Before you travel faqs

Depending on where you’re travelling and your nationality, you'll likely need a valid passport and may also need visas to enter into certain countries - please check this well in advance of your trip departure date. Some countries also require passports to have 3-6 months left on them before the given expiry date.

It is your responsibility as the traveller to make sure you have the appropriate, valid documentation for the length of your trip.

If Contiki requires any specific documentation, we’ll let you know either at the time of booking or before your trip.

If you’re getting a passport for the first time, you’ll need to fill out a passport application form, which you can download from your government's website, local post office or government buildings, depending on your country of residence. 

There is a charge for passports and they normally take 3-6 weeks to be approved and delivered (depending on your country of residence), so make sure you check this out before making any travel plans.

Visas are super important and even essential for entering certain countries. It’s up to you to be responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your trip. 

Information on visa needs is usually readily available on your Government's website. 

Remember, visas can take up to 6 weeks to process and a fee is normally charged, so no leaving this one till the last minute. We recommend you apply for all visas through your official visa service or travel agent before commencing your travel journey unless specified in Contiki’s pre-trip information.

If you’re heading to regions like Asia, Africa and Latin America, it’s likely you’ll need some vaccinations pre-travel. It’s your responsibility as the traveller to check whether you need any specific vaccinations in order to enter a country you’re travelling to. You should consult official medical advice from your country of residence, which is usually available on the Government website.

If you have any form of medical condition, make sure you have an adequate supply of relevant medication prior to your trip and advise us of any medical conditions you’re managing at the time of booking. Contiki trips often include destinations where pharmacies etc are not immediately accessible.

Some of our trips are unfortunately not suitable for some physical disabilities. Prior to booking, please contact our contact centre to discuss which trips will be suitable according to the level of assistance you need. If you don’t communicate additional needs prior to booking a trip, it may mean being unable to proceed with your booking at a later stage.

We need to make sure any special needs, services or support people are discussed at the time of booking. Contiki do not provide devices such as wheelchairs and will not be responsible for the failure of the person or able bodied companion/s to provide these services.

“My partner and I were a bit nervous about traveling with our respective medical conditions but our Trip Manager took care of everything we needed to have the time of our lives.”  - Nikara, Cape to Delta Safari

Sickness can sometimes happen when you’re on the road. Depending on the severity, your Trip Manager will help you find any medicine or minor treatments you may need. In the event of a severe medical incident, we have robust medical and emergency procedures in place for every trip to ensure you are seen quickly.

Taking out comprehensive insurance before travelling with Contiki is a must, as it ensures you are covered for any personal injury, medical expenses etc. that you may incur.

Looking after yourself on your Contiki trip is the key to making sure you get the most from your travelling experience! Keeping an eye on what you're eating and drinking, how much movement you're doing, getting a decent amount of sleep and just knowing when enough is enough will play a big part in both your physical and mental health. Click here for more tips on keeping well on the road.

This one depends on the destination and trip you’re travelling on. Read your Contiki travel documentation carefully to understand luggage allowances for your specific trip. 

Our typical luggage allowances:

For most of 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 you can take on the vehicle with you. Metal frame backpacks are not advised as their bulky shape makes them tricky to pack, plus they are more likely to damage other luggage.

For Latin America, Asia & other regions which have internal flights included in the itinerary, luggage weight restrictions must be within the restriction of the given airlines you’re travelling on. It’s up to you to ensure you keep within these measurements and weight restrictions, so please check this out before you travel as excess baggage fees will be at your own cost.

Some trips have specific luggage requirements, such as Contiki sailing, trekking and tented safari trips – you will have this information sent to you in your pre-trip documents if this applies to you.

For our train trips, please note you must be able to carry your own bags on the trip. As we will be taking public transport in cities & getting to the heart of the destinations we visit, you’ll want to pack wisely.

On European ski trips and New Zealand trips with a ski option, you have the option to bring one pair of skis and ski boots or snowboard.

All of our travellers’ luggage needs to fit on one vehicle and in most cases, a vehicle will accommodate one piece of large luggage per traveller. 

Plus, you’re responsible for your own luggage, so less luggage = less carrying luggage. Win-win, right?

It depends where you’re going or the type of trip you’re on. Don’t worry though, once you’ve booked your trip, our advice on all things luggage and packing will be included in your guest docs, tailored to your specific trip.

Wanna learn more? You can weigh up the pros/cons of suitcases/backpacks here.

If there are specific dress requirements, we’ll let you know before you go. This is especially important if you’re travelling to areas where the culture and religion is different to your own. You’ll be able to get a good sense of the clothing needed from the day itineraries shown on the particular trip page.

On a day-to-day basis, we recommend comfortable, casual clothing. If you’re jetting off to a sunny location, you’ll most likely have a beach day or a hotel pool, so swimwear is essential of course. Did we mention the pool parties at our chateau?

Depending on where you’re going and when, you may need to pack swimwear, scarfs, sweaters, appropriate footwear, or evening wear. Warm clothing is always a good call, even in the summertime as temperatures can get chilly. Below is a checklist covering all the key travel items – take a look at this to see what might be relevant for the locations you’ll be travelling to:

1. Passport
2. Insurance
3. All relevant trip docs and info
4. Rainproof jacket
5. Shorts
6. Thick sweater
7. T-Shirts
8. Jeans
9. Casual shirts
10. Casual skirts/dresses
11. Smart trousers/jackets/dresses (for evening wear)
12. Swimwear
13. Beach towel
14. Sandals
15. Evening shoes
16. Comfortable walking shoes
17. Toiletries
18. Sunblock
19. Socks
20. Underwear
21. Sunglasses
22. Camera / travel tech
23. Chargers
24. Insect repellent
25. Tissues/antiseptic wipes
26. Flashlight (if camping)
27. Aspirin/medicines
28. Adapter (these may vary in locations)

For more packing and tips, head to six-two or use our ingenious Alexa skill packing guide (just say “Alexa, pack  my bag!”)

International flights to/from your start/end point are not included in the cost of the trip, and must be purchased separately. Booking direct with our Contiki reservations team? You can add flights during the booking process. Or if you prefer, you can book them yourself.

Any flights you take during your trip are included in the initial cost. Particularly in Africa, Asia, Australia and South America, we use planes to get you from A-to-B as quickly as possible, and all of this is included. Check out our full booking conditions for more info.

“You are basically paying for travel within the country, accommodation, all breakfasts, some dinners and some included experiences. The rest: flights, other meals, shopping is your own money. If you choose not to do these activities, you spend the day exploring the town/relaxing. Thank you Contiki - it was an adventure for sure! :)” - Amber, Sweet as South

“This was an affordable experience for me. Considering I was going to 3 different countries, transport (except flights) was included as well as accommodation. Contiki is great and safe way to travel” - Isabel, Rome to London Trail

This depends on a number of factors, including the area you’re travelling to/from and the season you’re travelling in. Check flight comparison sites to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible. For the best deals, we recommend booking early and taking advantage of airline sales. See more tips on booking cheap flights.

Yes! Contiki strives to offer the best rates for flights and can assist you with this process. Just chat to one of our reservations team to discuss your flight options.

Flight comparison sites are good for showing you the best flight prices and times for any given flight. You can book online or through your travel agent.

Yes! It’s a requirement of travelling with Contiki. You’ll need comprehensive insurance cover for:

• Cancellation
• Personal injury
• Death
• Medical expenses
• Repatriation expenses
• Evacuation expenses
• Personal liability
• Loss of personal property

It’s also super important to check that your insurance covers all of the activities you’ll be trying out during your trip, including adventure activities (for all you adrenaline junkies).

There are a whole load of travel insurance companies out there – even large supermarkets/department stores sell travel insurance! Have a Google, contact your travel agent or speak to our reservations team for more advice. 

Just remember, travel insurance is compulsory on all Contiki trips.

If your trip starts in or goes through the UK, you might need one. Follow this link for our handy guide.