'World's oldest backpacker' plans two-month trip to Europe at 95 years old



Australian backer Keith Wright loves nothing more than saving up his money to spend on extended budget trips around Europe, staying in hostels and soaking up the sights - there's only one difference between him and his teenage cohorts, this globetrotter is 95 years old.

The sprightly traveller - who has been dubbed 'the world's oldest backpacker' - certainly doesn't let age stand in his way and this summer, just like he has done for the past ten years, he will jump a plane to Europe and travel around for two months by train, bus and ferry.



The World War II veteran, from Burleigh Heads in Queensland, first started flying around the world solo in 2002 at the tender age of 85, a few years after his wife Barbara had passed away.

Globetrotter: Keith Wright loves nothing more than travelling Europe and meeting people and doesn't let his mature 95 years stand in his way



He sold his house and used some of the left-over money to spend four days travelling through Turkey by bus.

Mr Wright said: ' I have had itchy feet all my life and had always wanted to go to Gallipoli on Anzac Day, so I decided to sell our house and put the extra money towards a holiday.



'My belief is that if you are fit and able to travel independently, it is the best way to see as much as of the world as you want.'

Since his first trip, Mr Wright has visited most countries in Western and Eastern Europe, bedding down in hostels, where he sleeps in a single room where possible, but occasionally shares a dormitory with 18 to 30-somethings.

Anzac association: Mr Wright's first trip to Europe involved visiting the WW1 cemetery at Gallipoli in Turkey

While he may not be hitting the nightclubs with the younger gap year students, he loves nothing more than a beer with fellow travellers and is not afraid to navigate the less beaten paths alone, by foot, road or rail.



'I have seen things that most tourists haven’t seen, because I walk the back streets and take trains or buses to nearby towns for the day,' explained Mr Wright.



'Most people I meet are surprised when I tell them my age and amazed that I have come all the way from Australia.



'Wherever I go, I wear my Australia cap, so it gets me a lot of attention from the locals.'

The adventure-seeker lives on a shoestring all year to save up for his trips and budgets carefully when he is travelling. He has absolutely no plans to give up his annual jaunts any time soon.



On May 28, he will head back to Madrid, San Sebastian, Paris, Munich and Vienna for a two-month holiday, with a special side trip to London to see his favourite Aussie horse, Black Caviar, race at Royal Ascot.

A Royal day out: Mr Wright will be in England to see his favourite Aussie horse race at Royal Ascot

But Mr Wright doesn't forget the people he leaves behind at home, even sending a note to make sure his trip organiser Christina Kerr knows he is OK.



Ms Kerr, who works for holiday company Round The World Experts, said: ' Every booking I have made for him has been an inspiration to me.

'I like to tell his story to other travellers, particularly those who may have thought themselves too old to travel overseas or feared that it was too expensive.



'Keith has become more like a friend over the years and when he travels he even asks the staff of the hostel to send me an email, just to let me know that he has arrived safely.'











