Tours Christmas & New Year Tours Europe Taster New Year

Europe Taster New Year

Countries: 6 Days: 7 Per Day: US$ 199
Start Point:London/
Paris
End Point:London
Transport:Private coach
Accommodation:Hotel
Ages:10 - 75+
WasUS$ 1,980
From US$ 1,395
check-greenFlexible booking: 10-day money-back guarantee

Price per person in twin share room

2025 dates for this tour are now available to book online! Scroll down to view and pay just a 10% deposit to secure the lowest price

More reasons to book with us

  • Flexible bookings: 10-day money-back guarantee & free date changes
  • Low deposit secures your booking
  • Services of your Expat Explore tour leader
  • Pay the remaining balance off in instalments
  • FREE Wi-Fi in hotels

Summary

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

  • Celebrate the New Year in the Swiss Alps
  • Explore Paris with a full free day
  • Visit Amsterdam and the Rhine Valley 

Start Point

Outside Novotel London Greenwich hotel | 06:30 AM
Hotel lobby at Holiday Inn Express London - Greenwich | 07:00 AM
Hotel in Paris | 05:00 PM (approx.)

End Point

Outside Novotel London Greenwich hotel | 08:00 PM
DAY 1: London - Paris

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!

Meals: Dinner

DAY 1: London - Paris

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!

Experiences

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.

Meals

Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel


DAY 2: Paris: Free Day

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!

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

On Tour Excursions

DAY 3: Burgundy - Swiss Alps (New Year’s Eve)

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.

Experiences

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.

Meals

BreakfastDinner

Accommodation

Hotel


DAY 4: Swiss Alps: Free Day (New Year’s Day)

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. Tonight, choose to enjoy a hearty Swiss Fondue Dinner!

Meals

Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotel

On Tour Excursions

DAY 5: Swiss Alps - Rhine Valley

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!

Experiences

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.

Meals

BreakfastDinner

Accommodation

Hotel


DAY 6: Rhine Valley - Amsterdam

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.

Experiences

Visit the Riekermolen WindmillEnjoy 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.

Meals

BreakfastDinner

Accommodation

Hotel


DAY 7: Bruges - London

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.

Experiences

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.

Meals

Breakfast

What's Included

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)

Meals

  • 6 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners
    *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request

Transport

  • Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
  • Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)

Tour Leader

  • Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
  • Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details

11 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

Accommodation

We partner with a range of hand-picked hotels in each destination. The hotels listed below are those we stay at most frequently. However, you may stay at different hotels of a similar standard. 

A confirmed list of hotels is emailed to all travellers prior to their tour departure. To extend your stay in London, click here to book pre and post-tour accommodation through our partner Booking.com.

Paris

Photos of the tour

Optional Excursions

Unless marked as “Pre-Book”, all optional excursions can be booked on tour and paid for in cash (in the stated currency) to your tour leader. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Dates & Rates

2025 dates for this tour are now available to book online! Scroll down to view and pay just a 10% deposit to secure the lowest price

Our pricing model: Whether you book early or take advantage of our special promotions, you’ll always get fantastic value when you choose to travel with us.
Years
Start Date / End DateFlexible BookingStatusPrice Per Person
29 Dec 2024 - 04 Jan 2025Flexible booking date for 2024-12-29Book now with low depositUS$1,980 US$1,395
29 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026Flexible booking date for 2025-12-29Book now with low depositUS$1,980 US$1,485

Number of travellers

Payment option

Flexible booking: flexible booking

Additional Information

For pre-departure and visa information, as well as frequently asked questions regarding preparing for and travelling on this tour, please visit our Help Centre .

Additional Information Help Centre

Reviews

Reviews powered by: Power Reviews

23 reviews
P
Pretty women Verified Buyer 2024-02-04
Very nice travel to Europe!!
I went to Europe for the first time in my life. Expat made things easier and wonderful in my budget!! Lucky to have Steve as our guider.
N
Nicki Verified Buyer 2024-01-08
Amazing Experience
I had an absolutely amazing trip. The tour guide, Antonio, and the driver, Victor, were absolutely fantastic. I met a lot of great people on the bus, and there was no way I could ever experience, everything I did without being a part of the tour. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and will be planning another one soon!
A
Alfred Verified Buyer 2024-01-06
Great Experience
We had a great experience with this Tour. The locations were great, and we covered a lot of places and experienced a lot of things in a short period of time. The optional excursions were also excellent and worth it. Overall it was a very well-run tour. The tour leader, Antonio and the driver, Victor were amazing and very passionate about ensuring we had the best experience possible. Antonio is very experienced and ran everything very smoothly and always had a plan B ready if circumstances changed. He knew where the best spots would be to see things and take excellent pictures. And Victor was an excellent driver in all places we went to, streets of Paris, mountain of Switzerland etc. Both were great people to be on the tour with.
S
SJC Verified Buyer 2024-01-06
Jam packed with iconic places
We (family of 4) went on this coach trip not quite knowing what to expect. The thoughts of being on a coach for what seemed an eternity to my husband, were quickly dispelled as Damien (our driver) and Steve (tour leader) were very careful to put in numerous stops that were plenty long enough to walk off any cabin fever. The coach was well appointed with enough leg room and a few spare seats so it didn't feel packed. Seats were comfortable and the charging ports well used by our 16 year old daughter and husband and I. The tour really was a whistle stop in each iconic location, but Steve's knowledge and hints and tips (especially around safety in Paris) were invaluable. My family and I really appreciated the hard work and organisation that Steve was doing in the back ground. Steve's history talk going into Germany was second to none, he presented the 1870's Prussian war, right through to the end of the 2nd World War in a way that that history books cannot, my husband and I are glad our
K
Kiwi expat Verified Buyer 2024-01-05
Once in a lifetime experience
If you want to experience a once in a lifetime way to see in the New Year, you need to book this tour! On this tour, you get to visit so many spectacular places in Europe and more importantly spend the first day of the New Year at the top of Europe. When I did this tour, I had Antonio as the tour guide who made this once in a lifetime trip even more extraordinary. Antonio put in so much effort to make this tour special for everyone. So if you want to make all your friends and family jealous by how you see in 2025, book this tour now!