Walk the gentle path around Lake Bled, where emerald waters mirror the Julian Alps. Gaze across to Bled Island’s Church of the Assumption and up to the cliff-perched Bled Castle, a silhouette that anchors the scene.

Find quiet coves to pause for photos, feel the cool air off the lake, and—weather permitting—dip your toes in crystalline shallows. Your Trip Manager shares local legends and vantage points so you can frame the island, bell tower, and castle in one perfect shot.

Skim across the water by private launch and speed across the Venetian Lagoon, with domes and campanili rising ahead. The skyline of Santa Maria della Salute and palazzi-lined canals signals your arrival in a city shaped entirely by tides and trade.

Disembark near St Mark’s Square to see the lacy Gothic arches of the Doge’s Palace and the basilica’s mosaicked facade. Your Trip Manager offers tips to navigate the sestiere maze, from quiet campos to artisan workshops hidden off the main routes.

Glide through Venice’s watery lanes on a traditional gondola ride, tracing quiet canals before emerging onto stretches of the Grand Canal and hidden rii. Polished prows, echoing footsteps on bridges, and lapping water set a timeless rhythm.

Pass beneath stone bridges and past centuries-old palazzi where lanterns flicker on evening stucco. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager.

• 9 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Dinner (D)

• London: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Rome: You might have the chance to join a guided Colosseum tour. Heads up: sometimes the only available tour slots are later in the day, after the trip ends. If you’re super keen to see the Colosseum, we recommend booking a flight that departs after 4pm.
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Due to new regulations, we cannot guarantee Auschwitz entry tickets for bookings made less than 60 days before your visit. We’ll make every effort to secure your ticket, but if we’re unable to do so, we’ll provide an alternative included experience of equal value.
• London: Yep. If you’re booking a twin room as a couple, you’ll be roomed together.

• Kraków: Get your bearings in this medieval Polish city. Our orientation will get you familiar with the cathedral, Royal Castle and all the best places to grab a beer.  
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: Reflect on the tragedies of the past with a solemn visit to the largest concentration camp in World War II. Please note: Due to new regulations we cannot guarantee tickets for Auschwitz for bookings made less than 60 days prior to your visit. We will make every effort to secure your ticket however if we are unable to do so we will provide an alternative inclusion of equal value. 
• Banská Bystrica: This historic Slovakian city is filled with ornate buildings and framed by snow-capped mountains. It’s the perfect Insta backdrop! 
• Lake Bled: Take it easy with your new besties as you walk around the scenic lake, framed by the Julian Alps. 
• Ljubljana: Join your new gang for an orientation of Slovenia’s fairytale-like capital. Get your fix of rainbow architecture, Insta-friendly bridges and epic mountain backdrops.
• Venice: Speed across the lagoon to the aqueous island of Venice.
• Rome: Stroll around the Italian capital, ticking off some sights on your bucket list! 

Contiki

Discover Kraków’s medieval heart on a guided orientation walk through the vast Rynek Glówny and Cloth Hall. Take in the twin towers of St Mary’s Basilica and the ring of leafy Planty gardens as café terraces and street musicians set the scene.

Trace Poland’s royal story toward Wawel Castle, where hilltop views and Renaissance courtyards frame the Vistula River. Your Trip Manager points out local legends, photo spots, and places to return for pierogi and live folk sounds during your time in the city.

Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum for a respectful, guided visit through one of history’s most solemn sites. Walk past guard towers and the arrival tracks, viewing exhibitions that document lives interrupted and communities lost.

Stand before preserved barracks and rail tracks to pause for reflection on the Shoah’s legacy. Entry is strictly timed and controlled; on departures where museum tickets cannot be secured, your team will arrange a meaningful alternative inclusion of equal value in line with local regulations.

Explore the elegant heart of Slovakia on a short stroll across SNP Square, framed by pastel Renaissance facades, a tilting clock tower, and arcaded merchant houses. This compact old town rewards the eye with spires and fountain-lined corners.

Hear how silver and copper trade shaped the city’s mining guild heritage, and how the Slovak National Uprising echoed through these streets. With the Low Tatras backdrop on clear days, it’s a natural spot to pause for photos and soak in Central Europe’s small-town grace.

Explore Slovenia’s storybook capital on a guided loop over the Dragon Bridge and the trio of spans at Triple Bridge and Prešeren Square. Riverside promenades, buskers, and willow-shaded terraces reveal the city’s relaxed rhythm.

Admire Plecnik’s Ljubljana—from market colonnades to elegant facades—while your Trip Manager points out galleries, viewpoints, and the best cafés along the Ljubljanica. The mix of Baroque, Art Nouveau, and modernist touches gives this compact centre a refined yet playful character.

Join a guided stroll through Rome’s historic core, tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain before stepping beneath the coffered dome of the Pantheon. Baroque facades give way to sculpted fountains and sunny piazzas at every turn.

Continue to Piazza Navona, where Bernini’s marble figures splash around an ancient stadium footprint. Along the way, hear tales of emperors and popes, and gather insider tips on gelato stops, aperitivo bars, and viewpoints for the golden glow of late afternoon.

Drift past the floodlit skyline on a Danube River cruise with dinner, feasting on Hungarian flavors as landmarks glide by. The neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament Building, the illuminated Chain Bridge, and Buda Castle crown the banks.

Listen to light commentary on Buda’s hills versus Pest’s boulevards while glassy reflections ripple under the hull. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager.

Join a guided cicchetti food walk through Venice’s traditional bacari, sampling bite-sized classics like crostini and polpette paired with an ombra (a small glass of wine). Lively counters and chalkboard menus reveal the city’s snacking soul.

Wind around the Rialto Market to hear tales of merchants and lagoon produce while you sample regional wines and seasonal nibbles. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager.

Roll, cut, and shape dough in a hands-on pasta-making class, learning the secrets of fresh tagliatelle and ravioli under a local chef. The hum of a Roman trattoria kitchen sets the scene as flour dusts the bench and aromas build.

Plate your handiwork with classic sauces and taste your creation alongside a glass of local wine. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager.

Join a guided visit to the Colosseum, stepping into the gladiatorial arena of the Flavian Amphitheatre to hear how spectacles echoed beneath soaring tiers. Stone passages and battered arches reveal Rome’s engineering prowess and public life.

Enjoy timed-entry access with a licensed guide; availability is limited and may fall after the tour concludes on day 9. This optional experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager.