and visit the sacred city of Mashhad, one of the oldest in the world. Explore Persia’s capital, Shiraz, and see the impressive ruins of 6th century Persepolis.

The details: This trip costs from £15,195pp based on two sharing, including 3 nights’ hotel accommodation, 12 nights’ on the Golden Eagle in Silver Class, all meals, drinks with meals, plus guided excursions. Get the full details here. (opens in new tab)