Overview
For younger travellers, Contiki's reputation for adventure — often on a bus across Europe, usually fuelled by plenty of drinking — comes before it. Now, the brand is undergoing what it calls the biggest transformation in its 64-year history, launching the GO WANDER campaign to shake up its reputation with the next generation of backpackers.
The changes are extensive, with Contiki debuting or reimagining 76 trips and offering an overhauled way to experience not only Europe but also destinations across Asia, Africa and the Americas. This array of experiences will be categorised into eight 'Travel Worlds' — experience-led lists based on the motivations and travel styles seen in budding travellers.
For instance, Contiki Local features small-group, immersive tours that give you more time and space to explore off-the-beaten-track trattorias or make friends with a nonna. Contiki Outdoors will head to the world's most adventurous places, where lifestyle and action meet. And Contiki Highlights is geared towards those who prefer all-killer, no-filler trips from one landmark to the next.
At the same time, Contiki isn't completely abandoning what it's best known for. Contiki Originals will follow the tried-and-true format: fast-paced itineraries, lots of cities and all the social time you could want. Meanwhile, Contiki Lite brings more bang for your bucket list, with simplified trips offering a budget-friendly way to explore the sights.
"GO WANDER is a reinvention of Contiki — built on the same pioneering spirit that has driven us from the beginning, but reimagined for a new generation of young travellers," says Toni Ambler, Chief Customer Officer at Contiki. "We're giving young people the freedom and choice to explore the world on their own terms."
While a recent Flinders University study found that Gen Z are nearly 20 times less likely to drink alcohol than Baby Boomers, their taste for travel hasn't diminished. Research by The Lab for Contiki found Australians aged 18–34 averaged 3.9 international trips over the past five years, while 63 percent would prefer to travel with groups of 15 or fewer.
Contiki will offer 76 new or reimagined trips by the end of 2026. Head to the website for more information.
Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
Images: Supplied.