5 unforgettable trips to take in retirement

My parents have always been my inspiration when it comes to travel. They opened my eyes to the world, and now in retirement they’re using their free time to continue doing what they love. In recent years, my dad has trekked around Japanese islands and crossed two oceans by boat, my mum has taken solo trips to remote parts of Iceland, and together they’ve toured Spain, Cuba and Central America. Retirement doesn’t need to mean slowing down, but rather an opportunity to get out there, if you’re able, and do the things you never had time for in your working life. Here are five ideas for leisurely, enriching trips to take in retirement.

2 A leisurely tour of undiscovered Asturias

Many people aren’t familiar with Asturias, but this little-known region in northern Spain, between the Basque Country and Galicia, has some of the best scenery in the country, plus untouched beaches, mountains and amazing cuisine. The famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route cuts along the coast here, so walking opportunities are excellent. Known as the Costa Verde, you can expect green cliffs backing vast and empty beaches, punctuated by dramatic natural wonders like the Bufones de Pria blowholes, through which the ocean spouts geysers, gurgling and growling as if alive.

Asturias isn’t a place for travelling quickly – ideal if you’re retired and have time to roam at a leisurely pace. Travelling is much more enriching this way, and taking the scenic route is what it’s all about. There’s only one main road along the coast, or you could travel via the FEVE railway, a narrow-gauge line that crawls from Bilbao to Ferrol. It’s slow but breathtakingly beautiful, skirting beaches, crossing rivers, and stopping in some of Asturias’s must-see places like Oviedo, Gijón, Llanes and Ribadesella. It’s in these towns that you’ll get to sample the cuisine, known for cider, seafood and hearty stews. Lots of food festivals and Michelin restaurants across the region celebrate the land’s bounty.

And then there’s the interior. The Picos de Europa are the knobbly mountains wedged between three river gorges. It’s a hiker’s paradise and a picture of beauty, particularly from April to June when the wildflowers sprout – they are some of the most diverse in Europe. Elsewhere there are pre-Romanesque ruins, mostly found along the Navia River in western Asturias – tours are available.

For more info and tips, check out our in-depth guide to Asturias.

3 Cultural immersion in India

If, like me, India has always intrigued you but the thought of travelling there is overwhelming, here’s why your retirement is the time to go. Fewer time constraints mean you can get out into the heart of the country, away from the chaotic big cities, where the magic of India reveals itself. And you may be less likely to be travelling on the shoestring budget of the 20 somethings, so you can choose smarter places to stay (there are some incredible options: royal palaces, sandstone havelis, luxury desert tents and jungle lodges) and more civilised ways to get around. Our tip is to plan it through a tour operator – we work with partners in Northern India and Kerala.

In the north, you may want to tour the big sights like the Taj Mahal, the wild tigers of Ranthambore, and the temples and forts of Jaipur and Jodhpur. Rajasthan is where you’ll want to start. This ‘Land of the Kings’ is awash with ornate palaces and majestic hilltop forts silhouetted against rich and varied landscapes: harsh, barren deserts contrast with rolling green hills; rural farmland with large, bustling cities. Exploring is best done by private car and driver, and we’d recommend hiring a guide too, who can take you to the best spots and shoo away any hawkers.

Or you might choose southern India, where the pace of life is slower and the curries are even hotter. This gentler part of India feels exotic, with a lush coastline and a tranquil backwater network of lakes, lagoons and canals linking tiny settlements and farms. You can cruise these waterways via houseboats, converted from traditional kettuvallams (cargo boats that used to carry rice and spices). For beaches, most head to the south of Kerala for its palm-fringed shores – it’s worth staying at the mini resorts along here as many of them own the best stretches of sand. And for a break from the heat, head inland towards the Western Ghats to explore rubber, spice and tea plantations and wildlife sanctuaries. The best areas are accessed from Kottayam or Cochin – again, hiring a driver is your best bet.

4 Old-style glamour in Sicily

Sicily is one for the romantics, its elegant mansions and Baroque towns evoking Italy’s longstanding history of grandeur and style. Your retirement is the perfect time to visit the island in luxury, staying at its old palazzi, slotting into its leisurely pace of life, and tucking into that delectable food that is loved across the world. Be indulgent – you’ve worked hard for this.

We’d suggest flying into Catania (an underrated city – worth an overnight stopover), then touring the east coast by road or boat. You could go north towards Taormina, an upmarket resort town with café-lined piazzas, a stunning Greek amphitheatre and plush hotels converted from former mansions of wealthy noblemen. Head out to Etna for the day, climbing the slopes or taking the cable-car to the top for stunning views. The volcano’s fertile black earth also produces excellent food and drink, and there are lots of vineyards in the area offering tours and tastings.

For Baroque towns and beaches, travel down to the south-east coast, where there’s a cluster of Unesco-listed beauties like Modica, Ragusa, Scicli, Noto and Palazzolo Acreide. If you don’t fancy driving, you can take buses here instead (though they can be slow). Rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1693, these towns are a jumble of honey-hued buildings and atmospheric alleys, with piazzas where you can watch the world go by over cappuccino and cannoli. They’re also only a hop, skip and jump from some of the island’s best beaches – among our favourites are unspoilt Sampieri and the numerous sandy coves of the Vendicari Nature Reserve – an excellent spot for seeing migratory birds.

A good time to visit Sicily is at the end of September / early October when the heat has died down and the summer crowds have largely dispersed.

5 A scenic adventure in Argentina

Immense, wild and far away, Argentina has a mesmerising edge-of-the-world vibe that is unmatched by anywhere else on earth. This vast country is among the top 10 largest in the world, so to take in its beauty, you need time to explore. Even so, you’ll probably want to incorporate a few internal flights into your itinerary; Aerolineas Argentinas has an extensive flight network, while Flybondi is a budget option.

Most trips begin in Buenos Aires, a thrilling city that combines European and Latin culture. Opulent Belle Époque buildings and leafy avenues hint at Paris, while the vivacious locals – native Argentines and immigrant Portenos – are incredibly warm and welcoming. You’ll want to see the erotic tango dance in the dark interior of a milonga, and sniff the deliciously smoky whiff of steak sizzling on the grill at a parrilla restaurant. There are more theatres here than in London’s West End, so try to catch a show too – seniors are often given discounted admission. This a place for dining, socialising and having a merry old time – a couple of days will start off your trip with a bang.

From here, where you go will depend on your interests. You could fly south to El Calafate to explore the raw, wild, windswept world of Argentine Patagonia; unmissable excursions include the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers. More adventures await in the Bariloche area of the scenically beautiful Lake District, a land of peaks and valleys peppered with lakes and rivers of all hues.

Mendoza is a place for the winos, with long-established bodegas producing sophisticated, prize-winning wines from emerald vines stretching out to the distant Andes mountains. While up in the northwest you’ll find Salta, surrounded by starkly different landscapes, from desert plains to cloudforest. It’s the indigenous culture that makes this region so distinctive – look out for colourful weavings and haunting baguala music.

There’s a lot to see in Argentina! Contact our team for more travel advice.