New Survey Says Adventure Travel Popular with All Ages

The latest study in the cruise and travel realm points to an interesting shift in who is looking to experience adventure-themed vacations. The Travel Leaders Group, a top agency for travel and vacations, in conjunction with the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), surveyed their agents and the results pointed to a significant shift in older travelers interested in a little more adventure and excitement on vacation.

According to ATTA Regional Director Russell Walters, adventure travel is currently a $683 billion industry. Most would assume that biking adventures, heli-fishing trips, glacier hikes and more would be more popular among younger vacationers. However, respondents to the survey revealed the fact that there was only a one percentage point difference between 29-40 year olds looking for adventure and the 41-50 year olds.

RELATED: A New Focus on Adventure Expeditions for Seabourn Cruise Line

Even more surprising? 22% of adventure travelers fell in the 51-60 age range.

Biking is a top choice for adventure travel | Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

The survey also offered insights into the best locations for adventure travel and the most popular kinds of trips.

The top ten destinations for adventure travel include:

• Western Europe (France, Italy, Germany, U.K., Norway, Switzerland, etc.)
• Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala)
• North America (U.S. and Canada)
• Caribbean
• South Pacific (New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti)
• South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador)
• Mexico
• Africa
• Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Poland)
• South and Southeast Asia (India, Malaysia)

The most popular kinds of trips were:

• Cultural Tours
• Hiking/Walking/Trekking
• Culinary and Foodie
• Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
• Small Ship Expedition Cruises
• Sea Kayaking/Whitewater Kayaking/Kayak Touring
• Biking/Road Biking/Mountain Biking
• Safaris
• Rafting
• Multi-sport (i.e., hike/bike/kayak in one trip)

When it comes to booking a trip, there wasn’t a large discrepancy between those who prefer organizing their activities and excursions beforehand versus those who like to be more independent when they travel. 65% of adventurers say their vacation generally lasts between 7-10 days with nearly two thirds of respondents reporting the average total cost of the trip between $2,000 and $5,000.