European Discovery | Start London | Winter | 2025/2026
European Discovery | Start London | Winter | 2025/2026
$2285
European Discovery | Start London | Winter | 2025/2026
12 Days Starting and ending in London, England
Visiting: Amsterdam, Rhine Valley, Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, Lucerne, Paris, London
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WWHWA20
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
18-35
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable European Discovery tour starting in London, perfect for winter 2025/2026. This journey takes you through the heart of Europe, visiting iconic destinations across England, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Experience the enchanting River Rhine in Sankt Goar, explore the romantic streets of Venice, and marvel at Florence's architectural wonders. Enjoy a guided tour of Paris, including a climb to the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower for breathtaking views. Relish a unique MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience in Baschi, Italy, with a vineyard tour and authentic Italian meal. Travel in comfort with coach transfers and stay in conveniently located hotels. With 11 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and 1 lunch included, this tour offers a perfect blend of guided experiences and free time to explore. Optional activities like a canal cruise in Amsterdam and a cabaret show in Paris add extra excitement to your adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: London To Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Accommodation Name: Ibis Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
Your heart-pounding adventure kicks off today. Meet up with your Contiki posse & share notes on London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam. Shortly before we find our ferry for Europe, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK! Off the ferry, we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north via Belgium before reaching... Amsterdam! Tonight, after an included dinner and an optional evening canal cruise, the fun-famed Amsterdam is yours to explore in all its glory
Day 2: Amsterdam
Location: Amsterdam
Accommodation Name: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 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 seafood or steak dinner. Tonight, you have the option to sign up for an iconic cruise through Amsterdam, complete with an onboard bar.
Day 3: Amsterdam To Rhine Valley
Location: Rhine Valley
Accommodation Name: Hotel Montag Sankt Goar (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Amsterdam, it's been lovely, but it's time to say 'Vaarwel!' because this afternoon we're setting off for our next country, Germany. After the scenic journey of fairytale castles, vineyards and valleys, you'll be charmed before we even arrive in Germany's famous Rhine Valley. This back-in-time town is our wine tasting host for the evening.
Day 4: Rhine Valley To Munich Via Dinkelsbühl
Location: Munich
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Garden Munich Messe (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Too much grape juice last night? Not to worry, the prospect of this Bavarian hidden gem should lift your spirits as we travel south & swap wine culture for beer. Quintessential German experiences don't get much better 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. 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 and afterwards 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!
Day 5: Munich To Venice
Location: Venice
Accommodation Name: A conveniently located hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Goodbye Munich, hello mountains. Today crossing the Bavarian Alps and hitting the road for Italy. 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 canal boat ride.
Day 6: Venice To Rome Via Baschi
Location: Rome
Accommodation Name: BB Roma Tuscolana (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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. 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 after giving us the grand tour, will serve us lunch under the Veranda. As we overlook the Tiber Valley, 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 (you're welcome). The afternoon 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 it's glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfetto!
Day 7: Rome
Location: Rome
Accommodation Name: BB Roma Tuscolana (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. Learn a thing or two as you pass the Colosseum, throw coins in fountains and sip espresso in a pretty street watching Italian life float by.
Day 8: Rome To Florence
Location: Florence
Accommodation Name: Hotel Auto Park (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over… 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 - think olives, cured meats, crostini & wine.
Day 9: Florence To Lucerne
Location: Lucerne
Accommodation Name: Ibis Budget Luzern City (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Say a fond farewell to Italy, and hello to the land of creamy chocolate, cheese and not to mention watches. Hello Switzerland! Swans float under wooden bridges, snowcapped mountains stand regally behind us & chocolate tastes like heaven on earth. You're in the Swiss Alps & you cannot wipe the smile off your face. Eeek!!!
Day 10: Lucerne To Paris
Location: Paris
Accommodation Name: Ibis Paris Porte D’Orleans Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It's been sweet, but our time in Lucerne is up this morning. We're Paris-bound! Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. We'll jump back onto our coach to cross the border out of Switzerland and (back) into France. 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, then to celebrate our first night in the city, we'll head up the Montparnasse Tower.
Day 11: Paris
Location: Paris
Accommodation Name: Ibis Paris Porte D’Orleans Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
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 museums of the Louvre. Just don't wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with a ticket to an iconic cabaret show and dinner. With your last night looming, make it one to remember in the city of lights.
Day 12: Paris To London
Location: London
Meals Included: Breakfast
Rise, shine, and soak up your last dose of Paris this morning over a coffee and croissant together, as we marvel at how much we've seen on this magical journey. It may be over for now, but these friendships and memories will last a lifetime.
What's Included
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Meals
The tour includes 11 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and 1 lunch.
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Accommodation
Accommodation is provided at various hotels including Ibis Schiphol Amsterdam Airport, Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South, Hotel Montag Sankt Goar, Wyndham Garden Munich Messe, and others.
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Transportation
Transportation between destinations is included, with scenic journeys through various countries.
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Guided Tours
Guided walking tours are included in cities like Florence.
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Wine Tasting
Wine tasting in the Rhine Valley is included.
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MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience
An included experience at Casale Polegri in Baschi, where you will tour the vineyard and olive orchard, and enjoy a meal with homemade wine.
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Montparnasse Tower Visit
Climb to the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower in Paris for an unbeatable vista of the 'City of Light'.
What's Not Included
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Non-Included Attractions
Tickets for non-included attractions in Amsterdam are not provided.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities such as an evening canal cruise in Amsterdam, seafood or steak dinner in Volendam, and a cabaret show and dinner in Paris are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and should be arranged separately.
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Flights
Flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
Dining Summary
3 Dinner (D)11 Breakfast (B)1 Lunch (L)
FAQs
London: Travelling to (and through) the UK & Northern Ireland? You’ll need Essential Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)From January 8, 2025, UK law means that if you’re entering/transiting through 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: What currency do I need? For this trip, you’ll need just three currencies - the British Pound, Swiss Franc and Euro.London: How do I know when to book tickets for non-included attractions in Amsterdam? If you're travelling before March 2025, this trip spends 1 night in Amsterdam. You will have free time in the morning of day 2 until 12pm, during which time you can book activities. After this time, we will head off to the Rhine Valley.From March 2025, this trip will spend 2 nights in Amsterdam and you will have free time in the afternoon of day 2 from 12pm - 3pm, during which time you can book activities. Of course, you can book other times during this day, but it might mean you miss out on other included activities or a coach transfer to the accommodation!
Included Experience
Amsterdam: Best way to break the ice? By breaking bread of course. You and your new besties can bond over dinner before heading out to explore.Sankt Goar: Take in the breath-taking scenery of the River Rhine.Lorelei: It’s the stuff of legends. Literally. A singing mermaid named Lorelei is said to sit on the rock, enchanting fishermen before luring them to their demise. Eek!Dinkelsbuhl: Seatbelts on! Today we're driving along 'Romantische Straße' AKA Germany's most scenic route, winding through picturesque medieval towns, fairy-tale castles, and breathtaking landscapes.Venice: Life’s all about the waterways here; there’s not an Uber in sight! Get some classic pics of the famous gondola boats.Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence.Lucerne: Check out the Wooden Chapel Bridge and the giant sandstone Lion Monument.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: Climb to the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower for an unbeatable vista of the ‘City of Light’.Paris: Your chance to learn the art of fragrance at a Parisian perfume house. You know it makes scents! (soz).Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list!Baschi: We'll head to the rocky (but so picturesque) village of Baschi to visit Casale Polegri. Stroll around the vineyards and olive orchards on a short tour of the azienda agricola. We'll learn about the farming techniques used by the Polegri Family to harvest their fresh plants and fruit. We'll end the afternoon with a crunchy bruschetta topped with homemade extra virgin olive oil, focaccia bread with homegrown rosemary and vegetables. And of course, some risotto or pasta. All of this with a glass of their homemade wine and dessert. Happy tummy, happy life!
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of transportation is included in the tour?
The tour includes coach transfers between destinations, allowing you to travel in style and comfort. There is also a scenic ferry ride from England to France included in the itinerary.
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What meals are provided during the tour?
The tour includes 11 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and 1 lunch, ensuring you have a variety of meals throughout your journey.
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Are there any guided tours included in the itinerary?
Yes, guided walking tours are included in cities like Florence, where you will see landmarks such as the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, and Piazza della Signoria.
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Is there a wine tasting experience included in the tour?
Yes, there is a wine tasting experience included in the Rhine Valley, where you can enjoy the local wine culture.
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What is the MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Baschi?
In Baschi, you will visit Casale Polegri, where you will tour the vineyard and olive orchard, and enjoy a meal with homemade wine, providing a unique local travel experience.
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What can I expect during the visit to the Montparnasse Tower in Paris?
During the visit to the Montparnasse Tower in Paris, you will climb to the 56th floor for an unbeatable vista of the 'City of Light', offering a panoramic view of Paris.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
In 1961, a guy called John Anderson founded Contiki in New Zealand. Whilst later bought by The Travel Corporation, the tour company had already been using the name ‘Contiki’ since its inception.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Contiki trips are designed & operated exclusively for those aged 18-35 years. Your travelling companions will be like-minded adventurers within that age range. The age range is adhered to strictly.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is our commitment to protect people, wildlife and the incredible planet we all share. Powered by The TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Contiki’s guiding hand when it comes to making travel matter.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
All documentation will be sent via email around 21 days prior to your trip departure. You can also access information on your trip by signing up to My Contiki via the top right icon of the homepage.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Contiki allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform contiki, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Contiki requires a minimum deposit of 200 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of contiki charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.
At 21 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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