European Discovery

DAY 1 LONDON TO AMSTERDAM

London

Your heart-pounding adventure kicks off today. Meet up with your Contiki posse & share notes on London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam.

Dover

Shortly before we find our ferry for Europe, we'll be taking in the English coastline's beauty as we sail away from the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even le the UK!

Calais

Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north through Belgium before reaching...Amsterdam!

Amsterdam

Tonight, aer an included dinner, the fun-famed Amsterdam is yours to explore in all its glory.

Meals

Dinner

Included Experiences

• Welcome Dinner

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Have a Go on Europe's Highest Swing - An unrivalled panoramic view of Amsterdam's historic centre, unique Dutch landscape, & famous UNESCO world heritage canals. Be amazed as you swing 100 metres above ground then enjoy a drink at the top.

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DAY 2 AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is as cute as it comes & sure to win your heart with its cobbled main streets, canalside views, obscure museums & a café culture like no other. Today, you're free to use your time to get local, bar hop, museum crawl, or sign up to check out the STRAAT museum (located in a former NDSM shipyard), or just explore! If you're hungry to taste your way through the local culture, this place is famous for Dutch pancakes, frites, cheese, stroopwafels and coffee – or you can take the opportunity to visit the small Dutch fishing village of Volendam for an optional dinner. Tonight, you have the option to sign up for an iconic cruise through Amsterdam, complete with an onboard bar.

Meals

Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Visit the Artistic STRAAT Museum - Art-lover or just art-curious? Dive into the vibrant world of STRAAT, Amsterdam's street art and graffiti museum. You'll see artworks (showcasing the epic untold stories and hidden meanings) from over 180 global artists housed in a massive warehouse.

Volendam Dinner - Get a taste of Amsterdam's maritime tradition at a local restaurant perched right on the seafront of a prey fishing village. Wrap up your day with a drink before digging into some hearty fare in this cosy restaurant. Wash it all down with some wine or local Dutch beer.

Evening Canal Cruise - Floating down the canals by night is the perfect way to see Amsterdam as we cruise past historic buildings. The cruise gives you a different take on one of Europe's hoest creative capitals!

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DAY 3 AMSTERDAM TO RHINE VALLEY

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, it's been lovely, but it's time to say 'tot ziens!' because this aernoon we're seing off for our next country, Germany.

Sankt Goar

After the scenic journey of fairytale castles, vineyards and valleys, you'll be charmed before we even arrive in Germany's famous Rhine Valley. There's a river cruise up for grabs, and this back-in-time town is our host for the optional wine-tasting experience this evening.

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Included Experiences

• See the River Rhine
• Cruise down the Rhine
• Learn how Beer Steins are made

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Rhine Valley Wine Tasting MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience - In the historic seing of an underground candle-lit cellar, get the low-down on the region's reputation as a leading white wine producer. Try out local wines as you sip on some Riesling & the exclusive ice wine, a speciality of the area.

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DAY 4 RHINE VALLEY TO MUNICH VIA DINKELSBÜHL

Sankt Goar

Too much grape juice last night? Not to worry, the prospect of this Bavarian hidden gem should li your spirits as we travel south & swap wine culture for beer.

Dinkelsbühl

Quintessential German experiences don't get much beer than visiting this charming medieval town. We'll stroll the cobblestoned streets, checking out vibrant market squares and picturesque half-timbered houses along the way.

Munich

Today our eyes will be treated to a famous Gothic clock, a charming old town & traditional Bavarian culture. You'll have the option to explore the side streets by foot (or by a bike on an optional guided tour!). And aerwards why not choose to explore one of the city's many beer halls, where you can try a stein of beer or even a pork knuckle!

Meals

Breakfast

Included Experiences

• See Lorelei Rock
• Drive along Germany’s Romantic Road
• Clink your Steins at a Beer Hall

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Mike's Bike Tour - Explore Munich like a true Bavarian & join us on a guided bike tour when you cycle past the famous sights as your Local Guide explains the fascinating history of the city.

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DAY 5 MUNICH TO VENICE

Munich

Goodbye Munich, hello mountains. Today we're crossing the Bavarian Alps and hiing the road for Italy.

Venice

And just like that, we're in a new country and a whole new vibe. Ah, Venice! Fresh pasta, lilting accents & romantic architecture - we've arrived in one of Italy's most famous cities. Your jaw will hit the floor over hidden lanes, story book bridges & a private Motoscafo ride. What next? There are a bunch of optional experiences lined up to help you experience this city - gondola rides, venetian dinners, all the good stuff.

Meals

Breakfast

Included Experiences

• Cruise on a Motoscafo to Venice
• See Canals and Gondolas

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Gondolas - See Venice from the canals in a gondola. From magnificent palazzi in the distance to the locals' laundry strung across the backwaters, Venice's charm gets you at every turn.

Venetian Dinner - Enjoy a family style dinner in a busy local eatery tasting some of Italy's favourite dishes.

Gooses T-Shirts - Feeling creative? Make up a one-off design for a trip t-shirt with your group. They're perfect for keeping your travel memories fresh when you're back home.

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DAY 6 VENICE TO ROME VIA BASCHI

Venice

Farewell floating city, but Italy, we're not done with you yet, our next destination - the Eternal City of Rome is just around the corner.

Baschi

But first, we have an epic, included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience to enjoy. Casale Polegri is set within the gorgeous town of Baschi, where we'll meet the Polegri family. These guys have run their vineyard and olive orchard for generations, and aer giving us the grand tour, will serve us lunch. As we overlook the Umbrian landscape, enjoying some of the most authentic Italian food we've ever tasted (topped off with the Polegri's very own wine, naturally), we might reflect that we've never had it so good. It's the kind of local travel experience you don't encounter every day.

Rome

The aernoon will really take it up a notch as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital of Rome, as you get a glimpse of its glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfeo!

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch

Included Experiences

• Tour Rome on Foot
• Lunch at Casale Polegri MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience

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DAY 7 ROME

Rome

Rome wasn't built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city. Hit the streets for your own discoveries. Or choose to take a guided tour of the Colosseum. Throw coins in fountains and sip espresso in a prey street watching Italian life float by. And even join the optional food tour we've got planned in the city!

Meals

Breakfast

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Emperors & Gladiators inc Colosseum - Wander through the ruins of the ancient Roman Empire's political heart, while our Local Guide peels back the layers of history & reconstructs the past. From the assassinations at the Forum to the bloody bales in the Colosseum, learn how the roots of Western culture started here.

Taste your way through Rome - Ready for an ultimate culinary journey? We'll take to the streets of Rome for a Eating Europe Food Tour! You'll discover the decadent flavours of Testaccio (Rome's foodie hub). We'll stop by at traditional traorias and check out hidden gems (that only our local guides know about) - all with an intimate group of foodies. It's a colossal party for your tastebuds.

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DAY 8 ROME TO FLORENCE

Rome

We may be hiing the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over…

Florence

The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city, making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Take a moment to take in the unique beauty of this beautiful city, where culture and la dolce vita is evident in every direction you look. We'll become history buffs on a guided walking tour, before we learn the art of leather. Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair at an optional dinner.

Meals

Breakfast

Included Experiences

• Florence Walking Tour

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Tuscan Evening - Wind down with an aperitivo & take in the scenery of the Tuscan hills. You'll enjoy some live local music & the local Chianti wine. In true Italian fashion, our warm hosts will load your table with a feast of antipasto, followed by a house speciality & sweet goodness to top it all off.

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DAY 9 FLORENCE TO LUCERNE

Florence

Say a fond farewell to Italy, and hello to the land of creamy chocolate, cheese and not to mention watches. Hello Switzerland!

Lucerne

Swans float under wooden bridges, snowcapped mountains stand regally behind us & chocolate tastes like heaven on earth. Today, you've got the option to take a lake cruise to check out all the Apline scenery. You're in the Swiss Alps & you cannot wipe the smile off your face! 

Meals

Breakfast

Included Experiences

• See Cultural Gems in Lucerne

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Lucerne Lake Cruise - From the waters of Lake Lucerne, your jaw will drop at the endless panoramas. Take in the typically Swiss scenes – green pastures spoed with chalets & bell-wearing cows – surrounded by beautiful mountains.

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DAY 10 LUCERNE TO PARIS

Lucerne

Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. Once we've crossed the border out of Switzerland, we will be coasting through the prey wine producing region of Burgundy before our arrival in Paris.

Paris

Lamp-lit bridges, a sparkling Eiffel Tower, & evening coffee haunts, tonight we fall in love with everything Paris. Our Trip Manager fills us in on the city's secrets as we celebrate our first night in the city.

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner

Included Experiences

• Take a Tour of Paris

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DAY 11 PARIS

Paris

It's time to stroll the dreamy streets of Paris, moan over haute couture you can't afford, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral whilst juggling coffee and crêpes, & get artsy at the many rooms of the Louvre. Just don't wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with an optional ticket to an iconic cabaret show and dinner. With your last night looming, make it one to remember in the city of lights.

Meals

Breakfast

Included Experiences

• Visit a French Perfumery

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Nouvelle Eve Cabaret Dinner and Show - Get your glad rags on… it’s time for a night out at the Parisian cabaret. The exciting atmosphere of the evening show is the perfect way to toast your travels with the group over a French meal. From your lamp-lit table, you’ll feast your eyes on a succession of feathers, sequins, can-can girls, acrobats, and comedians – all while dining on a three-course meal and sipping on delicious French champagne.

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DAY 12 PARIS TO LONDON

Paris

Soak up your last dose of Paris this morning over a coffee and croissant and marvel at how much you've seen. And, how close you've grown to your new Contiki pals. Sob! Hop back on the coach for a complimentary transfer to CDG airport this morning, or stay onboard for the ride back to London. Plenty of time to start planning the next reunion...

Calais

Dover

London

This concludes our 12-day Europe itinerary. What a journey! Say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the trip onarrival in London.

Meals Meals

Breakfast