European Discovery

Day 1 London to Amsterdam
Meet up with your Contiki Crew before we hit the road and take a ferry past the White Cliffs of Dover. Next stop: the buzzing, freewheeling city of Amsterdam. Start your tour off with a night to remember. Check out Amsterdam’s eye-opening Red Light District, where the creative and wacky come together on narrow cobbled streets, 24/7.

Day 2 Amsterdam to Rhine Valley
Experience Amsterdam’s coffee shops, museums and cool, quirky boutiques. In your free time, wander along shady canals and pass gabled houses or hop on two wheels like the laid-back locals and bike through the centre of town. Chill out while the coach follows the Rhine River, weaving through valleys dotted with castles and vineyards. Next stop - the pretty, old-world village of St Goar, complete with fairy-tale castle and even a free standing cuckoo clock! Kick back with a glass of local wine and choose to find out more with the optional wine tasting in a candlelit underground cellar.

Day 3 Rhine Valley to Munich
Travelling south, pull into the home of the world-famous Oktoberfest, Munich - a city that blends traditional Bavarian culture with a modern lifestyle. Explore the heart of Munich’s Old Town with the crew, and head to Marienplatz. It’s a central gathering spot famous for the Glockenspiel - a gothic clock, complete with 32 dancing figures and 43 chiming bells. Get off the beaten track and onto Munich’s side streets with our Local Guide in a fun biking tour around the city – it’s a great way to see the sights. Then, get a taste of tradition at a typical beer hall. Park yourself at a long wooden table, order yourself some hearty local food, like roasted pork, and quench your thirst with a stein of one of Germany’s 5000 brews.

Day 4 Munich to Austrian Tyrol
Roll on through the Tyrol’s massive mountains to a cute Austrian village in a region famous for adventure sports. Plunge into some white-water rafting in an adrenalin-pumping optional activity on the river. Afterward, there’s a chance to visit the Swarovski Museum and pick up some of their world-famous crystal. Wrap up the day with a bit of time to do your own thing - laze about or get out for a walk in the surrounding hills.

Day 5 Austrian Tyrol to Venice
Wind through the Bavarian Alps via the Brenner Pass to Italy, the land of passion! Known as the “floating city”, Venice is packed with character, crammed with hidden lanes and linked by a network of canals. The group travels on our private boat through the waters through the waters of the lagoon to visit the city’s historical heart. The limestone Bridge of Sighs, the gothic arches of Doges’ Palace and the expanse of St Mark’s Square (pigeons and all!) show Venice’s unique beauty and way of life. Learn about local artistry with a traditional glass blowing demonstration – a craft Venice has been famous for since the 13th century. Take some time to explore the floating city and lose yourself in the backstreets. There’s an optional walking tour where you can discover the labyrinth of interweaving lanes, waterways, palaces, piazzi and markets with our Local Guide. You’ll see historic monuments, hidden treasures and the Rialto market - a local favourite for food shopping. Maybe grab a table on St Mark’s Square and eat some delicious Italian food al fresco. Cap off the day with an optional gondola ride with your friends. Take a bottle of prosecco (Italian champagne) and toast this unforgettable experience, as you are punted through the waterways.

Day 6 Venice to Rome
Criss-cross the Apennine Mountains on the road to Rome. Stylish Rome oozes energy and overflows with relics from another age. Our special access coach tour gets you right into the thriving atmosphere of this living timeline as your Tour Manager shows you the Colosseum and Piazza Venzia. Continue on foot to check out the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Honour tradition at the Trevi Fountain and throw a coin in the fountain’s waters (it’s meant to improve your chances of returning to Rome!) or maybe hang out with your new friends at the Spanish Steps, sit back with a few slices of pizza and people watch.

Day 7 Rome
This morning, make the most of our local guide’s inside knowledge and uncover the remains of an ancient empire with a fantastic optional tour of the Roman Forum and Colosseum. Then check out the smallest country in the world and home to the Pope, the Vatican City. Take off into the city and absorb the atmosphere, as vespas flash past timeworn monuments that are surrounded by fountains, pizzerias, cafes and bars. Before you hit the shops, let your Tour Manager point you in the right direction with some tips on the best buys. Use your free time and live the local lifestyle by indulging in a long lunch on a paved piazza or knock back a shot of espresso at the bar, just like the Romans.

Day 8 Rome to Florence
Next up: Umbria’s rustic hills and many vineyards. Travel past the iconic cypress trees of this olive-oil producing region, to the Renaissance city of Florence. The scene-stealing Duomo cathedral rises above the city. Get the inside track on Florence’s cultural beginnings from our local guide as the group explores streets crammed with artworks from masters like Michelangelo. Then, take a look into a skilful demonstration of Florentine leather making and understand this region’s traditional art. The city’s markets are a great place to hang out and bargain. Grab a gelato in your free time and enjoy the feel of this gorgeous city. Tonight there’s a choice of a group dinner - an authentic Tuscan feast, where you’ll get to try regional dishes in the heart of Florence. Afterwards, head with the group to a local bar, order yourself a glass of Chianti wine and kick back Tuscan style.

Day 9 Florence to Lucerne
With covered wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and quaint buildings, Lucerne’s centre is perfect to explore on foot. Also to stock up on lots of genuine Swiss chocolate! Your Tour Manager can give you pointers on where to pick up the best-priced watches that Switzerland is so famous for. This afternoon, choose an optional cruise on one of Europe’s most striking lakes, where stunning scenes of the Swiss Alps reflect back across the water.

Day 10 Lucerne to Paris
With down-time on the coach, plug in your MP3, chill out to some music and chat with friends while travelling through the scenic wine producing region of Burgundy. Tonight, the group kick-starts Paris with the “Tour of Illuminations”, which shows off the French capital’s transformation into the “City of Lights”. Lamp-lit bridges and cool little cafés give us a real taste of Paris’ romance. Your Tour Manager will fill you in on the world’s most-recognised monuments, like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. After the tour, enjoy another angle on the city with our included cruise along the River Seine. The lights of Paris and its buildings are spectacular when seen from the water.

Day 11 Paris
Next up: Fragonard! This perfumery has an elegant interior and is a unique setting for a look into the history of perfume. It’s also a chance to pick up some French perfume at great prices. This town is loaded with possibilities. Discover its many bistros, museums, tree-lined avenues and diverse quartiers (neighbourhoods). Get a feel for French flair by window shopping on the Left Bank. Step into the Notre Dame or explore the endless galleries of the Louvre, where you can get up close to the famous Mona Lisa. In your free time, try indulging in some delicious pastries and relax in one of Paris’ many city parks. Tonight is the last night with your friends, so make it special. Treat yourself to the full Parisian night out, starting with an optional dinner in an atmospheric restaurant. Then sign up for an authentic cabaret experience, complete with can-can girls, dinner and champagne. But don’t stop there – afterwards hit the clubs and finish up your travels with a big Parisian night out.

Day 12 Paris to London
Catch the ferry from Calais back to England, where the tour ends and it’s time to say farewell to your new friends.

Included

Amsterdam: See the canals, gable houses and city by night
Rhine Valley: Scenic drive along the Rhine River; Visit the riverside town St. Goar
Munich: See the Glockenspiel & Marienplatz; Visit a beerhall
Austrian Tyrol: See this pretty mountain region famous for adrenalin sports
Brenner Pass: Scenic drive past vineyards, orchards & castles
Venice: Private motorboat to the historic islands; See the Bridge of Sighs, the Doges' Palace & St. Mark's Square; Murano glass-blowing demonstration
Rome: See Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Colosseum & Roman Forum
Vatican City: See St. Peter's Basilica
Florence: Walking tour with a local guide; See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto's Bell Tower, the Baptistry & Piazza della Signoria; Florentine leather craft demonstration
Lucerne: See the Wooden Chapel Bridge; View the Lion Monument
Burgundy: See the Chablis & Burgundy vineyards
Paris: Evening Tour of Illuminations; See the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Champs Élysées, and Notre Dame Cathedral; Visit a French Perfumery

Contiki Difference

Locally guided bike tour of Munich
Gelato in Rome – our treat
Special access Rome sightseeing coach tour
Paris by night cruise on River Seine

Pay from only R14,715 per person