Best Spring Holidays for the Newly Retired
Retiring is a monumental milestone, a time to celebrate the highlights of a varied and fulfilling career and bid farewell to the daily grind. However, many people struggle to break the habit of getting up and going to work, stuck in a routine honed over the last 40 years. If this sounds like you, we have the perfect solution: disrupt your system with an expertly crafted holiday.
What better way to break the habit of a lifetime than to start your next chapter with a holiday? Not only is it the perfect way to acknowledge and celebrate this incredible life event, but it's also a great way to satisfy your wanderlust. After all, gone are the days when retirees were expected to slow down and settle down; now, retirement is when your life starts anew!
They say the world is small, but we've checked, and it really, really isn't. There's so much out there to discover. The best part is you don't have to rush back! You could start your retirement with a once-in-a-lifetime trip, visit some far-flung destinations you've never had the time to explore properly, try a new type of travel, venture to the most remote regions in the world or delve deeper into a special interest.
Most prospective retirees plan their getaway from the daily hustle in December, March and April - in line with the end of the calendar or tax year. So, whether you're thinking of travelling with a partner, your adult child, friends or solo, we've pulled together some of the best spring holidays for your consideration.
Best spring holiday ideas for the newly retired
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime African safari
Here, you can experience native wildlife in their natural habitats, witness animal migrations and explore local cultures.
You can have your dream safari in many of Africa's national parks, each offering unparalleled opportunities for wildlife spotting, with unique landscapes, ecosystems and animal populations. Chobe National Park in Botswana is home to the world's largest concentration of protected elephants - there are well over 100,000 of them - along with hippos, crocodiles and more. In South Africa, Kruger National Park is one of the best places to spot the Big Five and has a wide range of ecosystems. And Maasai Mara, in Kenya, has a high density of predators, including lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
March to May offers milder weather, lush landscapes (as the rainy season ends), fewer tourists, and increased animal movement in these parks. You're practically guaranteed a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with some of the most breathtaking animals on the planet - what a fantastic way to start your retired life!
Travel to far-flung destinations
With time to relax and enjoy yourself (and no interruptions from work), your retirement is the perfect chance to get out and explore the world. Whether you've always wanted to see the Taj Mahal and visit India's Golden Triangle, or stand on the Great Wall of China and experience the hustle and bustle of some of the country's biggest cities, now is the time to start ticking things off your bucket list!
Unsure where to start? Our guests love Japan:
Japan was everything I wanted and more! With local Japanese guides who were full of local information and customs, the itinerary was full and varied with wonderful places to visit and it was indeed The Best of Japan.
It's an extraordinary mix of busy cities and vast swaths of mountains and forests, ancient culture and futuristic technologies. In spring, travellers come to witness Japan's iconic cherry blossoms, a beautiful and crucial component of Japanese culture. While most festivals begin around the end of March, these blooms can last well into May with peak viewing times varying from region to region.
Or perhaps you've always wanted to try authentic Korean food? On holiday to South Korea, you could try new dishes, like bulgogi and Korean barbeque, and bring back recipes to impress your friends. Springtime is when Koreans introduce seasonal ingredients like wild greens and herbs into traditional dishes and street food stalls come to life again. It's also the best time to try Korean strawberries - they're famous for their sweetness.
While spring is blooming in the UK, in the Southern Hemisphere the leaves are turning. New Zealand is known for its natural beauty but the vibrant golds, oranges, and reds transform the landscape - it's the ideal time to visit for any budding photographers. With autumn comes the grape harvest season in New Zealand's famous wine regions, like Marlborough. This makes it a fantastic time to taste the country's most celebrated varietals - Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir - at their freshest, as well as enjoying an inside look at how these wines are made.
Adventure to remote destinations
If you're looking for a real adventure, you could venture into the glacier-cut fjords of Alaska's Inner Passage. It's a breathtaking introduction to the dramatic wilds of Alaska with snow-capped peaks, tranquil fjords, and vast glaciers at their most striking. In early spring, wildlife is abundant, so you'll want to keep your binoculars handy to spot migrating humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, and bald eagles soaring overhead. The milder temperatures make onshore excursions—like guided hikes, cultural experiences in native Alaskan villages, and even scenic helicopter tours—more enjoyable, and the melting snow creates stunning waterfalls along the journey.
Perhaps the cold is not for you? The Galapagos Islands feature high up on most people's bucket list and for good reason! These incredible volcanic islands are home to a vast variety of flora and fauna - most of which are endemic species. We recommend spring as the ideal time to visit when the weather is warm, the waters are calm and the island is teeming with life - turtles hatching, marine iguanas nesting, and exotic bird species, like the blue-footed booby, beginning their fascinating courtship dances.
Interest-based holidays
After decades of putting others first, now is the time to prioritise you. On a themed river cruise, you can enjoy all the benefits of life on the water. You'll soak up European culture at a comfortable pace with excursions that cater to your unique interests. Foodie cruises are perfect for those who savour culinary adventures with cooking demonstrations, fine dining and, of course, plenty of local tastings. Budding horticulturalists (pun intended) can enjoy visits to some of Europe's most famous gardens, like Monet’s Giverny or the Keukenhof (only open in spring), which as well as a few hidden gems only true passionistas know. Or perhaps, you'll peer back through time along rivers like the Douro and the Rhône, on a cruise that dives into the continent’s storied past with visits to medieval castles, battlefields, ancient ruins, and cultural landmarks.
But don't think this it is, we've got holidays to suit every interest.
View all our special interest holidays
If you're planning to retire in spring, there are plenty of incredible destinations you can explore with your newfound freedom. Where will you visit first?
Feature holidays
