contiki bus tours

Everything You Need to Know for Your First Contiki Tour (Plus 17 Trip Recommendations)

If you’re currently deciding between Contiki and another method of travel, what I hope to do is provide some exposure and answer some questions about Contiki that I wish I had known so I could’ve considered it as an option sooner. Read on for everything you need to know about Contiki tours, along with 17 of my personal recommendations for itineraries to choose!

contiki bus tours

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Rachel Off Duty: Everything You Need to Know and Pack for Your First Contiki Tour (Plus Trip Recommendations)

Some articles on Rachel Off Duty may contain affiliate links. Read more about this in our Privacy Policy .

I recently took my very first Contiki tour along the coast of the Mediterranean – through Spain, France, Monaco, Italy , and the Vatican. As someone who travels equally as a solo female , a couple, and part of a small group, I am not the kind of person who’s tied to one dedicated travel style and I tend to appreciate the benefits each way of seeing the world can provide. Contiki’s was the first large group tour I’d been on since college, though.

As soon as I announced earlier this year that I’d be going on a Contiki tour, I was instantly met with 3 types of responses: 

Praise – I love Contiki! I went on several tours / I’ve been dying to go (I specifically received more excitement than I expected to from people who are now 50 or 60 years old reminiscing on the Contiki tours they took in their 20s!) 

Skepticism – What’s it like traveling with that many people? Isn’t it just one big college party? 

Lack of Awareness – What’s a Contiki? 

I actually fell into the last category myself! I had no idea what Contiki was until recently. And now that I’ve been on a tour myself, I so regret not having known Contiki was an option when I was in college and just beginning to dip my toe into international travel without my parents. But even now, a couple of years out of college, I still had a blast. Something about being in a karaoke bar in Florence at 2 in the morning really brings the ‘youth’ out in everyone, you know? 

If you’re currently deciding between Contiki and another method of travel, what I hope to do is provide some exposure and answer some questions about Contiki that I wish I had known so I could’ve considered it as an option sooner. At the end of this post, you should have all the facts you’ll need to decide whether to book a Contiki trip, and which Contiki tour (because there are several!) is the perfect choice for you!

What is Contiki? 

Rachel Off Duty: Group of Women

Contiki is a social (group) travel company for ages 18-35. The company has been around since 1962 when it got its start in London as a minibus operation taking backpackers and holiday seekers from London to Europe on months-long expeditions. Since then, Contiki has grown into one of the most popular travel companies in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. More recently, they’ve started gaining steam in the US too. 

Today, Contiki operates over 350+ unique tours across 6 continents ranging from $179 to $9,000 in price. The tours run anywhere from 3 days to over 40 days, and either focus on one particular destination or a variety of cities and countries in close proximity. 

Contiki Tour Structure 

Contiki offers 8 different tour categories to appeal to a wide-ranging group of travelers with different interests, whether it’s traveling on a budget, seeking out local experiences, or squeezing in a quick getaway without taking too much time off from work or school .

If you decide to book a Contiki tour, you can use code CONTIKIRACH100 to save $100 on any 7+ day itinerary

1. contiki discoverer tours:.

What it Is: Discoverer tours are meant for seeing and experiencing as much of each destination as possible.

Availability : All regions except Africa and the Middle East

My Discoverer Tour Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

2. Contiki In-Depth Explorer Tours:

What it Is: In-Depth Explorer tours are aimed at focusing on culturally rich exploration within a particular country or region.

Availability : All 6 continents

My In-Depth Explorer Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

3. Contiki Iconic Essentials Tours:

What it Is: Iconic Essentials tours are focused specifically on essentials and a destination’s most famous sites, with the idea of giving you the most bang for your buck.

Availability : Europe only

My Iconic Essentials Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

4. Contiki Sailing and Cruise Tours:

What it Is: Sailing and cruise tours are itineraries with an emphasis on water and beach activities.

Availability : Australia and Europe only

My Sailing & Cruise Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

5. Contiki Short Trip and Festival Tours:

What it Is: Short, usually 3- or 4-day trips aimed at either attending festivals, taking a weekend getaway, or adding on to an existing trip you might already be taking.

Availability : Australia, New Zealand, Europe, USA, and Canada

My Short Trip and Festival Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

6. Contiki Ski and Snowboard Tours:

What it Is: Ski and snowboard tours are centered around winter sports and activities.

Availability : Asia, New Zealand, Europe, USA, and Canada

My Ski and Snowboard Picks (Click to View):

contiki bus tours

On Contiki’s site, you can filter their 300+ trips by the above categories to narrow down your search. If you’re more of a solo adventurer, you can also filter the trips to only see itineraries with maximum free time (versus a structured itinerary).

Rachel Off Duty: Women Making Pasta

Most, if not all, Contiki itineraries will list out a number of different free-time add-ons (FTAs) that are not included in the base price of the trip. This is something you should be aware of and budget for upfront, because you will only be able to pay for these FTAs while you’re already on the trip itself.

Of course, you can opt out of any FTA you don’t want to do. But from my experience, there will be at least a handful of add-ons that you’ll either really enjoy or won’t want to miss out on (if the rest of the group is participating and there’s no better alternative, for example). These FTAs can be anything from a special meal to a full-day excursion. On my Contiki trip, some of the most fun FTAs we were offered included a tour of a monastery and a Tuscan dinner experience, a pasta making class in Rome, and a bike tour of the city in Nice. The bike tour was, without question, one of my favorite memories from the entire trip. 

What Kind of Traveler Would Like a Contiki Tour (and Is it Right for You?) 

Rachel Off Duty: Group of Four

While the Contiki brand markets itself as a travel company for 18-35 year olds, the average age of a Contiki traveler is 26. Old enough to have disposable income, but young enough to have the energy and stamina needed to sight-see all day and maybe even go out for a drink at night (and then do it all again the next day). 

Contiki is actually a prime tour for both friend groups and solo travelers. Many tours are large enough for entire groups of friends to book altogether and be guaranteed space. Beyond that, tours like Contiki are great for groups because no one from your friend group needs to be tasked with the planning, logistics, or budgeting, which is often the most stressful and time-consuming part of traveling with other people. On the flip side, solo travelers have an advantage too, because Contiki allows individuals to visit new countries and cities with a guaranteed arsenal of companions along with a dedicated trip manager, which can be a huge relief, especially if you’re thinking of using Contiki as your first exposure to international travel. About 45% of all Contiki travelers book tours with at least one friend or a significant other, and close to 55% travel solo. 

I love planning trips and figuring out itineraries , but one of my favorite things about going on my Contiki tour was not having to worry about a single thing for once! Everything from my transportation, to my hotel room, to my meals and activities was handled. All I had to do was show up and enjoy, which was such a nice change of pace from what I’m used to. 

Transportation Style 

Rachel Off Duty: Contiki Tour Buses

The majority of Contiki tours involve a coach bus or minibus. Contiki coach busses are something the company takes great pride in because they are essentially the symbol and walking billboard of the brand. Because of this, each Contiki coach is outfitted with bright colors on the outside, and plush seating arrangements on the inside. The busses have AC, a TV, WiFi, USB charging ports, and individual tray tables at the back of each seat. I’ll admit, the WiFi isn’t the best (you only get 100 MB of free WiFi on each device every 24 hours, and while you can purchase additional data, it’s spotty at best. However, it’s better than having nothing, and does get the job done if you’re just trying to catch up on texts or scroll through Instagram. 

Depending on your itinerary, you will be spending a lot of time in the coach. So pack a neck pillow, a book, and plan to spend this time catching up on sleep, work, reading, or getting to know the other travelers on your tour! The coach can be a pretty fun experience in itself. Also, Contiki’s drivers are top-notch, safe, and incredibly precise. I absolutely adored Paolo, our driver for the week we spent in Europe. 

Food & Drinks

Rachel Off Duty: Woman with Pizza

You will have some meals and drinks included in your Contiki tour, while others will either be FTAs or free time to explore and eat on your own. Each itinerary on the Contiki site will list out the meals included so you can get a decent idea of what you’ll be responsible for while you’re on the trip. 

To get an idea of what tips of meal FTAs are offered for the itinerary you’re considering, scroll down to the itinerary section of the trip description and click on ‘See Detailed Itinerary.’ This will show you all of the FTA meals available and how much they will cost! 

For the meal inclusions, it’s important to also know that some of these meal inclusions will simply be whatever free food is served at the hostel or hotel you’re staying at. 

Accommodations

Rachel Off Duty: Woman in France

The accommodations you’ll stay in range from hostels to hotels to what Contiki refers to as ‘Special Stays’ in unique lodging. Think chateaus in France and floating rafts in Thailand! Regardless of the accommodation type, expect to share your room with between 1 – 4 other travelers throughout your trip. This may be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you view it, but hostel-hopping is an extremely common practice outside of the US and an incredibly easy way to meet new people. In my experience, despite having limited space for luggage, I got along with my roommates right away and we ended up banding together for the majority of our Contiki tour which was great since we all went into the trip as strangers! 

If you’re considering a tour that moves around frequently and doesn’t spend more than 1 or 2 nights in any location, I’d strongly recommend not bringing more than a carry on with you on the trip. All that moving around with a check-in luggage can be a huge pain and honestly not worth the hassle (speaking from experience!).

Conscious Travel

What I was really intrigued to learn that I don’t think many people know is that Contiki partners with the TreadRight Foundation to support and sustain people, wildlife, and environmental issues in the countries they impact. In addition to a number of organizational commitments (called ‘Contiki Cares’), Contiki has also created several opportunities to learn about sustainability and participate in volunteer opportunities while you’re on tour. Some of these opportunities include learning about bush medicine in Australia , supporting community building efforts in Ecuador , and visiting elephant rehabilitation sanctuaries in Thailand .

When making the decision to book a tour with Contiki or a similar tour operator, definitely pay attention to their values and the initiatives (if any) they’re supporting, as this is essentially what your dollars will be supporting. While many people associate Contiki with lots of partying and quick-hit trips through countries, there are actually a number of itineraries on offer that focus instead on slow travel, cultural immersion, and contribution to society and sustainability. Now that I know about the Contiki Cares program, I personally would love for my next trip with them to be one that includes a community or sustainability initiative (I actually have my eyes on this trip , which includes a visit to a women’s co-op in Jordan).

To learn more about Contiki’s approach to conscious travel, go here.

Rachel Off Duty: Friends in Europe

Overall Pros + Cons: 

Logistics figured out for you

Epic itineraries

Unique experiences

Like-minded travelers

Highly organized

Lots of partying, if you choose (pro and con)

Sustainability and conscious travel initiatives to participate in

Dedicated trip managers and drivers 

Price & financing options 

Cons: 

Packed schedule 

Shared lodging

Faster pace 

Price (listing this as a pro and a con, depending on how you look at it and depending on which trip you’re interested in) 

Use code CONTIKIRACH100 to save $100 on any 7+ day Contiki Trip

I was selected as Contiki’s Travel Ambassador for the 2019-2020 year. That said, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

#OffDutyDestination #ContikiAmbassador

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Rachel Off Duty: Everything You Need to Know for Your First Contiki Tour (Plus Trip Recommendations)

Hey there! I’m Rachel, a travel writer and a full-time advertising / marketing expert. In 2019, I traveled more than 25 times while working 9 to 5, and since then I’ve committed myself to living a more adventurous life, even if it means bringing my laptop along for the ride. Are you hungry to travel more, but overwhelmed with how to juggle work and play? You’ve come to the right place!

Recent Adventures:

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Travel Europe on a Budget

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Contiki tours review: the good and bad of traveling europe with contiki.

Is a Contiki Tour right for you?

Product Reviews

contiki bus tours

We receive a lot of questions from people asking me about our thoughts on joining tour groups in Europe — most notably Contiki Tours. For those of you who aren’t aware, Contiki is a well-known and very popular bus tour company that caters to students/youth travelers. Not surprisingly, based on their younger clientele, they have earned a reputation as being a booze-filled party tour.

We want to say upfront that we prefer traveling independently — after all The Savvy Backpacker is focused on independent travel. That said, we don’t have any problem with these kinds of tours. So, with that in mind, our goal for this article isn’t to talk you into or out of a Contiki Tour. Our goal is to give you the facts, both good and bad, so you can make an informed decision on whether a tour like this is right for you.

Quick Overview of Contiki Tours

contiki bus tours

Contiki is the most popular bus tour company for young travelers (18-35). They operate in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Asia — but most of the info in this guide will be focused on their European tours.

They host more than 150,000 travelers each year and they’ve been doing tours since the early 60s.

Multiple Tour Options

One nice thing about Contiki is that they offer a wide variety of tour options — ranging from week-long trips to multiple-month excursions. They also have tour options that visit just about every part of Europe so that’s really nice.

Their most popular tours are their “budget” tours (which basically means the accommodation consist of budget hotels and campsites).  You can view all their European tours here .

The tour prices range from around $1000 for about a week to well over $6000 for multi-week trips. Their most popular tours will be around $2000. Visit this page to see all their prices .

Travel Styles

In the past, we’ve ragged on Contiki because they were traditionally seen as a party on wheels. Don’t get us wrong, we can totally see why people would be into that and we don’t have a problem with it… but not everyone is into that kind of travel.

But these days, while some of the tours still have that party atmosphere, Contiki now offers a lot more options to fit other travel styles — which we think was a great move.

Here are their main travel styles:

  • High Energy
  • Discovery Plus
  • In-Depth Explorer
  • Freestyle Camping
  • Sailing and Cruising
  • Winter and Ski

Click here to see all their travel styles

Accommodation

All the accommodation is provided by Contiki and is included in the price —so you never have to worry about finding a place to sleep (conversely, you have no say in where you stay). Each tour usually features multiple types of accommodation but there are basically three types of accommodation:

  • Budget Hotels: They claim to only book “2-3 star” hotels but many have reported that some of the hotels were very “budget”.
  • Hostels: Similar to budget hotels. You’ll be sharing a room — which is normal.
  • Contiki Owned Campsites: Think summer camp with shared cabins —not tents. The company’s employees staff the site.

On average, the quality of the accommodation tends to be on par with that of a budget hostel. The type of accommodation differs in each city and some are nicer than others. Some places are not that great, but some are fairly nice (for budget standards).

Much like a hostel, expect to share a room with 2-4 other people. However, you can usually pay extra to have your own room.

Be aware that your accommodation might not be located in the city. Depending on the tour, a few of your hostels/campsites could be far outside the city (sometimes 30-60 minutes by train/taxi). These locations are often not on any public transportation routes, so you’ll have to fork over 40-50 euros for a taxi ride if you want to spend time in the city.

Contiki’s website does a pretty good job of telling you what to expect on each tour/destination so be sure to do some research.

Breakfast is provided every day and it usually consists of standard food you’d find for free at almost any hostel (milk, cereal, toast w/ jam, coffee, and tea). You will sometimes get lucky and have eggs or sausage.

Lunch is always up to you. A lot of times you eat at rest stops because you’re usually on the bus during lunchtime.

Dinner is provided about half the time. Most of the time the staff at the campsite cooks it and sometimes you have to help with some of the cooking and cleaning.

In some cities, there are optional “special meals” that are served at restaurants but they’re fairly expensive. Some have reported that the meal is delicious and some told me that it was mediocre at best — it depends on where you go. For a budget traveler, this extra fee is a lot of money and I know you can get a cheaper meal in any European city.

Travel Pace

The breakneck travel pace seems to be a complaint that a lot of people have. Contiki Tours aims to hit as many places as possible so you often end up barely scratching the surface of each destination. You’ll only spend a day or two in large cities (Paris, Rome, etc) and half days in smaller towns.

On the other hand, you do end up getting to see a lot (albeit briefly).

In many instances, you are dropped off in the center of town, given a map, and told to meet back at a specific location/time. If your accommodation is outside the city, the bus will take you back to the campsite/hotel at night, otherwise, you meet at the bus in the morning (6-8 am).

You will spend a lot of time on the bus  — about 40% of the trip. Most people say that every second day is spent on the bus and most rides are 6-10 hours long. A lot of people spend their time on the bus sleeping off their hangovers or socializing. The bus stops every few hours at roadside convenience stores and gas stations.

Without a doubt, you’ll see a lot in a short amount of time, but things often tend to blend together when traveling at such a fast pace. Some people told me that they liked the fast pace because it gave them a good overview of where they want to visit again when they come back for their next European trip.

Note: Contiki does have some tours that travel at a bit slower of pace but their bread and butter tours are typically fast-paced.

Party Atmosphere

Contiki Tours have earned a reputation for being a party on wheels. I have heard from multiple sources that many of the tours quickly turn into drunken parties with lots of sex. This really isn’t too surprising — young people + hormones + plenty of alcohol + close quarters with the same people for long periods of time + interesting accents = hazy memories. It is basically a college party on steroids.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because a lot of people have tons of fun on Contiki Tours.

Because of the constant parties and accelerated travel pace, many people have told me that they have fuzzy memories of Europe. Some people have an absolute blast and just love this style of travel. Hell, we really enjoy letting loose and maybe having a few too many drinks, but doing that multiple times a week will really wear you down.

Of course, you don’t have to drink/get drunk but there is a good chance the people around you will.

The Contiki Traveler

All travelers have to be between 18-35, but the average age is about 20-25. Contiki Tours is an Australian company so there are a lot of Australians, but there are also plenty of Americans, Canadians, Kiwis, Brits, and Irish (you’ll probably get a few other nationalities in there too). It seems that there are generally more females than males and about half of the people are traveling alone.

A large majority of former Contiki travelers often talk fondly of all the cool people they met and how much fun they had with them. A lot of people form really close friendships with their fellow travelers. For good and bad, many people’s best memories come from the people they meet—not from the sights. But, to be fair, some of our best memories of traveling came from the people we’ve met in hostels, so we can’t see how this is any different.

Group Travel Frustrations

When there are 50 people in a group it is inevitable that someone will be constantly late—this is especially true in the morning when there are a bunch of hung-over travelers. Just be prepared to wait a lot.

You also run the risk of having a lame group. I have heard a few stories about travelers expecting a party only to find out that most people didn’t want to do anything. Or people could just not get along well and then you’re stuck with them for the duration of the trip.

Although, most people have very little conflict or frustrations stemming from group travel.

Tourist Traps

The tour guides are rumored to get kickbacks for bringing their guests to certain bars/shops/restaurants, so it is hard to always believe that the guide is showing you the best places to go.

For example, on some tours you are taken to an Italian leather shop as one of your destinations, but it is basically a glorified tourist gift shop (there are also silver, glass, diamond, and other shop “tours”). The people in the shop demonstrate their craft but then hit you with a big sales pitch. We’ve also heard stories about how the tour guides give travelers “city maps” but the maps really only highlight these “gift shops.”

We’ve also been warned that many of the “extra” excursions are extremely overpriced. It is usually best to book those on your own at a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pressure to purchase these extra tours because you can either go or be stuck at the campsite (which doesn’t have access to the city).

Tipping is highly encouraged by the staff. Each person gets their own envelope w/ their name on it and you’re supposed to put your tip in it. We don’t have a problem with tipping but some past guests thought this method seemed a bit forceful.

Reasons People Choose Contiki

Again, we’re not against these kinds of tours and we totally understand the benefits they provide. Below are some of the reasons people love Contiki Tours.

No Need To Plan

Some travelers simply don’t want to plan their trip and they would rather just let someone else take care of all that work. We think this is understandable, and we admit that travel planning can take a lot of time.

Planning can also be frustrating and honestly it can get overwhelming. We kind of like the planning part of the experience (obviously, we created this website) but we don’t fault anyone for just wanting to have a good time without having the headache of planning.

Many travelers think traveling around Europe is difficult, but using trains, planes, and other public transportation (especially in Europe) is usually pretty simple once you understand how the system works. But we totally see how it would seem intimidating — especially for someone who has no experience with public transportation. Nonetheless, a tour can be a good choice if you still don’t feel comfortable traveling independently.

I also think a lot of travelers get caught up in the fact they don’t speak the local language. Hell, we still get intimidated when we travel to a foreign country. Being in a tour group takes away a lot of this apprehension (although most Europeans speak English well, so we wouldn’t worry too much about it).

Solo Travelers

Many solo travelers choose tours because they feel that traveling alone is unsafe or lonely — we hear this a lot from female travelers. These concerns are completely understandable and we’ve had the same feelings ourselves.

That said, we’ve met plenty of solo female travelers but not everyone is up for this kind of experience. So, given a choice between not traveling and going on a tour, we’d always choose the tour.

So, if traveling alone is preventing you from traveling to Europe, then I think Contiki is an excellent option.

Instant Friends

Being surrounded by 50 other people means that you’ll never go lonely.

In fact, this built-in social network is one of the reasons we love hostels. And a Contiki tour is like a hostel on steroids. Plus, you don’t have to constantly reintroduce yourself to new people over and over again as you do in hostels.

And if you read past reviews, almost every person mentioned the friendships they made on their tour.

Past travelers seem to love their tour guides.

Always Something To Do

There will always be something going on every night. You have the option to do your own thing but there is always an option to party with the group.

Some people love Contiki Tours and you can find plenty of people who rave about them online. In fact, many of these people take multiple tours with them. On the other hand, you will also find many reviews from people that didn’t enjoy their trip as much as they would have liked.

From what I’ve found, most former travelers said that their tour was fun and they were not disappointed they took the tour… but one tour is probably enough. I don’t think this is necessarily a negative thing since these tours help “ease” people into their European experience and it shows how easy European travel can be.

Check out their  European tours options  to see what all they offer.

Contiki | Sex On Bus

If you’re interested in hearing a tour guide’s firsthand account of leading one of these tours I suggest reading Rule No. 5: No Sex on the Bus: Confessions of a Tour Leader by Brian Thacker. It isn’t written about Contiki specifically but we imagine many of the themes apply to all youth-oriented tour groups. It is pretty funny and interesting to read about all the crazy stuff a bunch of drunken youths can get up to.

Not sure if a Contiki tour is for you? We suggest you visit the Contiki Website to get a better idea of their specific tours.

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Contiki Review – Travel Tours, Group Vacations & Adventure Holidays

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Contiki Review – Travel Tours, Group Vacations & Adventure Holidays

Young Travelers

Solo travelers, friends or groups, destinations, contiki australia, contiki europe, contiki japan, contiki new zealand, contiki thailand, contiki usa & canada, contiki reviews, contiki vs. topdeck, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Contiki provides travel tours for young adults. The tour company was incorporated in the mid-1960s after a group of friends posted a flyer on a noticeboard advertising space on their 12-seater minibus to travel around Europe. To this day, group travel is still immensely popular, as you not only get to explore a fantastic destination, but you get to make lots of friends in the process.

Contiki is one of the best European bus tour companies out there, but it also offers group tours all over the world. Many tours use coaches, and groups can be as large as 52 people. In some destinations such as Africa and Latin America, group sizes can be as small as 12 people up to a maximum of 30.

Each tour has a driver and a trip leader that will be with you for the entire journey, and local expert guides will also join you for specific activities. With your travel, accommodations, and itinerary arranged for you, all you need to worry about is having an incredible time.

Who Are Contiki Tours Good For?

Contiki 18 35 Year Olds

Contiki tours are exclusively for travelers from 18 to 35 years old so that you can experience a new destination with like-minded young vacationers. The tours are incredibly social and many travelers meet lifelong friends. Including a combination of scheduled activities and free time, the tours let you tick-off bucket list experiences and landmarks before enjoying a beer with your new pals.

Contiki Solo Travel

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or are embarking on your first solo trip, Contiki tours are perfect for single travelers. You’ll experience the excitement of independent travel while having the logistics taken care of. Rather than having to approach a new friend in a hostel bar, you’ll get to know your fellow travelers in a less daunting environment.

Tour prices are based on twin sharing with a fellow traveler of the same gender, but you can also upgrade to a private room for a fee.

Contiki Groups of Friends

It’s not just solo travelers that choose Contiki tours. Groups of friends often join tours together as they love the idea of meeting more new people as well as getting to travel with their friends. You can all book your places and pay final balances independently, avoiding 1 person having to be responsible for everyone’s finances.

Contiki Tour Types and Destinations

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to travel. To help travelers choose which tours might suit their travel style, Contiki has tagged its tours under various categories.

Contiki Adventures

Contiki’s Adventure tours include the usual transport and accommodation, but they also include unique travel experiences for adventurous types. You could be quad biking through the Cambodian countryside or soaring high above the Sonoran Desert in Arizona in a hot air balloon.

Hot Tip:  Be sure to check out our adventure travel essentials before your next trip.

African Safari

Contiki African Safari

Africa’s incredible landscapes are teeming with wildlife, large and small, from majestic elephants bathing in watering holes to color-changing desert chameleons. African Safari tours include plenty of wildlife encounters and other bucket-list experiences such as Victoria Falls, the Sossusvlei salt pans, and Table Mountain.

Beach Trips

Contiki Beach Vacations

Contiki has picked some of the best beaches in the world to create tours with the perfect blend of sun, sea, adventure, and nightlife. Beach Trips tend to follow the coastline of a destination, so you can enjoy surf lessons to beach yoga and sunset cocktails to fresh seafood dining.

Hot Tip:  We take the pain out of packing for your beach vacation with this printable packing list .

contiki big indochina adventure

Discoverer trips offer an excellent balance of culture, iconic sights, and adventure. You’ll tick off lots of bucket list experiences as well as authentic local encounters, which are often the most memorable moments. These tours are generally longer than 9 days, so you’ll get to immerse yourself in a destination.

Iconic Essentials

contiki western rocker tour

Iconic Essentials tours cover comprehensive itineraries around Europe and include some excursions and lots of free time. This means that you can tailor-make your trip to only see the sights that are important to you. If you’re used to traveling solo or are skeptical about touring, this tour type could be a good compromise — travel and accommodation are arranged but many of the excursions are optional.

Hot Tip:  Check out the best compact, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras for travel so that you can capture iconic sights on your tour. 

In-Depth Explorer

Contiki In Depth Explorer Tours

In-Depth Explorer tours enable travelers to experience a destination like a local, with lots of authentic experiences to immerse yourself in the local culture. Accommodations include well-situated, independent hotels, so you’ll enjoy the comfort and convenience while knowing you’re supporting local communities.

Island Hopping

contiki greek island hopping

Why stay on 1 island when you can experience them all? Island Hopping tours allow travelers the opportunity to experience the unique culture and quirks of island life while enjoying the journey in between. Relax on palm-fringed sandy beaches, sip a cocktail while watching an island sunset, or go in search of marine life with a snorkel or diving excursion.

Hot Tip:  Make sure you’re prepared for your beach tour with these recommendations for the best travel beach towels and blankets .

Sailing and Cruise

Contiki Sailing Tour

Sail between beautiful islands and buzzing port towns with a Sailing or Cruise tour. On some tours, your ship is your transport and your accommodation, so you’ll only need to unpack once for your whole trip. When it comes to sightseeing, you’ll get the best of both worlds, with regular stops for land-based exploration and plenty of incredible views of the coastline.

Short Trips and Festivals

Contiki Short Trips and Festivals

Short Trips and Festival tours are great for those who want to explore a city for a couple of days or combine their holidays with a festival or celebration. These include music festivals, New Year’s Eve celebrations, or local public holidays, so you can celebrate in style while soaking up the local culture.

Hot Tip:  If you’re heading away on a short break, you might want to upgrade to one of these recommended carry-on bags , including wheeled cabin bags and backpacks.

Ski and Snowboard

Contiki Ski and Snowboard Trips

Ski and Snowboard tours offer the perfect solution if you’re looking to explore a new destination while getting in some slope time. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, you’ll have the option to book lessons and chances are there will be someone on your tour of a similar standard. Enjoy the cool and crazy vibes of Tokyo before taking a train to one of the nearby ski resorts or hit the slopes in Lake Tahoe on a sightseeing trip through California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Small Group

Contiki Small Group Tour

Some of Contiki’s groups accommodate up to 50 people, which some travelers love, as it allows them to meet more people. If you prefer a smaller, more intimate travel experience, Contiki offers Small Group tours with tours averaging 12 to 24 people.

Volunteering

Contiki Volunteering Trip

Contiki’s Volunteering tours allow travelers to give back to the countries and communities they’re exploring. Volunteer tours combine exploration with a service element, such as participating in sustainable development projects.

Other Tour Types

Contiki has a variety of other tour types:

  • Backpacking
  • Christmas Tours
  • Group Travel
  • Guided Tours
  • Hiking and Trekking
  • New Year’s Eve Tours
  • Sightseeing
  • Solo Travel
  • Winter Holidays
  • World Tours

Contiki provides over 350 tours to 75 destinations within these countries, continents, and regions:

  • Latin America
  • Middle East
  • New Zealand
  • U.S. and Canada

Contiki Top Tours

Contiki Australia Tours

Contiki offers itineraries of up to 22 days to explore this vast country. Many cover the popular east coast from Sydney to Cairns, while others venture into the remote outback to watch the sunset at Uluru. Sail around the Whitsundays, learn to surf at Byron Bay, or see where the rainforest meets the reef at Cape Tribulation.

  • Includes transport, accommodation, breakfast, and some activities

Hot Tip:  As flights are not included in the tour price, you might be interested in the best ways to fly to Australia with points and miles . 

Contiki is well-known for its European bus tours, but some destinations utilize transportation by train or boat for coastal areas. It’s usually unnecessary to fly between destinations as combination tours like European Discovery typically cover neighboring countries. Let’s take a look at a sample of what’s available.

Contiki Croatia

Contiki Croatia Tour

You can discover Croatia as a standalone tour or as part of a combination Balkans or European tour. With one of the longest coastlines in the Mediterranean, it’s the perfect sailing destination, stopping at the historic coastal cities of Dubrovnik and Split and the beautiful islands of Korčula and Hvar.

  • Includes transport, accommodation, some meals, and activities

Contiki Greece

Contiki Greece Tour

You can island-hop your way around Greece or visit as part of a wider European tour. With most tours starting in Athens, you can explore the iconic Acropolis and Olympic Stadium before sailing between the likes of Mykonos, Santorini, and Ios.

Contiki Italy

Contiki runs a wide variety of trips to Italy, ranging from week-long tours visiting some of its most iconic cities and coastlines to 45-day European tours. From exploring Roman ruins and floating cities to sampling fresh pasta or delicious wine at a 16th-century Tuscan winery, you’ll most definitely be living la dolce vita .

Contiki Japan

Japan is an enchanting county of contrasts, from bustling cities to ornate temples and magnificent mountains to war memorials. With the high-speed bullet train, it’s pretty easy to get around to Kyoto and Hiroshima, and some tours include a trip into the mountains for skiing or snowboarding.

Hot Tip:  If you’re planning to visit Japan in Spring, take a look at our ultimate guide to the cherry blossom festivals .

Contiki New Zealand Tour

Explore the North Island, South Island, or both with a Contiki New Zealand tour. Cruise across the Bay of Islands, go white water rafting down Kaituna River, or spend a night on the town in Wellington. Contiki tours range from 6 to 19 days.

  • Includes transport, accommodation, some meal, and activities

Hot Tip:  If you’re flying from the U.S. to New Zealand, find out which U.S. airports Air New Zealand flies direct from .

Contiki Thailand Tour

Embark on the ultimate Thailand adventure and tour the northern jungles of Chang Mai and the exotic coastlines and islands of the south. If you’re looking to visit more than 1 country, some tours combine Thailand with neighboring Cambodia or Malaysia.

Contiki America Tour

If you’re looking for a tour closer to home, Contiki offers trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. These range from 2-night city breaks exploring Los Angeles , Orlando, or New York, or trips up to 26 days covering most of the eastern and southern states.

Hot Tip:  If you decide that a group tour isn’t for you, check out the best road trips in the U.S.  that might inspire you for your next vacation.

My Contiki is a platform for you to manage your profile and bookings and view trip itineraries, including the details for your Trip Manager (the person responsible for running the trip day-to-day). If you want to chat beforehand with people that will be on your tour, you can do this in the Meet Up area and you can also access any social media groups that the Trip Manager or your fellow travelers might set up.

Contiki is a well-reviewed tour company with the following overall ratings:

  • Feefo : 4.6 out of 5
  • Contiki.com : 4.6 out of 5
  • TourRadar : 4.7 out of 5

These are some recent reviews from some of Contiki’s top tours. It’s clear to see that the Trip Managers contribute hugely to the enjoyment of the tours. The majority of the negative reviews for Contiki center around the lively nature of the tours and a focus on drinking culture. While this may suit some young travelers, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.

Australian Outback Adventure “The trip itself was incredible, we had so many activities, most of them you had to pay for but it was defiantly money well spent, it was worth it!! There was a lot of travelling involved but it was all an amazing adventure, and we got to get to know everyone much better.” — Emma Mccaw

Croatia Island Sail “Dani was incredible, made it such a fun experience. She was so knowledgeable with history and local tips. Gave us plenty of down time and got the party started at the right times. It was a great week and would definitely recommend to friends” — Harriet Gilmour

Japan Winter Wonder “The trip manager was absolutely brilliant. We visited amazing places and our accommodation was very good. We were well looked after and our trip manager always made sure we were enjoying ourselves. There was so much to do everywhere we went and there just weren’t enough hours in the day to do them all but we always saw the highlights in every city.” — Anonymous

New Zealand The Big Tiki “Honestly can say one of the best trips I have been on! Amazingly well organised and the included activities were very good. A big thanks to Dan and Pat for organising it all so well and going above and beyond to make sure we made it to our activities!! The accommodation was very very good and I thought the itinerary covered everything key.” — Anonymous

Spotlight on Greece “The trip manager was really cool and took us to amazing local spots! The activities went from nature to museums to wine and dining! It was all a blast and I highly recommend for anyone who has only a week to get away! The locals are all so friendly and the food is amazing! Beautiful hotels and easy transportation included! A must see!!” — Melanie Button

Thai Island Hopper East “Everything was great. Especially for the price of the trip. Trip manager was amazing and everything was set out for us. Best experiences with not a worry in the world.” — Alexander Brighton

United States Grand Southern “Trip is well thought out stopping at great spots around the U.S. The extra add ons were fantastic, a large variety of what you normally get on organised tours. The trip manager Hayley Jo was beyond amazing, she went above and beyond to make sure anything was possible on the trip! Would highly recommend the Hot air balloon and snowmobiles, was such a great day!” — Emma Walker

Topdeck is another popular tour company covering many of the same destinations as Contiki , with both companies extremely popular for European bus tours. Both appeal to the same target market, however, Contiki does have a firm age limit of 35, and Topdeck caters to “18-30 somethings.” The travel style is very similar across both operators with socializing at the core, and both offer small group tour alternatives for those looking for a less party vibe.

When it comes to cost, Topdeck comes in cheaper than Contiki on the overall tour price, but this is often because there are more entrance fees and excursions included with Contiki. Topdeck provides a lot more free time, so any activities would be additional.

Contiki is an extremely popular tour company for young people, but large group tours are not going to suit everyone’s travel styles. Contiki tours are known for their lively, party atmosphere, which many travelers love. It’s as much about meeting new people and socializing as it is about exploring a new destination for them.

Many travelers make lifelong friends within their tour group, and the company states that many people have even found love on a Contiki tour. Contiki recognizes that not everyone wants to travel in a large group and has created some tour categories that have a more in-depth focus on the destination or for traveling in smaller groups.

As with other group tour operators such as G Adventures and Intrepid Travel , Contiki is committed to sustainable travel by supporting local communities, ethical animal experiences, and planting 1 tree for every traveler that uses e-documents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go on contiki if you are over 35.

Contiki has a maximum age limit of 35 for all of its tours, so if you are over 35 you would not be permitted, unfortunately.

Should I go on a Contiki tour alone?

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or are embarking on your first solo trip, Contiki tours are perfect for single travelers. You’ll experience the excitement of independent travel while having the logistical side of things taken care of. Rather than having to approach a new friend in a hostel bar, you’ll get to know your fellow travelers in a less daunting environment.

Tour prices are based on you sharing with a fellow traveler of the same gender, but you can also upgrade to a private room for a fee.

Are Contiki tours safe?

Contiki is committed to providing a safe environment for all travelers, and Trip Managers are there to support travelers with advice and recommendations on safety. Although most traveler’s experiences are problem-free, there is always a small element of risk when exploring an unknown destination.

Are Contiki tours good for couples?

If you’re a sociable couple happy to be around the company of others, you’ll likely enjoy a Contiki tour. If you’re looking for a quiet, romantic trip with lots of alone time, it probably won’t suit you.

Do Contiki trips include flights?

Entry and exit flights from the meeting point are not included in the tour price. Any flights that form part of the itinerary are included in the price (unless otherwise stated) and these are often used in Asia and South America where it’s necessary to cover large distances in a short space of time.

Is Contiki a party tour?

Contiki tours do have a reputation for being party tours, featuring a reasonable amount of free time to explore the local nightlife. Although the atmosphere can be quite lively and social, it’s up to the individual whether they decide to partake.

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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Home » Blog » Your ULTIMATE GUIDE to Contiki

Your ULTIMATE GUIDE to Contiki

ultimateguide

So last month I had the pleasure of being honoured in Contiki Holiday ‘s Contiki Legends Campaign.

Well you might just call me the Queen of Contiki, as I’ve had an ongoing partnership with them for over   3 years  , during which I have been on  14 Contiki trips covering: South America , New Zealand ,  Australia , Europe ,  Scandinavia , Southeast Asia and the USA .

In this guide I am going to go over a lot of the things I have learned about my experiences on  Contiki  in hopes to give some insight for those looking at taking one for themselves.

Contiki-6

What is a Contiki Trip?

Contikis are an organized tour group of young, like minded travellers from around the world; particularly from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK and South Africa. They are group sizes of 13-50 people, aged 18-35 and can span a couples days, 1 week, 2 weeks, or up to 45 days (alot of different time options here) .

Contiki-6

Who is Contiki perfect for?

First time travellers, solo travellers, social travellers, adventure travellers, youth travellers, and those that don’t like the hassle and the stress of planning a trip by themselves. For those that want to see the world and not be burdened by having to sort out accommodations, where to go, see and transportation back and forth. 

Me, solo, on my first Contiki at the base camp of Machu Picchu.

Trip Styles

Contiki can sometimes be very intense and fast pace , this is because they are trying to get you the most things done and seen within a short period of time . Know this before planning your trip , because if you are someone that likes to sleep in or dislikes travelling on a bus for longer periods of time, a fast pace trip visiting multiple countries is not going to be for you, and you won’t have as much fun as one that is a bit more relaxed. This is precisely the reason behind Contiki’s brand new trip styles. Customization! As they now have options of slower paces tours, and tours that spend multiple nights in one place, really allowing you to take in all there is to see and do!

Make sure you have an idea of what pace you are looking for .  Think about this hard and really evaluate HOW you want to travel, not just WHAT you want to see . You can never see everything at every destination you go to, so don’t push yourself to try.

Screen Shot 2014-11-11 at 11.32.13 AM

  • Discovery Plus
  • High Energy
  • In-Depth Explorer
  • Freestyle Camping
  • Sailing & Cruise
  • Festivals & Short Stays
  • Winter & Ski

Optionals are just as they sound, optional. They are little bonuses, extra excursions and treats that you have the option to add onto your tour, while you are on tour. These are there to give you a chance for more free time if you choose, or to join in an activity with your new friends.

These are completely up to you. Most of the time, the majority of the people do a lot of optionals. But people also don’t. This is the beauty of choice.  Go with the flow, a lot of times you might not THINK you want to do a certain optional, but once you start making friends on tour and THEY want to, you might very well be persuaded. And vice versa. Just make sure you keep those prices in your budget as they can add up quickly if you choose to do a lot (I always do a lot!).

Optional: George's Boat- Corfu, Greece. Seriously one of the best day optionals you can take!

Accommodations

Contiki has some wicked cool accommodations you will be staying at. But they vary and there is always a trade off.

Backpacker Bungalows- Koh Pha Ngan , Thailand.

If you are staying closer to the centre of town or, literally downtown and walking distance to where the action is, your accommodation will most likely be more basic, because those cost more $$$. In these cases you are paying for LOCATION as you are right outside the action!

If you are staying farther away, your accommodation will mostly likely be quite nice! But, you’ll need to take transportation to get to most places. Luckily, Contiki arranges a lot of scheduled pick up and drop off times to take you back and forth to the hotel and back. 

So basically, you get a mix of both.

Longhorn Ranch, Texas, USA. Funky hotel with a VERY Texas feel!

Sharing Rooms+ Roommates

On Contikis you’ll either be sharing a room with 1 to 3 people (maximum of 4 total). The majority of trips it is only 1 other person.   Know before hand if you are a roommate person or not . If you REALLY MUST have a private room,  pay extra for the upgrade. This is your trip and being social all the time isn’t for everyone.

However, if you are a solo traveller, do no think you have to have a private room. Trust me, it’s actually much, much better if you don’t. Contiki will pair you up and  your new roommate will become your instant travel best friend(s).

Just a walk away from our hostel at Mojo's Surf Camp. Australia.

Each location and tour varies on the types and quality of foods and how many meals they provide. Most of the time breakfast is always provided. Dinners here and there as well, lunches almost never.

In Asia food is cheap, so you will get buffet breakfasts and lots of fancier dinners. In Europe, a croissant is seriously the national standard for breakfast. Obviously food will vary with the price of the tour. (again, see tour styles)  In general,  yes you will have a few average meals, but you will also have many fantastic meals.

Contiki tries to accomodate all tastes. Some travellers want to try all the local foods, while others want to eat what they are used to back home. You can’t please everyone! That’s why they leave a lot of meals open, so YOU can choose!

On all tours though,   if you have a dietary requirement, they will accommodate  and make sure you get a special meal at group dinners! So no worries if your vegan, veggie, gluten-free or have allergies!  

You win some, you loose some.

Drinking and Parties

On Contiki there is drinking and there are parties.   This is very well know.   You are travelling with a group of young people, it’s what we do!   Most of time these are a fantastic way to bond and meet your new tour mates, plus it gives everyone a chance to dance, let off some steam and have a great time! Drinking is a part of alot of cultures, and getting the chance to try local drinks is always a treat.

Grabbing a bit in the famous Beer Halls in Munich, Germany!

For some people, they live for the party, other they don’t. While drinking is incorporated in many aspects of the tours, i t is okay to not drink on a Contiki. 

You should never feel pressured and you won’t feel left out.

Chances are there are other travellers in the group that don’t like to drink and party as well. There are lots of non drinking evening activities in every city! Find which group you fit in with.

Also, many time on tour, you can always go out with the group and just not drink. I have done so many times before.  Each group will have different levels of people that want to drink as much or as little as they like.   You are an adult, and it’s up to you to control your alcohol intake on tour and to be responsible and respectful of others.

Cheers to responsible drinking!

Tour Leaders

Your tour leader is an extremely valuable resource. Seriously, they know everyone and are there to help you with your questions and problems. That being said, they are also not your parent. They aren’t there to make sure you make it to the bus on time and to baby sit you, nor to hold your hand around the city. We are all adults here, Contikis are for 18-35s.  

Contiki Staff, Australia

Making Friends + Solo Travellers

An average Contiki tour is made up of a mixture of solo travellers; a few pairs such as sisters, friends, brothers, a few couples, and maybe a group or two of 3-4 people. If you are a solo traveller, don’t worry, you WILL make friends and have people to share your experience with. (srsly, tour managers help with this)

If you are a couple, pair or group, make sure YOU are also open to making friends . Invite others to join your group, trust me, it will make for a better group dynamic for everyone, plus making friends in one of the best parts of Contiki.

Contiki-12

Group Dynamics + Age Groups

This is a mixed bag and each group and tour varies. Generally, in my experiences:

The more expensive the tour, and the more remote and unknown the location ,  the higher the chance there will be a great number of couples and an average older age group.

The cheaper the tour, and the more “bucket list” items such as Paris, Italy, Australia, the more likely a younger age group.

But that being said, there will be also someone near to your age on every tour. Remember, they limit this to 18-35’s ONLY. So if you are 18 worries about 30 year olds (and vice versa), don’t. The group is big enough so that each and every age group can find their “perfect mini-group” of friends. 

Contiki-17

General Contiki Rules

  • Be on time, it  will win the heart of your tour leader and make the trip better for everyone.
  • Don’t overpack. Seriously, you don’t need half of the clothes are you about to bring and you will be unpacking and repacking quite frequently.
  • Backpack vs Wheeled Bag –  Wheels 100%. You won’t be traveling very far with your bags, so unless you plan on doing a lot of extra trips on your own before or after your trip, a wheeled bag is 100% what I recommend.
  • There will be a theme party. Love it, embrace it. And no, you probably won’t know what it is before hand.

80's throwback party in Laos!

  • Have something to do in the downtime, on the bus, boat or on the plane. (A book is a good option, or iPad) Usually thought Contiki has fun games and trivia, movies, etc they play during transportation time so you’ll never feel like you are wasting time. (blankets and pillows are nice!) 

Contiki-7

  • Bring multiple nightclub/ going out attire,  as you will find yourself wanting to dress a little nice for evenings out more often than not. Sweaty t-shirts and shorts ain’t gonna cut it.

Contiki-13

In Conclusion

There is a reason I have done 14 Contikis  and plan on doing many more to come. They are one of the best ways to travel and seriously a lot of fun.

Have an additional questions? Feel free to ask me in the comments below! Also, there are dozens of Contiki staff members just a phone call away that will help you answer all your questions. 

Check out their website: http://www.contiki.com for more info!

Pssss, just for my readers:

Book a 7 day or longer Contiki Holiday and save $100 off the trip price. Use the promo code: PPCHEYNADINE

*Terms and Conditions apply

22 comments

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hey nadine thanks for share this with us i did see contiki from time to time now i know more about them :)

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you are very welcome!

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Ahh this gets me really excited to plan a trip haha! I’m not sure if I understand correctly, but are the groups mixed with & open to people from all around the world? Because it will be so cool to meet people from different countries :)

Yes, it’s open to various regions so you’ll have people from your group from other parts of the world!

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Yes! I am planning my first Contiki to Europe and already there are people from Australia and USA who have joined in the same tour as well (I’m Canadian) … Totally open to everyone around the world.

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I already did 2 Contikis in Europe and on Feb, 2015 I’ll be on my 3rd in Thailand. For sure, Contiki is the best company ever. I agreed on 100% you said!

Thailand is amazing, such a great Contiki! Have fun and buy lots of neon clothes!

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Wow, 14. I’ve only done “8”. I’ve got 2 more booked for next year, but they’ll probably be my last unfortunately :-(.

8 is still VERY VERY impressive!!! what regions have you done?

I’ve done New Zealand (the South and North islands separately so 2x trips), Canada (west coast, 1x trip), Europe (continent and the UK and Ireland, 3x trips including a London Explorer) and the USA (west coast, 2x trips including a LA Explorer). Next year is Peru in April and Scandinavia in June. By my calculations my 100th day on Contiki will be about half way through the Scandinavia trip.

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Hi Nadine, just got back from the Southern Adventure tour USA which you did. I absolutely loved it! So I’m looking at booking another contiki for July in Europe (or Canada) and was wondering what the main differences are?

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I’ve got a very specific question that hopefully you can answer. I’m booked on the simply Italy Contiki in May 2015(soooooo excited) and just wondering which would be better for luggage…suitcase or backpack. I used a wheeled duffel on the Costa rica Contiki I did in 2013, and while it worked well… There were moment of extreme frustration. I also did a Romania trip through another company this past October and had some difficulty on the cobblestone, and found my frustration was I greatly under packed, and had I rewear dirty clothing

I had more to the above question but was cut off! The wheeled backpacks I was looking at were through eagle creek and am just curious if you think it would be enough packing space (yes I’m THAT girl) or if I should just go with a suitcase and I’ll be fine on the European cobblestone!

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“A night out at the Monte Carlo Casino in Montenegro” I think you mean Monaco :p ? I’m thinking about doing one of the usa trips :) ( i’m european myself and although i haven’t seen every country here yet it would feel a bit silly to do one of the european trips :p

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Thinking of this trip for my two kids – 18yr old daughter & 19 yr old son. 19 yr old is in college so he has tasted the party life. 18 yr old graduating HS in June – not much of a partier, more of a “sipper”. Are they too young for this trip? (they want to go to Australia) Appreciate your input.

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Donna, Did you end up sending your daughter on a contiki trip? I am considering sending my 18 year son and had the same type of questions.

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Hi! Is contiki really strict with baggage weight? I am doing the wild western tour in USA this december. And I don’t think my clothes can fit in just 20kgs baggage limit. Please help.

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Hi!! I am booking my second trip with continki (completed the Thailand one last year :-) Im looking to do the LA to the Bay for my birthday in October, do you know anyone whose completed this tour? Also, what would you recommend for amount of spending money – it’s 12 nights. Thanks in advance.

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Hey Leanne,

How did LA TO THE BAY go? Iv just booked it for July 2017 and was just looking for an overview of the trip. 😊😊

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Help! I’ve read so many mixed reviews. My boyfriend and I (ages 24, and 27) are planning a trip to Thailand but we want to see the most we can in the 3 week time period we have. We are thinking of doing the 14-day southeast Asian adventure (Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos) combined with the Bali Island shopper that sees 3 islands for 8 days. When our travel agent suggested Contiki, we were incredibly put off. We did not want a group trip, with a bunch of 18 year old binge drinkers. However, the more we’ve looked at the idea, it seems like it might be the best so that we don’t have to plan every single aspect of a 3 week trip, when we want to leave in September. I’ve read that the money isn’t worth what you get for Contiki, as the food isn’t great and the hotels have bed bugs etc. I read your whole review, but can you tell me more specifically about your time in Asia? Also, if we are going as a couple, are we going to be stuck in a room with 1-2 other people for most of the trip? Did you feel like it was worth doing Contiki in Asia, or because things are cheaper you could have just don’t the trip on your own? Also, did you feel that you spent too much time on a bus, and not visiting the locations, when you could have just hopped on a plane yourself and flew there even if a bit more expensive? Thanks! -D

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Hey Nadine :) I am going on a Contiki tour in Europe later this year, so it ill be chilly – do you have any tips for Contiki tours in cold weather?

  • Pingback: 9 USA Contiki Travel Tips to Know Before You Go + Travel GoPro Video – Pug Overboard

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The Only Contiki Review You Ever Need To Read

Last updated: August 2020

After my first trip to Europe with Contiki , I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the tour company, and today I’m finally sitting down to answer all of them. This in-depth post will cover everything from accommodations, dining, excursions, tipping, transportation, and more.

Contiki is a tour company that caters to travellers aged 18-35. They run a variety of different types of tours, from camping to hotel accommodation trips, all varying in length from 4 days to month-long excursions. The company operates all over the world however, this review will be focused on their European tours.

I have been on three Contiki tours (as of 2020):

  • European Discovery – 12 Day Europe Tour
  • Berlin, Prague + Vienna – 9 Day Tour (This trip no longer exists, but has been changed into the Berlin to Budapest)
  • Eastern Trail  

Each Contiki tour I did was unique in its own way, giving me the opportunity to try an appetizer of some of Contiki’s best tours in order to provide a thorough review for my readers.

contiki bus tours

After three tours with the company, here is my no bullshit review of Contiki:

Accommodations.

Contiki offers a variety of accommodation options: hotels, hostels, camping, and some tours which include a mix of accommodation styles. The two tours that I have been on were both hotel accommodation. Contiki books three-star hotels, so don’t expect the Ritz, however, I found the accommodations perfect for casual travel and some of the hotels well exceeded my expectations as a budget traveler.

The biggest issue I had with Contiki’s accommodations was how far they were from the city. In big cities such as Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam we were in hotels located 40-60 minutes outside the city. Typically, as the quality of the hotel increases, the distance to the city also increases.

Personally, I’m only in a hotel room only to sleep so I can deal with subpar quality, but if you’re someone who requires five-star service to get to sleep, I’d recommend at least researching the hotels specified on the tour before finalizing your booking, just ensure you’re not disappointed when you arrive.

However, if you’re keen to “rough it” you can save a lot of money by booking one of Contiki’s camping or hostel tours instead of their hotel option.

In our digital age, I feel that it’s important to make a quick note about the internet situation on these tours. The coach does have WiFi available for purchase –  do not do it , it’s ridiculously expensive, even your tour manager will tell you not to waste your money.

As for the WiFi in the hotels, it was hit and miss. Europeans are very, very different from us in North America and do not feel the need to be constantly connected, thus WiFi is sparse. Some hotels have free WiFi available for a certain period of time, some only an hour, some for an entire day. Others only have free WiFi available in the lobby, and others have no WiFi at all. However, when you’re out and about, some of the coffee shops and restaurants will have free WiFi available, just be sure to purchase something from them as a curiosity.

Tour Managers

Your tour manager is essentially the “babysitter” Contiki assigns to your tour; they are not official tour guides. Although most of the Contiki tour managers have an extensive amount of knowledge about the cities you’ll be visiting, they’re not experts like the local tour guides are.

Your tour manager is basically there to make sure everyone gets to the bus on time, organize the group dinners, and help you pick and plan your excursions. I found that between my two tours, the tour manager can make or break your experience.

Some of the tour managers are very knowledgeable and go above and beyond to ensure you have a great time on your trip. On my first Contiki, our tour manager custom printed his own city maps with his top tips, and always gave us thorough information and directions before dropping us in the idle of a city. I swear this guy was a walking history textbook – I was floored by how much he knew! He was clear about ground rules on the coach and in different countries, making sure we respected the local customs but was also not afraid to have a good time with us at the bars and pubs.

On my second Contiki tour, it wasn’t that my tour manager was bad per say, but she definitely tailored many of our excursions and activities to her own interests, which did not align with most of the groups and left a lot of us feeling bored and frustrated.

One thing to be wary of is that the tour managers will take you to bars and restaurants they’ll say are the “best in the city”, however, you’re most likely only being taken there because your tour manager will collect a commission or get kickbacks for bringing business to the establishment.

This is a common practice in the tourism industry, so it’s totally understandable; I only mention it to caution you to not be naïve and do your research before you get to your destination. You are by no means obligated to stick with the group the entire time! If your tour manager is saying a certain restaurant is “the best in the city”, but you’ve been dying to check out another one, don’t be afraid to go off on your own. Don’t just blindly go along with everything the tour manager says; it’s certainly alright to break away from the group every once in a while.

Breakfast is included every day on your Contiki, but as one of my tour managers stated; “breakfast in Europe is a coffee and a cigarette”. I didn’t expect much of the breakfast anyway, and it usually was just pastries and cereal, however, sometimes you’d get lucky and a hotel would offer bacon and eggs as well. If you’re someone who needs a little more fuel first thing in the morning, pack some extra snacks in your suitcase or account some more room in your budget to purchase additional breakfast items.

You’re on your own for lunch most days, which gives you the opportunity to wander about, unless you’re on a high-paced tour, then you’ll be eating lunch at wherever the bus stops between your next destination.

Contiki includes a few dinners and a lot of the other dinners are usually included in some type of paid excursion. I was very pleased overall with the quality of the food on both tours I did. The restaurants were authentic to the different cities we visited and provided a wide variety of options for different preferences.

Depending on the length of the tour, the destinations, and the travel style, Contiki tours range from $400-$7000. So regardless of what your budget is, there is a tour out there for you!

I think the price is right for these tours and you’re getting the most bang for your buck, so there’s no need to be concerned about getting ripped off. I was very impressed with the high value that each of my Contiki tours delivered.

However, my only issue is that Contiki claims that going on a tour with them is more affordable than going on your own, and that’s a blatant lie. If cost is your only concern, you don’t necessarily need to choose Contiki. You can do everything that a Contiki tour does, on your own, for the same amount of money. It’s not cheaper one way or the other.  The only difference with going on your own is that you’ll be paying the same amount of money, but doing all the legwork of booking hotels, excursions, dinners, etc. So if you’d like to just lay back and leave the planning to someone else, a Contiki tour would be a better value to you.

Contiki offers a wide variety of excursions that you can add on to your trip for an extra cost, and of course, you’re encouraged to do them all to ensure you get the most out of your trip! A lot of these excursions I do believe are once in a lifetime opportunities and worth the price like the cabaret show in Paris, the concentration camp visit in Berlin, and white water rafting in Austria.

You’re made aware of your excursions and their cost before your trip, so I would recommend researching them and seeing if it would be more cost-efficient for you to do it on your own. Keep in mind some of the excursions can be more fun with a group of people so you may want to splurge. (ie. the live sex show in Amsterdam – no one wants to be the weirdo attending that alone!)

Depending on the tour you do, the coach will either be your home for a few weeks or just a vehicle you see once or twice. In the high paced tours you’re on the coach for 6-10 hours almost every day as you move from country to country. It is a very comfortable and clean means of transportation, and depending on your tour group, it’ll either be a very fun 6-10 hours, or the worst 6-10 hours of your life. It’s hit or miss and really depends on your group, so I recommend bringing a book and some headphones just in case. Most people spend their time on the coach sleeping off their hangovers from the night before, and as long as no one pukes, you’ll be fine.

You might have heard Contiki referred to as the “drunken orgy on wheels” and this nickname is not far off. Pretty much every night you have the option of going to a club with the group and getting hammered with your new travel companions. While you will undoubtedly have a great time, I found after my first trip that I spent over 200 euro in alcohol, which I had not originally budgeted for – it’s very easy to get carried away. For those who are just looking to party their way through Europe, or just have a great time and meet new people, you will have an absolute blast on a Contiki tour.

Speaking of your tour mates…they will be the highlight of your trip. The people you meet on Contiki are friends for life. I still talk to the people I met on my very first Contiki four years ago and actually have plans to travel with a few of them soon. Hold onto these friendships. The friends you meet traveling are the best kind of friends to have. And you’ll always have a couch to crash on somewhere in the world!

When you book your Contiki tour, tips are said to be included in the price of your trip. However, the only tips that are included in this price are the tour group dinners. All the local guides will expect tips at end of their walking tours, but of course, it’s at your discretion whether or not to tip them.

Your tour manager and the bus driver will also be expecting a tip at the end of the tour. Within the last few days of your tour ending you’re given an envelope and told to write a note to your tour manager and driver with a tip enclosed and your name. I mention this because it caught me off guard on my first trip and I found myself scrambling for cash on the last day of my tour. On my second tour I was a little bit more prepared and set aside my tip for the driver and tour manager at the beginning of my trip; which is what I would recommend everyone does, just so you don’t accidentally overspend!

So should you go on a Contiki? Yes and no.

I think Contiki is an excellent tour company for someone who is nervous to travel solo for the first time, or maybe someone who is looking to just have a good time and make some friends.

Contiki is also a good idea for groups of friends as it takes a lot of the arguing out of decision making since most of the decisions are made for you.

The number one reason I would choose Contiki is if you don’t know what you want to see. Maybe you’re new to travel and know you want to go to Europe, but don’t necessarily have specific destinations or monuments in mind. Basically, if you know you want to go to Paris, but can’t think of anything to see other than the Eiffel Tower, go on a Contiki. They’ll not only help you figure the logistics of your trip out, but they’ll educate you and open your eyes to things you could have never imagined.

On the flip side, if you’re someone who is comfortable with traveling and have a good idea of what you want to see and do, I would ditch Contiki and do your own thing. You can still find local guides when you get to your destination and plan your own excursions. I personally, do not plan on doing another Contiki anytime soon, because I’d like to challenge myself to go own my own, as well as plan a trip that is more directly focused on exactly what I want to see and do.

Think you’re ready to book your Contiki tour?

Check out my post on how to pick the perfect tour for your travel style, check out more of my contiki posts :.

  • 7 things to know before booking your first Contiki tour
  • Contiki Cares: How Contiki is supporting sustainable travel
  • An In-Depth Review of Contiki’s Eastern Trail Tour
  • How to pick the perfect Contiki for your travel style

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Karen Wanderlustingk

I never did Contiki as I chose to travel by myself around Europe, but I liked your points about helping you get comfortable with traveling for people less comfortable with going alone. Personally, I rather travel alone than with a tour as I really enjoy planning. 100%.

One tip about traveling alone to make it less lonely: reach out to active and positively reviewed moderator members of the couchsurfing group for the city you’re visiting. Look for people who have logged in within the past 2 days. I know it sounds sketchy, but the idea is that you pick someone with lots of glowing reviews and who you think you’ll get along with. They can provide fantastic local tips and a lot of them are thrilled to meet up for a walk around the city/drink/coffee/maybe dinner on short notice (2 days to 5 hours before). I prefer having my own place to stay due to safety concerns and finding a host on CS is much harder than seeing if someone has a few spare hours at night. Hosting is quite time-consuming and not everyone likes to commit to doing it all the time, however almost everyone I’ve messaged has been very enthusiastic about showing me around their city or just sending me the names of their favorite places/restaurants.

I always pick a public place to meet, so that I can leave without any issues if I don’t feel safe or don’t like them. However, I’ve had fantastic local experiences, some incredible homemade food, and made several friends this way. I had one of the best nights in Italy when I went for a historic walk with a couchsurfing veteran around his homecity of Verona, before we got pizza at one of the best pizza places in Italy (30 min drive!), and went out for drinks at his favorite bar before I headed back to my accommodation and he went home. I actually try to do this when I’m feeling social, but I’m staying at a hostel or airbnb where I’m not clicking with people there.

Staying at hostels is also great way to never be lonely when traveling alone. I’ve made a few friends at hostels I stayed at while backpacking who I still stay in touch with. 🙂

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Global Brunch

I don’t think I would go with a tour operator like this. I’m not completely against tours in general, but I think especially Europe is somewhere you can easily and safely navigate your way around on your own. Partying every night is also something I wouldn’t be a fan of. While I love having a drink in good company, I’m looking for more substance on my travels now and as you said drinking can take away valuable travel budget 🙂

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Megan @ Hello Megan O!

I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head in this post. Tours like Contiki are great if you plan on partying and want most of the planning done for you. Personally, my travel style is much slower and I LOVE planning, so I haven’t been on one, but I know lots of people have and have really enjoyed themselves!

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Ileana Dallaire

I took a Contiki tour 24 years ago… yes, it was then as it is described today, but for a woman travelling alone, on a budget, it was perfect for me..but that was my first and last “guided bus tour” by the way. The best perk of the tour: I met my husband in the group! He was from Canada, I am from Costa Rica…he asked me to spend the free day in Rome with him instead of hanging around with the group…dated long distance for 4 years and today we are celebrating our 20th anniversary. So, you can say we have a warm spot for Contiki Tours! I wonder how many more marriages started on that bus! Phil and Ileana Dallaire Windsor, ON Canada

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Airplanes & Avocados

AWH! What an incredible love story you two have, that’s amazing! Congratulations to you guys! Sending lots of love and happiness your way! ❤️

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I just helped my 18 year old daughter book the European Horizon trip with Contiki in July to travel “solo”, but with a group. Hope she will have a great experience to start travelling on her own. I went on a Trafalgar Cost Saver trip to Ireland last year and learned about Contiki, where my tour manager had started working at the beginning of her career. I am usually wary of group tours, as I like to do my own travel planning, but enjoyed the Ireland group tour with good combination of group and solo time. Your review is also helpful.

This is awesome! She is going to have an incredible time for sure! Feel free to reach out if you or she have any questions, I’m more than happy to help! 🙂

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I’m turning 34 this year. I usually travel alone and prefer it but once in awhile I have done group trips all which I had mixed experiences on. I have to admit that I want to do 1 Contiki tour before I can no longer go due to age lol. I looked into their Greek sailing trip but I saw the living quarters so my interest ended up becoming a big Hellllllllllll no. When I looked at their non sailing trips I realized the price was way too high for what it is (really just a way to transport you from city to city with a bunch of drunk young people who you will see in each city). I may do one just to honestly say that I did it, but I’m just surprised how much it is when you get very little. If someone just wants to party and is looking for a cheap way to do it, it’s probably best to just stay at a hostel for a few days.

I totally agree it’s definitely not the cheapest option so if that’s why you’re doing it you can travel other ways for way cheaper. And it does really have an emphasis on partying, but I agree you should do one to say you did at least! Even one of their shorter 3 or 4 day tours.

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Tour Scoop

10 Best Contiki Tours to Take in 2024 

If you're a young adult between the ages of 18 and 35, these 2024 contiki tours were made for you..

Megan duBois

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  • Contiki specializes in affordable group tours for young adults to destinations around the world; most trips average between $1,000 and $3,000 per person.
  • Contiki has been taking 18- to 35-year-olds on group tours since 1962 and offers a variety of trip styles. 
  • These are my picks for the best tours offered by Contiki in 2024.

One of the best things about group tours with Contiki is that you travel with people close to your age, so the group often bonds quickly. Another great thing is that most of the logistics are taken care of and you’re led by expert guides and trip managers who work hard to make each trip special. 

The Best Contiki Tours to Take for 2024

Group tours for young adults with Contiki have all of the essentials included in the overall price, including internal trip travel, accommodations, trip managers, and activities. Here are my recommendations for the best Contiki tours in 2024, including vacations in Western Europe, Thailand, Egypt, and other popular destinations around the world.

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1. European Discovery with Contiki

Piazza Navona in Rome

If traveling around Europe has been on your bucket list, then the European Discovery tour is a great way to achieve that goal in 2024. Over 12 days, you and your travel companions will explore eight countries including England, Germany, Italy, and France. The trip starts in London, where you meet up with the group before hopping onto a ferry to Amsterdam where you’ll take a canal cruise and explore the winding streets. 

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The tour continues into Germany for a guided walking tour through Munich before heading to Innsbruck and the Bavarian Alps. The latter part of the trip takes place in fairytale cities like Rome, where you’ll see the Trevi Fountain and take a tour of the best gelaterias in the city; and Paris, where the Moulin Rouge and the Eiffel Tower are waiting for you. 

  • Length: 12 days
  • Starting price: $2,071
  • Average group size: 38 people
  • How to book: Book only through Contiki or TourRadar ,; or through a travel agent such as AAA

2. Egypt and the Nile 

sunset view of the Pyramids of Giza

Dreaming of traveling through Egypt and along the Nile River? Then check out the Contiki’s 2024 Egypt tour , which is a fun way to be immersed in a different culture. The eight-day trip includes a three-night Nile River cruise, along with plenty of land-based adventures. The start of the journey takes you to one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World: The Great Pyramid of Giza, and a chance to see the Sphinx.

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The middle of the trip is where you’ll board a sailboat and take to the Nile River for three nights. The boat journey ends in Luxor, where you’ll be able to see the Avenue of the Sphinxes, along with the Valley of the Kings. The trip ends in Cairo, the perfect spot to wander ancient markets before saying goodbye to Egypt.  

  • Length: 8 days
  • Starting price: $1,772  
  • Average group size: 40 people maximum
  • How to book: Book online through Contiki or TourRadar ; or through a travel agent such as AAA

3. Northern Thai Highlights with Contiki

Huay Mae Khamin Waterfall. Nature landscape of Kanchanaburi district in natural area. it is located in Thailand for travel trip on holiday and vacation background, tourist attraction.

Many people head to Thailand for its stunning waters and beautiful temples, but there’s so more to the country than that. On the Northern Thai Highlights tour, you can experience a side of the country that most people never see. The tour starts in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, where you can wander the exciting street markets and enjoy the city’s bustling nightlife before heading off to Kanchanaburi, known for the River Kwai. Here, you’ll sleep overnight on a jungle raft and see Erawan Falls. 

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The second half of the trip takes the group to Pat, a mountain town known for its nightlife. Here, you’ll also get to try your hand at the local martial arts, Muay Thai. Then on the way to Chiang Mai, you’ll stop at an elephant sanctuary to get up close to one of the resident pachyderms. The final highlight of the trip is a traditional Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai. 

  • Starting price: $1,143  
  • Average group size: 24 people
  • How to book: Book online through Contiki , TourRadar , TravelStride ; or through a travel agent such as AAA

4. Austria Ski Vacation

view of paraglider over Austrian Alps in Hopfgarten on Contiki tour

Skiing the Austrian Alps is a dream for many snow bunnies, and on Contiki’s 2024 Austria Ski tour, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. This group tour takes place in the heart of the Austrian Alps, in Hopfgarten im Brixental. When you’re not hitting the slopes, you can take a day trip to Salzburg to explore the charming city or even paraglide through the mountains. 

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Other included activities are a Ski Safari, where a local guide takes you around the mountain to learn about the area; and a beer party at Bar Schöneck to warm up after a day out on the snow. 

  • Starting price: $468  
  • Average group size: Up to 53 people 
  • How to book: Book online through Contiki ; or through a travel agent such as AAA

5. Ultimate Inca Trail with Contiki

Machu Picchu and valley below on a cloudy day

Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and with the Ultimate Inca Trail tour, you’ll be able to see that and so much more. The six-day group tour starts in the beautiful town of Cusco, where you can wander on your own or take a walking tour of the town. On Day 2, the trek begins in the Lares Valley, where a guide will be on hand to help everyone and to educate the group about the people that live in the area. 

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Day Three is a seven-hour hike that includes seeing wildlife and incredible views. Day Four has the group making it to the Lares Hot Springs before arriving at the Sacred Valley town of Ollantaytambo. Day Five is the big day: The group takes a train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, where a local guide will give the group a tour of the site before you head back to Cusco.

  • Length: 6 days
  • Starting price: $1,313  
  • Average group size: 10 people
  • How to book: Book online through Contiki , TourRadar , or TourHub ; or through a travel agent such as AAA

6. Viva Costa Rica

Red Ginger Near Volcan Arena in Costa Rica

For a trip to Central America that won’t break the bank, consider the 2024 Viva Costa Rica tour. The nine-day trip starts in San Jose and then heads to the Arenal volcano region. The rainforest area around the volcano is ideal for taking a hike to a waterfall, hopping into hot springs, or rappelling through canyons. The trip continues to Tamarindo, known for its surf and party culture. Here, you can choose to take a catamaran cruise, learn to surf, or just bask in the sun. 

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The trip then takes travelers to Monteverde, where you’ll biplane through the forest and walk along hanging bridges. The final stop of the journey is Jaco, which is a gateway to many of Costa Rica’s national parks. Take a day trip to Manuel Antonio National Park to see coral reefs, beaches, and ancient rainforests. 

  • Length: 9 days
  • Starting price: $1,898  
  • Average group size: Up to 30 people

7. Eternal India with Contiki

Contiki tour guests in front of the Taj Mahal in India

India is a country that’s filled with color, life, and plenty of historic places. And that’s exactly what travelers will find on the Eternal India tour. This 12-day trip starts in Delhi, where you can travel by rickshaw, visit the local street markets, and see some beautiful temples. The big day of the trip is actually Day Two, where you’ll visit the Taj Mahal all at your own pace. 

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Other highlights of the trip include a tiger sunrise safari in Ranthambore, Amer Fort in Jaipur, the Hanging Gardens in Mumbai, and the beachside town of Goa. There are optional tours and activities as well, including taking a Bollywood dance class, a foodie tour of Mumbai street food, and cooking and dining with a local family in Jaipur.

  • Starting price: $2,332  

8. Japan in a Week 

crowd entering temple in Tokyo

Contiki’s 2024 Japan in a Week tour allows travelers to see all of the highlights of Japan in short order. The eight-day tour visits three of the major hubs in Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. In Tokyo, travelers can see an ancient Buddhist temple, explore the shopping district of Nakamise Street, and even cross the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. Then it’s off to Kyoto. (Bonus: You’ll spot Mount Fuji on the way.)

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In Kyoto, you can take a half-day trip to Nara to visit the Todaiji Temple and see miniature deer; and see the Fushimi Inari Shrine, which is known for its winding paths of orange torii gates. The last stop on the trip is Osaka, where you can choose to visit Universal Studios or learn how to be a Samurai. 

  • Starting price: $1,835  
  • Average group size: 25 people 

9. National Parks Road Trip with Contiki

Arches National Park arch with snowy mountains in background

Travelers looking for an amazing and outdoorsy trip where they won’t need a passport will enjoy the National Parks Road Trip . The 12-day trip takes you through five United States National Parks in under two weeks. The trip starts in Dallas before moving to Amarillo, Texas on Day One, where you’ll see a fun exhibit showcasing Cadillac cars. The tour then continues to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a hot air balloon ride before hitting Moab for Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

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Other National Parks included on this itinerary are Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. The trip ends with an evening in Las Vegas, where you can hit the strip or the buffet, before officially ending in Los Angeles. 

  • Starting price: $2,520
  • Average group size: 30 people

10. Southern Africa Safari 

Elephant crossing road on Contiki African safari

An African safari is a trip of a lifetime for many travelers. Contiki’s Southern Africa Safari tour covers four countries in 21 days. The three-week trip takes guests through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia. Over the course of the trip, you’ll see the highlights of Cape Town and attempt to see the big five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo) in Kruger National Park. On Day Seven, the trip takes a detour to see the largest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls. 

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Other highlights of the trip include seeing a meerkat colony at the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, exploring the desert in Namib-Naukluft National Park, and kayaking at Pelican Point. Each destination offers a unique take on African wildlife, so be sure to listen to your guide because you never know what you may spot. 

  • Length: 21 days
  • Starting price: $5,140
  • How to book: Book online through Contiki or through a travel agent such as AAA

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Taylor's Tracks

The Good, Bad and a Brutally Honest Contiki Review (Are Contiki Tours for You?)

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 04/29/2022

The Good, Bad and a Brutally Honest Contiki Review (Are Contiki Tours for You?)

To kick off my solo travel career I opted to try a group tour so I wasn’t 100% alone. It was through a friend that I heard of Contiki tours and soon after I found myself on not only one, but three different tours back to back.

But what’s the truth, the brutally honest truth of Contiki travel? Below I cover exactly what to expect as one of few completely honest Contiki reviews.

Keep in mind that this is based on my experiences and that others may have had significantly different experiences, though the majority agree that Contiki tours are awesome and a wildly good time.

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Table of Contents

What is Contiki?

Contiki is a tour company created for 18-35’s who want to travel the world and live by the Contiki slogan #NOREGRETS. They do a pretty good job of following up with their slogan on trips that are pretty much dream itineraries for travellers who want to see as much as possible with limited time.

Contiki offers tours for destinations around the world including Europe, Asia, USA and Canada, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand and their latest tours are now in Africa too.

With tours as short as a weekend to as long as 45 days, there is something for everyone. They offer budget to luxury, priding themselves in offering eight different travel styles. And with 53 years of tours under their belt, they know a thing or two about doing it right.

They’re also known for having 50% of their travelers as solo travelers, making it easy to meet others.

Contiki Europe Reviews

I personally only went on Contiki tours in Europe and I did the following two:

  • London to Athens Plus Mykonos and Santorini Island Escape
  • Oktoberfest

My short take Contiki tour reviews? All of these tours are awesome and I would recommend them to anyone travelling solo or who wants to see as much as possible in a short amount of time.

Expect for Oktoberfest, that was a completely different type of trip and it was too, totally awesome with excursions and transfers and Oktoberfest tables organized for you.

Should you go on a Contiki tour?

This is the short answer.

Yes, if…

  • You like to party
  • You want everything organized for you
  • You’re a solo traveler wanting to meet people
  • Your budget is not small

No, if…

  • You have a tight budget
  • You don’t care about meeting people
  • You want to explore more in places
  • You like luxury or relaxation

And for the long answer…read through these highlights and not-so-great things about Contiki tours to help you make a more informed decision.

READ MORE: 15 Benefits of Travelling Alone

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Kind of People on Contiki Tours

If you’re Australian and are debating going on a Contiki tour to get away from your country or to meet people from around the world…you’ll probably end up meeting more Australians than anything. Little did I know before leaving for the trip that Contiki tours are insanely popular in Australia and widely known across the country.

When I mentioned Contiki tours to people back home in Canada, not many knew what I was talking about.

Contiki Culture

Contiki tours are targeted to a younger market, with most traveler’s being between the age of 19-23. That age is a party age. So if you’re not a big partier then you may want to reconsider.

I’m not saying that it isn’t fun without the partying because it is, you still do and see awesome things, but there is usually a lot of drinking involved. Like drinking almost every night. It’s always a good time.

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Contiki Tours for Solo Travellers

There’s something about traveling with people that really affects how quickly you become close. In no time you will find some people who you mesh well with, and by the end of the trip, you’ll be crying because you have to go on your separate journeys.

These tours bring people together in a way that’s different than your friends at home which make them ideal for solo travellers. Since my tours I’ve met up with multiple people and travelled with a few from these trips. Travel friendship bonds you in a way like no other.

What are Contiki guides like?

The guides are so much more than a guide. They’re not just the ones telling you what time you have to be on the bus by, they’re also the ones partying with you until the last one calls a quit.

They’re not just giving you phenomenal tours of a city, they’re also there to chat with you at breakfast. They’re not just your tour guide, they’re also a part of your family, your Contiki family which you’ll love dearly in the end.

What are the groups like?

Put a bunch of boys and girls together, mix in a lot of drinking and spontaneous decisions because well why not, you’re on vacation! And you’ll find some drama, usually amongst the girls, and usually over a boy. You’re with the same people on a bus day in and day out, cliques can form and people get mad when boys sleep with more than one girl. Shit happens, people get jealous, this is nothing new, but something that can be expected.

Luckily this never happened on my trip! Though my big tour was 30 girls and 4 boys, two of which were gay, one found out his girlfriend at home was pregnant while on the trip and the last ended up marrying one of the girls he met on the trip!

Contiki Cough

Don’t be surprised to hear from past Contiki tour goers about the Contiki cough. You’re on a Contiki bus with the same people and sharing rooms, someone is bound to get sick. And then it spreads. With the lack of sleep and busy schedule you know one person will get sick and share their gems amongst everyone. Most common is the Contiki cough, or a cold, or both.

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What do you see on a Contiki trip? What is the pace like?

Tours in general are known for being quite quick and the Contiki tours are no different. I took a slower pace tour and found myself jumping from city to city in the blink of an eye. You can spend anywhere from 1-3 nights in each city, which some people think is too little.

I like to think of it as a small taste of each place. It’s just enough to know if you like the vibe of a place before you move on. Then you’ll know exactly where you’ll want to come back to in the future.

The good news is that different kinds of tours are offered for different paces, budget and accommodation style.

READ MORE: Groups Tours: Are They A Good Idea for You?

Is there any freedom?

Yes! What’s great about Contiki tours is that it’s not back-to-back events with every minute of your day planned. There are nightly events which you can attend (at an extra cost) or you can do your own thing. As long as you’re on the bus when you need to be, that’s the only time the tour guide ever does a headcount.

You’ll always have the day to yourself. This is when your tour guide and bus driver will take a break and you and your new-found BFFL can see all the sites your heart desires.

Food & Accommodation

If you want local experiences, to try amazing food, and stay in good accommodations then don’t take a Contiki budget tour. I can’t vouch for their luxury trips but the budget ones bring you to restaurants that every tour goes to, and accommodation  can  have bed bugs (guess who slept in a hotel lobby in Greece because we discovered bed bugs in our room at 2AM?).

Accommodations are often outside the city centre because they are cheaper. You have time to discover your own tasty food during the day and opt to go out for your own dinners if food is important to you.

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Best Contiki Tours

Ready for a Contiki trip? These are a few of the most popular Contiki holidays that look pretty epic. As you’ll soon realize, Contiki Europe is the most popular.

Greek Island Hopping

Countries Visited:  Greece (Paros, Santorini, Mykonos and Ios) Tour Length: 11 days Best for: More relaxed, chilled travellers

European Discovery

Countries Visited:  England, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland Tour Length:  12 days Best for: Travellers with limited time who want to see the most

Simply Italy

Countries Visited:  Italy, Vatican City Tour Length:  15 days Best for:  Italy in-depth

Countries Visited:  Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland Tour Length:  8 days Best for:  Ireland in-depth

European Horizon

Countries Visited:  England, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland Tour Length: 11 days Best for: Europe highlights with minimal time

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Is Contiki Worth It?

Only you can decide.

Contiki Tour Highlights

  • Maximize what you get to see in limited time
  • Make great friends
  • My Contiki seamlessly makes handling documents and meeting people a breeze
  • You never have to worry about booking a thing or transportation
  • Expert guides who go above and beyond
  • Ideal for solo and group travellers

Contiki Tour Downsides

  • Expensive (as are all tours)
  • Always large groups (which could be a good or bad thing)
  • Heavy focus on partying (only a downside if you’re not into that)
  • Fast-paced aka little time for relaxation on the majority of the tours but not all

The truth about Contiki tours is that they’re made for young travelers, people looking to have a great time, see some sights, drink some French wine, and meet people. The experience is as much of a party,and about meeting people as it is about travel.

People will sleep together, you will see some amazing sights, you’ll make good friends, you’ll get little sleep, you’ll party lots, you’ll try unique experiences for each area, and most of all, you’ll come out of it with no regrets (as they promise), which is pretty good. Just don’t be one of those people who gets #NOREGRETS tattooed on them and I’m sure you’ll leave with none.

The simplest truth is that you’ll spend a decent amount of money, you’ll have a great time and you’ll scratch the surface of travel, seeing only the best of the best things to see in each place.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which I earn a small commission from and are at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure policy for details. Thank you for supporting my small business!

Disclaimer: Taylor’s Tracks is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.Com and affiliated sites.

  • Travel Planning Guide

The Best Contiki Tours to Europe

Europe

Looking for an amazing tour with Contiki to Europe ? You've come to the right place, as we've analyzed all of their popular package tour options to find the absolute best based on destinations, price, service, and many other factors. Contiki is a very popular tour company with young adults in their 20's. They are well known and well established with more than 270 tours around the world to choose from. The company is one of the first tour companies that was specifically designed for younger travelers, and they offer tours for those between the ages of 18 and 35 years old, with the average age being 26 years old. Contiki has years of experience offering fun and energetic tours that focus on the aspects of travel that may appeal to the young adult crowd. Travelers who choose Contiki include both solo travelers (about 55%) and travelers with companions (about 45%). Contiki tour managers put a lot of energy into making sure the experience is fun and lively. This is a great tour for anyone who wants to make some new friends while they're experiencing new places. Travelers come from around the world with more than 50 countries represented.

  • European Discovery (Start Amsterdam, 27 To 35, 12 Days) (11 destinations) 12 Days, $3605.00
  • Greek Island Hopping (Gap, 11 Days) 11 Days, $2569.00
  • Italian Escape and Sicily (Classic, 13 Days) 13 Days, $3624.00

What are Contiki's tours like in Europe?

Europe

Here are the important factors:

  • 79 trip options analyzed
  • $193 average price per day (USD)
  • 4 to 45 days in length
  • 4.69 of 5 average rating
  • 47 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of Contiki tours? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.69 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 47 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 4 days, while the longest is 45 days. As for physical activity options, the tours are thoughtfully categorized as easy and moderate, with the most being easy. For transportation , the tours are marked as coach / bus and ocean cruise, with a prevalent number on coach / bus tours. When it comes to travel styles , tour options are organized as romantic and honeymoon, with a majority being romantic tours. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 79 Contiki tours, you can rest assured that Europe has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 10 Best Contiki Tours in Europe

European discovery (start amsterdam, 27 to 35, 12 days) (11 destinations).

  • On Sale: 30% Off See Prices
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

This exceptional trip offering by Contiki has received a 4.7 out of 5 rating. On this 12-day voyage, visiting Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Vatican City (Holy See), Switzerland, France, and England, you can unwind while also making new memories. Along the way, this journey encompasses 11 destinations, including Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Lucerne. Amsterdam will mark the start of your journey, while London will serve as its final destination. With a group size of 50 people, it's suitable for travelers from 18 to 35 years old. This extraordinary adventure also revolves around museums, photography, and romantic activities. This remarkable trip is priced at an unbeatable $210 per day. Act quickly to seize the current limited-time sale and reserve your spot now.

  • Coach / Bus
  • Sightseeing
  • Photography
  • Local Guide
  • Walking Tour
  • Centre Based Walking Holidays

Greek Island Hopping (Gap, 11 Days)

  • On Sale: 5% Off See Prices

Check out this voyage that has received rave reviews, earning a stellar 5 out of 5 rating. This itinerary covers 5 captivating destinations, with stops in Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini, among others. Athens will be both the start and end of your journey. Spanning across 11 unforgettable days, this voyage offers an intimate group experience with 35 participants, and it's great for travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Brought to you by the renowned Contiki , this exceptional opportunity is priced at an incredible $222 per day - an unbeatable value. Hurry and secure your spot while this incredible sale lasts!

Italian Escape and Sicily (Classic, 13 Days)

This 13-day trip is ideal for travelers from 18 to 35 years old. And priced at only $209 per day, it's a great value, too. Immerse yourself in a travel experience that includes 13 destinations, featuring Capri, Catania, Taormina, and Noto. Beginning in beautiful Rome, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Palermo. It's offered by Contiki , a very popular company with rave reviews and knowledgeable guides. Act now to take advantage of the special sale price!

Greek Island Hopping (Pride, 11 Days)

  • On Sale: 25% Off See Prices

Priced at just $206 per day, this terrific 11-day trip is ideal for travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Uncover the beauty of 5 destinations on this itinerary, with highlights such as Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini. Athens will be the beginning and end of your trip. Organized by the reputable Contiki , this is one of the best tours on this list. It's currently on a special discounted offer.

European Magic (Winter, Start London, 9 Days)

  • On Sale: 20% Off See Prices
  • Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for Contiki tours.

This 9 day tour of Europe begins and ends in London and visits eight countries. It's comparable to Contiki's European Discovery tour, but it has less time in Austria and leaves off visits to Rome and Florence. This tour is ideal for travelers who can't spare a full two weeks but still want to see as much of Europe as possible. With slightly less locations, you'll still move fast but will spend a little less time on the road.

Greek Island Hopping (Standard, 11 Days)

This thirteen day tour of the Greek Islands takes visitors to a handful of islands. You'll enjoy visits to Mykonos, Ios, Santorini, and Athens, and you'll be given plenty of time to explore the quaint villages and beautiful landscapes. Spend some time lounging on the beaches or wander through the charming countryside while you soak up the area's culture and atmosphere. You'll dine at delicious restaurants, shop in the local stores, and soak up everything that the Greek Islands have to offer, all in the company of a fun group of young travelers. The tour begins and ends in Athens where you'll have a couple of days to explore. Then you'll travel by boat to Mykonos and enjoy the island's quaint town, picturesque windmills, and delicious cafes. From Mykonos you'll move on to Santorini where you'll visit the famous churches, take a dip in the ocean, or enjoy the famous sunset of Oia. You'll then move on to Ios, which is a bit more rugged than the other islands, but no less charming. From Ios, head back to Athens before saying goodbye to this beautiful country.

  • Island Hopping

Ultimate European (Greek Islands, Start London, 45 Days)

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional journey, visiting England, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, and Netherlands, that has garnered a 4.5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 45 days, this jouney will have 50 participants, and it warmly welcomes travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Expertly organized by Contiki , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $151 per day. Act now to take advantage of the special sale price!

Italian Escape (Age 27 To 35, 6 Days)

This memorable journey is offered by Contiki which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $338 per day. Explore 5 incredible locations on this trip, including Naples, Positano, and Capri. You'll start and end this amazing trip in Rome. The maximum group size is 38 people, welcoming travelers from 27 to 35 years old.

Iceland Fire and Ice (Summer, 6 Days)

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. With a duration of 6 days, this journey offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 50 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Discover a journey that spans 8 destinations, with notable stops in Skaftafell, Reynisfjara, Vik, and Thingvellir National Park. Beginning in beautiful Reykjavik, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Blue Lagoon. Brought to you by Contiki , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $307 per day. Act quickly to seize the current limited-time sale and reserve your spot now.

Norway Fjords and Northern Lights (8 Days)

  • On Sale: 15% Off See Prices

With this option you can experience an unparalleled trip for 8 unforgettable days. It ensures an intimate group setting with 24 participants at most. This trip takes you on an adventure to 4 destinations, including Tromso and Honningsvag. Your adventure starts and ends in Oslo. Contiki , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests travelers from 18 to 35 years old. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $306 per day. Hurry and secure your spot while this incredible sale lasts!

  • Ocean Cruise
  • Northern Lights

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Europe , The Best Wildlife Tours to Europe , The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Europe , The Best Historical Tours in Europe , The Best 10-Day Tours in Europe , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Europe , The Best 3-Day Tours in Europe , The Best 2-Week Tours in Europe , The Best 3-Week Tours in Europe , The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Europe , The Best Extended Trip Tours in Europe, One Month or Longer , The Best River Cruises in Europe , The Best Bicycle Tours in Europe , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Europe , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Europe , The Best Christmas Market Tours in Europe , The Best Coach Bus Tours in Europe , The Best Adventure Tours to Europe , The Best Eco Tours in Europe , The Best Train & Rail Tours in Europe , The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Europe , The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Europe , The Best Art History, Museums, and Cultural Tours Tours in Europe , The Best Sightseeing Tours in Europe , The Best Cultural Tours in Europe , The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Europe , The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Europe , The Best Music Tours in Europe , The Best Photography Tours in Europe , The Best Camping Tours in Europe , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Europe , The Best Self Drive Tours in Europe , The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in Europe , The Best Nightlife Tours in Europe , The Best Religious Tours in Europe , The Best Walking Tours in Europe , The Best Northern Lights Tours in Europe , The Best Honeymoon Tours in Europe , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Europe , The Best Luxury Tours to Europe , The Best Budget Tours to Europe , The Best Tours for Seniors to Europe , or The Best G Adventures Tours to Europe for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

How much do Contiki tours to Europe cost?

After analyzing 79 Contiki tours in Europe, we found the average price to be a remarkably economical $193 per day. Naturally, this region has many fantastic options for Contiki tours with a variety of prices. The individual costs will vary by the destinations, travel style, available dates, and other factors. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Europe .

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Hop On Hop Off in Moscow

City Sightseeing: Moscow Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

City Sightseeing: Moscow Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

  • The Bus Tour offers unlimited 360° panoramic views of main sights of Moscow.
  • Access to audio-guide in 10 different languages which enables to know about Moscow’s history and traditions.
  • The three-bus tour routes and 40+ stops around Moscow completes the trip. Draw an itinerary to explore the city on your own.
  • There can be a boat tour and bus tour to enjoy panoramic views of Moskva River.
  • Smartphone Voucher Accepted. (No need to print)
  • 24 / 48-Hours Hop-on Hop-off Bus Ticket
  • Red Line Audio Guide: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Farsi
  • Green Line Audio Guide: Russian, English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Chinese, Arabic
  • Orange Line Audio Guide : Russian English, German, Spanish, Italian, French
  • Guided walking tour
  • Boat Tour (If option selected)
  • Red Route: Schedule: 10:00 - 18:00 , Loop: 60 Minutes, Frequency: 15 Minutes
  • Green Route: Schedule: 10:00 - 18:00 , Loop: 120 Minutes, Frequency: 30 Minutes
  • Orange Route: Schedule: 10:00 - 18:30 , Loop: 140 Minutes, Frequency: 30 Minutes

Wheelchair Access, Heating Please note that face masks must be worn on board the bus. Orange Route is temporarily suspended   

Operational Details: Walking Tour

  • Daily at 10:45 a.m.
  • Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Meeting point: next to the monument to Saints Cyril and Methodius (Kitay-Gorod metro station)

Capital River Boat Tour

  • May - October: from 11:30am to 6:30pm (Subject to change)
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Departure Point: Zaryadye Park Pier

No Cancellation Charges  up to 24 hours before the chosen travel date. 100% cancellation fee applied within 24 hours of travel date.

Hop On Hop Off Moscow Bus Tours

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is the largest and the most populous city in the country. Present on the banks of the Moskva river, this city serves as the cosmopolitan hub of the country. Carrying  871 year old rich history, this city has played an integral part of Russia’s development and therefore plays an integral role in all the aspect. Majority of the population of Russia lives in Moscow, and the city is responsible as the scientific, historical, political and architectural hub in the region. Moscow is a blend of the old and new Russian culture. The Kremlin complex in the center of the city holds the cultural and historical values of the city. Moscow was also the capital and most important part of the USSR and thus holds many gems throughout the city from that era. Not only that, but the city also brags of timeless elements from the Tsars and other rulers who ever ruled Russia. Moscow has been a hub of many social ideologies and home to popular poets and artists. When in Moscow don’t miss out The Moscow Kremlin, the colorful St. Basil’s Cathedral, the symbolic center of Russia as the Red Square and Lenin's Mausoleum, which also serves as the resting place of Vladimir Lenin and his body has been preserved there since 1924.

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For groups of 12 or more, you may send us an inquiry at [email protected]. Although we do not guarantee bulk deals for all our tours, there are some tours for which we can offer discounted pricing. Ordinary hop-on-hop-off bus tickets are entitled to group savings. Attractions, pass items and combo tickets aren't.

Due the nature of this type of tour and varying demand, group travellers should be aware that there is no guarantee that the group will be able to travel altogether as the available seats vary from stop to stop and depends on demand each day. The group may need to split up and/or wait for the next bus(s).

As, we cannot guarantee that the group shall be able to travel together as one group, therefore we will reduce the group size down to 4-5 smaller groups per ticket (depending upon group size).

Moscow Tourist Bus

Moscow Tourist Bus

Discover the different routes and stops of Moscow's tourist bus and explore the city comfortably enjoying panoramic views of its main monuments.

Routes & stops

The Moscow sightseeing bus has two routes with 46 stops around the main tourist areas of the Russian capital , throughout which you can enjoy recorded commentary in English about the places you are passing through and the city's history .

Some of the unmissable stops for the Moscow bus are: Kropotkinskaya metro station, the  Pushkin Fine Art Museum , the Red October factory and the Alexander Gardens. And of course, no trip to Moscow would be complete without getting off at Red Square to explore the heart of Moscow, admire the Kremlin , St Basil's Cathedral , and the Moscow River.

You can check out the route with all the stops by clicking on the following link:

  • Routes and stops on the Moscow bus .
  • The ticket with 2-day validity costs € 33 ( US$ 35.80) for adults and € 30 ( US$ 32.50) for children between 7 and 13 years old. The bus ticket for children under 7 years old costs € 16 ( US$ 17.40).

Operating times & frequency

  • Red line : from 10 am to 6 pm, every 20 minutes. The whole route lasts an hour.
  • Green line : from 10 am to 6 pm, every 40 minutes. The whole route lasts two hours.

Buy your ticket online

Check out the prices for the Moscow Tourist Bus and buy your tickets online in advance via the following link:

  • Moscow Hop-on Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus

Moscow Sightseeing Bus

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While Moscow has an efficient public transport system, you may sometimes find it more convenient to travel by taxi and prices are usually affordable. Find fares and top tips here!

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LA to the Bay (Summer, 11 Days)

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  • Coach / Bus

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Places You’ll See

Los Angeles

  • Visit the most famous sites of the stunning Los Angeles
  • Relax on San Diego beaches & then enjoy a Margarita
  • Be stunned by the scenery of Grand Canyon & Yosemite
  • Drive along the Route 66 & stroll the streets of Phoenix
  • Visit the famous 'Sin City' & experience its lively nightlife
  • Introduction
  • Day 1 Start Los Angeles
  • Day 2 Los Angeles to San Diego
  • Day 3 San Diego to Phoenix
  • Day 4 Phoenix to The Grand Canyon
  • Day 5 The Grand Canyon
  • Day 6 The Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
  • Day 7 Las Vegas
  • Day 8 Las Vegas to Bass Lake
  • Day 9 Bass Lake
  • Day 10 Bass Lake to San Francisco
  • Day 11 End San Francisco

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Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Additional Services

Where You'll Stay

Customer photos.

contiki bus tours

Operated by Contiki

Contiki has been running tours for over 50 years, all exclusively for travellers aged 18-35 years old. Their mission is to bring young travellers together to see the world, focusing on unforgettable experiences and lifelong memories. Contiki believes in real travel experiences, and they care about making sure these experiences contribute positively to the people and places they visit. Every Contiki trip makes travel easier and more social by organizing accommodation, food, experiences and transport, so you can relax and focus on exploring the world with young travellers just like you.

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Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating Excellent 4.9
  • Itinerary Excellent 5.0
  • Guide Excellent 5.0
  • Transport Excellent 4.9
  • Accommodation Excellent 4.4
  • Food Excellent 4.1
  • Tour Operator Contiki 4.7
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Contiki

Dates & Availability

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Pay-by-instalments

Take advantage of our 0% interest instalment plan on selected departures. Learn More

  • Upcoming departures
  • August 2024
  • September 2024
  • November 2024
  • August 2025
  • September 2025
  • October 2025
  • November 2025
  • Sunday 14 Apr, 2024 Wednesday 24 Apr, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,025 See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 12 May, 2024 Wednesday 22 May, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,025 See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 16 Jun, 2024 Wednesday 26 Jun, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,355 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 14 Jul, 2024 Wednesday 24 Jul, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,355 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 21 Jul, 2024 Wednesday 31 Jul, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,355 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 28 Jul, 2024 Wednesday 7 Aug, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,355 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 11 Aug, 2024 Wednesday 21 Aug, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,315 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 22 Sep, 2024 Wednesday 2 Oct, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,025 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Sunday 17 Nov, 2024 Wednesday 27 Nov, 2024 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,025 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 5 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 15 Apr, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 19 Apr, 2025 Tuesday 29 Apr, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 10 May, 2025 Tuesday 20 May, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 24 May, 2025 Tuesday 3 Jun, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,565 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 7 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 17 Jun, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,695 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 14 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 24 Jun, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,695 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 28 Jun, 2025 Tuesday 8 Jul, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,735 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 12 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 22 Jul, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,695 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 19 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 29 Jul, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,695 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 26 Jul, 2025 Tuesday 5 Aug, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,695 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 9 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 19 Aug, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,655 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 16 Aug, 2025 Tuesday 26 Aug, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,655 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 13 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 23 Sep, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 20 Sep, 2025 Tuesday 30 Sep, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 11 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 21 Oct, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 25 Oct, 2025 Tuesday 4 Nov, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 8 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 18 Nov, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • Saturday 15 Nov, 2025 Tuesday 25 Nov, 2025 English Sold Out Based on Twin €3,335 Only Pay €100 Deposit See Similar Tours For These Dates
  • 26 Other Unavailable Departures

Frequently Asked Questions

The hot air balloon ride and helicopter ride are offered on different days so you will be able to do both.

The sunset cruise is only offered during summer and during the winter months, you will get to do a bike tour instead.

No a visit to Alcatraz is not included on this tour and it is not possible to book this with Contiki however when you have free time you may wish to purchase tickets independently.

Got a question about this tour?

Reach out to our travel experts.

Good to Know

  • Currency $ US Dollar USA

As a traveller from England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for types A, B.

  • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
  • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • For any tour departing before 31st May 2024 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after 31st May 2024, a minimum payment of €100 is required to confirm your booking with Contiki. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 65 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
  • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Contiki will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
  • The following cards are accepted for "Contiki" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Insurance Unless otherwise mentioned, TourRadar does not provide travel insurance. We do however recommend purchasing it through our tried and trusted partner, World Travel Nomads .
  • Accessibility Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveller, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team , who are ready and waiting to help you.
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Travel Tips

Mexico packing list: a beginner’s guide

By Sandeep Sandhu

Sandeep is a freelance writer from London and loves Alice Munro, eating his way through every country he visits, and terrible puns. He has spent extensive periods of time travelling across Europe and SE Asia, and has also lived in Central America.

Published on Mar 25, 2024

Part of the appeal of Mexico as a destination is the sheer variety the country offers. Mountain hikes to pristine lakes, lazy beach days under the basking sun, and bustling cities that thrum with life all exist within the country’s borders, and can all be explored on a trip here. While this all makes for a phenomenal place to visit, it does mean putting together the perfect Mexico packing list is a lot harder said than done. 

Luckily for you, we’ve put in the effort and cobbled together a list of all the travel essentials you need, so that you can focus on enjoying your Mexico trip rather than worrying about what you might have forgotten. 

Feeling inspired?

Mexican Fiesta

1. important documents.

When it comes down to it, if you’re travelling to Mexico the only items you really need are your passport, travel insurance documents, and tickets — after all, you can buy clothes anywhere. If you prebook any tours or overland travel, also ensure those tickets are available to you, whether they be printed out or available offline on some kind of device.

2. Filtering water bottle

Whether you’re in Mexico City or Playa del Carmen, the tap water in Mexico isn’t safe to drink. As a result, single-use plastic water bottles are cheap and prevalent, but obviously have a huge environmental impact.

Thankfully, you can save cash and be ecologically conscious by packing a filtering water bottle. Many of the top brands, like Lifestraw, make tap water accessible as they get rid of the most dangerous impurities and bacteria. A Mexico packing list essential, especially when paired with iodine tablets. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SAGAN Life Water💧Purifiers (@saganlife)

3. Reef safe sunscreen

Mexico gets hot, and even in the mountainous central regions (home to some of the best places to visit in Mexico ) where temperatures do drop, it remains stunningly sunny for much of the year. This means that sunscreen is a must include on your packing list for Mexico.

Reef safe sunscreen is made from chemicals that won’t damage the gorgeous marine ecosystems that surround the Mexican coast, so you can frolic in the sea guilt free.

4. Sun hat or cap

We don’t want to sound like overcautious parents, but you really cannot underestimate how important it is to be prepared for the sun when putting together your Mexico packing list. A big hat or cap to keep the rays away will not only allow you to wander around in the baking heat for longer, but could also stop you from getting burned.  

20 best places to visit in Mexico in your 20s

5. bathing suit.

Sure, you might be heading to Mexico for its architectural treasures like San Miguel de Allende rather than to explore the underwater museums of Cancun , but it’s always helpful to have a bathing suit around. Much of the country has warm weather for most of the year, and pools are common in accommodation, even in budget hostels! 

6. Rain jacket

Even if you’re not planning on visiting Mexico during the rainy season, you should still bring a rain jacket with you as the downpours here are something else. Skies can go from sunny and clear to completely overcast in just a couple of hours, and when the rain is unleashed upon the landscape it doesn’t relent. Without this, you will be soaked through, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

7. Credit cards or debit cards

While many smaller establishments and stores in Mexico are still cash only, card use is very common in tourist-heavy areas like Oaxaca City, Mexico City, and Puerto Escondido. It’s always good to carry a little cash for emergencies, but there are also ATMs available across the country, so the cards are more useful and safer to have on your person. 

If you’re heading on our Yucutan Highlights tour , you might even be able to get away without spending any hard cash, as the stops are all well developed for tourists, including a widespread ability to pay by card. 

Image source: Contiki

8. A Mexican SIM card

Even if you have a global phone plan, adding a Mexican SIM card to your Mexico packing list is a good idea as they tend to get much better signal and a higher quality internet connection than international cards. This makes planning routes or looking up restaurants much easier (and translating too!). 

9. Flip flops or sandals

Useful for the beach and pool, this type of footwear is needed if you don’t want to be traipsing through the sand in heavy shoes. The warm weather of Mexico allows for plenty of these opportunities, and you don’t want to miss them because of having the wrong footwear.  

This is also a great reason to pack tank tops and other warm weather clothing. With that said, you should keep in mind that some areas of Mexico are more conservative, so ensure you have some light trousers and long-sleeved tops so you can stay cool without drawing attention to yourself. 

A whirlwind weekend before your Mexico City departure

10. walking shoes.

Whether you’re exploring Mexico City, hiking in some gorgeous mountains, or checking out the world’s largest pyramid , you’ll want to avoid sore feet or painful blisters. Good hiking shoes mean you can explore in comfort, so ensure you add them to your Mexico packing list. 

11. Camera or smartphone

It doesn’t matter if you’re heading to Mexico for a short stop or going on a bigger journey like our Mexico Grande tour , the country is full of countless photo moments.  

This is true whether you prefer to snap idyllic waterfalls or crazy parades that are bursting with colour, because you’ll have the opportunity to do both here. You just need to be ready!  

12. Insect repellent

This suggestion might seem laughable if you’re in Mexico City, but if you head to the beach or some of the more rugged parts of the country, your trip could be ruined by the sheer number of bugs and creepy crawlies that call this country home.  

While biodiversity is a wonderful thing, you don’t want to wake up to a mosquito nibbling on you, so pack the repellent and you’ll be better off for it. 

13. Crossbody bag

If you’re heading on a whistle stop tour of the country’s highlights like our Mexican Fiesta trip , there’s no more handy companion than one of these small bags.  

They’re perfect for carrying the essentials without being as bulky or easy to open as a backpack, meaning you can explore freely and without having to look over your shoulder constantly. It also helps to keep your valuables safe. 

14. Basic medical kit

Accidents can happen to even the most cautious traveller, so a basic medical kit that includes things like painkillers, medical tape, bandages, plasters, and antiseptic cream is a vital addition to any Mexican packing list. You never know when a little nick might end up becoming infected, so stopping that possibility at source is important for peace of mind. 

15. Medication and relevant paperwork

On a similar note to the above, if you have any specialist medication ensure that you have all the right paperwork to bring it with you. Mexican pharmacies are well stocked, but it’s better to have your medication in a language that you know. 

Mexico Grande

16. headphones.

Mexico is a big country, and getting from one place to the other requires a fair amount of journey time. While it’s a sociable nation and travelling is a great way to meet like-minded people, sometimes you just want to sit back, take in the heavenly views, and listen to some music or an audiobook.  

17. Power bank

As mentioned above, some journeys in the country can be incredibly long, so a power bank is a vital addition to your Mexico packing list. This isn’t just so you’re always entertained during epic bus rides or dull flights, but also because having a fully charged device can be the difference between arriving at your accommodation with ease and spending hours trying to figure out directions with limited Spanish. 

Image source: Filip Gielda / unsplash

18. Microfiber towel

Many accommodation options in Mexico offer towels as part of the package, but you never want to be caught short without one, as there’s nothing worse than having to drip dry in a strange place. A microfiber towel is both convenient and easily stored, making it an ideal item to pack for Mexico. 

19. Travel lock

You can never be too safe when it comes to your belongings while travelling, so a lock of some kind is a must add to any Mexico packing list. This means you can use lockers without having to rent out a lock, and can even ensure your baggage zips remain closed when you fly, giving you complete peace of mind.  

Ready to start planning your first Mexico visit? Check out Contiki’s Mexico tours, exclusively for 18-35s, and book your favourite one today! 

Mexican food: top dishes you need to try on your next trip

Stop dreaming and make sh*t happen.

Mexican Fiesta

1 country, 8 days

Mexico Grande

1 country, 13 days

Yucatan Highlights

1 country, 6 days

Yucatan Highlights

hoho

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Hop On Hop Off Moscow - Bus Tours

Enjoy Moscow sightseeing at your own pace and explore the dynamic Russian capital on value-for-money Moscow hop-on, hop-off tours. Explore the charming city on double-decker buses with multiple routes covering popular Moscow attractions. Enjoy marathon sightseeing and discover the city at your own pace on a fun and flexible City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off Moscow bus tour that takes you around the city while providing an informative commentary on the buses about the points of interest. So, what are you waiting for? Start booking!

Hop On Hop Off

We have been unable to find any activities that match your search. Please try again using alternative search criteria or call +1855­ 626­ 0117 where our travel experts are standing by ready to help you.

About Paris

Experience Moscow in Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

The capital city of Russia, Moscow is home to the largest number of billionaires in the world. The city is the key political and socio-economic center of Russia and was named after the river Moskova. The city boasts a rich history spanning over eight centuries and is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Arbat street in Moscow is over 500 years old. With over 6 million passengers using the metro every day, Moscow’s metro is among the busiest in the world.

A hop-on hop-off Moscow bus tour aboard the double-decker buses is the easiest and most convenient way of sightseeing around this busy city. You can pick 48 hr ticket option to see the entire city at your own pace. The engaging commentary and complimentary walking tour work like icing on the cake. Make sure to book early and try an add-on boat tour to make the most of your itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what is the best time to book a moscow hop-on hop-off tour.

March to May is the best time to plan a visit to Moscow. The days are long with significant sunshine which makes this time ideal for exploring the city. January is the coldest month so make sure to avoid it if you have a low tolerance for chilly weather. However, you will be able to score some good deals on airfare and accommodation during this time.

Q: How does it work?

Moscow bus tour offers you the convenience and flexibility to get off at the nearest designated stop. No tour guide, you set your own itinerary. You’ll find all the stops are located strategically at all the major attractions, making your touring as hassle-free as possible. And then, when you’re ready to continue, return to a designated bus stop, show your pass, and hop back on the bus and onwards towards your next attraction. So, go ahead and make a whole loop of the route once you have your tour ticket, get familiar with the city and pick out your favorite places to visit and then return to them during your stay.

Q: How many days are enough to explore Moscow?

We recommend at least two to three days to explore Moscow at a relaxed pace and cover most of its prominent attractions while enjoying shopping and local cuisine.

Q: What is the validity of the ticket?

There are several ticket options available to you, depending on your length of stay. Each bus tour will have validity from 24, 36, 48 to 72 hours. And the great thing is you can plan ahead as the vouchers are valid anywhere between 6 months to 1 year and can be used at any point during that period. Check the product page or bus tour operator for complete details.

Q: Where can I find a list of all the stops and a map of the various Moscow hop-on hop-off tour routes?

You can visit the relevant product page and check the Useful Downloads section to find the latest information as routes, stops, and timings change frequently.

Other Hop On Hop Off Destinations

  • New York City
  • San Francisco
  • Washington DC
  • Los Angeles
  • Johannesburg
  • San Antonio
  • Reykjavik Iceland
  • St-Petersburg
  • Benalmadena
  • Thessaloniki
  • Kristiansand
  • BUENOS AIRES
  • Hop On Hop Off Bus Offers and Deals

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contiki bus tours

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  1. Europe Tours, Trips & Vacations 2024 / 2025

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    The majority of Contiki tours involve a coach bus or minibus. Contiki coach busses are something the company takes great pride in because they are essentially the symbol and walking billboard of the brand. Because of this, each Contiki coach is outfitted with bright colors on the outside, and plush seating arrangements on the inside.

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    The Bus. Contiki is the most popular bus tour company for young travelers (18-35). They operate in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Asia — but most of the info in this guide will be focused on their European tours. They host more than 150,000 travelers each year and they've been doing tours since the early 60s.

  7. How to Pick the Perfect Contiki Tour for Your Travel Style

    A Contiki is an organized group tour exclusive to young travellers between the ages of 18-35, from all around the world. Contiki brings in travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK, and South Africa. Group sizes range from 13-50 people and tours can span a couple of days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and even up to 45 days.

  8. Contiki Review

    Contiki provides worldwide travel tours exclusively for 18- to 35-year-olds. Check out its style of tours, epic destinations, customer reviews, and more. ... Contiki is one of the best European bus tour companies out there, but it also offers group tours all over the world. Many tours use coaches, and groups can be as large as 52 people.

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  11. The Only Contiki Review You Ever Need To Read

    Contiki is a tour company that caters to travellers aged 18-35. They run a variety of different types of tours, from camping to hotel accommodation trips, all varying in length from 4 days to month-long excursions. The company operates all over the world however, this review will be focused on their European tours.

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  14. Contiki Tours

    Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. It is a subsidiary of The Travel Corporation.Its tours historically had a reputation for partying; however, it also operates wellness trips culturally immersive ...

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  16. The Good, Bad and a Brutally Honest Contiki Review (Are Contiki Tours

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  19. Hop On Hop Off Moscow Tours

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  20. Moscow Tourist Bus

    Routes and stops on the Moscow bus. Prices; The ticket with 2-day validity costs € 33 (US$ 35.80) for adults and € 30 (US$ 32.50) for children between 7 and 13 years old. The bus ticket for children under 7 years old costs € 16 (US$ 17.40). Operating times & frequency. Red line: from 10 am to 6 pm, every 20 minutes. The whole route lasts ...

  21. Moscow Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Tours

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