Iceland named top adventure destination for luxury travel market

Empty nesters with disposable income are hitting the trails in Iceland and ziplining in Ecuador, according to the latest trendwatch report on the rise of adventure travel among wealthy holidaymakers.

A report released by Virtuoso, an international network of luxury travel specialists, shows that sales of adventure holidays have seen a spike in the last 12 months and are expected to grow over the next few years.

Driving up demand for experiential holidays are older travelers between the ages of 50 and 65 (41 percent) who are still in good health, have money to spend, and want to strike off bucket list destinations while they still can.

Other factors contributing to the growing popularity of adventure travel include the opportunity to reconnect with nature and spend quality time on multigenerational vacations, cite survey respondents.

A look at the top 10 destinations reveals that adventure seekers are most drawn to the tropical wilderness of Latin America which dominates the list, along with the promise of visiting the unspoiled frontiers of Antarctica and the Arctic.

Iceland's dramatic landscape, with its volcanoes, waterfalls, glaciers, caves, and hot springs, is the most sought-after adventure destination.

Here are the top 10 destinations sought by wealthy adventure travelers:

1. Iceland
2. Galapagos Islands/Ecuador
3. Costa Rica and Chile/Patagonia (tie)
4. New Zealand
5. Peru
6. Cuba
7. Antarctica
8. Arctic/North Pole
9. South Africa
10. Australia

The top 10 activities:

1. Hiking/trekking
2. Biking
3. Kayaking
4. Small-ship expedition cruising
5. Food and wine
6. Safaris/wildlife viewing
7.  Walking
8. Photography
9. Scuba diving
10. Arts and culture