Europe Taster New Year
7 Days Starting and ending in London
Visiting: London, Paris, France, Switzerland, Swiss Alps, Burgundy, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Bruges
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ETNY
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
Ever thought of ringing in the New Year in Europe? It is the ideal time to explore this magical continent and make memories to treasure forever. Discover the delightfully festive streets of Paris. Cross the incredible scenic countryside of Switzerland and make for the Swiss Alps. Here, celebrate New Year's day and choose to top it off with the train ride to the top of Europe - Jungfraujoch! Tour the breathtaking scenery of Germany, taste ice wine and cruise the Rhine River. Finally, explore the canals of Amsterdam and see the sights. It’s time to kick the New Year off with the wonder of travel!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: London - Paris
Location: London, Paris
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Expat Explore’s Europe New Year Taster tour! Depart London and head for the bright lights of Paris, crossing the English Channel en route. In the afternoon, arrive in the famous “City of Lights” and take a driving tour of the French capital. Look forward to seeing iconic landmarks including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe! Complete the driving tour and visit Paris’ Latin Quater to enjoy a group welcome dinner. This Parisian neighbourhood is eclectic, bohemian and historic! After a great group meal, travel back to the hotel on Paris' world famous metro system. Get some rest and be ready to explore the city further on tomorrow’s free day!
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
Embrace the festive atmosphere in Paris, with a full free day to explore the city! Looking for the best way to experience the highlights of this famous destination? Joining the Paris+ excursion is highly recommended! It includes a guided, in-depth tour of the city with a River Seine lunchtime cruise, macaron tasting, perfume museum tour and more! Alternatively, take it easy and explore at your own pace. Admire the art in the Louvre, stroll along the Champs-Élysées or climb the famous Eiffel Tower! Later, choose to explore the romantic Montmartre neighbourhood and see the famous Moulin Rouge and beautiful Sacré-Cœur church. Tonight, the Cabaret show excursion is a great option to finish off a fun-filled day in Paris!
Day 3: Burgundy - Swiss Alps (New Year’S Eve)
Location: Switzerland, Swiss Alps, Burgundy
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Say au revoir to Paris as the tour continues into Burgundy - France’s famous wine region! Visit Beaune where there will be free time to sample local wine and visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune. Hop back aboard the coach and enjoy the scenic drive to Switzerland! Admire the alpine scenery as the coach travels into the Swiss Alps. Arrive in the heart of the Jungfrau region which is one of the most visited destinations in the Alps as well as a World Heritage Site. Tonight, it’s New Year’s Eve! Although most traditional celebrations in the region happen on New Year's Day, there are activities nearby to get involved with. Celebrate and enjoy 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 (New Year’S Day)
Location: Switzerland, Swiss Alps
Meals Included: Breakfast
Happy New Year! Start the new year on an unforgettable note by joining the optional excursion to Jungfraujoch! Travel to the “top of Europe” to Europe’s highest train station. The trip to the top is a real highlight; you might find yourself pressed up against the windows as the picture-perfect Swiss countryside rolls beneath you. Look out for quaint villages nestled in the valleys beneath snow-capped peaks and tumbling mountain waterfalls. At the top, enjoy the snowy landscapes and breathtaking views of the surrounding glaciers and craggy mountaintops - don’t forget your cameras! Down at lower altitudes, spend the rest of the day as you wish. Why not take the chance to head into nearby Interlaken to see the celebrations, including a spectacular fireworks display and a festive market?
Day 5: Swiss Alps - Rhine Valley
Location: Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, enjoy the last few views of the snowy Swiss Alps as the tour continues to the next stop: Germany’s Rhine Valley. Experience the beautiful scenery while onboard a Rhine River cruise. Sail from St Goar to Boppard and admire views of the charming medieval towns, vineyards and lofty cliffs. This river is also home to the most concentrated stretch of castles in all of Europe! Next, enjoy an included tasting at a local wine merchant. This is the place to try eiswein - a sweet dessert wine that is produced in small quantities as it can only be harvested when the temperatures reach 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 travel to the Netherlands! Cross the border and make a stop at the Reikermolen Windmill. Next, visit a local farm to enjoy a traditional cheese-making demonstration and learn about how Dutch clogs are made. Afterwards, continue on to Amsterdam. Freshen up at the hotel before getting to know the city on a canal cruise. Jump on board the canal boat and see Amsterdam’s iconic waterways and 17th-century architecture. The evening is yours to spend as you wish – explore the canals and Dam Square, try local food and see the sights. Enjoy free time in this fascinating city.
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
The last day of the tour has arrived but that doesn’t mean the adventure slows down! Bid farewell to Amsterdam as the tour gets ready to travel back to London. On the way, enjoy a stop in the Belgian city of Bruges. This medieval city is famous for its architecture, historic old churches and cobblestone streets. While here, sample famous Belgian beer, chocolate and waffles! This is also a great place to pick up some last-minute souvenirs. Finally, board the coach for the last leg of the journey back to London where the tour ends tonight.
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
Indulge in a wine tasting 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 Festival
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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Sunday - Saturday
Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 04, 2025Book 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.