• 5 Dinner (D)
• 17 Breakfast (B)

• London: You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From?January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through border control in the United Kingdom (UK) and Northern Ireland you’ll need an?Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)?before you travel. Confused? Don’t be – just read on here.
• London: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• London: For this trip, you’ll need just two currencies – the British Pound and the Euro.
• Edinburgh: You’ll be on the road for around 2-3 hours between stops. We’ll check out some cities along the way, so that you can soak up some more of the localities in the British Isles. Either way, get ready for all the beautiful backdrops you’ll see.
• Edinburgh: You’ll cross the Irish Sea aboard a modern, high-speed ferry with comfy facilities. Best part? You’ll be able to leave the coach and explore the ferry and its food court during the 2-hour journey. We’ll hop back on the coach before disembarking.
• London: You’ll stay in a Twin share room (meaning you’ll be paired with a fellow traveller of the same gender, and will have two separate beds). If you’re booking your trip with a friend/travel companion – just let us know, so we can join your bookings and ensure you share a room. Need a lil’ more privacy? You’re welcome to opt for a single supplement if you like.

• Windsor: Walk the iconic tree-lined ‘Long Walk’ and take in the fantastic views of Windsor Castle. Keep your eyes peeled! You might even spot a royal if you’re lucky.
• Bath: Live out your Bridgerton dreams as you wander around Bath’s historic and regal architecture.
• Oxford: Wander around the quaint canals and streets of Oxford. And also the grounds of one of the most famous universities in the world!
• Stratford-upon-Avon: Explore the town that this legendary literature writer once called home. From Shakespeare’s birthplace to where we he was buried – you’ll find clues about his life scattered everywhere in this town.
• Liverpool: One for fans of The Beatles. Walk in the footsteps of the Fab Four and see all the iconic landmarks on this jaunt around Liverpool.
• York Minster: Explore this historic city and get to know its Viking and Roman roots. Check out highlights such as Clifford’s Tower and York Minster. 
• Edinburgh: Holyrood Palace. The Royal Mile. Edinburgh Castle. They’re all here to fill up your memory and Insta feed. 
• St. Andrews: If you like golf, you’ll love St Andrews. But if you think it spoils a nice walk in the park, there’s also Swilcan Bridge.
• Loch Ness: Sit back, relax and cruise along the loch with your Contiki crew. But keep your eyes peeled and camera ready for mythical ‘Nessie’.   
• Scottish Highlands: Ever wondered how native animal species – like the Scottish Red Squirrel, Lynx and Beavers – are reintroduced into the wild? Come learn about it all from an expert (who’ll also tell you how the Caledonian pine forest is being reforested too!). Every penny you spend here will directly support Trees for Life, a TreadRight supported project.
• Stirling: Explore the sights of Stirling and get a selfie with the memorial to the iconic Scottish knight.
• Mallaig: We’ll visit Helix Park, home to The Kelpies (horse statues, standing at 100ft tall & weighing more than 300 tonnes each). It’s a wonder to behold. Plus, there’s also an adventure play park with woodlands and boardwalks for some added fun. 
• Blarney Castle: Your chance to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the ‘gift of the gab’. And to visit the medieval Irish castle. 
• Cliffs of Moher: These rugged, photogenic cliffs have been the star of many films, including a Harry Potter one.
• Galway: Tread the cobbles of this well-loved Irish city with your new Contiki crew. See Lynch’s Castle, Eyre Square and all the best pubs.
• Derry/Londonderry: One for the history fans. Take a look around Ireland’s only walled city, built in the 17th Century.
• Giant’s Causeway: Sure, rock formations may sound a bit dull on paper, but this quirky natural wonder has to be seen to be believed.  
• Belfast: Hang with a local guide to see all the landmarks and learn about the city’s checkered history. 

Walk atop intact 17th-century city walls, circling cathedral spires, bastions, and Georgian streets below. Views unfurl to the River Foyle and the arcing span of the Peace Bridge, symbol of a modern, shared city.

Stories of sieges, craft guilds, and civil rights era change bring texture to the scene. Finish by the red-sandstone Guildhall, where stained glass and civic pride round out Derry’s layered narrative.

Join a guided panoramic tour through a city reinventing itself. See grand Belfast City Hall, the shipyards and slipways of the Titanic Quarter, and neighborhoods known for powerful political murals.

Local insight traces industrial might, cultural revival, and reconciliation. From Stormont’s neoclassical lawns to red-brick avenues and cranes on the Lagan, Belfast balances heritage with a forward-facing energy.

Join a local guide to decode Bristol’s open-air gallery, from bold murals to playful stencils in neighborhoods like Stokes Croft. Track works linked to Banksy and rising artists while hearing how protest, humor, and community shape the scene.

Backstreets and brick canvases reveal layers of counterculture and craftsmanship. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, perfect for culture-seekers who love creativity at street level.

Ascend Castle Rock for a guided tour through ramparts and museums at Edinburgh Castle. View the Crown Jewels, great halls, and Mons Meg as panoramas sweep across the Old and New Towns.

Stories of sieges, monarchs, and a fortress perched atop an extinct volcano anchor Scotland’s capital in stone and legend. This entry and tour are at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join a guided city tour of a port that reshaped music and maritime trade. Cruise past the Royal Albert Dock, the Three Graces on the Pier Head, and landmarks woven into Beatles lore—from the Cavern Quarter to the Beatles statues.

Football cathedrals, vibrant neighborhoods, and Mersey views round out a city that pairs grit with flair. Hear stories of migration, melodies, and modern culture that continue to define Liverpool’s creative pulse.

Step into centuries of history along the narrow, overhanging lanes of The Shambles and the circuit of medieval city walls. Timber-fronted shops, stone gates, and Roman-Viking echoes surface at every turn.

Admire the soaring Gothic facade of York Minster and the hilltop perch of Clifford’s Tower. Legends, merchants, and monarchs all left their mark here—best appreciated on foot where each worn flagstone tells another chapter.

Pause to view the rugged stone ramparts of Hadrian’s Wall, the Roman Empire’s northern edge. The Wall’s snaking line across moor and crag captures frontier life in a stark, beautiful landscape.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wall’s milecastles and ditches evoke soldiers, traders, and cultures meeting at the empire’s limit. It’s a place to pause for photos and reflection amid wind-brushed grasses and ancient stones.

Explore cobbled closes and wynds along the Royal Mile, where story-soaked tenements rise to the sky. Take in the crown spire of St Giles’ Cathedral and distant views toward Arthur’s Seat and the New Town’s elegant grid.

Hear how monarchs, philosophers, and poets shaped the city’s soul, from enlightenment salons to smoky taverns. End near the gates of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where pageantry meets persistent Scottish identity.

Stroll through Scotland’s oldest university town to coastal ruins and sandy links. Glimpse the first tee and Swilcan Bridge on the world-renowned Old Course, where the language of golf was honed to poetry.

Between sea air and scholarly lanes, pass the cathedral and castle remains that once anchored religious and political power. St Andrews blends academic calm with sporting legend in a compact, windswept setting.

Cruise the waters of Loch Ness, the UK’s most voluminous lake, flanked by brooding hills and pine forests. Glide past the dramatic silhouette of Urquhart Castle, and keep cameras ready for legends and wildlife alike.

Local commentary reveals folklore, geology, and astonishing scale—Loch Ness holds more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. Stay alert for ripples, reflections, and the myth of ‘Nessie’ on this atmospheric Highland voyage.

Learn how landscapes heal at a pioneering rewilding centre dedicated to restoring the ancient Caledonian pine forest. Trails and exhibits reveal habitats that support native species and bring balance back to Highland glens.

Hear about efforts benefiting red squirrels and beavers, community stewardship, and future-forward conservation. Your visit supports Trees for Life’s mission—an inspiring look at ecology, reforestation, and Scotland’s living natural heritage.

Survey the skyline of Stirling Castle perched on its volcanic crag and glimpse the Wallace Monument rising over fields where battles once decided a nation’s fate. Cobbled streets and closes echo with royal and rebel tales.

From the River Forth’s bends to the Carse below, the scene places you at the heart of Scotland’s story—kings crowned, clans clashed, and identity forged in stone ramparts and rolling countryside.

Stand beneath the towering Kelpies, 100-foot steel sculptures of horse heads that honor Scotland’s working heavy horses and canal heritage. Their mirrored plates ripple with sky and water as paths loop the parkland.

Stories blend engineering feat with folklore’s shape-shifting water spirits, while nearby locks and basins recall the Forth & Clyde Canal’s heyday. It’s a striking modern landmark grounded in industry, art, and myth.

Walk among the Giant’s Causeway, a surreal pavement of hexagonal basalt columns forged by ancient volcanoes and North Atlantic surf. Basalt steps and inlets carve out photogenic angles at every turn.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Causeway is also steeped in the legend of Finn McCool—myth layered on geology. Sea air, cliff vistas, and rhythmic waves make this a vivid, elemental encounter with Ireland’s coast.

Climb the spiral stairs to the battlements of Blarney Castle and, if you wish, kiss the Blarney Stone for the fabled “gift of the gab.” Gardens and waterways soften the silhouette of this storied medieval keep.

Legends mingle with limestone as guides share myths of chieftains, alliances, and eloquence. Herb borders, fern-carpeted glades, and rockeries invite a slower wander after the castle’s dramatic heights.

Stand at Ireland’s wild edge along the Cliffs of Moher, where shale and sandstone ramparts plunge into restless Atlantic swells. Paths lead to panoramic lookouts, including the iconic O’Brien’s Tower.

Sea spray, skylarks, and cliff-nesting seabirds fill the air—puffins visit in season. Film cameos and folklore abound, yet it’s the raw geology and weather-shifting light that make this seascape unforgettable for photographers and daydreamers alike.

Get your bearings amid the bustle of Eyre Square before threading into the colorful Latin Quarter. Shopfronts spill flowers, buskers tune up, and lanes lead to the quays by the Spanish Arch.

Hear about merchant families, music traditions, and the creative spirit that fuels this west-coast hub. Pubs, galleries, and stone-cut terraces make Galway a lively base where conversation and song flow easily.

Venture into snickleways and shadowed courtyards on a storyteller-led ghost walk that animates York’s darker chapters. Hear tales that linger around medieval lanes, echoing taverns, and the city’s ancient stones.

Lamp-light atmospherics, folklore, and local history blend into a spine-tingling circuit of the old town. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, ideal for night owls with a taste for legends.

Follow a guide into a rocky streambed to scramble past chutes and clear pools tucked into Lakeland fells. Mossy boulders, ferny banks, and playful cascades turn a valley into a natural obstacle course.

It’s an energetic way to feel the landscape—cold water on your boots, echoing ravines, and views opening between crags. This adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; fitness and sure-footedness recommended.

Taste your way through Scotland’s spirit with a guided flight that explores Highland and Islay styles, from honeyed malts to a whisper of peat smoke. Learn to nose, sip, and savor like a local.

Discuss casks, climate, and craft as your host traces how barley becomes liquid character. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, a warming deep dive into culture by the dram.

Slip onto the loch by canoe to skim the quiet southern reaches, watching for woodland edges and shoreline wildlife. The water’s dark mirror and mountain backdrop add drama with every paddle stroke.

Guides share local lore and safe routes while you enjoy close-to-the-water perspectives distinct from the cruise. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour; suitable for beginners with a sense of adventure.

Savor a convivial evening of seasonal Scottish dishes paired with toe-tapping live folk music. Lilt and laughter fill the room as fiddles and song animate stories of city and Highlands.

It’s a relaxed cultural close to your Scottish chapter—warm hospitality, local flavors, and community spirit. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pedal medieval lanes and riverside paths with a local leading the way to photogenic corners of this compact city. Glide past butter-yellow facades, crafts workshops, and the lawns below Kilkenny Castle.

Stories of guilds and Gaelic heritage keep pace with easy cycling through traffic-calmed streets. This ride is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bikes and helmets are provided locally.

Visit the home of a world-famous Irish whiskey for a guided walk through mash tuns, stills, and maturation warehouses. Compare styles in a curated tasting that highlights smoothness, spice, and triple distillation.

Heritage galleries and copper gleam bring craft to life before you toast with a signature measure. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Ferry across Galway Bay to windswept Inis Mór, then cycle quiet lanes past stone walls and thatched cottages to the cliff-top fortress of Dún Aonghasa. Atlantic horizons and island Irish offer time-out from the mainland.

Rugged limestone, wildflowers, and Gaelic culture shape every turn of the pedals. This seasonal adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bike hire and ferry tickets are arranged locally.

Watch expert handlers and keen-eyed collies work a hillside flock with whistle commands and quiet authority. The choreography of dog, shepherd, and sheep showcases traditional skills still vital today.

Chat over a homemade lunch while learning about breeds, land stewardship, and life lived close to the weather. This authentic rural visit is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Walk with a local through the Bogside to view poignant murals, memorials, and community landmarks. Stories of the civil rights movement and the Troubles bring context to names like Free Derry Corner.

Balanced, first-hand insight illuminates resilience and reconciliation. This focused cultural walk is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Step into striking, ship-hull architecture at Titanic Belfast to trace the liner’s story from design and launch to legacy. Interactive galleries, dockside views, and artifacts connect shipyard craft with global myth.

Industrial heritage and human narratives meet where the ocean liner took shape. Entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering an in-depth look at Belfast’s maritime heart.

Follow the brewing journey from barley and hops to a perfectly poured pint at the Guinness Storehouse. Multi-level exhibits lead to panoramic city views, where you can learn to pull a pint the Irish way.

Brand lore, cooperage, and tasting notes add depth to Dublin’s most famous export. Entry is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Gather for a convivial evening featuring modern Irish flavors and easy conversation. Toast new friends and favorite moments as courses arrive to the hum of a warm city dining room.

It’s a relaxed sign-off in a city that prizes hospitality and storytelling. This dinner is at additional cost and bookable on tour; dietary requests are typically catered for with advance notice.

Glide under willows in a wooden punt as college lawns and meadows slip by at walking pace. Poling along the Cherwell reveals quiet corners and a softer side to the city of spires.

It’s an unrushed, quintessentially Oxonian pastime—part balance, part bliss. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour; choose to punt yourself or let a local do the steering.

Try your hand at traditional field challenges under friendly guidance, soaking up the camaraderie of a Scottish Highland games setting. Laughter, light competition, and tartan pageantry set the tone.

Learn the lore behind age-old tests of timing and technique while cheering on your crew. This cultural experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; participation is voluntary and fun is mandatory.

Walk the stately Long Walk, a tree-lined avenue framing commanding views of Windsor Castle. From the Copper Horse statue to the sweep of parkland, this setting distills centuries of royal pageantry and pastoral calm just beyond London’s bustle.

Pause to admire the castle’s Round Tower rising over battlements and lawns, and soak up riverside ambiance along the Thames. This elegant introduction to Britain pairs open-air scenery with living monarchy at the world’s oldest and largest inhabited castle.

Explore honey-stone terraces and crescents on a guided wander through Bath’s UNESCO-listed heart. Gaze along the graceful sweep of the Royal Crescent and trace Regency life past grand squares, colonnades, and the city’s famed thermal heritage.

Cross the elegant Pulteney Bridge and see the steaming courtyard of the Roman Baths from street level. Stories of spa society, authors, and architects bring this harmonious cityscape into focus, revealing Bath as a masterpiece of proportion and light.

Discover the scholarly lanes and dreaming spires of the University of Oxford on a scene-setting walk. Pass storied colleges, cloisters, and lawns, and take in the dome of the Radcliffe Camera beside the historic Bodleian Library.

Hear how generations of scholars shaped philosophy, politics, and literature here. Punts glide along the Cherwell, bicycles ring through cobbled courts, and sandstone facades hint at centuries of learning layered into this compact, walkable city.

Wander timber-framed streets in the playwright’s hometown, tracing life and legend from Shakespeare’s Birthplace to the riverside at Holy Trinity Church. Half-timbered guildhalls and swans on the Avon set a gentle, quintessentially English scene.

Learn how a market town nurtured a literary giant, with signposts to his family, craft, and stage. The atmosphere feels part Elizabethan, part festival—where sonnets, stages, and centuries share the same compact streets.