Europe

There is no lack of destinations to experience in Europe. Odyssey has listed some of the most unique destinations in Europe, which you should try to visit at least once in your lifetime:

• Visit Iceland and discover some stunning natural wonders including the impressive waterfalls Seljalandfoss and Skogafoss.
• The Lofoten Islands, above the Arctic Circle, Northern Norway.
• From the never-ending daylight of midnight sun in summer to winter’s northern lights over snowy peaks, Lofoten charms visitors in every season.
• Visit Provence from mid-June to mid-Aug to see the Lavender in Bloom in Provence, France.
• The magical island of Crete, Greece. As epicenter of the Minoan culture in its early days, Crete was also part of The Roman Empire, Byzantium, The Arabs, The Ottoman Empire and Venetia.
• The Cotswold region, England, to experience the gently rolling countryside, romantic thatched cottages with roses trailing from windows and cream teas, with beautiful Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for Roman and Georgian history.
• Transylvania, Romania, off the beaten path with incredible beauty and rich in culture, but with fewer tourists. Also, with its famous Dracula castle – Bran Castle.
• Yerevan, Armenia’s capital city and most populous city, it’s home to jaw-dropping scenery, mouth-watering food, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.
• Budapest, the capital of Hungary should definitely be on your bucket list if you’re fond of castles, hills and culture. The Danube river divides this eastern European city into Buda and Pest.
• The Outer Hebrides, Scotland, offers unspoiled strips of immaculate golden beaches that are rarely touched by human footprints. And yet, the water really is Caribbean blue.

Odyssey Traveller is based in Sydney, Australia, however, we have many travellers from USA, Canada, UK and Europe who travel with us every year.

We specialise in educational small group tours for seniors, typically groups sizes are between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 16 travellers. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs since 1983. We offer a wide range of fully escorted, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3–4-star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long-stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments where available.

Europe has a rich and distinctive history with a patchwork of cultures and traditions that span thousands of years. There is so much history to discover when visiting Europe and below are the top 10 places that Odyssey recommends visiting at least once in your lifetime:

• Acropolis of Athens, Greece
• The Berlin Wall, Berlin, Germany
• Pompeii, Naples, Italy
• Auschwitz, Poland
• Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
• Colosseum, Rome, Italy
• Stonehenge, Britain
• Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
• Louvre Museum, Paris

Odyssey specialises in educational small group tours for solo traveller or those travelling with their partner, exclusively for senior or mature travellers, typically for groups of between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 18 travellers. Odyssey’s package holidays are tailored for the reasonably active senior or mature traveller, be you seeking over 50 travel groups, over 60, or over 70 and seeking to travel as a couple or looking for solo travel tours. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs since 1983, not just as small group escorted tours of Australia but all around the world.

Odyssey was originally developed by a collection of member Universities across Australia, New Zealand and Asia to lead the way in providing escorted, an educational small group tour for mature aged and senior travellers, to unique and intriguing parts of the world with a tour director and tour guide. Today, Odyssey still has an association with universities through the profile of the tour director for each tour group. It seeks out like-minded organisations and individuals committed to our philanthropic objectives by providing academic-based merit scholarships to university students studying in Australia and New Zealand.

Odyssey offers a wide range of educational, cultural and heritage journeys as an organised tour that expands horizons and broadens the mind with some 300 tours listed on the website, from Dinosaurs in Mongolia to a Walking Tour of the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain or the Australian outback. Designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small tour group environment with a set itinerary. Tour attendees typically number between 6 to 12 and are a couple or solo travellers. This emphasis on small group travel with a tour leader ensures a friendly and personal tour environment for you and your fellow traveller, which is at the heart of our philosophy. Simply put, Odyssey Traveller provides holidays with an itinerary for couples and holidays for solo travellers over 50.

National parks are the perfect way to experience and appreciate the unique landscapes found throughout Europe. As you plan your next European getaway, be sure to make a stop or two at one of the most beautiful national parks in Europe, below are a few that Odyssey recommends:

• Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
• Jutunheiomen National Park, Norway
• Lake District National Park, England
• Saxon Switzerland National Park
• Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria

If you prefer a warmer holiday, the best time to visit Europe is during the summer months of June to September. This is the time when the sun is high, the beaches are warm and the weather is sunny.

If you are a traveller who prefers when the crowds are smaller, the best months to visit Europe is during Spring (March-May) or Autumn (Sep-Nov).

If you are a keen skier or lover of Christmas markets, you should definitely go over December and January.

Odyssey Traveller specialises in educational small group tours for seniors, and average ages are between 56-75 years of ages, however, we welcome any ages over 50. We are based in Sydney, Australia, however, we have many travellers from USA, Canada, UK and Europe who travel with us every year.

Our group sizes are between 6 to 12 people, and no more than 16 travellers. Odyssey has been offering this style of adventure and educational programs to since 1983. We offer a wide range of fully escorted, cultural and heritage journeys that expand horizons and broaden the mind. Our tours are designed for active, inquisitive travellers in a small group environment.

Being Travel fit for mature and senior travellers remains an important element of enjoying a small group tour. This page shares tips about diet, solo travel, packing tips and footwear to help you plan your vacation to Europe, United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand for example.

Read about Odyssey’s frequent traveller Alumni Program here.

Odyssey’s active tours are designed for those mature travellers who enjoy an active lifestyle and would like to keep the same pace during their holidays. The activity level can usually be tailored to the group’s fitness level ensuring all travellers are looked after. Small groups of like-minded people, typically a maximum of 12 people.