Jet off to the trip of a lifetime awaiting you in Europe!

Meet up with your fellow travellers and Contiki Crew, as you start your 46 day adventure. Your Tour Manager knows all the ins and outs of where you’re going and your tour’s own Mobile Cook will make sure you get big portions of tasty meals, made from fresh, local produce.

We hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover and travel via World War 1 battle fields in the Valley of the Somme to Paris.

Tonight, the group kick starts Paris with the “Tour of Illuminations”, which shows off the French capital’s transformation into the “City of Lights”. Lamp-lit bridges and cool little cafés give us a real taste of Paris’ romance. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on the world’s most-recognised monuments, like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.

• Twin Share Tent

• Dinner

Today’s journey takes us to the softly undulating hills of the Beaujolais region. This evening we visit Contiki’s own Château de Cruix nestled in the vineyards of this wine region to sample this world famous wine.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Our journey south today takes us to the impressive Roman aqueduct at Pont du Gard. As we skim past the Pyrénées we catch our first glimpse of the world-famous Mediterranean and arrive in vibrant Barcelona.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

First stop: Mont Juic. The hilltop has full-blown vistas of the city and it’s where we stop to check out the 1992 Olympic Games complex. Afterward get a look into the wild imagination of famous Spanish architect, Gaudi, with his art nouveau masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia cathedral. Your Tour Manager walks you through the cobbled lanes of Barcelona’s oldest district, the Gothic Quarter.

Then there’s free time to discover more of Barcelona’s creative core. Pick up some quirky buys in the side streets or hit the big label shops on Plaça de Catalunya. Take in all of Barcelona’s buzzing street life on the tree-lined La Rambla – a boulevard packed with street performers, artists, shops and stalls.

Other ideas for your afternoon off include hanging out in the colourful gardens of Parc Guell or kicking back with the locals on the beach and taking a swim in the Mediterranean sea. There’s plenty of delicious local seafood to try like Spain’s signature dish, paella.

Tonight’s optional dinner and show is a perfect way to finish off your time in this hot city and a chance to get into the local flavours with a Flamenco dance performance and some sangria. Afterward, get the low down on Barcelona’s hottest spots and maybe hit the pumping clubs of Port Olympico, by the water.

• Breakfast

We return to France today and travel through the beautiful Provence region to Arles. Wander through the streets as the Romans once did in this historic town, before continuing to the glamorous French Riviera.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Next stop on the Riviera and home to the French perfume industry is Fragonard Perfumery. Learn about how perfume is made and some of its more surprising ingredients. It’s also a chance to pick up a bottle or 2 at great prices.

In your free time live a bit of the lifestyle with a visit to the local markets. Try out the region’s produce like lavender honey, aioli (garlic mayonnaise) and mouth-watering rosé wine.

Window shop the chic boutiques or choose a beach and catch some sun among all the bronzed bodies!

Tonight get a taste of the high life in Monaco, the glamorous principality packed into just 1.92km2 and home to the Formula 1. Get the inside story on the royal family and their place of residence from your Tour Manager. Try your luck at a casino later on.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Today we leave France and enter Italy! We skim past the seaside city of Genoa and stop in Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet, before arriving in mainland Venice.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Known as the “floating city” Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals.

The group travels on our private boat through the waters of the lagoon to visit the city’s historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the gothic arches of Doges’ Palace and the expanse of St Mark’s Square (pigeons and all!) show off Venice’s unique beauty and way of life.

Learn about local artistry with a traditional glass blowing demonstration – a craft the city has been famous for since the 13th century.

Take some time to explore the floating city and lose yourself in the backstreets. There’s an optional walking tour where you can discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with our Local Guide. You’ll see historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto market – a local favourite for food shopping.

Maybe grab a table on St Mark’s Square and eat some delicious Italian food al fresco.

Cap off the day with an optional gondola ride with your friends. Take a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this unforgettable experience as you are punted through the waterways.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

We travel to Pisa, home of the famous Leaning Tower. From here it’s a short journey to the most spectacular of Renaissance cities, Florence.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Jump start the day uncovering this open-air museum and its city centre.

Our Local Guide gives you the inside track as the group learns about Florence’s cultural beginnings and explores streets crammed with artworks from masters like Michelangelo. Then take a look into a skillful demonstration of Florentine leather making and understand this region’s traditional art.

With bargains and bustle, the city’s markets are a great place to hang out. Grab a gelato and enjoy this gorgeous city.

Tonight, there’s a choice of a group dinner – an authentic Tuscan feast. Try regional dishes in the heart of Florence. Then keep it moving with a night out and get your groove on at Florence’s biggest club.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

All roads lead to Rome where our included sightseeing tour is the perfect introduction to the Eternal City. Do as the Romans do and stroll past the Trevi Fountain, the amazing Pantheon and Piazza Navona.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

This morning, make the most of our Local Guide’s inside knowledge and uncover the remains of an ancient empire with a fantastic optional tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum.

Then check-out the smallest country in the world and home to the Pope, the Vatican City. You’ve got plenty of time to take a closer look at St Peter’s Basilica or Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel.

Take off into the city and absorb the atmosphere, as vespas flash past timeworn monuments that are surrounded by fountains, pizzerias, cafes and bars. Before you hit the shops, let your Tour Manager point you in the right direction with some tips on the best buys.

In your free time, live the local lifestyle by indulging in a long lunch on a paved piazza or knock back a shot of espresso at the bar, like the Romans do.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

After leaving Rome we head south to Naples to board our complimentary motor boat to the island of Capri. After exploring the island we rejoin our boat and set sail to Sorrento, situated on Italy’s stunning Amalfi coast.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

Today is your chance to explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii with a local guide. Later we take in the beautiful scenery of southern Italy as we travel east to board our overnight ferry to Greece.

• Overnight Cruise

• Breakfast

Today we travel through the Peloponnese and across the Corinth Canal to Athens.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

A whole day in Athens where our city tour includes the first modern Olympic stadium, the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

We drive past Spartan Thermopylae and Thessaloniki, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, and then on to our seaside overnight stop at Kavala.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Visit the historic Gallipoli battlefields as we make our way to Turkey.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Ferry across the Dardanelles & make a visit to Troy before continuing on to Istanbul.

• Hotel

• Breakfast

Today our guide leads us through the spice markets and into the heart of the city where you can bargain at the Grand Bazaar or treat yourself to a relaxing Turkish bath.

• Hotel

• Breakfast
• Dinner

We pass the Turkish border town of Edirne before crossing into Bulgaria and driving to the capital, Sofia. Enjoy an orientation tour followed by free time to shop at the stalls near the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

• Hotel

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Leaving Bulgaria we journey over the hills and into Macedonia. After a lunch stop in Skopje, we travel south to Lake Ohrid to spend an evening near the beautiful shores of Europe’s deepest lake.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

This morning we cross the border into Albania. We see stunning mountainous scenery interwoven by the numerous remains of the defensive bunkers built years ago. We pass the ancient city Elbasan on our way to Durres – an important port and seaside resort town (Note: During peak periods the night in Durres may be substituted with a night in Tirana).

• Hotel

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Heading north we pass Shkoder before crossing into Montenegro. This afternoon we join the coast, once a favourite retreat of Europe’s royalty and make our way on to Croatia and our accommodation in Dubrovnik.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

On our way to Zadar we follow the Dalmatian Coast, enjoying the scenic archipelago that mixes stunning blue waters with the many islands. A short stop in Split gives you time to wander through the Roman remains of Diocletian’s Palace.

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Heading north we drive through the scenic Paklenica National Park. After crossing the Hungarian border, we make a stop on the beautiful shores of Lake Balaton, before making our way to the capital Budapest.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

A day to fall under the spell of this jewel of the east. Magnificent views from the castle district, plenty of shopping opportunities and time to appreciate the museums of this former-Communist capital. A chance to try the local specialties for dinner tonight.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

Saying goodbye to Hungary, we cross the border into Slovakia for lunch in the city of Bratislava. Our journey today finishes in Vienna, the capital of the once mighty Austrian Empire.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

Your Tour Manager starts the day by introducing the group to the city’s historical heritage. There’s the imperial grandeur of Schönbrunn Palace, the elegantly ornate State Opera House and St. Stephen’s Cathedral – a gothic masterpiece. Cruise down Kärtner Strasse, Vienna’s main shopping spot and buy some traditional ceramics and materials for gifts back home.



There’s free time to check out the magnificent squares and majestic palaces or the city’s art galleries. Take a break in a coffee house like the locals do, chill out in Vienna’s manicured gardens or wander along the Danube River.



Get schnaps savvy with a behind-the-scenes look into this local liqueuer’s production in an optional excursion to the Old Vienna Schnaps Museum. Later, there’s a chance to experience Vienna’s musical legacy with a Mozart and Strauss concert in one of the city’s imperial palaces.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Roll through Bohemia to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Český Krumlov. The town is all about old-world charm, cute shops, cosy cafes and winding cobblestone lanes.



This afternoon, relax on the coach as we head to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Prague is a beautiful and atmospheric city. It’s also pretty compact, so it’s best explored on foot. Get straight into Prague’s historic heart with your Tour Manager. You’ll walk together over the landmark Charles Bridge, through Hradcany Castle, the home of the original Bohemian Kings and to the gothic St Vitus Cathedral, along the way.

Choose a lunch cruise on the Vltava River, which runs through the heart of Prague, and take in stunning views of the city from the water. The Czech capital has a really mixed past so look out for signs of the Roman Empire, the Bohemian Empire, the Nazis and the Communists.

Free time means you can get deeper into Prague’s old town in your own time. The city itself is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a jumble of little lanes, alleys and courtyards. Slow the pace down and give yourself a chance to uncover its hidden treasures.

Spend some time in the picturesque Old Town Square, where historic buildings and churches surround cafes that spill out onto the pavement. With some world-famous Czech pilsner in hand, park yourself at a table, people-watch and try out some of the traditional local dumplings. This is also the spot to pick up some famous bohemian glass, beads or garnet and amber jewellery

By night, Prague bursts with possibilities. Loaded with all types of music, from jazz bars and hip DJs to opera, there is something for everyone, so make the most of it with your friends.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

This morning, travel southwest to the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich – a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture and modern lifestyle.

Explore the heart of Munich’s Old Town with the crew, and head to Marienplatz. It’s a central gathering spot famous for the Glockenspiel – a gothic clock, complete with 32 dancing figures and 43 chiming bells.

Then head off with some friends for a taste of tradition to a typical beer hall and park yourselves at a long wooden table. In this optional excursion, you’ll feast on hearty local food, like roasted pork knuckle, and quench your thirst with a stein of one of Germany’s 5000 brews.

• Breakfast

Explore the cultural side of Munich. There’s world-class museums, shopping & lots of traditional food & beer gardens.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

We stop for lunch in Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein. Enjoy time to shop and see the sights in Lucerne before reaching our idyllic stop in the Swiss Alps.

• Breakfast
• Dinner

It’s a change of pace amongst Switzerland’s massive alps. Take in the amazing views from the campsite.

Opt to visit Jungfrau mountain, head up the sheer slopes of this UNESCO World Heritage listed site on a cog rail to Europe’s highest railway station, and step out onto the “roof” of Europe for spine-tingling views.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Heading north we re-enter Germany and visit the university town of Heidelberg on the banks of the Neckar River. Heidelberg’s captivating old town and picturesque river are best viewed from its imposing castle.

• Breakfast

The coach follows the Rhine River, weaving through valleys dotted with castles and vineyards.



Next stop – the pretty, old-world village of St. Goar, complete with fairy-tale castle and even a free-standing cuckoo clock! Learn about local know-how and get savvy on the craft of beer steins.



Head into the buzzing capital of Amsterdam and check out the eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and the wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets, 24/7.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast
• Dinner

Kick start the morning with an optional bike ride and cruise into the countryside, where you can bike around like the laid-back locals, past working windmills, to the world-famous cheese village of Edam. In an intro into Dutch culture, see how clogs are made and try some of the famous Dutch Edam at a cheese farm.

There’s free time this afternoon to experience Amsterdam’s coffee shops, museums and quirky, cool boutiques.  Wander along the canals and past gabled houses or experience Amsterdam’s multi-ethnic cuisine. This cultural melting pot dishes up loads of affordable food.

For your last night on tour, treat yourself to a feast at a rice table dinner with the group in a popular restaurant. With this fun way to eat, you’ll be served loads of dishes from colonial times.

Afterwards, get some pointers from your Tour Manager, dive into Amsterdam’s night action with your friends and finish up your travels with a night to remember.

• Twin Share Tent

• Breakfast

After breakfast, there will be a transfer for you to Schipol Airport (estimated arrival at 10:00 am) OR choose to take a complimentary transfer to central London with your Tour Manager and Driver and extend your stay.

• Breakfast