WHERE YOU'RE

GOING

#EUESCAPADE
E U RO P E A N E S C A PA D E ( LO N D O N T O LO N D O N S U M M E R
2 02 3)
2 3 D AY S

From Rome to the Rhine Valley, not a minute of your

European Escapade will be wasted. For 23

unforge able days, you'll travel through all of your

bucket list destinations, for a heart-pounding, non-

stop adventure. From Contiki's exclusive Chateau in

the vineyards of the Beaujolais Wine Region,

through Spain, Italy, Germany and more - not to

mention an eye-widening encounter with the Swiss

Alps - this kaleidoscope of history, culture and

nature will leave you dizzily devoted to all things

Europe.

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DAY 1
LONDON TO PARIS

London

Wel com e to the firs t day of the bes t trip of your l ife - w e' re

cal ling it earl y! After a few pleas antries in London w e' ll get

the s how on the road w ith P aris in our s ights .

Dover

A few hours i n and your jaw s are on the floor already. Thes e

chal k cli ffs that edge the E nglis h coas tli ne are know n as the

White Cliffs of Dover, the firs t of m any natural beauties w e' ll

s ee on our tri p.

Calais

After w e ferry acros s the E ngl is h Channel for France w e' ll

arrive i n Calais , w here w e w i ll take in the hi s tory of Worl d

War I battlefi el ds in the Val ley of the Som m e.

Paris

We' ll kick off our trip as w e arri ve in the gl ittering city of love,

P aris . It' s s trai ght dow n to bus ines s w ith a tour of the city l it

up by thos e fam ous lights . Then, w e' ll bond w ith our Contiki

fam w i th a del icious included di nner. The French are proud of

their culinary cul ture for a reas on.

Meals

Dinner

Hotel

Ibis Budget P aris Nord 18e (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Marvel at the White Cli ff s of Dover

A twilight tour of Paris

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DAY 2
PARIS

Paris

Today' s the day to s troll the beautiful s treets of P ari s , w i th

plenty of tim e to l us t over des igner haute couture or French

vintage s tores , adm i re the Notre Dam e Cathedral, order

coffee and crêpes , or get arts y at the m any m us eum s of the

Louvre. Toni ght, foodi es w i ll have the chance to eat a

œ
P aris i an feas t in Montm artre, s urrounded by cobbl ed l anes ,

vill age-es que cafes , s treet artis ts and the Sacré-C ur

Bas i lica. O therw is e, thi s is your night to s ign up for an i conic

P aris i an cabaret s how . E ither option w il l gi ve you the perfect

w ay to m ake it one to rem em ber!

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Ibis Budget P aris Nord 18e (or s i m i lar)

Free Time Add-ons

Parisian Welcome Dinner

Right in the heart of Paris, this typical French bistro

dishes up loads of atmosphere & is the perfect place to

get to know your group. With a three-course meal &

some local wine, kick start your trip with a night to

remember.

€ 38

Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show

Dress up for a special night out at a Parisian cabaret

show. From your lamp-lit table, watch a succession of

can-can girls, acrobats, comedians, feathers & sequins

whirl by as you sip champagne.

€ 100

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DAY 3
PARIS TO BEAUJOLAIS WINE REGION

Paris

Farew ell French capi tal! We' re off in s earch of charm ing

countrys i de & legi t, s traight from the s ource vino.

Fontainebleau

With its m edi eval s tature and grand s urrounding ponds ,

Château Fontai nebl eau w il l take your breath aw ay. We' l l

am ble around the gardens then recom m ence our s ceni c

journey to Beaujol ai s .

Beaujolais Wine Region

Toni ght' s the night w e cam p out at Contiki’s very ow n 16th

century Château. We s ay "cam p" but thi s m ight be the m os t

royal experience of your li fe. Wine tas ti ng at the Château’s

w orking w i nery is jus t one of the w ays w e' ll kill tim e w hil e

w e' re here.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Chateau de Crui x (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Marvel at Château de Fontainebleau

Taste wine at the château

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DAY 4
BEAUJOLAIS WINE REGION

Beaujolais Wine Region

P inch yours elf, this i s another day at the Château & another

chance to l ive your bes t French countrys i de l ife w i th a ful l

day here in Beaujolais . Ris e & s hine w i th optional s unri s e

yoga on the s praw li ng l aw n of the Château' s gardens , rel ax

in the courtyard w ith a coffee & croi s s ant, or lol l about

pools ide i n our cas tle-l ike s etti ng. O ur highl ight today is a

picnic in the pi ctures que gardens . Cue panoram i c vi ew s &

red w ine.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner, P icnic Lunch

Hotel

Chateau de Crui x (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Take a guided yoga session on the Château lawns

Enjoy a picnic lunch while admiring the views

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DAY 5
CHATEAU DE CRUIX TO BARCELONA

Beaujolais Wine Region

Bye-bye Beaujol ai s ! And hello Barcelona. The P yrénées

m ountains w ill keep our eyes s ati s fi ed today as w e roll

acros s the border for Spai n' s m os t l ively ci ty. E ach day as

s w eet as the las t.

Barcelona

Wel l w ould you look at that for tim ing, w e' ve pull ed i nto

Barcelona jus t on s angri a o' clock. Fate, you' ve done i t again!

Tapas and a ni ght expl oring the city s hould have us in the

Spani s h m ood before w e know i t.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Generator Barcelona (or s im il ar)

Included Experiences

See the Sagrada Familia

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DAY 6
BARCELONA

Barcelona

Cobbl ed lanes of the Gothic Q uarter, Montjui c hi lltop vi s tas ,

& w ild Spani s h archi tecture w il l s eas on our day to perfection.

There' s pl enty of free tim e to roam free or take a dip i n the

Mediterranean s ea, jus t don' t tire yours elf out - chances are

you' ll w ant to partake in the eveni ng of Fl am enco fun.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Generator Barcelona (or s im il ar)

Included Experiences

Take a Gothic Walking Tour

Free Time Add-ons

Flamenco, Tapas & Drinks

Set in Poble Español, Tablao de Carmen serves up tapas

with the heart-stopping intensity of flamenco dancing.

This live performance introduces the heart of Spanish

culture, so kick back with Spain's signature drink,

sangria, & take in the rhythms.

€ 53

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DAY 7
BARCELONA TO FRENCH RIVIERA

Barcelona

As s m itten as w e are by Barcelona, w e have m ore of E urope

to conquer. Much, m uch m ore.. .

Arles

After a dream y drive acros s the border i nto France through

lands capes of lavender, s unflow ers and w il d herbs , w e' ll

arrive at our l unch break tow n of Arles . Here w e w i ll get a

peek at an ancient Rom an Arena and at a typi cal provinci al

French tow n.

French Riviera

You' re not a real celebrity unti l you' ve frol icked on the French

Riviera, and w ho are w e to keep you off the A-Li s t ? Sapphi re

w aters & endl es s gl am our as w e roll through this gl i tz y

coas tli ne.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

O z z Hos tel (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Visit Arles

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DAY 8
FRENCH RIVIERA

French Riviera

This m orning w e' ll take in the crys tal bl ue w aters of the

Riviera, cobble s tone s treets and charm ing m arkets ! Later w e

take a s ceni c drive al ong the Côte d'Az ur s how s us everything

w e w ant to know about the French Ri viera, as w e m ake our

w ay to the heart of it al l, Monaco.

Monaco City

It w oul dn' t be a true vis i t to Monaco w ithout s eei ng the

Royal P al ace and the Monte Carlo cas i no, and that' s exactly

w hat w e' l l look for fi rs t. Then, w hat better pl ace to s pend

your las t night in France? You have a free evening to don

your glad rags , s pri tz on s om e of your new perfum e & rub

s houlders w ith the hi gh roll ers , before it' s back al ong the

coas t toni ght.

French Riviera

Monaco, you' ve been a real w inner today. Wi nding our w ay

back along the Côte d'Az ur, w e' ll s ay goodbye to the fl as h

pack and s et our s i ghts for bed.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

O z z Hos tel (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Drive along the Cote d'Azur

Get to know glitzy Monaco

Free Time Add-ons

A 'Nice' Bike Ride € 25

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DAY 9
FRENCH RIVIERA TO FLORENCE VIA PISA

French Riviera

After alm os t a w eek i n France you' l l be ful l to the bri m w ith

al l thi ngs French and ready for new ground. Ital y, perhaps ?

Pisa

No trip around E urope i s com plete w i thout s eeing the

w orld' s m os t fam ous #Aw kw ardLean, the Leani ng Tow er of

P is a. O nce you' ve got that perfect s nap of you holdi ng the

thing up li ke you' re Arnol d Schw arz enegger, w e' ll be on the

fas t-track to Florence.

Florence

The dom e of Duom o Cathedral s its above the city m aki ng

certai n w e know w e have arrived i n Florence. Toni ght, begin

your Italian adventure w ith a night out w ith your group w ith

danci ng a plenty.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

P lus Hos tel (or s im ilar)

Included Experiences

Visit Pisa (for that epic sel fie)

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DAY 10
FLORENCE

Florence

Today is a perfect balance of guided w i s dom , food and free

tim e to roam . Take the opportunity to expl ore s treets

burs ting w i th heri tage and del icious flavours in an opti onal

w al king tour, or take yours el f to the local m arkets and dow n

s om e gelato. Tonight, opt to l earn how to m ake the perfect

piz z a at a l ocal res taurant and i ndulge in your very ow n

culinary m as terpiece

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

P lus Hos tel (or s im ilar)

Free Time Add-ons

Welcome to Florence Walking Tour

Traveling on foot provides for a pace that opens your

eyes to various hidden treasures that you would have not

have seen otherwise. With a local guide you'll be taken

on a walking tour to find out the hidden stories of

Florence.

€ 10

Pizza Making Evening

Its time to roll up your sleeves & get ready to make your

own pizza. Get tips on techniques from an expert chef.

Then, tuck into your own creations at the end of the

hands-on class, & savour the flavours of Italy.

€ 37

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DAY 11
FLORENCE TO ROME

Florence

Farew ell Fl orence - today w e have the epi center of Italy on

our horiz ons . P iz z a, piaz z as ... w e' re com i ng in hot.

Vatican

When in Rom e... take an optional gui ded tour of the Vatican

Mus eum s , i ncluding the Si s tine Chapel . Reli gious or not, the

Vatican' s Itali an Renai s s ance church w i ll s end s hivers dow n

your s pine.

Rome

After our dri ft through the rus tic Tus can hill s ides of cypres s

trees and glow i ng fields , w e' ll be back ci ty s ide i n the Ital ian

capi tal of Rom e. The Trevi Fountain, P antheon & P iaz z a

Navona are jus t s om e of the i cons w e' ll be cas ti ng our eyes

upon before the s un s ets .

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

The Yell ow (or s i m i lar)

Included Experiences

Tour Rome on Foot

Free Time Add-ons

Vatican Tour

Explore the historical treasures of the Vatican City, inside

its Museums & the Sistine Chapel on a sightseeing tour

with our Local Guide. Admire the wonders of this most

impressive collection, with the highpoint being

Michelangelo’s Renaissance masterpieces ‘ The Creation’

& ‘ The Last Judgement’. Note: On occasions, the Vatican

Museum & Basilica may be closed for events or private

visits. Your Trip Manager will advise.

€ 44

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DAY 12
ROME

Rome

O pen your eyes this m orni ng and give yours elf a few

m i nutes to let the reality s i nk i n … you m ay even need to

pinch yours elf a few tim es . Yes , you are actually i n Rom e!

O pt to be gui ded around the Rom an Forum and Colos s eum

firs t up, continui ng to fil e info i nto the brai n under "m i nd-

blow i ng his torical facts ." The res t of the day is yours to chow

piz z a, s i p coffee, w atch the Ves pas fly by, and jus t general ly

get i n the s w ing of all things Itali an.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

The Yell ow (or s i m i lar)

Free Time Add-ons

Emperors & Gladiators inc Colosseum

Wander through the ruins of the ancient Roman

Empire's political heart, while our Local Guide peels back

the layers of history & reconstructs the past. From the

assassinations at the Forum to the bloody ba les in the

Colosseum, learn how the roots of Western culture

started here.

€ 45

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DAY 13
ROME TO VENICE

Rome

We m ay be hitti ng the road agai n, but w e' re not done w ith

Ital y jus t yet. We have one m ore ci ty to l us t over. ..

Padua

We' ll s top in P adua - a ci ty older than Rom e! Take a s troll or

s top off i n one of the clas s y cafes for an es pres s o.

Venice

Kudos to the cats of decades gone w ho cons tructed this

lagoon fai rytale. Boats , bridges , gondol as ; your heart i s

going to pound. Start off thi s evening w ith an opti onal

w al king tour that not only s how s you the s ights but als o

finis hes w i th tradi ti onal Veneti an cicchetti , w as hed dow n

w ith an aperi ti vo.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Anda Venice Hos tel (or s im il ar)

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DAY 14
VENICE

Venice

Wake-up s leepi ng beauties ! Venice i s yours for the entirety

of this glorious Ital ian day. We' ll be jum ping aboard our ow n

private boat and hitting the canal s en route to the his torical

heart of the city. You have the chance to becom e truly

Venetian w i th a gondola ride up for grabs , or you can alw ays

choos e to get los t on your ow n and s ee w here the m az e

takes you.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Anda Venice Hos tel (or s im il ar)

Included Experiences

Cruise on a Motoscafo to Venice

Explore Venice on Foot

See canals and gondolas

Free Time Add-ons

Gondolas

Sit back & watch the city open up from the canals in a

gondola. From magni ficent palazzi looming in the

distance to the locals' laundry strung across the

backwaters, Venice's charm gets you at every turn.

€ 26

Burano Island Cruise & Cicche i

A true local experience - cruise the lagoon on our way to

the UNESCO heritage listed fisherman's island of

Burano. Here we will enjoy a selection of Cicche i

prepared in the traditional fashion, then free time to

grab a bargain & of course time to take some snaps of

this islands unique streetscape.

€ 48

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DAY 15
VENICE TO AUSTRIAN TYROL

Venice

Arrivederci, Venice! You' ve been s pl endi d. We' re back on the

road through the Dolom ite Mountains en route to fi nd lands

fit for the Sound of Mus ic.

Hopfgarten im Brixental

O nw ards , upw ards & s eeing the w orl d w ith m ore grateful

eyes than ever before, w e' l l s ettle back on the road and s oon

arrive i n the breathtaking Aus tri an Tyrol. We' ll be w elcom ed

w ith open arm s to Conti ki' s very ow n Aus trian Gas thof

(gues thous e), but before w e s ettle in, w e' ll get outs ide and

expl ore the dream y s etti ng w e' ll cal l hom e for the next tw o

nights . Toni ght is a w elcom e evening & tom orrow w e' ll get

into the s w i ng of things w ith s om e of the adventure

activi ties › this tow n is fam ous for.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Conti ki Haus Schoneck (or s im il ar)

Free Time Add-ons

Austrian White Water Ra ing

Time for action in the Tyrol's monumental mountains!

Have a blast on the River Inn's rapids in an adrenaline-

pumping ride. Follow the river 's surging course under

the watch of professional Local Guides. Don't worry: if

you can swim, you're in – & before you hit the alpine

waters, you'll be fully ki ed out with wetsuits & safety

helmets.

€ 50

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DAY 16
AUSTRIAN TYROL

Hopfgarten im Brixental

Wake up, peel open your curtains , and take i n the

m agnifi cence of your vi ew . If you' re feeling lively you can

jum p onto a bi ke tour through green m ountai ns and

w aterfall s . If you' re feeli ng reall y li vel y you can go tandem

paraglidi ng. Not s o l ivel y? Strol l around and take i n the

incredi ble s etti ng; dri nk endles s hot chocolate, go up a

m ountain in a gondol a or relax at our Gas thof.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Conti ki Haus Schoneck (or s im il ar)

Free Time Add-ons

Bike Ride & BBQ

Jump on a bike & head out for a fully guided tour

through picture-perfect Austrian mountain scenery. In a

region that is all about the outdoors, this is the perfect

way to take in the fresh alpine air, waterfalls, mountain

streams & meadows. Once you've worked up an

appetite, there's a BBQ lunch of Austrian wurst & kraut

salad to finish.

€ 36

Austrian Paragliding

Take o ff from the side of a mountain & soar over this

stunning region in an adrenaline-pumping tandem

paraglide. Flying with an experienced, professional pilot

also gives you a chance to grab some great photos on

the way! All you need for this adventure is some warm

clothing & walking shoes.

€ 134

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DAY 17
AUSTRIAN TYROL TO MUNICH

Hopfgarten im Brixental

Farew ell l ife in the bl is s ful Aus tri an Alps , but don' t give up

on your Sound of Mus ic i m age jus t yet. We' l l leave Aus tri a

this m orning in s earch of lands that prove the s etti ng s til l

exi s ts .

Dachau

This m orning w e' ll feel w orl ds aw ay as w e journey to the

m edieval tow n of Dachau near the Germ an border, for a vis i t

back into E urope' s hi s tory. Here in Dachau w e' ll take a

s obering but eye-opening vi s it to Dachau Concentration

Cam p m em ori al . O nce the origi nal w orking ' cam p' , thi s

m em ori al hous e the s tori es of a generation never to be

forgotten.

Munich

Bavarian culture, a fam ous Glockens piel and charm aplenty.

Muni ch does n' t jus t turn it on during O ktoberfes t! E xplore

peaceful gardens and legendary beer halls or joi n i n the bike

tour and expl ore the s ide s treets you w ouldn' t us ual ly s ee,

s tarting out w ith a ci ty tour and a vis i t to a beer hall .

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Bento Inn Munich Mes s e (or s im ilar)

Included Experiences

Clink your steins at a beer hall

Free Time Add-ons

Mike's Bike Tour

Explore Munich like a true Bavarian & join us on a

guided bike tour when you cycle past the famous sights

as your Local Guide explains the fascinating history of

the city. The perfect way to see a lot in a short time.

€ 23

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DAY 18
MUNICH TO SWISS ALPS

Munich

Goodbye Munich, hel lo m ountains .

Vaduz

We' ll m ake a w el l earned pit s top in the capital of the ti ny

country of the P rincipali ty of Li echtens tein - fam ous for

bei ng double l andlocked - s urrounded by the tw o al ready

landlocked countries of Sw itz erland and Aus tria, now there' s

a fact w e bet you never thought you w ould learn.

Swiss Alps

Arrive in thi s picture perfect s etti ng ready for tw o nights . This

place com es to li fe as the s un s ets , s o tonight w e' l l have a

chance to s pend our free ti m e checking out the l ocal

nightli fe and foodi e s cene.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Schütz enbach (or s im il ar)

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DAY 19
SWISS ALPS

Swiss Alps

O pen the w indow of your room & drink i n the incredi ble vi ew

- if you can find w ords or photos that do i t jus ti ce, w e

appl aud you! Feel free to expl ore thi s clas s ic E uropean

adventure tow n.

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Schütz enbach (or s im il ar)

Free Time Add-ons

Jungfrau Mountain

Head up into the Swiss Alps as you scale 3,454 metres

(11,300 feet) by cog railway, through 7 km (4.2 miles) of

tunnel, to the highest railway station in the world. Step

out at the top of Mt. Jungfrau onto the ‘roof' of Europe, a

UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the few places to

touch snow in the European summer.

€ 150

Canyon Swing

Enjoy a high-thrill canyon swing in the Swiss Alps

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DAY 20
SWISS ALPS TO RHINE VALLEY

Swiss Alps

O ut w i th the alti tude, into Germ any for a brand new day and

a brand new country. O nce w e' ve cros s ed the border out of

Sw itz erl and w e w ill be coas ti ng into beer and w ine terri tory

in the cas tle dotted l ands capes of the Rhine Vall ey.

Heidelberg

We keep the s us pens e w ith a s top off in Hei del berg and i ts

m edieval vibes w hich are m atched only by its s tudent vi bes

before w e' re back on the road.

Sankt Goar

After the s ceni c journey of fairytale cas tles , vineyards and

val leys , you' l l be charm ed before w e even arrive in

Germ any' s fam ous Rhine Vall ey. Thi s back-in-tim e tow n is

our w ine tas ting hos t for the eveni ng

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Hotel Montag Sankt Goar (or s im ilar) Tw in Room s

Included Experiences

Explore Heidelberg

See Lorelei Rock

Free Time Add-ons

Rhine Valley Wine Tasting

In the historic se ing of an underground candle-lit

cellar, get the low-down on the region's reputation as a

leading white wine producer. Try out local wines as you

sip on some Riesling & the exclusive ice wine, a speciality

of the area.

€ 9

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DAY 21
RHINE VALLEY TO AMSTERDAM

Sankt Goar

This m orning w e' ll drag you al l aw ay from Germ any kicki ng

and s cream ing that you w ant to s tay forever. O nly to s ee you

equally infatuated w ith another dot on the E uropean m ap

hours later.

Edam

You know the chees e, and now you' re going to know the

place that pioneered i t. We' l l cycl e i nto the countrys ide to

s ee w indm il ls & pi ctures que Dutch hous es on our w ay to an

actual chees e farm & cl og m aker ' s hous e.

Amsterdam

Flas hing red li ghts , pretty canals , crooked buildi ngs , cafes

burs ting w i th piz z a + chocolate + French fries . Am s terdam is

al l that and w ay too m any bags of chips .

Meals

Breakfas t, Dinner

Hotel

Via Hos tel Am s terdam (or s im ilar)

Included Experiences

Cycle the streets of Edam

Try cheese and clogs in Holland MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

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DAY 22
AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam

It' s our las t full day on tour & our las t night to party up a

s torm w ith the s quad. Us e the day to expl ore quirky

m us eum s & s am ple the endl es s array of cuis ines thi s city has

on offer.

Meals

Breakfas t

Hotel

Via Hos tel Am s terdam (or s im ilar)

Free Time Add-ons

Get the Best View of Amsterdam

There's no be er way to start your morning in the capital

city than with an exclusive entrance into Europe's highest

swing. An unrivalled panoramic view of Amsterdam's

historic centre, unique Dutch landscape, & famous

canals which belong to the UNESCO world heritage list.

Be amazed by this vibrant city while you swing back &

forth 100 metres above the ground.

€ 18

Highlights of Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Floating down Amsterdam's canals by night is the

perfect way to finish o ff your trip. Cruise past historic

buildings & the eye-opening Red Light District. The

cruise gives you a di fferent take on one of Europe's

ho est creative capitals!

€ 23

1ste Klas Dinner

1ste Klas Dinner

Travel back in time & dine in the grandeur of the old first

class waiting rooms of Amsterdam's Central Train

Station. Wrap up your day with a drink before digging

into some hearty Dutch fare in this atmospheric

restaurant. Lip-smacking seafood & steaks are on o ff er.

Wash it all down with some wine or local Dutch beer.

€ 39

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DAY 23
AMSTERDAM TO LONDON

Amsterdam

Get your ti s s ues ready, i t' s ti m e to s ay goodbye to your new

Conti ki fam i ly. We' l l es cort you to Schi phol Airport by about

10am .

Belgium Pit Stop

Cros s off another country off your l is t as you crui s e through

Bel gium on your w ay to Am s terdam .

Calais

Dover

London

This afternoon w e cros s from France to E ngland and then

back to London-tow n, w here you' ll be left to s tart dream i ng

up your next big adventure.

Meals

Breakfas t

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