Lava Line - Contiki (tours 181-385) (2023)

FAQs

Is Contiki rushed? ›

Note: Contiki does have some tours that travel at a bit slower of pace but their bread and butter tours are typically fast-paced.

Your accommodation, essential trip transport, and a good handful of meals are included in the cost of your Contiki trip (on most trips we offer breakfast every day, plus a hand-picked selection of authentic and tasty meals).

Contiki is a New Zealand-based tour company that caters to 18 to 35-year-olds, offering over 350 different tours in over 75 countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Contiki Has a Party Reputation (BUT..!)

It's known for combining cultural travel experiences with copious partying and drinking, especially in Europe. That can be fun, if you're into that. But, if you're not into the EXCESSIVE partying, don't fret. There are ways to avoid it.

On our trips, 70% of travellers join us alone, but leave with lifelong friendships. If I join Contiki on my own, will I have to share a room on my trip?

With half of them are travelling alone, the other half with friends. The gender ratio is about 50/50, with a minor skew towards female travellers.

Don't forget to bring a towel: A microfiber one, to be precise. These lil' beauties fold small and dry in no time at all, so you'll be able to pack and go without a musty scent emanating from your backpack. Ideal.

So, how strict is Contiki on luggage size? Although Contiki is not very strict about the 73cm x 50cm x 23cm size limit, they are extremely strict about the 20kg weight limit of your luggage because of the EU's strict road and transportation regulations.

Contiki trips are truly ownable. We provide the best framework for you to build on with significant free time. You can choose to explore, relax or eat your way through these blocks of time that are yours. You can even do it alone or with members of your group that you have befriended and share common interests.

You can go it alone while still traveling alongside young, adventurous, like-minded people from all over the world. Travel solo with Contiki and you'll never need to pay a single supplement – we'll buddy you up with a roommate so you can travel solo, at no extra cost.

Can you go on Contiki if you are over 35? ›

ICYMI, the Contiki age is exclusively for 18-35 year olds, AKA, 'youth'.

There is a bathroom on the bus, but this is only there for emergencies. Some people on our tour didn't take this seriously, and soon enough the tank was full.

Your accommodation, essential trip transport, and a good handful of meals are included in the cost of your Contiki trip (on most trips we offer breakfast every day, plus a hand-picked selection of authentic and tasty meals).

While drinking is incorporated in many aspects of the tours, it is okay to not drink on a Contiki. You should never feel pressured and you won't feel left out.

You can do everything that a Contiki tour does, on your own, for the same amount of money. It's not cheaper one way or the other. The only difference with going on your own is that you'll be paying the same amount of money, but doing all the legwork of booking hotels, excursions, dinners, etc.

Contiki welcomes anyone from ages 18 – 35 and we had everyone that covered all ages: youngest to oldest. It is worth mentioning that I was the oldest male on the trip. It ended up being of no significance as we all had an amazing time traveling throughout a beautiful continent.

Our typical luggage allowances; For our European, North American, Australian and New Zealand trips, luggage is restricted to one decent sized, suitcase, approximately 29” × 20” × 10” (73cm x 50cm x 25cm) with a maximum weight of 20 kilos (44lbs.) plus one small hand/day bag that can go on the transport with you.

Qatar has the highest sex ratio, with three males per woman, followed by the United Arab Emirates, having 222 men per 100 women.

Trips with 30+ people

Our classic Contiki trips are more than 30 people, with a max of 53 and an average of about 45, depending on the season and trip.

What shoes to take on Contiki? ›

Comfortable shoes

Flip flops, a pair of runners – you never know what activities are around the corner. Check the weather in the destination you're visiting and pack accordingly. If it's rainy or snowy, packing a pair of waterproof shoes could be a good idea.

Contiki gives you a new sleeping bag for your trip. Use it 'always'. The reason for the sleeping bag, they say is because all of the accommodations don't have bedding sheets.

Yup! Don't stress about keeping connected to all your friends and family from afar; almost all accommodation Contiki stays at offers free WiFi, so you can gram/Tok/chat to your heart's content. Do Contiki coaches have WiFi? They sure do.

Pre-Departure Cancellation: GSP allows you to cancel your Contiki trip for any reason without penalty prior to 30 days from your Australian departure date (or 30 days prior to your trip departure if travelling in Australia).

Carry-on bags must weigh less than 35 pounds and must not exceed 10 inches deep, 16 inches wide and 24 inches high. Bags must fit in the overhead bins. Checked bags must be no longer than 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh under 40 pounds.

Contiki has designated a large number of trips as Definite Departures. Check the departure calendar of the intinerary of your choice and look for dates with a green corner as they indicate definite departures. These Definite Departures are guaranteed to operate except under circumstances beyond our control.

Any flights you take during your Contiki are included in the cost of your trip. Particularly in regions like Asia, Australia or South America, we use planes to get you from A-to-B as quickly as possible, and all of this is included.

What are free time add-ons? Free Time Add-Ons are basically the travel experiences we've picked that we think will take your trip to a whole new level. The experiences are built around activities or topics we know you'll love. Think food, adventure, exploration, history, culture, fashion, music - you name it.

These trips are perfect for introverts.” If you need that extra push to get out of your shell, Adam said that Contiki tour managers are trained to help introverted people find connections.

Is Contiki good for solo travel? ›

Asking “can I join a Contiki as a solo traveller?” is like asking if you can travel with us when you're between the ages of 18-35. The answer is a definite YES. > After 60 years of mastering social travel we still get asked the same thing daily, which is fine…we love the chat.

You are NEVER too old to travel. Because getting old IS just a number. There are, however, plenty of other things that enter the equation that come hand in hand with age. It is THESE things that you should take into account before you buy that plane ticket.

Group size, age requirements and travel styles

Topdeck is for 18 to 30-something travellers, while G Adventures tours are open to almost all age ranges, and have a range of trips specifically for 18 to 39-year-old travellers, as well as families.

There's no age limit for international travel. I've met plenty of international backpackers who are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Non-travellers are often surprised. They have their mental image of hostels full of post-pubescent party people.

Contiki will not be cheap. It will be much more expensive than if you did it on your own. (And, in Europe, you'd meet a lot of people doing it on your own. You'd stay in some awesome hostels, make friends, and save money.

Contiki welcomes anyone from ages 18 – 35 and we had everyone that covered all ages: youngest to oldest. It is worth mentioning that I was the oldest male on the trip. It ended up being of no significance as we all had an amazing time traveling throughout a beautiful continent.

contiki.com Audience Demographics

contiki.com's audience is 41.99% male and 58.01% female.

Great for first time travellers

Contiki is the perfect option for first time travellers for a number of reasons, including safety, the social side and what you get to see. Most first time travellers will be between 18-35, and this way they can all experience it for the first time together!

Contiki trips are inclusive and equally welcome solo travellers, travellers with partners or the whole squad.

Do you need to take a towel on Contiki? ›

Don't forget to bring a towel: A microfiber one, to be precise. These lil' beauties fold small and dry in no time at all, so you'll be able to pack and go without a musty scent emanating from your backpack. Ideal.

You are NEVER too old to travel. Because getting old IS just a number. There are, however, plenty of other things that enter the equation that come hand in hand with age. It is THESE things that you should take into account before you buy that plane ticket.

If I could give anyone else in their thirties advice on whether to do a Contiki, I'd say absolutely without a doubt, do it. Take advantage of all of the extra activities that are available to you, and enjoy having someone else organise a trip for you.

The first part, 'Con' is a shortened form of 'Continent', as a nod to the brand's mission to connect travellers to all the continents of the world. 'Tiki' on the other hand, pays homage to the New Zealand heritage of our brand, and the name for a Maori good luck charm. Combine the two and you've got CONTIKI!

Studies have shown that the ideal group size is 12. Larger groups can be uncomfortably unwieldy, with a tendency to take over restaurants and lodgings; tiny groups are much more flexible, but any friction between two individuals can make life awkward for everyone. Why Travel with a Group?