Your itinerary
Day 1
Day 1: London to Paris
Welcome to the first day of the best trip of your life – we’re calling it early! After a few pleasantries in London we’ll get the show on the road with Paris in our sights. A few hours in and your jaws are on the floor already. These chalk cliffs that edge the English coastline are known as the White Cliffs of Dover, the first of many natural beauties we’ll see on our trip. After we ferry across the English Channel for France we’ll arrive in Calais, where we will take in the history of World War I battlefields in the Valley of the Somme. We’ll kick off our trip as we arrive in the glittering city of love, Paris. It’s straight down to business with a tour of the city lit up by those famous lights. Then, we’ll bond with our Contiki fam with a delicious included dinner. The French are proud of their culinary culture for a reason. First nights are rarely this fascinating!
Meals: Dinner
Day 2
Day 2: Paris
Drool over haute couture you can’t afford, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral whilst juggling coffee and crêpes, & get artsy at the Louvre. Just don’t wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with dinner and a cabaret show. Smitten and it’s only day two!
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3
Day 3: Paris to Bordeaux
Wipe away your tears sad travellers! Paris is not going anywhere, you can always come back and visit her again. You, on the other hand, are going somewhere, and it’s somewhere pretty magnificent… Wise folk tell us that wine has been produced in Bordeaux since the 1st Century – that’s a long time, which means they know what they’re doing. And it’s not just the vin that has dragged us here, it’s a pretty place to boot featuring its famous Miroir d’eau (water mirror). You’ll have the option to sip your way through local wines while soaking up the sights on a scenic stroll – because sightseeing’s better with a glass in hand.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4
Day 4: Bordeaux to San Sebastian
Breathe in your last breath of Bordeaux before we hit the road in search of the Spanish border. In just a few short hours we’ll be exploring San Sebastian. Our stop will have you people watching in this cute little town on the French and Spanish border. With two nights in Spain’s coastal town of San Sebastian, it will be hard to wipe the smiles off our faces. You’re free to explore then you’ll have the option to hit up our epic Pintxos tour. Your call, but trust us… the flavours are next level.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5
Day 5: San Sebastian
We’ll be dropping lots of delicious sounding words today as we explore Parte Vieja, Playa de la Concha and Centro Romántico. Say it again: Romántico! Follow the cobblestone roads & soak up San Sebastian’s coastline.
Meals: Breakfast,Dinner
Day 6
Day 6: San Sebastian to Barcelona
Having settled into life with afternoon siestas, today will only be a departure from San Sebastian, don’t worry leaving Spain is not on the agenda. Sigh with relief. This town comes complete with a baroque Basilica, a perfect combination of Islamic and Gothic architecture and truly a sight to behold. Hola Barcelona… the first dose of Mediterranean Sea! That’s if you can drag yourself away from the intoxicating city & get to the beach. We’ll kick things off with a stop at the epic Sagrada Familia and then you’re free to check out the unique gothic architecture, round the clock parties & street life. Just don’t tire yourself out – chances are you’ll want to partake in the evening of Flamenco fun.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7
Day 7: Barcelona
They say this sexy city sizzles and we couldn’t agree more. For a taste of what’s in store, here’s just the beginning of a never-ending list: hit up the colourful wonderland that is Parc Güell, soak up the sun at the beach, then lose yourself in the backstreets with non-stop tapas and paella. Washed down with sangria of course.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8
Day 8: End Barcelona
That’s it folks. The incredible ride has come to an end and you should all be left utterly inspired by what your time on the road has achieved. Now you have the pleasure of picking your next adventure. Greek Island Hopping, anyone?
Meals: Breakfast
What’s included
What’s not included
Additional information
Dining Summary
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Dinner (D)
FAQs
- 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: Your Trip Manager will advise you on who you’ll share your room with. On this trip, you’ll stay in a multi-share room with other travellers of the same sex.
- 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.
- London: Yep. If you’re booking a twin room as a couple, you’ll be roomed together.
Included Experience
- Paris: Take a dreamy jaunt around the city of romance. Fall in love with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre, Champs-Élysées and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
- Paris: Take in the historic heart of Paris aboard a cruise on the River Seine.
- Bordeaux: Stroll around this chic metropolis to see the Palais de la Bourse and downtown Bordeaux. Then make time for a nice glass of red by the river.
- Barcelona: We’ll check out the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s world-renowned masterpiece. Work began on the church in the 1880s and while it was technically never finished, it’s still a wonder to behold.
Bordeaux Orientation Walk & Miroir d’eau
Walk the riverfront and historic center to admire the curve of the Garonne riverfront, the elegant Palais de la Bourse, and the shimmering Miroir d’eau. Grand squares, curling quays, and limestone facades make this city a joy to explore.
Once a powerhouse of wine commerce, UNESCO-listed Bordeaux—known as the Port of the Moon—pairs 18th-century architecture with contemporary creativity. Your orientation helps you read its streetscapes and find the best spots for an evening glass by the water.
Paris Cabaret Dinner & Show
Dine and delight in a classic cabaret dinner and show, where glittering sets, live vocals, and high-energy can-can kicks create a heady Parisian night out. Expect sequins, spotlights, and crisp service.
Steeped in Belle Époque spirit, Parisian revues meld music hall traditions with sparkling costumes and modern choreography. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour; availability can vary by season and venue.
Barcelona Flamenco Evening
Sit close to the stage and feel the rhythms of flamenco—heelwork, palmas and guitarra, and voices rising in call-and-response. Dancers channel emotion with staccato footwork and arc-lit stillness.
In an intimate tablao, the art’s Andalusian roots meet Catalan nightlife as performers summon white-hot duende. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; some shows can include a drink or tapas, depending on venue.
Paris Welcome Dinner
Gather with your group to share a welcome dinner in a convivial Parisian bistro. Settle in over seasonal dishes and clinking glasses as you meet your Trip Manager and traveling companions in true French style.
France’s French culinary heritage celebrates market-fresh ingredients and leisurely conversation. Expect comforting classics and regional flavors, served amid tiled floors, mirrored walls, and the low buzz of locals—an inviting first taste of the city’s dining culture.
Paris Night Illuminations Drive
Experience the capital after dark on an atmospheric illuminations drive. Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle, sweep along the Seine embankments, and see Place de la Concorde, Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre glow against the night sky.
Paris earned the name City of Light in the age of ideas—and later for its pioneering streetlamps on grand boulevards. This radiant circuit pairs story-rich commentary with luminous cityscapes for a memorable evening introduction.
San Sebastián Orientation Walk: Parte Vieja & La Concha
Explore the old-town lanes of Parte Vieja and stroll the curve of Playa de la Concha, where arcades, balconies, and sea air define the mood. Discover plazas, pintxos-lined streets, and breezy promenades linking bay and boulevard.
Blending proud Basque culture with Belle Époque elegance, San Sebastián charms with its culinary scene and seaside ease. This walk orients you to key quarters and viewpoints, setting you up to return for golden-hour photos and bar-to-bar nibbling.
Sagrada Familia Viewing in Barcelona
Pause to admire Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s visionary basilica and Barcelona’s defining silhouette. Study sculpted stone, soaring spires, and the expressive Nativity and Passion facades that tell stories in light and shadow.
Under construction since 1882, this ever-evolving masterpiece fuses Gothic inspiration with organic forms drawn from nature. Your stop spotlights the basilica’s symbolism, craftsmanship, and the city pride that fuels its ongoing work.
Bordeaux Wine Tasting Stroll
Join a guided amble to sample regional wines and decode labels, blends, and appellations. Compare Left Bank and Right Bank styles while learning food-pairing tips and the stories behind famous estates.
From gravelly Médoc to clay-limestone Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux terroir shapes flavor, structure, and ageability. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, offering a relaxed primer to navigate wine lists with confidence.
San Sebastián Pintxos Crawl
Follow your local host to hop between pintxos bars, sampling skewered bites, briny gildas and txistorra, and creamy Idiazabal cheese. Raise a glass of crisp txakoli as plates clatter and conversations flow.
Learn relaxed Basque bar etiquette—order, nibble, move—while discovering why San Sebastián’s counters are culinary legends. This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour, and a delicious way to taste the city’s flavor map.
Seine River Cruise
Cruise the River Seine for a serene, front-row perspective on Paris. Drift beneath graceful arches and along the UNESCO-listed riverbanks, circling the Île de la Cité as bridges, facades, and statues reveal themselves from the waterline.
From the Louvre’s classical riverfront to gilded Pont Alexandre III, this smooth voyage sets a relaxed rhythm and reveals how the Seine shaped the city’s growth, trade, and daily life. It’s a timeless way to watch the skyline unfold and the light play across stone and slate.
Operated By
Contiki
Paris Panoramic City Tour of Iconic Landmarks
Join a guided panoramic tour to take in the city’s headline sights, from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to the elegant Champs-Élysées. Glide past the Louvre’s courtyards and the riverfront of Île de la Cité, with camera-ready views at every turn.
Hear how Baron Haussmann’s grand boulevards reshaped Paris while medieval lanes still linger around Notre-Dame. This orientation balances must-see icons with context, helping you navigate neighborhoods and appreciate the city’s layered style—from royal squares to café-lined quays.
