Europe tour groups for young adults

Europe tour groups for young adults

Europe tours for young adults have become increasingly popular in recent years. These tours offer a unique opportunity for young people to explore the different traditions and cultures of Europe while having fun and making new friends. There are currently a few companies that specialize in organizing Europe group tours for young adults.

Each of these companies has its own unique proposition that distinguishes it from others. To make your decision easier, let us explore a few of the most popular ones and what they have to offer.

Contiki

Contiki is one of the oldest and most popular companies that offer Europe tours for young adults. The firm is renowned for its focus on adventure and exploration. It offers a variety of tours that cater to different interests and preferences. Below are a few examples of what you can expect from Contiki:

European Discovery: This is a 12-day tour that covers 8 countries, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. The average group size is around 42.

Eastern Road: This 13-day tour covers 6 countries in Eastern Europe, including Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. It starts in Berlin and ends in Warsaw.

Greek Island Hopper: This is a 10-day tour that explores the Greek islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, and Ios.

Contiki tours typically use a combination of modes of transport, including coach buses, trains, and ferries. Accommodations are normally in hostels, and the tours are fast-paced, with a lot of activities and sightseeing packed into every day. Tour groups are typically a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 50 people, and the tours are open to young adults between the ages of 18 and 35.

Topdeck

Topdeck is another popular tour company that specializes in Europe tours for young individuals. Like Contiki, it also offers a variety of tours that cater to different interests and preferences. Some of the tours available from Topdeck include:

Summer Fun & Sailing: This is a 12-day tour that explores the Greek islands, including Mykonos, Paros, and Santorini.

Eastern Exposure: This 14-day tour covers Eastern Europe, including Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The journey starts in Dubrovnik and ends in London.

Europe Express (winter): This is an 11-day tour that covers Europe's winter destinations, including Paris, Venice, Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps, Amsterdam, and London.

Topdeck tours also use a combination of different transport options, including trains, coaches, and ferries. Accommodation is typically in hostels (and the odd smaller hotel). The pace of these tours is fast, with a significant amount of sightseeing and activities packed into a relatively short time. Tour group sizes typically vary between 20 and 40 people, and the tours are open to young adults aged between 18 and 39.

Busabout

Busabout is a unique tour firm that offers hop-on, hop-off tours across Europe. That makes the company's tours very flexible - allowing travelers to stay in every different destination for as long as they want. Examples of the available tours include:

Ultimate Balkan Adventure: This 15-day tour covers the Balkans, including Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia. It starts and ends in Split and visits Kotor, Split, Meteora, Tirana, Thessaloniki, Athens, Skopje, Lake Orhid, Sarajevo, and Belgrade.

Iberian Adventure: This is a 15-day tour that explores Spain and Portugal, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon. Watch flamenco dancing in Granada and Madrid, party in the bars of Lagos and Lisbon, admire the architecture in Porto and Seville, and, wherever you are, enjoy the delicious food and warm smiles.

Busabout unlimited pass: This flexible pass enables travelers to board any of the company's transport options as many times as they want. That makes it possible for travelers to stay in any particular destination for as long as he or she prefers.

Like most of the other companies discussed here, Busabout uses various transport modes, including coaches, ferries, and trains. Accommodation is normally in hostels, although other options are used from time to time. Note; these tours are fast-paced. Tour group sizes are typically anywhere between 20 and 50. The minimum age is 18 and the maximum is 35.

Intrepid Travel

This company offers smaller group tours focused on responsible travel and sustainable tourism. Intrepid Travel's tours are specially developed to immerse travelers in local traditions and cultures. As such they offer an authentic and unique experience. Below are a few of the Europe tours available from Intrepid Travel:

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco: This is a 24-day tour that covers the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. It offers a unique perspective on the region's diverse traditions and cultures. Travelers will get a chance to admire the architectural wonders and artistic masterpieces of Madrid, explore Portugal's beautiful smaller towns, enjoy its complex cuisine, and be enchanted by the majesty and magic of Morocco's historical cities and striking mountain scenery.

Croatia and the Balkans: This 15-day tour covers Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia, and Serbia, exploring the region's history, culture, and natural beauty.

Where possible, Intrepid Travel makes use of traditional modes of transport and local transport options that very often come with a lower environmental impact.

Accommodation is typically in locally-owned guesthouses and hotels, and the pace of the tours is moderate, with enough time for exploration as well as leisure. Tour group sizes normally vary between 10-16 people, and the tours aimed at young adults are open to those between the ages of 18 and 29.

EF Ultimate Break

EF Ultimate Break is another tour company that caters to young adults. Its Europe tours are specially designed to offer a mix of exploration, culture, fun, and adventure. The focus is on creating a sense of community among the group members. Some of the company's tours for young adults include:

Greek Island Paradise: This is a 9-day tour that explores the Greek islands of Santorini, Mykonos, and Ios. It offers an exciting mix of culture, history, natural beauty, relaxation, and adventure.

London, Paris, and Rome: This 12-day tour covers three of Europe's most iconic cities, offering a highly interesting mix of exploration, entertainment, culture, and history. Travelers will get a chance to ride on one of London's double-decker buses, admire the Eiffel Tower, and enjoy the historical wonders of Rome.

Nordic Adventure: A 12-day tour that explores the culture and natural beauty of Scandinavia, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, and the Norwegian Fjords.

EF Ultimate Break tours include flights, coaches, trains, and ferries - in short, all transportation while you are on tour. Accommodation is normally in comfortable hotels and hostels, and the pace of the tours is moderate, with a good balance between sightseeing and leisure time. Tour group sizes normally vary between 20 and 30 people, and tours are open to young adults aged 18 to 29.

G Adventures

G Adventures is based in Canada and offers small-group tours to Europe for young people from all over the world. Like some of the others we have already mentioned, their tours are also specially designed to offer an immersive cultural experience and opportunities to connect with local communities. Some of the tours that G Adventures offers include:

Highlights of Eastern Europe: This 15-day tour covers the highlights of Eastern Europe, including Budapest, Krakow, and Prague. Travelers get ample opportunity to experience the unique food, culture, and history of this part of the world.

Balkan Adventure: This is a 15-day tour that explores the Balkans, including Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. There are opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and enjoying the rich history and natural beauty of this region.

Spain and Portugal: This is a 15-day tour that covers the Iberian Peninsula, including Madrid, Lisbon, and Barcelona. Explore the Moorish history, vibrant culture, and amazing people of one of Europe's most interesting regions.

G Adventures offers 23 different tours aimed at the 18-35 market using coaches and sometimes public transportation. Accommodation is typically in locally-owned guesthouses and hotels. The pace of the tours is moderate to fast, with enough time for exploration, meeting some of the locals, and relaxation. Group sizes are usually less than 20 people, and the tours are open to young adults aged 18-39.

Travel Talk

Travel Talk is a UK-based tour company that offers affordable tours aimed at young travelers. Their Europe tours are designed to provide a mix of sightseeing, culture, fun, and adventure. The focus is, however, on affordability. A few of the tours offered by Travel Talk include:

Balkans and Greece: A 12-day tour that explores the Balkans and Greece, including Athens, Dubrovnik, and Kotor.

Eastern European Panorama: This 14-day tour covers Eastern Europe, including Budapest, Prague, and Krakow.

Travel Talk tours use a variety of transport modes, including coach buses and public transportation. Accommodation is typically in hostels and sometimes smaller hotels. The tours follow a moderate pace, with a good balance between sightseeing and time to relax. Tour group sizes are normally 15-45 people and tours are open to young individuals aged from 18 to 39.

Stoke Travel

Stoke Travel is a tour company that specializes in festivals and events, offering a unique way to experience European cuisine and culture. Some of the events that Stoke Travel offers include:

Oktoberfest: This is a 3-day tour that takes place during the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. Expect live bands, campsite parties, and drinking games.

La Tomatina: This is a 3-day tour that takes place during the annual tomato-throwing festival in Buñol, Spain. Stoke travel has been visiting Valencia and La Tomatina since 2008 and offers accommodation in tents or dorm rooms. Expect included breakfasts, bottomless sangria & beer from 10 am to 10 pm, and lots of like-mind young travelers.

Springfest: This 3-day tour takes place during the annual spring beer festival in Munich. You will stay in pre-pitched tents for 2 and sleep in a sleeping bag on a camping mattress. The price includes breakfast, brunch, and dinner. There are also live music and campsite parties.

Stoke Travel tours use private transport to take travelers to the various events, and accommodations are usually camping or hostel-style. The pace of these tours is quite fast, with a focus on the event itself. Tour groups can vary in size, depending on the event, and the tours are open to young adults aged 18-35.

The company is very popular among backpackers who are on a tight budget, students, and those youngsters who want to experience as much as possible during their gap year.

Free and Easy Traveler

Free and Easy Traveler is a company that offers flexible, customizable tours to young travelers. Their tours are designed to offer a well-balanced mix of adventure, culture, and relaxation, with a focus on flexibility and independence.

Below are a few examples of the tours on offer:

Spain: A 14-day tour that covers Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Ibiza. Watch a Flamenco show, enjoy tapas, eat fresh seafood, and explore the historical districts of these cities.

Greece: This is a 14-day tour that covers destinations such as Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini in Greece.

Free and Easy Traveler tours use a combination of transport modes, including private buses and public transport where available. Accommodation is typically in hostels and the odd family hotel. The pace of these tours is moderate to fast. Tour groups vary in size but you will seldom find more than 20 people in a group. The company's tours for young adults are open to travelers aged 18-35.

Do I need a visa or ETIAS to visit Europe?

At the moment, there are around 60 countries of which the citizens are allowed to travel to the EU or a Schengen member state without having to apply for a visa. These visits can only be for the purposes of business, tourism, or transit.

From 2025, however, visitors who do not have to apply for a visa at the moment will have to apply for an ETIAS before they travel to Europe.