Self-Launched Walking the Vineyards of Champagne
5 days · Epernay, Champagne, France
Exodus charges £1,390
No-markup version: ~£460 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore the UNESCO-listed Champagne wine-growing region independently — walking through vineyard-terraced hillsides, visiting historic villages like Hautvillers and Aÿ, and booking your own cellar tours and tastings directly with the Champagne houses. All the fizz, none of the guided-tour price tag. Based in Epernay for 4 nights, this self-launched version follows the same routes through Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley using free trail maps and local buses, saving you hundreds of pounds compared to the Exodus Deluxe package. Costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Epernay
Epernay
Make your way to Epernay by train from Paris Est (direct TER service, ~1h20, around £15–20 each way — book via SNCF Connect). Check into your budget hotel or guesthouse in the town centre. Spend the afternoon strolling the famous Avenue de Champagne, lined with grand Champagne house mansions including Moët & Chandon and Perrier-Jouët. The street is free to walk and the architecture alone is worth the visit. Book a cellar tour for later in the trip — Moët & Chandon offers ticketed self-visit tours from around £25pp via their website or GetYourGuide. Grab dinner at one of the brasseries on Place de la République.
🚌TER train from Paris Est to Epernay, ~1h20, ~£15–20 each way. Book via SNCF Connect (sncf-connect.com) or Trainline.
🛏Hotel de la Cloche or similar 2–3 star hotel in Epernay centre (~£70–90/night for a double, ~£55–70 for a single)
- →Arrive by TER train from Paris Est (~£15–20, book via SNCF Connect or Trainline)
- →Walk the Avenue de Champagne — free, no booking needed
- →Pre-book a Moët & Chandon cellar tour via GetYourGuide (~£25pp)
- →Explore Epernay town centre and market streets
Hautvillers — Birthplace of Champagne
Hautvillers, Champagne
Download the free Hautvillers walking trail map from the Épernay tourist office website before you leave, or pick one up at the Office de Tourisme on Avenue de Champagne (open from 9am). Take the local bus or a taxi (~£8–12) the 4km to Hautvillers, or walk up via the vineyards (adds ~3km). This 12km loop takes you through forest and vines to the village where Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon is buried in the Abbey of Hautvillers — entry to the abbey grounds is free. Pass through the flower-lined village of Romery. Look out for 'Blanc de Noirs' champagne signs at local growers (vignerons) — many offer drop-in tastings for free or a nominal fee. Return to Epernay on foot or by local bus.
🚌Local bus or taxi from Epernay to Hautvillers (~£5–12 each way). Alternatively walk the 4km uphill track through the vineyards.
🛏Hotel de la Cloche or similar in Epernay (~£70–90/night)
- →Walk the 12km Hautvillers vineyard loop (free — trail maps from Épernay tourist office)
- →Visit the Abbey of Hautvillers and Dom Pérignon's tomb (free entry to grounds)
- →Explore the village of Romery
- →Drop-in tasting at a local vigneron for Blanc de Noirs champagne (~£5–15pp)
Aÿ Loop — Roman Roads & Prestigious Houses
Aÿ, Marne Valley
Take the local bus or a short taxi (~£5–8) from Epernay to the nearby village of Aÿ, headquarters to Bollinger and other prestigious houses. The 10km loop follows the old Roman road (chemin romain) between forest and vineyards in the Marne Valley. Pick up a free IGN trail map or use the Komoot app (download the Marne Valley walking route beforehand). Visit the high Gothic-style church of Saint-Brice and spot the timber-framed house reputedly used by Henri IV as a fermenting room. Several small growers along the route offer Pinot Meunier tastings — ring the bell! Return to Epernay for the evening. Consider booking the Moët & Chandon or Castellane cellar tour this afternoon (~£20–30pp via GetYourGuide).
🚌Local bus or taxi from Epernay to Aÿ (~£5–8 each way — Aÿ is just 4km from Epernay).
🛏Hotel de la Cloche or similar in Epernay (~£70–90/night)
- →Walk the 10km Aÿ vineyard loop along the Roman Way (free — use Komoot or IGN map)
- →Visit the Gothic church of Saint-Brice in Aÿ (free)
- →Taste Pinot Meunier champagne at local vignerons along the route (~£5–15pp)
- →Optional: Bollinger Champagne house visit — book via their website (~£25–35pp)
Verzy Natural Park — The Twisted Fau Beeches
Verzy, Montagne de Reims
Take the bus or a taxi (~£15–20) to Verzy, around 17km from Epernay, or rent a bike in Epernay for the day (~£15–20/day from Vélo Attitude). The Faux de Verzy nature reserve contains the world's largest concentration of the rare mutant 'Fau' (tortillon) beech trees — entry is free, and a short 2km loop through the forest is well signposted. The full 10km vineyard walk takes you through the Montagne de Reims Regional Park. After your walk, visit a local vigneron in Verzy for a Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay only) tasting — several producers have walk-in cellars. Head back to Epernay for your final evening; treat yourself to a champagne dinner at a local restaurant.
🚌Bus or taxi from Epernay to Verzy (~£15–20 each way), or hire a bike in Epernay (~£15–20/day from Vélo Attitude).
🛏Hotel de la Cloche or similar in Epernay (~£70–90/night)
- →Walk the 10km Montagne de Reims / Verzy loop (free — trail maps from regional park office or Komoot)
- →Explore the Faux de Verzy nature reserve and twisted Fau beech trees (free)
- →Blanc de Blancs champagne tasting at a Verzy vigneron (~£10–20pp)
- →Farewell champagne dinner in Epernay (~£30–50pp)
Departure from Epernay
Epernay
Enjoy your included hotel breakfast before checking out. If your train isn't until later, drop into the Épernay tourist office to pick up any last bottles from the wine cooperative, or do one final stroll along the Avenue de Champagne. The train back to Paris Est from Épernay runs regularly throughout the day (~1h20, ~£15–20 — book in advance on SNCF Connect for best prices). From Paris you can connect to Eurostar or onward flights.
🚌TER train from Epernay to Paris Est, ~1h20, ~£15–20. Book via SNCF Connect or Trainline.
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast and check-out
- →Last stroll on the Avenue de Champagne or visit to the wine cooperative
- →Train back to Paris Est (~1h20, ~£15–20 via SNCF Connect)
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£460 | £1,390 |
| Duration | 5 days | 5 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £930 per person (67%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£460
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 Walking the Vineyards of Champagne cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £460 per person for 5 days in Epernay, Champagne, 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 £1,390 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £460 — a saving of roughly £930 (67%) per person.
How long is the Epernay, Champagne, France trip?+
This itinerary runs 5 days, covering 5 day-by-day stops through Epernay, Champagne, 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 hiking, culture, foodie trip through Epernay, Champagne, 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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