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

Check-in to your hotel after 2pm and the remainder of the day is free to relax before meeting your fellow travellers at 6pm. After dinner take a short walk to explore nearby Covent Garden.

Meet up with your Contiki Crew before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Next stop: the buzzing, freewheeling city of Amsterdam.

Start your tour off with a night to remember. Check out Amsterdam’s eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets, 24/7.

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Cruise into the countryside and bike around like the laid back locals with the group, past working windmills, to the world-famous 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.

Experience Amsterdam’s coffee shops, museums and cool, quirky boutiques. In your free time, wander along shady canals and pass gabled houses or try out Amsterdam’s multi-ethnic cuisine. This cultural melting pot dishes up loads of affordable food.

With an optional evening canal cruise, you’ve got a chance to get to know the group, unwind with a few drinks and uncover Amsterdam at water level. Get some pointers on the city’s hot spots from your Tour Manager and head into town for a fun night out.

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We cross the German border and head for the stunning Rhine Valley. At St. Goar we take a Rhine river cruise past vineyards, fairy-tale castles and the legendary Lorelei rock before learning how beersteins are crafted.

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Next stop: the jaw-droppingly beautiful alpine town of Lucerne
With covered wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and quaint buildings, Lucerne’s centre is perfect to explore on foot. Also to stock up on lots of genuine Swiss chocolate! Your Tour Manager can give you pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches Switzerland is so famous for.

This afternoon, choose an optional cruise on one of Europe’s most striking lakes, where stunning scenes of the Swiss Alps reflect back across the water.

Tonight, we head to the alpine heights of Engelberg where we stay in a Swiss mountain lodge.

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It’s a change of scene up among Switzerland’s massive mountains. Choose to get above it all today with an optional excursion to Mt Titlis and travel up the sheer slopes by rotating gondola. With sweeping views over the surrounding countryside and 360 degree vistas of the alps, don’t forget to bring your camera.

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Twist and turn through scenic alpine vistas on the road to Innsbruck. Pause in Vaduz, capital of Liechtenstein, before crossing the border into Austria’s gorgeous countryside. Later this afternoon, stroll through the cobbled streets of Innsbruck and soak up the sights, discover Tyrolean specialty shops, and see the famous ‘Golden Roof’.

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Today we wind through the astonishing beauty of the Brenner Pass to cross the border into Italy. It’s a short boat ride to the historical centre of Venice to see St Mark’s Square, the Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. There’s no better way to see Venice than from a gondola so why not join us for a ride before treating yourself to a Venetian evening meal?

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Criss-cross the Apennine Mountains on the road to Rome.

Stylish Rome oozes energy and overflows with relics from another age. Our special access coach tour gets you right into the thriving atmosphere of this living timeline as your Tour Manager shows you the Colosseum and Piazza Venzia. Continue on foot to check out the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Honour tradition at the Trevi Fountain and throw a coin in the fountain’s waters (it’s meant to improve your chances of returning to Rome!) or maybe hang out with your new friends at the Spanish Steps, sit back with a few slices of pizza and people watch.

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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.

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Our morning drive leads us to Florence, the Renaissance city set in the beautiful Tuscan Hills. Learn about the Duomo, Giotto’s Bell-Tower, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce as our local guide walks us through the city. Free time to shop or visit one of the famous museums.

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We drive through the Tuscan countryside to visit the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa before reaching the French Riviera. Tonight we visit Monaco! Why not join us for an elegant meal, view the Royal Palace and take the opportunity to try your luck at the casinos of Monte Carlo?

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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!

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We visit a French perfumery before our lunch stop in Avignon where you can view the Palace of the Popes and the famous bridge. Then north along the Rhone Valley to the Château de Fontager, where you can enjoy its 24-hour pool, lovely grounds, and charming locale on the Rhone River.

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Today we stop at the magnificent Château Fontainebleau before venturing on to Paris, the ‘City of Lights’. What better introduction than with our sightseeing tour and your first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower?

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Time in Paris includes a trip out to France’s most well-known chateau: Versailles, once home to the Sun King, Louis 14th and hot spot of the French Revolution. Check out the impressive exterior of this extravagant palace. Then there’s an opportunity to explore the former royal family’s luxurious living quarters.

This town is loaded with possibilities. Discover its many bistros, museums, tree-lined avenues and diverse quartiers (neighbourhoods).

Get a feel for French flair by window shopping on the Left Bank, step into the Notre Dame cathedral or explore the endless galleries of the Louvre and get up close to the famous Mona Lisa. Try indulging in some delicious pastries and relax in one of Paris’ many green spaces.

Treat yourself to a real Parisian night out, starting with an optional dinner in an atmospheric restaurant, where you can get to know your group. Then sign up for an authentic cabaret experience, complete with can-can girls and champagne

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After breakfast, there will be a transfer for you to Charles de Gaulle 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.

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