BORN IN 1981? DISCOVER WORLD CELEBRATES TURNING 45 WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY 45% DISCOUNT ON ADVENTURES | News
Forty-five years ago, in July 1981, Explore Worldwide was launched with a simple ambition: to help ordinary people experience extraordinary places through small-group adventures.
This July, as the award-winning adventure travel specialist celebrates its own 45th anniversary, it invites everyone else born in 1981 to celebrate the same milestone with a life-changing 45% discount on trips around the world when you book in July.
When Explore Worldwide printed its very first four-page brochure in the summer of 1981, it contained just six tours and one simple idea: that travel should be about real experiences, meaningful connections and discovering the world together with like-minded people.
That same year, Roger Federer, Tom Hiddleston, Holly Willoughby and Sienna Miller were born, Raiders of the Lost Ark conquered cinema audiences and MTV released its very first music video.
Forty-five years later, with more than 350 adventures in more than 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 the breathtaking limestone landscapes of Vietnam, discovering the vibrant culture and nature of Sri Lanka, cycling through the sun-drenched countryside of southern Spain, or experiencing the spectacular Canadian Rockies and the Pacific coast.
More than just a birthday celebration, the campaign is also part of Explore Worldwide’s Micro Retirement movement, which encourages people in mid-life to stop putting off life’s greatest 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 obligations have meant their personal ambitions have been put on hold. Explore believes there has never been a better time to rethink the traditional ‘work now, live later’ mentality 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 to inspire people to explore the world. Travelers relied on paper maps, guidebooks and postcards, but the desire to discover new places and cultures was just as strong as it is today.
“While the way we travel has evolved tremendously 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 will last a lifetime.
“As we celebrate our own 45th birthday, we wanted to do something really 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 got around to.
“Our Micro Retirement campaign is about encouraging people to stop waiting for ‘one day’, there is no better time than now to invest in experiences that enrich your life.
“As a Certified B Corporation, we are just as passionate about protecting the places that inspire these adventures. Over the past 45 years, our mission has remained the same: to help people explore the world responsibly and sustainably, support local communities and preserve extraordinary destinations so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”
The limited-time birthday promotion gives those born in 1981 the chance to celebrate their 45th birthday with almost half-price adventures to some of the world’s most special destinations, proving there’s never been a better time to take the trip of a lifetime.
Top five suggested bucket list trips to consider:
Canadian Rockies and Pacific Coast – 15 days – from £4,495 (flights not included)
For those turning 45 in July 2026: prices from £2,472.25, a saving of £2,022.75
Adventure holiday to Sri Lanka – 7 days – from £960 (flights not included)
For those turning 45 in July 2026, prices from £528, saving £432
Plain Vietnam – 10 days – from £1,010 (flights not included)
For those turning 45 in July 2026, prices from £555.50, saving £445.50
Cycling Southern Spain – Murcia – 7 days – from £1,120 (flights not included)
For those turning 45 in July 2026, prices from £604, saving £506
Walking in Portugal, Algarve holiday (Premium Hotels) – 8 days – from £1,155 (flights not included)
For those turning 45 in July 2026, prices from £635.25, saving £519.75
