It’s time to take out the bucket list – Europe is calling with a collection of awe-inspiring tours that include some of the world’s most iconic destinations and experiences.
From chasing the Northern Lights across Finland and Norway, to chasing the sunshine towards the Sahara Desert through Spain, Portugal and Morocco, these tours include curated itineraries that perfectly pitch between roaming and relaxing, giving you the freedom to do as much or as little as you please.
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Catch the Northern Lights in Finland and Norway
Witness the cosmic colours of the Northern Lights with this bucket-list winter tour to the heart of Lapland. Carefully curated to maximise your chance of aurora-viewing, this 16-day adventure is a treasure trove of wild wonders, as you ride across blankets of snow via snowmobile and husky, sleep underneath the stars in a glass-domed Luosto igloo and follow the famous fjord postal route through the Norwegian Sea. The unforgettable experiences don’t end there – enjoy a traditional Lappish dinner at Ice Restaurant in Rovaniemi, fish straight from the fjord for king crab in Kirkenes and meet local reindeer, while learning more about Sámi traditions in Inari. Forget putting all your eggs in one basket; this tour offers multiple opportunities to try and catch one of nature’s very best light shows, allowing you to soak up every second of the spectacular landscapes and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Soar and sail in Turkiye and Greece
Float over fairy chimneys in a hot-air balloon in Cappadocia (additional costs apply), cruise between Europe and the Middle East on the Bosphorus Strait and go back in time among the ruins of Rhodes, Crete and Patmos with this small-group tour to Turkiye and Greece. Tick off multiple bucket-list experiences over this 15-day tour, as you marvel at the grandeur of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, follow in the steps of Greek gods in Athens at the Acropolis and tick off one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World at the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Cruise your way through the glittering Aegean Sea on the Celestyal Discovery vessel, watching the fiery sunset dance across the white-washed terraced domes of Santorini and diving into the nightlife of Mykonos before finding rest and relaxation in your elegant sea view exterior cabin.
Gondolas and grapes in Northern Italy
Live la bella vita through Venice, Tuscany and Rome with this small-group tour throughout the cobbled streets and rambling vineyards of Northern Italy. Wind through Venice’s iconic canals on a gondola, admire the awe-inspiring architecture of Bologna and fall in love with Florence’s charm while sampling some of its finest exports: pizza, pasta and gelato. Explore centuries of history across your 10-day escapade – go back in time to walk in the footsteps of St Francis in Assisi and admire the work of Michelangelo at St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in Rome. In the middle of it all, you can meander through Chianti’s rambling vineyards, tasting the titular wine at one of the region’s best wineries.
Deserts and the Douro Valley in Morocco, Spain and Portugal
From the Sahara Desert to the streets of Spain: this 22-day small-group tour gets under the skin of the Iberian Peninsula and its southern neighbour, Morocco for a Southern European experience like no other. From tapas and flamenco in Madrid and Seville, through to the colourful tiles and pastel de natas of Lisbon, this odyssey embraces the culture of each country, with one-of-a-kind experiences on offer. Cruise down the Douro River, visit local vineyards in Pinhao and catch a Fado performance in Coimbra. Visit world-famous sites – the Alhambra, Tomar Monastery and Hassan II Mosque – and lose yourself among locals in the alleys of Fez or the cobblestoned streets of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Porto. The grand finale is one for the history books: a stay overnight in the Sahara Desert, where a star-studded night sky awaits.
Fjords and fairytales in Scandinavia
Scandinavia isn’t just a winter destination: come summer, the fjords, valleys and waterfalls shake off their snow-capped blankets and turn technicolour. Navigate through these spectacular landscapes by land and sea on a scenic small-group tour, starting in Copenhagen and finishing in Trondheim. Cross the largest mountain plateau in Northern Europe to greet the fantastic fjords of Flam, walk up Kjenndalen Glacier (part of the largest glacier in continental Europe), and ride the Loen Skylift for panoramic views atop Mount Hoven. It’s not just the natural world that sparkles; follow in the footsteps of Hans Christian Andersen in Copenhagen and learn more about Norway’s extensive maritime history in Oslo, deepening your appreciation for the region’s trove of historical treasures.
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