The average twenty-something is able to pursue their sense of adventure and travel the distance that would take them around the World by the time they are 24 according to research by Continental Tyres.

From age 18 the average young Brit embarks on six short trips a year and three longer expeditions every two years clocking up an average of 4,146 miles a year.

In just six years, or by the age of 24, that is enough distance to take them once around the World. If they keep up at the same rate they will circle the globe a further 8½ times by the time they are 75.

The study by Continental Tyres also identified how the parents of this modern ‘adventure generation’ are also looking to make tracks in new and ever more exotic destinations.

Tim Bailey, spokesperson for Continental said: "We did this work following huge interest in our 4x4 Adventure Trophy, www.conti4x4trophy.co.uk, a competition offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in a 4x4 off road experience across the Sahara Desert and Atlas Mountains.

"People in their twenties are more widely travelled in terms of total distance and the number of new countries visited compared to their parents generation. They also feel that are more adventurous than their parents were and confident that they are able to experience the World in a way that their parents either did not or could not.

"What is evident from our work is that people do want adventure when they travel and that all ages are eager to experience new locations and cultures.

"People want to get off the beaten track, to find new places to explore. Certainly this is easier now than a generation ago thanks to advances in transport technology making travel more accessible."

The travel habits and experiences of 1,000 people in their mid-twenties and 1,000 people in their mid-fifties were investigated for the independent study.

The modern day twenty-something will visit nine different countries before age 25 and first travelled abroad when 8½ years old.

Eight out of ten youngsters are confident that they travel overseas more frequently than their parents did and 83 per cent believe they are more likely to seek somewhere new.

The top destinations for the adventure generation (outside of Europe) are the US, Africa, and Canada with Australia and the Caribbean completing the top five. Then they take in South America, Thailand and India before rounding off their top ten most popular destination with China and New Zealand. One in ten of this generation has ‘backpacked’ on at least one trip.

For someone now in their fifties they travelled an average of 2,104 miles a year on short trips and longer holidays from the age of 18 meaning that they did not clock up the mileage for a trip around the world for nearly 12 years.

The older generation are showing the ambition to catch up in the adventure stakes. Some 73 per cent of fifty-somethings plan to travel more once their children have left home.

Tim Bailey again: "A combination of more disposable income when the kids have flown the nest and improvements in technology and the availability of more travel opportunities mean that the older generation are looking to make up for lost time planning more adventurous trips later in life.

"Even with a greater recognition of the impact that travel can have people are very keen to explore. The combination of various offset schemes and consideration for the forms of transport used is impacting the choices of this adventure generation."

In the first competition of its kind run by Continental Tyres UK, motorists have the chance to win an amazing Moroccan off-roading adventure holiday. Driving one of 14 Hummers, the winners will explore the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert, crossing sand dunes, navigating through rocky gorges and fording rivers in the quest for the Conti4x4Trophy. Successful participants will get to stay for four nights in a 4-star hotel and one night in a Bedouin style camp.

For more information and to enter visit www.conti4x4trophy.co.uk