EUROPEAN HORIZON
Overview
European Horizon by Contiki (Social Travel for Ages 18-35)
Short on time but want to see Europe’s snazziest sights? In 10 days, we’ll prove that adventures don’t need to be long to be absolutely EPIC. Discover the canals of Amsterdam and Venice, the remote beauty of the Swiss Alps and the unique charm of Paris – with accommodation upgraded to Twin share in 2-3 star hotels.
Included/Excluded
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
- Flights to/from your start/end destination
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
- Visa and Travel Insurance
Included
- Hotel/hostel accommodation
- Local transport
- Various experiences like guided tours and meals
- An expert Trip Manager & Driver
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences
- Breakfast daily (plus a few lunches and dinners too)
- A group of friendly travellers from around the world, all aged 18-35
- 24/7 support
Excluded
- Flights to/from your start/end destination
- Optional Free Time Add-Ons
- Meals not mentioned
- Visa and Travel Insurance
Day 1: London to Amsterdam
London:
- Your 7-country, 10-day adventure begins here! You’ll meet up with your Contiki crew in London and we’ll all board our coach here, ready to set off for European soil.
Via Dover:
- Shortly before we find our ferry for France, 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!
Via Calais:
- Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais – French soil! Next we journey to Amsterdam!
Amsterdam:
- And here we are at our final stop for this evening: Amsterdam! We’ll start our exploration of this city with a peek of canals, bicycles & 17th century gable houses lit up by night. Next on the agenda tonight, we have an optional evening cruise along the canals – the perfect way for our travel crew to get to know each other. Afterwards, there’s plenty of nightlife to keep you going until the early hours.
Optional Experience:
- Evening Canal Cruise
Day 2: Amsterdam to Rhine Valley
Amsterdam:
- You could stay here forever, but unfortunately the show must go on. We’ll say goodbye Amsterdam, hello wine country.
Rhine Valley:
- After the scenic journey of fairy tale 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. Squeal!!!
Included Experience:
- See the River Rhine
- Rhine Valley Wine Tasting
Day 3: Rhine Valley to Munich
Rhine Valley:
- Saying goodbye to the Rhine Valley, we’ll head on to Munich – where lederhosen, dirndls, steins of beer and gingerbread-style buildings await.
Dinkelsbühl:
- 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.
Munich:
- “Prost!”. Here in the home of Oktoberfest we’ll take a locally guided tour of the city, and amuse ourselves watching the antics of mechanical figurines in the city’s famous Glockenspiel. Making the most of our time in Munich this evening, we’ll get introduced to 800 years of history and end at a traditional Bavarian beer hall.
Included Experience:
- Drive along Germany’s Romantic Road
- See Munich with Mike’s Bike Tour
- Clink your Steins at a Bavarian Beer Hall
Day 4: Munich to Venice
Munich:
- ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ Munich, we’re off to tick more countries off our list. This morning we’ll climb aboard our coach ready for a scenic roll through the Bavarian Alps, past fairytale castles and rambling vineyards, en route to Austria.
Innsbruck:
- Drive through Austria without getting out to say hello? Never! We’ll pull into Innsbruck for lunch, a laid-back student city made famous by a medieval old town, an old Olympic Ski Jump & a Royal Palace.
Trento:
- Quick pitstop for dinner! We’ll check out the charming little city of Trento, right in the heart of the oh-so-beautiful Adige Valley.
Venice:
- Ah, Venice! Fresh pasta, lilting accents & romantic architecture – we’ve arrived in one of Italy’s most famous cities. Tonight we’ll relax here, knowing we have all day tomorrow to cruise canals & explore picturesque cobbled streets.
Included Experience:
- Get to know Innsbruck
Optional Experience:
- Gooses T-Shirt
Day 5: Venice
Venice:
- Buongiorno! Venice is ours for a full and glorious Italian day. We’ll start exploring The Floating City by jumping aboard our own private motoscafo boat and cruising the canals en route to the historical heart of the city.
- Next, you’ll have the chance to take a traditional gondola ride, choose to learn how to ride a gondola (taught by literal experts) or discover Venice with a guided food tour.
Included Experience:
- Cruise on a Motoscafo to Venice
Optional Experience:
- Gondolas
Day 6: Venice to Lucerne
Venice:
- With a few days left, it’s time to say ‘ciao’ to our time in Venice. We’ll never forget you, city of canals and beauty, but Switzerland is calling us. Back on our coach we’ll pass Lake Como as we cruise out of Italy and head onwards and upwards toward the Swiss Alps.
Lucerne:
- With magical views unfolding outside our windows, we’ll find ourselves in Switzerland, pulling up in the fairytale town of Lucerne, famous for its wooden bridges, cobbled lanes and beautiful setting against the lake it’s named after.
- Here we’ll visit the wooden Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument before taking time to explore at your own pace.
- Our recommendation for tonight? Swap the chocolate for another Swiss classic and savour a rich, gooey fondue experience. When in Switzerland…
Included Experience:
- See Cultural Gems in Lucerne
Optional Experience:
- Savour up Swiss Fondue
Day 7: Lucerne
Lucerne:
- There’s no reason why today can’t be spent strolling the beautiful streets of Lucerne, sitting in a coffee shop pondering mountain life and consuming more chocolate. That’s perfectly acceptable too. For a different perspective, hop aboard an optional cruise across the sparkling waters of Lake Lucerne. Or, if you’re looking to take things even higher, enjoy an optional trip to the top of the mountain for some seriously impressive panoramic views. Spoilt for choice much?
Optional Experience:
- Mt. Pilatus
- Lucerne Lake Cruise
Day 8: Lucerne to Paris
Lucerne:
- 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.
Paris:
- After coasting through the pretty wine producing region of Burgundy, we’ll arrive in the City of Lights. Lamp-lit bridges & a sparkling Eiffel Tower, 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.
Day 9: Paris
Paris:
- Pastries, paintings, perfume – Paris is yours! We’ll take you to the glamorous Fragonard perfumery, then the time is yours to roam tree-lined quarters, see Notre Dame Cathedral, or get arty in the galleries of the Louvre. It’s our last night together – make it count with an optional dinner followed by the Moulin Rouge!
Included Experience:
- Take a Tour of Paris
- Visit a French Perfumery
Optional Experience:
- Moulin Rouge Dinner & Show
Day 10: Paris to London
Paris:
- Soak up your last dose of Paris and feel the astonishment of how much you’ve seen. And how close you’ve grown to your loved-up Contiki collective.
Calais:
- Whether you take your complimentary transfer to Paris CDG Airport or central London, it will be sad goodbyes all round this morning as our trip comes to an end.
London:
- What a journey, on arrival in London say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the journey on arrival.
- Day 1: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar)
- Day 2: Hotel Montag Sankt Goar (or similar)
- Day 3: Ibis Munich City South (or similar)
- Day 4 – Day 5: Hotel San Giuliano (or similar)
- Day 6 – Day 7: Hotel Sursee (or similar)
- Day 8 – Day 9: Ibis Paris Porte D’Orleans Hotel (or similar)




