Contiki Experience

Contiki is your access all areas ticket to the hottest travelling show on earth.
Imagine discovering different cultures, meeting new people from all over the globe and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Don’t get left behind—this is one journey you won’t want to miss!

Where does Contiki travel to?

From Australia to Switzerland, the United States to Russia and everything in between – Contiki can get you inside 32 of the world’s most intriguing countries.

You’ll be dwarfed by the pyramids in Egypt, breathless after climbing the Eiffel Tower in France and going back for seconds after sampling an authentic chilli-dog in America.

You can hit the slopes in New Zealand, climb the harbour bridge in Sydney or go wildlife spotting in Canada.

Proof it really is a small world after all, Contiki makes travelling to Australia | Europe | North America | New Zealand

Why Contiki?

If you’re on the look-out for a life-changing adventure Contiki is the must-have travel companion you can’t leave home without.

For over 45 years, young travellers have trusted us to show them the world and make their dreams come true.

We’ve watched people conquer their fears, try something new, learn a different language and embrace exotic cultures.

But, most importantly, we’ve also seen complete strangers become friends and unlikely couples fall in love.

We don’t just offer a destination, we guarantee an experience.

Who travels with Contiki?

Are you ready to live it up and meet heaps of other fun-loving travellers from across the globe?

On Contiki, everyone’s 18 to 35 so you’ll always find someone ready to get in on the action or share an adventure. Whether it be celebrity spotting in LA, braving Amsterdam on a bicycle, sipping coffee at a cafe in Rome or snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a solo or tandem traveller – clear your address book because it is going to be full by the time you get home.

Who works for Contiki?

Our young, professional staff are the dependable, knowledgeable travel partners you don’t want to leave home without.

They’ve braved back alleys and blisters to unlock countries’ best kept secrets – where to go for an authentic Italian pizza or find that discount designer store.

And because our staff are young and fun – just like you – they have a good idea about what you want to do, see and experience on your holiday.

Contiki road crew

Our road crew are there to make sure every trip runs smoothly, answer all your questions and give you the hot tips about the must-see attractions and things to do at each destination.

Experts on culture and customs, our highly-knowledgeable crew can even help you get a hand on the local lingo with some key words and phrases.

Contiki Tour Manager

Our tour managers will get you out of the guidebook and onto the streets with practical, helpful advice that will point you in the right direction towards an unforgettable trip.

Don’t risk a hit and miss experience, your tour manager will give you the inside story on the history, culture and best places to visit at every destination.

Ready to assist at any time, our enthusiastic and passionate staff are always on hand to give you ideas and options on what to do in your free-time.

Contiki Driver

Our highly-skilled drivers know the roads like the back of their hands and are in their element negotiating congested city streets and fast moving motorways.

Contiki’s door-to-door service also means you’ll never have to lug your bags around a busy train station or city centre.

Contiki Crew Australia | Contiki Crew New Zealand | Contiki Crew North America | Contiki Crew Europe

What makes Contiki the world leader in travel for 18 to 35’s?

Don’t waste time trying to find the next place to stay or how to get there, with Contiki you can stress less, enjoy more and let our expert staff show you their secrets to a hassle-free holiday.

We organise everything from transport and accommodation to sightseeing and meals – helping you make the most of every day.
Here’s an idea of what you can expect…

The Freedom to See and Do What You Want!

This is what you’re here for – to see the sights, hear the stories and get an up-close look at the place you’ve always dreamed of visiting, as well as the people who call them home. With a unique mix of tour managers and local guides, Contiki’s informative tours will ensure you get the real story behind every sight, from every angle – by foot, boat, coach or even bike. Contiki’s hands-on sightseeing tours allow you to see, learn, feel, photograph and enjoy the famous cities and places you’ve only ever read about in books or seen on television. Our tours will help you find your feet in a new city and allow you to shortlist the sights you want to explore in more depth during your free-time.

Free time | Sightseeing

Optional Extras

Why stick to the story-line when you can choose your own adventure?

Our exciting optional activities are the stuff memories are made of and will instantly transform your overseas holiday into an unforgettable experience.

There’s something for everyone, our extras blend culture and adventure and include everything from a gondola ride in Venice, to white water rafting in Queenstown or a spectacular light show at the Pyramid of Giza.

Want to go bungy jumping, snorkelling or tandem paragliding? See more in Optional Excursions.

Optional Excursions Australia | Optional Excursions New Zealand | Optional Excursions North America | Optional Excursions Europe

Meals

Trying new food and letting your tummy takeover is half the fun of visiting a new country.

No trip would be complete without sampling at least a few of the local delicacies – escargot in Paris, a true blue Aussie barbeque or pancake stack slathered in authentic Canadian maple syrup.

Providing breakfast and many dinners, we’ll make sure you get your fill of fresh, seasonal produce but still give you the opportunity to indulge in mouth-watering meals at local eateries in your own time.

Mix it up with our free-choice evenings and tuck into a traditional hangi in New Zealand, munch into a hamburger in America or wash down spicy paella with a glass of sangria in Spain.

For a taste of what’s on offer in our kitchens across the globe, see more in meals.

Accommodation

When you travel throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you’ll kick back every night in a comfortable, well located hotel room or at one of our exclusive special stopovers in incredible National Parks and unique Country Homesteads.

In the United States and Canada, hotel rooms are twin share or single with just one exception – in Banff where you’ll stay in charming quad-share chalets.

While in Australia and New Zealand, all hotels are quad share with the option to upgrade to twin share if you’d prefer.

Spend the night in a Country homestead enjoying a traditional Aussie meal and experience cattle and other farm animals.

In the Whitsundays, take a sneaky siesta in a hammock under the palms at the beautiful Long Island Resort – the perfect place to relax and unwind.

You’ll want to sleep with the window wide open so you don’t miss the spectacular sunset and sunrise from our ‘rim-side’ hotel in the Grand Canyon.

In Las Vegas, we’ve hit the jackpot and discovered a hotel, in the heart of the city, which delivers the razzle-dazzle direct to your doorstep – no taxis needed.

Take an overnight cruise aboard the Milford Wanderer and marvel in the majestic beauty of New Zealand’s breathtaking Milford Sound. Or rest in our cosy hotel and chalets situated in the heart of the picturesque Rocky Mountains at Jasper and Banff National Parks.

And finally – in Europe because one size doesn’t fit all, we’ve designed three unique travel styles – Camping, Concept/Budget and Time Out/Superior.

From pitching a tent to living it up in a four-star resort, there is an accommodation option to suit every traveller’s tastes.

If you’re travelling on a shoe-string, get back to basics with a budget-friendly Camping tour and save your hard-earned cash to splurge on something really special.

But if you like to mix things up a bit and believe variety is the spice of life, our excellent-value Concept/Budget tours are for you.

Blending well-appointed hotel rooms with cosy campsite cabins, most accommodation is twin-share and has private bathroom facilities.

Concept tours also take advantage of Contiki’s exclusive, special stopovers including our postcard perfect 16th century French Chateau or our Swiss Chalet at the foot of the picturesque Alps. However, if you prefer bed linen to sleeping bags or private facilities instead of shared – a Time Out/Superior tour could be just what you’re looking for.

Featuring modern hotels and unique resorts, our hand-picked properties are usually close to where the action is and help you make the most of the vibrant city centre.

Choose your European travel style:

European Camping

You haven’t camped until you’ve camped Contiki style.

Our European Camping tours are all about living it up on a budget, you get to experience life on the continent while getting back to nature at some of the world’s top campsites. With swimming pools, warm showers, handy shops and a lively nightlife these well-equipped campsites are a convenient home-away-from-home. First-time campers can breathe a sigh of relief – no experience is necessary to pitch our easy to assemble, twin share tents – they take only minutes to put up and pull down.

And because our tents come complete with their own comfy air-mattress, all you need to bring is a sleeping bag and towel.
Camping might be a great cost-cutter but that doesn’t mean we scrimp on anything – especially food. Thankfully, it’s been a while since camp food meant spaghetti on toast and with the help of Contiki’s fully decked-out coach kitchen our Super Cooks easily whip up fantastic food.

Give the Super Cook a hand to create delicious, nutritious meals including scrumptious pastas, yummy pancakes, exotic curries and locally-inspired dishes like paellas and goulash. Your food fund includes breakfast and many dinners but lunch is your time to let your taste buds do the talking and eat like a local – rosti in Switzerland, crepes in France or moussaka in Greece. Also included in the price is an extensive sightseeing itinerary, loads of free-time and transport on one of our modern, air-conditioned coaches.

You’ll have three Contiki road crew travelling with you – your Tour Manager, Driver and Super Cook.

European Concept/Budget

TRYING to live a champagne lifestyle on a backpackers’ budget?

On a European Concept tour you can have the best of both worlds and travel in style without breaking the bank.

We bring the cost down by mixing it up a bit and staying in a variety of exclusive special stopovers, spacious cabins and well-located hotels.

Say good-bye to over-crowded hostels and smelly campervans, because on a Concept tour you’ll only find comfy beds in great locations – just don’t forget your towel and sleeping bag.

Most accommodation is twin-share, with a maximum of quad-share and more than half of all Concept accommodation has its own private facilities.

A highlight on every Concept tour is spending time at one of Contiki’s exclusive Special Stopovers.
You’ll feel like a star as you sip wine among the vines at Contiki’s centuries-old Chateau de Cruix in the seductive Beaujolais region of France.

In Austria, set against a breath taking alpine panorama is Gasthof Schoneck – Contiki’s traditional Austrian Gasthof.
You’ll get the blood pumping and adrenaline rushing after an afternoon exploring the stunning Tyrolean scenery on a mountain bike.

While in Switzerland, in a glacial valley at the foot of the mighty Jungfrau Mountain, is Contiki’s picturesque Swiss Chalet.
So you’ve got a comfy bed in some of world’s hottest destinations – but what about food, sightseeing and transportation?
Your food fund covers breakfast and many dinners, giving you the opportunity to sample the local favourites like fish and chips, sauerkraut and crepes at lunchtime.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, you’ll travel in style on one of our state of the art coaches, get the inside story on most famous icons AND get heaps of free time to explore even more.

European Time Out/Superior

If you like to be where the action is, our Time Out tours are your front row ticket to the very best of Europe’s grandest cities.

Staying in superior class tourist hotels, near the heart of the city or within easy access, you won’t miss a beat from our centrally-located properties.

On Time Out, you’ll never forget you’re on holiday because all our rooms come complete with private facilities and a selection of modern conveniences to help you relax and enjoy your time in the city.

On many nights, you’ll be treated to a three-course meal at the hotel or resort but there is still plenty of opportunity to eat out and explore the local restaurant scene.

Transport

Let someone else do the driving while you kick back and enjoy the ride.

Our world-wide fleet of luxury, air-conditioned coaches feature wide-screen windows to guarantee you the best view from the coach, reclining seats and top-of-the-range audio equipment including DVD and video systems (not available on European tours). We’ve also fitted most of our coaches with charging units for electronic items like digital cameras and mobile phone. And you’ll never have to worry about going cold turkey just because your iPod or mp3 player died minutes after you hit the highway. Just don’t forget to bring your country-specific plug adaptors.

Transport Australia | Transport New Zealand | Transport North America | Transport Europe | Travel Time

Styles of Tour

There’s something for everyone at Contiki – if you’ve got the time, we’ve got the tour.

Probably the hardest thing about travelling with Contiki is deciding which tour to take – multi-country, one country, regional, ski or even cruise? Do you want to sample a little bit of everything and visit most of the must-see destinations in more than 20 diverse and captivating European countries? If so, a multi-country tour of Europe could be just what you’re looking for and it boasts plenty of free-time to explore the natural beauty and famous icons of each city. But if you would prefer to stay a little longer and really savour the essence of one area, our in-depth regional and one country tours are just the ticket.

We’ll take you to America’s liveliest city Las Vegas, watch the sunrise over Uluru in Australia and get your pulse racing at the Adrenaline Capital of the World in Queenstown, New Zealand. In Italy, discover the quaint fishing villages perched on the steep terraced cliffs of the Cinque Terre region, go celebrity spotting in Capri or walk among the ghosts of the ancient town of Pompeii. In Greece, set sail for the spectacular volcanic island of Santorini, hire a jet ski and skim across the azure blue Mediterranean waters in Mykonos or scrub up on history with a guided tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. If you’ve always been fascinated by a country but want to look beyond the major cities, these tours will take you to all the most popular attractions and get you off the beaten track to many lesser known destinations. However, if it’s something completely different you chasing – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Contiki also offers a range of relaxing cruise holidays through the Greek Islands, along the Nile River, in the spectacular Whitsundays or even across New Zealand’s breathtaking Milford Sound.

Understanding your itinerary

If reading your travel itinerary leaves you searching for an interpreter, this section is for you. Contiki is taking the mystery out of confusing travel-talk to help you better understand what’s included on a tour.

Understanding your itinerary | What’s included

Don’t just take our word for it

Check out what some of our Contiki coverts have to say about life on the road. Our Contikipedia and Trip Forums are filled with loads of useful traveller’s tips and stories.

Contikipedia

You’ve heard of Wikipedia, right? Well, this is our very own Wiki stuffed full of everything you ever wanted to know about the Contiki experience. Written by our staff, it is a must- check travel bible on all things Contiki and gives you loads of important, insider-only travel tips about Contiki trips and ‘life on the road’.

Trip Forums

Don’t wait until you leave for your trip to meet other Contiki travellers, get in early and chat online before you head off on Contiki’s message boards. Excellent for staying in touch once you get home, this is also a great place to ask questions to ‘been and seen’ Contiki converts or our experienced tour managers.

My Trip Journal

Forget hard to read travel diaries – share your up-to-the-minute travel yarns with friends and family back home as they happen on the road with the My Trip Journal tool.

Join Contiki eNews

Keep your finger on the pulse and join Contiki eNews – our monthly email newsletter that’s full of interesting and exciting features like travel tips, competitions, giveaways, trip reviews, polls, plus more. And if that isn’t enough, from time to time we’ll offer you excellent deals and member-only offers to save you loads of money.