• 9 Dinner (D)
• 44 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Picnic Lunch (PL)

• London: For this trip, we recommend that you carry the British Pound, Euro, Czech Koruna, Hungarian Forint, Romanian Lei, Turkish Lira, Bulgarian Lev, Swiss Francs. (It’s a coin collector’s dream!)
• 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.
• Istanbul: At the end of 2021 the Republic of Turkey officially changed its English name to ‘The Republic of Turkiye’ (pronounced “Tur-key-yeah”), which is how it is both spelt and pronounced in Turkish.
• 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: Most accommodations on the trip offer self-service laundry or a laundry service. Wanna know the best time and place to do your laundry? Ask your Trip Manager! They have all the info you need.
• 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.

• 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.
• Beaujolais: Be a VIP at the epic Contiki Château and fill up on a banquet of classic French dishes and wines. Ooh la la! 
• Beaujolais Wine Region: Set within the rolling hills of the Beaujolais wine region, the legendary Contiki Château special stay has been wowing travellers for decades. From the luxe bar to the elegant new bedrooms, our Château is the perfect backdrop to long summer days lounging by the pool, capped off with French feasts, local wine and dancing the night away in ‘La Cave.’
• Beaujolais: Clear out the cobwebs and get in touch with you zen side with a guided yoga session on the sweeping lawns of the château.
• Beaujolais: Enjoy a French-style picnic while admiring the gorgeous Beaujolais countryside.
• 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!
• Arles: Visit the historic city of Arles, famous for inspiring the paintings of Van Gogh.
• 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).
• Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice.
• Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list! 
• Amalfi Coast: Definitely one for the bucket list. Your chance to view one of Europe’s active volcanoes from a distance. 
• Corinth Canal: The world’s deepest canal is an epic sight. It was carved through the rock, as a link between the Aegean and Ionian Seas.
• Athens: Walk in the footsteps of Gods and Goddesses, as you take a guided tour around the Ancient Greek monuments and explore the Parthenon temple. 
• Thermopylae: Fans of the film 300 will love this tribute to Spartan warriors, on the site of the Thermopylae battle. 
• Gallipoli: See the infamous site of the ANZAC troop landings at the battle of Gallipoli in WWI. 
• Gallipoli: Brush up on your history knowledge with a visit to WWI battle sites: Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair Gallipoli  
• Istanbul: If you’re looking for ornate and photogenic buildings we have a treat for you. See the Byzantine Hagia Sophia (Blue Mosque), Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar and Suleymaniye Mosque.
• Târgu Mure?: Visit the national monument in Transylvania (and also the inspiration for Dracula’s castle) – which is now a museum with art and furniture collected by Queen Marie. And of course, you can take a look inside if you’d like!
• Hopfgarten im Brixental: Join us in the cute lil Austrian Tyrol village of Hopfgarten, where you’ll find Haus Schoneck by Contiki. Next to one of the world’s largest ski regions, this traditional property has had a fresh facelift with all the modcons. We’re talking on-site sauna, Schnapps bar, communal lounge area, a shuttle to the main gondola. Hungry after a day on the slopes? Chow down on some warming locally sourced meals in our dining room.
• Munich: We’ll make a stop at a traditional Bavarian ‘Bier Halle’. Grab your Contiki crew and a beer. Prost!
• Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site: Take a somber but impactful visit to the site of a World War II concentration camp in Munich. 
• Prague: Walk through the winding cobbled streets and head up into the fairytale-like Castle District for panoramic city views.
• Berlin: Heads up culture vultures. Here’s your chance to check out the longest open-air gallery in the world.

Savor a relaxed Tuscan evening with regional dishes like ribollita, pappardelle al ragù and cantucci with vin santo. Raise a glass of Chianti as your host shares the stories behind seasonal ingredients and local traditions.

Expect warm service, generous plates and a lively atmosphere that feels unmistakably Florentine. This dining experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; dietary options are typically available.

Trace Mozart’s footsteps and movie moments as you wander Mirabell Gardens, the Getreidegasse and viewpoints toward the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Hear waltz tempos and Alpine folk tales in a city where music is daily life.

Your guide shares stories from baroque courts to modern festivals. This cultural walk is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pay respects at the Dachau Memorial Site, the first Nazi concentration camp (opened 1933). Walk through museum exhibits and the grounds to reflect thoughtfully on testimonies, memorial chapels and the Appellplatz.

The visit is guided by context, not spectacle—focused on remembrance, historical clarity and individual stories. Time is provided to move at your own pace and absorb this essential chapter in Europe’s 20th-century history with sensitivity.

Walk the ancient streets of Pompeii with a specialist guide, exploring villas, bathhouses and the Forum frozen by Vesuvius in AD 79. See frescoes and plaster casts that bring daily Roman life into sharp relief.

Context spans trade, religion and urban planning as you traverse cobbles scored by chariot wheels. This deep-dive into antiquity is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Venture beyond the postcards to discover Hidden Prague: tucked-away courtyards, artists’ passages and stories of defenestrations and dissent that don’t make the guidebooks. Explore with a local expert who threads past and present.

It’s a slower, story-rich circuit for curious minds. This walking tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Feel an alpine rush as you leap into a glacial gorge on a secured canyon swing, free-falling before arcing between rock walls and river spray. Professional guides, harnesses and transfers keep the focus on adrenaline and scenery.

Back on solid ground, trade nervous laughs and mountain views with your crew. This adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; participation depends on weather and local safety conditions.

Snack like a Venetian on a guided bacari hop, pairing cicchetti—bite-size toasts, crostini and seafood skewers—with spritz or local wines. Tuck into standing-room bars where gondoliers and shopkeepers gather.

Along the way, learn how trade routes shaped lagoon cuisine and why conviviality is central to Venetian life. This tasting walk is at additional cost and bookable on tour; portions add up to a light meal.

Roll up your sleeves to hand-make fresh pasta alongside a local chef. Knead, roll and cut tagliatelle or gnocchi before sitting down to eat what you’ve made, paired with simple sauces and a glass of wine.

Between laughs and floury fingertips, you’ll pick up recipes to recreate at home. This hands-on experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; vegetarian options are typically available.

Launch from a mountain meadow in tandem with a certified pilot and float on Alpine thermals as villages, rivers and peaks unfold below. Land gently in the valley with a grin to match the scenery.

All gear and safety briefings are included. This sky-high adventure is at additional cost and bookable on tour; weather and weight limits apply for safety.

Tackle glacier-fed rapids with an expert crew on a whitewater rafting run through Tyrolean gorges. Expect splashy waves, calm stretches for scenery, and plenty of team high-fives.

Wetsuits, helmets and guides are provided. This adrenaline experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; river choice and grade depend on conditions.

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO canals beneath lit-up bridges and gabled townhouses that lean over the water. Hear the stories of Golden Age merchants, narrow plots and hidden courtyards.

Gliding past houseboats and warehouses, you’ll see why life is lived on the water here. This serene finale is at additional cost and bookable on tour; some departures include a drink on board.

Taste the region in a convivial evening at our countryside base, where you’ll sample regional wines and sit down to a French feast in a historic château. Learn how Beaujolais’ Gamay grape expresses itself across local crus like Fleurie and Morgon, guided by tasting notes from your host.

Between courses, step into the atmospheric cellar to hear how these vineyards have shaped village life for centuries. Expect warm hospitality, seasonal dishes and a relaxed French country mood—sometimes followed by music in the château’s cellar bar.

Wake the body and mind with a gentle session of guided yoga on the château’s lawns, looking over rolling Beaujolais vineyards as the light softens the hills. Move through stretching and breathwork designed to loosen travel-weary muscles.

Your instructor shares grounding techniques inspired by the landscape’s rhythms. The mood is tranquil, phones stay tucked away, and the soundtrack is birdsong—an authentically French countryside start to the day that sets a calm tone for later explorations.

Unfold blankets amid landscaped lawns and enjoy a French-style picnic surrounded by vine-striped hills. Nibble local cheeses, charcuterie and crusty baguette, pairing bites with light, chilled Beaujolais for the quintessential countryside lunch.

Soak up the château setting as your Trip Manager shares tips on nearby villages and vintages. It’s an unhurried moment to savour place and season—crickets, cypress, and the easy art of French living, all framed by manicured gardens.

Explore Barcelona’s historic heart as you walk the Gothic Quarter, weaving past Roman walls, the Barcelona Cathedral and candlelit chapels. Continue to Las Ramblas, where flower stalls and street performers animate the tree-lined promenade.

Your orientation highlights plazas like Placa Reial and tapas-packed side streets, with pointers for Montjuïc viewpoints and beach time. Hear how Catalan identity shapes local food, language and festivals, setting you up to dive deeper later in the day.

Visit Arles, where Roman Gaul endures in stone. Walk by the Arles Amphitheatre, a two-tier arena recalling gladiators and festivals, and pause for photos and reflection in sun-washed squares that inspired Van Gogh’s canvases.

Trace the layers of Provencal history, from Roman engineers to medieval traders and modern artists. Your stop offers time to wander cobbled lanes, glimpse the Rhône’s slow curve, and feel why this compact city has charmed painters and poets alike.

Step into Riviera glamour as you stroll Monaco’s Old Town to the Prince’s Palace on Le Rocher. Then see the Monte Carlo Casino, its Belle Époque facades glowing above superyachts and the famous Grand Prix hairpin.

Hear tales of Grace Kelly, royal ceremonies and Riviera high society. With sweeping night views over Port Hercules, this compact visit blends palace pomp with coastal sparkle—an elegant contrast to laid-back beach hours earlier in the day.

Discover the alchemy of scent at a traditional perfume house, where you’ll learn the art of fragrance from expert ‘nez’. Sample citrus, floral and woody notes as artisans explain how accords are built and why Grasse became perfume’s spiritual home.

Walk through production displays, compare essences, and enjoy time to test blends that reflect the Riviera’s sunshine and sea breeze. Depending on the visit, you may even blend a simple personal note to take away.

Speed across the Venetian Lagoon by private motoscafo, skimming past mooring poles and island silhouettes toward St Mark’s Square. Disembark for an orientation around the Doge’s Palace, Campanile and the delicate arch of the Bridge of Sighs.

Absorb the city’s maritime power story—from spice routes to Renaissance pageantry—as narrow calli open onto quiet campi. Your guide points out photo angles and bacari bars for cicchetti, so you can return later like a local.

Visit the UNESCO-listed Campo dei Miracoli to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the stately Duomo and round Baptistery. Align your playful photo, then step back to admire the creamy Pisan-Romanesque stone against emerald lawns.

Hear how unstable soils tilted the bell tower during construction in the 12th century and how engineers have stabilized it in modern times. This compact stop captures medieval ambition, mathematical curiosity and Tuscan skylines in a single frame.

Walk Florence’s Renaissance core to the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Giotto’s bell tower and Piazza della Signoria’s open-air sculptures. Then uncover traditional leatherwork at an artisan workshop, where tools and tannins tell centuries-old stories.

Learn how Medici patronage shaped art and science, and feel the city’s craft heritage in stitched seams and hand-burnished edges. Tips for trattorias and gelaterie help you savour the Tuscan capital like a Florentine.

Trace golden-hour Rome as you walk to the Trevi Fountain, toss a coin for a return, and continue to the Pantheon with its soaring dome and oculus of light. End in Piazza Navona, where Baroque fountains sparkle under evening skies.

Hear anecdotes of emperors, popes and Bernini’s rivalry while weaving through narrow lanes perfumed with espresso. This introduction blends headline icons with local texture, priming you for deeper exploring on day 2 in the Eternal City.

Pause to admire the Corinth Canal, a 19th-century engineering feat carved between steep limestone walls to link the Aegean and Ionian seas. From the bridge, watch boats thread the narrow, cliff-lined channel far below.

Your Trip Manager shares how visions of a canal date back to Roman times and why it finally opened in 1893. It’s a concise encounter with Greek industrial history and Mediterranean geography in one dramatic view.

Walk the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis with a Local Guide to the Parthenon, Propylaea and Temple of Athena Nike. Take in city-wide views that span millennia, from ancient agoras to modern boulevards.

Hear about Pericles’ building programme, classical ideals and the Persian Wars that shaped Athens’ golden age. A stop at the Panathenaic Stadium—home of the first modern Olympics—connects classical heritage with 19th-century revival on a stirring circuit of Greek identity.

Stand where King Leonidas and his Spartans faced Persia in 480 BC, taking a moment at the Thermopylae memorial to pause for photos and reflection. Look toward the narrow pass that shaped one of history’s most famous last stands.

Hear how terrain, tactics and legend fused at Thermopylae, and why this site remains a touchstone of courage in Greek memory. The visit offers crisp context without museum formality—history told by landscape.

Visit the Gallipoli Peninsula to honour the WWI campaign that forged national stories for Australia, New Zealand and Turkiye. Walk quietly at ANZAC Cove, then continue to Lone Pine Cemetery and the heights of Chunuk Bair.

Your visit focuses on remembrance and context—terrain, strategy and personal accounts—set against the Dardanelles’ blue waters. It’s a reflective, historically grounded experience that invites thoughtful conversation long after you leave the headlands.

Explore the city where continents meet as you view the domes and minarets of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, stroll near the courtyards of Topkapi Palace, and browse the spice-scented lanes of the bazaar district.

Your guide traces Istanbul’s arc from Byzantium to Ottoman splendour to modern republic. Expect architectural contrasts, call to prayer drifting across squares, and tips for navigating neighborhoods and tea houses during your free time in the city.

Cross the Vltava to walk the Castle District past St Vitus Cathedral, palace courtyards and red-roof vistas, before orienting yourself around Old Town Square and its astronomical clock.

Hear of Bohemian kings, Habsburgs and Velvet Revolution hopes as Gothic spires punctuate the skyline. Your guide shares routes to riverside beer gardens and Charles Bridge viewpoints, giving you a head start on Prague’s blend of history and café life.

Walk along the East Side Gallery, the longest open-air section of the Berlin Wall, where powerful murals reclaim concrete with colour and commentary. See how artists responded to division and reunion after 1989.

Interpret iconic works and lesser-known pieces as your Trip Manager explains checkpoints, escapes and the Wall’s fall. It’s a vivid, street-level lens on Berlin’s recent past—history you can touch, framed by canals, warehouses and riverside cafés.

Soak up gemutlichkeit as you step inside a traditional Bavarian beer hall. Raise a stein, share pretzels and sausages, and listen for oompah echoes under vaulted ceilings that have hosted centuries of Bavarian culture.

Your Trip Manager offers tips on styles—from Helles to Weißbier—plus etiquette for toasting and table-sharing. It’s a flavorful snapshot of Munich’s social life beyond Oktoberfest, where conviviality is always on tap.

Ascend by cogwheel train to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe (3,454 m) for glacier panoramas and the Sphinx Terrace lookout over the Aletsch. Wander the frosty corridors of the Ice Palace and step into high-alpine air.

Guides explain the pioneering railway and Bernese Oberland peaks that surround you. This optional excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather-dependent for safety and the best possible experience.

Dine on bistro classics in artistic Montmartre, where cobbles climb toward the Sacré-Cœur Basilica and café terraces glow at dusk. Settle in for a convivial French dinner with seasonal dishes and a glass or two of local wine.

Between courses, your host shares tales of painters, poets and bohemians who made these streets their studio. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; vegetarian and other dietary options are typically available.

Step into a velvet-draped theatre for an iconic Parisian cabaret show. Expect high-kick choreography, glittering costumes and live music that channels Belle Époque glamour and today’s artistry.

It’s a celebratory night that pairs fizz with feathers, perfect after a day of sightseeing. This entertainment experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; venues may vary by date and availability.

Immerse in Andalusian soul at a tablao where stamping heelwork, palmas hand-claps and rippling guitar score an intimate Flamenco performance. Feel the duende as dancers and musicians trade crescendos on a candlelit stage.

Venues are chosen for authenticity and atmosphere, with a drink or tapas often included. This cultural experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Cruise the seafront on two wheels, following the sparkling Baie des Anges and palm-lined promenades. Pedal past Belle Époque facades, beach clubs and azure coves with photo stops where the Med steals the show.

Guides set a relaxed pace and share local history, from jet-set legends to fishermen’s villages. This active experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bikes and helmets are provided.

Glide through quiet canals on a traditional Venetian gondola, slipping under low bridges as palazzi balconies drift by. Hear the gentle knock of oar on forcola and the soft slap of water against ancient brick.

It’s Venice at eye level—unhurried, reflective and timeless. This classic experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; routes vary with canal traffic and tides.

Step inside the Colosseum with a licensed guide to picture gladiators, emperors and roaring crowds. Continue around the arches to hear how Rome’s amphitheatre was engineered for spectacle and speed.

Many departures pair this with views toward the Forum and Palatine Hill for the full ancient-city context. This tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour; entry specifics may vary by timeslot and availability.

Cruise the Aegean to hidden bays where you can swim in crystalline water, snorkel over rocky shelves and relax on deck while the Cycladic coastline slips by.

Skippers share local lore and pick sheltered spots based on the day’s breeze. This laid-back island experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; route and inclusions may vary with conditions.

Add some adrenaline to beach time with a session of watersports on Ios. Choose from activities like paddleboarding, tubing or jet-skiing against a deep-blue Aegean backdrop.

Local operators provide gear and briefings so you can focus on sunshine and sea spray. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with options varying by beach and weather.

Journey across Santorini to Oia’s whitewashed lanes, timing your visit for the sunset over the caldera. Find a terrace or church-dome viewpoint as the cliffs blush pink and gold.

Along the way, hear how a Bronze Age eruption shaped the island and its villages. This scenic excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; timings adjust seasonally to match the sun.

Step into a family kitchen to cook classic Turkish dishes—think meze, stuffed vegetables and fragrant pilafs—guided by home chefs who cook by heart as much as recipe. Sit down to share the meal you’ve prepared together.

Between spice jars and tea glasses, you’ll hear stories of daily life and regional food traditions. This immersive experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Unwind in a historic bathhouse where you’ll stretch out on warm marble for a steam and exfoliating kese scrub, followed by a foamy wash that leaves skin tingling and refreshed.

Attendants guide you through the ritual’s Ottoman roots and relaxation etiquette. This wellness experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; treatment types and durations vary by hammam.

Cruise the Danube by night as Parliament, Buda Castle and the Chain Bridge glow on the waterfront. Enjoy Hungarian flavours on board while lights ripple across the river’s surface.

Commentary and music set the mood as Pest’s boulevards and Buda’s hills glide by. This scenic dinner is at additional cost and bookable on tour; menus and live music vary by boat and season.

Join a guided circuit over the Danube to Buda Castle, the fairy-tale turrets of Fisherman’s Bastion and the tiled rooflines around Matthias Church, with panoramic views across Pest.

Hear why Budapest was once two cities and how its Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic landmarks took shape. This sightseeing tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour, a great pairing before or after thermal-bath time.

Head into the hills above Salzburg for a warm welcome at a working family farm. Sit down to a farm-to-table dinner sourced from nearby fields and orchards, and toast with homemade schnapps.

Between courses, hear how multi-generation farms sustain rural communities. This meaningful, community-supporting experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Pedal alpine valleys and forest lanes as you cycle the Tyrolean countryside with waterfall and meadow stops. Guides set a comfortable pace so you can enjoy scenic mountain vistas without the rush.

Bikes, helmets and route briefings are provided. This active outing is at additional cost and bookable on tour; distance and elevation vary by route and weather.

See Munich’s green heart as you cycle the Englischer Garten, watch the Eisbach surfers and roll past the Residenz and Royal avenues. Photo stops and stories link Wittelsbach kings to today’s beer-garden culture.

Guides keep an easy pace on mostly flat routes. This active sightseeing option is at additional cost and bookable on tour; bikes and helmets included.

Settle in for a lively evening of folk music and dance with a hearty Czech meal. Raise a glass as performers in traditional costume bring village rhythms to life on fiddle and cimbalom.

Expect generous plates, shared tables and a celebratory mood. This cultural dinner is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Trace 20th-century history from the Brandenburg Gate to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, with context on sites like the Reichstag and the location of Hitler’s bunker.

Guides connect Weimar hopes, Nazi terror, Cold War division and reunification in clear, thoughtful narration. This tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

See a different Berlin on a guided wander through Kreuzberg and RAW-Gelände, where murals, maker spaces and squats reveal the city’s creative fringe.

Learn how post-industrial spaces became cultural labs and why this spirit endures. This alternative tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Gather your crew for a farewell dinner in the canal district, sharing Dutch flavours—from seasonal fish to stamppot—and a toast to 45 days of shared adventures.

It’s a warm, celebratory close in one of Europe’s most convivial cities. This dining experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; venue varies by date.

Join a guided panoramic tour through central Paris to admire the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the elegant sweep of the Champs-Élysées. Glide past the Louvre’s classical facades and the Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame’s flying buttresses frame the Seine.

Hear how Paris evolved from medieval river port to modern capital, with stories of Haussmann’s grand boulevards and café culture. Expect photo stops and orientation pointers so you can return to your favourite spots during your time in the city.

Contiki