Only got nine days? That’s all you need to soak up the magic of France and Spain. Start in dreamy Paris and end in lively Madrid, with a journey that blends iconic sights with lesser-known gems along the way. From the Eiffel Tower to Gaudí’s surreal designs, and from ancient Roman marvels to rustic farmhouse feasts, this trip packs a perfect punch of culture, cuisine, and connection. With a passionate CEO leading the way, you’ll fall head over heels for the region — and probably never want to leave.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Madrid, Lyon, Nimes, Barcelona
Paris, Madrid, Lyon, Nimes, Barcelona
18% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
From croissants to pintxos and cathedrals to countryside, this 14-day journey through France and Spain is all about living the good life. Start in the timeless charm of Paris, then wind your way through historic towns and foodie hotspots before ending in culture-packed Bilbao. Along the way, dive into local flavours, sip regional wines, and walk a stretch of the iconic Camino de Santiago. With a local CEO leading the way, you’ll uncover hidden gems, swap stories with new friends, and collect enough memories to last a lifetime.
Explorer
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
12-100 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Bilbao, Logrono, San Seba
Paris, Bilbao, Logrono, San Sebastian, Lyon, Nimes, Barcelona
This was a great trip to explore each city. Personally, this felt a bit more independent type travel (exploring the city by yourself or if you made a friend with them) vs other Contikis (more time with the group). Hotels were great and fantastic locations (centrally located near metros and the main train station). Fantastic free time add ons as well.
Interesting stops but a bit too much on WW I.
Tour of Quarry too long & too much standing. No place for a break.
Enjoyed Normandy & Minen Gate very much.
Our tour director was awesome! He listened to us & adjusted as he could to accommodate everyone.
Loved the very small group size!
Explorer
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, London, Brussels, Lille
Paris, London, Brussels, Lille, Amiens, Caen
13% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
Take a ten-day rail-only adventure from Paris to Rome. You’ll start in the City of Lights, then you’ll zoom to Switzerland for a mountain getaway. In Lausanne, see the iconic Cathedral and maybe visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vineyard Terraces of Lavaux for a wine tasting, then head to Lucerne for incredible views of the lake and surrounding Alps on Mount Pilatus. Take the Gotthard Panorama Express to the city of Bellinzona, where you’ll hop on another cable car for more mountain views. Make your way to Rome, where you’ll have plenty of free time to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World and sit down to a fresh lunch with an Intrepid Foundation partner, Cooperativa Coraggio.
ExplorerTrain tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Rome, Lausanne, Lake Luce
Paris, Rome, Lausanne, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, Ticino Valley Natural Park
On this 15-day adventure traversing Europe from Paris to Istanbul, use local trains to follow the historic routes once used by the Orient Express’ carriages in the 19th century. Travel by train all the way from Paris to Budapest, with stops to explore the historic quarters and modern offerings of Strasbourg, Munich and Vienna. Then change lines and follow another historic route from Belgrade to Istanbul, riding local trains to experience Nis, Sofia and Plovdiv as you go. With plenty of free time to explore at each stop, and a passionate local leader on hand to point you in the right direction, there isn’t a moment you’ll want to miss on this rail adventure.
ExplorerTrain tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Istanbul, Belgrade, Nis
Paris, Istanbul, Belgrade, Nis, Plovdiv, Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest
Amazing experience!! met the best people and had the best time! London to Athens was very jam packed and exciting, the greek island hopping was relaxing but also had lots of parties so it was a great way to end the trip!!
It was so fun. Sorta expensive but we had a great group of people and had a really great time at all the places. They liek to take us to karaoke bars so we didn’t really get to any other cool bars but it was still very fun and u could leave if u wanted.
Overall a great time and out tour leaver was sooooo amazing.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
London, Athens, Paris, Venice, F
London, Athens, Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, Beaujolais, Barcelona, French Riviera
Please do not wait to take this trip!!!!
It was wonderful and our guide and driver were spectacular. I only wished I did it 10 years earlier.
Thank you, thank you.
Local cultureCity sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley
Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley
15% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
I feel like everything went fairly well for it being a brand new trip. Trip manager and driver were great, very knowledgeable of the areas we visited. Very jam packed fun filled week!
Explore some of Europe’s highlights in Spain and France, without the hassle of airport queues or long driving days, with this rail-only eight-day trip from Paris to Madrid. Only using public transport, you’ll get a unique insight into Paris, Nimes, Barcelona and Madrid, with a local leader who knows all the best hidden spots. You’ll taste croissants, tapas and churros, wander through hidden walkways for excellent panoramic views only locals get to see and witness the interesting past of human creative genius with stops at popular landmarks like Sagrada Familia, and Puerta del Sol. Choose to extend your journey and start in the UK, with the optional Eurostar transfer from London to Paris (it only takes 2.5 hours!).
ExplorerTrain tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers