Ultimate Italy | Age 27-35 | 2026 – June 7 to September 6, 2026 (22 Days) - From £2,986

Europe Italy
OVERVIEW
We’ve done trips to Italy, but never like this. Starting in Rome, you’ll hit Renaissance Florence, the Riviera’s glitz, and dive into cooking classes and history. Then it’s pizza and Pompeii (and city centre stays) in Naples, the stunning Amalfi Coast, island cruises, and lemon groves. Finally, we’ll wrap it up with a full week in Sicily, exploring volcanoes, ancient ruins & charming towns. Just a few days here and you’ll be head-over-heels. It’s called the Ultimate Italy for a reason.
EXPERIENCES
Agrigento: Explore the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a UNESCO-listed site featuring some of the world's most treasured Greek art and architecture.

Amalfi Coast: Definitely one for the bucket list. Your chance to view one of Europe’s active volcanoes from a distance.

Amalfi Coast: Live your best life like a local (on a ferry!) as you glide through azure seas, past cliffs filled with rainbow-coloured buildings.

Capri: Chill on the beaches of this Mediterranean jewel. Explore the famous boutiques then stop off for a Spritz in the sun.

Catania: Stroll around the ancient Sicilian port at the foot of Mount Etna. See the Piazza Stesicoro and the Baroque and Renaissance buildings of Via dei Crociferi.

Catania: Time to take to the sky. Catania, here we come!

Cinque Terre National Park: We’ll take care of your rail pass, so you can just zip around the iconic clifftop villages and focus on the Insta stories. Wanna hike around too? You're welcome to explore on foot along the way.

Florence: See the Duomo, Basilica Santa Croce, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery & Piazza della Signoria on a locally guided walking tour of Florence.

Lucca: Ramble around the cobbled streets of this Renaissance walled city in Tuscany. It’s an Insta post waiting to happen!

Noto: Float around this opulent Sicilian city, taking in the Baroque architecture and panoramic views as you go.

Pisa: Your ultimate chance to ‘hold the tower up’ as you pose for that classic Insta snap.

Positano: Ramble through the wisteria-lined streets and past sun-bleached houses as you live La Dolce Vita. Don’t forget an iconic selfie with the village backdrop.

Rome:  Kick back with your Contiki crew and feast on some yummy Italian cuisine - served at a local restaurant working to train and provide jobs for members of the community with disabilities.

Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list!

Rome: 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 battles in the Colosseum, learn how the roots of Western culture started here.

Siena: This medieval Tuscan city is packed with charming photo ops. From the Duomo to Piazza del Campo.

Taormina: Greek and Roman ruins. Sun-drenched beaches. Epic Italian food. There’s so much to do in this seaside town, you’ll never want to leave.

Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice.

Verona: Ah! The sight of this famous balcony will turn even the most hardened cynic into a romantic soul.
DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES
Tour
Departs		 Tour
Returns		 Starting From
(price per person)		 Definite Departure
What's this?		 Book Now!
07/06/2026 28/06/2026 £3,438 Book
06/09/2026 27/09/2026 £3,100 Book
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ACCOMMODATION
DAY 1: BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Dinner
DAY 2: BB Centro (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3: BB Centro (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4: Hotel Le Grazie (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5: Hotel Le Grazie (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6: B&B Hotel Milano Sesto Marelli (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7: Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8: Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9: BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10: BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11: Campus X (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12: Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 13: Grand Hotel Salerno (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 14: BV Oly Hotel Roma (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 15: Katane Palace Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 16: Villa Esperia (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 17: Villa Esperia (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 18: Panorama Palace Hotel (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 19: Hotel La Giara (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 20: Hotel La Giara (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
DAY 21: Ibis Styles President (or similar) - Meals: Breakfast
ITINERARY

Welcome to Rome! Once known as the 'capital of the world' this richly historic, passionate and elegant city will steal our hearts as soon as we arrive. We'll meet and greet our Contiki crew and enjoy an included dinner this evening.

Rise and shine, we're headed to another historical heavyweight today... ...but not before stopping off at Siena for lunch. This place has medieval masterpieces (the historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site too!). So, soak up all that historic beauty & grab a bite before we head onto Florence. This beautiful city is a certified foodie capital, so we’re diving straight into an included feast of local delicacies. Then it’s lights out, with dreams of tomorrow’s Florentine adventures dancing in our heads.

Florence is basically a giant open-air museum, and today we’re hitting it on foot. With a Local Guide, we’ll check out Giotto’s Bell Tower, Basilica Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, and the epic Duomo. Tonight, it’s all about an optional Tuscan evening with a risotto demo, local wine, antipasto, and some ‘dolce’ to finish.

Farewell, Florence. We'll never forget you. But we've got more dreamy Italian hot spots to hit up. Now we get to stopover at lovely Lucca, with its charming piazzas, Renaissance architecture and historic cafes. Opt for wines at the local vineyards outside of Lucca. Or it's a perfect spot to grab a bite before we hit the road again We can't be this way of the world without a sneaky visit to the Leaning Tower of Pisa! And that’s exactly what we’ll do this afternoon.  Welcome to the Italian Riviera! You're going to fall head over heels with this region over the coming days...

Cinque Terre isn’t one town, it’s five coastal gems, each with its own vibe and postcard views. We’ll sort you out with an unlimited hike & train pass. Which means you can cliff-walk, station-hop, and soak up pastel perfection all day long.

This morning, we're hitting the road today to one of the most elegant cities in Europe. Before that, a quick stop to experience the glitz and glamour of Lake Como. The showstopper is the lake itself, of course, and you'll also have the option to get out on the water for a cruise. Welcome to Milan – all style, all sass. Tonight’s free for you to chase down the best eats, sip on local flavours, and see where the night takes you. Your Trip Manager’s got the inside scoop on the must-dos (and the must-avoids).

The dreamy destinations just don't stop coming... Welcome to Verona – Renaissance romance central and the real-life stage for Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet. We’ll swing by Juliet’s famous balcony (yep, the actual one!), then it’s off to our next dose of Italian romance. Ciao Treviso. This low-key charmer is basically Venice’s relaxed cousin. Tonight’s free for you to wander cobbled streets, feast on local bites, and maybe hunt down the OG tiramisu (yep, it was born here). Tomorrow, we take on the real Venice.

Wake-up sleeping beauties! Hop onto our coach because we've got the entire day to explore Venice. We'll be jumping aboard our own private boat and crossing the canal en route to the historical heart of the city.  A gondola ride will be up for grabs, or if you wanna escape the crowds, there's also an optional Burano Island Cruise (with a delish meal!) that you'll love. Or you can always choose to get lost on your own and see where the maze takes you.

See ya, Venice. You'll always have a piece of our hearts. Today we're headed back to Rome with a delicious lil’ stop on the way. Home of prosciutto, mortadella, bolognese sauce and many more tasty Italian delights, Bologna is known far and wide as La Grassa (the Fat One). Come hungry, but make sure you’re not too full to explore the UNESCO listed porticoes either. It’s a free night for dinner and a chance to dine on a wholesome meal at a 17th-century tavern in Trastevere. All washed down with some fine Italian wine? If you say so.

Rome wasn't built in a day - so get up and get going early to make the most of this ancient city. Take a tour of the famous Colosseum and walk in the footsteps of Emperors and Gladiators with a guide, or snap epic selfies against a background of pink azaleas by the entrance. This is also the day to do a bit of your own exploring. Tonight, we’ll regroup for an included dinner.

Today we're headed to another richly historical and cultural city, known for its naturally beautiful sights and excellent cuisine. Here in the ancient city of Pompeii, you'll have the option to partake in a guided walking tour of the fascinating ancient Roman town that was destroyed by Vesuvius (and then perfectly preserved in volcanic ash!). Hello Naples! We’ll settle down in our beautiful hotel (that’s just a few mins from the historic city centre). Today we have the option to take a tour, learn about the city, its history and its food culture.

Today we swap city vibes for coastal dreams, chasing some of Europe’s most glamorous seascapes along the way. Capri’s up next – all dramatic cliffs, luxe cafes, and serious celeb energy. Join the optional cruise for swim stops in turquoise coves that’ll have you feeling like you’re in a movie. We’ll roll into the Amalfi Coast after a day of pastel-perfect towns, sun-bleached buildings, and seas so sparkly they could blind you (in the best way).

We've got a free day on the Amalfi Coast! Lucky us. Plus, there's an optional visit to a lemon farm, run by a local family whose ancestors introduced the crop. Dramatic cliffs and idyllic buildings await us in picturesque Positano. Amalfi’s just getting started. Aaaand, we’re here. You've got the entire evening for yourself. Roam the streets, taste some wine, live the Italian life we've all dreamed of.

Rome, we’re coming back for you! Back in Rome for round three – more history, more foodie finds, and more photo ops. Tonight, you can join a local chef to whip up your own pasta masterpiece… and then eat every last bite.

Today we're hopping on a speedy flight to the incomparable isle of Sicily. This colourful mix of baroque piazzas and ancient ruins is your perfect Sicilian welcome. We’ll explore Catania’s UNESCO-listed historic core before sitting down to an included dinner at a local spot.

We've got more spectacular Sicilian towns to explore today, as we head from Catania to Taormina. Perched on a mountainside and serving peak Italian elegance, Taormina is all about la dolce vita. We’ll ride the cable car from the historic centre to its stunning beaches, soak up the sun, and live our best holiday lives. Feeling foodie? Opt for a cooking class with local pros and master Sicilian icons like arancini and cannoli.

Today’s optional is a total thrill - a ride up Mt Etna (AKA Europe’s highest active volcano!), passing vineyards and orchards that scream Sicilian magic. Not feeling the volcano vibe? No worries — your afternoon’s free to chill on the beach, explore the ancient Roman theatre, or sip a spritz and watch life drift by in true Italian style.

See ya later, Taormina – it's time to visit some historical hotspots. We’ll have some free time to check out the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Syracuse. Famed for its rich ancient Roman and Greek history, with ancient amphitheatres and architecture everywhere you look. Next stop: Noto, Sicily’s baroque beauty packed with stunning architecture and legendary landmarks like Corso Vittoria Emanuele. After soaking up the sights, we’re heading to an organic farm for a Tastes of Sicily experience - think farm-fresh flavours served straight to your plate.  And after a long but lovely day, it’s finally time to hit the hay.

Heading from Syracuse we'll arrive in the Valley of the Temples, the perfect base to explore another ancient wonder... Leaving Italy without visiting the Valley of the Temples? Impossible. This mystical valley is a treasure trove of historical and archaeological heritage. We'll discover ancient temples, sanctuaries and a necropolis. Arriving in Cefalù we'll enjoy another included dinner of Sicilian delicacies.

Cefalù is a real gem, home to Sicily's best beaches and most impressive Arabic architecture. Today's all about coastal vibes, soaking up that sun, sea and sand — with plenty of water sports to get involved with. If you're feeling a little more zen, why not opt for the coastal cruise and soak up some scenery instead? Later on, we'll stroll the winding cobbled streets and watch fishermen taking stock of the day's bounties, before exploring the town's foodie and nightlife scene.

It's time to end on a high, as we make our way towards Sicily's sizzling capital. Palermo’s a vibrant, colourful city with a food scene that’ll blow your mind. But it’s also got a complex history with the Mafia. Today, you’ll join a walking tour through the historic centre to hear the real story behind Palermo’s fight against organised crime and the rise of the anti-Mafia movement. Then, we’ll finish strong with a farewell dinner Al Fresco, at the ‘bistro of second chances’.

Time to head home after one final breakfast together (sob). Hug it out, swap social details — and don't be sad. We'll see each other on the road again soon...
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