What is contiki?

Who it's for

Contiki caters to 18-35 year-olds (they also run some departures for 27-35s if you want a slightly older crowd). It's designed for people who want guided travel with built-in social time—you're not backpacking alone, but you're also not on a lecture-heavy heritage tour.

What you actually get

Most trips use coach transport to move between cities, with accommodation sorted (usually hostels or budget hotels). Your itinerary mixes must-sees with downtime: you might visit a major landmark with your guide, then have an afternoon free to explore on your own or with your tour group.

The social side is deliberate. You'll meet other travellers your age, share meals, and there's usually a trip leader managing logistics so you don't have to. It's less "independent travel" and more "guided travel with independence built in."

Cost and booking

Prices vary by destination and trip length. From prices we track daily across 5,887 small-group trips for 18-35s, the median cost is £145 per day (this excludes flights, most meals, and optional add-ons). Contiki's deposit is £60, plus their FlexDeposit option.

Trip pricing doesn't shift much month to month, but when prices do drop, they tend to drop noticeably—median reduction of -9.7%—so it's worth checking our deals section if you're watching specific departures.

Where to start

If you're trying to work out whether Contiki suits your travel style, use our trip matchmaker or browse operator reviews to see what other travellers say. You can also browse trips directly to compare their itineraries against other operators in the same price bracket.