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.
Wakey wakey folks! Today, you'll have the chance to visit a French Perfumery. Next up, 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.
This morning we wind our way through the French countryside, past the scenic vineyards of the Burgundy region and across the border to Switzerland. Just when you think France is the most scenic place on Earth, we cross the border into Switzerland and the charming town of Lucerne. Cobbled streets, fairytale medieval architecture, snow-capped mountain backdrops and swans floating past on the sparkling lake make this a setting fit for fairytales.
The day is yours to enjoy the great outdoors. Take an optional trip up Mount Pilatus and cogwheel railway, where you can go hiking, ride Switzerland’s longest summer toboggan or simply take in the views. Speaking of views, there are plenty more of those if instead you choose to take a cruise on Lake Lucerne, sitting back and drinking in the meadows, forests and mountain peaks. Back in town, you’re free to pick up some souvenirs (a Swiss watch? A cowbell?), check out the wooden Chapel Bridge (dated 1333) and nibble on some delicious chunks of cheese. Or even better - Swiss fondue and tonight’s your chance to sample a traditional cheese fondue.
It’s been sweet, but we’re swapping Switzerland for Italy today. The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair at a Free Time Add-On dinner - think crostini, bistecca alla fiorentina, pasta & Chianti wine.
Enjoy a final morning in Florence then say a fond ‘ciao’— next stop: Rome. On the way, we’ll stop for an epic MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience at Casale Polegri in Baschi. Tour the family-run vineyard and olive grove, then tuck into a homemade lunch (with wine, of course) overlooking the Umbrian hills. Local, authentic, unforgettable. Cruise through Tuscany’s dreamy landscapes before arriving in the Eternal City. A walking tour takes us past Roman icons - the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona- just in time for sunset.
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 pretty street watching Italian life float by. And even join the optional food tour we've got planned in the city!
We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over... Venice is yours for this glorious Italian afternoon. We'll be jumping aboard our own private boat (AKA a motoscafo) and hitting the canals en route to the historical heart of the city. A gondola ride is up for grabs, or you can discover Venice with a guided food tour, both totally optional. Or simply choose to get lost on your own and see where the maze takes you.
Confident we have ticked off all the Italian essentials, we can now leg it to Germany. After all the sophistication and glamour of France and Italy, a few beers and the chance to wear Bavarian suspenders will be precisely what we feel like. Bavarian culture, a famous Glockenspiel and charm aplenty; Munich doesn't just turn it on during Oktoberfest! Explore peaceful gardens and legendary beer halls or join in the bike tour and explore the side streets you wouldn't usually see.
Today it’s goodbye Munich, hello wine country. But first, we have an important stop to make. Journeying out of Munich, we'll make a stop at Dachau for a sobering visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial. You'll be able to spend some time here to learn and reflect, before we head on to the Rhine Valley. After the scenic journey of fairytale castles, vineyards and valleys, you'll be charmed before we even arrive in Germany's famous Rhine Valley. We’ll enjoy an included dinner here, and you’ll have the chance to take up an offer of wine tasting for the evening.
This morning we'll drag you all away from Germany kicking and screaming that you want to stay forever. Only to see you equally infatuated with another dot on the European map hours later... You know the cheese, and now you're going to know the place that pioneered it. We’ll cycle through the countryside, taking in the windmills of Edam, before visiting a local cheese farm to see how Dutch cheese (and clogs!) are made. And welcome to the dreamy Dutch capital, known for its charming gable houses and pretty canals - which are even prettier at night! Tonight, kick back with your Contiki crew over an included dinner, then the night’s yours to explore with your crew or join us for an optional comedy show. Whether you're checking out the museums, the nightlife or a bit of both, you're in for an absolute treat.
Amsterdam is as cute as it comes & sure to win your heart with its cobbled main streets, canalside views, obscure museums & a cafe 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.
Down your breakfast and wipe away your tears - this is always the worst day of the trip. We'll escort you to Schiphol Airport by about 10am for those leaving us in the canal lined city. For those not leaving us until London, we'll travel south through Belgium, then cross into France to Calais. We'll make our way back to London-town, where you'll be left to start dreaming up your next big adventure. This concludes your 13-day trip to Europe. What a journey! Say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the trip on arrival in London.
