Camping Tours are the least expensive way to see Europe and include all the sightseeing, free time and extra excursions of other Contiki Tours. People who choose to go on camping tours are generally very outgoing and don’t mind roughing it a bit. They are very popular with gap year students. The buses used for the tour are the same as other styles of Contiki Tours and get loaded up with all the tents, cooking equipment and food hampers needed to run the tour. Helping each other out is very much in the spirit of Contiki Camping experience with everyone expected to pitch in and help out with preparing meals, cleaning up, shopping for food and setting up tents and cooking facilities. For most people on these tours it’s a lot of fun and gives you the chance to get to know your fellow travelers and teammates very well. All this adds up to make traveling incredibly low cost experience and provides the best sightseeing and value for money.

Accommodation

The big difference between the Camping style of tour and other styles is the accommodations and meals. Camping tours stay in 2-person tents (provided by Contiki) that are easy to put up and if you don’t have someone to share with you road crew can help arrange for you to share with someone. Air mattresses are also provided but you must bring your own sleeping bag and towel.

Where you Stay

Camping tours stay in specifically designed European campsites, a very popular way for even Europeans to travel and stay in reasonable comfort and within arms-reach of many major cities and sites. Camping Tours sometimes use many of the same campsites as the Concept/Budget Tours only staying in tents. Shared facilities in most campsites include shared, shops, bars and showers that occasionally you may have to buy tokens for.

Food

As well as traveling with the regular Tour Manager and Driver you also have on-board a Contiki Super-Cook whose role it is to organize, plan and help the group prepare meals. The Food Fund covers all the included meals.

Breakfast – Breakfast is always included and is usually a hot meal as well as cereals, juices, tea and coffee Lunch – Like all Contiki Tours, is not included and allows you the freedom to eat what you want and enjoy the local flavors. Dinner – Many Dinners are included and as you are buying food in the regions where you are traveling the food very much reflects the culture of the places you visit dinner give you the chance to get out, maybe take an optional meal excursion. The tour Super-Cook is also able to help organize and co-ordinate authentic local meals. When there is no included meal it usually means you have to opportunity to go out and grab a bite during an evening of site seeing, enjoy an optional excursion meal or take yourself out for a local meal.

Please note: If you have special dietary requirements (eg Vegetarian), let your Tour Manager know so they can notify restaurants. You should also talk to your Super Cook so they can prepare appropriate food for you.