Europe Jewel: The Self-Launched 14-Day Grand Tour
14 days · Western & Central Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium)
Expat Explore charges £2,230
No-markup version: ~£1,485 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 14-day self-launched version of Expat Explore's coach mega-tour: Amsterdam loop through the Rhine Valley, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Venice, Tuscany, the Swiss Alps, Paris and Ghent. Instead of a 50-person coach and fixed 3* hotels, you ride the same rail corridors independently (NS, Deutsche Bahn, RegioJet, ÖBB, FlixBus, Trenitalia, SBB, TGV/Thalys), stay in hostels and simple guesthouses, and book the same headline experiences yourself via GetYourGuide/direct. Same bucket-list itinerary, roughly a third of the cost — but be warned, this is a fast-paced route: expect early trains and one-night stands.
Day-by-day
Amsterdam arrival, Zaanse Schans & canal cruise
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Base yourself near Sloterdijk or the city centre rather than out at Schiphol. Morning: take the free public ferry from Centraal to Buiksloterweg and head out to Zaanse Schans by Sprinter train (Zaandam, ~20 min, ~£5 return) to see the working windmills and clog/cheese workshops — the same sites the tour visits, without the farm-tour upsell. Afternoon: walk the Jordaan and Nine Streets. Evening: book a 75-minute open boat or classic salon-boat canal cruise with drinks and cheese via GetYourGuide (~£20-25) — the self-launched substitute for the tour's dinner cruise. Optional detour to Volendam by bus 316 from Amsterdam Centraal (~£10 return).
🚌Sprinter train to Zaandam-Zaanse Schans (~£5 return); GVBs and free ferries around the city
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel near Sloterdijk / Centraal (e.g. ClinkNOORD, Ecomama-style)
- →Zaanse Schans windmills & clog workshop (free entry to village, small per-mill fees ~£5)
- →Cheese tasting at a Zaandam/North Holland farm shop
- →Evening canal cruise booked directly (~£20-25)
Amsterdam to the Rhine Valley: wine tasting & river cruise
Boppard / St. Goar, Germany
Take an early ICE or IC train Amsterdam Centraal to Koblenz (~3h45-4h, book 2-3 weeks ahead for ~£25-35, or FlixBus ~£18 if you want the cheap version). Continue by regional train to Boppard (20 min). Afternoon: ride the KD or Bingen-Rüdesheimer riverboat from Boppard to St. Goar/St. Goarshausen through the UNESCO Rhine Gorge (~£12-18, buy on the pier) and see the Lorelei cliffs. Evening: a tasting at a local Riesling wine merchant or Weingut in Boppard or Bacharach (~£15-20, walk-in or book direct).
🚌IC/ICE Amsterdam–Koblenz (~£25-35, book ahead) + regional train to Boppard (~£5)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Boppard, Bacharach or St. Goar (e.g. family-run Gasthof, ~£35-45)
- →Rhine Gorge boat cruise Boppard–St. Goar (~£15)
- →Riesling wine tasting with a local vintner (~£18)
Rhine Valley to Nuremberg to Prague
Prague, Czechia
This is a long day — the tour does it in a coach, you'll do it by train. Boppard/Bacharach to Nuremberg via Koblenz or Mainz (~3h30, ~£30-40 with a Sparpreis ticket), then a 2-hour stop to see the castle, Hauptmarkt and the old town walls. Continue Nuremberg to Prague by IC/bus (Deutsche Bahn or FlixBus, ~3h30, ~£20-30; the direct bus is usually cheaper). Arrive Prague late evening — stay in Žižkov or Vinohrady for cheap, characterful guesthouses. Self-launched substitute for the group Czech dinner: book a 'Prague food tour' or eat at a hospoda in Žižkov (~£15).
🚌Boppard–Nuremberg train (~£35) + Nuremberg–Prague bus/train (~£25)
🛏Guesthouse or private-room hostel in Žižkov / Vinohrady (~£20-25)
- →Nuremberg old town, castle ramparts & Hauptmarkt (free)
- →Czech pub dinner in Žižkov (~£15)
Prague: castles, bridges and free walking tour
Prague, Czechia
Morning: free tip-based walking tour from Old Town Square (Sandemans or Discover Prague, ~£5-8 tip) to get the history the tour guide would have given you. Then walk across Charles Bridge to Prague Castle and the Golden Lane (standard circuit ~£12). Afternoon: Vyšehrad or the Letná beer garden for views over the river. Evening option: a black-light or folklore dinner show, or simply a Czech microbrewery crawl in Karlín. All of it self-bookable — skip the coach's 'optional tour' surcharge.
🚌Trams and metro (24h ticket ~£4.50)
🛏Same guesthouse in Žižkov / Vinohrady
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£6)
- →Prague Castle standard circuit (~£12)
- →Charles Bridge & Letná beer garden (free)
Prague to Bratislava to Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Train Prague to Bratislava by RegioJet or ÖBB (~4h, ~£12-18), drop bags at the station and explore the compact old town, Primatial Palace and Bratislava Castle gardens (free) in 3 hours. Then hop the 1-hour train or bus Bratislava–Vienna (~£8-12). Evening: a self-guided loop of the Ringstrasse — Hofburg, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Rathaus — all exteriors are free to see. Optional: a Mozart/Strauss concert in the Schönbrunn Orangery booked direct or via GetYourGuide (~£30-40).
🚌RegioJet Prague–Bratislava (~£15) + Bratislava–Vienna train (~£10)
🛏Hostel or simple hotel near Westbahnhof / Hauptbahnhof (~£30-40)
- →Bratislava old town & castle grounds (free)
- →Self-guided Ringstrasse & St. Stephen's walk (free)
- →Optional Schönbrunn Orangery classical concert (~£35)
Vienna to Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
Morning train Vienna to Budapest Keleti (~2h30, ~£15-20 with RegioJet or ÖBB). Afternoon: self-guided 'driving-tour' equivalent — take the hop-on-hop-off or just tram 2 along the Danube past Parliament to Margaret Bridge, then walk the Castle District. Book a 1-hour Danube sightseeing cruise at sunset directly (~£10-12) as the substitute for the tour's optional dinner cruise. Finish in the ruin bars of District VII.
🚌Vienna–Budapest train (~£18); tram 2 and metro in Budapest (~£4 day pass)
🛏Hostel or budget apartment in District VII / near Keleti (~£22-28)
- →Tram 2 Danube panorama (free with day pass)
- →Castle District & Fisherman's Bastion self-walk
- →Sunset Danube cruise (~£11)
Budapest to Lake Balaton to Maribor to Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Long travel day with two scenic stops. Train Budapest to Balatonfüred or Siófok (~2h, ~£10) for a lakeside swim and lunch; continue by train via Szombathely or take a FlixBus eastwards to Maribor (~3-4h, ~£15), where the old vine and Lent riverside are worth an hour. Final train Maribor to Ljubljana (~2h15, ~£10). Evening: a self-guided wander round the Triple Bridge and Ljubljana Castle hill, or join a tip-based evening walking tour (~£8).
🚌Budapest–Balaton (~£10) + Balaton–Maribor (~£15) + Maribor–Ljubljana (~£10)
🛏Hostel in Ljubljana centre (e.g. Hostel Celica-style, ~£25-30)
- →Lake Balaton swim & lunch stop
- →Maribor Lent riverside & Old Vine House
- →Ljubljana old town evening walk
Ljubljana to Postojna Cave to Venice
Venice, Italy
Morning: train or bus Ljubljana to Postojna (1h, ~£5), then the shuttle to Postojna Cave — book the cave entry online in advance (~£24-28, includes the train ride into the cave). Continue Postojna to Trieste by train (~1h30, ~£8) and then Trieste to Venice Santa Lucia (~2h, ~£12). Evening in Venice: vaporetto to San Marco, walk the Rialto, and if you want the canal experience, a shared gondola via GetYourGuide (~£28-30) is a fraction of a private one. Don't pay the coach's Venice evening excursion.
🚌Ljubljana–Postojna (~£5) + Postojna–Trieste (~£8) + Trieste–Venice (~£12)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mestre or Cannaregio (~£30-38)
- →Postojna Cave tour with underground train (~£26)
- →Venice self-guided walk: San Marco, Rialto, Dorsoduro
- →Optional shared gondola (~£29) or vaporetto day pass (~£8)
Venice to Florence to Tuscany
Florence / Tuscan countryside
Morning Frecciarossa or Italo train Venice Santa Lucia to Florence SMN (~2h05-2h30, book ahead ~£20-30). Lunch: a proper Florentine lampredotto or trattoria plate (~£12). Afternoon: climb Piazzale Michelangelo for the classic skyline, then a short local bus or train out to a Tuscan agriturismo near Empoli/Siena for the night — the self-launched answer to the tour's countryside resort. Book a farm-stay dinner with the owners (~£20-25).
🚌Italo/Frecciarossa Venice–Florence (~£25) + regional train/bus to the countryside (~£5)
🛏Agriturismo or countryside B&B in the Florentine Chianti hills (~£30-40)
- →Piazzale Michelangelo & Duomo exterior walk
- →Florentine street lunch (~£12)
- →Farm-stay dinner in the Tuscan hills (~£22)
Tuscany to Pisa to the Swiss Alps
Interlaken / Lauterbrunnen area, Switzerland
Early regional train from Empoli/Firenze to Pisa Centrale (~1h, ~£8), walk 20 minutes to the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli (climbing the tower is ~£18 and needs an advance slot). Then Pisa to Milan (~3h, ~£20) and Milan to Spiez/Interlaken Ost (~2h30, ~£30 with a Supersaver ticket booked early). Arrive in the Alps in the evening — Switzerland is the budget danger zone, so use a hostel dorm or a valley guesthouse in Lauterbrunnen.
🚌Pisa–Milan (~£20) + Milan–Interlaken (~£30, Supersaver)
🛏Hostel dorm or valley guesthouse in Lauterbrunnen / Interlaken (~£35-45)
- →Piazza dei Miracoli & Leaning Tower exterior
- →Optional tower climb (~£18)
- →Alpine valley evening walk
Swiss Alps: Jungfraujoch or the cheaper valley alternative
Lauterbrunnen / Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
The tour's headline optional is Jungfraujoch — do it yourself: buy the Jungfrau Railways ticket online in advance (roughly £170-200 return from Lauterbrunnen with a Eurail/Swiss Travel Pass discount, still eye-wateringly expensive). Budget alternative: the Schilthorn or, far cheaper, the Männlichen or First gondolas (~£30-40) with snow and 360-degree views. Even cheaper: hike the Lauterbrunnen valley floor to Trümmelbach Falls (~£12). Eat supermarket picnics — a Swiss restaurant lunch is £20+.
🚌Local trains and cable cars (Swiss Travel Pass or half-fare card recommended, ~£25-40/day)
🛏Same Lauterbrunnen / Interlaken guesthouse
- →Jungfraujoch 'Top of Europe' self-booked (~£185) OR
- →Männlichen/First gondola & ridge walk (~£35)
- →Trümmelbach Falls (~£12)
Swiss Alps to Paris
Paris, France
Long travel day: Interlaken Ost to Basel (~2h, ~£25) then TGV Lyria Basel to Paris Gare de Lyon (~3h10, ~£35-50 booked 1-2 months ahead). Evening: self-guided driving-tour substitute — a metro wander from Trocadéro for the Eiffel Tower sparkle at dusk (free), up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, then dinner in Belleville or a bouillon for ~£15.
🚌Interlaken–Basel (~£25) + TGV Lyria Basel–Paris (~£40, book early)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget hotel in the 10th/11th/18th arrondissements (~£35-45)
- →Trocadéro Eiffel Tower viewpoint (free)
- →Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées walk
- →Belleville budget dinner (~£15)
Paris: Montmartre, Seine and macarons
Paris, France
Free morning walking Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur (free entry to the basilica), then a self-guided Latin Quarter wander. Afternoon: one-hour Seine river cruise booked via GetYourGuide or Vedettes du Pont Neuf (~£14-17), and a macaron stop at Pierre Hermé or Ladurée (~£8) as the tour's macaron/Perfume Museum substitute — the Fragonard Perfume Museum near Opéra is free. Optional evening cabaret: Moulin Rouge or Paradis Latin booked direct from ~£85 (much more than the tour's add-on, so skip if budget matters).
🚌Metro carnet or Navigo Easy day pass (~£8)
🛏Same Paris hostel / budget hotel
- →Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur self-walk (free)
- →Seine river cruise (~£15)
- →Free Fragonard perfume museum
- →Optional cabaret from ~£85
Paris to Ghent to Amsterdam
Ghent, Belgium / Amsterdam, Netherlands
Early Eurostar or TGV Paris Nord to Brussels (~1h20, ~£35-50 booked ahead), then a 30-minute Belgian train to Ghent (~£7) for a half-day: Graslei harbour, Gravensteen castle exterior, St. Bavo's Cathedral. Then Ghent to Antwerp and the Intercity Direct or FlixBus on to Amsterdam (~3h, ~£20-25). Loop closed — you end where you started, exactly like the original tour.
🚌Eurostar/TGV Paris–Brussels (~£40) + Brussels–Ghent (~£7) + Ghent–Amsterdam (~£22)
🛏Not included — night in Amsterdam or onward flight
- →Ghent Graslei & Gravensteen exterior walk
- →Belgian waffle and Trappist stop (~£10)
Self-launched vs. Expat Explore
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Expat Explore | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,485 | £2,230 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £745 per person (33%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Expat Explore-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,485
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Europe Jewel: The Self-Launched 14-Day Grand Tour cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,485 per person for 14 days in Western & Central Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium). 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?+
Yes — Expat Explore charges around £2,230 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,485 — a saving of roughly £745 (33%) per person.
How long is the Western & Central Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium) trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Western & Central Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium).
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, budget trip through Western & Central Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium), 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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