European Sampler: Amsterdam to London (Self-Launched)
11 days · Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France & England
Globus charges £3,500
No-markup version: ~£1,280 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Globus's 11-day European Sampler coach tour, rebuilt using trains, buses and budget guesthouses instead of a tour coach and hotels. You'll hit the same headline stops — Amsterdam canals, a Rhine cruise and Heidelberg castle, the Black Forest and Rhine Falls, Lucerne with an optional Mt Pilatus cogwheel trip, Burgundy wine country around Beaune, Versailles and Paris, then the Eurostar to London — booking each element yourself via GetYourGuide, Klook, or directly with operators. Expect fast-paced travel with mostly 1–2 night stays, light walking, and a mix of included-style experiences and free time. Costs are rough backpacker-to-midrange estimates in GBP and assume a shared hostel/guesthouse dorm or budget private room where available; Paris, Lucerne and London are the priciest stops.
Day-by-day
Arrive Amsterdam — canals and welcome wander
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Land at Schiphol and take the NS train to Centraal (~€5.60, 20 mins). Check into a hostel or budget hotel near the Jordaan or De Pijp. Instead of the tour's included welcome dinner at a hotel, do a DIY version: pick up cheese, bread and snacks at Albert Cuyp Market or a supermarket and eat by the canal, or grab a plate of bitterballen at a brown café. Evening stroll along the Grachtengordel.
🚌Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal by NS train, ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in central Amsterdam (e.g. around De Pijp/Jordaan), ~£35–45
- →Canal-side evening walk
- →Albert Cuyp Market snacks
Amsterdam canals by boat + city on foot
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Replicate the tour's glass-topped canal cruise with a self-bookable 75-minute open- or glass-roof boat tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£16–20), departing near Centraal or Anne Frank House. Skip the commercial Diamond Center and instead wander the Nine Streets, Museumplein (Rijksmuseum gardens are free) and Vondelpark. Optional: Anne Frank House tickets (book online ~2 months ahead, ~£14) or the free-ish Noordermarkt on Saturdays.
🚌Walk / tram day ticket ~£8
🛏Same Amsterdam hostel/guesthouse, ~£40
- →Self-booked canal cruise (~£18)
- →Nine Streets & Vondelpark walk
- →Optional Anne Frank House (~£14, book ahead)
Amsterdam to Heidelberg via Rhine cruise
Heidelberg, Germany
Take an early ICE/IC train Amsterdam–Cologne–Mainz or Koblenz (~£35–50 if booked ahead on DB). From Koblenz or Rüdesheim, board a KD Rhine day boat through the Rhine Gorge past castles (~£20–28 one way, or use the regional train as a cheaper alternative). Continue by regional train to Heidelberg (~£12). Evening: swap the brewery dinner for a self-booked table at Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg or a cheaper Altstadt pub with local beer and schnitzel (~£18).
🚌Trains Amsterdam–Koblenz–Heidelberg plus KD Rhine boat, ~£65 total
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Heidelberg Altstadt, ~£30
- →KD Rhine Gorge boat cruise
- →Heidelberg Altstadt evening
- →Brewery/pub dinner
Heidelberg castle, Black Forest & Rhine Falls to Lucerne
Lucerne, Switzerland
Morning climb (or funicular) to Heidelberg Castle ruins for the view over the Neckar (~£8 entry). Then take trains south: Heidelberg–Triberg in the Black Forest (~£20) for a short stop — the Triberg waterfalls and a Black Forest cake and coffee stop stand in for the tour's woodcarving demo and cake experience (~£12). Continue by train to Schaffhausen for the Rhine Falls (~£15), then on to Lucerne (~£20). Evening walk over the Chapel Bridge.
🚌Regional trains Heidelberg–Triberg–Schaffhausen–Lucerne, ~£55; waterfall entries ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Lucerne (e.g. near the station), ~£40
- →Heidelberg Castle ruins
- →Triberg waterfalls & Black Forest cake
- →Rhine Falls
- →Chapel Bridge evening walk
Lucerne walking tour + optional Mt Pilatus
Lucerne, Switzerland
Do a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£10 tip) covering the Lion Monument, Bourbaki Panorama, Chapel Bridge and the Reuss. In the afternoon, take the self-booked Mt Pilatus 'Golden Round Trip' — boat to Alpnachstad, the world's steepest cogwheel railway up, cable car down (~£85–100; check Pilatus.ch and book ahead, open roughly May–November). Cheaper alternative: half-fare card or a lake boat + Rigi. Budget for Swiss prices — self-cater or supermarket picnic to keep food costs down.
🚌Local buses/boats ~£10
🛏Same Lucerne hostel/guesthouse, ~£40
- →Free walking tour (~£10 tip)
- →Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip (~£90)
- →Lake Lucerne waterfront
Lucerne to Beaune — Burgundy wine country
Beaune, France
Train Lucerne–Basel–Mulhouse–Dijon–Beaune (~£45–65 with advance tickets). The ride through Burgundy vineyards replaces the coach's scenic drive. In Beaune, take the little tourist train orientation ride (~£8) past the Hôtel-Dieu, Notre-Dame and the ramparts, then book a cellar tasting directly with a négociant (many from ~£15–20 including several wines and nibbles; the Hôtel-Dieu entry is ~£10).
🚌Trains Lucerne–Beaune, ~£55
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse inside Beaune's walls, ~£40
- →Petit Train Touristique (~£8)
- →Wine cellar tasting (~£18)
- →Hôtel-Dieu visit (~£10)
Beaune to Versailles and Paris
Paris, France
Train Beaune–Dijon–Paris Gare de Lyon (~£30–45), drop bags at your hostel, then RER C to Versailles (~£4 each way). Book the Palace of Versailles passport ticket online in advance (~£20–24) for the State Apartments, Hall of Mirrors and gardens; audioguide ~£5. A guided tour is optional and extra (~£35) — the self-guided passport covers the same ground. Return to Paris in the evening for a cheap crêpe or bistro dinner near the Marais.
🚌Train to Paris ~£38 + RER to Versailles ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in Paris (10th/11th arr.), ~£40
- →Palace of Versailles & gardens (~£22)
- →Hall of Mirrors
- →Marais evening
Paris by foot, Seine cruise & farewell dinner
Paris, France
Skip the coach orientation drive and walk it: Notre-Dame exterior, Île de la Cité, Latin Quarter, Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower base (book summit tickets early if you want to go up, ~£30). In the evening take a self-booked Seine river cruise via GetYourGuide (~£14–17) and finish with a farewell dinner at a neighbourhood bistro (~£25). Alternative free walking tours run daily for a tip.
🚌Metro carnet/day pass ~£9
🛏Same Paris hostel/hotel, ~£40
- →Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité walk
- →Seine river cruise (~£15)
- →Optional Eiffel Tower summit (~£30)
- →Bistro farewell dinner
Paris to London by Eurostar
London, United Kingdom
Book a Eurostar from Gare du Nord to St Pancras (~£45–90 if booked 2–3 months out; standard class, 2h20). Check into a hostel in King's Cross or Shoreditch. Afternoon: free wander along the South Bank and Borough Market for a cheap lunch, or the Tate Modern (free). Evening pub meal ~£15.
🚌Eurostar Paris–London, ~£65
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in London (King's Cross/Shoreditch), ~£40
- →South Bank walk
- →Borough Market
- →Tate Modern (free)
- →Pub dinner
London sightseeing on foot + optional pub lunch
London, United Kingdom
Recreate the guided city tour independently with a tip-based free walking tour of Westminster (~£10 tip) covering Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace. In the afternoon visit St Paul's Cathedral (~£20) or catch Evensong (free), stroll the Thames Path and one of the Royal Parks (free). Optional: Tower of London (~£33, book on Klook) or a typical pub lunch ~£14.
🚌Oyster/contactless travel ~£8
🛏Same London hostel/hotel, ~£40
- →Free Westminster walking tour (~£10 tip)
- →St Paul's Cathedral (~£20)
- →Thames Path & Royal Parks
- →Optional Tower of London (~£33)
Depart London
London, United Kingdom
Breakfast at the hostel, then head to Heathrow via the Piccadilly line (~£5.60) or the Elizabeth line (~£13) depending on terminal, or to Gatwick/Stansted by train. Last-minute souvenir stop and depart.
🚌London to Heathrow ~£6
🛏None (departure day)
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Globus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Globus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,280 | £3,500 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,220 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Globus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,280
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 European Sampler: Amsterdam to London (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,280 per person for 11 days in Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France & England. 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 Globus?+
Yes — Globus charges around £3,500 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,280 — a saving of roughly £2,220 (63%) per person.
How long is the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France & England trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France & England.
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, foodie trip through Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, France & England, 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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