The Exploring Cultures, Connecting Lives project aimed to provide life-changing travel experiences to young people aged 18-21 from North Macedonia with fewer opportunities who had never travelled to the EU or missed high school Eurotrips due to financial, geographical or social barriers. Our objectives were to boost participants' confidence and independence through sustainable train travel across Europe, foster intercultural understanding by exploring diverse cities and traditions, promote peer bonding in supportive groups, and strengthen their sense of European citizenship and belonging.