Age Is Just a Number: How 70+ Are Embracing Skydiving and Bungee Jumping

In their seventies and beyond, a growing group of Indians is proving that adventure does not come with an age limit. From Vadodara and Ahmedabad, these seniors are challenging traditional ideas of retirement. Instead of slowing down, they are skydiving, scuba diving, bungee jumping and even trekking across Antarctica’s frozen terrain showing that age does not have to limit ambition.

Skydiving, Oceans And Polar Extremes

Gautam Kothari, 74, has lost vision in one eye, while his wife Beena, 72, finds it difficult to walk long distances. Yet, the couple has taken leaps of faith literally. Together, they have jumped out of aircraft, dived into oceans and stood amid polar cold at some of the world’s remotest locations. Over the last four years, they have travelled to 14 countries.

“In 2022, we leapt out of the skies in Russia,” Gautam said. “Icy wind hit us. Earth below looked fascinating. Neither of us was nervous even for a moment.”

When Health Concerns Take A Back Seat

Their adventures continued across continents. In 2024, they bungee jumped in New Zealand. Egypt followed, where Gautam fulfilled his dream of scuba diving in the Red Sea despite health warnings.

“My family warned me about pressure on my heart,” Gautam said. “But I was adamant about seeing the underwater world.”

From chasing auroras in Iceland to floating above Egypt in a hot-air balloon, staying in Indonesia’s rainforests, spotting gorillas in Uganda and gliding over a frozen Siberian lake, the Kotharis have embraced experiences many postpone indefinitely.

Planning Every Journey Themselves
What makes their travels even more remarkable is the level of independence involved. From booking flights to planning routes and stays, everything is done without assistance.

“We do everything ourselves,” Beena said.

Antarctica After 70


Another Ahmedabad-based couple, Deval Thakor, 77, and his wife Daksha, 76, share a similar outlook on life. They travelled to Antarctica well after being labelled senior citizens and even skydived in California.

“Age is just a number,” Thakor said. “Journeys matter more than possible hardships.”

High Spirits Despite Surgeries

Nautam Vakil, 78, and his wife Neeta, 82, are equally undeterred. Even a knee replacement could not slow them down. This year, the couple completed the Alpine Tour in Japan.

“We believe in living with high spirits,” Vakil said.

Curiosity Fuels The Journey

Back in Vadodara, Gautam continues to run his industrial electrical products business. For these couples, travel is driven by curiosity rather than luxury.

“We want to live every moment,” Gautam said, adding, “Meet new people. Explore different cuisines.”

The bucket lists remain unfinished. Namibia’s desert is next for the Kotharis. Egypt and Jordan await the Thakors, who have already driven “from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Kutch to Arunachal Pradesh in our car”.

Time keeps moving forward. For the Kotharis, Thakors and Vakils, slowing down simply isn’t an option.