Europe Christmas Taster
7 Days Starting and ending in London
Visiting: London, Paris, France, Burgundy, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Bruges
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ETXMAS
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Enjoy a short but sweet European Christmas adventure! There's nothing like a winter exploration of some of the continent's most popular and enchanting cities. Walk along the vibrant streets of Paris and Amsterdam - they are just as magical as you can imagine during the festive season! Celebrate a Swiss Christmas while soaking up the splendour of the snow-clad Alps. Explore castles and drink wine among the rolling hills of Germany's Rhine Valley and explore a medieval Belgian city. This tour is sure to be an unforgettable taste of Europe at Christmas!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: London - Paris
Location: London, Paris
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to London and this Europe Christmas Taster tour! Leaving London behind, cross the English Channel and travel to Paris. Arrive in the ‘City of Lights’ in the afternoon and embark on a driving tour of the French capital; get your cameras ready - you’ll be seeing some of the city’s most treasured landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, with the bonus of the city being decked out for the festive season! Later, enjoy dinner at a restaurant in the city. After a fun-filled first day, it’s time to travel back to the hotel and get some rest before the free day in Paris tomorrow.
Driving tour of Paris: Enjoy a driving tour and discover the beauty of the “City of Lights”! Spot the Tuileries Gardens, the River Seine, l'Ile de la Cité, the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Lovers Bridge, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Pigalle (the Red Light District) and the Moulin Rouge!
Paris dinner: Enjoy a delicious Parisian meal. Take some time to chat to your tour leader about which optional excursions to join on the free day tomorrow.
Day 2: Paris: Free Day
Location: France, Paris
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a full day to explore Paris at Christmastime! The Paris+ optional excursion is a fantastic way to experience the highlights of this ever-popular destination - join and enjoy a macaron tasting, a guided tour of a famous perfume museum, a lunchtime cruise down the River Seine and much more! Alternatively, explore at your own pace. Stroll along the Champs-Élysées and shop at the Christmas markets. Discover famous artworks in the Louvre, visit the Eiffel Tower or try local dishes in a cosy Parisian restaurant. Tonight, choose to see the twinkling decorations on an optional evening tour of Montmartre and complete the night with an optional cabaret show. Today is the day to live the Parisian dream!
Day 3: Burgundy - Swiss Alps
Location: Burgundy, Swiss Alps
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Au revoir Paris! It’s Christmas Eve and time to sample a taste of small town France with a lunch stop in Burgundy. Visit the town of Beaune with free time to see the beautiful Hospices de Beaune and try the famous French wine. After lunch, admire the views on a long scenic drive across the border into Switzerland. Arrive in the heart of the Jungfrau Region at a typical Swiss mountain village which will be the tour’s home base for the next two nights. Jungfrau is one of the most-visited regions of the Alps and also a World Heritage site, containing Europe's largest glacier. The area is truly beautiful! Get into the Christmas spirit during an included group dinner tonight.
Burgundy lunch stop: Enjoy a stop in Burgundy, a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous wine-producing region. You will have some free time to explore this beautiful medieval town centre and the opportunity to try local food and wine.
Scenic mountain drive of Switzerland: Spectacular views as during a drive through this amazing country alongside lakes, breath-taking mountain vistas and scenic views of quaint Swiss towns.
Day 4: Swiss Alps: Free Day (Christmas Day)
Location: Switzerland, Swiss Alps
Meals Included: Breakfast
Merry Christmas! Embrace the festive atmosphere on a free day in the Swiss Alps. Looking for a memorable way to spend Christmas Day? The Jungfraujoch optional excursion is highly recommended. Journey to the “Top of Europe” to visit the continent’s highest train station and enjoy the snowy landscapes, incredible views, Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory. Be sure to snap lots of photographs while there! Down at lower altitudes, visit the local shops and markets, explore nearby towns, take in the Christmas decorations or simply sit back, relax and toast to a wonderful Christmas Day spent in the Swiss Alps! Tonight, why not end the free day on a tasty note with an optional Swiss fondue dinner?
Day 5: Swiss Alps - Rhine Valley
Location: Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, board the coach once more and make for Germany’s famous Rhine Valley! Arrive in St Goar and relax on board a Rhine riverboat while cruising through the heart of the Rhine Valley. Here, marvel at the most concentrated stretch of castles in all of Europe, as well as vineyards, lofty cliffs and a charming medieval towns. Arrive in Boppard and visit a local wine merchants for an included wine tasting. If the harvest has been good, you may get to try eiswein (ice wine). This sweet dessert wine is produced in very small quantities and can only be harvested when the temperature drops below freezing.
Rhine River cruise: Cruise down the Rhine River and see the beautiful scenery and the largest concentration of gothic castles (Sterrenberg, Liebestein, Katz and Fortress Rheinfels) in Europe. Learn the story of the castles, many of which are now in ruins since the river barons left long ago.
Rhine Valley wine tasting: Visit a local wine merchant in one of Germany’s most famous wine-growing regions, and sample several types of delicious German wine. Popular varieties include Riesling, Spätburgunder and Pinot Noir. The region is also well known for eiswein (ice wine). It is a very sweet dessert wine made from grapes harvested in the freezing winter months.
Day 6: Rhine Valley - Amsterdam
Location: Rhine Valley, Amsterdam
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s time to head to The Netherlands! Arrive first at a historic windmill for a photo stop. Next enjoy a traditional cheese-making demonstration, and learn about how that most quirky and quaint of footwear choices – the clog – is made, before travelling onward to Amsterdam. Check in to the hotel before joining a complimentary Amsterdam canal cruise! Get on board and get those cameras ready; this is the best way to experience the city of Amsterdam, with its 17th century architecture, fascinating museums and cafes. Watch the city drift past as you sail by, and listen out for interesting insights into the city from your tour leader. Tonight, enjoy an included farewell dinner with the group and reminisce about your incredible time on tour!
Visit the Riekermolen Windmill: Enjoy a photo stop at the Riekermolen Windmill. No visit to the Netherlands is complete without some fun photos of the iconic Dutch windmills!
Cheese and clogs demonstration: Enjoy a visit to a local farm and see how these famous shoes are traditionally crafted by hand. You will also see how Dutch cheese is made and get to taste some fantastic cheeses! This is a great place to shop for some unique souvenirs!
Cruise along the canals in Amsterdam: Sail along Amsterdam’s stunning canals at twilight and see the iconic sights that sit along the waterside - this is a perfect, relaxing introduction to Amsterdam!
Dinner in Amsterdam: Enjoy dinner alongside your new travel friends with an included group dinner in Amsterdam.
Day 7: Bruges - London
Location: Bruges, London
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, bid farewell to Amsterdam and travel back to London via the Belgian city of Bruges. Famous for its beer, waffles, chocolate and moules et frites, this is definitely a good place to be if you’ve brought your appetite. Bruges is a popular medieval city home to cobblestone streets, historic old churches and lofty towers, making it a great city to explore and a good spot to pick up any last-minute souvenirs. Enjoy free time before heading back to the coach for the final leg of the journey back to London.
Visit Bruges: Make a stop in this beautiful medieval town with some free time so you could try the signature national dish of moules et frites, see or even climb the Belfry Tower, have a Belgian beer or buy some amazing Belgian chocolate.
What's Included
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Accommodation
6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
6 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Experiences
Driving tour of Paris
Enjoy dinner in Paris
Explore Burgundy, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Scenic mountain drive in Switzerland
Cruise along the Rhine River
Taste German wine in the Rhine Valley
Visit the Riekermolen Windmill
Enjoy a Dutch cheese and clogs demonstration
Cruise the canals and see the displays of the Amsterdam Light Festiva
Enjoy dinner in Amsterdam
Visit Bruges, a medieval city in Belgium
What's Not Included
International flights
Travel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.
Travel insurance
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.
Mode of Transport
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
- 6 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Check out our Q&As
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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1 Dates & Availability
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Sunday - Saturday
Dec 22, 2024 - Dec 28, 2024Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 76 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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