We’ve all got that friend who went on a “Gap Yah” to Europe way back in the early 2000’s and hasn’t stopped telling you about it since.

And while hopping from one country to another on a bus filled with other 18 year olds may have appealed back in 2002, no doubt it sends a shudder up the spine of now older more ‘cultured’ travellers. It’s time to revisit Europe and its cultural highlights without the bus-hopping.

G Adventures brings you four destinations in Europe that will have you coming home with head full of ideas and culture, rather than a belly full of pretzels and beer.

Stepping back in time in Cesky Krumlov

One of the most eye-catching towns in all of central Europe, Cesky Krumlov, is a picturesque medieval town located in the Czech Republic – it looks like it’s straight out of a storybook. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, Cesky Krumlov dates back to the thirteenth century. The name means ‘crooked meadow’, which is befitting as the town is nestled in a sharp bend of the Vltava River. The charming old town boasts a collection of beautiful old buildings and a confusion of cobbled alleyways, which will have you admiring its intricate wonders as you stroll through the streets.

Alternatively, you can explore the castle, which is one of the largest in central Europe. It has forty buildings and palaces, situated around five castle courts and a castle park with the fabulous Masquerade Hall. In addition to this, adventurers must climb the nearby tower for aerial views of the town. For something more active, Aussie travelers could do a lot worse than spending the afternoon cycling across the rolling hills of the Bohemian countryside, enjoying the scenery.

Exploring the villages of Cinque Terre

Famous for its lack of visible modern development, the picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre are noted as much for their position on the rugged, steep landscape as the colorful locals who inhabit their villages.

The villages of Cinque Terre are widely recognised for the vibrantly painted buildings which complement the locals’ simple, laidback lifestyle. You’ll swear that you’ve worked out the meaning of life and never want to leave as you sit in a small café in one of the five villages and graze on the bountiful fresh seafood that is fetched daily from the Mediterranean.

Like the Benigni film, there’s something about the Cinque Terre that reminds you that la vita è bella (life is beautiful).

Stunning Slovenia

Impress your friends and, more importantly, appear infinitely more sophisticated when recanting your off the road travel experience with a difference, in Bled – Slovenia.

From hiking, skiing and exploring the Julian Alps, enjoying local history, food and culture, or hitting the beach and caves at the Adriatic Sea – nestled in the south of central Europe, Slovenia has something to offer everyone.

The highlight of any Slovenian travel experience though has to be a visit to the town of Bled. The lakeside town of Bled, nestled at the foot of the snowcapped Julian Alps, offers visitors the opportunity to explore Bled Castle high on a bluff, with a crystal clear lake underneath, snow capped alps in the background or catch a pletna (small wooden boat) over to the island in the middle of the lake to ring the wishing bell.

Central Russia

Step into the land that was hidden behind the Iron Curtain for years, and you might just find that there is more to this vast country than just furry hats and Vodka. Russia is a land that is steeped in opulent architecture, grand cathedrals and with a curiously dark history.

Beyond the Kremlin and Red Square it is the smaller, more isolated cities of central Russia like Ekateringburg, which offer travelers a more ‘authentic’ on-the-road experience. As the gateway to the Ural Mountains, Ekateringburg is not only one of Siberia’s most beautiful and historic cities, but it is also infamous for being the site where the Romanov family was murdered and the tale of Anastasia was borne.

A focal point for any central Russian adventure would have to be the ancient city of Novgorod. Containing the oldest palace in Russia, Novgorod has an amazing variety of medieval monuments and was actually the first democratic city in Russia – so the city has acted as a “test site” for democratic reform and free market initiatives and embodies a sense of change measured against the weight of history.   

G Adventures is currently running a Europe Earlybird offer, with up to 15% off 2017 tours booked before October 31st. For more information or to book a trip with G Adventures call 1300 796 618 or visit www.gadventures.com.au/europesale