There are three kinds of vacations.
Low-stress getaways can help you escape the daily grind and unwind, preferably in a warm, balmy setting.
Second come your basic sightseeing vacations.
Third, you have trips that change everything. These aren’t mere vacations, but journeys that alter the way you see the world — and yourself.
These are the trips that transport you not just to a different place, but entirely out of your element.
You become a modern-day explorer, sampling new cuisines, interacting with different cultures and, above all, discovering something new every day. These trips may take you to remote corners of the world, or revisit familiar places with a new perspective.
Older travelers, like younger globe-trotting college students, have the time and the ambition to hit the road in search of new experiences. In fact, older travelers are among the most adventurous. Just judging by the number of tour operators that are geared toward golden-age explorers, this is a group that embraces new experiences with gusto.
Some tour operators cater to older travelers with a variety of interesting, diverse itineraries and destinations. The granddaddy — so to speak — is Elderhostel, a Boston-based organization that offers creative itineraries with an educational bent. Trip participants typically stay at university dormitories and attend seminars led by professors and other experts.
Elderhostel’s trips now span the globe with a huge selection of itineraries in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
The Toronto-based ElderTreks specializes in trips to exotic locales for adventurous types 50 and older.
Many grandparents want to share their adventures with grandchildren, and that’s the idea behind the trips organized by Grandtravel. The company specializes in multigenerational adventures to domestic and European destinations. Itineraries feature plenty of kid-friendly activities, such as a helicopter ride over Manhattan on the New York trip or an excursion to Beatrix Potter’s house in England.
Of course, tour operators who specialize in trips for older travelers are just the tip of the iceberg. Other trip outfitters offer a host of more options. Myths and Mountains organizes small-group educational journeys to destinations “off the beaten path.”
Trips generally fall into five categories: cultures and crafts, religion and holy sites, wildlife and the environment, learning journeys, and folk medicine and traditional healing. Participants may find themselves learning from shamans in Ecuador, touring Buddhist temples in India or perfecting massage techniques under the tutelage of Hilltribe people in Thailand.
Equally exotic are the upscale trips planned by Geographic Expeditions. Groups follow the Silk Route across China, venture into deepest Mongolia, hike the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal and explore Italy’s Cinque Terre. Trip pace ranges from easy touring to rigorous hiking.
If natural history is your passion, companies like Oceanic Society Expeditions organize expeditions under the guidance of naturalists. Itineraries span the globe, from Florida (to see manatees) to Antarctica.
Affordable adventure is the specialty of Overseas Adventure Travel. Small groups get plenty of opportunity to interact with the locals in destinations as diverse as China’s Yangtze River Valley and Africa’s Serengeti.
Some life-changing holidays involve a more inward sojourn. Maybe you go to a spa or fitness resort to revamp your health. Or you seek a spiritual journey. That’s the idea of “101 Vacations to Change Your Life” by Karin Baji Holms.
In her book, Holms notes that true retreats are a far cry from a weekend escape from the daily grind. “These are places to go not only for rest, but renewal,” she explains. “Places to draw a little closer to ourselves, to regain focus, a positive outlook or a sense of inner peace. Places to learn healthy habits and raise our awareness of unhealthy ones. Places offering the settings, services and feelings conducive to personal transformation.”
Her compendium is a mix of mainstream spas and retreats that are, well, kind of out there. To improve your health, check out world-class spas such as Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., or Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico.
Feeling a bit more adventurous? Learn the finer points of meditation at the high-touch Chopra Center for Well Being in La Jolla, or find nirvana while hiking on Rocky Mountain trails at Mountain Trek Fitness Retreat and Health Spa in British Columbia.
Other retreats are designed to expand personal consciousness. The famous Esalen Institute in Big Sur offers a variety of classes on topics ranging from the arts and creativity to relationships and spiritual studies. While some retreats emphasize activity, stillness is the goal of visitors at the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper, N.Y.
With so many adventure tour operators, how do you choose a trip that’s just right? Start by requesting catalogs and asking plenty of questions.
Among the things you should find out:
*Exactly what do trip fees cover? The best trips include airfare, land transportation, baggage handling, lodging, sightseeing services and most meals. If airfare is not included, can the tour operator arrange for affordable air transportation from a convenient gateway? When planning a cruise, ask if shore excursions are included; they usually are for small ship and expedition-type cruises.
*How much free time is built into the schedule? Look closely at the trip itinerary. Some trips go nonstop from morning until late evening, while others are more loosely scheduled. Which is best depends on your needs. You may want to pack in plenty of activity, or prefer free time to explore on your own.
*How big is the group? Generally, the smaller, the better. Large groups tend to overwhelm small destinations. Smaller groups are more able to interact with the local population.
*What is the average age of participants? Again, this depends on your own preferences. Some trips, such as those organized by Elderhostel and ElderTreks, are specifically aimed at older travelers. But you may enjoy a trip that attracts a variety of ages.
*What is the pace? Will you stay in a different place each night, spend several nights in each spot, or stay in a new place almost every night? If you like the idea of a new place each day, but hate to unpack all the time, opt for a ship cruise. You’ll enjoy plenty of variety but only unpack once.
*What physical activity is involved? Find out how much walking is involved and what kind of terrain. High altitude is a consideration in some destinations and, on some cruises, you’ll have to climb in and out of small landing craft. For active vacations, ask if all equipment is provided.