From mountain treks to Antarctic crossings, seniors in their 70s and 80s reveal the specific adventures they desperately wish they'd tackled before their bodies betrayed their wanderlust—and their warnings might change how you plan your next vacation.
Have you ever heard that haunting quote from Mark Twain? "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do."
After interviewing dozens of people in their 70s and 80s for a recent project, I can tell you this rings painfully true when it comes to travel. The most common regret I heard wasn't about career choices or relationships. It was about the places they never visited when their bodies could still handle the adventure.
What struck me most was how specific their regrets were. Not vague wishes about "traveling more," but actual destinations they'd bookmarked in their minds for decades, always thinking there'd be time later. Spoiler alert: for many of them, later never came.
If you're reading this and thinking you've got plenty of time, consider this: the average person's physical mobility starts declining significantly after 65. Sure, some folks are hiking mountains at 80, but banking on being the exception isn't exactly a solid travel strategy.
So what destinations did these wise elders wish they'd prioritized? Let me share what they told me.
1. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru
"I always thought I'd do it in retirement," one 74-year-old told me, her voice thick with regret. "Now my knees can barely handle the stairs in my house."
The classic Inca Trail is a four-day trek at high altitude, climbing ancient stone steps and crossing mountain passes at over 13,000 feet. Even for someone like me who runs trails regularly, the altitude alone would be challenging. Multiple people mentioned this specific trek, not just visiting Machu Picchu by train, but actually hiking the trail their ancestors built.
The window for this one closes faster than you think. The combination of altitude, steep climbs, and camping in basic conditions makes it tough even for fit 50-somethings. One man told me he tried at 68 and had to turn back on day two.
2. Antarctica
This one surprised me at first, but it came up again and again. The issue isn't just cost (though that's certainly a factor). It's the physical demands of getting there and moving around once you arrive.
Most Antarctica trips involve crossing the Drake Passage, often called the roughest sea crossing in the world. Two full days of potential seasickness each way. Then there's getting in and out of Zodiac boats in choppy waters, walking on uneven ice, and dealing with extreme cold.
A former colleague of mine went last year at 45 and said even she found the physical aspects challenging. Can you imagine trying it with mobility issues or balance problems?
3. African safari with walking tours
"I wanted to track gorillas in Rwanda," an 81-year-old woman told me. "To walk through that jungle and see them up close."
Vehicle safaris are one thing, but many seniors specifically mentioned missing out on walking safaris, gorilla trekking, or climbing Kilimanjaro. These experiences require not just walking, but hiking through challenging terrain, sometimes for hours.
The gorilla trekking particularly got to people. It can involve up to eight hours of hiking through dense forest at altitude. The permits are expensive and limited, so it's not something you can easily do if you're not confident in your physical ability.
4. The Galapagos Islands
Here's another destination where the journey is as demanding as the destination. Most Galapagos experiences involve small boats, wet landings where you wade through surf, walking on uneven volcanic rock, and snorkeling.
An 76-year-old man showed me his bucket list from 1995. Galapagos was number three. "I kept pushing it off because of the cost," he said. "Now I couldn't handle the boat transfers even if I won the lottery."
The wildlife there doesn't exist anywhere else on Earth. Once your mobility goes, so does your chance to walk among giant tortoises and marine iguanas in their natural habitat.
5. Nepal beyond Everest Base Camp
Everyone knows about Everest Base Camp, but the seniors I talked to had broader dreams of Nepal. They wanted to experience the Annapurna Circuit, stay in mountain villages, cross suspension bridges over rushing rivers.
These treks aren't just physically demanding. They involve basic tea house accommodations, squat toilets, and limited medical facilities. One woman in her 70s told me she'd saved for years to do the Annapurna trek but realized at 65 that she'd waited too long.
The altitude, the daily hiking distances, the basic conditions, it all adds up to something you need to do while you're still strong.
6. Trans-Siberian Railway
You might think a train journey would be easy at any age, but several people explained why they regretted missing this one. The full journey takes a week, with basic sleeping compartments, shared bathrooms, and limited food options.
"It's not a luxury cruise," one man laughed bitterly. "It's an endurance test disguised as a train ride."
The authentic experience involves getting off at multiple stops, exploring Russian cities, maybe taking detours into Mongolia. All of this requires stamina, flexibility, and the ability to handle unexpected situations in places where you might not speak the language.
7. Backpacking through Southeast Asia
Almost everyone mentioned some version of wanting to have done the full Southeast Asian experience. Not the resort vacation, but the real backpacking adventure. Temple hopping in Cambodia, motorbiking through Vietnam, island hopping in the Philippines.
These experiences often involve long bus rides, basic accommodations, lots of walking in heat and humidity, and navigating chaotic cities. One couple in their 70s had tried to do a "lite" version recently but found even that exhausting.
8. The Northern Lights in remote locations
Sure, you can see the Northern Lights from comfortable hotels in Iceland or Norway. But the people I interviewed regretted not doing the more adventurous versions. Dog sledding in Lapland, staying in glass igloos in Finland, snowmobiling in the Arctic Circle.
These experiences often involve extreme cold, physical activities, and remote locations far from medical help. "I wanted to sleep in an ice hotel and chase the lights on a snowmobile," one woman said. At 73 with circulation problems, that dream is gone.
9. New Zealand's adventure circuit
New Zealand kept coming up, but not for the wine tours or scenic drives. People regretted missing out on the Milford Track, bungee jumping in Queenstown, glacier hiking, and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
It's a country built for adventure, but most of those adventures require solid knees, decent balance, and a fair bit of courage. Several people mentioned having the opportunity to go in their 40s or 50s but choosing safer destinations instead.
Final thoughts
After all these conversations, I found myself reassessing my own travel priorities. That trek I've been putting off? Maybe it shouldn't wait until I have more money saved. The physically demanding trips keep getting pushed back for "someday," while I book another city break or beach vacation.
Here's what really hit home: not one person regretted a trip they took, even the difficult ones. The regrets were all about the journeys never taken.
If there's a destination on your list that requires physical capability, don't assume your body will wait for your schedule. Our bodies are temporary vehicles, and their warranties expire at different times for everyone.
What physically challenging destination have you been putting off? Maybe it's time to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start planning for the possible one.
