International Senior Tours With Substance

Pilot Lars (right) and ElderTrekkers, Robbie and Liz, relax in the balloon basket while flying high over Cappadocia from Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia, Turkey. Photo by Senior Travel Editor Alison Gardner

Reviewed by Senior Travel Editor Alison Gardner

Don't be a tourist, be our guest Our tours are cultural immersions. We don't visit, we experience; we don't taste, we savor. We'll take you behind the scenes in France, Spain, Belgium or Switzerland where we have in-depth knowledge of sites, customs and special places to explore. Because our groups are limited to 8 women, we can meet artisans and locals other big tour operators can't. Since we operate each tour ourselves, our itineraries can be accommodating if something wonderful presents itself. Your authentic woman-led escapade will leave an indelible impression and create lifelong memories. Discover where you've always wanted to go with a native guide. We also organize cooking and painting tours.
	Dates: April to Oct. Cost: Early birds discounts. Contact: Jackie Grandchamps, French Escapade, 2389 Blackpool Place, San Leandro, CA 94577. Tel. Toll Free: 1 888 483 5713 Email: contact@frenchescapade.com Website: www.frenchescapade.com
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Archaeological Institute of America Tours, P.O. Box 938, 47 Main St., Ste. 1, Walpole, NH 03608-0938; 800-748-6262 or 603-756-2884, fax 603-756-2922; aia@studytours.org, www.aiatours.org. AIA offers a wide range of small-group land tours and small-ship voyages led by practicing archaeologists who offer behind-the-scenes commentary and insight that only an expert scholar can provide. First-class luxury is the norm on these tours with about 90 percent of clientele over 50.

ElderTreks, 597 Markham St., Toronto, Ontario M6G 2L7, Canada; 800-741-7956 or 416-588-5000; adventure@eldertreks.com, www.eldertreks.com. Catering to 50-plus curious, adventurous travelers for nearly two decades, ElderTreks currently offers small groups of participants opportunities to learn in-depth about environments, countries, and cultures in 80 countries. Covering both land-based and ship-based tours, each itinerary is described in “no surprises” detail and its activity level rated from easy to challenging. Very high on repeat clientele—always a healthy sign!

50plus Expeditions, 760 Lawrence Ave. West, Unit 18, Toronto, Ontario M6A 3E7, Canada; 866-318-5050 or 416-749-5150, fax 416-749-8850, office@50plusexpeditions.com, www.50plusexpeditions.com. Small group adventures, expedition, and adventure cruises, and independent travel itineraries designed for active older adults to explore a world of destinations by expeditionary ship, walking, hiking, or biking. All trips are graded for activity level from easy to demanding. No single supplements on guided or cruise trips, if willing to share, even if no room partner can be matched.

Generations Touring Company, P.O. Box 20187, Seattle, WA 98102-1187; 888-415-9100 or 206-325-2830; fax 206-325-2831; staffdesk@generationstouringcompany.com; www.generationstouringcompany.com. GTC specializes in dynamic, enriching vacations for all types of family groups. Whether in Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands, Canada or the U.S., GTC adventures combine a mix of fun activities designed for kids, teens and adults, age-appropriate interpretation, and cultural interactions with locals. Intergenerational travel accounts for nearly half of GTC’s clients, the remaining being traditional family groups (parent and kids), and adult children traveling with parents. 60 percent of clients are over 50.

GRANDTRAVEL, 1920 N. St., NW, Ste. 200, Washington, DC 20036-1601; 800-247-7651 or 202-785-8901, fax 202-785-3322; Grandtravel@academic-travel.com, www.grandtrvl.com. GRANDTRAVEL specializes in educational grandparent/grandchild vacations that both age groups are guaranteed to find stimulating and fun. All activity directors are teachers with a mandate to engage the youthful clients and their grandparents in an enriching menu of U.S. and such international destinations as England, Italy, Greece, Galapagos, Kenya, Scandinavia, and Australia. Not cheap but worth every penny. The exquisitely art-illustrated 40-page catalog reflects the attention to detail in which this 20-year-old company excels.

Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, P.O. Box 2009, 130 4th Ave. N, Edmonds, WA 98020; 425-771-8303, fax 425-771-0833; tours@ricksteves.com, www.ricksteves.com/tours. Currently offers 28 small-group tours and 400 departures reflecting the "Europe Through the Back Door" grassroots philosophy of his acclaimed European guidebooks and public television travel series. With a good mix of ages from 30 to 80 (about 60 percent women), more than half of participants are over 50 on the 2- to 3-week country and region tours, while they make up 30-40 percent on the 1-week city tours.

Senior Women’s Travel Tours, 435 E. 79th St., #4L, New York, NY 10021; 212-988-1359, fax 212-826-8710; maryann@poshnosh.com, www.poshnosh.com. Senior Women's Travel is for 50-plus women who are active and adventurous with a passion for travel and embracing new experiences. Spotlight on great European cities, European regional exploration, grandmother/grandchild travel, and arts, theater, and cuisine.

Transylvania Live: Transylvanian Fall Foliage - Special Tour for Seniors. See the most famous Castles in Romania - Peles Castle - the most beautiful royal residences in Europe and Bran Castle—Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, Sibiu—chosen as the European Cultural Capital of 2007, offering a visit to Bruckental Museum hosting important work of arts Rubens, Tizian, Van Dyke, Sighisoara—the best preserved and still inhabited medieval citadel in Europe, Merry Cemetery—discover how a cemetery can be merry in the picturesque and traditional area of Maramures. Contact: alin.todea@visit-transylvania.eu, www.visit-transylvania.us (reviewed by web editor).