VIENNA TO LONDON TRAIL

Vienna:

• We’ll arrive in Vienna full of excitement and ready for coffee & sachertorte, otherwise known as the world’s greatest chocolate cake. Get to know your new travel squad over dinner tonight, and maybe a few schnaps, since we’re in Austria after all.

A&O Vienna Hauptbahnhof (or similar)

Included Meals: Dinner

Vienna:

• Rise up travellers and start practicing your Polish pleasantries, we’ll be in Krakow later today so they may come in handy.

Via Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau:

• Today we will change pace once we cross the border, as we drop to an unfamiliar and sobering level by visiting the concentration camp memorials of Auschwitz & Birkenau. Learning and growing is what we travellers do.

Kraków:

• Then afterwards its onto the city of Krakow, which is now known for its salt mining heritage and tales of mythical dragons. Relax tonight as we have all day tomorrow to explore.

Ibis budget Krakow Stare Miasto (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• See Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Kraków:

• Join an Orientation tour to get to know the city’s best beer spots and historical hotspots then you’re free to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed centre in your own time. A Jewish Quarter, a jaw-dropping castle & museums aplenty are just some of the relics found in the relatively untouched Krakow. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Polish evening and try Pierogi, a Polish favourite – these dumplings are an absolute classic.

Ibis budget Krakow Stare Miasto (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Introduction to Kraków

Additional Cost Applies:

• Polish Pierogi Evening

Kraków:

• Alpine scenery and traditional villages will make our departure from Krakow more manageable. Particularly with the knowledge that we have Budapest coming up in the eve.

Via Banská Bystrica:

• Pastel painted and manicured to perfection, Banska Bystrica is a lunch break that will charm you to no end. Being in Slovakia, it’s also your chance to brag 3 countries in one day – you crazy globetrotter you.

Budapest:

• Welcome to Hungary! Coming in at number 3 on our list of countries ticked off through the day. From the moment we arrive in the river split city, you’ll understand why we needed a couple of nights here. Waste no time getting involved with Budapest by joining the optional river cruise and dinner.

A&O Budapest (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Visit Banská Bystrica

Additional Cost Applies:

• Budapest River Cruise with Dinner

Budapest:

• The day is yours to tackle Budapest however you see fit. After all the travelling we’ve done, you’ve probably earned yourself an afternoon soaking in the city’s famous outdoor thermal pools set amongst Art Nouveau architecture. Blissed out in Budapest – there’s an insta caption for you. If gardens, fountains, pools and ruins are the call of your day, put Margaret Island top and centre of your to do list.

A&O Budapest (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Széchenyi Baths & Walking Tour

Budapest:

• This morning we say goodbye to the city of Budapest and head south to Slovenia! Though the name Ljubljana might not be as well known as Budapest, that doesn’t diminish its delight as a European city. In fact, its undiscovered charm is all part of the fascination…

Via Lake Bled:

• WOW is probably the one word we hear in unison as we pull up at this jaw dropping lake. Don’t forget to keep your swimmers out today, this is the perfect place for a dip to break up the journey, and grab a few lust-worthy snaps.

Ljubljana:

• Aesthetically wonderful and filled with youthful moods, Ljubljana is one to love for its off the tourist trail vibes and casual attitude. Without a list of monuments to tick off, you’re free to get cozy in a cafe and lap up the endless local feels.

Ljubljana Resort (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Visit Lake Bled
• Get to know Ljubljana

Ljubljana:

• Ever the advocates of a balanced holiday, today we’re trading in the obscure unknown for the globally adored hot spot of Venice. Whoop!

Venice:

• Yes, it’s as cute as you imagine. Yes, you’ll feel like you’re part of an Italian fairytale. Yes, you are actually hanging out in the gondola clad floating city of Venice! A private boat ride, gothic architecture and a web of lanes to explore will keep your day filled quite nicely.

Anda Venice Hostel (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Cruise on a Motoscafo to Venice
• See canals and gondolas

Additional Cost Applies:

• Gondolas
• Traditional Tastes of Venice

Venice:

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

Rome:

• This afternoon will really take it up a notch as we uncover Italian icons in the country’s capital of Rome. Gelato, pizza, and ancient monuments galore, but why not try a pasta making class and cook a homemade meal for dinner? If that’s not your style feel free to explore and get a glimpse of Rome’s glory by night.

The Yellow (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Rome Pasta Cooking Class & Dinner

Rome:

• Rome wasn’t built in a day but we sure can try and see it all in one day! Snap pink azaleas by the Colosseum, throw coins in fountains and sip espresso in a pretty street watching Italian life float by.

The Yellow (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Ancient Rome of the Emperors
• Emperors & Gladiators inc Colosseum

Rome:

• Lets hit the road as we have more of Italy to lust over…

Via Pisa:

• 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.

Florence:

• For those of you not familiar with the whole Florence deal, we have two words for you: it’s heaven. Florence, the capital of Tuscany, is more proof that Italy has so many great places packed into one small region. Potter along the River Arno, be totally Tuscan with another drop of Chianti wine, and take in the beauty of the city and its protruding Duomo Cathedral. We have all day tomorrow to let the explorations continue.

Hotel Mirage (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Visit Pisa (for that Epic Selfie)

Additional Cost Applies:

• Tuscan Dinner

Florence:

• Today is a perfect balance of guided wisdom, food and free time to roam. Take the opportunity to explore streets bursting with heritage and delicious flavours as you explore the local markets and down some gelato.

Hotel Mirage (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Welcome to Florence Walking Tour

Florence:

• Hopefully by now you are head to toe in fresh leather, you’ve eaten your bodyweight in antipasto, and you’re feeling fresh as a daisy and ready to farewell Florence.

Swiss Alps:

• Bunking down amid fairytale snowcapped mountains tonight shows how far we’ve come since golden Florence this morning, and that right there is the magic of Europe. Tomorrow we’ll set out to explore this magical land of cheese, chocolate and watches.

Adventure Hostel Interlaken (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Swiss Fondue

Swiss Alps:

• Open the window of your room & drink in the incredible view – if you can find words or photos that do it justice, we applaud you! If you’re feeling audacious, opt to take a trip to a Swiss mountain with your travel crew, or feel free to explore this classic European adventure town.

Adventure Hostel Interlaken (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Additional Cost Applies:

• Swiss Paragliding
• Jungfrau Mountain

Swiss Alps:

• Out with the altitude, in with the inner-city Parisian bliss. Once we’ve crossed the border out of Switzerland we will be coasting through the pretty wine producing region of Burgundy before our arrival in Paris.

Paris:

• We’ll reach Paris and enjoy an included dinner before a chance to explore the glittering city of lights.

Jo&Joe Gentilly (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Included Experience:

• Take a Tour of Paris

Paris:

• Stock up on perfume at the Fragonard Perfumery. Especially given the greatly discounted prices and authenticity of buying in France. Later you can moan over haute couture you can’t afford, admire the Notre Dame Cathedral whilst juggling coffee and crêpes, & get artsy at the many rooms of the Louvre. Just don’t wear yourself out, you will probably want to get involved with dinner and a cabaret show. With your last night looming, make it one to remember in the city of lights.

Jo&Joe Gentilly (or similar)

Included Meals: Breakfast

Included Experience:

• Visit a French Perfumery

Additional Cost Applies:

• Parisian Farewell Dinner
• See a Paris Cabaret Show

Paris:

• Soak up your last dose of Paris and feel the astonishment of how much you’ve seen on this trip. And how close you’ve grown to your loved-up Contiki collective.

Via Calais

Via Dover

London:

• What a journey, if you’ve chosen to end your trip on arrival in London say a fond farewell to the remainder of your group as you wrap up the journey on arrival.

Included Meals: Breakfast