Can't travel with your own dog? No problem.

Truffle hunting with dogs in Italy with Contiki

Combining his passions for nature, animals and cooking, Matteo has been a professional truffle hunter for twelve years and he welcomes  Contiki travelers to the beautiful Villa Clodia in Bracciano, just 30kms north of Rome, for a two-night stay on this NEW truffle hunting short breakin Italy. With his trusty pups leading the charge sniffing out truffles, Matteo and his guests will enjoy a forage in the woods, two organic cookery classes and meals (with wine) using the spoils from the forest, and plenty of free time to potter in the town or relax in the expansive grounds and pool at the villa. 

Rescue dog walking in LA

On Contiki’s Best of USA trip (a 13-day trip that takes in four of the USA’s must-see cities – LA, Las Vegas, Miami and New York), travelers get to take foster dogs out for a walk in the trendy Venice beach area of Los Angeles. Walking with one of the co-founders of Free Animal Doctor—a non-profit animal welfare organization – the aim is to give the rescue dogs the daily exercise they need while improving their socialization and chances of being seen and adopted. There are plenty of photo spots along the way, starting with a leisurely stroll along the canals, then along the boardwalk to see the famous Venice Beach sign, the "Touch of Venice" mural, the skate park on the beach and more. It’s a fun day out for both dogs and walkers, who get to see the city in a different way – and dog treats, leads, water bowls etc. are all provided of course. A picture below as an illustration but I am sure more ‘professional’ ones can be tracked down

Meeting champion husky dog racers in Norway

On Insight Vacations Grand Scandinavia trip (which takes in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland over 20 days) guests visit a working husky dog farm in the town of Alta within the Arctic circle in Norway. There they meet Trine Lyrek, a champion dog sledder, and her Alaskan huskies, learning about the dogs and what it takes to compete in Arctic dog sled races. Guests can spend some time playing with these adorable pups, that may grow to be the best racing dogs in the country. This is part of a wider trip that also takes in the best of Scandinavia, for example the fjords and a stop at mainland Europe's most northern point, where the sun never sets. Stand near the fence of the towering cliffs, dramatically rising out of the sea and it feels as if you are on the edge of the world – and to make the moment even more special you’ll be served a glass of champagne. Here’s some pictures of husky dogs (disclaimer, these aren’t official pics from our brand, I’ll need to track some down more for you if you’re keen)

Irish wolfhounds at Ashford Castle

And finally, for a spot of luxury, the glorious Ashford Castle in County Mayo in the west of Ireland has a pair of wolfhounds – Garvan and Cronan - that guests can meet and walk. Every day for an hour or so in the morning they come to the castle’s Oak Hall to say hello to the guests, and then guests are also able to take them for a walk in the 350-acre estate, which has a huge lake and plenty of woodland and paths to explore. Not just about dogs of course, the castle has an award-winning spa, an indoor cinema, underground wine cellars for private dining, three restaurants, a museum (the castle was once home to the Guinness family and has welcomed royalty, stars of stage and screen, sporting legends and more) and some stunning bedrooms. Outdoors it offers falconry, watersports, tree climbing, zip wiring, horseriding, cycling and more…). Check out the dogs’ Instagram account in the link above and also some pictures of the castle below.