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London to Rome Quest | Hostels | Start London | Winter | 2027/2028 route map

Depart London, see the White Cliffs of Dover, ferry to Calais, visit WWI battlefields in the Somme Valley, and arrive in Paris for a night tour.

Meals: Dinner

Free day to admire Notre Dame, explore the Louvre and indulge in crêpes and coffee; optional dinner and cabaret in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Bordeaux; see the Miroir d’eau and optionally sample local wines on a scenic stroll.

Meals: Breakfast

Drive via Saint-Jean-de-Luz to San Sebastián; free time on arrival and an optional pintxos tour; first of two nights here.

Meals: Breakfast

Explore San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja, Playa de la Concha and Centro Romántico; enjoy coastal walks.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel via Zaragoza (baroque Basilica and Islamic–Gothic influences) to Barcelona; beach time and city exploring; optional Flamenco evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Free day in Barcelona: visit Parc Güell, relax at the beach, enjoy tapas and paella; optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER cooking class.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel from Barcelona to the French Riviera; discover the glamorous coastline; evening free.

Meals: Dinner

Optional coastal bike ride; sample local lavender honey, aioli and rosé; visit Monaco’s Royal Palace and the Monte Carlo Casino; return to the Riviera.

Meals: Breakfast

Head to Cinque Terre; explore the villages by rail with options to hike, eat and taste local wine; continue to Pisa for an overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast

See the Leaning Tower of Pisa; explore markets with gelato; view artworks (e.g., Michelangelo) and an included leather demonstration; optional Tuscan dinner.

Meals: Breakfast

Journey to Sorrento for seaside time and sunset views; optional visit to La Sorgente mozzarella farm for an authentic meal with olive oil and limoncello.

Meals: Breakfast

Scenic Amalfi Coast drive with a stop in Amalfi; visit a lemon farm to learn about limoncello; back in Sorrento, stroll the historic centre and taste local gnocchi.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel to Rome via Pompeii with the chance to join a guided walking tour; view Mt Vesuvius en route; on arrival, explore Rome’s famous sights.

Meals: Breakfast

Make the most of Rome: see Roman architecture and the Colosseum up close; afternoon free; optional pasta cooking class with dinner; gelato encouraged.

Meals: Breakfast

Trip ends in Rome; farewells after breakfast.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

14 breakfasts and 2 dinners included during the trip.
Expert Trip Manager, Driver Team and Local Guides throughout the journey.
10 included experiences featured on the trip (orientation sightseeing and highlights led by your Trip Manager/Local Guides).
15 nights of accommodation: 13 nights in hostels and 2 nights in hotels. Hostel rooms are multi-share (same-sex), typically up to 5 travellers per room.
All internal transport between destinations is included, primarily by coach (group size up to 53). The itinerary travels from London to Rome via Dover–Calais and key stops in France, Spain, Monaco and Italy.

What’s not included

International flights to the start in London and from the end in Rome are not included.
Visas and entry requirements are not included (e.g., UK Electronic Travel Authorization may be required for travel through the UK/Northern Ireland from 8 January 2025; eligibility varies by nationality).
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory but must be arranged by the traveller.
Meals not specified in the itinerary (all meals other than the 14 breakfasts and 2 dinners).
Optional Free Time Add-Ons and activities (examples may include cabaret shows, cooking classes, nightlife experiences, etc.).
Airport transfers and any pre/post-trip accommodation are not included unless added to your booking.
Single supplement (private room upgrade) is available at an additional cost and subject to availability.
Towels are typically not provided in hostel-style accommodation; bring your own or rent locally.

Additional information

  • 2 Dinner (D)
  • 14 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: 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: 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.
  • 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.
  • 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: Combat boots at the ready, folks! Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter and Las Ramblas are so cool, you won’t know what to photograph first!
  • French Riviera: Glide through the winding coastal roads of the French Riviera with your Contiki crew.
  • Monaco City: Walk in the footsteps of Grace Kelly at the Royal Palace and see the Monte Carlo Casino (where the car park looks like a Fast & Furious set).
  • Nice: Your chance to learn the art of fragrance at a French perfume house. You know it makes scents! (soz).
  • Cinque Terre National Park: We’ll take care of your rail pass, so you can just zip around the iconic clifftop villages and focus on the Insta stories. Wanna hike around too? You’re welcome to explore on foot along the way.
  • Pisa: Your ultimate chance to ‘hold the tower up’ as you pose for that classic Insta snap. 
  • Amalfi Coast: Definitely one for the bucket list. Your chance to view one of Europe’s active volcanoes from a distance. 
  • Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list! 

Explore the sweep of Playa de la Concha and the tight, lively lanes of Parte Vieja, where church spires, arcaded plazas, and counters stacked with bites invite wandering. Coastal air and Belle Époque facades frame a city built for strolling.

Unpack Basque identity through language, cuisine, and convivial pintxo bars. Views from the bay to Mount Urgull and elegant promenades show why San Sebastián balances seaside ease with culinary ambition.

Trace centuries in the Gothic Quarter, where medieval cloisters brush Roman stones from ancient Barcino. Emerge onto Las Ramblas, alive with buskers, flower stalls, and the theatre of everyday life spilling from cafés and balconies.

Spot fragments of the Roman Barcino walls, peek into quiet squares, and browse vivid produce at La Boqueria. Layers of Catalan history, artistry, and street energy create a compact portrait of Barcelona’s soul.

Settle in for a scenic cruise-by as you glide the French Riviera, tracing cliff-hugging Corniche roads above coves where yachts glitter on the turquoise bays. Palms, pastel villas, and Mediterranean light unfold like cinema frames.

Hear tales of painters, film stars, and jet-set summers, then admire the Belle Époque facades of Nice and chic marinas that made the Côte d’Azur shorthand for effortless glamour and sunlit style.

Survey tiny, glittering Monaco after dusk, pausing for views of the Royal Palace crowning the Rock and the bow-lit harbour of superyachts. Stroll manicured streets to the legendary Monte Carlo Casino, a temple to high style and higher stakes.

Soak up Riviera lore of princes, racers, and Riviera fêtes as Belle Époque architecture meets modern sheen. The mood: polished, theatrical, and made for people-watching under warm coastal skies.

Breathe in the Riviera at a traditional atelier to learn the art of fragrance. Inside a historic French perfume house, uncover how essences are distilled and combined, from jasmine and orange blossom to sun-kissed herbs.

Discover the craft rooted in nearby Grasse and how Mediterranean botanicals inspire signature notes. It’s a sensorial primer in heritage, technique, and the alchemy behind a scent that lingers like a Côte d’Azur afternoon.

Hop between Liguria’s cliff-perched hamlets with your coastal rail pass, linking terraced vineyards, mule-track alleys, and pastel-hued harbors. Wave-washed coves and fishing boats set the rhythm of life within Cinque Terre National Park.

Absorb seascapes from station platforms and stone steps while local trattorie perfumethe lanes with pesto and grilled seafood. The scenery is intimate and dramatic, a living postcard stitched by tunnels and sea breeze.

Walk onto Pisa’s marble stage at the Campo dei Miracoli, where lawns frame the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Snap the classic angle, then take in the striped stone and arches of the Romanesque Cathedral and Baptistery.

Hear how sandy subsoil tilted the tower and how medieval wealth created Pisa’s luminous complex. Pilgrimage, geometry, and Tuscan stonework come together in one elegant, photogenic ensemble.

Decode the Renaissance in piazzas and palazzi as you stand amid statues in Piazza della Signoria, gaze over the Arno from Ponte Vecchio, and step inside a leather workshop demonstration to learn time-honoured techniques.

Florence’s craft guild traditions live on in meticulous stitching and finishing, while towering domes and frescoes remind you this was the workshop of genius. Streets, studios, and stories reveal a city built by artisans.

Trace the dramatic curves of the Amalfi Coast road, where cliffs plunge into sapphire water and terraced lemon groves scent the air. Pause in Amalfi to admire the striped facade and steps of the Duomo di Amalfi.

From medieval maritime republics to modern dolce vita, the coast’s drama is part geology, part history. Tyrrhenian Sea views and lemon-scented terraces frame streets humming with gelaterie and seaside cafés.

Step into groves heavy with sfusato Amalfitano to visit a working lemon farm near Sorrento. See traditional techniques, learn how limoncello is made, and meet the people behind this sun-bright staple.

Cap the visit by taste zesty liqueurs and citrus preserves that capture southern Italy’s climate in a glass. Heritage agriculture, family stories, and fragrant peel turn a simple digestivo into a cultural emblem.

Survey millennia in an afternoon as you circle the Colosseum, toss a coin at the Trevi Fountain, and stand beneath the oculus of the Pantheon. Baroque fountains and obelisks lead the way to lively Piazza Navona.

Hear how emperors, popes, and artists shaped the city’s layers—from ancient engineering to Bernini’s theatrical flair. Cobbled lanes, café corners, and marble facades bring “the Eternal City” into vivid focus.

Dive into Belle Époque sparkle with a cabaret show where sequins, syncopation, and soaring choruses meet Belle Époque glamour. Pair the spectacle with a classic dinner with wine for a true Parisian night out.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Expect footlights, feathers, and live music in an iconic venue that has defined Parisian nightlife for generations.

Explore cellar doors and wine bars to sample regional wines that chart Bordeaux’s diversity—from refined Left Bank and Right Bank styles to modern blends. Stroll historic lanes and the Garonne quays between tastings.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Learn to read labels, discuss terroir, and match local bites with pours that have shaped Bordeaux’s global reputation.

Follow your host through old-town taverns on a pintxos crawl, where jewel-like bites top toasted bread and skewers. Sip spritzy txakoli wine and discover why the Basque approach to snacking is a culinary art form.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Learn ordering etiquette, navigate chalkboard menus, and taste seasonal specialties in atmospheric old-town taverns.

Feel the pulse of Andalusian art at an intimate tablao where a live flamenco performance pairs guitar, soulful cante, and percussive staccato footwork. The room’s hush gives way to thunderous palms and heelwork.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Dancers and musicians share the language of duende—raw emotion and virtuosity that turns rhythm into storytelling.

Shop like a local and cook classic Catalan dishes with a chef’s guidance. Choose market-fresh produce, then chop, simmer, and plate seafood paella, romesco, or crema catalana in a hands-on workshop.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Along the way, pick up regional techniques and stories that bring Barcelona’s home kitchens to life.

Saddle up to cycle the seafront, tracing palm-lined promenades and fishing quarters with the Mediterranean breeze on your face. Pedal past Belle Époque villas and photo-stop viewpoints along the famous Promenade des Anglais.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Easy terrain and generous scenery make for a relaxed ride that pairs Riviera sunshine with gentle exercise.

Settle into a cosy dining room for a Tuscan trattoria dinner where rustic recipes shine—pappa al pomodoro, pappardelle al ragù, and bistecca share the table with Chianti wines and seasonal antipasti.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Staff share regional traditions and pairings, turning a meal into a primer on Tuscan hospitality.

Visit a family-run mozzarella farm to see curds stretched into creamy fior di latte before sitting down to a homestyle feast. Glasses clink with local wine as platters celebrate Campania’s garden.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Taste fresh fior di latte, fragrant olive oil, and limoncello while hearing how techniques pass from generation to generation.

Step into a Roman city frozen in time on a guided tour of Pompeii. Follow basalt streets past shops, baths, and frescoed villas while learning how daily life ended under ash during the eruption of AD 79.

This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour. Archaeology and storytelling combine to reveal an ancient world with striking immediacy.

Tie on an apron for a pasta-making class, learning to hand-roll tagliatelle or shape ravioli before sitting down to a convivial dinner with local wine. Simple ingredients, practiced hands, delicious results.

This is an optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour. Alongside technique, pick up Roman kitchen lore—from flour types to sauces that define the city’s tables.

Discover Paris at its most theatrical as you join a guided panoramic tour past glittering monuments and riverfront promenades. Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle, sweep around the Arc de Triomphe, and admire the jewelled arc of the Seine bridges from grand Haussmann boulevards.

Hear how the “City of Light” emerged from gaslamps and expositions to become a nocturnal icon. The glow of café terraces, the rhythm of the river, and the symmetry of neoclassical facades set a romantic stage for Paris after dark.

Reflect on Europe’s 20th-century history with a respectful visit across the Somme battlefields, where quiet farmland hides scars of trench lines and memorial avenues. Take a moment to pause for photos and reflection amid rolling fields and solemn cemeteries that honour the fallen.

Gain context on the 1916 offensive and the enduring symbolism of the memorials to the fallen, whose names and regiments evoke stories of courage, loss, and remembrance that shaped modern Europe.

Stroll Bordeaux’s elegant Garonne riverfront where limestone facades glow softly and the famous Miroir d’eau shimmers with sky-reflections opposite the Palais de la Bourse. This relaxed walk reveals graceful squares, tram-lined quays, and café culture.

Hear how wine wealth fueled the city’s 18th-century urban design and why today’s revitalized quays are a local living room. Architecture, river light, and vinous heritage combine to define Bordeaux’s polished, laid-back character.

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