Ideas for 50th Birthday Trip

gromit on 25/12/2021 - 10:59

Hi guys,

In 2 years I turn 50 and have been trying to work out what to do/where to go for my 50th. Looking for ideas on amazing places/experiences for my 50th.

Some info:
I don't do camping or roughing it any more. I don't like large group tours and definitely not organised tour/holidays. I plan ahead but don't schedule things for everyday and don't like to rush, like to relax but love trying/seeing new things. Knees are a bit buggered nowadays so long hikes or anything too strenuous on the knees doesn't work. I love the cold and really hate humid heat.

What I have already done and loved throughout my life
Alaska and Alaska cruises
Vancouver and Whistler
Rafting down the chilkat river in Alaska
Niagara Falls
Rocky Mountaineer
Lake Moraine Canada
Denmark/Norway/Sweden in winter (skidoo trek, fjords, northern lights)
Ice Hotel and skystation Abisko
England/Scotland/Ireland (Isle of Skye, lochs, castles, stonehenge etc etc, think I have done most things of interest there for me)
Japan and Japan Cruise, Robot Restaurant, light exhibition, Samurai museum etc (already planning trip to Ghibli theme park possibly for early 2023)
Most places of interest in Australia

Was ok
South Pacific islands cruise
Hawaii
Fiji
Most places of interest in USA.

Done and hated
Paris
Bali

At the moment I have a couple of items on my potential list, Galapagos combined with Machu Pichu, Antarctica cruise or redoing my ice hotel and northern lights trip of about 10 years ago but this time with my wife. Looking for other interesting ideas others have done or that have done Antarctica/Galapagos/Machu and have some advise or feedback on them. Time of year is Nov-feb 2023-24. I don't have a specific budget but definitely a absolute max of 40k.

Travel

Comments

  • Vomo on 25/12/2021 - 11:16

    I did Hobart in the winter for my 40th. Loved it. Might get some snow on mt Wellington. Nice and cold down by harbour for fishing chips. Salamaca market and wandering around the historical Battery Point, quaint little houses.

    • gromit on 25/12/2021 - 23:31

      Tassie is probably the one area of Australia I have not seen much of. Hmmm, what's it like in summer though?

  • david clarke on 25/12/2021 - 11:24

    Tassie is a good call for sure…. Especially if you like Whiskey!

  • sharkyoz on 25/12/2021 - 11:33

    Go on a deep sea fishing trip from SA or Melb, catch a few tuna.

    • gromit on 25/12/2021 - 23:30

      I did briefly consider sail fish off Broome. Have not done fishing in years, maybe something to consider thanks.

    • gromit on 25/12/2021 - 23:27

      Done bike tours, actually about to sell my motorbike. Enjoyed, but want something different for 50th

  • ihbh on 25/12/2021 - 17:43

    Knees are a bit buggered nowadays

    What happened?

    • EightImmortals on 25/12/2021 - 18:31

      Everything he wrote in the OP. :)

    • gromit on 25/12/2021 - 23:25

      Rabbit hole running cross country as a teen, skiing, motorbikes, slip on ice in Norway. Now plays up every now and then, especially on strenuous exercise.

  • Benoffie on 25/12/2021 - 21:58

    In laws did Galapagos. They enjoyed it but their tour seemed a little shallow. If this is something you want to do, really look at the time spent and who is running the tours (experts etc).

    They loved Machu Pichu. They were talking about their Sth American trip again at Xmas today. They had to have gone 10? Years ago now. Went in their 60s.

    • gromit on 25/12/2021 - 23:35

      Yeah we were warned of similar for Galapagos so have been researching some of the small luxury cruise ships with proper experts and lectures

  • AaronRain on 26/12/2021 - 10:02

    "Ghibli theme park"
    No way, I didn't even know that this was a thing. The Ghibli museum was great if a bit small so I would imagine this would be awesome.

    If you like the cold, the Sapporo Snow Festival is quite a site as well.

    • gromit on 26/12/2021 - 12:17

      Theme park opens in 2022 on the old expo site in Nagoya. Sapporo snow festival sounds interesting, shall research it. Thanks

  • Eeples on 03/01/2022 - 23:27

    For my 50th I did the plank walk at mount hua.

    …caught a plane to Beijing (sight seeing),then speed train to Xian, public bus to Xian station, (next day after seeing the warriors), speed train to Hua Shan station, public bus to the mountain.

    Caught a gondola up, traversed the 4 peaks, plank walked, caught different gondola down.

    (It is also possible to climb up and down; pass).

    Solo travelled.

  • Seaword on 04/01/2022 - 10:50

    What about something more adventurous?

    Trams Siberian train trip
    Southern or East Africa
    Greenland and Iceland
    Iran

    • gromit on 04/01/2022 - 11:38

      Trans Siberian train trip is on my list for a few years time when I next go to Russia (wife is Russian).
      Africa doesn't really excite me to much to be honest. maybe one day
      Done Greenland and Iceland already (but yes would love to go back again)
      Iran doesn't really interest me, besides which it would cause me security clearance nightmares

      I think at this point I am heavily leaning towards a do over of my denmark/norway/sweden/icehotel/northern lights trip but with my wife this time. Though definitely a few other ideas mentioned above that I am adding to my list now, I think I would get a lot of enjoyment seeing my wifes reaction to those sites and I would love the experience again.

      • Seaword on 04/01/2022 - 12:18

        Baffin Island in Canada is on my list but it's hard to get around in Winter.

        Any of your options sound great though!

        • gromit on 04/01/2022 - 12:38

          Baffin Island looks really interesting, had not really thought of it before. thanks.

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