European Encounter (Start London, end London)

17 days
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USTOA

Group Tour
This tour is perfect if you want to see Europe but don't have months to negotiate your way around. Take a bicycle tour of the Dutch countryside, go white water rafting in Austria, experience a Parisian cabaret show & rub shoulders with the rich & famous on the French Riviera...all in a little over 2 weeks!

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • See the Tiergarten, Alexanderplatz, Russian War Memorial, Brandenburg Gate & historic Reichstag building
    • Take in commemorative artwork & the remains of the Berlin Wall
    • Visit Dresdan the city destroyed in World War II and known as the 'Florence of the North'
    • See the rebuilt Baroque architecture of the Royal Residence, Zwinger Palace, Opera House and Frauenkirche
    • An authentic Czech feast at one of our favourite taverns in Prague
    • Special access Rome sightseeing coach tour
    • See the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon & Piazza Navona
    • See St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City
    • A delicious Italian pizza feast at a local trattoria
    • Discover the Secrets of Michelangelo's Florence – see where his David was gifted to the Florentines, Ponte Vecchio, the Medici Palace & much more on our locally guided walking tour of Florence

What's this trip about?

    This tour is perfect if you want to see Europe but don't have months to negotiate your way around. Take a bicycle tour of the Dutch countryside, go white water rafting in Austria, experience a Parisian cabaret show & rub shoulders with the rich & famous on the French Riviera...all in a little over 2 weeks!

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityLondon
End CityLondon

Travel Themes

  • Local Immersion & Homestays

Destinations

  • Europe
  • United Kingdom
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Germany
  • France
  • Netherlands
  • Czechia
  • Italy

Attractions

  • Amsterdam
  • Berlin
  • Florence
  • London
  • Lucerne
  • Paris
  • Prague
  • Rome
  • Salzburg

Activities

  • Culture
  • Homestays & Cultural Immersion

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Arrive London

Check-in to your hotel after 2pm and the remainder of the day is free to relax before meeting your fellow travellers for your Kickstart meeting this evening. Afterwards why not grab some dinner at one of the local restaurants or take a short walk to explore nearby Covent Garden

Day 2: London to Amsterdam

Meet up with your Contiki Team before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Next stop: the buzzing, free-wheeling city of Amsterdam. Check out Amsterdam’s eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets.

Day 3: Amsterdam to Berlin

Motor down the autobahn and get ready for a dose of uber-cool Berlin. We’ll give you the background on Berlin’s troubled history on a driving city tour. Learn about the East/West split at the Berlin Wall and check out the controversial Reichstag (German Parliament) as...

Day 4: Berlin

Fuel up on breakfast this morning as we've got one big ol' day of Berlin exploring ahead of us. First up, we'll tour the city's best bits, stopping for photo ops at the Holocaust memorial, the Brandenburg gate and Checkpoint Charlie. We'll then take a humbling trip ou...

Day 5: Berlin to Prague

Heading south, we roll on to the region of Dresden, often dubbed 'Florence of the North' because of its beauty. This town completely rebuilt itself after being flattened in World War II. Your Trip Manager will show you Dresden’s signature buildings, like the Opera Hou...

Day 6: Prague

The early bird may well capture the worm, but so does the photographer. Wake up bright and early for our sunrise photography session to learn the trick to capturing the first golden rays of the day. Heading back to the hotel for breakfast, you've then got an entirely ...

Day 7: Prague to Salzburg

Prague Stock up on breakfast treats, then it's eyes to the green and grassy horizon as we make for Salzburg. Berchtesgaden Lunch stops don't come much more picturesque than this. Nestled in the Bavarian Alps on the Austrian border, Berchtesgaden is the town best known...

Day 8: Salzburg to Venice

Austria you’re an overwhelming beauty. Although it would be nice to stay forever, it’s time for us to cross the border and prepare to stuff ourselves full of all things pizza & pasta. Yes, traveller we’re making our way to Italy!

Day 9: Venice to Rome

Today we’ll cross the Apennines mountain range on the way to the ancient city of 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 Trip ...

Day 10: Rome

This morning, make the most of our Local Guide’s inside knowledge with an optional guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Take off into the city and absorb the atmosphere, as Vespas flash past timeworn monuments tha...

Day 11: Rome to Florence

Next up: Umbria’s rustic hills and many vineyards. Travel past the iconic cypress trees of this olive oil producing region, to the Renaissance city of Florence. The scene-stealing Duomo Cathedral rises above the city. Get the inside track on Florence’s cultural begi...

Day 12: Florence to Italian Riviera

Today, journey to Pisa and get up close to its most famous monument, the Leaning Tower. Later, it’s onto the to the national park and UNESCO World Heritage site of Cinque Terre, where colourful coastal villages dot 18km of ragged cliffs and old walled vineyards reach ...

Day 13: The Riviera to Lucerne

Walk away from the Italian Riviera with plans to come back here for a few weeks or months, why not?

Day 14: 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 Trip Manager can give you pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches Switzerland is so...

Day 15: Lucerne to Paris

With down-time on the coach, plug in your MP3, chill out to some music and chat with friends while travelling through the scenic wine producing region of Burgundy. Tonight, the group kick-starts Paris with the ���Tour of Illuminations’, which shows off the French capi...

Day 16: Paris

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 or explore the endless galleries of the Lo...

Day 17: Depart Paris

This morning after breakfast we transfer you to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (estimated arrival 10:00am) where your trip ends. Or choose to take a complimentary transfer to central London & extend your stay.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,665
Price per day$157
Last Updated: 0/13/2022

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Contiki.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Contiki Reviews & Ratings

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Kate Foster

Mar 2024

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Anonymous

Contiki took care everything so well! We went from amazing experiences to amazing experience, and everything went incredibly smoothly. We did things we would never h...

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Trusted Customer

Mar 2024

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European Magic

This was a great trip! I had never seen or experienced Europe before and this was a way to get a quick taste of all the different countries in such a short amount of...

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Trusted Customer

Mar 2024

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What a fun expereince

Amazing from booking all the way through to post trip!

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Tour Operator

Contiki

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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.

No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.

We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.

About the company:
Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.

Why we love this operator
Their trips create life-long memories for young people setting off to discover the world.
What they’re known for
Social travel for 18-35 year olds around the world.

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Logistics

Accommodation

16 nights twin or triple-share hotel accommodation: 1 night in Contiki's Feature Hotel, 15 nights in hotels Modern, air-conditioned coach with electrical outlets for charging Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges Ferry crossings An experienced & professional Trip Manager & Driver team Sightseeing tours of all major cities plus orientations in all other destinations,
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
  • 15 continental breakfasts
  • 6 three-course dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
contiki-WWHZN13

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