Who Says Adventure Has An Age Limit?

Adventure in life is not only for  the young. Or for that matter, not only for men! We have a guest story of an adventurous outing by a group of not-so-young women (and men too!) from India. 

The story has been written by Padma Ramesh. Who is she?

Padma Ramesh is a journalist, trainer and a film academician by qualification and profession.

Off the professional track, Padma is a reluctant adventurer. She loves to travel, dreams of distant lands, and makes exhaustive itineraries—but also breaks into a mild panic every time she has to leave home. Airports make her nervous, packing stresses her out, and don’t even mention visa queues. Yet, once she’s out there, there’s no stopping her. Whether it’s climbing down a crater or climbing up to the top of a waterfall or bonding with strangers over food and films, travel informs her (and often, her next story)!

 We thank Padma for the story and the pictures. Over to her.

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 Who says adventure has an age limit?

They say travel is a young person’s game—well, "they" have clearly never met a woman in her 60s with a passport, a young heart, and a fierce desire to stand next to a geyser or a volcano before her knees give out! Who says adventure has an age limit? At 60 (or 70, or pushing 80 if your bones agree), a vacation in Iceland is less about speed and more about spirit and soul and getting high on adrenaline.

Welcome to the age of bold, brilliant, and beautifully seasoned travel. Whether you’re recently retired, escaping the kids (or grandkids), or simply chasing your next adventure, Iceland is calling—and guess what? It’s not asking your age.

Iceland isn't just for 20-something influencers dangling off cliffs in crop tops. It’s also for sassy, seasoned women who understand that the only thing better than a glacier is a glacier followed by a nap and a glass of wine!

From steaming geothermal lagoons to thundering waterfalls and wild volcanic landscapes, Iceland has all the drama and beauty of a Netflix series—only better, because you’re in it. And trust me, nothing says “I'm still fabulous” like standing next to an erupting geyser with one’s woollen scarf flapping in the arctic wind like a Norse goddess.

So we –a group of ‘dil se young’ and enthusiastic senior citizens hiked that trail, forded that stream (or stared at it while someone younger carried forward), and let Iceland remind us: adventure doesn’t retire — it just packs a few more thermals and a backup knee brace.

Reykjavík:

We started off with Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital—a city so charming it feels like a Hallmark movie set. Our cruise ship docked early so we could get out into the city by 8.30 am.

Pop into the iconic Hallgrímskirkja Church for panoramic views of the city—there’s an elevator, so no knee-cracking stairs required. The architecture alone is enough to make one want to make the effort.

The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is Iceland’s most famous route and the ultimate proof that Mother Nature outdid herself here.

The magnificent Kerid crater 

1 Þingvellir National Park

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where tectonic plates are drifting apart, and Iceland’s first parliament was formed over a thousand years ago. It’s dramatic, historic, and there’s plenty of flat, walkable paths with benches to support your aching back.

2. Geysir Geothermal Area

The Strokkur Geysir puts on a performance every 10 minutes. You’ll gasp, you’ll laugh, and yes—you might get wet.  Raincoats are highly recommended here.

3. Gullfoss Waterfall

Prepare to be wowed! Gullfoss (‘Golden Falls’) is like Niagara’s cooler Scandinavian cousin—raw, roaring, and perfect for a holiday photo.

“Isn’t this just breathtaking !”

Lake Myvatn-- A shallow lake formed about 2300 years ago. Myvatn translates to 'lake of midges' in English reflecting the abundance of these insects in the area. We swallowed a few despite our attempts to cover our faces.

Ísafjörður: Fjord-Side Fabulousness

Nestled in the heart of the Westfjords, Ísafjörður is perfect for the traveler who’s seen the Golden Circle, loved the Blue Lagoon, and now wants something more remote, more raw, and more real.  The Dynjandi waterfall (like Gullfoss’s dramatic twin)is pure magic.

For the 60+ Set: Ísafjörður Travel Tips

• Pack the Layers, Again: The wind here has opinions, and it shares them loudly. Wool is your friend.
• Embrace the Slow Life: This isn’t a place for racing through checklists—it’s for breathing deeply, taking photos, and saying things like, “Isn’t this just breathtaking?” every 20 minutes.

Demonic looking lava rocks

Final Thoughts: Age is just a number (Especially when one is chasing waterfalls)

Whether you’ve soaked in Reykjavík’s hot springs, marveled at geysers on the Golden Circle, wandered the fjords of Ísafjörður, or sipped tea under the Arctic sun in Akureyri—you’ve proven something powerful: Travel isn’t reserved only for the young ! 

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Once again we thank Padma for all the pictures and the guest story. Senior citizens and others- now gear up for Iceland!

Some of the other guest stories which appeared in Ghumakkad's blog are listed below. As you can see, the guest stories enrich the content and broaden the spectrum of our blog's coverage. We thank each of the contributors for their guest story.

A Squirrel Comes Home . by Dr Rohini Tiwari. The picture story revolves around a baby squirrel who was abandoned and then adopted by Rohini and family in Coimbatore.

Women Hiking in Water - A real-life story of four women hiking in a waste deep river. With sudden surge in the river, they nearly got swept away!

Sketching at Eight - story of an eight-year-old who has a website showing his sketches which are trending on the social media. The story in Naman's words.

Male Showstopper - by Koushik Gopinath. The picture story showcases Krishna, a male tiger in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in India.

Winning the Hearts of People - a story from the North East where the Indian Army adopts a front line village for uplifting the quality of life of the villagers.

There are many more guest stories in Ghumakkad's blog. You are welcome to contribute. Please ensure that the pictures are original. You can mail your story to hbindia@gmail.com .

Thanks for browsing. Stay connected. Do leave a comment. It keeps us going.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Secunderabad/ 9th October 2025

Postscript:

10th Oct 25: Dr GB Sethi wrote: Great story, I climbed the Pyramid in 2010, good feeling. (Eds: He was 70 year-old then! )

10th Oct: Ms Suchitra Chaudhuri wrote:  Thanks Harsh for publishing Ms Padma's brilliant writing. She has put so much life into her writing that 70 + like me feel there is no age bar for adventure & we still have interesting life ahead . Kudos to her.

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