What are the groups like?
Last Updated: 6th Jun 2012
To start with, everyone is young and fun-loving. Contiki offers tours exclusively to 18 – 35 year olds so no matter what, at the very least, you can be assured that everyone is around your age and there for a great time.
The personalties, age range, background and nationalities of the people on any given tour is impossible to predict but for some, the bonds and friendships made during a tour are one of the highlights of the trip.
You can never, ever generalise about what a group will be like. Ask any Tour Manager and they will tell you that every single group is different and unique. It is also very true when it comes to the people that make up the tour groups and it is imposable to generalise about who or what type of people will be on any given Contiki tour.
People who choose to take Contiki Tours come from an almost endless variety of backgrounds. From doctors, lawyers, accountants and young professionals to high school and university graduates and gap year students to college students, professors, tradesmen, teachers, nurses, hospitality and tourism staff, travel agents, people in the military, office workers, laborers….you name it, they’ve travelled with Contiki….one thing is for certain though – Everyone is aged 18-35 and looking to have fun and travel.
In very general terms there will usually be a large Australian, New Zealand, American, South African and Canadian contingent on most European tours while tours through Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada also add a noticeable mix of Europeans including Dutch, German, English, Italian and Scandinavian travellers to name but a few.
Across all our tours world-wide it’s also common to find people from Brazil, China, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Colombia, other areas of South America and almost anywhere and everywhere in the world. Contiki markets its tours in over 35 different countries yet our reputation extends even further and there are no rules or restrictions when it comes to the background of the people on any given tour.
You are just as likely to meet someone from your home town as you are someone from the other side of the world while shorter tours (those lasting about 2 weeks) tend to have a larger proportion of people from the United States as this fits nicely with their vacation time.
Some tours may have a mix of up to 17 or 18 nationalities while others only 5 or 6.
Related
Average age of our Travellers | Couples on Tour | How many people are on a tour? | Male/female/couples ratio | Nationalities of people on tour | Travelling alone | Travelling with others
Add a Comment Comments (18)
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I�m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that�s equally educative and interesting, and let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy I stumbled across this in my hunt for something concerning this.
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therrithemat1986
posted on 2nd Jun 2012
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Hey, Im from Canada and going on the Grand Explorer – 15 day tour to NZ Oct 6th.
Is anyone going on the same Contiki Tour?Canadian Explorer :)
posted on 20th May 2011
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Thanks for posting this Your experiences
Explorer1214891
posted on 20th Nov 2010
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im stoked to travel alone… im really excited to get to know new people
Kirsty
posted on 19th Feb 2010
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Hey There,
I was so Nervous about doing a contiki Alone, but after reading some of the comments it seems
like loads of people do it :)Im doing The London to Athens Plus Greek Island hopping in June.
Anyone else Doing that one?
Or if you have done it whats it like?
Thanks
KristyKrissy
posted on 1st Feb 2010
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It is awesome, very awesome. I went alone, met 60 great people over 2 weeks and had an amazing time. After not long I was socializing, kayaking, walking, dancing, lazing, drinking, partying etc with lots of people. I felt very relaxed with everybody even though I usually have a harder time doing so.
I knew some people for 1 week and some for 2 weeks, I had a great time with both groups of people but I prefer spending 2 weeks with people.
danbradster
posted on 12th Jan 2010
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Travelling with a bunch of strangers from all over the world can be the best experience, epsecially if you take time to get to know them. I just recently got back, last week actually, from what was the best time of my life. I made 29 new friends, and life back home is not the same without them. Each one of them had something different to offer, and each one has a place in my heart and I will never forget them. I encourage everyone going on Contiki Trips to experience all you can and weith everyone you can. Please feel free to message me if you want, I would love to share my experiences with you.
Going For It !!!
posted on 5th Oct 2009
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Hey Lucygoosey,
I’m going on the Great Britain trip Aug 11, 2009.
Supernurse584
posted on 20th May 2009
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is anyone going on the european experience tour on the 17th july and how can i check the list of people going??
Explorer1133908
posted on 4th May 2009
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hey hunz . myself and my bf r travelling in august and sep as well in 09, we r doin the european encounter starting 6th sep so it should b all good and we doin our own thing b4 that
hef
posted on 20th Nov 2008
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myself and my bf r goin on a encounter should b good
hef
posted on 16th Nov 2008
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My future husband and I are going on the European Discovery for our honeymoon in the end of July 2009! We wanted something adventurous, since neither of us are that into being lazy on the beach for more than a day or two. Can’t wait!
JandK
posted on 3rd Nov 2008
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Is anyone going to Great Britain in Jul-Aug? I’d like to meet peoples :D
lucy_goosey
posted on 1st Nov 2008
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Is there much couples travelling on these tours. My husband and i are looking at travelling Europe next year Aug-Sept.
Hunz
posted on 25th Oct 2008
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Contiki is the BEST way to make new friends! My sister and I went on the European Encounter in 2006 and we are still good friends with many of the people we met on our trip! We have friends all over the world now! My advice is to get to know EVERYONE on the tour! Switch up who you sit with on the bus and who you walk around the towns with!
Juliebug
posted on 2nd Sep 2008
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My vote is for Contiki Forums! Since I’m traveling solo, I opened up a thread to see who else may be going on the same tour and within a few days, 2 people had already responded…these people actually live quite close to me, too. I feel so much better now…can’t wait to actually meet them in person. =)
Jas
posted on 28th Aug 2008
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hey there,
how do you go about meeting the people who are travelling on there own
I want to travel next year around sept?Bella1983
posted on 27th Aug 2008
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What’s it like to travel with complete strangers? This is hands down the biggest question I have about the tours..So glad this article is here.
paigeslovesyou!
posted on 16th Oct 2007
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