Europe Christmas Taster: Self-Launched London to Amsterdam
7 days · London, Paris, Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent
Expat Explore Travel charges £1,390
No-markup version: ~£955 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the coach and the group surcharges — this self-launched version of the classic Europe Christmas Taster takes you through Paris, Burgundy, the Swiss Alps, the Rhine Valley, Amsterdam and Ghent entirely under your own steam. You'll use Eurostar, regional trains, and budget buses to hop between destinations, stay in well-rated hostels and budget hotels, and book Christmas market tours, Rhine cruises and Alpine day trips directly via GetYourGuide or Klook. Same festive magic, roughly half the price. All costs are approximate estimates per person.
Day-by-day
London to Paris
Paris, France
Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (approx. 2h20m, book in advance for ~£50–£70 each way). Check into a budget hostel or hotel near the city centre. In the evening, join a self-guided walking tour past the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe — both are stunning lit up at night — then grab dinner at a local Parisian brasserie. The Christmas lights on the boulevards are free to enjoy.
🚌Eurostar London St Pancras → Paris Gare du Nord, ~£60 booked in advance
🛏Generator Paris or St Christopher's Inn Paris Canal, dorm ~£20–£30/night
- →Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord (~£60, book ahead)
- →Self-guided evening walk past Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe (free)
- →Dinner at a local Parisian brasserie (~£15–20)
Paris: Christmas Markets, Louvre & Montmartre
Paris, France
A full day to explore Paris independently. Start with a self-booked Seine River cruise via GetYourGuide (~£15). Visit the Champs-Élysées Christmas market (free entry) and stroll down to the Arc de Triomphe. Book a timed-entry Louvre ticket online in advance (~£17) to avoid queues. In the afternoon, head up to Montmartre for the festive atmosphere and views over the city. Optional: book a macaron tasting or perfume workshop via GetYourGuide for ~£30–£40.
🚌Paris Metro day pass (~£8)
🛏Generator Paris or St Christopher's Inn Paris Canal, dorm ~£20–£30/night
- →Seine River cruise via GetYourGuide (~£15)
- →Champs-Élysées Christmas market stroll (free)
- →Louvre Museum timed-entry ticket (~£17, book online in advance)
- →Montmartre self-guided wander (free)
- →Optional: Macaron tasting experience via GetYourGuide (~£35)
- →Optional: Cabaret show (Moulin Rouge or similar, ~£80–£120)
Burgundy to the Swiss Alps
Beaune & Interlaken, Switzerland
Take a TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Dijon (~1h40m, ~£25–£40), then a regional train to Beaune (~20 min, ~£5). Spend a few hours exploring the medieval wine town and the famous Hospices de Beaune. Optional wine tasting at a local domaine (~£15–£25). Then continue by train via Basel to Interlaken (~3h total, ~£35–£50). Arrive in the Swiss Alps by early evening. Group dinner at a local mountain restaurant — ask your hostel for recommendations.
🚌TGV Paris → Dijon, regional train to Beaune, then train via Basel to Interlaken
🛏Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof Interlaken or Balmer's Hostel, dorm ~£25–£35/night
- →Train Paris → Dijon → Beaune (~£30–£45)
- →Visit Hospices de Beaune (entry ~£8)
- →Optional wine tasting at a Beaune domaine (~£15–£25)
- →Train Beaune → Basel → Interlaken (~£35–£50)
- →Dinner at a mountain restaurant in Interlaken (~£15–£20)
Swiss Alps: Jungfraujoch & Alpine Exploration
Interlaken & Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
Today is all about the mountains. Book the Jungfraujoch 'Top of Europe' excursion directly via the Jungfrau Railway website or GetYourGuide (~£155–£180 return from Interlaken) — booking ahead is essential in December. Visit the Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory at 3,454m. Alternatively explore the Schilthorn via cable car for a more budget-friendly Alpine fix (~£80 return). In the afternoon, browse local Alpine shops and markets in Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.
🚌Jungfrau Railway from Interlaken Ost (included in Jungfraujoch ticket)
🛏Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof Interlaken or Balmer's Hostel, dorm ~£25–£35/night
- →Jungfraujoch 'Top of Europe' train and entry via Jungfrau Railway (~£160, book in advance)
- →Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory at the summit (included in Jungfraujoch ticket)
- →Optional: Schilthorn cable car as a cheaper alternative (~£80)
- →Browse Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen village markets (free)
- →Alpine dinner at a local mountain restaurant (~£20–£25)
Swiss Alps to Rhine Valley
Boppard & Rhine Valley, Germany
Travel by train from Interlaken to Koblenz (~3.5h, ~£40–£55, changing at Basel and possibly Mainz). From Koblenz, take a regional train down to Boppard (~20 min, ~£5), a charming Rhine village. Book a Rhine River cruise directly with KD Rhine or via GetYourGuide (~£15–£25 for a 1–2h scenic cruise). Stop for a wine tasting at a local Boppard merchant (~£10–£15). Overnight in a budget guesthouse or hostel in the Rhine Valley or nearby Koblenz.
🚌Train Interlaken → Basel → Koblenz, regional train to Boppard
🛏Hotel Rebstock Boppard or budget guesthouse in Koblenz, ~£30–£45/night
- →Train Interlaken → Basel → Koblenz → Boppard (~£45–£60)
- →Rhine River scenic cruise via KD Rhine or GetYourGuide (~£20)
- →Wine tasting at a Boppard local merchant (~£12)
- →Dinner at hotel or local gasthaus (~£15–£20)
Rhine Valley to Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Take a train from Koblenz to Amsterdam Centraal (~3.5–4h, ~£30–£50 via Cologne/Utrecht). Check into your hostel and head straight for the canals. Book a 1-hour Amsterdam canal cruise via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15–£18). Visit the Riekermolen windmill on the Amstel River (free, short walk or bike ride). Stop at a cheese shop for a tasting and clog demonstration — many shops near the Vondelpark do this for free. Farewell dinner with fellow travellers at a Dutch brown café (bruin café).
🚌Train Koblenz → Amsterdam Centraal via Cologne (~£35–£50)
🛏Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark or The Flying Pig Downtown, dorm ~£25–£35/night
- →Train Koblenz → Cologne → Utrecht → Amsterdam Centraal (~£40)
- →Amsterdam canal cruise via GetYourGuide (~£16)
- →Visit Riekermolen Windmill on the Amstel (free)
- →Cheese tasting and clog demonstration at a local shop (free or ~£5)
- →Farewell dinner at a Dutch bruin café (~£15–£20)
Amsterdam to Ghent to London
Ghent, Belgium & London, UK
Take an early Thalys or Intercity train from Amsterdam to Ghent-Sint-Pieters (~2h, ~£25–£40). Spend a few hours exploring Ghent's stunning medieval centre: Gravensteen Castle (entry ~£12), the Graslei waterfront, and the Vrijdagmarkt square. Treat yourself to Belgian waffles (~£3), moules frites (~£12–£15), and a Belgian beer (~£3–£4) before heading to Brussels-Midi for the Eurostar home to London St Pancras (~2h, ~£50–£80). Arrive back in London by early evening.
🚌Train Amsterdam → Ghent, train Ghent → Brussels-Midi, Eurostar Brussels → London St Pancras
🛏N/A – return to London
- →Train Amsterdam → Ghent-Sint-Pieters (~£30)
- →Self-guided walking tour of Ghent's medieval centre (free)
- →Gravensteen Castle entry (~£12)
- →Sample Belgian waffles (~£3), moules frites (~£14), Belgian beer (~£4)
- →Optional: Sample Belgian chocolates from a local chocolatier (~£5–£10)
- →Train Ghent → Brussels-Midi, then Eurostar to London St Pancras (~£55–£80)
Self-launched vs. Expat Explore Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Expat Explore Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£955 | £1,390 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £435 per person (31%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Expat Explore Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£955
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 Europe Christmas Taster: Self-Launched London to Amsterdam cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £955 per person for 7 days in London, Paris, Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent. 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 Expat Explore Travel?+
Yes — Expat Explore Travel 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 £955 — a saving of roughly £435 (31%) per person.
How long is the London, Paris, Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through London, Paris, Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent.
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, city-breaks, backpacker trip through London, Paris, Swiss Alps, Rhine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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