Tag Archives: educational travel

Road Scholar’s most popular program in Peru, A Taste of Peru: Discover Lima, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, gives travelers a perspective on the country during a nine-day journey from Lima to Cusco © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com.

Road Scholar, the not-for-profit world leader in educational travel for older adults, released the top trending destinations for educational travel in 2025, ahead of its 50th anniversary next year. Based on year-over-year program enrollment increases, Road Scholar identified the top 10 trending destinations — five domestic and five international — that are capturing the attention of lifelong learners this year. These destinations reflect the highest increase in demand from 2024 to 2025, highlighting a growing enthusiasm for experiential learning through travel as more older adults seek opportunities to expand their knowledge and explore the world.

“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2025, the interest in our new and ongoing programs is a testament to Road Scholar’s exceptional experiences offered across the world and the growing demand for educational travel,” said Maeve Hartney, chief program officer at Road Scholar. “Across the U.S., Road Scholar participants are embracing the post-pandemic trend of discovering enriching, educational experiences closer to home. For international programs, we’re seeing a growing enthusiasm for deepening knowledge through once-in-a-lifetime learning adventures, exploring hidden gems off the beaten path, and immersing in the culture of more remote, lesser-traveled destinations.”

Based on the largest year-over-year increases of confirmed enrollments in Road Scholar’s programs, here’s a look at the top trending domestic and international destinations:

Top Trending Domestic Destinations
By Year-Over-Year Enrollment Increase

Lincoln, New Hampshire, 550%
San Francisco, California, 257%
Norfolk, Virginia, 207%
Santa Rosa, California, 150%
Stowe, Vermont, 140%

Top Trending International Destinations
By Year-Over-Year Enrollment Increase

Namibia, Africa, 155%
Tanzania, Africa, 153%
Peru, South America, 144%
Greenland, Europe, 133%
Mongolia, Asia, 129%

The Top 3 Trending Domestic Destinations for Educational Travel

Lincoln, N.H. – As a leader in the skip-gen travel movement, Road Scholar’s Nature of New Hampshire program provides a unique opportunity for grandparents to travel and learn alongside their grandkids in Lincoln. On this six-day, sea-to-sky adventure, participants ride along the Cog and Lake Winnipesaukee Railroads, sail on Squam Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee, discover regional wildlife, taste maple syrup delicacies and more.
San Francisco, Calif. – To experience the best of the “City of the Bay,” Road Scholar’s six-day Signature City San Francisco program invites travelers to immerse themselves in the captivating story of San Francisco with the guidance of experts. Participants explore Alcatraz Island, learn about the fire of 1906, wander the markets of Chinatown and see iconic landmarks.
Norfolk, Va. – Perfect for music enthusiasts, Road Scholar’s five-day The Best of Norfolk & the Virginia International Tattoo program takes travelers back to the 17th century to discover the city’s military and art culture. Participants experience the nation’s largest military musical celebration at the Virginia International Tattoo, stroll through the Botanical Garden, attend an exclusive private musical performance and take a narrated Norfolk Naval Base cruise.

The Top 3 Trending International Destinations for Educational Travel

Namibia, Africa – Home to the world’s oldest desert and timeless cultures, Namibia offers travelers the chance to meet native communities and learn about wildlife conservation initiatives. Over a 16-day journey, Road Scholar’s Namibia’s Splendor: Desert, Culture and Magnificent Wildlife program, brings participants to the AfriCat Foundation for up-close experiences with Africa’s big cats, exciting safaris and a visit to a Himba settlement.
Tanzania, Africa – Road Scholar’s 13-day Tanzania and the Great East African Migration program invites travelers to follow the largest movement of wildlife on Earth, from the Serengeti to Maasai Mara Reserve. Participants stay in tents along the migration path, visit the Ngorongoro Crater and Olduvai Gorge and learn how the migration impacts the lives of Indigenous people.
Peru, South America – Road Scholar’s most popular program in Peru, A Taste of Peru: Discover Lima, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, gives travelers a unique perspective on the country during a nine-day journey from Lima to Cusco. In 2025, a new solo-only date will be offered. Participants explore mountain villages, experience a traditional Pachamama ceremony, visit Machu Picchu and learn about ancient weaving traditions and music.

For more information, visit RoadScholar.com. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following Road Scholar on Instagram and Facebook.

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Cultural Travel, Educational Travel, Senior Travel, Travel Contest-Giveaway, Uncategorized

Road Scholar Kicks off 50th Anniversary with ‘Great Global Giveaway’ Contest

January 6, 2024 MoralCompass

Road Scholar, the nonprofit that is a world leader in educational travel for older adults, is having an early kick-off of their 50th anniversary celebration with a contest called the “Great Global Giveaway.”Seven lucky winners will win one of seven educational adventures to seven continents, complete with airfare for two people – among them, a trip to Banff, Canada © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Boston, Mass. — Road Scholar, the nonprofit that is a world leader in educational travel for older adults, is having an early kick-off of their 50th anniversary celebration with a contest called the “Great Global Giveaway.” Seven lucky winners will win one of seven educational adventures to seven continents, complete with airfare for two people. These seven trips, like all the programs Road Scholar offers, will have an emphasis on learning about the destination the winners are visiting through educational content and immersive experiences.

The seven winners will be drawn from a list of all or Road Scholar’s subscribers, including those already on their mailing list and anyone who signs up in 2024. To enter, starting January 1, 2024, and continuing throughout the year, anyone who’s not already on the Road Scholar mailing list can sign up at www.roadscholar.org/enter. Subscribers can also earn extra chances to win by referring friends who aren’t already on Road Scholar’s mailing list online at www.roadscholar.org/friend. Each friend referral provides another chance to win.

The Great Global Giveaway culminates in January 2025 when the winners will find a golden ticket on page 50 of Road Scholar’s January catalog. Winners will also be notified directly by phone or email so they’re sure not to miss the good news. The seven trips include:

Africa | African Safari: A Close-up on Wildlife
Antarctica | “Land Ho!” Icebergs and Penguins in Otherworldly Antarctica
Asia | The People of the Mekong: Vietnam, Cambodia and Angkor Wat
Australia | Discover a Land Down Under: Melbourne, Adelaide & Sydney
Europe | French Art Voyage: Paris, the Rhône and the French Riviera
North America | The Best of the Grand Tetons to Banff: Iconic National Parks
South America | South American Odyssey: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Machu Picchu & More

“With more people than ever wanting to find meaningful experiences by studying abroad, we couldn’t think of a better way to stir excitement than to give away trips to all seven continents,” said Maeve Hartney, Chief Program Officer of Road Scholar. “The Great Global Giveaway celebrates our 50th anniversary in 2025 and our legacy of helping older adults find the joy of learning and exploration with friends old and new. Road Scholar has always been about active learning and fostering a love for adventure, and the Great Global Giveaway embodies that spirit,” she said.

In addition to the Great Global Giveaway, Road Scholar wants to hear the stories of its participants over the last half-century. “For nearly 50 years, six million Road Scholar participants have experienced the joys of learning and travelling with us,” said Hartney. “We’re gathering 50 of the most heart-warming, poignant, charming and funny stories from the Road Scholar community.” Past Road Scholar travelers are encouraged to share a story about their travels with Road Scholar have impacted them at www.roadscholar.org/story.

For more information about Road Scholar’s Great Global Giveaway, visit www.roadscholar.org/enter.

Based in Boston, Massachusetts, not-for-profit Road Scholar is one of the world’s largest and most innovative creators of experiential learning opportunities. Founded in 1975 as Elderhostel and rebranding as Road Scholar in 2010, the tour company serves 80,000-100,000 lifelong learners annually. Programs combine travel and education to provide experiential learning opportunities featuring an extraordinary range of topics, formats and locations in more than 100 countries and throughout the United States. Alongside renowned experts, participants experience in-depth and behind-the-scenes learning opportunities by land and by sea on educational travel adventures designed for boomers and beyond. Road Scholar is a diverse community of knowledge seekers and explorers, united in the belief that lifelong learning is a vital part of overall wellbeing. For more information, visit www.roadscholar.org.

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Active Travel, Cultural Travel, Educational Travel, experiential travel, Solo Travel

Road Scholar Senior Solo Travel Report Uncovers Trend: Married Women Traveling Solo

January 6, 2024 MoralCompass

A survey by Road Scholar on trends in solo travel finds a surprising percentage, 60 percent, of its solo travelers in 2022 are married but traveling without their spouse.

Boston, Mass. – Road Scholar, a world leader in educational travel for older adults, has released a report on trends in solo travel that finds a surprising percentage, 60 percent, of its solo travelers in 2022 are married but traveling without their spouse.

Further, 27% of married women surveyed have never traveled with a spouse on a Road Scholar program. When asked why they travel without their spouses, 42% of women surveyed said their spouse isn’t interested in traveling and 40% said they have different interests when it comes to travel.

“I cherish my time to explore and do what I want on my timetable,” says Road Scholar solo traveler Marcia Henderson, 66. “I like to walk, hike, etc. He has knee issues and doesn’t share my passion for nature, culture, and history. It would be an atrocity to not travel just because my spouse doesn’t like it. This is my passion, and he is supportive as I support his golfing.”

Road Scholar compiled data for this study from the community of 80-100,000 adults over 50 who travel with them each year, including a survey conducted earlier this year. They report that nearly 70% of their travelers are women. Compare that to the overall population breakdown in the U.S.- 58% of Americans 65 and older are women- and this suggests that women are generally more likely to travel in their later years.

There are also far more female solo travelers than male solo travelers among older adults: Road Scholar reports that 85% of their solo travelers are women. They gathered data from outside sources to suggest some reasons why so many more women are traveling solo than men, pointing out that nearly half of women over 65 in the U.S. are unpartnered, that there are far more widowed women than widowed men, and that the divorce rate is highest among older Americans and on the rise. But their finding that so many of their solo female travelers are married tells an intriguing story about the behaviors of Baby Boomer women versus men.

“I think this trend is really a mark of the population that we’re serving currently,” says Road Scholar’s PR Director Kelsey Knoedler Perri. “Two-thirds of our participants now are Boomers, and Boomer women are so much more independent than their mothers and grandmothers. It would have been far more unheard of for previous generations of women to be traveling the world without their spouses. And society has shifted to ‘allow’ older women the freedom to do it.”

Perhaps because of the increase in independence among Boomer women, Road Scholar has been seeing a steady increase in solo travel over the past 10 years. As a response to this increasing demand, they shared the exclusive news that they are developing a collection of programs for solo travelers, which they plan to debut in 2024, with departures starting in 2025.

Road Scholar is a world leader in educational travel for boomers and beyond. This not-for-profit organization was founded as Elderhostel in 1975 and has served more than 6 million lifelong learners over the past 50 years. With educational adventures hosted by expert faculty in nearly 100 countries and throughout the United States, Road Scholar truly is a university of the world. Learn more at www.roadscholar.org/about.

Read Road Scholar’s full study on senior solo travel here, and find their programs for solos here.

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