Trips For Young Travelers and Young Adults

The size and age range of our group was perfect (~28 people about 19 - 33 years old), we meshed very well and we squeezed in a ton of activities

This trip was amazing!! I loved that this was a train trip and it really led to such an authentic travel experience! Also, this was a small group tour (less than 24 people) and I can honestly say that our entire group bonded so well and the group size made it extra special! Our trip manager, was so amazing at arranging free time activities and navigating us around all of the cities; I don’t think the experience would have been the same without her. As a first time solo traveler on Contiki, I would absolutely recommend this trip and company! It was life-changing and I left with a new mindset and new friendships!

An amazing and unforgettable experience exploring the breathtaking South Island with an awesome group of people. This was my first Contiki and international solo travel and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Contiki and our trip manager Brad made planning and organising the trip effortless and the locations, activities and transport were sensational. I cannot recommend this trip enough!

It was cool that we got to see so much of the beautiful country and making new friends along the way. It would have been nice to spend longer in certain spots , but we were pressed for time.

I can’t even put into words how amazing this trip and experience was! First of all, this specific Contiki trip is fantastic for so many reasons: 1) The travel by train – It’s easy, convenient, and truly maximizes your time in each city. Before booking, I did tons of research and looked through all the other trip options and itineraries. I knew most Contiki trips are fast-paced, but what really worried me was not having enough time in each city to see the highlights and get a feel for the place. I didn’t want to spend more time traveling than actually exploring (which a lot of coach bus trips can end up being). Although this trip is fast-paced, like most Contiki’s, the train is a HUGE benefit of this specific trip & truly the most time-efficient way to travel through Europe. 2) The cities themselves – Each one was absolutely stunning and filled with history. I loved every place for its own special reasons. 3) The balance of structure and free time – This trip offers the perfect amount of free time in each city, so you never feel like you’re constantly “on a tour” or doing things you don’t want to. At the same time, there’s plenty of structure through the planned walking tours, group activities, and recommendations provided by your Trip Manager. So, if you don’t want to do any research or plan out your free time, you’ll still have more than enough guidance to make the most of each city. Because of this, I still highly recommend doing a bit of research beforehand and having a short list of must-see sites or spots to make your free time even more rewarding. 4) The group size – Ours was wonderful! We started with 14 people, and since this trip is “modular,” a few people left and new ones joined halfway through in Berlin, bringing our group up to 25. It was the perfect size to connect with everyone, make group dinners work, and truly feel like you had a second family. If you’re traveling solo (like I did) and are worried about making friends—don’t be! There’s always someone who’ll want to hang out, explore, or grab food with you. Everyone’s on the same page: wanting to see as much as possible, make friends, and have fun! 5) The add-ons – Every optional activity on this trip was incredible. They were all worth doing, so I highly recommend budgeting for as many as you can, plus a lot of your new friends will likely be doing them as well, so it’s a great way to connect with the group. 6) Getting around – In each city, your Trip Manager gives you a transit card (covering buses, trams, trains, and subways), which gives you unlimited access for the two days you’re there. It makes it super easy to get around and see everything you want without having to walk long distances all the time. My biggest piece of advice: backpack if you can! Luggage is doable, but it’s so much easier with a backpack - especially since you sometimes walk 25–35 minutes to the train station or hotel. You can easily store your bag above or at your feet on trains or public transport, rather than worrying about where to stash a suitcase. Overall, this trip had the perfect balance: enough structure that you won’t feel lost if you don’t plan anything, but also enough free time to create your own little itinerary or explore with your new friends. I want to give a HUGE shoutout to the most amazing human being and our Trip Manager, Ella Purser. She played such a big part in making this trip one of the best experiences of my life. She’s kind, helpful, fun, and genuinely cares about everyone. She was super organized - sending us daily itineraries that broke down the day’s timeline (when we had free time, when to meet up, add-ons she recommended, must-see sites, cultural highlights, and even local foods and drinks to try). She also made little podcasts for us; each time we boarded a train to a new destination, she’d send us an audio clip she recorded about the history and background of the next city. It was such a fun and engaging way to learn a bit before arriving. She truly was our “trip mummy” (as we all called her) - caring for each of us, keeping things organized, but always joining in on the fun and keeping the vibes high. She also even helped me navigate the process of seeing a doctor when I needed to get medicine for my cold (proving her well-deserved “trip mummy” title)!🤣 If you’re on the fence about booking this trip (or a Contiki in general), this is your sign to do it. As cliché as it sounds, this trip was truly life-changing for me. I’ve been to Europe many times before, but I’d always wanted to do a fast-paced trip like this to see my bucket list cities. I didn’t have friends or a boyfriend to travel with, and I was tired of waiting for the “right” time or person, so I just booked it alone! I spent 15 days with the most amazing people from all over the world. I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to meet them and travel together through 7 incredible countries and cities, creating lifelong memories on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Stop waiting, life’s too short. Book the trip. Thank you, @Contiki. I’m forever grateful I stumbled upon this one. ❤️

I literally cannot find the words to express how incredible this trip was for me. 15 days of adventure, fun, adrenaline with meeting some of the best people I have ever met. We started as strangers and we left as really close friends. Our Trip Manager made it unforgettable and went above and beyond to make the trip run as smooth as possible for us. Africa is one of the best places I have ever visited and I can’t wait to return with my two sons and husband in the future. It just has so much to offer and I wouldn’t have done it any other way without Contiki. I traveled with my best friend and cousin and the three of us had such a good time. I do recommend taking any second hand clothes or stationary for the families of the township in Cape Town that you wish to donate. I wish I had known more about the townships and how very little they have in life. Really recommend using the card and app Wise as well for multiple country currencies while there. A few hotels are cash less but in saying that very good to have cash for tipping the locals if you want to. Africa definitely changes your perspective with some things in life and I feel very privileged to be able to see it the way we did. I travelled in October and the weather was perfect, warm further north we went, cooler in Cape Town. The animals and the wildlife in the national parks are just out of this world. We saw the big 5 within 2 hours of being at Kruger National Park. Was just mind-blowing and amazing to see them the way we did. Pack a rain jacket, pack binoculars, pack a head torch and neutral safari clothes. Thanks , thanks Contiki!!