Budget Travel Tours & Trips 2020
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DEPARTURE DATES
Style
Style
Small Group Tour Small groups are usually defined as between 10 and 24 travelers, often less. If you're the kind of person who enjoys more intimate experiences and personal service this is a good choice. All else being equal you will pay a premium for this style vs a larger group tour.
Private Guided Private tours give you the undivided attention of a guide, and often involve special access to sites and unique experiences not available to larger groups. This is a great option for families, couples, and small friend groups. Expect to pay a bit more for the extra service.
Self Guided Tour A travel company plans your itinerary and arranges all the logistics including lodging, local activities, and transportantion. You have the flexibility of a solo trip while still getting the convience and time savings of expert planning. Get 90% of the benefits of a tour, without a guide.
Group Tour Groups are between 25-60 people, typically ~30-40. Usually there will be many opportunities to split off and enjoy meals and excursions in smaller groups. This is the most economical way to travel, saving up to 40% versus booking the same itinerary yourself.
River Cruise These vessels are smaller than most ocean cruisers, limiting which amenties are available. Passenger counts can vary. One of the biggest advantages of a river cruise is the ability to dock at smaller ports and local villages.
Small Ship Cruise Small ship cruises usually have a max passenger count of 500. The primary purpose of these trips is to spend time off the vessel in local ports (e.g. Mediterranean) or experiencing nature (e.g Galapagos or Antarctica). Cabins can vary from budget to luxury.
Large Ship Cruise This is the "floating city" experience, with multiple ways to enjoy your vacation aboard the ship as much as on land. Ships are multiple floors, provide several activities, culinary, and shopping options. They often make fewer stops and have less time available for shore excursions.
Retreats Similar to a self guided tour but staying in one location only with activities and day outings included as a part of the stay.
Price
Duration Dropdown
Travelers Age
Lodging Level
Lodging Level
Camping Typically involves most nights sleeping in tents (sometimes permanent tented sites) or in rustic cabins and lodges.
Basic - 2 star You'll stay in no-frills, but clean and comfortable, hotels or guesthouses. A 'Basic' trip might also involve a few nights of camping.
Value - 3 star Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Premium - 4 star 3 to 4 star western hotel equivalents. While not all lodging will be 'luxury' they will be quite comfortable by western standards.
Luxury - 5 star The highest level of comfort and service. All accomodations are in four or five star hotels, boutique lodges or high-end homestays.
Physical Level
Physical Level
Very Easy Minimal walking - motor vehicles available for all major parts of trip.
Easy Normal generally flat walking in urban or suburban environments.
Moderate Walking or physical activity half to most of day - no carrying equipment.
Strenuous All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included.
Extreme Very challenging all day hiking and backpacking carrying significant equipment.
Theme
Attractions & Cities Visited
Activities & Interests
Travel Style
Travel Style
Flexible schedule A lot of free time, with very few inclusions. Ideal for independent and/or low-key travelers and cruisers.
Full schedule For those looking to maximize their sight seeing time. You thrive on a packed day’s schedule from 8 am to 6pm, with some (but limited) free time. Most activities and meals included.
Balanced schedule You will have solid amounts of both free time and structured time with some activities and meals included.
Flight & Transport Inclusions
Supplier (Company)
Countries Visited
Continents Visited
Rivers & Seas Visitied
Stride Gives Back Stride Gives Back This trip visits a destination impacted by climate change. When you opt in to the Travelstride Gives Back program, we will donate 10% of our net revenue to organizations that help mitigate climate change in these destinations and across the globe. Learn more
South American Odyssey with Amazon & Easter Island
- Rio de janeiro : Cable-car ride up Sugar Loaf Mountain and Sugar Loaf cocktail party; sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Corcovado Mountain and the cathedral; Churrascaria dinner
- Iguassu falls : Sightseeing with a Local Guide on both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of Iguassu National Park; Ecological Jungle Train
- Buenos aires : Walking tour; visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Recoleta Cemetery; empanada cooking class; Tango lesson & show; visit a local estancia
- Bariloche: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; chairlift to Cerro Campanario; Andes lake crossing
- Puerto montt : Sightseeing tour
- Santiago : Guided city sightseeing; visit the cathedral; visit Concha y Toro Winery; farewell dinnerEASTER ISLAND
- Sample the unique cultures of South America on this thrilling vacation to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, including stays in Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Easter Island, and Santiago
- Plus, enjoy time in the Amazon Jungle
Egypt & The Nile
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 3 Lunch (L)
- Cairo: Check out this Cairo landmark and soak up the history. It’s home to more than 120,000 ancient Egyptian antiquities.
- Giza: This needs no introduction! Marvel at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. #bucketlist
- Aswan: Sit back and chill as you drift down the famous river on a traditional felucca sailing boat
- Luxor: Follow in the footsteps of the pharaohs as you walk along the stretch that links the temples of Luxor and Karnak.
- Luxor: Grab your camera and explore one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. See the tomb of Tutankhamun and many other Egyptian pharaohs.
- Hurghada: Check out these towering Pharaoh statues. They’ve stood guard since 1350 BC, even surviving natural disasters. And apparently one even ‘sings’ in the wind.
German Vista
- Berlin : Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, picture stop at Brandenburg Gate & Holocaust Memorial
- Dresden : Guided sightseeing, visit the Courtyard of Zwinger Palace
- Weimar : Orientation
- Rothenburg : Stay overnight in the medieval town
- Neuschwanstein : Guided visit of King Ludwig’s castle
- Oberammergau : See the Passion Play theater
- Munich : Guided sightseeing, visit Marienplatz; farewell dinner in the Biergarten of a local restaurant
- When you think of a vacation to Germany, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s visiting fairy tale castles and medieval towns
- Perhaps it’s seeing the Bavarian Alps and beautiful countryside
Japan Winter Wonder
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- Kyoto: Tea houses. Nijo Castle. The Golden Pavilion. Geishas. It’s all so surreal. You’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a film set.
- Hiroshima: Visit the Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum to commemorate the lives lost after the atomic bomb was dropped on the city.
- Hiroshima: This way to amazing! These are the sites you always see in those impossibly tranquil pictures of Japan. IRL.
- Tokyo: Step into this live video game of a city and see Nakamise Street, Sensoji Temple, Meiji Temple, Harajuku and the Shibuya Crossing.
- Hakone: Prepare to be impressed. An awesome cable car ride is set against dream-like views of Mount Fuji.
Essential Botswana

- Did you know that rhinos come out to play when the sun goes down? Let us prove it to you during a sunset 4WD through the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.
- Try and tell the difference between your buddy’s snores and the sound of wild hippos while camping in the heart of the Okavango wilderness.
- There's nothing more relaxing than feeling the African sun on your face as you lie back in a mokoro, eyes closed while your expert poler propels you through the Okavango Delta.
- Elephants never forget, and you won’t forget them either. Cruise down the river in Chobe National Park, home of the world's highest concentration of African elephants.
- Learn what life is like for the Hambukushu people, traditionally considered masters of fishing, boat building, and making it rain.
Greek Island Hopper
- Athens : Welcome drink; guided sightseeing, visit the Acropolis
- Athens–mykonos: By high-speed ferry
- Mykonos : Visit the Church of Agia Kiriaki; taste a traditional Mykonian dessert, Amygdalota; dinner at a local restaurant
- Mykonos–santorini : By high-speed ferry
- Santorini : Walking tour; sample a glass of Ouzo
- Santorini–athens : By air
- Ancient ruins, stunning scenery, lots of sunshine, the Greek Islands, the crystal-clear Aegean Sea, and tasty cuisine…on this Greece tour, you’ll experience all of this and more!History comes alive on your guided sightseeing tour in Athens: see the main sights of this fascinating city and visit the amazing Acropolis, dating back to the 5th century BC, and perched high on a rocky outcrop overlooking the city
- But that's not all
Argentina & Brazil Highlights, Carnival, Marc ...
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner (D)
- Buenos Aires: You can’t go to Argentina and not watch live Tango dancing! It’s wrong. Like eating a steak without a glass of red.
- Buenos Aires: Experience the passion and glamour of Argentina’s capital city, with an expert guide showing you the sights.
- Buenos Aires: Get set to tick another travel goal off the bucket list. We’re jetting straight into the gateway for Iguassu Falls.
- Iguassu Falls: This World Wonder is a fiesta for the imagination. The cascades of spraying waterfalls and subtropical forest make an epic backdrop
- Iguassu Falls: These colossal falls make the ultimate backdrop for a group selfie. Strike a pose with your Contiki fam.
- Iguassu Falls:
- Iguassu Falls: There ain’t no BBQ like a Brazilian BBQ! Grab your Contiki fam and feast on these grilled skewers.
- Iguassu Falls: Woohoo! We’re en route to Brazil's carnival capital. Try to catch a glimpse of the Christ the Redeemer statue from the sky
- Rio de Janeiro: Christ the Redeemer. Sugarloaf. Copacabana. Ipanema. It’s all here to fill up up your heart and your Insta feed.
- Rio de Janeiro: This needs no introduction. Tick this iconic statue off your #travelgoals bucket list. And don’t forget your camera.
- Rio de Janeiro: Take a cruise along the arcing Guanabara Bay and enjoy Caiprinas and music
Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise
- Lima: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit San Francisco Monastery and a local Peruvian food market; welcome dinner at Casa Garcia Alvarado; farewell dinner
- Sacred valley: Enjoy a special lunch, complete with live Andean music and a Mother Earth Ceremony performed by a shaman; visit Pisac; visit Ollantaytambo and a local home for a glimpse into rural Peruvian life
- Machu picchu: Take the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley; sightseeing with a Local Guide and a second entrance to the ruins on your second day in Machu Picchu; Pisco Sour mixology lesson
- Cusco: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; Inca King greeting; visit the cathedral and Santo Domingo Monastery, Kenko Temple, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman
- Lake titicaca: Guided sightseeing to Taquile and the Uros Floating Islands
- Sillustani: Visit the ruins; learn about the lives of the local people
- Paracas: Fly over the Nazca Lines; cruise to the Ballestas IslandsGALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
- The thrilling beauty of the Galápagos Islands and the rediscovered jewels of the Inca Empire await you on this tour through the Galápagos and Peru
- A highlight of your vacation is a tour to Machu Picchu, where you’ll visit this amazing Inca city
The Croatian
- Zagreb: Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral
- Ljubljana: Guided sightseeing, visit the Town Hall’s inner court
- Postojna: Visit the caves
- Pula: Guided visit including the Amphitheater and Temple of Augustus
- Plitvice: Guided walking tour in the national park
- Zadar: Guided walking tour through the Old Town to the main square
- Trogir: Visit the historic city
- Split: Dinner at a local restaurant; guided walking tour, visit Diocletian’s Palace
- Dubrovnik: Guided walking tour; visit Rector’s Palace; farewell dinner
- Spectacular scenery, historical sights, and special experiences await you on this fantastic tour concentrating on Croatia
- Along the way, overnight in Zagreb, Opatija, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik in Croatia, and in Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana
Patagonia: Journey to the End of the World
- Santiago : Visit Santa Rita Winery with a wine-making experience; Santiago sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit La Vega Central Market and a local pub
- Puerto natales : Visit Milódon Cave
- Torres del paine national park: Stay inside the national park; Torres del Paine National Park sightseeing, view Lago Grey; see Los Cuernos, Salto Grande, Laguna Azul, Cascada Paine, and Laguna Inges; Organic cocktail demonstration
- El calafate : Cruise Lago Argentino, see Upsala Glacier, and visit Estancia Cristina; visit Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier
- Ushuaia : Cruise the Beagle Channel to Martillo Island; visit Tierra del Fuego National Park
- Buenos aires : Private wine tasting with sommelier and dinner at a local restaurant; city sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Recoleta Cemetery; Tango lesson, dinner, and Tango show
- Explore the thrilling and unspoiled vastness of the Patagonia region on this journey to the end of the world
- Starting in the lively capital city of Santiago, jump right into the fun of this tour by heading to Santa Rita Winery, where you’ll learn about the wine-making process and taste, blend, and bottle your own wine to take home with you! On your tour of Santiago you’ll be surprised at how a city of so many people can be so well kept and vibrant—a city packed with local parks, artwork at every turn, and European-style squares
Alluring Vietnam & the Temples of Angkor with ...
The Sicilian
- Palermo: Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the Norman cathedral in Monreale, and the cathedral; lunch at Focacceria San Francesco
- Erice: Visit the hilltop town and try the famous almond biscuits and Marsala wine
- Motya: Boat cruise; visit museumMARSALA AREA
- Sciacca: Take pictures from the panoramic viewpoint
- Agrigento: Guided walking tour of the Valley of Temples
- Piazza armerina: Guided visit of the Villa Romana del Casale
- Caltagirone: See the famous Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte
- Ragusa: Guided walking tour of the Ibla district, visit St. George Cathedral
- Modica: Chocolate tasting at the famous Dolceria Bonajuto; dinner at a local restaurant
- Noto: Guided walking tour, visit San Nicolò Cathedral
- Syracuse: Guided visit of the archaeological site
- Catania: See St. Agata Cathedral, Piazza Duomo, and Via Etnea
- Savoca: See the Church of Santa Lucia; taste granita and brioche at Bar Vitelli
- Taormina: Orientation, visit the Greek theater; farewell dinner at a local restaurant
- Your 10-day Italy tour of Sicily is packed with architectural treasures that have withstood the ages
- You’ll begin your tour with guided sightseeing in Palermo’s ornate city of piazzas, markets, and churches
Lisbon & Northern Spain
- Lisbon : Welcome dinner; guided sightseeing, visit the Alfama quarter and Jeronimos MonasteryFÁTIMA
- Porto : Guided sightseeing, visit the Arabian Hall in the Stock Exchange; Port wine tasting at Sandeman & Co.
- Vigo : Walking tour
- La toja island: Enjoy a coffee and the spectacular view at the Gran Hotel La Toja and admire the shell-covered church
- Santiago de compostela: Dinner with wine at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral
- Luarca : Stop in this pretty fishing village with its white houses
- Oviedo : Guided sightseeing, visit the Cathedral of San Salvador and enjoy a cider tasting SANTANDER
- Bilbao : Guided visit of the Guggenheim Museum
- San sebastian: Guided walking tour of the Old Quarter
- Pamplona : Walk through the Calle Estafeta, followed by lunch with traditional tapas and Rioja wine at Basaburua restaurant
- Saragossa : Visit Plaza de Pilar
- Barcelona : Guided sightseeing; visit the Sagrada Familia Basilica, panoramic view from Montjuïc Hill; farewell dinner at La Fonda del Port Olimpic restaurant
- Explore the coastline of Portugal and Northern Spain on this fascinating vacation
- In Portugal, you'll overnight in Lisbon and Porto, and enjoy guided sightseeing in both cities, including a visit to the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, dating back to the 16th century, and in Porto, the Arabian Hall in the Stock Exchange, which was inspired by Granada’s Alhambra
Highlights of Sicily & Southern Italy
- Rome : Welcome dinner at a local restaurant
- Castel gandolfo: Guided visit of the Papal Palace and the Barberini Gardens
- Sorrento–capri : By jetfoil
- Capri: Guided visit of Capri village, including a funicular ride
- Pompeii : Guided walking tour of the excavations
- Naples : Guided visit; pizza tasting
- Bari: Guided walking tour
- Lecce: Guided walking tour; taste pasticciotto with almond-flavored iced coffee
- Alberobello: Guided walking tour; visit a trullo
- Matera: Panoramic view of the Sassi houses
- Scilla: Picture stop
- Reggio calabria: Guided visit of the Bronzi di Riace museum
- Strait of messina: Ferry crossing
- Taormina: Visit the ancient Greek Theater; dinner at a local restaurant
- Agrigento: Guided walking tour of the Valley of Temples
- Palermo: Guided sightseeing, visit the cathedral, and the Norman cathedral in Monreale; farewell dinner at a local restaurant
- Spectacular scenery combined with fascinating architectural remains and ancient history—all of this awaits you on this fabulous “off the beaten path” vacation through Southern Italy and Sicily
- If you’re interested in Roman history, this tour is certainly for you
European Escape
- Rome: Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum
- Florence: Guided walking tour, visit Michelangelo’s David and Signoria Square
- Venice: Private boat ride; visit St. Mark’s Square; glassblower demonstration; pasta dinner at a local restaurant
- Lugano: Stop in the lakeside town
- Lucerne: Walking tour including the Lion Monument and the Chapel Bridge
- Paris: Guided sightseeing; enjoy a Seine Cruise
- On this Escape, you can experience Europe’s most popular destinations without the crowds—and even better—without the high-season prices
- Rome, Florence, Venice, Lucerne, and Paris—these exciting and vibrant cities await you on this thrilling European tour
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