European Discovery (Winter)

Your heart-pounding adventure kicks off today. Meet up with your Contiki posse & share notes on London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam. Shortly before we find our ferry for Europe, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK!

Off the ferry, we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north via Belgium before reaching... Amsterdam! Tonight, after an included dinner and an optional evening canal cruise, the fun-famed Amsterdam is yours to explore in all its glory (D) Stay: Ibis Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (or similar)

Now it's time to pour some sunlight on the agenda & take in the beauty of canals, crooked buildings, obscure museums & a café culture like no other. 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. (B/D) Stay: Hotel Montag Sankt Goar (or similar)

Too much grape juice last night? Not to worry, the prospect of this Bavarian hidden gem should lift your spirits as we travel south & swap wine culture for beer. Quintessential German experiences don't get much better than visiting this charming medieval town. We'll stroll the cobblestoned streets, checking out vibrant market squares and picturesque half-timbered houses along the way.

Today our eyes will be treated to a famous Gothic clock, a charming old town & traditional Bavarian culture. You'll have the option to explore the side streets by foot and afterwards why not choose to explore one of the city's many beer halls, where you can try a stein of beer or even a pork knuckle! (B) Stay: Wyndham Garden Munich Messe (or similar)

Goodbye Munich, hello mountains. We're hitting the road in search of lands so sweet they made The Sound of Music. After crossing through the Bavarian Alps, it's time to head to this famous Olympic town and your jaw will drop at the sight of the famous ski jump, and you'll have a chance to soak up the medieval old town atmosphere for the afternoon.

Tonight, you can opt for a traditional Tyrolean show - don't forget to try a piece of delicious Austrian strudel and some local schnaps! (B/D) Stay: Hotel Dollinger (or similar)

Wake up with the gorgeous snow capped Alps as your backdrop roamers, we have a bountiful breakfast and a floating city in Italy to tend to. Life's tough! You'll think you've seen enough beauty for one day after taking in the Central Austrian Alps & Brenner Pass en route to Italy. And then we'll arrive in Venice & your jaw will hit the floor over hidden lanes, story book bridges & a private canal boat ride. (B) Stay: Venice Palace (or similar)

Farewell floating city, but Italy, we're not done with you yet, our next destination the Eternal City of Rome is just around the corner.

But first, we have an epic, included MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience to enjoy. Casale Polegri is set within the gorgeous town of Baschi, where we'll meet the Polegri family. These guys have run their vineyard and olive orchard for generations, and after giving us the grand tour, will serve us lunch under the Veranda. As we overlook the Tiber Valley, enjoying some of the most authentic Italian food we've ever tasted (topped off with the Polegri's very own wine, naturally), we might reflect that we've never had it so good. It's the kind of local travel experience you don't encounter every day (you're welcome).

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 it's glory by night. Gelato, pizza and ancient monuments - perfetto! (B/L) Stay: BB Roma Tuscolana (or similar)

Rome wasn't built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city. Hit the streets for your own discoveries. Learn a thing or two as you pass the Colosseum, throw coins in fountains and sip espresso in a pretty street watching Italian life float by. (B)

We may be hitting the road again, but we're not done with Italy just yet. We have one more city to lust over… The dome of Duomo Cathedral sits above the city, making certain we know we have arrived in Florence. Take a moment to take in the unique beauty of this beautiful city, where culture and la dolce vita is evident in every direction you look. We'll become history buffs on a guided walking tour, before we learn the art of leather.

Tonight you can choose to begin your Tuscan love affair at an optional dinner - think olives, cured meats, crostini & wine. (B) Stay: Hotel Auto Park (or similar)

Say a fond farewell to Italy, and hello to the land of creamy chocolate, cheese and not to mention watches. Hello Switzerland! Swans float under wooden bridges, snowcapped mountains stand regally behind us & chocolate tastes like heaven on earth. You're in the Swiss Alps & you cannot wipe the smile off your face. Eeek!! ! (B) Stay: Ibis Budget Luzern City (or similar)

It's been sweet, but our time in Lucerne is up this morning. We're Paris-bound! Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. We'll jump back onto our coach to cross the border out of Switzerland and (back) into France. Lamp-lit bridges, a sparkling Eiffel Tower, & evening coffee haunts, tonight we fall in love with everything Paris. Our Trip Manager fills us in on the city's secrets, then to celebrate our first night in the city, we'll head up the Montparnasse Tower. (B/D) Stay: Ibis Paris Porte D'Orleans Hotel (or similar)

It's time to stroll the dreamy streets of Paris, moan over haute couture you can't afford, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral whilst juggling coffee and crêpes, & get artsy at the many museums of the Louvre. Just don't wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with a ticket to an iconic cabaret show and dinner. With your last night looming, make it one to remember in the city of lights. (B)

Rise, shine, and soak up your last dose of Paris this morning over a coffee and croissant together, as we marvel at how much we've seen on this magical journey. It may be over for now, but these friendships and memories will last a lifetime. (B)