Self-Launched Burgundy & Alsace Wine & Culture Adventure
7 days · Burgundy & Alsace, France
Exodus charges £2,800
No-markup version: ~£980 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
From the medieval half-timbered streets of Troyes to the fairy-tale wine villages of Alsace, this self-launched version of Exodus's premium Burgundy & Alsace tour lets you follow the same iconic route — cheesemakers, grand châteaux, canal boat rides and celebrated vineyards — at a fraction of the price. Swap the private minibus for trains and local buses, boutique group-tour hotels for well-reviewed budget hotels and guesthouses, and guided tastings for self-bookable experiences via GetYourGuide and direct winery reservations. France's greatest wine and food region has never been more accessible.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Troyes
Troyes, Champagne
Take the direct train from Paris Gare de l'Est to Troyes (~1hr 30min, ~£18 second class). Check into your budget hotel or guesthouse in the medieval centre. Spend the evening wandering the half-timbered streets of the old town — the cork-screw street layout (le bouchon) is stunning at dusk. Grab dinner at one of the brasseries near Place du Maréchal Foch; expect to pay ~£15–20 for a solid 2-course meal with a glass of local wine.
🚌Train from Paris Gare de l'Est to Troyes, ~£18 booked in advance via SNCF (sncf-connect.com)
🛏Hôtel Le Comtes de Champagne or similar budget hotel in the medieval centre (~£55–70/night)
- →Arrive by train from Paris Gare de l'Est (~£18, ~1hr 30min)
- →Self-guided evening stroll through Troyes medieval old town
- →Dinner at a local brasserie near Place du Maréchal Foch
Medieval Troyes • Chaource Cheese • Chablis Wine • Vézelay
Troyes → Chaource → Chablis → Vézelay
Start with a self-guided morning walk through Troyes' old town, picking up a free map from the tourist office. Then rent a car for the day (or use a pre-booked regional day-tour via GetYourGuide) to visit the Fromagerie in Chaource for an AOP cheese tasting (~£8 direct booking), then drive 45 min to Chablis for lunch at a local wine-bar restaurant and a tasting at a small producer such as Domaine Billaud-Simon (book direct, ~£10–15). End the day in the hilltop pilgrimage town of Vézelay. Return the hire car or take an evening bus/taxi.
🚌Hire car for the day (~£45 split per person if sharing, or ~£45 solo) covering Troyes → Chaource → Chablis → Vézelay; alternatively a guided day-trip from Troyes via GetYourGuide (~£50–70)
🛏Hôtel de la Poste et du Lion d'Or (Vézelay) or similar guesthouse (~£65–80/night)
- →Self-guided walk through Troyes medieval old town (free)
- →Visit Fromagerie de Mussy in Chaource for AOP cheese tasting (~£8)
- →Lunch and wine tasting in Chablis at a local producer (~£25 combined)
- →Free afternoon exploration of Vézelay village
Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine • Château du Clos de Vougeot • Dijon
Vézelay → Clos de Vougeot → Dijon
Start with a free self-guided visit to the stunning 12th-century Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Vézelay (small suggested donation). Then drive or take a bus toward Dijon, stopping at Château du Clos de Vougeot for a guided château tour and three-wine tasting — book direct via closdevougeot.fr (~£15). Arrive in Dijon by late afternoon, check in, and spend the evening exploring the city's lively restaurant scene independently.
🚌Hire car or regional bus Vézelay → Dijon via Clos de Vougeot corridor (~£12–18 by bus/train, or ~£45 hire car); return hire car in Dijon
🛏Hôtel Le Jacquemart or similar 3-star in central Dijon (~£65–85/night)
- →Guided visit to the Basilica of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine, Vézelay (free entry, donation welcome)
- →Château du Clos de Vougeot guided tour and 3-wine tasting (~£15, book via closdevougeot.fr)
- →Self-guided evening in Dijon — explore Rue de la Liberté and local restaurants
Hospices de Beaune • Food & Wine Masterclass at Cité de la Gastronomie, Dijon
Beaune & Dijon, Burgundy
Take the train from Dijon to Beaune (~25 min, ~£8 return). Visit the magnificent Hospices de Beaune (Hôtel-Dieu) independently — entry ~£10, audio guide available. Return to Dijon for a guided food and wine pairing workshop at the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin — book a workshop at the École des Vins de Bourgogne direct (bourgogne-wines.com, ~£35–50). The afternoon and evening are yours to explore Dijon's covered market and restaurants.
🚌Train Dijon–Beaune return (~£8); local walking in Dijon
🛏Hôtel Le Jacquemart or similar 3-star in central Dijon (~£65–85/night)
- →Train to Beaune (~£8 return, ~25 min each way)
- →Self-guided tour of Hospices de Beaune with audio guide (~£10 entry)
- →Food and wine pairing workshop at École des Vins de Bourgogne, Dijon (~£40, book direct at bourgogne-wines.com)
- →Self-guided visit to the Cité Internationale de la Gastronomie et du Vin (free entry to public areas)
Colmar – Little Venice of France
Dijon → Colmar, Alsace
Take the TGV or regional train from Dijon to Colmar (~1hr 45min, ~£20–30 booked in advance on sncf-connect.com). Check in to your hotel near the old town. Join a self-bookable guided walking tour of Colmar's old town via GetYourGuide (~£12–15). Then book a canal boat ride through the Petite Venise district — tours depart regularly from the landing stage near Rue des Tanneurs (~£8 per person). Spend the afternoon visiting the Unterlinden Museum (€15/~£13) or the Bartholdi Museum (~£5). Dinner in the old town.
🚌Train Dijon → Colmar (~£25); local walking in Colmar
🛏Hôtel Ibis Colmar Centre or similar (~£70–90/night)
- →Train Dijon to Colmar (~£20–30, ~1hr 45min, book via sncf-connect.com)
- →Guided walking tour of Colmar old town via GetYourGuide (~£13)
- →Canal boat trip through Petite Venise (~£8, book at the quayside)
- →Optional: Unterlinden Museum (~£13) or Bartholdi Museum (~£5)
Alsace Wine Route – Châteaux, Vineyards & Medieval Villages
Alsace Wine Route: Haut-Kœnigsbourg → Kientzheim → Riquewihr → Ribeauvillé → Saint-Hippolyte
Join a self-bookable Alsace Wine Route day tour from Colmar via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£40–55), or hire a car for the day (~£45). First stop is the spectacular Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (entry ~£10, book via haut-koenigsbourg.fr). Continue to the wine village of Kientzheim for a vineyard walk and winery visit. Lunch in Kientzheim. Afternoon drive through Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé — visit Maison Trimbach (book a tasting direct at maison-trimbach.fr, ~£10–15). End the day in Saint-Hippolyte for a celebratory dinner at a traditional Alsatian winstub.
🚌GetYourGuide Alsace Wine Route day tour from Colmar (~£45) or hire car (~£45); alternatively local buses connect the main villages
🛏Hôtel Val-Vignes (Saint-Hippolyte) or similar guesthouse among the vineyards (~£80–100/night)
- →Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg tour (~£10 entry, book at haut-koenigsbourg.fr)
- →Vineyard walk and winery visit in Kientzheim (self-guided or guided tour, ~£10–15)
- →Self-guided exploration of Riquewihr village (free)
- →Wine tasting at Maison Trimbach, Ribeauvillé (~£12, book direct at maison-trimbach.fr)
- →Farewell dinner at a traditional winstub in Saint-Hippolyte (~£20–25)
Farewell from Saint-Hippolyte
Saint-Hippolyte → Colmar → Paris
After breakfast, make your way from Saint-Hippolyte to Colmar by taxi (~£15) or local bus. From Colmar station, take the train back to Paris Gare de l'Est (~2hrs 15min, ~£25–45 booked in advance). Alternatively, explore Colmar one last time before your journey home. The whole wine-country adventure wraps up beautifully — and your wallet still has something left in it.
🚌Taxi Saint-Hippolyte → Colmar (~£15); train Colmar → Paris Gare de l'Est (~£30)
- →Breakfast and final views of the Alsace vineyards
- →Taxi or bus from Saint-Hippolyte to Colmar station (~£15)
- →Train Colmar to Paris Gare de l'Est (~£30, ~2hrs 15min, book via sncf-connect.com)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£980 | £2,800 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,820 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£980
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Burgundy & Alsace Wine & Culture Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £980 per person for 7 days in Burgundy & Alsace, France. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £2,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £980 — a saving of roughly £1,820 (65%) per person.
How long is the Burgundy & Alsace, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Burgundy & Alsace, France.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, slow-travel trip through Burgundy & Alsace, France, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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