THERE is a saying that 50 is the new 40, 40 the new 30, and so it goes on.

Whether we want to face it or not, the reality is we are all getting older but the saying you are never too old to learn, or even try new experiences is certainly worth pursuing.

For anyone faced with advancing years, age shouldn't be a barrier and, according to a new survey, it isn't after research by adventure travel specialist, Explore, found that more than 40 per cent of over 55s claim they are at their most adventurous age and are looking for experiences to try something new.

Almost half want to visit new countries in the next five years; a third would like to visit one of the wonders of the world while one in 10 are keen to experience a festival.

More than half have already been on a long haul trip, over a third on a road trip and one in ten on a safari

A third of over 55 year olds believe they are at their most adventurous age, with more than 40% saying the biggest reason for this is that they are far less fearful of trying new things.

It seems their desire for a new experience is particularly true when it comes to travel, as when asked what they want to experience in the next five years, the list featured many activities favoured by younger generations.

New research by adventure travel specialist Explore revealed that almost half want to visit at least a new country on their next holiday, a third would love to see one of the Wonders of the World and one in 10 want to experience a festival.

In their lifetime, one in five want to see the Northern Lights, 50% would love to go on a safari, close to one in 10 are looking to walk the Great Wall of China and one in 20 plans to drive a classic car through Cuba.

When it comes to their past travel adventures, almost one in 10 say they have climbed a mountain, more than half have been on a long haul flight and a quarter have travelled across a country by train.

Of all ages surveyed, more than a third said that while they were interested in fly and flop' holidays when they were younger, their interests now lie elsewhere and one in five say they are looking for a cultural experience when travelling.

Rachael Charmbury, director of specialist travel agency, Footloose, in Ilkley says: "We have been doing this for 20 years and we are finding, without doubt, that the over 50s, and particularly those going into their 70s are doing active holidays of varying degrees.

"Also we are looking at the younger end of the market because they have the opportunity to do this sort of thing as well."

Bradford businesswoman Terry King, who was awarded the OBE for her 20-year career as a top project manager in the Department for Work and Pensions and is now using her previous experience working in the mature enterprise sector to support the needs and aspirations of older people through Chapter 3 Enterprise, a community interest company she and her partners are busy developing, says she isn't surprised by the survey's findings.

The 63-year-old, whose travel ambition is to see the Northern Lights and the whales, says: "I think there are a number of factors, for me it is a personal thing, but it is also what I have seen with other people is that my age group we didn't have adventures when we were young.

"We finished school on the Friday and started work on the Monday, there were none of these gap years. You worked, got married and had your family," says Terry.

"And I think my generation had their children younger than they do today. When you get to 55 and your children have finished university and if you have paid off their mortgage so what are you going to do?"

Terry says at this particular time in their lives when their families are no longer dependent on them and they are more financially secure as they head towards retirement, the opportunity to pursue their travel ambitions is more tempting.

"They want to do all those exciting things they didn't do when they were younger - now is the time," adds Terry.

She says exposure also plays a part - travel advertisements are more frequent on our screens and bucket lists are also more widely talked about these days encouraging people to embark on their travel adventures.

Terry says she believes travel has become more affordable too. "I think travel is much more affordable. If I wanted to go on a trip to Alaska when I was 25 it would have been the equivalent of a years salary," she says.

She says while it is still expensive, people who are maturing tend to want to do things while they are still fit, healthy and active, and once their children have flown the nest, clearly nothing is stopping them from doing so....