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

By: Author Taylor Lorenz

Posted on Last updated: 04/29/2022

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

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

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

Table of Contents

What is Contiki?

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

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

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

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

Contiki Europe Reviews

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

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

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

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

Should you go on a Contiki tour?

This is the short answer.

Yes, if…

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

No, if…

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

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

READ MORE: 15 Benefits of Travelling Alone

Kind of People on Contiki Tours

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

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

Contiki Culture

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

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

Contiki Tours for Solo Travellers

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

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

What are Contiki guides like?

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

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

What are the groups like?

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

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

Contiki Cough

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

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

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

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

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

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

Is there any freedom?

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

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

Food & Accommodation

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

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

Best Contiki Tours

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

Greek Island Hopping

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

European Discovery

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

Simply Italy

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

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

European Horizon

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

Is Contiki Worth It?

Only you can decide.

Contiki Tour Highlights

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

Contiki Tour Downsides

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel Europe on a Budget

The Savvy Backpacker

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

Is a Contiki Tour right for you?

Product Reviews

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

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

Quick Overview of Contiki Tours

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

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

Multiple Tour Options

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

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

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

Travel Styles

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

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

Here are their main travel styles:

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

Click here to see all their travel styles

Accommodation

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Travel Pace

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

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

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

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

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

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

Party Atmosphere

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

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

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

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

The Contiki Traveler

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

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

Group Travel Frustrations

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

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

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

Tourist Traps

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

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

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

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

Reasons People Choose Contiki

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

No Need To Plan

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

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

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

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

Solo Travelers

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

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

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

Instant Friends

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

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

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

Past travelers seem to love their tour guides.

Always Something To Do

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Contiki Review – Travel Tours, Group Vacations & Adventure Holidays

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Table of Contents

Who are contiki tours good for, contiki tour types and destinations, contiki top tours, contiki reviews, contiki vs. topdeck, final thoughts.

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

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

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

Young Travelers

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

Solo Travelers

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

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

Friends or Groups

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

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

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

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

African Safari

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

Beach Trips

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

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

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

Iconic Essentials

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

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

In-Depth Explorer

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

Island Hopping

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

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

Sailing and Cruise

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

Short Trips and Festivals

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

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

Ski and Snowboard

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

Small Group

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

Volunteering

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

Other Tour Types

Contiki has a variety of other tour types:

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

Destinations

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

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

Contiki Australia

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

• Includes transport, accommodation, breakfast, and some activities

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

Contiki Europe

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

Contiki Croatia

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

• Includes transport, accommodation, some meals, and activities

Contiki Greece

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

Contiki Italy

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

Contiki Japan

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

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

Contiki New Zealand

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

• Includes transport, accommodation, some meal, and activities

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

Contiki Thailand

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

Contiki USA & Canada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you go on contiki if you are over 35.

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

Should I go on a Contiki tour alone?

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

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

Are Contiki tours safe?

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

Are Contiki tours good for couples?

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

Do Contiki trips include flights?

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

Is Contiki a party tour?

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

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About Amar Hussain

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

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12 Pros and Cons of Contiki Travel – Is Contiki A Good Fit For Your Next Vacation?

Looking to book a vacation with Contiki and you’re on the fence about it? Stress no more, I’ve got the inside scoop to the pros and cons of Contiki trips! The pros… the cons… you’ll find it all here!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you book using one of the links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

First, a little bit about my experience with Contiki: I’ve personally been on (4) Contiki Trips – Northern Thai Highlights , Ecuador’s Lava Line , Moroccan Adventure, and Ultimate Vietnam Experience.

I found out about it in the craziest way – from my neighbors trash! When I saw a travel magazine that had been thrown out and figured I’d check it out because I loveeeee to travel. I had never heard of Contiki but was immediately intrigued when I saw that they were a tour company aimed towards 18-35 year olds. I flipped through the magazine and was in awe of the amazingly fun pictures, descriptions, and itineraries. Then I spent the rest of the afternoon researching online if this would be a good fit for me.

Within 2 weeks, my friends and I had signed up for a 7 day trip to Thailand with this tour company. We didn’t know what to expect but were excited to check out a new country and maybe make new friends. We anxiously awaited the 8 months and boarded our flights ready for an adventure….

….And an adventure it was!!

Contiki had a jammed packed itinerary for us with so many unique activities! We loved each and every one of them. Every day was better than the last and it was over in the blink of an eye. Even my two friends, who had never been out of the country, loved every second of their time with Contiki in Thailand – they made navigating a new country very easy, safe and stress free!

I’ve listed some of my favorite things about Contiki below, as well as some of my least favorite things!

Use this as a guide for the best pros and cons of Contiki to decide if it is a good fit for you!

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Contiki’s motto is “ Travel with no regrets ” and they sure know how to make that come true! You’ll get to see and do everything that will make your Instagram explode with likes.
• There is a $200 deposit when booking the trip. If you find out later on that you can’t go, you can transfer your deposit to a different date or different trip completely! They don’t require the full payment until 45 days before the trip.
• Most all trips are based on double occupancy. If you want to travel alone, and have your own room there is an additional fee.
• They say 55% of travelers on their trips are female… however, I feel like it’s probably closer to 65-70%.
• Before you go, you’ll receive an “itinerary” and list of the hotels you are staying in. There is no formal schedule saying 7:30- Meet in Lobby; 8:00- Board Bus. It was very vague.

Pros – WHAT I LIKED ABOUT CONTIKI:

Read about my favorite parts of traveling with Contiki below:

They really know their audience. This tour is for 18-35 year olds and it was definitely geared towards activities that age group would find fun! It was every bit educational, adventurous, and fun as you’d want it to be! On our tour we biked, hiked, swam in waterfalls, played with elephants, went to local bars, and more!

Each tour has (1) Contiki Guide and (1) Local Guide. This was great because you got the best of both worlds. If you’re going to multiple cities, it is possible that the Local Guide will change throughout your trip – however, your Contiki guide will always be the same! This was great because we really had the best of both worlds. It was nice to have a constant guide with us every step of the way. It was also nice to know that we were getting a local guide so that could really tell us about their hometown.

Breakfast was provided each morning . Breakfast at the hotels always had a good variety of food options. In Thailand , there was always a mix of Western and Thai food. Ecuador breakfasts were simple but filling. Most tours include breakfast each morning and a few other meals which is a great way to experience a taste of local flavor.

There is a lot of driving in the motor coach. That might sound like a negative to most people, but Contiki did what they could to make the experience a positive. The motor coach itself was very nice and always air-conditioned. They made designated bathroom stops which was nice. Sometimes we would play games on the bus or watch movies.

There are like-minded people on the tour . It’s a great opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Every time I travel with Contiki, I meet people from Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and USA. It is fun seeing those cultures blend and experience a new one together.

Our tour guide was always able to recommend the safest and best bars for our nights on our own. Going out in a foreign country can be daunting because you never know what a dangerous place is. Our guide was always knowledgeable on the area and had great recommendations.

Experience the country as a local. Because you are on a tour, you are able to do things that you couldn’t if you were a solo traveler or here on your own! Contiki provides experiences to allow you to see what the local life is like by bringing you to locals houses and farms. You get to speak with locals and learn from them in their community. For instance, we played soccer with a local community in Ecuador and we talked to a local villager (our guide was a translator) about life in Thailand and about her newborn baby.

Cons – WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT CONTIKI:

Like any travel company, there are pros and cons of Contiki! Find out what I didn’t *love* about my Contiki Trip below:

My idea of “luxury” accommodations and their idea is completely different. Now, I’m not saying the hotels were BAD. But, they were far from luxurious. Some didn’t have a hairdryer or common amenities. Others were in iffy locations or slightly rundown. We weren’t in the hotel rooms very much, so it wasn’t bad, but I would have spent an extra couple hundred dollars for nicer hotels and a better experience at night.

They did not provide a packing list. I wish they had provided us with suggested items to bring along on the tour. I say this because I do not typically bring a towel with me as the hotels always have one. However, since we were moving hotels each night, we couldn’t bring the hotel towels with us. We did a lot of outdoor activities in water (river, lakes, waterfalls, etc) and really needed a towel each time to dry off.

Be prepared for some ‘add-on’ expenses if you want to see and do everything. For instance, they picked a hotel outside of a city, and then expected us to pay on our own to get to the city to experience the nightlife as a group. They asked $5 for the group picture. They took us to a cemetery but didn’t pay for the museum access. On my particular trip, these were small add-ons, but I know other trips have more expensive add-ons. It wasn’t a make or break, but just something I wish I had known prior.

You can’t go at your own leisure. Well, duh – you’re on a tour! However, this is most definitely still a negative for me. There are some places I would have loved to spend a few extra hours exploring and enjoying when we only had 30 minutes. There were also one or two places that I could have skipped altogether. Also, all the potty breaks that take 20 minutes when you only need 2-3 minutes is sometimes frustrating.

Contiki provided a genetic itinerary without much detail. Having a more detailed itinerary would have allowed us to better plan our free time. Unfortunately, the itinerary they gave us weeks before the trip was pretty generic. “Wake up here, go here, explore here, and have some free time before going here”. There wasn’t any detail to what we were doing, how we were getting there, how long we had at each place, and how much free time we had. This proved difficult when trying to book events in advance for our free time. They also provided a list of the hotels – see below for an example.

There you have it – an overview of the pros and cons of Contiki! To me, the Pros outweigh the Cons significantly, but only you can decide that for yourself! Overall, I loved my trips with Contiki. I went it in with average expectations and I was blown away by the fun adventure each and every day! Now, whenever I’m interested in visiting a new country, I look up the Contiki trip to see if it’s something I can do!

Save this post for later on Pinterest: Pros and Cons of Contiki Travel https://pin.it/6n62kkk

Related Contiki Posts:

• Review: My Experience with Contiki’s Lava Line Ecuador Trip
• Top 10 Things to Know Before Booking your Contiki Trip
• Book Your Contiki Trip Now  (affiliate link)

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Review: The River Kwai Jungle Raft “Floatel” in Thailand (Unique overnight Experience)

A few of my Aussie friends and my ex who is a kiwi did contiki on a few tours through Europe. They said they had a good experience and met amazing people but if they knew about the tours beforehand and the limited time, add ins etc they would never have done that or chosen much shorter yours with them so they could go and extend in some Locations.

Makes sense! There are definitely pros and cons to each contiki trip and it’s not for everyone! So far, I’ve loved all of my experiences with Contiki! 🙂

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Reviews 2.1.

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Wonderful service (Michelle C)

Worked with a lady named Michelle C during the process of booking our tour. She was extremely patient as we had to call back multiple times. We had some issues due to the site which were ultimately fixed by her and her team. Fantastic response times and wonderful service, give Michelle C a bloody raise!!

Date of experience : May 14, 2024

Please read the T&Cs

Please read the T&Cs. The $200 deposit is not given back if you choose to cancel your trip for whatever reason and they offer no solutions what-so-ever aside from "transferring to a friend" It gives the impression that you can secure a spot on a trip for a low fee and with little commitment when that is not the case. I'd only suggest booking a contiki if you can pay the trip price in full.

Date of experience : May 05, 2024

A ruined tour and shocking customer service

Since returning from my trip I’ve tried to communicate with Contiki’s customer service advisors, but have had very little support. I had to drop off my tour half way through, as there were members of the tour who were clearly ill and had been in contact with people with Covid, an illness which had previously hospitalised me. These people were not asked to leave the tour, despite posing a clear risk to others. I was even told I had to share with one of these clearly ill people, and was unable to book a private room. Despite putting my health at risk and forcing me to drop off the tour, Contiki have taken no responsibility. The first half of the tour itself was great and the trip of a lifetime, I’m just sad I had to miss the second half due to Contiki not sticking to their own policies.

Date of experience : January 13, 2024

I had a positive experience

I had a positive experience with a LA to the Bay trip (California, Nevada, Arizona). I departed from London and all the stages of this trip went smoothly (flight, transfers, the tour itself, hotels). For what I paid at the time it was totally worth it. Sadly I will soon be over the allowed age limit and will not be able to attend these trips anymore. It would be great if they could extend the age limit. It saddens me to see so many negative reviews on here.

Date of experience : July 23, 2022

They lie about what's included in a trip and overcharge

I did Cape, Falls, Safari trip with Contiki in December 2023. There were several instances of Contiki suggesting that an activity is included to the price yet they charged it extra in the trip. The PDFs they send before the trip (and the info they show before they sell) make it sound like a lot more is included than it is. When I confronted them about this, they refused to take accountability. Overall, scammy company. You'll end up paying A LOT more than the base price, unless what you wanna do is literally stay in the hotel the whole trip. Also, they take *28* days to reply to your messages, which is insane. So disappointing!

Date of experience : December 18, 2023

So easy to deal with!

I requested a refund due to trips being cancelled. The full trip amount was initially transferred to a Travel Fund however I wanted a cash refund. Once I raised this with Contiki, they were super helpful and organised a refund to my bank account without any drama.

Date of experience : September 11, 2020

Amazing customer service!

Contiki was recommended to me by a couple of friends who had previously completed an Australian tour with them and felt it was one of the best experiences of their lives! I was extremely excited to depart of my tour with them this year. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 my tour had to be cancelled by Contiki. This information was communicated to me ASAP and Emilia was great in her speedy responses and support. I will definitely be travelling with Contiki in the future when it is safe to do so. I am extremely pleased with the service! Thank you team Contiki!

Date of experience : March 25, 2020

Absolutely horrible customer service

Absolutely horrible customer service. I've been charged twice two different amounts for the same trip after it was canceled because of weather. You can't speak to anyone and everytime I call its this will be expedited. Meanwhile they owe me over 3000 that I have to just wait for. I would never allow my kids to use this company again. We are ready to file a fraud complaint with the Attorney General's office

Date of experience : December 08, 2023

Poor communication and cancellation of tour with no notice

Contiki cancelled our Andean Crossing tour with no notice whilst we were already overseas. We were only lucky enough to hear about the news word of mouth from a previous trip manager which stopped us from entering a zone of civil conflict. Contiki provided absolutely no communication about the cancellation of the tour and provided us zero assistance in getting back home. As someone who has done four other Contiki tours, I will never travel with Contiki again due to this appalling experience where my safety was severely compromised. Save yourself a hassle and book elsewhere!

Date of experience : January 11, 2023

Definitely Book a Trip with Contiki!

I don't know what these bad reviews are from, I've just been on the Grand Southern in the USA the first since COVID and it was excellent. Incredible trip with passionate guides, a great atmosphere and itinerary, I have made some amazing friends, met amazing people and grown so much as a person. Some things to note are that they are expensive! I spent way more money than I was expecting, they're quite pricey to begin with so I thought that it would cut the cost with some included meals and activities however the majority of the "optionals" are not included. This is fine as hey it was well worth it, activities like a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon is something that will stay with me forever. You do also have to tip the guides or are expected to like all other services in the US, so it can be unexpectedly expensive but even with this in mind it was 110% worth it the most fun I have ever had abroad.

Date of experience : May 13, 2022

Contiki has thee worst costumer service …

Contiki has thee worst costumer service I ever dealt with. They cancelled our tour after taking our full payment. It cost lots of extra money to rearrange my flights to do a different tour. No formal apology, compensation or voucher were given to retain our loyal business. They refunded the trip but it still cost extra money for this inconvenience. There are other tour company's who's policy is to still run the tour no matter the situation. It doesn't feel like they care or value their customers.

Date of experience : November 24, 2017

Scammed after trusting Contiki's recommendation on travel insurance with World Nomads

Scammed after following Contiki's recommendation to get travel insurance with World Nomads. World Nomads turned out to be a scam insurance company as they do not reply to emails and claim that they never received and emails for documentation that they asked in order to commence the claim. They just keep asking for the email and documents and you have no choice but to keep sending them the same things until probably you just give up. As a Contiki user, shame on you Contiki. And avoid World Nomads at all costs.

Date of experience : March 21, 2020

Coronavirus is YOUR problem not theirs

They are currently holding my money hostage for a trip I booked in June of 2018 that was to begin March 31 2019. 10 days before it was supposed to begin they cancelled due to coronavirus but said they wont even give a partial refund if you rebook a trip that is less expensive. Extremely disappointing.

Date of experience : October 24, 2020

Do not book with Contiki

I have maybe written 2 reviews for anything in my life, and if I could give this company 0 stars I would. I purchased insurance for my honeymoon which was cancelled due to COVID-19 in May. They require you to reschedule rather than giving your money back, which we did. However I still do not feel safe going. I also have been furloughed, which ironically insurance doesn't cover pandemic OR furloughs. I will never be traveling with Contiki again and would seriously consider travel with any other company. Terrible customer service and business model by keeping your money and demanding you reschedule years in advance.

Date of experience : August 12, 2020

Never Again

I had an amazing first trip with them pre-COVID. I was so excited to take another trip with them, that I did so as soon as vaccines were being issued. Unfortunately, they decided to “postpone” the trip and instead of issuing a refund, they gave me future credit. At this point, I don’t think I will ever take another trip with them. It was them who decided to continue booking trips, why should I be punished for their actions.

Date of experience : April 26, 2021

Was a loyal customer of Contiki but only disappointment now

I was a loyal customer of Contiki for many years, but recently am disgusted with their customer service after booking me onto a trip and reserving my spot, then cancelling my spot as I hadn't paid despite calling them countless times all week. Told me they had tried calling me only to have received 0 missed calls or contact, emails ignored, etc. nobody seemed interested in booking me onto the trip and it's their loss entirely

Date of experience : April 12, 2022

Absolutely disgusting. SCAM

I was booking accomodation for before the trip in London, and booked through Contiki. Huge mistake. Contiki told me I would have to pay a cancellation fee if I wanted to UPGRADE my room. This is absolutely ridiculous and no hotel would ever charge you a fee for wanting to upgrade (other than paying the difference of the actual room prices). I called the hotel (Royal National Hotel) to enquire about it, and they said there should not be a fee. Contiki trying to rip me off is disgusting. To reiterate I WAS NOT TRYING TO CANCEL MY BOOKING. I WAS WANTING TO UPGRADE AND PAY MORE MONEY. Would recommend booking your own accomodation NOT THROUGH Contiki. Big mistake.

Date of experience : June 21, 2022

Contiki cancels trip and does not refund money

Booked a trip while they had to cancel the trip due to Corona. I was promised a full refund in the general terms and conditions for a case like that. It took me over 3 months which only got me a voucher out of it. After I threaten to involve my credit card company and / or a lawyer i eventually got a partial refund. At this point I was sick and tired and contact my credit card company and received a full refund. I've travelled with them with well over 20 trips and for myself and my friends they have destroyed their brand during Corona.

Date of experience : April 22, 2022

They say you meet people from all…

They say you meet people from all around the world which is a bit of a false advertising. In fact 90% of the people on my trip are Australians. They also use what’s called dynamic pricing which seems sketchy at best. My advice; pay in AUD if you must go with a group. But imho it’s way more fun to just stay at hostels and meet people and party that way. Saves money and you meet more interesting people

Date of experience : August 13, 2023

Reply from Contiki

Thank you for your recent feedback. We're disappointed that you felt the group dynamic of the tour could have been improved. We love to welcome English-speaking guests from around the world to explore our captivating destinations and allow our travellers to get to know people from all over the globe. Nevertheless, we hope that you have returned home with unforgettable memories and new friendships from your time away with us.

My daughters trip was just canceled (by…

My daughters trip was just canceled (by Contiki) and Contiki is telling her that they won’t refund her money. This was a once in a lifetime trip for her and her friend. They won’t be able to go anytime soon. This is terrible, a public relation nightmare and it’s crazy to me that they wouldn’t refund their customers money when the company cancels the trip. Shame on you Contiki. You don’t deserve to stay in business with this type of customer service.

Date of experience : April 24, 2021

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Contiki #NoRegrets

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

What is Contiki?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contiki Review:

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

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

Having a good guide is everything!

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

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

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

Final Thoughts On Contiki:

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

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

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

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

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

Most Popular Contiki Tours:

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

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

Contiki Trip Ideas!

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

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

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

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

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

Contiki Review

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

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

Strapped Traveler

Like you, I love to travel and have learned over the years I can travel to nearly anywhere in the world on a budget. My blog aims to guide you into traveling abroad on a budget and still have a great time. Visit us regularly for the latest in travel gear and trip ideas that won't break the bank.

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LIVING THE DREAM

Contiki Tours Review – Why I Picked Them for My First Trip

Published by Jeremy . Last Updated on August 25, 2022.

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Ten years ago, several months before this blog even existed, I went on my first trip overseas. With absolutely zero stamps in my brand new passport and having never traveled solo before in my life, you could say that international travel was a new experience for me.

Looking back now, after having traveled for many years in 70+ countries, filling my passport a few times over in the process, I can say that I've grown a lot as a traveler.

But for that very first trip, I was clueless and a little bit terrified. With limited time and a modest budget, I decided to go for it all and book a guided tour. One that would end up changing the course of my life forever.

It was with Contiki tours. Europe was in my sights.

Why Go On Contiki Tours?

This question could also be replaced with another similar question: “Why go on a guided tour?” that I've touched base on several times in the past.

Compared to every other guided tour out there, a Contiki tour needs a special distinction. Many travelers have heard of Contiki, and the tour company has developed a number of reputations for its services as a guided tour company.

To go a bit deeper into a Contiki tour itself requires a bit more insight as I chose this company for a few very important reasons.

18 to 35 Only with Contiki Tours

In being new to travel, my biggest fear about group travel was that I would book a tour that ended up being a retiree tour without being the wiser. 

In advertising that they were 18-35 only, I knew in an instant that the group of travelers would be like me. Little did I know at the time of booking that at 22 I was probably on the average to older side of the crowd there- with many being 18-19 (and on a bit older than 30). 

With up to 52 people per tour, quite a large number by tour group standards, there had to be a few others that were on their first trip and just as clueless as I was at the time. 

Ten years on and I am still close friends with many of the people on my tour, something I cannot say for those I meet in passing in most of my solo travels.

Time on a Contiki Tours Europe Trip

That summer many years ago I had exactly four weeks from college graduation to starting my summer internship. When looking at doing Europe by myself for most of that time, I realized I wouldn't cover that much ground. 

A guided tour looked great because I could circle almost all of Western Europe without dealing with the logistics myself. 

I left the day after graduation, returned a couple of days before I needed to move, and maximized my time as much as possible. With the choice of quality time with a few destinations or minimal time at a large quantity, I chose the latter just to see what Europe had to offer as a taster.

Contiki Tours Itinerary

The itinerary goes hand-in-hand with time. As I was on the quantity route, I wanted to make sure I hit some of Europe's most amazing cities. Where did that 3 1/2 week trip go? Here's my European Whirl itinerary: 

London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Munich, Hopfgarten (Austria), Venice, Rome, Florence, Lauterbrunnen (Switzerland), Paris, and an equally impressive number of side stops including Dachau and Dresden. 

So you may be thinking that the itinerary is a lot to put in 3 1/2 weeks, and you would be right. The part worth mentioning is that my favorite spots out of that entire trip were Hopfgarten and Lauterbrunnen, two places I would not have gone to (or even heard of) if I went on my own. 

Now I seek out those small towns as much as possible. That is the true benefit of a guided tour.

Contiki excelled at this itinerary, as most of the other tour companies did not offer anything near as comprehensive as the one I went on. Couple that with the mandatory age range, and you have a killer combination for the first time traveler.

Contiki's Reputation

As mentioned above, Contiki has a few well-known reputations as a guided tour company, many of which I was aware of (and overlooked) prior to booking the trip (but for you reading Contiki reviews should most certainly take note of).

They Do Have a Party Atmosphere

The tour group age range is almost synonymous with the party atmosphere. Put 52 like minded travelers aged 18-35 together and you do not need a very large spark for an instant party to come together.  

In fact, the tour company has a few “party nights” at their company owned accommodations purely for getting the groups interacting and talking to each other. 

While the goal of this is to get to know your fellow travelers, it is fairly common for a few on each group to take it to the extremes. 

I got lucky in that my group was pretty mild, but the stories you read can get pretty out there in ways I wouldn't want to repeat on this site.

Everyone Knows You're On a Contiki Europe Tour

Find a group of tourists in Europe between the ages of 18-35. If they do not look like locals and are more than 12 in quantity, odds are they are on a Contiki tour. Why can I get away with saying that? Well, the odds are with you that it is true. 

Contiki is one of the few tour companies that operate solely in that age range and has large numbers in each tour. A tour group of 20 may break up into smaller groups, but as the mini groups get larger and larger there is only one company that they can belong to. 

Not only can people tell from a mile away without the labeled tour bus, so can the vendors, and you'll be called out for it: “Hey Contiki!!! Eat Here!!”

I have fond memories of sitting in Spain with Angie several years later and pointing out a Contiki group to her. She didn't believe me that it was, but I could recognize the group of 15 or so young people unusually clustered together. 

A few minutes later I even recognized someone who was on my own Contiki trip four years earlier. Yes, the same person, on a new tour, later confirmed by Facebook. You can spot them a mile away, and we even saw them again a few cities later in the same large group wandering around while getting their bearings.

These two are the largest reputations that should be considered when booking a Contiki tour. 

To be honest, neither of these bothered me in the slightest. I was a bit apprehensive at the party aspect but relieved that my group was relatively toned down compared to others. As far as the idea that everyone knows you are on a Contiki tour, take it into consideration that everyone knows you're a tourist, so being recognized as on a tour group is not much of a stretch past that. 

Just be aware that it will happen.

Contiki Quite Literally Changed My Life

I don't mean to be overdramatic when I say that Contiki changed my life, but it is true.

To put it simply, my Contiki experience is what started my love of travel. By the end of my trip I was already planning more, and just a few months later resulted in me launching this website.

This website led to me traveling around the world on two monster itineraries, seeing over 70 countries, and, 10 years later, became my full-time job.

The teaser aspect of visiting all those European destinations in rapid succession was the spark that made me want to explore the world over and over and over again.

I can't say that I am an expert in any of the European cities because of the Contiki trip, but I found that to be my calling to go back and see everything I missed in the short time (which I later did in several spots, including my favorite place in Europe- Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland).

Suffice it to say, it is exactly what I needed.

Would I Do Contiki Tours Again?

When it comes down to it, I really enjoyed my Contiki trip. Yes, the groups are large. Yes, they have a bit of a reputation and are oriented to younger travelers. But I also had a great time all the same as noted above.

I probably would not do a Contiki again, if only for two very important reasons:

1) I now travel the world on my own and typically do not do group tours unless in extremely difficult-to-get-to locations. 2) I am getting close to being too old for Contiki's 18-35 requirement.

Neither are reflections of Contiki in the slightest.

That being said, if I was magically transported back into my 22-year-old body, with a fresh passport, a limited schedule before my summer internship started, and being in a place where I never traveled outside of the country solo, yes, I would do my Contiki trip again in a heartbeat.

With a stuffed passport, a better understanding of the world, and the capabilities to do it on my own, the guided tour with Contiki gave me a good start in a new love affair with the world.

One that quite literally changed my life.

Book a Contiki Trip Today!

Looking to book a trip with Contiki ? Check out some of the following options!

• European Whirl – The trip that I did!
• Ultimate Europe plus Egypt – One of the longest tours in Europe with an Egypt add-on!
• Or, check out more tours in Europe , Asia , South America , and Africa !

For frequently asked questions about Contiki, check out the following!

What age range are Contiki tours for?

Contiki markets itself to the 18-35 demographic.

Who is best suited to take a Contiki tour?

Contiki is a great company for first-time travelers, those who want a fast-paced itinerary to many destinations, and, of course, those who want to travel within their age demographic.

What are the group sizes of Contiki tours?

This generally varies by destination and tour itself, but some can be as low as 12 to as big as 52. The latter is often the case in easy-to-travel destinations like North America and Europe where a standard coach is used.

About Jeremy

About the Author: Jeremy is a full-time travel writer based in Pittsburgh and primary author of this site. He has been to 70+ countries on five continents and seeks out new food, adventure activities, and off-the-beaten-path experiences wherever he travels.

6 thoughts on “Contiki Tours Review – Why I Picked Them for My First Trip”

good article about the contiki. I in the past did a few contikis myself about 5 of them in total. first was in 2005 and last was 2010 was lots of fun and good way to that type of travel for that time, as i was a good social experience. i now just travel solo everywhere but my contiki times were the most memorable times for travel

I have never thought of joining a tour group before! After reading about your experience with Contiki I am now thinking it sounds like a great idea

My first trip abroad was a Contiki trip too. I think group tours can get a bad rep, but you bring up some great points on why they can be a good thing. When my friend was looking to travel to Europe I encouraged her to try Contiki – it’s a nice way to get a sample of different countries and cities. If you’re new to travel it’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends. I think next time I’d pick a tour that doesn’t try to do so many countries in such a short time, my tour was 11 days and went to 8 countries – so it really was a whirlwind. Still I can’t say I regret it. If I hadn’t taken my Contiki tour I probably wouldn’t be doing the traveling that I have.

Great post – I’ve been considering a Contiki trip, though I think that I may have to pass this year with my other trips. I know a lot of people are anti-group travel like this but, personally, I love it. It’s completely different than solo travel but sometimes I just don’t feel comfortable going places by myself plus they’re great places to meet others!

Exactly what I think too! As long as you are out traveling rather than sitting at home not making it happen, then however you do it is good by me!

I think group tours are a great place for travelers to get their feet wet. Any travel is good travel in my book – if you’re out there exploring then you’re learning and that just can’t be bad for you!

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The World Overload

For Those With Wanderlust

Contiki Tours Review: Scandinavia

It’s always a fun time traveling solo worldwide. You get some enriching and unique experiences that only belong to you. The flexibility to make all your own decisions from the daily itinerary without really having to compromise is what solo travelers value most. But it can get boring after a while, and you should switch it up with a group tour.

The group tours allow you to share traveling with some great like-minded individuals. Yes, the itinerary may be already set, but for you, it can be more convenient and even affordable regarding transportation, accommodations, and food and nightlife expectations. Sometimes it is the best travel choice you can make.

What is Contiki Tours?

Contiki Tours is one of those popular travel companies that specializes in trips all over the world. They run multiple tours, such as train trips and outdoor wildlife to adventure and holidays. These trips can be from several days to a month across Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, Australia, and North America. Contiki is catered to young adults between 18-35, which helps to embrace the adventure mentality and social experience. Those you meet may have never left their home country before, and this is the first time they are out in the world.

Most of my travels have been through the Contiki tour company after it was recommended to me. With them, I traveled across 3 continents and 23 countries, during which I had some fantastic shared experiences and made friends from all over the world who I still keep in contact with today. You can have customized tours up to a certain point, but if you are interested in travel with little restrictions, you will find something you like.

This content follows my review of the Contiki Scandinavia Tour, the last one I took before I aged out of the tour company. It will have some insights on the kind of tours you can expect to take with Contiki, highlights of activities for this particular tour, and some personal recommendations. I have a lot of good memories from my trips with them, and you will have the same.

Contiki Scandinavia Tour

Duration: 12 Days, 3 Countries (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

*Note that tours and activities are subject to change depending on the month, weather, federally recognized holidays, and other restrictive conditions.

Day 1: Welcome to Denmark

You start the tour in Copenhagen. Depending on your schedule and preferences, you may have arrived a day or two earlier to explore the city on your own time and to see any attractions that you did not want to miss if the tour could not get to it. Others sometimes reach out on the social media group to see if others are taking the same tour and arriving early, giving you a chance to make a new friend before the official start.

Most groups begin meeting in the lobby of the first hotel you will be staying in. Note that for this Scandinavia tour, most of your stays will be in hostels, as that is the norm here. This is where you meet your Contiki tour guide and sometimes the assigned driver of the trip. Your tour guide will help give a quick introduction of himself and the overall tour. Part of this is filling out the administrative paperwork that is necessary to continue on the tour. You’ll also get your room keys and find out who you will be bunking up with if you decide not to get your room.

This is an excellent opportunity to start introducing yourself to the group slowly. You never know what kind of mix of people you will get on these tours. Sometimes, the age range may point heavily towards those in the late 20s or early 30s; the majority foreign group may be Canadians and Australians or Americans, with the odd random person from another European country, etc. The tour may be a small group of barely ten people to up to 40-50, depending on the tour’s popularity and the season. That is part of the excitement you get from taking a group tour.

Your tour guide will give you the next day’s meeting time and location, and then the night is yours. Once you drop off your luggage in the room, you can head out to explore alone or with the tour group. The tour guide may suggest some places for dinner in Copenhagen, or you can plan with part of the group to wander and explore. Just make sure you don’t get lost and not stay out too late on your first night here.

Day 2: Delve into Copenhagen

Now that you have rested, it’s time to explore the city. You will have breakfast at the hotel and then meet with your group in the lobby in the morning. Make sure to arrive on time. You want to be someone other than the one in the group who is always last. Your guide will then be able to give you an informal list of the activities and sites planned for today.

If you indulge in all the add-on activities, they will tell you when and where to meet for that specific one in each city you visit. If you decide you would instead go off alone, the time will be when to meet back at the hotel for dinner.

Since you’re located near the city center, you’ll spend most of the day on a walking tour. Your tour guide will help lead you through the city streets, with occasional stops at significant locations to give you a quick history behind it on your way to the front of city hall. From here, you’ll be let loose to do what you want for the day or keep going with the group.

You’ll be taken down to Nyhavn to see all the colorful houses and boats and then to Freetown Christiana for some fantastic street art. Grab some lunch at Torvehallerne food hall with all its delectable selections. You will able to rent some bikes as well to get around the city. Some of you will decide to do the Copenhagen food tour add-on, which is a great way to get some more views of the city while enjoying some traditional cuisine.

The usual evening plans are to go inside Tivoli Gardens. Here in this upscale amusement park, you can play classic carnival games, go on rides, listen to live music, and just enjoy the garden scenery. Next door is another popular food hall where you can grab dinner before returning to the hotel to end the night.

Day 3: See Ya Denmark, Hello Norway

It may seem like a short stay in Denmark, but you probably managed to see a lot of attractions and enjoy the cultural aspects here, but it’s off now to Norway. You’ll be heading out of town with, luckily, a short stop at the Little Mermaid Statue on your way, but you will be stopping to spend part of the day at Vigeland Sculpture Park to enjoy a nice stretch and view the dozens of sculptures lined along the walking paths.

Once you’re back on the bus, it’s relaxation time. Here, you can put on your headphones and catch up on some sleep or chat with the new friends you just made. The first day on the bus is usually reserved for more formal introductions of each member of the tour group with some icebreakers.

You are heading to Oslo now, but you’ll take a ferry between these cities part of the way. Here, you can grab lunch on the ferry while enjoying the fresh air and amazing panoramic views. So you should arrive in the next city by the early evening once you disembark. You will check in and receive your room keys, and then it’s the same routine as before. You have the night off to do what you want or participate with the group.

Day 4: Exploring Oslo

Now you are in the largest city and capital of Norway and another gem of Scandinavia for the whole day. We highly recommend taking the add-on of bicycle riding through the city with Viking Biking , even if you are only reasonably physically active.

You start by the Oslo pier and ride through Aker Brygge, stopping to see points like the Oslo Opera House and Nobel Peace Center. The bike tour will take you out of the city and into the open fields and neighborhoods on the outskirts. The tour includes a stop at the popular Kon-Tiki Museum, where you can take a bathroom break and go inside to learn about the famous trailblazer Thor Heyerdahl.

Once you are done, you’ll take a different path back into the city and complete the tour. From here, it’s your free time to explore however you want. Keep going to the other city highlights, such as the Oslo Royal Palace and Norsk Folkemuseum. Or try one of the floating saunas on the water or take a foodie tour of the scattered food halls around the city for dinner.

Day 5: Oslo to Voss

Finishing up in another major city, now is the time you will be exploring the Norwegian countryside and small-town life. This day will be mostly filled with bus driving and the occasional break to stretch your legs and go to the restroom. But you will see many beautiful panoramic scenery that makes this country great. You will find the whole tour bus ride filled with snow-covered mountains, crystal-blue lakes, and some deep green forests.

It’s gorgeous, and you will have some opportunities during the short breaks to get some great pictures for your photo album, but use this as an excellent opportunity to decompress. You will arrive in Voss in the early evening, just enough time to check into your rooms and grab some dinner. This a popular yet small town, so there is very little to do here at night except the local restaurant and bar, so relax and get a good night’s sleep for the next day.

Day 6: Voss Extreme

Today will be full of outdoor activities to get the blood pumping. This town is the sports capital of Norway, and it’s no surprise once you see the itinerary. You have the additional add-on of going white water rafting in nearby fjord rivers, and you can get a gondola ticket up into the mountains where the ski resort is and see some fresh powder and skyline views.

If you choose not to do the white water rafting, the ski resort will only take part of the day, so you can use your time to explore the main street and all the little boutique shops and stores around town. There are also several hiking paths you can take that are just outside of town and an easy walk from the hotel. Or just relax in the hotel until dinner time. It is a 3-course meal that is delectable, and afterward, you can relax in the bar/lounge area curled up, all nice and cozy.

Day 7: Fjord Sightseeing

Today is all about the world-famous fjords once you leave Voss. It’s a short drive as you will be going along the scenic road through Sognefjord to Geirangerfjord, the most popular fjord in the world. This is where you will see a lot more of the natural beauty that Norway has to offer. You will quickly hop off the tour bus for snacks and restroom facilities in the village of Stryn. Then, it is right back on the bus for a stop at the Boyabreen Glacier for some lunch before getting to the Geirangerfjord general area.

Here, you will be staying in Hellesylt, a little settlement right next to the Sunnylvsfjorden, one of the branches of the fjords that all interconnect with each other. Once you’ve unloaded in your rooms, it’s off to the pier to get on the ferry. This ferry will take you through the Geirangerfjord to witness cliffs, famous waterfalls, and abandoned farms along the site. They stop over in the village of Geiranger, where you can disembark to pick up some nice souvenirs at one of the gift shops before heading back on board. You may even see some large cruise liners stopping there for the night.

Head back across the water to Hellesylt, and you can relax. A possible add-on activity is kayaking in the fjord. It’s a fun activity to see the fjord’s beauty, especially in the summer, but do mind the water will still be cold. The best way to end the night is to include a polar dive off the diving pier.

Day 8: On to Lillehammer!

Lillehammer is your last stop in Norway before crossing the border to Sweden. If you’re lucky, you visited Norway during their Norway Constitution Day . Most of the central part of town is within easy walking distance from your hotel, which is built right next to the train station. So expect a lot of foot traffic coming in and out throughout the day. You’re only here for a single night, so make the most of your day by exploring the main street with all the boutique markets and eateries.

The main highlight, though, being here is the Ski Jumping Arena just on the outskirts of town. You won’t be doing this as your additional activity, but it’s still fun to just walk around the property to view the track and get some great views from the vantage points. What you will be able to do, weather permitting is take a bobsled ride with a qualified professional at the Olympic Bobsled course as your add-on activity. This is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience and an adrenaline rush.

Day 9: Now Entering Sweden

You are entering Sweden now, and it is just oh-so-beautiful. One of the first official stops you will make once you cross the border is most likely at one of the IKEA stores along the way for some classic Swedish meatballs in their cafeteria. It’s not a bad place to stretch your legs, but this is not where you should have your first experience eating Swedish meatballs in Sweden. That part is for later.

But you won’t be heading into the city just yet. Instead, you will be heading to the countryside in Torgås, part of Dalarna county. It’s more of a settlement with open land between neighbors, but you will have great opportunities to experience the Swedish countryside . Part of your day will be taking a light nature hike through the nearby forest with a quick tutorial on the history.

Then, if this add-on is part of your chosen tour, you can head to the local sled dog kennel just about 30 min away. Here,, you can learn about the training and feeding of sled dogs in Sweden while playing and petting them. You may even have the chance to see some puppies who will become sled dogs when they get older. If there is still enough snow here, you may have the chance to ride them for a short distance, but that will depend on the weather. Dinner will be served here before heading back to the hostel, where you can finish your night with a lovely campfire and relax under the stars.

Day 10: Entering Stockholm

It is time to leave the comfort of the countryside and move on to the capital of Sweden. You’ll spend a few hours in the morning on the bus heading into the city before being dropped in the middle of the city at the Strandvägen for a quick tour before heading to your hostel.

Since it’s only a half-day here, you will mostly just be walking around exploring the streets and neighborhoods, viewing the scenery. Stick with the group so you do not get lost. Make a quick stop over at the royal palace for a few pictures and just enjoy the atmosphere.

There are no definite night plans, so you can choose to go solo or see what the rest of the group has in mind. There are some upscale rooftop bars close by that are just delightful. The hostel you are staying at has karaoke nights if you want to stay in and maybe grab dinner nearby. It is really up to you to listen to the suggestions of your guide.

Day 11: Dive into Stockholm Culture and History

This is a whole day in Stockholm . You are pretty much left to do whatever you want. Your guide will likely want to start you off at Vasa Museum together as a group, but it is optional. We do suggest going as this is a fascinating museum with a rich and colorful history of Sweden. After that, you can stick with the group and follow the consensus or do your own thing for the remainder of the day.

You will have a lot of options in a short time, so make the most of it. There is a whole line of museums within walking distance of each other, so it depends on your preferences. Some may go to the ABBA Museum first for some colorful music and costumes before heading over to the Nordic Viking Museum. Take the subway throughout the city to see the iconic artwork designed at each station. Or spend your day walking along the rest of the Strandvägen again if you overlooked something or want to see another part.

We do highly recommend you choose to make the final dinner with the group as it is a 3-course menu with the main entree being traditional Swedish meatballs, way better than the IKEA ones you had earlier. Not only is the restaurant in lovely Gamla Stan that you can explore, but it’s a final night among your travel companions.

After dinner and the walk back to the hostel, it depends on if you want to stay with the group for a last round of drinks, some music and dancing, or simply go to bed if you have to catch an earlier flight the next day.

Day 12: Goodbye Contiki

The tour is over, and what an amazing one it has been. This is the time for teary goodbyes and making plans with your newfound friends for the future. With different flight schedules, people will be slowly leaving throughout the day. Others may have decided to extend their stay in Stockholm or have flights in the evening.

If you plan on sticking around longer in Stockholm, use this as an opportunity to see any sites you might have missed or could not get to yesterday. See who else is staying and plan to explore more of the city. Or simply say your goodbyes and switch over to solo travel mode now.

Travel Score: 9/10

This is an excellent tour if you are a first-timer or seasoned travel veteran with Contiki. It is a combination of everything you want on a trip. You will experience the Scandinavian culture, history, outdoors, food, and nightlife.

My only recommendation would be on this is to expand on the Denmark part of this tour. There are many other great places to visit besides Copenhagen. Even a half-day in another smaller city or town on the itinerary, I think, would be an excellent addition. The tour is based on all of Scandinavia but seems to focus mainly on Norway and secondary on Denmark and Sweden. But that is just one travel person’s opinion.

It is only the tip of the iceberg in Contiki tours. You can find so many different options it will be hard to narrow down your choices. Remember that these tours are constantly changing, so each one is not always the same as another, but most of the time, you will follow the same itinerary. New tours are always appearing as tour operations continue to evolve. Just choosing to go with this tour company is a step in the right direction in expanding your travel horizons and making some lifelong memories.

This article originally appeared on The World Overload . Featured Photo Credit: Nicholas Rosen

Nicholas Rosen

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12 Honest Reviews To Help You Decide If Contiki Trips Are Worth It

Tours through China, Europe, and every other place where Contiki provides service earn mixed reviews, so many wonder if it's worth it.

Traveling up and down a foreign continent in a matter of weeks surrounded by like-minded adventurers sounds like a pretty good deal. Well, at least, it would if we weren't in the midst of a global pandemic.

That said, in better times, young people drawn to Contiki book trips because they feel like they’d be fools to pass something like that up. When it comes to the execution of the concept though, tours are bound to show some variation. That variation can come in the form of an upward swing, but things can also fall quite low.

We’ll take a look at the highlights of an Internet’s worth of Contiki reviews covering all the pros and cons. These former customers have taken tours through China, Europe, and every other place where Contiki provides service. With this information, the question of to Contiki or not to Contiki can be easily answered.

12 Consider It A World Sampler Platter

"It's a good method of traveling to give you an idea where you want to visit next.”

New travelers get a taste of several countries in a short period of time, according to this Reddit user. When they’re ready to go back for seconds, they have the knowledge to make it happen.

11 Kickbacks Determine Included Activities Instead Of Quality

Travelers who have been on a Contiki tour suspect that trip managers are paid to bring their groups to certain locations, according to Fodor’s Travel. Key tourist attractions like the Louvre are passed up in favor of a leather shoemaking course designed to get tourists to shell out more cash.

10 Big Groups Make Solo Travelers Feel Safe

There’s no getting lost in the crowd when the group you’re traveling with is large enough to be the crowd. Contiki estimates its group sizes to be somewhere between 35 to 52 people, according to its FAQ. Wandering into dangerous situations is much less likely when surrounded by 50 new friends.

9 Don't Count On Enjoying The Included Meals

Costs have to be cut somewhere to keep things affordable for Contiki’s target audience. That’s why most TourRadar reviewers report receiving bad food in small portions, particularly at breakfast. Travelers are better off wandering into the city on their own if they want to find authentic cuisine.

8 Make Friends For Life

Many Yelp reviewers are still in contact with people they met during their Contiki tour. The group becomes a makeshift family. Participants room together, party together, and book it down foreign streets to catch the bus together. It’s a unique experience that bonds groups at a rapid rate.

7 Trip Managers Make Or Break The Experience

The majority of Yelp reviewers who left positive feedback thanked their trip managers for making their experience so memorable with their knowledge and kindness. Though one-star reviews are very much in the minority, they often hinged on a single complaint: an awful trip manager ruined the excursion.

6 The Group Is Always On The Move

The experience is exhausting. Participants wake up at daybreak only to crawl back into bed late at the night, according to Stride Travel . Some reviewers complained about the frequent bus rides, but other than being a necessary part of travel, they also seem like the optimal time to catch up on sleep.

5 Guests Pressured Into Paying For Optional Activities

"You have the 'option' [to] pay to enter the museum or wait outside… for an hour and a half.”

Participants who cave under pressure when their budget is questioned will end up spending a lot more money than they planned to if this Fodor’s Travel r eview checks out.

Related:  10 European Cities Perfect For Budget-Savvy Travelers

4 Visit Several Countries And Experience None Of Them

"If you want to cross countries off your list without really experiencing them - this is the trip for you.”

Contiki’s jam-packed itineraries leave Redditors skeptical because it’s impossible to immerse oneself in a country’s culture in under a day. Many accuse the company of valuing quantity over quality.

3 The Party Tour Reputation Checks Out

Anyone just looking to have a good time will get exactly what they want with a Contiki tour, according to Yelp . There’s always someone game to try out a new bar or spend the evening seeking out hidden adventures. Timid travelers will find themselves doing things they never could’ve imagined.

Related:  10 Helpful Tips For Introvert Travelers

2 Contiki Is Only For the Young

We don’t mean that guests of a certain age would feel unwelcome, but Contiki explicitly states that travelers must be between 18 and 35 to book. One Yelp reviewer expressed serious dismay over this fact. Though she had enjoyed several tours before, her age now prohibits her from returning.

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1 Take It Easy While The Professionals Plan

TourRadar reviewers appreciated not having to worry about organizing all of the nitty-gritty details that make traveling so stressful. The company handles the vetting of all activities and hotels. Participants are only responsible for making it back to the bus on time if they decide to wander off.

Next:  Let’s Weigh The Pros And Cons Of Traveling To Europe In The Summer

Contiki Tours Europe: No regrets... except? [Latest Review]

Founded in 1962, Contiki is a renowned travel company providing organized tours for young travelers. This is our comprehensive review of their European tours!

If you are a solo traveler yet to get the hang of independent travel, hiring a tour operator is not a bad idea. You would feel more comfortable in a foreign country where the language used, transportation options, and safety concerns are different. In our previous article, we reviewed EF Ultimate Break , a tour operator for the youth. 

But, if you need an alternative that offers a wide range of trips or feel left out because you are just a few years older, Contiki can still help you feel young! It is more popular, especially for covering a lot of destinations in a short period. But is it necessarily better? Don’t rest your case until you read our review! 

Below, we have covered important aspects of Contiki, mainly focusing on its Europe tours. 

What is Contiki?

Founded in 1962, Contiki is a renowned travel company providing organized tours for young travelers. At present they offer over 300 trips to more than 50 countries around the globe. Contiki aims to “bring travelers together to discover the world” and provide them with localized, unique, and adventurous experiences. It is an ideal choice for first-timers, solo travelers, and anyone who likes their travel arrangements to be done by an experienced and reliable third party. It’s also noteworthy to mention that Contiki supports sustainable travel in different ways with the help of their TreadRight Foundation.  

Can you go on Contiki if you are over 35?

Unfortunately no. Contiki only accommodates travelers aged 18-35 years for their trips. Even their tours primarily cater to the young crowd with more emphasis on partying, nightlife, and socializing. That said, assuming you're under 35, when you think about it, the age limit is actually useful. You know what to expect, feel more included, and have a higher chance of getting along with your fellow group members. If you were really keen on going and you're over 35, don't fret! Contiki's parent company owns other tour brands for those over 35 that are likely to be more your style anyway.

What are the features of Contiki?

• Organized group tours: You will be traveling with a group of nearly 50 people! 
• Tour manager: There’s a tour manager appointed to oversee all the important aspects of the tour. There would also be local tour guides to guide you. 
• Accommodation: Depending on the budget and tour type, accommodation can range from budget-hostels to 3-star hotels to campsites. 
• Transportation: The cost of internal transport is borne by Contiki. You have to book flights and take care of travel insurance.
• Meals: Your breakfast is covered by Contiki throughout the trip along with a few other meals. For the rest, you can try out places you like or go along with Contiki recommendations.
• No Regrets Inclusions: These are activities that Contiki deems as mandatory or one-in-a-lifetime experiences. They are included in the tour cost.
• Free-Time Add-Ons: Contiki also provides activities that you can include in the tour at an added cost.

How does Contiki work?

What you have to do is relatively simple. Browse through their long list of trips for destinations around the world and pick one that speaks to your taste! Book a spot by making the payment, and the Contiki team will handle the rest for you. All you have to do afterward is get prepared for the journey!

Which Contiki Europe tour is the best?

Circling Europe is every traveler’s dream because there’s so much diversity to experience. But handling all the travel arrangements as you move from one country to another can be a daunting task. Contiki does an excellent job in helping you with it. 

The best Contiki Europe tour is subjective as it depends on what you wish to see and explore. We have highlighted the most popular Contiki tours Europe so you can pick one for your liking.

If you need a tour that covers a single destination in detail, you may want to consider Contiki Greek Island Hopping, Simply Italy, Spanish Spree, and Contiki Ireland. If you like to cover Europe as much as possible, go for its multi-destination tours like Europe in One Week, Adriatic Unearthed, European Discovery, European Magic, and European Highlights. 

How much is a Europe Contiki Trip?

The cost depends on the number of destinations covered, trip style, and trip length. On average, Contiki tours Europe can cost from $300-$9000. For an example, exploring London for 3 days will cost you $290 while the European Explorer tour that goes for over a month will cost you around $8000. But, remember that you have to allocate more for flight tickets, visa, travel insurance, additional excursions, meals, and of course, tipping. 

What we like about Contiki?

So many tour choices.

Contiki offers enough choices to overwhelm you – literally! So, there’s a high chance you will be able to find the exact trip you are looking for. They cover almost all the destinations, and their tours are categorized under different themes to suit every traveler’s style. Whether you are looking for budgeted-vacations, week-long trips, or months-long adventures, Contiki has got you covered.

Everything is planned

If you have little experience figuring out the logistics of travel or if you are heading to a remote destination where it’s difficult to get around alone, Contiki is a really good option. From lodging to transport to dining, the Contiki team will cover all the essentials for you. It’s very convenient and hassle-free.

New friends

Like its rival EF Ultimate Break, Contiki also offers the wonderful opportunity of getting to know travelers from around the world. You can mingle with like-minded people from different cultures and share your experiences. In fact, some have even ended up falling in love with a fellow traveler in their group!

Ample Flexibility

Unless you are informed about a schedule on the previous day, you have the freedom to explore and do your own thing, whether it's shopping, eating, or just relaxing.

Safety is a major concern for female solo travelers, especially beginners. Contiki ticks the safety box very well by selecting good places for accommodation, hiring reliable drivers, and keeping you informed about places you should avoid and places you should be cautious about.

What we don’t like about Contiki?

Too much partying.

Like we said earlier, Contiki has a party atmosphere and even hosts theme parties on its tours. Continuous partying and drunken nights might not appeal to everyone, especially travelers close to the upper age limit. So, we think you should give it some thought before selecting Contiki. 

Knowledgeable tour managers 

Your tour manager can significantly alter your travel experience. You could get someone well-informed about the places you visit, aspects you should be cautious about (culture, customs, etc.), and excursions worth taking. There’s also the chance of ending up with tour managers who schedule things based on their preferences or profit without focusing on travelers’ requirements. 

Pace of their trips

For some, Contiki tours Europe are a great option as its tours try to cover a lot of places within a limited timespan. But, for travelers who like to take their own time and enjoy exploring, this is not the case. If you are the latter, multi-destination Contiki tours might feel like a rat race for you. 

Cost of Excursions 

Contiki offers a host of No Regrets excursions that travelers can take part in. But, they are usually very expensive and can take a big chunk of your budget. 

Accommodation

Many travelers have complained of accommodation being located far from the city. Contiki does this in order to lower costs, which is fair considering that you don’t spend a lot of time at the hostels. The low quality of selected hotels/hostel was another factor we noticed in many Contiki tours Europe reviews.

Is Contiki good for singles?

Contiki is great for singles! It's an awesome way to make a whole bunch of friends really quickly. If you're looking to meet someone special be careful however as you have to spend the rest of the trip with them. It's not unlike how it was usually not the best idea to date people on your floor in college. That said, it's a great opportunity to get to know people and have a great time. You can always "cuddle up" near the end of the trip if that's what you're looking for. ;)

Don't just take our word for it, here's the honest review from someone who've been on a Contiki trip!

Is Contiki good for couples?

Most of the people who go on Contiki tours tend to be single, so it's not the best idea to go in a couple, unless both of you are really keen to be social and make friends. The risk of going in a couple is that you keep to yourself more. Single people gravitate towards other single people as well, so it's something to keep in mind. That said, it's still a great opportunity to meet some really cool people, and see how well you and your significant other travel together. Just be sure to go into it with the right mindset and you can still have a great time. That means not treating it like a romantic trip together, but rather an adventure to both meet some cool new people!

So, are Contiki Tours worth it?

We highly recommend Contiki for travelers who want to visit specific destinations but unsure of what they want to see.

It’s also great if you are really nervous about traveling for the first time. However, some of us like to challenge ourselves by journeying on our own. We like doing the legwork, exploring options, and being excited about the itinerary we create!

Speaking of creating amazing itineraries with friends, have you heard of Pilot?

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Honest + Complete Contiki Ireland Tour Review

Wondering whether the it’s worth it to do a Contiki tour in Ireland? This Contiki Ireland review has all the information you need to decide.

The Contiki Ireland tour is the first Contiki trip I ever did, now with a few more Contiki (and Top Deck and G Adventures) tours under my belt, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the Contiki Ireland Tour.

If you’re thinking of booking an Ireland tour, or a Contiki anywhere, this Contiki Ireland review has all the details to help you decide. If you’ve already done all your homework on the tour (shout out to the other over planners) just scroll to the bottom for my verdict.

This post is based on my experience of the Contiki Ireland tour, but the pros/cons are also relevant to the very similar tour that Top Deck runs in Ireland. I’ve been on tours with both companies in the past and they are super comparable.

Full disclosure, I personally went on the Contiki Ireland tour and paid for it myself in full. All views are my own. I have included affiliate links so that if, after reading the review you want to book a tour, you have the option to support the blog while doing so.

What is Contiki?

Contiki is a tour company that runs tours specifically for 18-35 year old’s. Most of the tours, including the Contiki Ireland, are on big 50-seater buses but they do run some boat-based and single-city tours.

Contiki runs tours in English and the groups are mostly made up of Australians, Kiwis and Americans. The trip style is very fast-paced, expect to see lots of places in a short space of time (more on that later).

Contiki operates tours all over the world, but their most popular trips are in Europe, including the Ireland trip.

What tours does Contiki do in Ireland?

Contiki runs three tours in Ireland (at the time of writing), the main Ireland tour (which I did), the Ireland Reunion tour for 35-45s and the St Patricks Day short break.

The website shows a few more like a Scotland-Ireland option and an England-Ireland option, these are actually just add-ons to the main Ireland tour where you do the England/Scotland tour then ferry/fly to Ireland to join the group doing the 8-day Ireland section.

Where does the Contiki Ireland tour go?

The Contiki Ireland tour is advertised as 8 days but it’s more like 6 because you only join the group on the evening of Day 1 and Day 8 is really just a departure day.

This means that if you were pressed for time, you could safely plan to fly in on the morning of Day 1 and fly out first thing on Day 8. I would 100% recommend not doing that and leaving yourself some extra time in Dublin (see below).

Here’s the itinerary in brief, you can read the whole thing on the Contiki website: Day 1: Dublin (meet the group, have dinner, go out) Day 2: travel to Cork via Kilkenny Day 3: travel to Galway from Cork via Blarney and the Cliffs of Moher Day 4: full day in Galway (this day has the only real free time) Day 5:travel to Derry/Londonderry from Galway Day 6:travel to Belfast from Derry/Londonderry via Giant’s Causeway Day 7:travel back to Dublin from Belfast Day 8: eat breakfast and fly out

I did all the inclusions and ‘free time add-ons’ (optional activities) and would recommend that.

To be honest many of the add-ons are really core tour activities ie the drawcards that make you want to book the trip in the first place and our whole group did them so they were less of an optional thing and more just planned tour activities that we had to pay for.

Definitely factor the add-ons into your budget as it could be quite awkward if you opted not to do those activities and you could be left sitting on the bus in some cases (like at the Jameson’s Distillery) because there is nothing else to do in the area.

Highlights of the Contiki Ireland tour

Before I jump into the pros/cons, it’s worth mentioning some of the amazing experiences on this trip. If I had to pick, my favourites were:

• the Derry/Londonderry walking tour that delved into the city’s divided history (my family is Irish and I still learned heaps)
• the night out in Galway at the pub that inspired Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl
• exploring Blarney Castle

Should you add on extra time in Ireland?

I had 4 days in Dublin before the tour. This was a good length of time because there’s so much to see in Dublin and Contiki really only allows one day in the city.

But if I did it again, I would swap it around and book a few days in Dublin after the Contiki tour because there were a bunch of people from my tour who were staying on in Dublin (which is pretty common after Contiki tours) so I could easily have joined up with them for Dublin sightseeing rather than doing it on my own.

I had pre-researched the activities on the Contiki tour so made sure not to do any of those before the tour but as it turned out some of the Dublin parts of the tour got cancelled because of the weather so I wished I hadn’t waited.

Save yourself those regrets and just book your days after the tour, that way you know exactly what’s left on your bucket list to go see.

Check out my solo traveller’s guide to Dublin for some ideas of things to do in the city.

What I loved about the Contiki Ireland tour

The inclusions:.

Contiki has done a really good job squeezing all the top Ireland attractions into this tour. There are UNESCO world heritage sites, beer, whiskey, castles, movie locations and more.

If you made a list of the top Ireland bucket list things off the top of your head, they’d probably all be on the Contiki Ireland itinerary. This is consistent with their #noregrets motto. It means the tour is good value in terms of time and money in my opinion.

The convenience:

Contiki basically handles everything for you from accommodation to transport to food and activities. Not everything is included but you often end up doing it as a group anyway (like most dinners).

This is true of all Contiki tours and most tours generally, but it is a huge plus for first-time solo travellers (me when I went on the tour) or people who haven’t travelled internationally before.

The guides are used to dealing with newbie travellers so they offer help with all the basics you might need.

The timing:

I have opinions on the pace of this trip (see below) but with the 6 (full) day itinerary, it’s really well-timed for people (like me) who are full-time workers and want to get a good holiday in without burning all our annual leave (paid time off).

Lots of the tours on the market are in the 2+ week range that ends up being three weeks or more by the time you count add-on days and flight time so it’s really good to have an option that’s one week.

What I didn’t love about the Contiki Ireland tour

Contiki is fast-paced, like really fast-paced, sometimes you get into a city at night and leave early the next morning with no real-time to explore.

This happened on the Ireland tour in Cork. From the small bit I saw, Cork is a very pretty city but by the time we got there it was dark, and we basically just dropped bags and went to the pub with no time to see the local sights.

This can leave you feeling exhausted at the end and like you missed out on seeing some places properly.

The constant partying:

I think I drank every night on the Contiki Ireland tour. Obviously, this was my choice, and you don’t have to do that but it’s what nearly everyone on the tour did and what the tour is set up for.

This might be a plus for you depending on what you want to get out of your holiday and how extroverted you are but for me personally, it was a bit much and left me feeling like I needed another holiday afterwards to recover.

The lack of free time:

This is kind of the same point as the pace but is worth calling out so that you know what you’re in for. The Contiki Ireland tour is crammed full (which is good value) but if you want time to explore on your own then you’ll need to wait until after the tour.

This is not the case on all tours or even all Contikis in my experience as I’ve been on other trips that have lots more free time in the itinerary.

My verdict on the Contiki Ireland tour

The short version:.

This tour was perfect for me at the time, and I had a blast but if I was going to Ireland now I wouldn’t book it.

The long version:

When I did this tour, I had never solo travelled before, and I only had a short amount of time between finishing my summer internship and going back to university.

Because I wasn’t yet a confident solo traveller, I valued the security of the Contiki tour in terms of having everything planned and the one-week itinerary let me see all the main things I wanted to in the short time I had.

However, if I was going now, I wouldn’t do a tour at all partly because I now mostly travel with my partner and partly because I have the confidence to navigate most foreign cities and trains/buses on my own and prefer more flexibility. I also drink less now so the constant party vibe is less what I would go for.

I would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve been on a Contiki before or are considering it. Drop them in the comments below.

Happy travelling!

Europe Travel Resources

• Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
• Find awesome day tours on Get Your Guide
• Book train tickets and buy cheap multi-trip passes from Rail Europe
• Travel super cheaply across 28 countries with Flixbus
• Save on attractions with a city pass from Go City (including Amsterdam, Paris and Rome)
• Sort your Euros and other currencies with a Wise multi-currency card

Kate is the founder of Kate Abroad. She has travelled to nearly 40 countries from Austria to Vanuatu, and lived in 3. She's on a mission to empower other Gen Zs and Millenials travel affordably by sharing helpful travel guides, stories and tips to over 200,000 readers.

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Live from Paris: Taylor Swift adds 'Tortured Poets' songs to Eras Tour in France

PARIS, France — The Chairman jump-started her tour after a two-month hiatus, and anticipation was high over whether Taylor Swift would incorporate her 11th era album into the Eras Tour set at La Défense Arena on Thursday.

She did and then some.

Swift extended the set list by one track to land at 46 songs. But many changes were made along the way. She added a new era for "The Tortured Poets Department," cut a handful of songs and rearranged most of the eras including combining the sets for "Folklore" and "Evermore."

She also debuted a number of new outfits along the way.

Delivering all the updates were Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's full-time Taylor Swift reporter, from inside La Défense Arena in Paris, with Swiftie and trending reporter Anthony Robledo assisting from his desk.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

We hereby present the minutes from the first Eras Tour meeting in Paris, France.

More: Taylor Swift unveils new Eras Tour set list in Paris

'Midnights' set follows secret songs

Swift stuck to her original set list for the "Midnights" era by singing "Lavender Haze," "Anti-Hero" and "Midnight Rain." She ended the night with a triumphant rendition of "Karma" as usual.

'loml' is second secret song

Fans got one more taste of "The Tortured Poets Department" when Swift played the heartbreaking song "loml" on the piano during her secret set.

'Paris' is a secret song, of course

Swift started her secret set with "Paris," a bonus song from her "Midnights" album.

'Tortured Poets' set list

Swift played these songs from her newest album:

• "But Daddy I Love Him"
• "So High School"
• "Who's Afraid of Little Old Me"
• "Fortnight"
• "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived"
• "I Can Do It with a Broken Heart"

New 'Tortured Poets' set is here

Toward the end of her show, Swift officially launched the long-awaited “The Tortured Poets Department” section of the tour after the 1989 era.

Swift performed the track “But Daddy I Love Him” off the April 19 album for her ecstatic fans while wearing a new beige dress with cursive letters.  

A road spiraled down the catwalk in an animation to initiate the era. The background animation showed a deserted road while large cages animated and fell on the road.

“Oh my god you should see your faces,” she sang.

She quickly segued into a brief moment of “So High School,” the beloved track speculated to be about her romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. She quickly performed the powerhouse anthem “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me.”

Swift switched to “Down Bad” before seamlessly transitioning into the lead single “Fortnight.” Stage production recreated an asylum that resembled the music video for the song with Post Malone, recorded harmony played concluding the song. 

Dancers entered the stage in a marching band style format playing drums as she performed the wrath-fueled song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.” Jan Ravnik and Kameron Saunders then revived Swift in a jazzy skit to set up “I Can Do With A Broken Heart,” where she debuted another new outfit. 

“The End” text displayed wrapping up the era that’s likely here to stay. Other beloved tracks like “Guilty As Sin” and “Florida!” did not make the cut.

New '1989' outfit

Swift never goes out of Style. During her “1989” set, she debuted a new, sequined outfit of blue and pink. Her sparkly shoes matched with a different colored heel on each. For the bridge of “Blank Space,” the crowd started chanting in Sydney, Australia, “Syd-ney” as a nod to the 1989 World Tour concert movie where Swift would chant the name of the city she was in after hitting a pole with a club two times. Singapore followed the chant and Taylor Nation tweeted they want every city to incorporate the fan-fueled chant.In Paris, thousands chanted “Par-ee,” the French way to say the capital city.

Swift made no cuts to the "1989" set.

Four songs cut from 'Folklore' and 'Evermore'

The new set list cut four tracks from the "Folklore" and "Evermore" eras:

• "'Tis the Damn Season"
• "Tolerate It"
• "The Last Great American Dynasty"

The combined set included eight songs altogether and wrapped up with "Willow."

'Folkmore' set debuts

Swift revealed she merged the 2020 pandemic albums “Folklore” and “Evermore” into one section. She told fans she wrote “Folklore” to represent spring and summer with “Evermore” representing fall and winter in what she always considered sister albums.

“On the Eras Tour we have now reunited the sisters, combined them into one chapter,” she said. “You can call it whatever you want as long as you promise to sing ‘Champagne Problems’ with me.”

'Folklore' set: 'Cardigan' makes the cut

Many fans had speculated "Cardigan" would be cut from the set list. But Swift actually moved it to the top of the "Folklore" set.

Up next: 'Reputation'

Swift kicked off her fifth set with "Ready for It?"

Another surprise: 'Speak Now' era comes fourth

Swift updated her "Speak Now" set with an intro dance featuring Raphael Thomas and eight other dancers wearing flowy purple dresses. She then sang "Enchanted."

Fan favorite track "Long Live" was cut from the set list.

Order of eras changed

After a fairly routine "Fearless" set, Swift altered her concert by including the “Red” era third instead of the expected “Evermore” set. Previously, "Red" came fifth.

With a new shirt that read “This Is Not Taylor’s Version,” the singer performed "22" and showed her audience that they needed to leave any expectations at home. 

The relocated "Red" set included the same four songs: "22," "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," "I Knew You Were Trouble" and "All Too Well (10-Minute Version)."

Beflore playing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” Swift talked about bringing all of her favorite memories to France.She did her 2019 “Lover” live show here but hadn’t brought a tour to the country since the Speak Now World Tour 13 years ago.“I cannot thank you enough. I’m so moved," she said.

Follow along with set list changes here .

First set list change

Swift cut "The Archer" from her "Lover" set before beginning her "Fearless" set in a silver and black minidress as opposed to her classic gold one. A graphic showed her "Lover" house with a new addition in the attic for "The Tortured Poets Department." Her "Fearless" set remained the same with "Fearless," "You Belong With Me" and "Love Story."

More: Taylor Swift's 'Love Story' castle will soon host weddings

'Je m'appelle Taylor'

In her monologue before playing the song "Lover," Swift said the night would span 18 years of music. Previously, the concert covered 16 years. Get ready for a "The Tortured Poets Department" addition some time tonight.

She confirmed the tour would still go era by era, and also spoke about how Paramore is a band she idolized since she was a teenager. She ended with some French: "Je m'appelle Taylor."

First new outfit

Swift debuted a new, orange bodysuit and jacket for the "Lover" set.

Snippet of 'Tortured Poets' in intro

A snippet of the song "The Tortured Poets Department" was included in the intro music Swift kicks the concert off with. Is she foreshadowing other changes ahead? It seems likely.

Taylor Swift takes the stage

Swift took the stage about 8 p.m. in Paris (2 p.m. ET) to relaunch her Eras Tour in Europe. She kicked it off with a countdown clock and the Lesley Gore song "You Don't Own Me" as usual. Then she began her "Lover" set with "Miss Americana."

Paramore covers Blondie, Talking Heads in Paris set list

At the Paris show Thursday, Paramore energized fans with eight tracks including their cover off the upcoming “Stop Making Sense” tribute album out May 17 featuring artists like Miley Cyrus and Lorde.

Debuting a blond mullet, lead singer Hayley Williams encouraged fans to dance without fear of judgment ahead of Swift’s performance.

“Enjoy your time with Miss Taylor, we will see you next time,” Williams said. 

Paramore's set list included:

• "Hard Times"
• "Burning Down the House" (Talking Heads cover) 
• "Caught in the Middle"
• “Brick by Boring Brick”
• “The Only Exception”
• “That’s What You Get”
• “Ain't It Fun”
• “This Is Why”

Paramore begins their set

At about 6:45 p.m. in Paris (12:45 p.m. ET), Paramore began their set, officially restarting the second year of the historic Eras Tour. Lead singer Hayley Williams sported a new, blond mullet hairdo.

Paramore opens European leg of Eras Tour

The American rock band is joining Swift on her European leg of 51 shows. Paramore also opened the show for two nights in Glendale, Arizona, in 2023. Their setlist then included nine songs:

• "This Is Why"
• "That’s What You Get"
• "The Only Exception"
• "Still Into You"
• "Rose-Colored Boy"
• "Misery Business"
• "Ain’t It Fun"

Where to watch the Eras Tour livestreams

The Eras Tour is one of the first tours that has been followed, globally, by thousands of fans on digital platforms. Fans dedicate part of their concert experience to livestreaming as Swift performs. Livestream Queen Tess Bohne has spearheaded the "Great War" to find fans going live on social media and broadcasting a custom show to tens of thousands of fans almost every night on her account @tessdear .

On YouTube, user @TaylorSwiftHockeyBro also livestreams the 3-hour show, and on Twitch, @folkleric is a host fans follow.

There is also an app, Swift Alert , that notifies fans who only want to watch certain eras like the acoustic, surprise set. The app also sends out push alerts if there are any major announcements.

What secret songs are left?

For the past 83 shows, Swift has had an acoustic set she customizes every stop with a guitar and piano performance. In 2024, the Eras Tour star added mash-ups of her songs for each stop. Here are the songs she has yet to perform:

• "Taylor Swift" (debut album): "Mary's Song" and "A Perfectly Good Heart"
• "Fearless": "The Way I Loved You," "Change," "Superstar," "We Were Happy," "That's When," "Don't You" and "Bye Bye Baby"
• "Red": "Girl At Home," "Ronan," "Forever Winter" and "Run"
• "1989": "Sweeter Than Fiction"
• "Reputation": "I Did Something Bad"
• "Lover": "London Boy," "Soon You'll Get Better" and "It's Nice to Have a Friend"
• "Folklore": "Hoax"
• "Evermore": "Happiness" and "Closure"
• "Midnights": "Paris" and "Glitch"
• "The Tortured Poets Department": all 31 tracks

Bienvenue dans le 'Eras Tour'

Welcome to the Eras Tour (France's Version). Swift is kicking off her 3-plus-hour concert from La Défense Arena in the Jardins de l’Arche district. The venue is Europe’s largest indoor arena and houses the Racing 92 rugby club. More than 40,000 fans will watch the concert, according to the stadium's website.

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