European Highlights | Gap Year 18-22 | Start Paris | 2025

Join forces in London & get to know the wolf pack you're about to take on Europe with. We'll hit the road this morning and make tracks for two weeks of adventure. Shortly before we find our ferry for France, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We will travel via World War I battlefields in the Valley of the Somme, before reaching .... Paris! Pop the champagne, dial up the romance, & pass the escargot - we're in Paris, baby! Don't waste a second unpacking, we're going to hit the streets and see how this city comes alive by night.

Today's the day to stroll the beautiful streets of Paris, with plenty of time to lust over designer haute couture or French vintage stores, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral, order coffee and crêpes, or get artsy at the many museums of the Louvre. Tonight, foodies will have the chance to eat a Parisian feast in Montmartre, surrounded by cobbled lanes, village-esque cafes, street artists and the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Otherwise, this is your night to sign up for an iconic Parisian cabaret show. Either option will give you the perfect way to make it one to remember!

Farewell French capital! We're off in search of charming countryside & legit, straight from the source, vino. With its medieval stature and grand surrounding ponds, Château Fontainebleau will take your breath away. We'll amble around the gardens then recommence our scenic journey to Beaujolais. Tonight's the night we camp out at Contiki’s very own 16th century château. We say "camp" - LOL. This might be the most royal experience of your life. Wine tasting at the château’s working winery is just one of the ways we'll kill time while we're here.  Please note: On occasion, certain departures will be moved from Contiki’s Chateau de Cruix to the French gastronomic capital of Lyon (a title which ain’t given lightly, believe us!)  We’ll get the party started with an included meal at a local restaurant, accompanied by local wine.

Missing an opportunity to see this glorious part of the world up close and personal would be criminal. Speaking of things you shouldn't miss on your European Highlights tour, this region is famous for lavender honey, aioli & rosé wine; all 3 in one meal should be your mission.

This morning we'll take in the crystal blue waters of the Riviera, cobble stone streets and charming markets! Later we take a scenic drive along the Côte d'Azur as we make our way to the heart of it all, Monaco. A night in glamorous Monaco should complete your day slash life. Don a fancy necklace and pop a plum in your mouth - we're about to embark on the lifestyle of the rich and the famous.  After a night on the blackjack table it's back to the coast and to bed, the next part of the adventure starts tomorrow.

After almost a week in France you'll be full to the brim with all things French and ready for new ground. Italy, perhaps?  No trip around Europe is complete without seeing the world's most famous #AwkwardLean, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Once you've got that perfect snap of you holding the thing up like you're Arnold Schwarzenegger, we'll be on the fast-track to Florence.  The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair at a Free Time Add-On dinner - think olives, pastas, focaccia, meats & wine.

This morning is a perfect balance of guided wisdom and free time to roam. We'll uncover the beautiful art of traditional leather & explore streets bursting with heritage before eventually hitting the road for Rome. And you thought your morning was interesting! The afternoon will really take it up a notch as we uncover Italian icons in the country's capital of Rome as you get a glimpse of its glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfecto!

Rise and shine, Rome awaits us! Today will be a whirlwind of Roman architecture and bucket list sights as we uncover all of Rome’s key features. There’s also the option to head back in time and discover Rome of the Emperors and Gladiators.

We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over... Venice is yours for this glorious Italian afternoon. We'll be jumping aboard our own private boat and hitting the canals en route to the historical heart of the city. A gondola ride is up for grabs, or you can always choose to get lost on your own and see where the maze takes you.

Confident we have ticked off all the Italian essentials, we can now leg it to Germany. After all the sophistication and glamour of France and Italy, a few beers and the chance to wear Bavarian suspenders will be precisely what we feel like.   Wind through the Austrian Alps to lively Munich. Bavarian culture, a famous Glockenspiel and charm aplenty; Munich doesn't just turn it on during Oktoberfest! Explore peaceful gardens and legendary beer halls or join in the bike tour and explore the side streets you wouldn't usually see.

Today it’s goodbye Munich, hello wine country. But first, we have an important stop to make. Journeying out of Munich, we'll make a stop at Dachau for a sobering visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial. You'll be able to spend some time here to learn and reflect, before we head on to the Rhine Valley.  After the scenic journey of fairytale castles, vineyards and valleys, you'll be charmed before we even arrive in Germany's famous Rhine Valley. This back-in-time town is our wine tasting host for the evening.

This morning we'll drag you all away from Germany kicking and screaming that you want to stay forever. Only to see you equally infatuated with another dot on the European map hours later... You know the cheese, and now you're going to know the place that pioneered it. We'll cycle into the countryside admiring windmills in Edam. Pretty canals lined with quaint crooked houses and cafes bursting with life. Amsterdam is all that and way more than what you could ever imagine. This evening, opt to take the A'DAM lookout swing, an incredible observation deck with unrivalled panoramas of the twisting canals below.

It's our last full day on trip & our last night to party up a storm with the squad. Use the day to explore quirky museums & sample the endless array of cuisines this city has on offer. The best way to say farewell to this gorgeous city? Opt to hop on the classic Amsterdam canal cruise and then bite into fluffy Dutch pancakes for dinner. So good!

Down your breakfast and wipe away your tears - this is always the worst day of the trip. We'll escort you to Schiphol Airport by about 10am for those leaving us in the canal lined city.  For those not leaving us until London, we'll travel south through Belgium, then cross into France to Calais. We'll make our way back to London-town, where you'll be left to start dreaming up your next big adventure.  This concludes your 14-day trip to Europe. What a journey! Say a fond farewell to the group as you wrap up the trip on arrival in London.