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Retired people are the new globetrotters, with a growing number of older people choosing to take off around the world each year.

A new report claims that Golden Age Packers, or Gappers, are increasingly choosing more extreme travel experiences, with some indulging in safaris, treks, diving, mountain climbing, camping and hot air ballooning, and more than half (53%) convinced that they have become more adventurous since their children left home.

In a similar way to post-school gap year students and recent graduates, retired people are seeking adventure overseas, with one third of respondents to a poll by AA Travel Insurance (34%) taking an extended holiday over the past year.

The survey also discovered that 27% of the retired over 60s quizzed said that they had been on more than three holiday over the previous 12 months and a fifth had travelled to exotic locations such as Australia, South America and China.

The poll of more than 1,000 retirees notes that many pensioners plan to take long trips in the future and more than a third travel more today than they did five years ago.

'Exotic destinations are much more accessible now and older people aren't letting age get in the way of having a good time and exploring the world,' Alison Crossley, AA Travel Insurance manager, said.

'It's great that they're keen to try adventurous activities, but like their younger counterparts they need to ensure they're adequately protected whilst they re abroad.'

A recent poll by insurer Axa found that the majority of Britons would not be able to survive on the current state pension allowance even if they cut down on holidays and other spending, indicating the importance of saving sufficiently for retirement.


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