contiki tours western australia

Eight Best Australia Contiki Tours To Take In 2024

Last Updated on November 8, 2023

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Australia, as a beautiful and unique country, has enchanted us with its distinct natural wonders and unusual animals.

Australia is one of the few countries that can provide a unique travel experience regardless of your travel preferences, money, or age.

Is it worth getting yourself on one of Australia’s Contiki tours and starting an adventure holiday Australia style? Yes!

But you might be wondering how do Contiki tours work?

Well, Contiki has over 350 distinct excursions available in over 75 countries. The trips combine sightseeing, free time, culture, socializing, and a lot of activity.

The organization offers a variety of trip styles, different locations, and activities. If you want to know more, you can always check Contiki tours reviews and see what people wrote.

I took my first Contiki tour back in 2012 and I had the BEST time. It was one of my biggest highlights when I first started to get into travelling.

The friends I made on that trip, I still keep in touch with today!

So, here are some reasons Australia should be at the top of your bucket list, from its cultural riches to its magnificent beaches and off-the-beaten-path adventures in the outback.

Table of Contents

1. Ultimate Australia Tour

Australia is one of those places where there is genuinely something for everyone. The country is massive (the sixth-largest in the globe) and diverse.

So whether you want a beach vacation, an adrenaline-pumping adventure, or one of the best gastronomic Australia Contiki tours with a little shopping, you’ll find it here.

But with tremendous magnitude comes unlimited possibilities… or something along those lines!

Knowing where to begin planning an Australia Contiki tour is difficult, especially if it’s your first visit.

Discover the wonderful mix of scenery and activities that distinguish Australia in some of the most popular Australia destinations !

Begin in Sydney and the East Coast, with lots of beach time at Bondi, Byron Bay , and the Whitsundays, before heading to the Northern Territory for boundless landscapes and landmarks, including three nights at Uluru.

You will spend 14 nights in hostels, five nights in hotels, three in a lodge, and 2 nights in an eco-camp. You will have 16 breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners during this time.

The group can have a maximum of 30 participants. You will have a professional trip manager and local guides with you the entire time.

We are confident you will have a fantastic and relaxing time in Australia,

This thorough Australia travel guide should help you figure out where to go, when, how to get there, and what to do while you’re there.

It will also provide you with all the information you need to make the most of your time and money while visiting Australia.

📸 PRO TIP: My go-to camera for all my travels is the Sony A7iii – I highly recommend it!

Top Destinations To Visit In Australia

Sydney , Australia’s most populated city, is a must-see with one of the Australia Contiki tours.

It is the country’s business center and home to Australia’s most recognized symbols and experiences, including the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and many more.

2. Melbourne

Melbourne is Sydney’s cooler, teeming with world-class cafes, riverfront pubs (some float!), and a year-round art, culture, and entertainment calendar.

If you’re a foodie, you’ll want to stay a while because I could easily name 40 restaurants that I strongly suggest. This city is one of the best Australia Contiki tours you can do with friends.

3. Adelaide

The Australia Contiki tours will allow you to visit Adelaide, a bit further inland than the traditional East Coast suspects.

It is a lively, up-and-coming city with easy access to beaches, wineries, and a tremendous choice of events all year, including the world-famous Adelaide Fringe in February/March.

4. Airlie Beach & the Whitsundays

The Whitsunday Islands are a group of 74 islands off Queensland’s central coast that are best reached from the holiday town of Airlie Beach.

Make sure your camera is charged or that you have enough space on your phone for many shots because this could be the most beautiful section of Australia.

5. The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300km stretch of 3000+ distinct reefs that begins at Cape York (the very northern tip of Queensland) and ends at Bundaberg.

Cairns and Airlie Beach are the most popular gateways, but day and overnight trips to the reef are also available from Bundaberg, Yeppoon, Townsville, and Port Douglas.

You can check prices and availability for the Ultimate Australia Contiki tour here.

✈️   Book this Australia Contiki tour now

2. North Queensland Adventure Tour

Prepare to discover Queensland’s numerous wonders. There’s so much laid-back beauty in this part of Australia from the clean sands of Whitehaven Beach.

With this tour you will be spending 14 nights in hostels, five nights in hotels, three nights in a lodge, and 2 nights in an Eco-camp. You will have 16 breakfasts, three lunches, and five dinners included.

The maximum group size is 30 persons. Throughout the 25-day tour, you will be accompanied by a professional trip manager and local guides.

Coach + internal flights + train are included in the transportation.

Far North Queensland is home to two World Heritage Sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest . The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most well-known scuba diving sites.

And even if you’ve never dived before, you can plan your first dive on the Reef with the best-organized Australian Contiki tour.

It is not recommended to go all alone. If diving is not your thing, numerous snorkeling trips are offered on the reef.

Spend the day hiking through the Daintree Rainforest, or try a crocodile hunting river cruise instead.

1. Wildlife

Far North Queensland is home to various fascinating species, including the Southern Cassowary (a massive bird that has existed since the dinosaur age) and the Maori Wrasse (a fish with gigantic lips).

Along with these strange critters, you’ll find all the animals you expect to see through the Australia Contiki tour, such as wild koalas, kangaroos, and crocodiles.

2. Balmy Temperatures

Far North Queensland is pleasant all year; temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees even in winter, unlike Sydney and Melbourne, where winter temperatures might fall as low as 8 degrees.

The tropical environment allows swimming in waterfalls, natural bath pools, and the sea (but beware of box jellyfish from November to March).

3. Extreme Sports

Far North Queensland is the place to be if you crave thrills. AJ Hackett’s 164-foot bungee jump in the Daintree Rainforest is Australia’s only bungee jump tower.

You can choose from sixteen different jumping methods, including BMX leaping from the tower! Far North Queensland also has fantastic skydiving and white water rafting locations.

4. Waterfalls & Spa Pools

Do you want to swim at the same waterfall where Peter Andre filmed his Mysterious Girl video?

Get yourself into the Australia Contiki tour and visit Millaa Millaa Falls, together with an entire circuit of gorgeous waterfalls and peaceful bath pools.

There are also dozens of less touristic waterfalls; ask the locals about their favorite swimming site, and you’ll find yourself in a private, serene setting.

You can check prices and availability for the North Queensland Adventure Contiki tour here.

3. Rottnest and Margaret River Tour

Starting in Perth , this western vacation is about stunning beaches, coastal hikes, and glamping beneath the stars.

You will spend eight nights in comfortable lodgings. It will include the coach, ferry, and train. Five wonderful breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners are included in the 9-day tour.

A professional trip manager will assist you with anything you need to know.

Discover Western Australia’s South’s finest, including a dynamic city, unusual fauna, breathtaking coastal and inland scenery, and delicious wines and food.

Your Australia Contiki tour will begin with some free time in Perth, a city that is simple to discover and even simpler to fall in love with.

Then, fall in love again with Rottnest Island’s famed quokkas. Because there are no predators on the island, the cheerful marsupials may freely walk around humans.

Aside from quokkas, ‘Rotto,’ also known as Wadjemup, is a slice of heaven that must be seen to be believed.

Then, your Australia Contiki tour will continue south to Margaret River, where you’ll witness the picturesque Busselton Jetty and Sugarloaf Rock.

The Cape walk trail will also take you to lesser-known and most stunning spots along the WA coast, such as Boranup Karri Forest and Hamelin Bay.

Your Australia Contiki tour to Margaret River isn’t complete unless you indulge.

Wineries to visit in the region include Vasse Felix, the region’s first and still considered one of the greatest, and Leeuwin Estate, the country’s most famous winery, as well as other lesser-known boutique producers.

There will be a stop at Fremantle’s Cheeky Monkey Brewery for lunch and a refreshing beverage for beer lovers (not included).

Before your Australia Contiki tour concludes, you will have some free time to explore the bohemian town of Fremantle.

You can check prices and availability for the Rottnest and Margaret River Contiki tour here.

4. Outback Adventure Tour

From Darwin to Uluru, you’ll experience it all in 9 days, with time for sunset hikes, natural wonders, and lunar landscapes along the route.

Only 20 people can stay for nine days and spend five nights in hotels and three nights in a lodge. You, your buddies, or Contiki family will eat seven breakfasts and 2 wonderful dinners.

There will be only one internal flight, and the party will always be escorted by a professional trip manager and driver.

Exploring the outback is one of the most popular pastimes for any visitor to Australia.

Drive north on the Explorer Highway from Adelaide, or fly into Darwin and go south through the ancient, tropical landscapes.

On your Aussie outback Australia Contiki tour, you will witness some of Australia’s most stunning natural beauties, no matter which path you select.

Some of the best outbacks to explore include:

• Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, Yulara.
• Kings Canyon.
• Alice Springs.
• Coober Pedy.
• The Nullarbor Plain.
• Flinders Ranges.
• Kimberley region and Broome.

You can check prices and availability for the Outback Adventure Contiki tour here.

5. Beaches and reefs Tour

Ahh, the famous East Coast, where you can expect wildlife tours and bushwalks between beaches and sunsets. During the 15 days, you will spend 12 nights in hostels and 2 nights in a Eco-camp.

Included in this tour are eight breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners for a maximum of 30 people.  It also included Coach + internal flights + train.

No worries! You won’t be alone. The expert trip manager and the local guides will be there with you.

Every year, millions of visitors flock to the Great Barrier Reef.

Snorkel and dive among colorful fish and coral, sight turtles, sharks, and whales, or explore the reef from a glass-bottom boat, helicopter, or seaplane.

While the Great Barrier Reef is frequently the focus of attention, it is not the only stunning reef system to visit during your Australia Contiki tour.

The country’s northern, western, and southeastern coasts have underwater playgrounds with distinct ecosystems ready to be discovered.

There are numerous unique ways to visit the reef, which should be on every traveler’s bucket list.

💡 PACKING TIP: Make sure you bring a good snorkel , water shoes and a fast-drying towel for all of the beach-going you’re about to do!

1. The Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is undoubtedly Australia’s most well-known natural asset, and it’s no surprise that visitors of all ages want to see it. It’s simply breathtaking.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s biggest coral reef, stretching 2,300 kilometers.

It is home to about 1,600 fish species, 411 hard coral species, 150 soft coral species, more than 30 whale and dolphin species, and six of the world’s seven sea turtle species.

2. The Southern Great Barrier Reef

The Southern Great Barrier Reef contains vibrant coral reef islets, traditional Australian coastal communities, and hidden island treasures waiting to be discovered.

The picturesque islands dot the Southern Great Barrier Reef and provide eco-tours, superb snorkeling, and easy scuba diving.

This place is for you if you want to experience the perfect Australian island holidays.

3. Ningaloo Reef

For the first time, by getting an Australia Contiki tour, you may experience the crystal blue waters home to the world’s largest fringing reef.

Turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, humpback whales, and the elusive whale sharks call Ningaloo Reef’s 160-mile coral reef home.

4. Montgomery Reef

The reef rises from the sea at low tide and covers an area of over 300 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean, where tidal movements vary by up to 10 meters in height.

As a result, a cascading waterfall cascades from the top of the reef, and abundant marine life is now visible. Boats can cruise through navigable passages in the reef, offering views of the show.

You can check prices and availability for the Beaches and Reefs Contiki tour here.

6. Great Ocean Road Trip Tour

This trip includes three nights in hostels, three nights in hotels, and one in a lodge from Melbourne’s hipster hangouts along the magnificent Great Ocean Road.

For foodies, this tour includes five breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 1 dinner. Your mode of transportation will be the coach and ferry. The group size is limited to 25 persons.

If you want to around Australia, coach tours are an excellent option because you get to see all the gorgeous and unique landscapes!

Australia Contiki tours provide plenty of options for wonderful vacations, magnificent coastal roads, pristine beaches, and a bit of laidback small-town life not far from the city outskirts.

A self-drive road excursion to the Great Ocean Road is necessary for most Melbourne tourists. And, as in many Australian cities, it’s always worth renting a car and heading out of town.

However, for various reasons, not everyone can drive.

Melbourne’s weather is notoriously volatile, with circumstances changing at the drop of a hat.

As a result, projected sunny days are not always guaranteed, and you may not witness the orange colors of golden hour drenching the shoreline as imagined.

You will eventually arrive at the 12 Apostles overlook at Port Campbell National Park. It’s a lovely sight. The Twelve Apostles are, of course, breathtaking, and it is not overcrowded.

There were numerous opportunities along the Australia Contiki tour to take shots without a crowd in the background.

📦 PACKING TIP: Don’t leave home without a solar powered battery pack so you can keep your devices connected at all times.

1. Loch Ard Gorge

The famed Loch Ard Gorge was only a short drive from the 12 Apostles overlook.

There were three trails to choose from, two of which were boardwalk lookouts and the third a hike down to the shore to overlook the Gorge.

2. Gibson Steps

The spectacular views and the cloud of sea spray floating above the shore made it feel surreal.

The steps are small, steep, and slippery, so wear comfortable shoes and take your time!

3. Great Ocean Road Archway

On the way back to Melbourne, a Great Ocean Road memorial arch was created to honor the hundreds of returning soldiers who built the actual Great Ocean Road when they returned home after the war.

It’s a brief photo opportunity; you’ll probably spend at most 10 minutes here.

You can check prices and availability for the Great Ocean Road Trip Contiki tour here.

7. South Australia: Wineries and Wilderness Tour

This 25-person tour begins in Adelaide, where you’ll see the cafes on Peel Street and the wines of the Barossa Valley.

You will spend five delightful days in a hostel for two nights and a hotel for two nights. There will be four breakfasts, two lunches, and transportation by coach and ferry included.

South Australia is brimming with culture, food and wine, wildlife encounters, and a packed program of events and entertainment throughout the year.

Only in South Australia can you taste your way through world-famous wine areas only minutes from Adelaide, dig your teeth into award-winning restaurants, bask in the sun on magnificent beaches, swim with sea lions and dolphins, and cage dive with great white sharks in every region.

You can check prices and availability for the South Australia Contiki tour here.

8. Dive to Adventure

Get away from the mainland and into the Coral Sea, where the Great Barrier Reef awaits. You will have two breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners on those three days.

A professional dive instructor, as well as a Captain and his crew, will be with you at all times. The transportation, in this case, is a dive boat.

Australia is known for having some of the world’s top scuba diving.

Although the Great Barrier Reef is the country’s most famous attraction, there are hundreds more lesser-known diving spots worth visiting.

Australia Contiki tour destinations are as diverse as they are numerous, ranging from spooky shipwreck dives to tropical coral gardens.

While scuba diving in Australia, there is always something exciting to view underwater!

Some of the best locations are:

• The Great Barrier Reef
• Ningaloo Reef
• Whitsunday Islands
• Port Douglas
• South West Rocks

🧳 MUST-HAVE: Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have travel insurance. I recommend either SafetyWing or World Nomads .

It’s simple to see why divers frequently rank Australia as one of the greatest dive destinations in the world.

An absolute paradise of underwater adventure is waiting to be explored, thanks to the tropical temps, superb water clarity, and profusion of marine species.

You can check prices and availability for the Dive to Adventure Contiki tour here.

Australia is full of amazing wonders and otherworldly mysteries. This is both the world’s tiniest continent and the world’s largest country.

Australia has everything from beaches that appear as if they belong in a novel to real-life bears that look like plush toys to enormous spiders and creepy crawlies.

The best way to find out which activity is for you is to check the Contiki reviews.

And before you know it, you will be packing your stuff and buying the ticket for one of the most amazing Australian Contiki tours.

In every sense of the word, Australia is an adventure-filled country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is a joint Aussie-Kiwi company. Which means when it comes to Australia Contiki tours, they really know what they’re doing! They always provide top-notch tours, but the ones in Australia are some of the best they offer.

Yes, Contiki tours cater to young people and are open to anyone between the ages of 18-35.

Contiki and Topdeck are both poopular tour companies that cater to younger people. However, there are a few key differences when considering going with Contiki vs Topdeck. (1) Although Contiki offers tours for travellers aged 18-35, Topdeck’s age bracket is 18-39; (2) Both offer tours to Asia, Europe, North America & Oceania, but only Topdeck offers tours in Africa and the Middle East, while Contiki is the only one of the top that provides tours in Latin America. For me, personally, if I am going somewhere that both go, I will always choose Contiki.

Other articles you will love:

• Best Places to Visit in Tasmania, Australia
• Sydney North Shore Hot Spots
• Become an Australia Au Pair & See the Land Down Under

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Adventures of a Campbell

An australian contiki tour.

Upon finishing my semester studying in Perth, Western Australia , I decided I wanted to take some time to see the east coast of Oz. Throughout my time abroad I had seen much of the west coast but never got time to venture to Sydney, Cairns or any of the main sights of the east.  Many of my good friends were returning to the States to start summer jobs and I found myself realizing if I wanted to travel around Australia some more, I would have to go at it alone.

I had heard about the tour company Contiki from many people in the past and decided to take a look into their trips. Contiki is a company geared towards travelers age 18 to 35 who want an experience where they can meet new people and not worry about logistics. When you sign up for a tour you just have to get yourself there then everything from activities to accommodation is primarily taken care of. After spending a semester being responsible for school work, excursions and everything else, being able to just hang out, travel and meet people with little to no planning involved sounded right up my alley.

  Booking a Tour:

  I chose to go into an STA Travel office to ask some questions and figure out what trip would be right for me. The people there were incredibly helpful and booked both my tour and my flight over to Cairns. I had done some independent research beforehand so I had a good idea on what tour I wanted to do, but being able to sit down and ask someone knowledgeable about my options was really refreshing. I had never traveled alone for an extended period of time before and I wanted to ensure that a Contiki tour was the right choice for my situation.

I would recommend talking to either a travel agent or sending some emails to the people at Contiki to ask some questions before booking. Especially because I was able to get a small discount by booking through STA due to my student status.

I chose to do the tour called Beaches and Reefs starting in Cairns. The tour lasted two weeks and went to many iconic Australian locations such as The Great Barrier Reef, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, Whitsunday Islands, and many others.

*Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands*

*Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast*

What to Expect:

Personally, I had heard Contiki tours tended to get a little crazy. People told me stories about long and wild nights out, all which included way too much alcohol. However, my experience was different. The group of people on my tour went out and had fun but the trip did not feel like it was focused only on partying. I think a lot of times these tour companies that cater to young people get a bad reputation for being just party trips but I did not find that on my Contiki Tour. I had far more experiences exploring tall rainforests, relaxing at sunny beaches, snorkeling in coloring waters and just enjoying the views of Australia than I did drinking or partying. I’m sure the vibe of the trip varies depending on the mix of people, but overall I would imagine most Contiki tours have a good combination of real authentic travel experiences and some fun nights out.

One thing you should expect is that when you arrive, there will be people who either already know each other, or seem to have already made their friends. Not everyone will be traveling alone, but not everyone is in groups either. I managed to make some amazing friends on my tour, friends that I still talk to years later! But don’t go into this trip thinking everyone will be friendly and soon the whole bus will be best friends. There were people on my tour I barely spoke two words to and others that I had deep and meaningful conversations with. As with most situations in life, there will be awesome bonding moments with some people and awkward, silent interactions with others. Overall, people are nice and everyone is there to have a good time! If you are like me and choose to do a trip like this alone, you will soon realize upon arrival that you’re not at all alone and that there are loads of opportunities to make friends!

*My tour group on Fraser Island*

Extra Costs:

Contiki tours are not cheap, but are not outlandishly expensive either. At first glance I thought my two-week tour sounded like so much money! However, you must understand that the price of the tour includes some meals, all accommodation, all transportation, a knowledgeable and awesome guide, as well as many super cool activities. I did the math when deciding what tour was right for me and realized if I tried to see and do all the things my tour offered independently, it would cost me MORE money.

That being said, there are many “extras” offered on a Contiki tour that bump up the cost of your vacation. Each tour will offer Me Time options which are just extra tours and activities you can choose to purchase throughout the tour. For example, in Cairns there was a day on the tour that was a “free day”, meaning you had time to yourself to do whatever you chose. However, there were activities offered through Contiki that you could take part of if you wanted. I ended up booking a trip that day to do the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway which took me up into the mountains of the rainforest and into an adorable little town. That trip did cost me extra but it made for an awesome day with some people from my tour that I ended up getting really close to.

*Skyrail Rainforest Cable Car in Cairns*

Other things that cost extra money would be food . Usually breakfast is always included every day and there are a few included dinners as well. Most days’ lunch is on your own, but you can choose to eat when and where you want. A few people on my tour would always go to a grocery store in each town to pick up snacks and sandwiches for lunches which saved them quite a lot of money. You also should include the price of alcohol if you think you will be going out at night quite a bit. Australia has pretty high alcohol prices so keep that in mind.

Overall, my experience with Contiki was a very pleasant one. My trip was fun, I met amazing friends, saw awesome sights and managed to not spend a ridiculous amount of money (always a bonus). Contiki tours are a great option for people traveling alone, I think my experience was heightened because I went by myself. It allowed me to open up to new people and new things!

Explore Contiki’s website to see for yourself what they offer!

www.contiki.com

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Popular Contiki Tours

• AUSTRALIA & NZ
• NTH AMERICA
• STH AMERICA

As the original travel company for the young, wild and free, Contiki have perfected the art of travel for 18-35 year old’s. With 300 trips spanning 6 continents, the best team in the business, 8 ways to travel and more included experiences, your transportation is just the start of what you get with Contiki. Because you only get one life, one shot. So live with no excuses, and travel with no regrets.

Why travel with Contiki

• 8 tailored travel styles to suit every type of traveller
• More free time - plus tasty Free Time Add-Ons to amp up your experience even further
• Unrivalled value - unique accommodation, an A+ team. comfy transport and No Regrets experiences on every trip
• Munch - authentic food experiences
• The original and the best - 56 years as the world's leading youth travel brand

Popular Contiki tours

• Greek Island Hoppping

European Whirl

• European Escapade
• Croatia Island Escape
• European Trail

Me time, free time

Contiki love group fun, but free time to explore and do your own thing is equally important, so they’ve included all the free time you can dream of to do just that. Put your own stamp on your adventure, or opt to get involved with one of their ME Time Optionals to amp up your experience. These bad boys have been cherry-picked just for you...think hot air ballooning over the Sonoran Desert, a West-end musical in London or kayaking in Halong Bay, and your on the right track.

Travel with no regrets

To travel is to eat.

MUNCH is Contikis committment to local, authentic and delcious food experiences in whatever country you find yourself! Whether this is local included meals or optional foodie experiences, there is something for everyone's tatste!

Did you know...

• Contiki owns a 16 th  century French château, an Austrian Gasthof and a Swiss chalet 
• Munch is our food philosophy which demonstrates our commitment to authentic and local food experiences. This means bespoke menus designed by Danish Masterchef Thomas Castberg in all our Special Stopovers, Free Time Add-On food experiences like cooking classes and 5 course meals, Limited Edition Munch trips and dining with locals with VizEat
• We launched a brand new travel style, Independent Insider, which allows you to build your own itinerary with 3 night blocks in each European city

"This Contiki was definitely the most incredible thing I've ever done.  Even though it's such a cliche thing to say or hear; the people that you meet and become friends with on this Contiki really make the trip amazing and everyone becomes such good friends in such a short period of time.  I had the time of my life and loved all the places we visited; Switzerland being my favourite. I've never seen anything as gorgeous as that country!!! For hostels, they were pretty good! And nearly all the hostels had free wifi which was a bonus! I went travelleing with my friend and it was good because we weren't living out of one another's pockets; we went off with our other friends and done out own thing sometimes which was great.  I wouldn't recommend a shorter trip than 18 days.  I found this to be a perfect amount of time to see lots of places but its also a great amount of time to allow everyone to become really good friends.  There was a lot of clubbing and going out at night which was lots of fun but I had a few quiet nights as well to refresh. The bus trips between each country (usually 6 hours) was when everyone had a good opportunity to catch up on sleep. I cant wait to do another Contiki and meet another bunch of awesome people.  Cant recommend this trip enough!! Friends for life!"

Jessica1492, 1 Contiki, 10 countries

...........................................................................................................................................................

Canadian Encounter

"This was my first contiki and first solo trip. And it was just truly awesome. The tour crew Braden and Frank made the trip so fun aswell as all my new friends on the tour. I really enjoyed visiting lots of different places and Toronto and Pittsburg were my favourites. So will definitely be going back to those places to do some more exploring!! It's so hard to pick the best moments as I enjoyed all of it. If your undecided whether you want to do this. I would definitely say do it!! As life is for living!!!!! :)"

Philly91, 1 Contiki, 2 countries

Asian Adventure

"The Asian Adventure was without a doubt some of the most amazing two weeks of my life. Flying into Bangkok I was so nervous yet excited to meet my fellow travelers. When meeting them everyone was a little quite, and by the end of the trip we were treating each other like family. Just like our trip manager said we would.

Every single part of this trip is so carefully thought out and planned to a t just to ensure that we have the best experience possible and that's exactly what it was. Traveling to SE Asia was the best decision I ever made, it opened my eyes to things I had no idea happened in the world, to natural wonders you wouldn't believe actually exist and to a sense of connection with people around the world who are so so so extremely different than us yet exactly the same.

Thailand, Laos and Cambodia are now some of my favorite places. Because of the $3 massages? Incredible food? Heart racing adventures? Or beautiful scenery? Of course because of all of those things. But most importantly because of the like minded, beautiful people I was lucky enough to meet and experience it with along the way.

Once you see the world on this trip, you return home craving to be back in a place like this. Everyone is happy, everyone is peaceful and everyone is so generous. Everyday I think about my experience here and long to be back. Because of this trip I will go on to explore more culturally diverse places just like it and I will go on to see each day differently because this trip opened my eyes and changed my life as to what really makes someone happy and what really matters.

Seeing Asia by myself would have been great, however the one thing I tell people about contiki now before anything else is how amazing it is to have a trip manager. My group and I lucked out by having the most warm hearted, fun spirited, generous, and hard working trip manager possible. Chamani Weerasekara became more than a manager she became a friend. She was up early morning taking care of us, and planning everything for us. She planned extra me time and special dinners, she planned fun games and parties and I speak for everyone else when I say that she is the reason this trip was so outstanding. She went above and beyond her job description for us. You could see the light in her eyes when she would see such amazing places and see her light up when she felt accomplished knowing we were all so happy. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met and truly has such a good soul. She cares deeply for each of her little ducks on this trip and it shows.

Honestly, I did not worry or stress one time on this trip all because of her. She made my trip memorable and there is nothing in the world I could do or say to thank her enough for that. This will not be my last contiki because of her.

Book this trip, you will not regret it. You will look back on this trip for the rest of your life and you will crave more."

Bridgette, 1 Contiki, 3 countries

The Big Tiki

"Wow! New Zealand is the definition of wanderlust, our tour team (s/o Kellie and Aaron!) are exceptional humans, the me time optionals are epic, and my fellow travelers are now family. The Big Tiki was an monumental experience and it's true I have #noregrets.

This trip infinitely exceeded my expectations. You read reviews of Contiki saying "you'll make so many friends" and they are 100% accurate. I now have an amazing group of people from all across the world I consider family. We visited some of the most beautiful locations I have ever experienced. I find myself at a loss for words when I describe them to others and photos do not do these places justice--you much experience NZ! The people of New Zealand are the friendliness, funniest, and most big-hearted people you will ever meet. Contiki NZ also offers a wide range of me time optionals, so there is something for everyone and if me time isn't for you, natural beauty is at your finger tips, experience it!

Best Advice #1: Considering NZ? Find a way to do the Big Tiki instead of a smaller trip. New Zealand is an amazing country and the north and south islands are so different--seeing just one island does not mean you've seen New Zealand. You may be sad when people leave the trip, but you'll be happy you get to stay and make new friends!

Best Advice #2: Adventure! New Zealand is an adventurer's paradise, so take advantage of it! Go skydiving, try strange foods, stay out with new friends later than normal, and don't forget to bungy jump! This was my favorite optional; bungy is seriously amazing...you are in its home country, so go for it!

As Kellie says...leave your New Zealand Contiki fat, poor, and happy. As we now say, if all else fails...#crawltokellie!"

Elaine, 2 Contikis, 2 countries

Great Britain & Ireland

"First things, DO THE FULL TOUR. This tour is made up of modules and most people regretted not doing England, Scotland and Ireland. Do all the optionals, the bike ride around Kilkenny was fantastic, going into all the castles, Jameson tour, the Scottish and Irish dancing evenings.  There is lots of neat things included in this tour like jumping into Loch Ness, good meals (although I don't know if I can eat another potato for a while), try the haggis (its surprisingly good). Also feed the hairy highland cows in Stirling, they are so cute. The pubs are great craic , drink some guiness and listened to live music. Benny was a fantastic tour manager , and Pete was a great driver( I don't know how he made some those small streets). The accomadations were all clean. I would for sure recommend this trip, and spend a few extra days in London before and after the trip , you wont regret it."

Ahsley, 6 Contikis, 10 countries

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Home » Blog » Your ULTIMATE GUIDE to Contiki

Your ULTIMATE GUIDE to Contiki

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.

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) .

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. 

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.

• 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!).

Accommodations

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

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.

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).

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!  

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.

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.

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

• 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!) 

• 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.

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

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

you are very welcome!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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?

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!

“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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 😊😊

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

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?

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The Truth About Contiki Tours – The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Picture this: A diverse group of people has their own unique stories and backgrounds. They are setting out on a shared journey through the heart of Europe.

That’s Contiki’s essence. It’s a unique travel adventure for young 18 to 35-year-olds. It’s for those who crave both excitement and camaraderie.

But don’t get too swept up in the romantic idea of gallivanting across Europe .

Let’s strip away the glossy brochure promises. Sure, the plan has famous landmarks and lesser-known spots. But, can they make your trip a memorable adventure?

Having gone on one of their trips this spring to Europe , I set out to debunk this question in this article.

As I sit down to write, I’m eager to offer you an unfiltered account of my Contiki trip. I’ll cover the highs, the lows, the unexpected twists, , and even how I managed to fit in some self-care amidst the whirlwind of activities.

At A Glance

What Is Contiki?

Why go on a guided tour, limited time for holiday, don’t want to plan your own trip, want to travel but be safe, want to travel solo and make new friends, see a bit of everything, if you’re not a patient person, if you want to explore each destination in depth, if you want more flexibility in your itinerary, if you prefer intimate or solo travel, if you desire authentic cultural immersion, i’m in my late 20s, is contiki right for me, organisation, state-of-the-art equipment, making travel matter, travel pace, personal time off, accommodation, transportation, experiences and activities, trip manager and local guides, personal expenses, travel insurance, so, is contiki worth it.

Contiki claims to be more than just another travel company; it markets itself as a haven exclusively crafted for the bold and youthful, like you and me.

Imagine a global tribe of adventurers, aged between 18 and 35, spanning 60 countries and 6 continents. This is Contiki’s promise – a vibrant community bound by a shared passion for exploration and friendship.

They offer over 350 trips and 300 unique itineraries , promising something for every type of adventurer. From exploring remote Peruvian towns to trekking through Guatemalan jungles, Contiki’s offerings seem exciting on paper.

Amidst the glossy brochures and Instagram-worthy snapshots, does the reality of the trip actually meet the hype that they promise?

Opting for a guided tour simplifies travel in many ways.

When travelling with friends, choosing a tour stops endless debates. They are about itinerary details and accommodations. Everyone pays the tour operator directly, such as Contiki. This makes logistics easy and allows for a smoother journey.

For solo travellers, guided tours offer a chance to meet new people and share costs. They also allow you to explore safely, especially in unfamiliar regions. It’s a good way to explore new cultures. It’s also a way to make friends with fellow travellers.

Guided tours also provide security. You know you have a knowledgeable guide leading the way. This allows for more immersive experiences. You can interact with locals. It enriches your understanding of different cultures.

In my experience, opting for a guided tour has made my travels more enjoyable and hassle-free.

Who’s Contiki For

If you’re strapped for time but eager to make the most of your precious vacation days, Contiki is your ticket to efficient and immersive travel experiences.

With meticulously planned itineraries, you can explore multiple destinations in a single trip without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.

Let’s face it – planning a trip can be a daunting task, especially when you’re juggling work, social commitments, and everything in between.

With Contiki, all the hard work is done for you. From booking accommodations and arranging transportation to curating immersive experiences and activities, Contiki takes care of the logistics so you can focus on what truly matters – enjoying your adventure to the fullest.

Solo travel can be exhilarating, but safety is always a top priority.

With Contiki, you can explore the world with peace of mind, knowing that you’re in good hands every step of the way. From experienced Trip Managers who provide invaluable local insight and guidance to a supportive network of fellow travellers who have your back.

Travelling solo doesn’t mean you have to be alone.

With Contiki, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded travellers from around the globe. Whether you’re sharing stories over a communal meal, exploring a new city together, or embarking on adrenaline-fueled adventures, you’ll find that the bonds formed on a Contiki trip are as unforgettable as the destinations themselves.

If you’re the type of traveller who wants to see it all – from iconic landmarks to hidden gems – then Contiki is the perfect fit for you.

With a diverse range of trips and itineraries that span continents and cultures, you can customise your adventure to suit your interests and preferences.

Whether you’re craving the hustle and bustle of a vibrant city, the tranquillity of a scenic countryside, or the thrill of an adrenaline-pumping adventure, Contiki offers something for everyone.

Who’s Contiki Not For

If you prefer to move at your own pace and dislike waiting for others to catch up, Contiki may not be the best fit for you.

Group travel inherently involves coordinating schedules and accommodating varying preferences, which can sometimes result in waiting periods during activities or transit.

Contiki tours are designed to offer a taste of multiple destinations within a limited timeframe, which means that time spent in each location is often brief and packed with activities.

If you crave deep exploration and immersive experiences in every destination you visit, you may find the pace of Contiki tours too rushed.

While Contiki provides carefully curated itineraries that offer a well-rounded travel experience, there may be limited flexibility for spontaneous detours or personalised activities.

If you prefer the freedom to tailor your travel plans on the fly and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations, you may find the structured nature of Contiki tours constraining.

Contiki tours cater primarily to young travellers aged 18 to 35 who enjoy the social aspect of group travel.

If you prefer solo travel experiences that allow for deeper connections with locals and greater autonomy in decision-making, you may feel more fulfilled pursuing alternative travel options.

While Contiki offers opportunities to meet fellow travellers and forge new friendships, the group dynamic may not suit everyone’s preferences.

While Contiki strives to provide immersive cultural experiences, the nature of group travel can sometimes result in a more superficial exploration of local culture and customs.

If your travel philosophy centres around authentic cultural immersion and meaningful interactions with locals, you may find that Contiki tours prioritise convenience and entertainment over deep cultural engagement.

In my late 20s and early 30s, the world seems to stretch out before me.

During this time, I found Contiki. It promised adventures and memories to last a lifetime. And indeed, my experience was transformative.

As I set foot on the shores of the Iberian Peninsula, I found myself in the rich cultures of Spain and Portugal . The streets of Cascais are colourful. The rhythms of a Flamenco show are soul-stirring. Each moment felt like a brushstroke on a canvas of discovery.

One highlight was ziplining in Toledo. I love adventure. Toledo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It is known for its rich history, diverse cultures, great buildings, and art. And who could forget immersing in the essence of Portugal’s renowned wine culture at a port wine tasting in a wine cellar in Porto?

But amidst the excitement, I found myself pondering: Is Contiki truly the right fit for me in my late 20s?

The itinerary promised a whirlwind of experiences. But, I wondered if travel was more than just ticking off landmarks and eating local food.

I delved deeper into Contiki. I realised that it caters to a specific group. They crave adventure but may overlook cultural immersion.

Sure, Contiki offers a taste of the wonders of the world. But, for those seeking a more introspective journey, it might leave something to be desired.

As I reflect on my time with Contiki, I can’t help but appreciate the highs and see the limits. I’ve realised that the right travel experience is about the destination and the journey within.

What I Was Impressed By Experiencing A Contiki Trip First-Hand

Experiencing a Contiki trip first-hand was an eye-opening adventure that turned out to be nothing like what I expected.

First and foremost, the level of organisation was impeccable. From the moment we gathered for the trip briefing to the final farewell, every detail was carefully planned and executed flawlessly.

As someone with a busy work schedule , having all the logistics taken care of, from accommodations to activities, allowed me to fully immerse myself in the travel experience without any added stress.

One of the things I loved most about Contiki is the sense of community it fosters.

I felt like I was part of something bigger – a global family of like-minded travellers united by a shared passion for exploration.

Whether we were sharing churros in Spain or meandering through the charming streets of Portugal, the camaraderie formed during our Contiki adventure was truly special.

Another aspect that particularly stood out to me was the emphasis on safety.

Before we set off on our journey, our Trip Manager conducted a thorough safety briefing, ensuring that everyone was well-informed and prepared for any situation that might arise. It was reassuring to know that our well-being was a top priority throughout the trip.

Solo travel can sometimes be intimidating, especially in unfamiliar territories or if you’re embarking on solo travel for the first time. However, Contiki’s experienced Trip Managers and the supportive group dynamic provided a reassuring sense of safety and companionship throughout the journey.

Another highlight was the brand-new coach we spent most of our time in. With modern amenities, a bathroom, and plush seating, it became our home away from home as we traversed Europe’s winding roads.

From the moment I stepped onto the coach, a premium and more comfortable bus, I felt at ease. The spacious, plush seats and smooth ride, along with amenities like Wi-Fi and power outlets, made the journey relaxing and enjoyable.

Of course, it wasn’t all serious business on our Contiki trip. The atmosphere was filled with infectious energy, and laughter echoed through the air as we shared unforgettable moments together.

The one effort that really stood out to me was how Maddy, our Trip Manager, would play a special song for us each morning when we boarded our coach to set the energy right for the rest of the day. I’ve got the song now in my playlist which brings me back to the fond memories of our trip each time I play it!

From impromptu dance parties to inside jokes that had us in stitches, there was never a dull moment.

What truly set Contiki apart was their commitment to making travel matter. Through their “Make Travel Matter” initiative in 2016, Contiki is dedicated to giving back to the communities we visit.

One memorable experience was in Cascais, where we participated in a community project to create 80 vibrant paintings that now adorn the local streets, bringing joy to residents and visitors alike.

Additionally, Contiki supports initiatives to aid homeless individuals, providing free classes, meals, and access to essential services such as showers – a testament to their dedication to making a positive impact wherever they go.

What I Was Not So Impressed By Experiencing A Contiki Trip First-Hand

While the overall experience was positive, there were a few aspects during the trip that I thought could be improved.

One area that fell short of my expectations was the pace of the trip. This comes with every group tour that you go with. With larger groups, it naturally takes a longer time to coordinate everything.

I appreciated our Trip Manager and Driver doing their best to coordinate everything in advance so waiting time is minimised.

Individual travellers from the trip, however, are another story. While Trip Managers emphasise punctuality and Contiki trips are very strict about leaving on time, there’s always someone who takes a bit longer than usual.

Your best bet is to hope you don’t encounter an Insta-wannabe who needs multiple shots for the perfect angle and ends up holding everyone else up.

Remember, standard Contiki trips won’t wait around if you’re late.

Shared meals aren’t as prevalent on their standard trips, which means you might not have as many opportunities to dine together as a group. When you do have a group meal, it can take up to 1.5 hours.

On the flipside, as someone who enjoys taking more time to soak in the sights and sounds of each destination, I found the itinerary to be somewhat rushed at times. With jam-packed schedules and tight timelines, there were moments when I felt like I was simply checking off boxes rather than fully immersing myself in the local culture.

Another aspect that left me wanting more was the amount of downtime we had. While I understand Contiki aims to create a rich shared experience in each location, being with a group of strangers for nine consecutive days meant constantly engaging socially. For an introvert like me, that can be draining after a while.

On standard Contiki trips, I appreciated having more genuine free time to do my own thing. While there were group activities, there were also plenty of opportunities to explore independently.

You might assume you can finally switch off after the day is done, but if you opt for the default package, you’ll be sharing your room with one or two other travellers from the trip. To address this, there’s an option to book a private room for yourself.

What’s Included On A Contiki Trip

Contiki provides accommodation throughout your trip, ranging from hotels and hostels to unique stays like glamping or cabins. Rest assured, your lodging will be comfortable and conveniently located.

There’s also the option to upgrade to a private room if you’re not comfortable with sharing with strangers.

The best part about booking a trip with Contiki is that you don’t have to worry about transport. Contiki takes care of transportation between destinations, whether it’s by coach, train, or ferry. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey as you move from one exciting location to the next.

While some meals are included, such as breakfasts or select dinners, Contiki also allows for flexibility so you can explore local cuisine on your own.

Be sure to check your specific itinerary for details on meal inclusions.

Your Contiki trip includes a variety of experiences and activities, ranging from guided tours of landmarks to adventurous excursions like hiking or snorkelling.

These activities are designed to immerse you in the culture and beauty of each destination. Some of them are included in a standard package, while others are optional add-ons.

Throughout your journey, you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable Trip Manager who’ll provide valuable insights, assistance, and recommendations. All of them, I’ve learned, are highly trained and are guaranteed to give you a good time!

In addition, local guides may join specific activities to offer expertise on the area’s history, culture, and attractions.

While Contiki provides a structured itinerary, there’s also some free time built into the schedule for you to explore independently, work remotely , or relax at your leisure. Use this time to discover hidden gems, shop for souvenirs, catch up on work, or simply unwind and soak up the atmosphere.

What’s Not Included On A Contiki Trip

Flights to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included in the base price.

You’re responsible for arranging and purchasing their airfare, ensuring that flights align with the tour’s departure and return dates.

Costs such as souvenirs, snacks, and personal purchases are not typically covered by Contiki. Travellers should budget for any items they wish to buy during the trip and consider currency exchange rates if travelling internationally.

Contiki offers optional travel insurance for purchase, but it’s not typically included in the base trip price.

Travel insurance provides coverage for unforeseen events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost or damaged belongings. Here are the ones I recommend .

It really depends on what you’re looking for in your trip.

If you prefer taking your time to explore, want to deeply immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine, and need to keep an eye on your budget, then doing your own research might be the best option.

However, if you want someone else to handle the planning, whisk you away every day, and ensure you have a blast checking off your bucket list, then Contiki is the way to go!

With Contiki, you can sit back, relax, and focus on making amazing memories with new friends. Whether you’re packing for your trip as a digital nomad or preparing for a road trip , Contiki has you covered.

What sets Contiki apart is its commitment to making travel accessible, social, and unforgettable for young people. From themed trips tailored to specific interests like Pride celebrations or Christmas markets to expertly curated itineraries that showcase the hidden gems of each destination, every Contiki experience is crafted with care and attention to detail.

Ultimately, whether Contiki is the right choice for you depends on your preferences, travel style, and what you hope to gain from your journey. But one thing is certain – embarking on a Contiki tour is sure to be an adventure filled with excitement and memories to last a lifetime.

While my Contiki experience was filled with unforgettable moments, there were aspects of the trip that left me rethinking if a group tour is right for my travel style.

However, despite these shortcomings, I remain grateful for the opportunity to explore the world with Contiki and look forward to future adventures that this renowned travel company offers!

Special thanks to Contiki for making this experience possible! All opinions remain my own.

Isabel Leong

Full-time travel blogger at Bel Around The World and SEO coach roaming the world at a whim, Isabel helps aspiring content creators and brands get the most out of their online presence by attracting organic leads/traffic and achieving financial freedom with her Skyrocket With SEO course. She's closely involved in and has been featured as a speaker in other travel & digital nomad networks & podcasts such as Traverse, Travel Massive, The Nomadic Network and Location Indie.

Hi! I'm Isabel, a full-time traveller and digital nomad from Singapore. In the past 10 years, I've lived in New Zealand , Japan , Kauai Hawaii , Mexico , Costa Rica and Bali . Pulling from my own world travel adventures and blogging lessons, I share my tried and tested tips, so that I can get YOU to work LESS and play MORE!

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Solo Travel Tours

Single, Love Travel, Over 50? Find age-matched groups across  6 travel styles

Holidays for Singles 50 & Above

Starting out with the idea of solo travel.

Do travel choices for ‘grown up’ solo travellers seem hard to find? Why is it that you see countless tours and cruises advertised for couples and families, but not the solo traveller over 50?

You're a mature solo traveller, and you know what you enjoy when it comes to a holiday. However, maybe feeling that being over 50 and single, you're not feeling so old and not too young, it seems to make it harder to find a solo travel option where you feel you can fit in.

You're not ready for the old fashioned idea of the pensioner set (maybe never), and you've definitely outgrown the Contiki tour option (no such thing as Contiki tours over 50) . But, you're still keen to join an escorted holiday for single travellers 50+ .

SO, WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS OVER 50?

Just as it feels your options are dwindling; friends not up for the same travel plans you have in mind, or posses the same passion? Or your circle of single friends is slim and you’re wondering your options for taking off without a travel buddy? Or quite simply, you know you want to go alone. Wherever you are at with your travel plans, you definitely made some inroads as you got this far and you found us – Wow, a travel company for solo travellers over 50 , perhaps is what you’re thinking.

We’ll, here, you fit right in! Because, we only look after solo travellers. We think travel experiences should be shared, one is not enough, two’s a crowd and then the more the merrier. There's a stack of other solo travellers in their fifties , sixties and some young at heart travellers in their seventies too.

Nice change to the other mainstream packages out there – ads loaded with images of the perfect couple touring Europe, or soaking up romantic moments at a tropical resort, and so on and so on…. tragically failing to show single travellers in the picture. And even better, we focus on keeping the single supplement as low as possible. All our tours offer the package with your own room, and all with low single supplements , and even sometimes no single supplement!

GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR OVER 50'S TOUR

FIND YOUR TRAVEL STYLE Not all solo travellers are the same, and that’s why we’ve created 6 travel styles to pick from in our line up of singles holidays

• 'Discovery' – leisure touring
• 'On The Go' - walking and adventure tours
• 'Marine' – ocean and river cruising
• 'Combo' - mixing it up with tour & cruise combination packages
• 'Relax' - chill out resort packages
• 'Essentials' - mindful on the budget, without scrimping on value for money

Age Matched Groups

Most of our tours are created for single travellers 50 years and over ,  and there’s others such as solo tours for over 40's .  And our Cruise Circle for Solos cruise groups are best suited to cruise fans 40 years and over.  Our age-matched solo traveller groups have a proven track record, and you can read the countless testimonials from your fellow solo traveller.    

KNOWING YOU BELONG

After checking our our trips, and browsing over our site you'll start to get an idea of your travel style and which trip is a great fit for you. But there's more to it than just picking the trip. It's the feeling you get when you're making plans to travel your own and maybe hesitating because you're not sure about who else is joining. Well, what we can say with all of our years of our experience, since our beginning in 2006, we've learnt one sure thing.  When you come along with a smile, looking forward to your trip and just wanting to make every moment count, so do all our travellers - just like you. Over 50's Travel is a freedom like no other - a release from every day life, an excitement about new encounters, and we know, and our travellers that have gone before you tell us - it will be all of this and more.  Expect lots of laughs, sharing your travel memories, and often, new friendships that last past the days of your tour.  What's more refreshing, and perhaps unexpected is the comradery.  It is so quickly formed with our solo travel tour groups. We even have travellers that return and make plans to join us again on another tour together, because of amazing friendships formed on other trips with us. 

As a small group touring company there's a shared intimacy that perhaps can't be found or harder to find on large group arrangements. Shared meals where everyone mixes and mingles, pre dinner and post dinner 'get togethers'.  The laughs can start from breakfast and not end until you rest your head on your pillow, before looking forward to your next day's adventure. 

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The Great Ocean Walk holiday was a great introduction to singles tours and walking holidays. ... a small group with people of a similar age enabled everyone to get to know each other.... Janene, 44 years, Newcastle, NSW

Sitting On The Fence?

Solo travel, or holidays for singles over 50 ; whichever you identify with, all being one-in-same, if you haven't quite made up your mind call us - we can chat and help to answer your questions. Or perhaps it’s some guidance you’re after, and our Travel Team are on hand to help show you the way. Speak to one of our travel consultants, Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm Sydney T: 1300 653 692.  Visit our  List of Holidays  and find your next adventure.

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Contiki’s Gen Z Playbook for Tours: Small Groups and Fresh Destinations

Jesse Chase-Lubitz , Skift

June 6th, 2024 at 2:01 PM EDT

Contiki's CEO, Adam Armstrong, is working to boost the company's technological offerings as the company spreads further into Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Jesse Chase-Lubitz

Contiki , a travel company focused on young adults, is eyeing expansion in Asia, Latin America, and Africa as it adapts to the post-pandemic travel landscape.

CEO Adam Armstrong said in a Skift interview that Contiki has a strong presence in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe and sees the potential to double or triple its business in these new markets. Increased demand from Australians and Americans for cost-effective and less congested destinations in Asia is driving the shift in focus.

Africa has emerged as a significant success story for Contiki, particularly among travelers in their late 20s and 30s, while Latin America remains a work in progress, Armstrong noted.

The CEO also highlighted changes in traveler preferences, with a temporary shift back to longer trips post-pandemic now leveling off. Group sizes are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024, and younger travelers are requiring more support to integrate into group environments.

Contiki plans to invest in AI-powered tools and decarbonize, too, Armstrong said.

Areas of growth

Skift: Your strongest markets are Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. Are you looking to expand your presence in other parts of the world?

Adam Armstrong: Outside of Europe, we’ve been making a concerted effort to build our business in three other regions: Asia, Latin America, and Africa. We’ve been operating in all those places for a while. But we see huge potential for us to be much bigger — we could double or triple our business there. So there’s a lot of marketing activity going for us into those three destinations to try and persuade people to try them out as well.

We probably would have done it before Covid. It’s just delayed. We’re seeing generally more demand for Asia from Australians and Americans. Asia’s up by about 40%. So we just want to jump on top of that. It’s also more cost effective than Europe for the traveler, it’s less congested. So there are a lot of pulls towards that. 

I don’t think we’ve nailed Latin America yet. We’ve got some work to do on our product range to appeal to younger passengers. We launched in Africa about 18 months before COVID, and coming into 2020, we were going to have an amazing year. We are now getting huge demand, especially from our older clientele – so late 20s to 30s. It’s a big success story.

Post-Covid changes

Skift: In 2021, you pivoted from large-scale trips to smaller ones. How has Contiki adapted its travel offerings to cater to the evolving preferences of young travelers in the post-pandemic era? 

Adam Armstrong : Yes, our offerings have changed a bit but also consumers have changed a bit as well. It’s kind of a mixture of the two. I don’t know if it’s chicken or the egg, which one came first. What we saw coming out of the pandemic is people shifting back temporarily to longer trips. Those longer trips were just starting to decline slightly every year. Coming out of the pandemic, people skewed back towards it, especially Australians and New Zealanders, having been isolated and making up for lost time. I think they peaked last year – they certainly are not as strong this year. I still think we’ve seen this revenge travel trend or whatever you want to call it. People going for long trips, going for longer and going further. But now it’s 2024 and it’s starting to calm back down again.

I think the group sizes will go back to how they were before last year. We were running very full coaches. This year there’s going to be a few spare seats.

Skift : Can you tell us more about how your travelers have changed since the pandemic?

Adam Armstrong: Those in their late teens and early 20s who were probably impacted most by isolation are coming in a little less psychologically ready to be in a group environment. There’s a little more reluctance and it takes a little bit longer to get into the rhythm of things. We didn’t see that before.

What’s interesting is the role of a trip manager over the years, we call them trip managers rather than tour guides and tour directors because you want to acknowledge that their skill set is evolving over the years away from just going from point A to B. They are helping bring people together, fueling friendships, and dealing with anyone who’s shy and maybe struggling to fit in. 

Technological transformation

Skift: Hostelworld, an online travel agency, created a tool that lets guests chat with other hostel goers optionally if they want to connect before a trip as a way to help foster friendships and encourage bookings. What is Contiki doing to help foster a “sense of community,” which is especially important to this customer base? Can tech help in any way?

Adam Armstrong: We’re not as technologically advanced as that. But about two weeks before departure, the trip manager will reach out to everyone in the group and we’ll start a WhatsApp group. Generally, what’s happened is that this is used for pre-trip community building where instead of answering questions, it’s really an opportunity to start chatting and getting to know each other so when we turn up, you’ve probably got the measure of a few people. But we don’t have a dedicated technology for it. It’s done by the trip manager.

It’s on the technology roadmap for next year. But we have some other bigger projects that we have to get through first, which are boring, internal infrastructure projects. But this is important, especially for our demographic, that’s where they exist, that’s where they live and communicate, so we have to do a better job there.

Skift : Do you plan to upgrade or change your technology this year? Is artificial intelligence (AI) on your radar?

Adam Armstrong: We are trialing a couple of AI tools, one internal and one external. It’s really like a helpdesk function for our contact center or call center which will enable them to answer questions quickly. This is still in the planning stages. That’s a boring internal one that will help us. The more sexy interesting one for external is that people will be able to search our site by just giving us some prompts. We’ll be able to give them tours based on what they ask for. So rather than ticking boxes and filtering, you will just be able to write a sentence or speak a sentence. I don’t have a specific time for when this will be out, but not this year. It will be sometime next year.

Climate efforts

Skift: Your website says that in 2022, you made all of your trips carbon-neutral, but your activities largely rely on coaches. How are you decarbonizing your fleet?

Adam Armstrong: All of the companies under the parent company, The Travel Corporation, contribute a small dollar amount for every passenger that travels. So we all contribute to this carbon fund and we then compete in a bid for uses of the carbon fund for initiatives that are going to reduce our impacts and reduce our footprint. So there’s a multimillion-dollar carbon fund available each year.

We won our bid last year to use the money to fund HVO fuel (hydrotreated vegetable oil) for our coaches, which is a higher cost than conventional fuel. So far we’re running at 40% reduced carbon footprint in Europe this year.

Skift: Your site also says that you’re encouraging travelers to travel by coach and public transit and that you’re developing more “closer to home” trips. What are your thoughts on the future of local travel as a serious source of revenue?

Adam Armstrong: We tried selling domestic trips during Covid to domestic people, selling Australia to Australians, America to Americans. We didn’t get huge takeoff. However, we do see more Australians going to Asia and Americans going to Central and Latin America rather than to Europe, to kind of stay within the continent.

We have also been on a journey with how we market our climate credentials. We were really proud and shouting about it for a while but then the feedback from our guests was that it was a bit too in your face and that we were expected to do these things anyways. They wanted to know about the destinations and where they are staying. So we dialed that down a bit.

Rather than trying to be the hero we just make it part of the trip. We also heard that our customers didn’t want us to be so serious about it. Our brand is fun and a little bit irreverent and a bit cheeky sometimes. So without denigrating what we’re doing, we can have a bit of fun with it rather than being very serious and boring.

Adventure Travel Shaping Youth Group Tour Itineraries to Africa

Contiki is seeing more seasoned travelers shifting their focus from Europe to far-flung African adventures as the company digs into the immersive choice the post-pandemic traveler is hungry for.

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Tags: ai , climate change , contiki , tour operator , tour operators , Travel Experiences

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The 21 best places to visit in Australia

By Tina Burke

Published on Feb 25, 2021 | 8 min

With endless white sand beaches, lush green rainforests, stunning hikes through bushland and red dirt outback trails; the Australian landscape is as diverse as it is inviting. There are so many incredible destinations to visit and it can be hard to pin a point on the map – so we’ve narrowed down to 21 of the best places to visit in Australia , to help you plan your next trip around this amazing country.

21. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

One of Australia’s most breathtaking marine treasures, Ningaloo Reef is home to tropical fish, turtles, manta rays and more majestic wildlife along 260km of coral reef.

The World Heritage-Listed reef is also one of the top spots in the world for swimming with whale sharks – especially from April to July, when the whale sharks are most likely to visit each year.

Image source: Sebastian Pena Lambarri / Unsplash

20. McLaren Vale, South Australia

Love wine? Love fine dining? Love beautiful scenery? Pay a visit to McLaren Vale in South Australia. Located a short 40-minute drive from the capital city of Adelaide, it’s easy to reach and will take your breath away with world-class vineyards and plenty of fun times. You can’t go wrong with a wine tasting at Coriole, Wirra Wirra, Gemtree or Mitolo.

Image source: James Dimas / Unsplash

19. Hyams Beach, New South Wales

Nestled in the south coast of New South Wales, Jervis Bay is a charming surf town known for the sandy shores of Hyams Beach. Turquoise waters and pristine white sand combine to make this one of the best places to visit in Australia.

Image source: Silas Baisch / Unsplash

Australia: North Queensland Adventure

18. Cradle Mountain, Tasmania

The Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania is one of the most incredible national parks in the world and should definitely be on your Aussie bucket list.

You can hike trails throughout the park and take in the serene sight of alpine lakes and majestic mountains. Not to mention, you can catch the Aurora Australia or the Southern Lights, with the vibrant green, blue, purple and red lights lighting up the sky year-round.

Image source: Mohamad Ibrahim / Unsplash

The ultimate travel bucket list: 50 best things to see and do

17. Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The largest tropical rainforest in Australia, The Daintree spans an incredible 1,200 sq km, bursting with ancient ferns and vines. You can try your hand at zip-lining through the lush canopy or take a river cruise to spot some crocodiles – the adventures are endless in this flourishing green paradise.

Image source: Federico Garcia / Unsplash

16. Lake Hillier, Western Australia

You may not know Lake Hillier by name, but you’ll probably recognise the pink lake from countless Instagram and Pinterest posts. The salt water lake is nestled in Middle Island, separated from the deep-blue Southern Ocean by a thin strip of sand. Take in views of the lake by flying over or cruising through the Recherche Archipelago.

Image source: George Bakos / Unsplash

15. Lord Howe Island

A natural haven in the Tasman Sea, Lord Howe is a crescent-shaped island with sun-drenched beaches, lagoons and abundant mountain terrain. Hike Mount Gower or head for a dip in Blinky Beach for a glorious day in the sunshine.

Image source: Dylan Shaw / Unsplash

14. Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory

From seeing ancient Aboriginal rock art at at Ubirr and Nourlangie, to traversing rugged terrain in the park, Kakadu is officially one of the best places to visit in Australia. There are rainforests, wetlands, thunderous waterfalls and there’s no shortage of stunning wildlife like native birds, wallaby, turtles and crocodiles, perfect for animal lovers.

Image source: Contiki

13. Byron Bay, New South Wales

Home to spectacular beaches, chilled-out surfers and Chris Hemsworth, Byron Bay is a buzzing coastal town in northern New South Wales. It’s a holiday hot-spot among Aussies and tourists alike, known for epic surf, cute cafes and a vibrant nightlife.

Australia: Kakadu Dreaming

12. Glass House Mountains, Queensland

Nestled in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the 11 peaks of Glass House are a serene sight to behold. Think walking tracks, horse trails and abseiling galore. Plus, the peaks are linked to six small towns within the range, providing the perfect spot for a sleep and nightcap after a day of adventures in this natural playground. If you’re planning a trip to Australia, you should definitely add this place on your list.

Image source: Luisa Denu / Unsplash

11. Cape Tribulation, Queensland

There’s no denying that Cape Tribulation is one of the best places to visit in Queensland. This coastal region sits within the previously mentioned Daintree, and boasts a glorious combo of beaches and rainforest. Vibrant blue and green hues reign supreme in the UNESCO World Heritage-Listed site, where you can hike the Mt Sorrow Ridge Walk, take a dip in Cape Trib or Myall beach and zip-line through the canopy. Dreamy.

Image source: David Clode / Unsplash

7 of the dreamiest Australian Islands you need to visit

10. Noosa Everglades, Queensland

One of two Everglads in the world, the Noosa Everglades gives travellers the chance to get up close and personal with Aussie wildlife, including native bird species and kangaroos. You can kayak or hop on a boat to explore the tranquil waters, which are surrounded by incredible greenery.

Image source: @jaynebarram

9. Bungle Bungle Range, Western Australia

This 350 million-year-old range found in Purnululu National Park was only ‘discovered’ in the 1980s. The World Heritage-Listed park is known for the Bungle Bungle Range, with orange and black striped karst sandstone domes. The unique landscape can be seen by air or explored with 4WD tours.

Image source: Ben Carless / Unsplash

8. Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory

Known for the picturesque Florence Falls, Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory is a treasure trove of gushing waterfalls, swimming holes and monsoonal vine forests. Take a hike or jump in the cool waters of the park for a relaxing day spent in nature.

7. The Pinnacles Desert, Western Australia

Want to know what it would feel like to walk on Mars? The Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park is pretty much as close as you can get. Thousands of limestone formations scattered across desert earth create an other-worldly moonscape here at The Pinnacles.

As you can imagine, the eerie limestone structures cast strange shadows at sunrise and sunset, making this the perfect time to check them out. If you visit the desert in the spring months of September and October, you’ll also catch sight of the wildflowers blooming in the surrounding areas.

Image source: Roxanne Desgagnes / Unsplash

6. The 12 Apostles, Victoria

One of the most popular and best places to visit in Victoria is The 12 Apostles – a collection of rock stacks that rise up from the Southern Ocean along the coastline. Located along the scenic Great Ocean Road, the rocks jut out of the ocean and appear to change colours in the sunshine. Check them out at sunrise and sunset for some seriously stunning photos.

Image source: Cadence Tan / Unsplash

5. Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, Northern Territory

Home to the Anangu people ,  the national park includes sacred sites Uluru and Kaja  Tjuṯa .  The   UNESCO World Heritage-listed park  is a must-visit for all Australian and international  travellers . Spend one minute in the  jaw-dropping beauty of this region and you’ll realise why Uluru is so special.

4. Broome, Western Australia

It doesn’t get much more iconic or beautiful than Cable Beach in Broome, which makes it one of THE best places to visit in Australia. A gateway to the rugged Kimberley region, Broome is known for its signature white sand beaches, historic pearl trade, friendly locals and relaxed vibes. Be sure to visit James Price Point to see the stunning pastel-hued coastlines seen below.

3. Whitehaven Beach, The Whitsunday Islands

Another white sand, bright blue waters, ocean wonder – the Whitsundays are a picture-perfect collection of 74 islands in the north-east of Australia.

The region’s famous Whitehaven Beach is one of the most classic ‘postcard shots’ of Australia. In 2021, it was even named the #1 beach in the WORLD by Tripadvisor. And it’s not hard to see why.

You can explore the sandy shores of Whitehaven and dip your toes in the crystalline waters with a day-trip through the islands – on Contiki’s North Queensland Adventure trip, its an included experience, sure to make your holiday a whole lot more memorable.

Image source: Lochlainn Riordan / Unsplash

2. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania

Sitting in the Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay is a white sandy bay shaped like – you guessed it – a wine glass. Tasmania’s famous nature reserve is perfect for a day of hiking out in the wilderness but, be warned, the walk is no easy feat! It’s a casual 1.5 hour return walk to the lookout, but you’ll need to add at least another hour return of steep climbing. Is it worth it? Hell yes!

Image source: Tim Hart / Unsplash

1. The Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Can you travel to Australia and not visit The Great Barrier Reef? Well, yes, but you really shouldn’t. It’s one of the most beautiful places to visit in not only Australia, but the world. Comprised of more than 3,000 individual reefs, the vibrant coastline is home to stunning wildlife and colourful coral. From snorkelling to scuba diving, or even a helicopter ride over the reef, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this natural wonder.

When you visit the Great Barrier Reef, you should also check out a local conservation project – like the Turtle Hospital in Townsville – to learn about the important work that’s going into conversing the reef and how we can all help fight the impact of climate change on the reef and our oceans.

Keen to explore more of Australia this year? Check out all of our exciting new Aussie trips for locals, by locals on  the Contiki website . If you’re based outside of Australia, these trips won’t show up for you just yet – but keep your eyes peeled for more domestic announcements!

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Ultimate Australia

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Wild Western (Winter)

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• See the famous Hollywood sign, Mann's Chinese Theatre & Hollywood's Walk of Fame
• Drive along famous Sunset Strip
• Visit Santa Monica and its famous pier
• See Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills
• Drive through the O.C. & along the scenic Pacific Coast
• See downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, Balboa Park, Coronado Island & Old Town San Diego
• Go loco as you feast on traditional Mexican cuisine
• Panoramic view of the city's skyline from Coronado Bridge
• Visit Mission Beach (weather permitting)

What's this trip about?

Travel themes.

• High Adventure
• Skiing / Snowboarding

Destinations

• North America
• United States

Attractions

• Grand Canyon
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

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Hawaii Four Island Adventure (Premium)

Things are about to get hotter as we head to Phoenix, a massive metropolis sitting smack in the middle of the desert. With around 300 days of sunshine per year, this place is all about shopping, sports and nightlife.

Leave behind the glitz, neon lights and excess as we head to the adventure capital of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tahoe sits smack on the Nevada-California border and with blue lakes, green pines and tonnes of snow, it doesn’t come short on scenery. Settle into your hotel room and maybe stretch your legs down by the lake – it’s only a short walk.

This morning you can choose to end your adventure in San Francisco or head south and finish up in Los Angeles.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Contiki .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Everything was very smooth and communication was great throughout the tr...

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My trip manager James made the European Encounter an incredible experience. His communication before and during the trip was clear and informative. James was both pr...

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We’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with. That’s why Contiki invented group travel for young people in 1962 and we’ve spent the past 53 years perfecting it. You’ll explore amazing destinations with a group of 18-35 year olds from around the world who share your passion for adventure, good times and creating memories that define what it is to be young, wild and free.

No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world. We have a number of options to choose from to create a vacation that’s perfect for you, from budget to accommodation style.

We're all about exploring the world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds, to celebrate being young, spirited and curious. You can expect to join a group of 18-53 awesome people from around the world on our Europe, Australia, North America and New Zealand trips, and in Asia and Latin America it's all about small group adventures with up to 25 travellers. Don't worry if you're not traveling as a couple or with a friend from home – though there are plenty of pairs, 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you'll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

With over 270 trips around the world and plenty of departure dates to work into your schedule, you'll never be short of options on where to go for your next great adventure.

About the company: Contiki are the world leaders in social youth travel. We’ve been providing amazing travel experiences for young travellers, from 18-35 years old, since 1962. Imagine how good you would be at something if you had been doing it for more than 60 years?

Everything about Contiki is deeply rooted in our core values ‘Make Every Moment Count’ and ‘We’re about people’. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk and live by our brand philosophy of ‘Travel.Together.’ which means to travel with one another, the destinations we visit, the cultures we enjoy and the environment, too.

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