Age of adventure: Over 65s prioritise spending on travel over grandchildren as many seek high energy holidays

03 December 2025

  • Research commissioned by Co-op Insurance found that over a third (35%) of senior citizens prioritise spending on travel over their children or grandchildren.
  • This appears to be fuelled by regrets of not travelling more in their younger years, with two thirds (67%) admitting to this.
  • The member-owned business’ findings also revealed that almost a tenth (9%) of over 65s have enjoyed a holiday involving hazardous activities or winter sports since they turned 60.
  • Meanwhile, visiting the Great Barrier Reef is the most popular bucket list destination but two thirds (67%) regret not travelling more in their youth.
  • The majority of those aged 65 and over (72%) believe that their generation is more active and adventurous than previous generations when they reached retirement age.

Research commissioned by Co-op Insurance has found that more than a third (35%) of over 65s prioritise spending on travel over their grandchildren.

With one in six (16%) at retirement age having enjoyed three or more holidays over the last twelve months, travel is clearly an essential part of their lives. Indeed, when it comes to how the older generation spend and manage their money, saving ranks as a greater priority than spending on their children and grandchildren.

However, it appears this demand for travel among the older generation is fuelled by regrets of not travelling more in their youth, with over two-thirds (67%) of senior citizens admitting that they wished they’d seen more of the world in their younger years.

Top five spending priorities for over 65s 1. Holidays/trips 2. Saving 3. Grandchildren 4. Children 5. Socialising

The member-owned business’s findings also reveal that those at retirement age are seeking adventure, with almost one in 10 (9%) enjoying a holiday requiring hazardous activity or winter sports cover since they turned 60.

What’s more, almost a fifth (18%) still harbour ambitions of going on an adventure holiday requiring hazardous activity and winter sports cover in the future.

Indeed, the most popular adventure holiday activities among the over 65s are hiking, scuba diving and mountain trekking, followed by skiing or snowboarding and horse riding. In addition, some respondents stated that their holiday had even involved marathon running and exploring Antarctica.

Meanwhile, it’s clear that many in the UK who are at retirement age are thrill-seekers, with almost a fifth (18%) still harbouring ambitions of going on an adventure holiday requiring hazardous activity and winter sports cover in the future.

Top 10 adventure activities among over 65s 1. Hiking 2. Scuba Diving 3. Mountain Trekking 4. Skiing/snowboarding 5. Horse riding 6. Sailing 7. Surfing 8. Mountain biking 9. Rock climbing 10. Swimming with sharks

When it comes to the destinations on the bucket lists of the older generation, visiting the Great Barrier Reef was the most popular, with almost a third (29%) agreeing that it was a destination they’d not been to but always wanted to visit.

Meanwhile, Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, Machu Picchu, and the Great Wall of China also made up the top five places that pensioners would most like to visit that they’ve not already been to.

What’s more, in terms of experiences, a quarter (25%) of pensioners would like to drive the US’ famous Route 66, whilst over a fifth (22%) have always wanted to be able to go on a Safari holiday in Africa and over one in six (18%) say that swimming with dolphins is a bucket list item.

Respondents also said they’d always wanted to go to the Amazon and Antarctica via the Falkland Islands, whilst others would like to experience wing walking and even go on a naturist holiday.

Top 10 bucket list destinations and experiences 1. Watching Northern Lights in Iceland 2. Visit Norwegian Fjords 3. Great Barrier Reef 4. Niagara Falls 5. Grand Canyon 6. Drive Route 66 7. Machu Picchu 8. Great Wall of China 9. Pyramids of Giza 10. Safari

More than seven in 10 (72%) over 65s, many of whom are baby boomers, believe that their generation are more active and adventurous than previous generations were when they reached retirement age.

Indeed, it’s clear that this age group is increasingly seeking adventure holidays, with figures from Co-op Insurance showing a 29% increase in the number of hazardous activity and winter sports cover policy-add ons taken out by those aged 65 and over, so far in 2025.

Ellis German, Head of Travel at Co-op Insurance said:

“Retirement is the perfect time to tick off those travel bucket list items, whether it’s trekking through the Peruvian Andes to Machu Picchu or driving the iconic Route 66.

“Our research shows that those at retirement age are clearly very much young at heart, with a significant number still enjoying adventure holidays and many harbouring ambitions of going on a trip involving winter sports or hazardous activities.

“We’re also seeing more and more taking out policy add-ons for exciting adventures, which further indicates that retirees are increasingly seeking thrills on their holidays, as well as a relaxing break.

“We believe that there should be no age limit on adventure and we’re therefore reminding those aged 65 and over that they can still get the cover that they need for any kind of holiday, from scuba diving and snowboarding to simply a relaxing beach getaway.”

Co-op Insurance will provide cover for any age, any medical condition, anywhere. Consumer champion Which?, have rated our Platinum and Gold cover for Annual multi-trip and Single trip travel insurance a Best Buy.

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ENDS

Notes to the editors

Research conducted by Opinion Matters of 1,000 people in the UK aged 65 and over between 26.9.25 and 1.10.25.

  • Jan-Sep 2024 v Jan-Sep 2025

Top 10 bucket list destination

  1. Great Barrier Reef
  2. Niagara Falls
  3. Grand Canyon
  4. Machu Picchu
  5. Great Wall of China
  6. Pyramids of Giza
  7. Tokyo
  8. Victoria Falls
  9. Taj Mahal
  10. New York

Top 10 bucket list experiences 1. Watching the Northern Lights in Iceland 2. Cruise through the Norwegian Fjords 3. Drive Route 66 4. Safari 5. Swimming with dolphins 6. Hot air ballon ride over Morocco 7. Scuba diving in the Maldives 8. Bungee jumping in the Grand Canyon 9. Snowboarding 10. Skydiving

For more information please contact: pressoffice@coop.co.uk

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