DAY 1: London - Paris
![London - Paris]()
Welcome to Expat Explore’s Europe New Year Taster! Leaving London behind us, we make our way to Paris, crossing the English Channel and arriving in the ‘City of Lights’ in the afternoon. We'll take you 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, Notre Dame and the Arc de Triomphe! After the driving tour we'll enjoy dinner at a restaurant in the Latin Quarter, an eclectic, bohemian and historic neighbourhood. We'll then travel back to the hotel on Paris' world famous metro system, ready to explore the city further on our free day tomorrow!
Experiences
Driving tour of Paris: Enjoy a driving tour upon arrival - spot the Tuileries Gardens, The River Seine, l’Ile de la Cité, the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Lovers Bridge, Sacre Coeur, Montmartre, Pigalle (the Red Light District) and the Moulin Rouge!
Paris welcome dinner: This is your chance to meet your fellow travellers and tour leader over a delicious Parisian meal. Take some time to chat to your tour leader about optional excursions to join on your free day tomorrow.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel ibis Paris La Défense Centre
B&B Hôtel Paris Porte des Lilas
B&B Hôtel Paris Italie Porte de Choisy
Hôtel Kyriad Paris Nord Porte de Saint Ouen
DAY 2: Paris: Free Day
![Paris: Free Day]()
Today is all yours to explore as you wish. Take a look at our optional excursions – enjoy a cruise up the River Seine, and head up the tower of Montparnasse for exquisite views of the city, the perfect way to see Paris at its best. Visit L’Opéra Garnier, the Tuileries Gardens, Place de la Concorde, Hotel de Ville, the River Seine, l’Ile de la Cite or the Louvre Museum. Get a glimpse of that most famous avenue, the Champs Elysees, overlooked by the famous Arc de Triomphe. Feel like shopping? Why not head to the boutiques of La Marais? Or visit the graves of Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison at Père Lachaise Cemetery? Those with a taste for the macabre can even descend to the infamous catacombs! Alternatively, stay above ground and explore the museums, people-watch from a roadside café, or simply stroll the city, following in the footsteps of great painters, musicians and writers.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel ibis Paris La Défense Centre
B&B Hôtel Paris Porte des Lilas
B&B Hôtel Paris Italie Porte de Choisy
Hôtel Kyriad Paris Nord Porte de Saint Ouen
Optional Excursions
- Parisian Cabaret with drinks i €75
- Paris + i €55
- An Evening in Montmartre i €45
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 3: Burgundy - Swiss Alps
![Burgundy - Swiss Alps]()
Au revoir Paris! Today we sample a taste of small town France with a lunch stop in Burgundy. In the town of Beaune you can visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune, or try the famous wine. After lunch we take a long scenic drive across the border into Switzerland and head towards the Swiss Alps for our stay in a typical mountain village in the heart of the Jungfrau region. This is one of the most-visited regions of the Alps and also a World Heritage site, containing Europe's largest glacier. 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. Your tour leader will have all the information to help you plan your day.
Experiences
Burgundy lunch stop: Enjoy a stop in Beaune 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 Swiss Mountain drive: Marvel at the spectacular views as we drive through this amazing country alongside lakes, breath-taking mountain vistas and quaint Swiss towns.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel Residence Grindelwald
The Bear Inn Wilderswil
Ski Lodge Hotel Engelberg
DAY 4: Swiss Alps: Free Day
![Swiss Alps: Free Day]()
Happy New Year! The splendour of the Alps is yours today – don’t miss the chance to join our optional excursion up to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe! 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. Once we’ve reached the top, enjoy the year-round snow and breathtaking views of the surrounding glaciers and craggy mountaintops. Once you’ve had a chance to explore and capture as many photos as possible, it’s back down to lower altitudes for the rest of the afternoon. Take the chance to head into nearby Interlaken to see the celebrations, including a spectacular fireworks display and a festive market.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hotel Residence Grindelwald
The Bear Inn Wilderswil
Ski Lodge Hotel Engelberg
Optional Excursions
- Train to Jungfraujoch i €190
* Stated prices and availability are subject to change.DAY 5: Swiss Alps - Rhine Valley
![Swiss Alps - Rhine Valley]()
This morning we board the coach once more as we make for Germany’s famous Rhine Valley! Relax on board a Rhine riverboat as we head to our hotel in the heart of the Rhine Valley. This is the most concentrated stretch of castles in all of Europe, and it also features vineyards, charming medieval towns and lofty cliffs. Learn the story of the castles, many of which are now in ruins since the river barons left long ago. Once the cruise is over we'll visit a local wine merchants for an included wine tasting - if the harvest has been good, you may even get to try eiswein (ice wine), a very sweet dessert wine that is produced in very small quantities as it can only be harvested when the temperature drops below freezing.
Experiences
Cruise down the Rhine River: See the beautiful scenery along the river banks, including the largest concentration of gothic castles in Europe (Sterrenberg, Liebestein, Katz and Fortress Rheinfels). 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 producing eiswein (ice wine); a very sweet dessert wine made from grapes harvested in the freezing winter months.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Wyndham Garden Koblenz Hotel
Rheinlust Hotel
Seminaris Bad Honnef
DAY 6: Rhine Valley - Amsterdam
![Rhine Valley - Amsterdam]()
The Netherlands is our next stop, and we arrive first at an iconic Dutch windmill. Following that 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. We’ll check in to our hotel before joining a Amsterdam canal dinner 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 tips and interesting insights into the city from your tour leader. The evening is yours – explore the canals and Dam Square, and enjoy your time in this fascinating city.
Experiences
Windmills photo stop: No visit to the Netherlands is complete without some fun photos at the iconic Dutch windmills!
Cheese and clogs demonstration: See how these famous shoes are traditionally made by hand. You can also taste some fantastic cheeses and get the chance to shop and stock up on unique Dutch 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! Better yet, you’ll get to see the elaborate displays of thr AMsterdam Light Festival!
Christmas Dinner in Amsterdam: Celebrate Christmas alongside your new travel friends with an included group dinner in Amsterdam.
Included Meals
Accommodationi
Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Holiday Inn Express Amsterdam - Schiphol
Best Western Plus Plaza Almere
DAY 7: Bruges - London
![Bruges - London]()
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Amsterdam and make our way 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. An extremely popular medieval city with no shortage of cobblestone streets, historic old churches and lofty towers, this is a great city to explore and a good spot to pick up any last-minute souvenirs. Once you’ve had a look around, it’s back to the coach for the final leg of our journey back to London.
Experiences
Visit Bruges, a medieval Belgian city: A stop in this beautiful medieval city en route to London. Enjoy free time during which you could try the signature national dish of frites and moules, have a Belgian beer or buy some amazing Belgian chocolate!