Golden gap years are on the rise. Up to half of Britons aged 50 and over are planning one, according to research commissioned and released this year by the airline Emirates. The term “golden gap year” sums up an extended once-in-a-lifetime-style holiday, typically taken in retirement, but also people in their 50s or early 60s.
Despite rising household costs, from fuel to food, over-50s are investing in their holidays. They spend an average of £6,000 a year on travel, and four in 10 are prepared to spend more over the next five years, a study for Saga Holidays and Saga Cruises found.
Among them is Linda Aitchison, who is 58 and from Wolverhampton. A widow with two grown-up daughters, Aitchison started travelling more regularly 14 years ago after her husband died. She says: “I’ve suffered a number of further bereavements since then, which has changed my perspective on life and has led me to grab the moment to travel more.” Now, she typically travels six or seven times a year, spending about £5,000.
A change to inheritance tax rules from April 2027 that will include unused pension funds and pension death benefits means may also incentivise more people to spend their savings rather than leaving it to be taxed for their beneficiaries. And for those who are planning to spend more on their holidays, Europe offers plentiful opportunities…
The Bernina Express train in Switzerland (Photo: Getty/iStock Editorial)
An epic rail journey
A third of British holidaymakers aged 50 and over find rail travel “very appealing”, according to research released this year by Aito, the specialist travel association.
It is straightforward to combine three of Europe’s best-known luxury train journeys on a spectacular week-long self-guided tour offered by Great Rail Journeys.
First, you will board Switzerland’s Glacier Express in Zermatt, taking in majestic mountain views on the eight-hour route to St Moritz. Summer scenery includes Alpine meadows decorated with wildflowers and ripening vineyards. Winter means the route’s highest point, Oberalp Pass, will be blanketed in snow, offering a striking contrast to the cornflower-blue sky.
From St Moritz, you head to Tirano in Italy on the Bernina Express – a route awarded Unesco World Heritage status – for more Alpine views from panoramic windows and sights such as the milky-hued Lago Bianco, which is fed by glacial meltwater, and the Brusio Spiral Viaduct, a loop of track on which the train crosses nine stone arches.
After a night in Venice, with a day to wander its canals, the journey continues to Paris in Art Deco splendour on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. There is live entertainment, meals prepared on board, and beautifully restored cabins to retire to.
Eight-day trip from £6,275pp, including hotels, breakfasts, train journeys (first-class) and flights, greatrail com, departures year-round
An alternative grand tour
You could spend a whole month taking in mainland Europe’s northern highlights on a small group tour with Intrepid Travel, starting in Copenhagen and ending in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. During the 32-day trip, you will travel through seven countries, learning about their cultures, food, lifestyle and histories.
There are plenty of included and optional experiences, such as guided city tours, hiking near Bergen (the Vidden Trail) for fjord views, kayaking some of the 126 lakes in Lithuania’s Aukštaitija National Park, and a fika tour, tasting and learning about Sweden’s coffee-and-cake scene. Free time for independent exploration is built in, as are opportunities to enjoy the region’s prolific saunas.
The pace is brisk, with a strong emphasis on public transport, while accommodation includes hotels, cabins, homestays and an overnight ferry.
From £8,430pp, including most breakfasts and some meals but excluding flights, departures between May and October, intrepidtravel.com
Norway Coastal Express (Photo: Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express)
A 2,500-mile voyage
Hurtigruten has connected Norway’s coastal communities by ship since 1893, and its Coastal Express provides a lifeline for people living in the 32 ports between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes, on Norway’s eastern edge.
The 12-day, round-trip voyage covers 2,500 nautical miles and provides an insight into the experience of Norwegians living on the fjords, who use Hurtigruten vessels as a ferry service, hopping on and off along the way.
Accommodation is in compact but comfortable cabins and there are 64 optional tours on offer, some of which are seasonal: a mountain hike or cycle through the spectacular Hjørundfjord in spring or autumn, a summertime crabbing adventure and a winter husky tour. These cost between £100 and £250pp.
Ships travel across the Arctic Circle south of Ørnes before turning back at Kirkenes. They also operate year-round, so whether you are after a winter blast and the Northern Lights, or a “cool-cation” in warmer months, you are well catered for.
From £1,924pp, including on-board accommodation and meals as well as the skipper and host, but excluding tours and flights, some accessible cabins available, hurtigruten.com
City-hopping in style
Take a no-fly trip featuring some of Europe’s finest cities, starting in Cologne, with its cobbled alleyways and grand Gothic cathedral; Dresden, which was restored after the Second World War; and Prague, with its medieval centre and myriad museums. Then there’s time to take coffee in Vienna and maybe a concert in Salzburg.
You will hop between them by rail, also taking in a couple of lesser-known, but equally compelling Czech cities, including medieval Ceský Krumlov, with its grand castle, and Brno, which has a lively arts scene.
The itinerary, arranged by Byway Travel, can be tailored; you can stay longer in certain places, upgrade your hotels from charming, historic and boutique to five-star luxury, or start from your nearest station. There is also a concierge service for more complex modifications including accessibility needs.
From £1,897pp for a 17-day trip, including all train travel (first class, where available), with a London start and finish, and standard accommodation with breakfast. byway.travel
Explore the Croatian islands (Photo: mljet soline/Aleksandar Gospic)
Sail by private yacht
Gather up a group of eight to 12 friends and sail from Split to Dubrovnik in Croatia on a luxury catamaran with boutique-style accommodation and a crew of two.
Organised by Yacht Getaways, the seven-day itinerary generally follows a rhythm of morning sails, swim stops, languid on-board lunches, and evenings spent moored outside historic harbour towns.
Highlights include the crystalline coves of the Pakleni Islands, the medieval town of Korcula and the saltwater lakes on Mljet.
From £1,750pp (based on a group of 12), including on-board accommodation, breakfast and lunch, excluding flights. yachtgetaways.com
Scouting on Cerkni Lake (Photo: Mr Vito/Getty/E+)
Scouting for bears
Slovenia’s forests take centre stage in Naturetrek’s six-day guided wildlife holiday. Evenings are spent in purpose-built hides watching for European brown bears and, although sightings are never guaranteed, Slovenia’s healthy bear population makes this one of Europe’s more reliable places to spot them.
By daylight you can expect to see birds such as Ural owls, corncrakes and black storks, as well as an abundance of butterflies and wildflowers. A trip to the “intermittent” Lake Cerknica (which can disappear during a dry summer) offers a glimpse into the region’s unusual ecology, while the Križna Jama cave system is home to fascinating limestone formations and Ice Age fossils.
From £2,595pp, including accommodation in a comfortable lodge and all meals. Groups comprise maximum eight people, with private, tailor-made options also available. naturetrek.co.uk
Sail around Greece (Photo: Shereen Mroueh/Gadventures)
Antiquities and islands
Step into the myth and magic of Greece accompanied by an expert National Geographic Expedition leader on a 16-day, small group tour with G Adventures.
The ruins of the Acropolis in Athens, Delphi, the Corinth Canal, Olympia and Meteora are brought to life by specialist guides before sailing off on an island adventure to visit more archaeological gems such the buried ruins of Akrotiri on Santorini.
The trip also includes additional activities such as truffle hunting and wine tasting, a walk through the windmills on Mykonos and learning about sea turtles on Naxos. There’s plenty of down time built in, too, so you can explore solo – or just relax on the beach.
From £4,449pp, including transport within Greece, accommodation in family-run hotels or pensions, breakfast and some meals; excludes flights and optional tours. gadventures.com
Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port in France is on the Camino de Santiago (Photo: Joel Carillet/Getty/iStock Unreleased/JOEL CARILLET)
Walk the full Camino
The “Full Camino” offered by Macs Adventure is an epic 40-day, 785km pilgrimage, tracing the full Camino Francés from the French foothills of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, through the Pyrenees, the lush valleys of Galicia and the immense plains of Sierra de Campos. You’ll end at Santiago de Compostela, with its Unesco-listed historic centre and showstopping cathedral.
This is a self-guided, inn-to-inn journey with nights spent in small hotels and guest houses, and luggage transfers to ease the burden of the average five to eight hours of walking each day.
Detailed trip information is provided, plus 24-hour emergency support, a Pilgrim Passport to record the journey, and the all-important scallop shell, which is given to prove that pilgrims have completed their journeys.
From £3,530pp, including B&B accommodation with baggage transfers, excluding flights. Extra nights can be added. macsadventure.com
Learn too cook in Italy (Photo: Responsible Travel)
Cook like an Italian
Who doesn’t enjoy Italian food? You can indulge in the country’s varied cuisine in style on a premium, tailor-made culinary tour with Responsible Travel.
You will work with specialists to design a journey that might include the valleys of Piedmont that produce barolo wines, the gastronomic city of Bologna and the rolling Tuscan countryside, home of Chianti.
The emphasis is on slow travel and authentic experiences with small-scale producers and independent restaurants.
Expect vineyard visits, truffle-hunting, cheese-tasting and hands-on cooking lessons, as well as time to explore independently. The suggested accommodation is charming, such as hilltop villas, a former monastery, an 18th-century palace and even a castle.
From £10,085pp for the 12-night suggested itinerary above, including flights from the UK, private drivers, premium-class rail travel, accommodation and excursions. responsibletravel.com
Highlands and islands
Taking an island tour in Scotland need not mean skipping over the mainland. A trip with Rabbie’s encompasses wild coastal drives, dramatic Highlands scenery, and lochs Lomond and Ness, as well as ferry crossings to Orkney and six Hebridean islands, including Mull, Skye, Lewis and Harris.
The 17-day journey, starting in Edinburgh, takes place in a 16-seat mini-coach, with a packed and pacy itinerary. However, there are plenty of stops en route to admire the scenery, less visited towns and several distilleries.
The driver-guide will ensure that you come away with a decent understanding of Scottish history and culture – and not just its whisky.
From £1,976pp, excluding accommodation and optional tours – both of which can be added on at the time of booking. rabbies.com