Forty-five years ago, in July 1981, Explore Worldwide launched with a simple ambition: to help ordinary people experience extraordinary places through small-group adventures.
*All details correct at time of publish (3 July 2026)
This July, as the award-winning adventure travel specialist celebrates its own 45th birthday, it’s inviting everyone else born in 1981 to celebrate the same milestone with a life-changing 45% off trips around the world when booking in July.
When Explore Worldwide printed its very first four-page brochure in the summer of 1981, it featured just six tours and one simple idea: that travel should be about genuine experiences, meaningful connections and discovering the world alongside like-minded people.
Forty-five years later, with more than 350 adventures across over 100 countries, the company is marking the occasion by helping those celebrating their 45th birthday tick off the bucket-list trip they’ve always dreamed of.
Whether that’s cruising through the breathtaking limestone landscapes of Vietnam, discovering the vibrant culture and wildlife of Sri Lanka, cycling through the sun-drenched countryside of southern Spain, or experiencing the spectacular Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast.
More than just a birthday celebration, the campaign also forms part of Explore Worldwide’s Micro Retirement movement, encouraging people in mid-life to stop postponing life’s biggest adventures until retirement and instead take meaningful breaks while they have the time, health and opportunity to enjoy them.
For many people in their forties, careers, mortgages and family commitments have meant putting personal ambitions on hold. Explore believes there has never been a better time to rethink the traditional “work now, live later” mindset and invest in the experiences that create lifelong memories.
Michael Edwards, Managing Director of Explore Worldwide, said: “Forty-five years ago, travel looked very different. There were no smartphones, online booking platforms or social media inspiring people to explore the world. Travellers relied on paper maps, guidebooks and postcards, yet the desire to discover new places and cultures was every bit as strong as it is today.
“While the way we travel has evolved enormously over the past four and a half decades, people’s passion for exploring the world has remained remarkably consistent. They still want authentic experiences, meaningful connections and memories that last a lifetime.
“As we celebrate our own 45th birthday, we wanted to do something genuinely special for everyone celebrating theirs alongside us. Turning 45 is a milestone worth celebrating, and a 45% discount is a remarkable opportunity for people born in 1981 to finally book the bucket-list adventure they’ve always talked about but never quite got around to taking.
“Our Micro Retirement campaign is about encouraging people to stop waiting for ‘one day’; there’s no better time than now to invest in experiences that enrich your life.
“As a Certified B Corporation, we’re equally passionate about protecting the places that inspire those adventures. Over the last 45 years, our mission has remained the same: to help people discover the world responsibly and sustainably, supporting local communities and preserving extraordinary destinations so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
The limited-time birthday promotion gives those born in 1981 the opportunity to celebrate turning 45 with almost half-price adventures to some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations, proving there has never been a better time to take the trip of a lifetime.
Go to Explore Worldwide for more information.
