European Encounter (Winter)
Overview
Highlights
- See the White Cliffs of Dover
- See Amsterdam's canals & gable houses by night
- Scenic drive along the Rhine River
- Wine tasting in an historic cellar
- See the Lorelei Rock
- Scenic drive through the Alps
- See the Wooden Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
- Visit the capital of Liechtenstein, Vaduz
- See the Golden Roof, Royal Palace & Olympic Ski Jump in Innsbruck
- Scenic drive past vineyards, orchards & castles
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Details
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Itinerary
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.
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Dinner
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 ...
Chill out while 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-hanging cuckoo clock! Learn about local know-how an...
Next stop: the jaw-droppingly beautiful alpine town of Lucerne. Get above the clouds with an optional excursion up a Swiss Mountain. You can see massive mountain ranges with a bird’s-eye view over this spectacular region.
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Breakfast and Dinner
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 famous for.
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Breakfast
Today, wind through the Alps and travel past the stony cliffs of Liechtenstein into the capital Vaduz, where you can grab some lunch and enjoy it in the shadow of the Royal Family’s 12th century castle. Then continue on through Austria into Innsbruck, a down-to-earth...
This morning, roll on to Venice. Take some time to practice your Italian phrases on the coach as we travel through the Brenner Pass. Known as the “floating city”, Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. Jump on o...
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...
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 th...
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 beg...
We stop by Pisa’s iconic Leaning Tower this morning, before sticking to the Italian coastline and crossing over into France. Then we hit the rugged coast line of the stunning Côte d’Azur. Follow the beautiful sapphire waters to the palm trees and sun-soaked shores of Nice.
Hotel
Breakfast and Dinner
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 enjoy a relaxing afternoon in one of the many ...
We start this day with a visit to a French Perfumery. You’ll 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. A lunch stop in the Popes’ former seat of power, Avignon, means a r...
Tonight, the group kick-starts Paris with the 'Paris by Night' tour, 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 Trip Manager will fill you in on the...
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 Lou...
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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Breakfast
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Dates & Availability
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
Other Contiki Reviews
Jas Singh
Apr 2024
European Horizon
Excellent tour manager, amazing fellow travellers, beautiful destinations!
Neil Pilger
Apr 2024
Japan Unrivalled
The tour was an absolute blast!
Juvenal Magana Martinez Jr
Apr 2024
Solo traveler best experience!
The trip was great! Although the trip is condensed, our tour guid Yuj made the best of it. From the locations to visit to the food, everything he recommended was bet...
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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.
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