Europe Escape Christmas & New Year
Europe Escape Christmas & New Year
$2655
Europe Escape Christmas & New Year
12 Days Starting and ending in Hotel in Rome
Visiting: Austria, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium
Tour operator:
Tour code:
EEXMASNY
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
Spend the 12 days of Christmas exploring festive wonders on this Europe Escape Christmas & New Year tour! Embark on the best winter holiday and experience an affordable and convenient way to see Europe. Taste the traditional festive foods, marvel at the sparkling lights and meander through many a Christmas market! Travel to Europe's world-renowned destinations, such as Paris, Venice and Munich. Behold Germany's storybook Rhine Valley, spend Christmas Day in Amsterdam, welcome the New Year in Rome and admire the stunning Swiss Alps! What better way to celebrate the festive season?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Rome - Venice
Say "ciao" to this exciting Europe Escape Christmas & New Year tour! After meeting up with your tour leader and travel companions at the hotel, it's time to begin the journey. Sit back and marvel at the stunning scenes of vineyards, orchards and countryside vistas! Later, arrive in Venice, the popular "Floating City" spanning over 100 islands connected by various canals. This evening is free to spend however you like. Get immersed in the Venetian vibe with piazzas, art and food on offer. Or, join the highly recommended An Evening in Venice optional excursion to admire Venice from the water.
Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city
Day 2: Innsbruck - Munich - Bavaria
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After saying goodbye to Italy for now, journey to the next exciting country on the itinerary - Innsbruck in Austria! Travel through the striking Brenner Pass and marvel at the beautiful countryside on the way. Stop in Innsbruck and admire this enchanting city and its mountainous backdrop. Arrive in Munich this afternoon. Head out for an orientation tour of the city's top sights with your tour leader and learn more about how Munich was rebuilt after WWII. Tick off the top attractions and learn more about the world-famous Oktoberfest! Tonight, get an authentic taste of German cuisine at a local beer hall with an included dinner.
Marvel at the scenery along Brenner Pass
Visit Innsbruck; a beautiful Austrian city
Explore Munich; capital of Bavaria
Enjoy dinner and drinks in a traditional German beer hall
Day 3: Bavaria - Rhine Valley (Christmas Eve)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
The German adventures continue today as the coach approaches the scenic Rhine Valley to celebrate Christmas Eve! After arriving, head out on the Rhine River for a cruise on the way to this evening's hotel in the heart of the region. Soak up the stunning vistas of towering cliffs, age-old towns and captivating castles lining the river banks. Next, enjoy a visit to a local wine retailer for an included wine tasting. If the harvest has been good, you may even get to tryeiswein(ice wine). Spend Christmas Eve enjoying an included dinner at a local restaurant before settling into the hotel for the night.
Cruise along the Rhine River
Indulge in a wine tasting in the Rhine Valley
Day 4: Rhine Valley - Amsterdam (Christmas Day)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
What better way to spend Christmas Day than enjoying the gift of travel? Say goodbye to the Rhine Valley and continue the journey to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. But first, enjoy a photo stop to capture an iconic Dutch windmill and uncover more about Dutch cheese and clogs. After arriving in Amsterdam, set off to the city centre to embark on an unforgettable twilight cruise on the Amsterdam canals! What better vantage point of such a stunning city? In fact, the Amsterdam Light Festival is in full swing around this time, and a cruise is the best way to soak up the displays. Tonight, enjoy Christmas Dinner with the group before spending the night however you wish!
Visit the iconic Riekermolen Windmill
Enjoy a local cheese and clogs demonstration in the Netherlands
Cruise the canals and see the displays of the Amsterdam Light Festival
Enjoy Christmas dinner in Amsterdam
Day 5: Amsterdam - Ghent - Paris
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
It's time to tick another country off your travel bucket list! This morning, travel to Ghent, Belgium - a picturesque port city known for its impeccably preserved medieval architecture as well as for being a hub of culture. Tuck into something tasty to eat and wander the historic streets of the city centre. Then, get ready to greet Paris! Say "bonjour" upon arrival with a driving tour of the stunning French capital, the "City of Lights". Behold the famous attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and the Arc de Triomphe. This evening, head out for an included dinner with the group.
Visit Ghent, a beautiful medieval city in Belgium
See the sights of Paris on a driving tour
Day 6: Paris: Free Day
Meals Included: Breakfast
Paris is your playground on this free day. No matter if you visit the Eiffel Tower, peruse the Parisian Christmas markets, or meander through famous museums, Paris has much to explore! For a highlight of the tour, join the Paris Like Locals optional excursion for an adventure-filled day including a macaron tasting, a visit to a renowned parfumerie and free time in the Latin Quarter. It's the perfect French way to spend a day! Enjoy a free evening to explore some more, or join the optional evening trip to the magnificent Montmartre. Why not end it all off with an optional cabaret show?
Day 7: Paris - Burgundy - Swiss Alps
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Say "au revoir" to Paris today. But fear not, there's more of France to discover! Stop for lunch in Burgundy this afternoon, famed for its sensational wines. Indulge in a wine tasting or visit the gorgeous Hospices de Beaune. Next, cross the Swiss border and get ready for breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps! After arriving at the Swiss Alps accommodation for the next two nights, take a deep whiff of the crisp Alpine air and soak up the indescribable views. Snow-covered mountains, Alpine forests and mirror-like lakes envelop the area. What better place to embrace the festive spirit?
Visit Burgundy; a French wine region
Marvel at the views on a scenic Swiss mountain drive
Day 8: Swiss Alps: Free Day
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, take full advantage of a free day in the stunning Swiss Alps! Don't miss out on today's optional excursion - a journey to the highest train station in all of Europe. Talk about bucket list experiences! Once at Jungfraujoch, enjoy playing in the snow, visiting the Sphinx Observatory or even exploring the Ice Palace! On the ground again later, take a leisurely stroll through a local village and hunt for festive season activities. Taste the real-deal gluhwein, soak up the snowy scenes and admire the famous Swiss surroundings. What could be more festive than this? Tonight, warm up from within by joining the optional Swiss Fondue Dinner.
Day 9: Swiss Alps - Lake Como - Tuscany
Meals Included: Breakfast
Leave the snowy Swiss Alps behind today and continue towards Italy! Enjoy a stop at the world-renowned Lake Como, a stunning destination with scenic villages, shining blue waters and imposing mountain backdrops. This dreamy location where many celebrities holiday is the perfect place to enjoy a delicious lunch with a view. Then, travel onwards to Tuscany. This stunning Italian region is famous for its food, wine, art and architecture. Settle into the hotel for the night and rest up before a New Year’s Eve full of adventure and bucket-list sights.
Stop at idyllic Lake Como
Day 10: Pisa - Florence - New Year's Eve In Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today offers a New Year's Eve full of unforgettable moments! First, stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Have you practised your poses? Get the perfect picture with the tower! Next, visit the captivating city of Florence. Meet up with an expert local guide and embark on a walking tour to uncover the history of the city that gave birth to the Renaissance. Behold the top attractions, such as the Ponte Vecchio and Florence Cathedral! Enjoy an optional Tuscan lunch before the coach continues the journey back to Rome. La Festa di Roma begins this evening, so you should feel the buzz building in the air! Welcome the new year with an included dinner with your new travel family.
See the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa
Discover Florence with a local guide
Spend New Year’s Eve in Rome
Day 11: Rome: Free Day
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the new year with a full free day to explore Rome! Often referred to as “The Eternal City”, Rome used to be the centre of the Roman Empire. Nowadays, it's a popular travel destination full of rich history, ancient culture and fine cuisine! Today, the city will show off its best side in its finest festive decorations. Explore more of the city on today’s optional excursion, spotting iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Pantheon. Meander through the piazzas, traverse the Spanish Steps and enjoy an Italian meal at a local trattoria. La Festa di Roma festivities continue until this evening; consider venturing to St. Peter’s Square where crowds gather to receive the Pope’s New Year’s Day blessing.
Day 12: End Of Tour In Rome
Meals Included: Breakfast
After 12 days of Christmas and New Year adventures, the tour concludes in Rome after breakfast today. We hope this trip was everything you dreamed a festive tour would be! Remember to exchange details with your new friends if you'd like to stay in touch.
What's Included
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Accommodation
11 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
11 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners
*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request -
Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with 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.
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
11 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.
Experiences
Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city
Marvel at the scenery along Brenner Pass
Visit Innsbruck; a beautiful Austrian city
Explore Munich; capital of Bavaria
Enjoy dinner and drinks in a traditional German beer hall
Cruise along the Rhine River
Indulge in a wine tasting in the Rhine Valley
Visit the iconic Riekermolen Windmill
Enjoy a local cheese and clogs demonstration in the Netherlands
Cruise the canals and see the displays of the Amsterdam Light Festival
Enjoy Christmas dinner in Amsterdam
Visit Ghent, a beautiful medieval city in Belgium
See the sights of Paris on a driving tour
Visit Burgundy; a French wine region
Marvel at the views on a scenic Swiss mountain drive
Stop at idyllic Lake Como
See the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa
Discover Florence with a local guide
Spend New Year’s Eve in Rome
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
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 customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide. Expat Explore crew members
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
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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 - Thursday
Dec 22, 2024 - Jan 02, 2025Monday - Friday
Dec 22, 2025 - Jan 02, 2026Book 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 91 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 60 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 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
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.