Road to Croatia

The adventure of a lifetime kicks off today. Meet up with your new Contiki family in London town before hitting the road to Amsterdam. Shortly before we find our ferry for Europe, we'll be taking in the English coastline beauty of the White Cliffs of Dover. They owe their gorgeousness to their composition of chalk - you're learning and we haven't even left the UK! Off the ferry we arrive in the port town of Calais - French soil! We travel north via Belgium before reaching Amsterdam.

Tonight, famous for fun Amsterdam is ours to explore. The infamous Red Light District & plenty of bars are there for the curious. (D) Stay: Ibis Budget Amsterdam City South (or similar)

Amsterdam is cute as a button & sure to win your heart with its canals, obscure museums & a café culture like no other. Today use your time to get local, bar hop, museum crawl, and see what other tastes take your fancy, this place is famous for pancakes, frites and so much more, and that's all before we enjoy a delicious included dinner with the rest of our Contiki fam. (B)

Today's agenda? Out of Amsterdam, onto the autobahn and on the fast-track to uber-cool Berlin. Willkommen to Berlin! The city full of cool culture, edgy fashion, and irresistible street food. Once we arrive, your Trip Manager can point you in the right direction to go and see the sights, including the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate. (B/D) Stay: Ibis Berlin Messe (or similar)

After our taster of Berlin's history yesterday, you'll have the chance to delve deeper today. Opt to take a historical walking tour, including a visit to the site of Hitler's bunker, or an Alternative Berlin tour. Otherwise, you're free to explore all the obscurities tucked away off the main street of Unter Den Linden, see the Brandenburg gate, discover nature at the Lustgarten, or catch the U-bahn to one of Berlin's quirky neighborhoods. And if you're looking for a night out, now is the perfect time to scope out one of those underground raves or cocktail-lounge-in-the-basement scenarios that Berlin is famous for. (B)

Still not done with the city vibes, we'll head out of Berlin and onto Prague. A drive from Berlin to Prague would not be complete without stopping in Dresden. Destroyed by World War II, the rebuilt town is now a symbol of resilience, soaked in the rebirth beauty of an Opera house, Frauenkirche, & the Royal Residence.

On arrival in the compact & lovable city of Prague, we'll get orientated with a walking tour, being blown away by beautiful bridges, rivers and gothic architecture. The night is yours to amble around the Old Town Square and find a few haunts to let the hours slip away in. (B) Stay: A&O Prague Rhea (or similar)

Today is the day we get to know the real Prague, stopping off for chimney cakes to keep energy levels high. The evening will see us immerse ourselves in Czech culture with an optional Traditional Czech evening, featuring a folklore show and dinner. (B)

Prague, you've been nothing short of an Eastern fairytale setting but today we'll scoot off to Hungary, heading for Budapest. A quick lunch stop in Bratislava, this is your chance to culture up your Instagram feed with shots of this beautiful capital, sitting on the border of 3 different countries, and tick another country off your list! Arriving in Budapest, we'll barely be able to contain our excitement.

Tonight, we'll be hitting the streets to uncover the city's famous ‘ruin bars' as we discover Budapest after dark. (B) Stay: Ibis Budapest City South Hotel (or similar)

Those still keen to explore can jump on the Budapest Past and Present Tour and continue learning about this incredible city. The House of Terror, the Parliament Building and more, we will take you on a journey of old and new. After all the beauty and knowledge you soaked up yesterday at the church of St Matthias, the Royal Palace and the Chain Bridge, you'll probably be feeling like a day soaking in the city's famous outdoor thermal pools, set amongst Art Nouveau architecture while getting a bargain-priced massage.

As the evening draws in, why not take an optional River Cruise and dinner? Gliding across the shimmering night-lit river of Danube, you'll get to experience the beautiful sights of Budapest while enjoying a delicious al-la-carte Hungarian feast. (B)

Bye bye Budapest, your soothing spas and unique charm will remain in our hearts forever. We'll journey south through Hungary, passing through Croatia to Bosnia. Touchdown in Sarjevo, Bosnia's eclectic capital city. With a full day of discovering this Eastern gem on the cards tomorrow, we'll turn in for an early night after our included hotel dinner. (B) Stay: Hotel Hollywood Sarajevo (or similar)

The only way to uncover the town of Sarajevo is with the wisdom shared on a guided walking tour. We'll help you tap into history & understand the magnitude of our destination before having a chance for a tantalising cultural immersion as you enjoy a quintessential Sarajevo dinner in the home of some local chefs and hosts.

Afterwards, enjoy an evening of bars and nightlife, should you so choose. (B)

After a hearty breakfast, we'll depart Sarajevo and head to the famous town of Mostar for a spot of lunch. Mostar is home to the world's cutest bridge. According to us. But still - we've seen a lot of bridges. You'll have plenty of time to oohh and aahh before we kick on to our 2-night site of Dubrovnik. After being wowed and enthralled by Mostar's medieval charm, we'll make our way to Croatia and roll up to Dubrovnik, where we'll be greeted by limestone walls, an Old Town filled with Hollywood sights, and a mountain meets sea situation.

Tonight, after dinner with the crew, we'll paint the town red. (B) Stay: Hotel Petka Dubrovnik (or similar)

The city of Dubrovnik is so much more than just a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Game of Thrones location - not that either of those claims to fame are even mildly mediocre.

After you've been guided around the city with intricate detail with our local guide, you'll be armed with the knowledge to pick out a waterside rock bar where you can swim and play to your heart's content.

Tonight, why not opt for a dinner cruise with the crew? (B)

We'll set off from sunny Dubrovnik today and head north, bound for the sensational seaside delights of Split.

Upon arrival into majestic Split, you can choose to head up into the Hills optional “Let's Split” dinner, in which local artisans are on site preparing oils & handicrafts to purchase, with all proceeds going back into the local community. Full and content, it's time to spend a few hours on the dance floor. The nightlife here goes off, and your Trip Manager knows all the best places to head. We'll also say a fond farewell to those only doing the first part of the trip. (B) Stay: Hotel Split Inn (or similar)

After breakfast, we'll wrap up our adventure & say our goodbyes to the group. (B)