Destinations Adventure Travel Europe 30th September, 2024

Fortunately, we at Kandoo Adventures are adventure travel experts, operating small group trips to some of the most iconic natural landscapes around the world and we know lots about planning trips to Europe, the best places to travel in Europe and Europe travel packages.

With that being said, there are several important factors to consider when creating your dream Europe travel trip. Read on for our guide on planning the best Europe travel itinerary and what to look for when booking with an online adventure travel company like Kandoo.

On a map you’ll find Europe’s northernmost point is the Svalbard archipelago of Norway, and the continent reaches as far south as the islands of Greece and Malta. From west to east, its landmass extends from the island nation of Iceland in the west to the Ural Mountains of Russia in the east.

Europe can be divided into four subregions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe and Southern Europe.

Eastern Europe is the largest and most populous subregion in Europe, with approximately 285 million people. It consists of 10 countries stretching from the western borders of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria to the Ural Mountains of Russia to the east.

Western Europe consists of 9 countries and has a total population of about 200  million. Germany is the most populous country in Western Europe, with a population of approximately 84 million, while France has a population of about 67  million. Other countries of Western Europe include the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Northern Europe consists of 10 countries. It has a population of about 109 million, making it the least populous of the subregions of Europe. More than half of this population resides in the United Kingdom, where we’re based! Other countries of Northern Europe include the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, Finland, the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Ireland, and Iceland.

Southern Europe is home to 15 countries with a combined population of approximately 151 million people. The most populous country in Southern Europe is Italy, which has more than 59 million people living within its borders, and not too far behind is Spain with a population of about 48 million.

From west to east the time zones are Western European Time (WET) which is UTC+0, Central European Time (CET) which is UTC+1, Eastern European Time (EET) which is UTC+2 and Further-Eastern European Time (FET) which is UTC+3. Western European Time is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), however during periods when Daylight Saving Time is in use, Western European Summer Time is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

In Europe, Daylight Saving Time is commonly referred to as Summer Time. Summer Time begins at 1:00am UTC on the last Sunday in March. On the last Sunday in October areas on Summer Time (Daylight Saving Time) return to Standard Time at 1:00am UTC.

The names and abbreviations frequently used to indicate the current local time in each time zone change along with Summer Time. Western European Time (WET) becomes Western European Summer Time (WEST), Central European Time (CET) becomes Central European Summer Time (CEST), Eastern European Time (EET) becomes Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) and Further-Eastern European Time (FET) become Further-Eastern European Time (FEST).

Throughout the United Kingdom in the countries of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Summer Time is referred to as British Summer Time (BST). Iceland and portions of Greenland do not observe daylight saving time.

Are you still with us? Basically, if you need to find the time of a particular country at any given time, just Google it!

The Nordic climate extends over Scandinavia, including Iceland. Countries in this climate zone experience humid, cold winters and mild, humid summers.

The Continental climate covers the central and eastern part of Europe. It is categorised by cold, long-lasting winters and predominantly hot winters.

The Oceanic climate covers the countries and regions which are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and Baltic Sea. This climate usually has mild, wet winters and cool, humid summers.

Finally, the Mediterranean climate is experienced in countries around the Mediterranean Sea like Spain, Portugal, Southern France, Italy, Greece and Turkey. These countries typically face hot, dry summers and mild winters with hardly any frost.

Ask yourself, are there any destinations or activities that you’d like to tick off your bucket list? For example, catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights in the Arctic Circle, dogsledding in Finland, kayaking in the Lofoten Islands of Norway or trekking iconic routes like the Tour Du Mont Blanc beneath the tallest summit in France or the famous Cinque Torri Path in the Dolomites of Italy.

Next, you should gather a ballpark estimate of how long you want to be away for. There are plenty of Europe travel itineraries and Europe travel package deals that are suitable for Europe trips of 1 week up to 1 month, so it really depends on where you want to travel in Europe, what you want to see and your personal holiday leave allowance.

By deciding on the duration of your Europe trip, you should be able to set a budget. Typical costs you should factor into your budget when travelling Europe include costs for flights, accommodation, meals and dining out, entrance fees for attractions, souvenirs and shopping, currency exchange fees and visa fees depending on where you are travelling to and from.

Lastly, when planning a Europe travel trip, you’ll need to consider the weather and climate, and when the best time to travel to your chosen destination is. Check out our Armenia Travel Guide, Finland Travel Guide, France Travel Guide, Georgia Travel Guide, Greenland Travel Guide, Iceland Travel Guide, Italy Travel Guide, Norway Travel Guide and Svalbard Travel Guide for more information on the best places in Europe to travel by the time of year.

The most important factor to consider when planning a trip to Europe is finding the right adventure travel company for you. Our helpful guide on how to choose the right adventure travel company provides you with all the information you need on how to recognise the best tour operators and what to look for when booking adventure travel online.

A question we get asked a lot at Kandoo Adventures HQ is how far in advance do you need to book a holiday. There are a number of factors that affect the answer to this question such as the type of trip you want to book, the kind of activities you’ll be doing and where exactly you want to visit. One factor to consider when planning your Europe trip is how challenging your chosen adventure is. We have given each of our trips a difficulty rating based on their level of challenge, which should give you an idea of how far in advance to book your trip, leaving ample time to train.

In terms of booking in advance for our easy trips, dates are available for up to 2 years in advance, so you can book early and give yourself plenty of time to get excited or you can leave it until 2-3 months before. Moderately challenging trips ideally need booking at least 6-12 months in advance, depending on your fitness level. When planning an awesome adventure such as hiking in the Dolomites, or trekking through the French Alps, you want to be able to enjoy every moment and preparing appropriately is vital.

Starting in 2025, US passport holders will need to apply for authorisation through the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the 30 European countries listed here. In a nutshell, with a valid ETIAS travel authorisation, you can enter the territory of these European countries as often as you want for short-term stays, normally for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

You can fill out the application form using either the official ETIAS website or the ETIAS mobile application. Applying for the ETIAS travel authorisation costs €7, though some travellers are exempt from paying this fee. Most applications are processed within minutes. You will receive an email confirming the submission of your application which will include your unique ETIAS application number: make sure you keep this number for future reference.

• Finland – Finland Multi Activity (8 days)
  

Discover the serene landscapes of Finland, exploring one of the most stunning and isolated parts of Europe by foot, sled and snowmobile. Head out into the wild Taiga driving your own dog sled, embark on a thrilling snow mobile safari in the heart of the Hossa National Park, try your hand at ice fishing and catch a glimpse of the northern lights on this epic 8-day Europe travel itinerary.

• France – Classic Tour Du Mont Blanc (8 days)
  

Trek the classic Alpine circuit of Mont Blanc and discover the French, Italian and Swiss Alps in one spectacular Europe travel trip. Wind between mountain pastures, glaciers and peaks, cross high mountain passes and lush valleys and stay in traditional gites and refuges on this truly incomparable 8-day trekking route around the top of Western Europe.

• Greenland – Greenland Multi Activity (8 days)
  

Adventure deep into the frozen north, beneath the glow of the northern lights and the gentle creaking of icebergs on this 8-day Europe trip. Immerse yourself in traditional Inuit culture amongst the local settlers of Oqaatsut, embark on a mini pulking expedition either by ski or snowshoe and catch a glimpse of the northern lights dancing across Greenland’s dark skies.

• Italy – Highlights of the Dolomites (7 days)
  

Experience the very best of Europe adventure travel in the iconic Dolomites and create memories for a lifetime on this spectacular journey through mountainous northern Italy. Walk the famous Cinque Torri Path, reach the summit of Lagazuoi (2835m) and gaze up at the vast north face of Cima Grande. Don’t forget to snap some photos to capture the beauty of the Dolomites at every turn!

• Norway – Summits of The Lofoten Islands (8 days)
  

Traverse the southern part of the Lofoten Islands of Norway, exploring the most mountainous and spectacular parts of the archipelago. Discover some of the most stunning treks in the Lofoten Islands, stay a traditional Rorbu or Sjøhus and learn about the rich diversity of fauna and flora of the Lofoten Islands on this 1-week Europe trip itinerary.

• Armenia and Georgia – The Transcaucasian Trail (14 days)
  

For a slightly longer Europe trip, join us on the picturesque route of the little-known Transcaucasian Trail. On this 2-week adventure, you will visit ancient monasteries standing proud along the trail, cross from Armenia to Georgia, taking in the incredible culture of both countries and relax your tired muscles in the soothing waters of the Tbilisi Sulphur Baths.

• Iceland – Ultimate Iceland (15 days)
  

Our Ultimate Iceland trip uses the famous Route No1 to circle the entire island over 15 days, offering our customers the ultimate Europe adventure travel experience. Travel the famous Route No1, gaze up at the astonishing falls of Goðafoss, visit the remote Vestmann Islands and Westfjords and hike to the foot of Europe’s largest glacier in one epic adventure.

The Kandoo Ultimate Collection’s Europe travel packages allow you to make the most of your time away by seeing and doing it all in one go. Included in this range of unique experiences are several longer trips of up to 3-weeks in some of our other destinations around the world including the Ultimate Tanzania trip, the Ultimate Nepal trip and the Ultimate Indonesia trip. If you want to make the most of your trip and set foot in every corner, these adventures are just what you’re looking for.