Offbeat Tours For Seniors

by Alden Smith

Today, with seniors healthier than ever and living longer, they wish to do things that are out of the ordinary that they have never had a chance to do.  Seniors need adventure.  Many companies and even many countries are aware that people want offbeat vacations, so they do their best to please them.  The focus of this article is on offbeat vacations.

How Adventurous Are You?

A lot of offbeat vacations will require you to be both adventurous and in pretty good physical shape.  It is really the whole idea behind this sort of vacation.  Though the tour guides will ensure that you don't overdo it, you must prepare for a higher level of activity than sitting all day in front of the tube.

Let's Go To Norway

Norway has a lot to offer.  This Scandinavian country is home to a lot of offbeat activities that seniors can enjoy.  Let's look at a few.

Go Dog Sledding

Tours are given that take you on a dog sled ride either as a passenger or as a dog driver.  A team of four to six Huskies pull you at their fast pace through the snowy winter scenery of Norway.  You will see reindeer along the way.  Outfitters travel with the group, providing assistance and ensuring safety.  A midwinter camping trips under a canopy of stars has to be one of the greatest adventures of a lifetime.  Contact:

Muir's Tours
Nepal House,
97A Swansea Rd.,
Reading, Berkshire
RG1 8HA England
Tel. 0118-950-2281

Let's Go Rafting

Whitewater rafting is an excellent adventure.  We go once again to Norway. With its abundant snow and rainfall and its steep topography, Norway provides some of the best rafting in the world. The tour guides in Norway can provide you with the adventure you'd love to have, whether it is paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, or inflatable rafts.  Everything is possible there.  Contact:

Norwegian Wildlife and Rafting
AS, Randswerk,
N-2680 Vågå
Tel. 61-23-87-27

Moving Away From The Cold

Everyone has different preferences. Perhaps you might wish to take a bird watching tour, or camp in a wilderness setting.  These options are readily available for you.  For this, we travel to North Bengal.

North Bengal offers much to the visitor.  There are jungle tours through Jaldapara Wild Life Sanctuary.  You can visit Mahananda Wild Life Sanctuary, Neoravalley National Park, Gorumara National Park, Buxa Tiger Reserve and a host of other smaller forests.  The scenery and flora and fauna are amazing.  This spot in India is a birdwatcher's paradise.  Are you looking for other adventure there?  Consider biking, rafting and camping, or a tour that gives you the opportunity to live with a family in a local village to learn about their culture.  Contact:

naturebeyond
3rd Floor, Anand Mangal Square
57 Station Feeder Road
Siliguri
West Bengal
India 734005
Tel:  91-353-2500656

Let's Go Daytripping

For the seniors who don't wish to take an extended vacation, there are many offbeat day trips that you can take.  Let's go to Charleston S.C and have a look at what's available there.

The Old South Carriage offers horse drawn tours of Charleston that tour the historical district of Charleston.  The 1-hour ride covers a mile and a half of the historical area.  Rides are narrated, and cost $20.00. Contact:

The Old South Carriage,
14 Anson St.
Tel. 843/723-9712;

If you like to walk, try the Charleston Tea Party Walking Tour that covers all the nifty nooks and crannies of historical Charleston. The year-round event has two tours daily.  Cost is $25.00 for seniors.  Visit secret courtyards and gardens and get your promised cup of tea at the end of the walk.  Contact:

Charleston Tea Party Walking Tour
Tel. 843/722-1779

Visiting New York City?

If you are, they have a lot of good things to see.  One notable place to visit is Union Square Tours.  The free walking tour is offered by the 14th Street-Union Square Business Improvement District.  You will visit New York's first film studios, opera houses, grand theaters and nickelodeons.  Of special interest is the "Ladies Mile" and Union Square Park.  Contact them by telephone at 212-460-1204.

The places to visit both locally and abroad are endless.  There is something in every price range, from free to several thousand dollars.  If you are sick of the cut-and-dried tours offered to a lot of seniors, just look off the beaten path.

For more travel ideas, see our Travel Article section.
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Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.