Europe Adventure Trips

The itinerary was great, and I don't give it the full smily face because two days of the walks had to be replaced by lighter ones as a big storm passed over the island - so I can't comment on them. No fault of the guide or tour operator, indeed the guide rightly put safety first. The island is a mix of dry lower parts and forested higher parts, all visited. Lunch and evening meals need to be paid for separately but were good and well arranged.

This trip blends the best of the coastal route from Porto with the stunning, lesser-known Spiritual Variant trail. Hiking over 100 km (62 miles) along the Portuguese Camino Highlights Walk was challenging but very rewarding. The coastal walks offered stunning views of the coastline and ocean and I loved walking through the quaint fishing villages along the coast. The Stone & Water trail and the Spiritual Variant trail offered stunning scenery, peaceful forests, rivers, and charming medieval villages and country towns along the way. The food was a highlight too—fresh seafood and traditional local dishes at every stop. I highly recommend trying local dishes such as Galician Pulpo (octopus), Galician scallops (in the shell), and Padron peppers! On Day 5 and 6, we stayed at Villa Covelo and stumbled upon a local restaurant called, O Recuncho do lolo, and had an incredible local experience here! The owner Graciela was so hospitable and kind that we dined there two evenings in a row! You must try her cheesecake (she sold us by telling us it was the best in the world- and it very well might be!) The accommodations at A Casa Antiga do Monte and Hotel Melo Alvim were cozy, historic, and full of character. If you’re thinking about doing a "highlights version" of the Camino, this Exodus trip is the perfect way to do it! :)

The itinerary on The Jewels of Italy Tour is exceptional, not only do you get to see the major attractions in the big cities, but you also get to see the smaller towns of Pisa and Verona. I thought the Coach was very comfortable. Although, I was surprised that there was no bathroom in the back, but there were enough Pitstops made for bathroom breaks, so it was not needed. We thought the Hotels were more than adequate for the paid.

The entire trip was lovely! Such a knowledgeable tour guide, great driver and the scenery can’t be beat! Admittedly, the tour guide was invaluable & probably added to the enjoyment as he not only knew, or could wing it, about everything. He was delightful and charming. Driver could & did get us everywhere!

The itinerary was great we had a touch of Europe from London, Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, Munich, Amsterdam. Fabulous, planned excursions in each country we stopped at with a guide who knew his way around. And even the tiniest details were thought of.

An interesting experience for a first time solo travel, I can say for certainty that I have created some lifelong memories, and that even though there were ups and downs, I would 100% do another Contiki. The people are what make Contiki unforgettable, even more-so than the places. I would recommend picking Contiki for places which you don’t care too much to see everything, as you only get a glimpse of big cities.