Contiki Tours
Encyclopedia
Contiki Tours is a Travel Corporation
-operated coach tour company operating in Europe
, Russia
, Egypt
, Australia
, New Zealand
, North America
, and Asia
. The travel company was formed in 1962 specifically to create coach trips for 18-35 year-olds to include a mix of sightseeing, free time, culture, socializing, and adventure.
In 1961, New Zealander John Anderson arrived in London ready to explore Europe. By himself and without much money, he devised a plan so that he would not have to travel alone. He put a deposit on a minibus, gathered a group of people to travel with, and spent 12 weeks exploring Europe with his group. At the end of the trip, he unsuccessfully tried to sell the minibus. In the Spring of 1962 he decided to promote his Europe trip again, and this time he was able to fit two trips into the summer season. The first tours were booked by 19-29 year-olds starting the tradition of Contiki Holidays being for youth travelers.
Contiki claims to be the most popular youth travel company in the world, carrying over 150,000 18-35 year olds worldwide in 2007.
Tours, Budget
Tours, and Superior Tours. Each style has a mix of sightseeing and free time with the main difference between the styles being the accommodations used.
The Camping Tours are the least expensive way to experience the destination, and are for travelers who don't mind roughing it a bit. Camping is most popular among students during their Gap Year
. Campers stay in 2 person tents that are provided by Contiki and help in the preparation of meals. Mattresses are also provided but a sleeping bag and towel are necessary additions that the travelers must bring.
The Budget Tours, also known as Concept Tours, are a less expensive way to see the destination without camping. Travelers who choose this tour stay in backpacker style accommodations and are able to meet many people. Travelers are usually put up in hostels or specialized Contiki Villages. Contiki Villages, also known as Contiki Special Stopovers, are specifically made for Contiki travelers and are manned by Contiki personnel. Many of the travelers are singles or students touring on a tight budget, but it is also common for couples to choose this tour.
The Superior Tours are the most expensive of Contiki's tours. The main difference between the Superior Tours and the other two tours is that travelers stay in Superior Class Tourist Hotels. Superior Tours also include Regional Tours, In-Depth Regional Tours, and Cruising Tours.
The Travel Corporation
The Travel Corporation , sometimes known as TravCorp, is a leading Travel and Leisure Group operating over 60 countries with 35 offices around the world. As a Group it comprises over two dozen well established and respected travel brands. These brands are all independently managed and comprise tour...
-operated coach tour company operating in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The travel company was formed in 1962 specifically to create coach trips for 18-35 year-olds to include a mix of sightseeing, free time, culture, socializing, and adventure.
In 1961, New Zealander John Anderson arrived in London ready to explore Europe. By himself and without much money, he devised a plan so that he would not have to travel alone. He put a deposit on a minibus, gathered a group of people to travel with, and spent 12 weeks exploring Europe with his group. At the end of the trip, he unsuccessfully tried to sell the minibus. In the Spring of 1962 he decided to promote his Europe trip again, and this time he was able to fit two trips into the summer season. The first tours were booked by 19-29 year-olds starting the tradition of Contiki Holidays being for youth travelers.
Contiki claims to be the most popular youth travel company in the world, carrying over 150,000 18-35 year olds worldwide in 2007.
Contiki Tours
There are three types of tours that travelers can choose to take, CampingCamping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
Tours, Budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
Tours, and Superior Tours. Each style has a mix of sightseeing and free time with the main difference between the styles being the accommodations used.
The Camping Tours are the least expensive way to experience the destination, and are for travelers who don't mind roughing it a bit. Camping is most popular among students during their Gap Year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
. Campers stay in 2 person tents that are provided by Contiki and help in the preparation of meals. Mattresses are also provided but a sleeping bag and towel are necessary additions that the travelers must bring.
The Budget Tours, also known as Concept Tours, are a less expensive way to see the destination without camping. Travelers who choose this tour stay in backpacker style accommodations and are able to meet many people. Travelers are usually put up in hostels or specialized Contiki Villages. Contiki Villages, also known as Contiki Special Stopovers, are specifically made for Contiki travelers and are manned by Contiki personnel. Many of the travelers are singles or students touring on a tight budget, but it is also common for couples to choose this tour.
The Superior Tours are the most expensive of Contiki's tours. The main difference between the Superior Tours and the other two tours is that travelers stay in Superior Class Tourist Hotels. Superior Tours also include Regional Tours, In-Depth Regional Tours, and Cruising Tours.