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Contiki Review – Travel Tours, Group Vacations & Adventure Holidays

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

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Keri Stooksbury

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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 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.

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.

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’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

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 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 .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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’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 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

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

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 .

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 .

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 .

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.

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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Contiki is great for a particular audience, the 18 to 35 year old traveler. but are they any good.

Contiki #NoRegrets

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.

Contiki is great for a particular travel audience. Generally, it’s aimed at younger budget-minded travelers 18 to 35 year olds. Contiki has hundreds of tours operating all around the globe and their whole thing is ‘social travel’. This is for those that want to soak in the cultural side of the destination and dive deep into the local nightlife as well. It makes sense any 18 – 35 year old looking to travel on a budget and party at the same time. Let us take a deeper dive this Contiki Review and see if it’s the right fit for you.

What is Contiki?

Founded in 1962 Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company catering to the 18 to 35 year old market. The idea came from the founder looking to travel on a tight budget yet still have fun and see Europe. Currently, they operate over 300 tours around the world so it’s easy for anyone to find a cool trip anywhere on the globe. I need to mention they won’t allow travelers over the age of 35 to join their tours.

Let me say right now that the average age for a Contiki traveler is 18 to 27.

Accommodations: BUDGET! You’ll be staying in either in a hotel or a hostel so understand these aren’t 4 or 5-star hotels or hostels. However, Contiki does its best to find the best 3-star type hotel or hostel. Depending on the continent that 3-star Euro accommodation will be a 5-star somewhere else. The negative is if you’re sharing a room, you’re hoping your roommate won’t snore and will be courteous with the shared space.

That being said, I never felt unsafe in the locations I stayed in. For the most part, you’ll be out all day and partying most of the night, that bed is there for you to crash.

Hot Tip: If you want you can book your own room, that’s supplemental when you book the tour through Contiki directly.

Group Size: As with any Contiki tour you can expect a minimum of 20 or more travelers with you on the bus. I remember when I did a short 8 day trip I was with 25 or so other travelers. Many travelers will book multiple tours with Contiki so it’s common that during a trip a few will drop off while others will join the group.

Contiki Guides: They round up the whole group in the lobby of the hotel / hostel and they take you on the tour. Yes, they’re like the chaperones we had during a school trip. With one difference, they’re all young and they too want to party. They will take you around the city and do a pub crawl, hit up a club or some really cool local spot.

Food: Breakfast is provided on all the tours however from what I remember lunch and dinner was all on you. To save money you can catch some street food that is delicious and cheap.

Cost: Totally depends on where you plan to go and for how many days. A tour can range from $800 to $3500. Traveling to Europe will obviously cost more than Asia. Also, you’ll need some spending money for whatever comes up, I remember all I brought was $500 for the week.

Drinking and Partying: As you probably already know Contiki definitely has a partying atmosphere however I strongly suggest those 18 to 20 years old travelers to perhaps hold off on going to the US. The legal drinking age in the US is 21 and it’s strictly enforced. I’ve had many of my Australian travel mates say that when they visited the US the younger travelers couldn’t visit any bars or clubs.

Contiki Review:

My very first solo tour was with Contiki, I landed in Germany and ended in Prague. I can’t tell you how much fun I had. I have to be 100% honest, I was partying like an animal with everyone else so much of my day was spent being hungover. I pretty much drank Red Bulls to pull it together and finished the tour like a champ. The tour started in Berlin where I met with the tour guide and he was extremely helpful in getting me situated to my room, the rules of the tour, and explaining what optional add-ons were available.

The guide we had was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the area and took his time in explaining everything. He was very outgoing so that made the tour better.

Having a good guide is everything!

The breakfast buffet I do remember was absolutely incredible! After a full night of drinking the first thing I wanted to do is chow down on food to soak up the alcohol….we all were doing it.

The negative part was the bus transportation from Berlin to Prague, it was a 5 hour drive so we lose most of the morning.

Prague was the city I fell in love with. I was really awestruck by how beautiful that city is and how much more fun I had in Prague rather than Berlin. The food and beer in Prague I felt was better and there was more to do and see. When the tour ended, I really wanted to stay but alas I had to return to my life in California. That trip forever changed how I viewed traveling alone.

Final Thoughts On Contiki:

Should you go on a Contiki tour? 100% absolutely YES, if you…

• Like to party
• Want the whole trip planned for you
• Want to meet new people
• Are on a budget
• Really like to party!

Optional Add-Ons: These are excursions that Contiki sets up that do cost extra. Depending on the country you’re in they can be just about anything but always check what the add-ons are and see which you want to do. Remember these are totally optional.

Bus / Coach: This is the only real negative about Contiki, when traveling from one city to the next you’ll be on the bus or coach for a while….in some cases a few hours. That can be a real drag because you lose precious time just sitting on a bus.

Beware of Australians! Seems that all Australians go on a Contiki tour at one point in their lives. Just kidding after doing so many of these tours some of the most fun people I’ve met are from Australia and frankly, they do make the coolest travel buddies.

Most Popular Contiki Tours:

Here are just some of the more popular tours that Contiki runs catering to so many tastes. The best part is they’re constantly running specials with deals left and right. Here’s a glimpse of their more popular tours:

Let’s also take a look at a few more of their more popular trips!

Contiki Trip Ideas!

Contiki is constantly offering specials on their tours so don’t forget to check out their last-minute deals .

South America is a great destination for any budget traveler, check out some of the deals with these destinations Contiki is offering. – BOOK NOW!

Perhaps you’re looking for something more of an exotic destination, Contiki has you covered with a Bali Island Hopper Tour. – BOOK NOW!

Cambodia is another destination that is VERY budget-friendly and fun. Explore the magic Cambodia has to offer and BOOK NOW!

Here are some more of Contiki’s Top European trips, take a look and book your bucket list trip today!

Contiki Review

Contiki offers fun filled tours for the 18 to 35 year old traveler. The tours are fully organized so you don't have to plan anything. Here's a breakdown as to whom would benefit the most from traveling with Contiki.

• Meeting new people
• You see a lot in a short time
• Great value for the money
• 360+ tours to choose from
• Not fun for non-partygoers
• A lot of time spent on Bus / Coach
• A little fast paced

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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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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