Spring Escorted Tours

5 Reasons To Tour Europe In Spring And Early Summer

There are so many great reasons to travel to Europe in spring and early summer, whether you’re keen to escape the long British winter, eager to see the sights before the summer crowds arrive, or simply looking to snap up a bargain

1. City breaks without the crowds

There is a lot to be said for visiting Europe’s top city break destinations out of season, as anyone who’s been to Venice in the height of summer will attest. Summer in the Med brings cruise ships, backpackers, stag parties and families on school holidays, and the beautiful old towns of Dubrovnik, Prague and Lisbon are often packed to bursting with tourists. In spring, however, you can enjoy the continent’s most popular cities without the crowds.

Tauck offer a fantastic ‘Heart of Italy’ small group tour visiting the cities of Venice, Florence and Rome during the spring months, with exclusive experiences such as an after-hours tour of the Vatican and lunch with a countess at a Venetian palazzo. Solo travel specialists Just You have some great options too, including an in-depth exploration of Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra. The Portuguese capital is back in fashion right now, and this tour allows you to enjoy the city during the quieter spring months.

2. Spring sunshine

Spring and early summer is the perfect time for those who like it warm but not too hot, with pleasant temperatures that are ideal for sightseeing. This is a great time to visit islands like Cyprus, Sicily or Crete, where temperatures range from the high teens to the low twenties Celsius during April, and it’s also a great time for a city break in southern Spain or Portugal.

Adventure experts Explore! offer an appealing 7-day self-guided walking tour of south west Crete, including coastal trails, gorgeous villages such as Omalos and Loutro, and the impressive Samaria Gorge. Another exciting option is Prestige Holidays’ ‘Cyprus Highlights’ escorted tour with former MP and journalist Martin Bell OBE. Departing in April, this one-off tour includes visits to Kyrenia Castle, the Troodos mountains and the fascinating divided city of Nicosia.

3. Europe in bloom

Spring is tulip season in Belgium and the Netherlands, when the countryside lights up with a rainbow of vibrant colours. This is the time to enjoy those classic Low Countries landscapes of windmills, dykes and tulip fields, with the blooms generally at their most dazzling around the end of April. Opt for a tour that includes the famous Keukenhof Gardens, such as Leger Holidays4-night ‘Dutch Bulbfields and Delights of Amsterdam’ tour. This UK coach departure is the perfect option for a springtime short break.

Late April and early May is also a great time to visit the Portuguese island of Madeira, when the Flower Festival fills the streets of Funchal with fragrant blooms and lively parades. Titan Travel offer a special 7-night tour to coincide with the festival, which includes trips to botanical gardens, pretty villages and the Madeira Wine Company.

4. Atlantic wildlife

Iceland has become hugely popular in recent years, and this small, sparsely populated island can feel a little crowded during high season. Spring and early summer is a great time to visit, when the winter snow has melted, daylight has returned and the crowds are yet to arrive en masse. Early April is the beginning of the puffin season, when 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins come to the cliffs of Iceland to breed. And these loveable little birds aren’t the only wildlife attraction at this time of year, with whale watching trips from Husavík starting in May.

Well-established operator Collette offers a number of Iceland tours highlighting different aspects of the island. ‘Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice’ ticks off the classic sites of the Golden Circle and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, along with a trip to the volcanic beach at Reynisfjara, where the cliffs are alive with seabirds. Alternatively their ‘Icelandic Adventure’ tour focuses more on the north, including Akureyri, Lake Mývatn and whale watching in Husavík.

5. Shoulder season savings

With the exception of the Easter weekend, the spring months tend to fall into the travel industry’s ‘shoulder season’. Although prices are higher than in winter, they can still be significantly cheaper than the summer peak season. There are always bargains to be had for those with a little flexibility, especially if you’re able to travel outside of school holidays. You can also squeeze maximum value out of your annual leave allowance if you’re canny with the bank holidays in May!

And if you still haven’t booked your spring holiday for 2018 then now’s the time, with some great last minute offers available from some of our favourite escorted tour operators. Take a look around the TourHound website and you’re sure to find something to tempt you - simply Search, Compare, Select.

Find Tours to Europe

8 Nights

Italy's Great Cities

This Globus best Italy vacation takes you through Italy's great cities, Rome, Florence, Tuscany, and more! Book a Globus best Italy vacation today!

Operator:Globus

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£2659
£2459pp excluding flights £307 per night
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14 Nights

Best Christmas Markets of Europe: Bucharest to Budapest

Experience the magic of a European Christmas as you journey through Romania, Germany, Austria and Hungary’s most charming cities

Starts:Bucharest, Romania
Ends:Budapest, Hungary
Group Size:12- 42
Difficulty:Easy
Operator:Travel Talk Tours

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£3238
£1781pp excluding flights £127 per night
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13 Nights

Perfect Portugal & Southern Spain - 14 days

COACH TOUR: This two week tour of Spain and Portugal sets off from Madrid, visiting Porto, Lisbon, Cordoba, the Costa del Sol and more

Starts:Madrid, Spain
Ends:Madrid, Spain
Group Size:2- 24
Operator:On The Go Tours

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£3805
£3044pp excluding flights £234 per night
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9 Nights

Essential Britain & Ireland

In this England, Scotland, Ireland tour, travel to Stonehenge, Dublin, Belfast and more. Request a quote and book your England, Scotland, Ireland tour!

Operator:Globus

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£2269
£2069pp excluding flights £230 per night
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7 Nights

Sailing Split - 8 days

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this Sailing Split - 8 day tour.

Starts:Split
Ends:Split
Group Size:10- 38
Operator:On The Go Tours

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£815
£571pp excluding flights £82 per night
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7 Nights

Sailing Split Premium Plus - 8 days

Discover sun-kissed beaches, delicious local cuisine, pebbled bays, medieval Dubrovnik, beautiful Korcula and other ports of call

Starts:Split
Ends:Split
Group Size:10- 38
Operator:On The Go Tours

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£1345
£807pp excluding flights £115 per night
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11 Nights

All About Balkans

Join on a discovery of the iconic cities and impressive highlights of the Balkans.

Starts:Sofia, Bulgaria
Ends:Athens, Greece
Group Size:12- 42
Operator:Travel Talk Tours

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£1989
£1094pp excluding flights £99 per night
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9 Nights

Grand Tour of Switzerland

Switzerland Tour: Experience this memorable Switzerland tour with Cosmos. Travel from Zürich to Lugano, Lucerne and more. See details & request a quote!

Starts:Zürich, Switzerland
Ends:Zürich, Switzerland
Group Size:0- 43
Operator:Cosmos

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£1949
£1749pp excluding flights £194 per night
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8 Nights

Best of Balkans

Embark on this unforgettable tour of the best of the Balkans.

Starts:Sofia
Ends:Sofia
Group Size:13- 35
Operator:Travel Talk Tours

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£1489
£819pp excluding flights £102 per night
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7 Nights

Britain and Ireland Delight

The best of Britain and Ireland is served up on this 8 day adventure crisscrossing five different countries

Starts:London
Ends:London
Operator:Costsaver

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£1295
£1092pp excluding flights £156 per night
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£25 DEPOSIT

4 Nights

Torquay, Cruise and Cream Tea

Delve into a Devon cream tea on this exciting tour and discover the very best of Torquay, also including a harbour cruise in Plymouth.

Starts:Torquay
Ends:Torquay, UK
Operator:Shearings

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£389pp excluding flights £97 per night
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15 Nights

Spain, Portugal & Morocco

Morocco Vacation Packages: Enjoy Morocco, Spain and Portugal on this fabulous Cosmos Tour. View Morocco vacation packages and request a quote today!

Operator:Cosmos

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£2189
£1989pp excluding flights £133 per night
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9 Nights

Scottish Highland Fling

Experience a tour in Scotland and see the best of Scotland’s highlands from Edinburgh, Glenfinnan, Glasgow, and more! View details to book your tour in Scotland today!

Starts:Edinburgh, UK
Ends:Glasgow, UK
Group Size:20- 36
Operator:Globus

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£2549
£2349pp excluding flights £261 per night
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17 Nights

Grand Tour of Britain & Ireland

Enjoy a Scotland and Ireland tour on this affordable 18 day trip. View tour package itinerary & request a quote!

Starts:London, UK
Ends:London, UK
Group Size:25- 43
Operator:Cosmos

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£2929
£2636pp excluding flights £155 per night
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16 Nights

Splendours of Balkans and Transylvania

Uncover a region where history and medieval castles meet rocky coastlines and mountainous terrain.

Starts:Bucharest
Ends:Sofia
Group Size:25- 30
Operator:Travel Talk Tours

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£2949
£1622pp excluding flights £101 per night
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7 Nights

Iceland Circle - 8 Days

Enjoy and explore the adventure on this Iceland Circle - 8 day tour

Starts:Reykjavik
Ends:Reykjavik
Group Size:4- 30
Operator:On The Go Tours

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£2325
£1976pp excluding flights £282 per night
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14 Nights

Central Europe

Austria Tour: Visit Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Munich & more. Request an Austria tour package quote and book your Cosmos trip today!

Operator:Cosmos

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£1879
£1679pp excluding flights £120 per night
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12 Nights

England, Scotland & Wales

Experience some of Britain's fascinating towns as you enjoy guided sightseeing through England, Scotland & Wales on this 13 day tour. Request a quote!

Starts:London, UK
Ends:London, UK
Group Size:1- 43
Operator:Cosmos

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£2199
£1999pp excluding flights £167 per night
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12 Nights

Iberian Explorer

Add a dash of emoción to your journey across the Iberian Peninsula, following an enticing trail of tapas, architectural triumphs and centuries-old art on this 13 day adventure through Spain and Portug

Starts:Barcelona
Ends:Madrid
Group Size:15- 54
Operator:Costsaver

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£1400pp excluding flights £117 per night
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11 Nights

Fátima, Lourdes & Shrines of Spain - Faith-Based Travel

Vacations in Spain and Portugal: Celebrate your faith on this Portugal, Spain, and France tour. See Our Lady of Fatima Shrine & more. Request a quote.

Starts:Lisbon, Portugal
Ends:Barcelona, Spain
Group Size:25- 43
Operator:Cosmos

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£1619
£1419pp excluding flights £129 per night
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