Posted on Sun, Feb. 02, 2003

A Canadian company offers packages worldwide with activities of varying levels of physical effort

By John J. Hilferty

This comes, we hope, not too late to fulfill your annual resolution to haul your old bones out of the Barcalounger and onto a new and exiting path to fitness and adventure.

You may choose one of the following:

"I can walk or hike two to three hours a day without stopping for foot baths."

"I can keep a pace for four to six hours and can even handle slight inclines."

"I have the lungs of Paavo Nurmi ('The Flying Finn') and can run backward up the south slope of the Acropolis."

All three categories - easy, moderate and demanding - are tailored for senior travelers signing up for a vacation with 50plus Expeditions, a Canada-based touring company. It is owned by a Russian couple, Irena and Sergei Shibaev, and has a list of destinations that appears to cover most of the globe, including the polar regions; Spitzbergen, Germany; and the jungles of the Amazon - so much for the excuse that "they don't go where I want to go."

Most, but not all, of the trips are limited to seniors, with 16 participants being the usual maximum. The price covers overnight accommodations, all meals, transportation during the tours (but not airfare to and from the original destination and return cities), all sight-seeing activities, and entrance fees to national parks, game reserves and the like.

An example of an "easy," or less strenuous, trip would be to the Galapagos Islands for 10 days, available year-round, $1,885 (U.S.). A 12-day visit to the Cotswolds of England is described as a "moderate" trip, costing $1,325. It is recommended that you be in good physical condition for a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro, seven days, $1,215, available year-round.

For more information, call 1-866-318-5050, or write to 50-Plus Expeditions, 415 Oakdale Rd., Suite 215, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3N1W7. The Web site is www.50plusexpeditions.com.

1-866-318-5050    office@50plusexpeditions.com