European Highlights

heart_plus

tourhub | Expat Explore Travel | European Highlights | EH | Map

location_on

2,928 Views

10 Days From

~~$2560~~

$1835

European Highlights

10 Days Starting and ending in Rome

Visiting: Italy, Venice, Innsbruck, Munich, Bavaria Region, Rhine Valley, hine Valley, Amsterdam, Ghent, Paris, France, Burgundy, Swiss Alps, Switzerland, Lake Como, Tuscany, Pisa, Florence, Rome

Tour operator:

Expat Explore Travel

Tour code:

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

10 - 51

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

10-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

From:

$2560

$1835 (USD) Operator discount: -$725

Tourhub Members Discount - Sign In

-28%

Tour Overview

See and experience world-famous sights on one of our most well-loved tours of Europe! Start your tour in Rome and spend 10 days exploring the highlights of this exciting continent. Explore iconic destinations in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. From the Rhine River and the Swiss Alps to the Eiffel Tower and the Venice canals, this popular tour ticks off multiple bucket-list attractions! Taste local cuisine, marvel at incredible natural beauty and soak up local culture. This is your ticket to an unforgettable, action-packed exploration of Europe!

Highlights

Explore Venice, Amsterdam, Pisa, Florence, Munich and more
Experience a river cruise along the Rhine Valley and on Amsterdam’s canals
Enjoy free days to explore Paris and the Swiss Alps
Visit Burgundy, Ghent and Innsbruck

Itinerary

tourhub | Expat Explore Travel | European Highlights | EH | Route Map

Not what you're looking for?

People that have booked this tour have also searched for the following:

Tours in France Tours in Switzerland Tours in Italy

Expand All

Day 1: Start Of Tour In Rome - Venice

Location: Italy, Venice

Welcome to the Europe Highlights tour! Leave Rome this morning and head to the city of canals and gondolas. Vineyards and orchards flash in front of a majestic mountain backdrop as the coach drives. The diversity of the Italian landscapes will continue to impress. And then...Venice! Arrive and embark on an orientation walk with your tour leader. See the world-famous St. Mark’s Square, Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. The evening is free to explore. Be sure to sample local cuisine at one of the many bars and restaurants! Later, why not take a gondola ride on the iconic canals and admire the sights from the water?

Orientation tour of Venice: Your tour leader will take the group into the heart of this unique floating city for an orientation walking tour. See highlights such as St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Museum, Campanile, Doge’s Palace, Rialto Market and Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

Day 2: Innsbruck - Munich - Bavaria Region

Location: Innsbruck, Munich, Bavaria Region

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Arrivederci, for now Italy! Heading north toward Germany this morning, encounter some of the most beautiful countrysides in central Europe. Admire the breathtaking Brenner Pass as the tour makes its way to Austria. Stop in Innsbruck, famous for its dramatic mountain backdrop. Enjoy an orientation tour and some free time to explore. Arriving in Munich in the afternoon, embark on an orientation tour of the city centre. With much of the city restored after WW2, the modern and ancient history of Munich is fascinating, and the effort to rebuild the German city is gilded with respect. Munich hosts the world’s most famous beer festival - Oktoberfest! Get a taste this evening with dinner and beer in a traditional beer hall. Prost!

Scenic mountain drive through Brenner Pass: Cross spectacular mountain passes and experience some truly amazing mountain vistas.

Visit Innsbruck: Enjoy a comfort stop and orientation tour of this beautiful Austrian city that lies in a valley between high mountains, making for an incredible backdrop.

Munich orientation tour: Your tour leader will take the group on an orientation tour of Munich, the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria. See Karlsplatz and Marienplatz, New Town Hall, Church of our Lady, and (if visiting in winter) the traditional German Christmas markets.

German beer hall: Tonight, visit a traditional German Beer Hall. Sample German beer, along with traditional German cuisine. Prost!

Day 3: Munich - Rhine Valley

Location: Munich, Rhine Valley

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

The German adventure continues, as the tour heads to one of the most picturesque sections of the Rhine River. Arrive in the Rhine Valley and relax onboard a Rhine riverboat as it travels into the heart of this region. This is the most concentrated stretch of castles in all of Europe. It also features vineyards, charming medieval towns and lofty cliffs. Learn more about the castles, many of which are in ruins. Afterwards, visit a local wine merchant for a wine tasting. If the harvest has been good, try eiswein (ice wine), a sweet wine that is produced in very small quantities as it can only be harvested when the temperature drops below freezing!

Rhine River Cruise: Cruise down the Rhine and see the beautiful scenery and the largest concentration of Gothic castles (Sterrenberg, Liebestein, Katz and Fortress Rheinfels) in Europe.

Rhine Valley wine tasting: Visit a local wine merchant in one of Germany’s most famous wine-growing regions, and sample several types of delicious German wine. Popular varieties include Riesling, Spätburgunder and Pinot Noir. The region is also well known for eiswein (ice wine), a very sweet dessert wine made from grapes harvested in the freezing winter months.

Day 4: Rhine Valley - Amsterdam

Location: hine Valley, Amsterdam

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

This morning, say auf wiedersehen to Germany, and continue into the Netherlands. En route to Amsterdam, travel through the beautiful Dutch countryside and enjoy a photo stop at the iconic Riekermolen windmill. Then, indulge in a cheese and clog-making display - and sample some delicious local cheeses! Arrive in Amsterdam in the afternoon and enjoy some free time to explore and soak up the city’s buzzing atmosphere. Later, embark on a twilight canal cruise. Gain an alternative perspective of this eclectic and bohemian city whilst drifting past famous landmarks. Afterwards, look forward to an included dinner at a local restaurant.

See the iconic Riekermolen windmill: No visit to the Netherlands is complete without some fun photos at the iconic Dutch windmills! See the Riekermolen windmill and snap some memorable photos.

Cheese and clogs demonstration: See how these famous shoes are traditionally made by hand and taste some fantastic cheeses. Take this opportunity to shop and stock up on unique Dutch souvenirs.

Cruise along the Amsterdam canals: Sail along Amsterdam’s stunning canals at twilight and see the iconic sights that sit along the waterside - this is a perfect, relaxing introduction to Amsterdam!

Day 5: Amsterdam - Ghent - Paris

Location: Amsterdam, Ghent, Paris

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Today, say vaarwel to the Netherlands and head to the Belgian city of Ghent. This picturesque port city is a cultural hub, and is known for its medieval architecture, which is remarkably well-preserved. See some top sights on an orientation tour and then enjoy free time for lunch. Be sure to try an authentic Belgian waffle! Leaving Ghent behind, the tour makes its way to Paris, the ‘City of Lights’! Embark on a driving tour of the French capital; get your cameras ready for some of the city’s most treasured landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe! After the driving tour, enjoy dinner with the group at a restaurant in the city.

Visit Ghent: The port city of Ghent lies where the Scheldt and Leie rivers meet. This university town is known for its medieval architecture and is a cultural hub. See some top sights on an orientation tour and enjoy free time for lunch.

Driving tour of Paris: Enjoy a driving tour upon arrival - spot the Tuileries Gardens, The River Seine, l'Île de la Cité, the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Lovers Bridge, Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, Pigalle (the Red Light District) and the Moulin Rouge!

Day 6: Paris: Free Day

Location: France, Paris

Meals Included: Breakfast

The wonderful thing about Paris is that there is so much to experience, regardless of the time of day, or season. Enjoy a full free day to explore all this magical city has to offer. Wander its fascinating streets, sample local cuisine (escargot, anyone?) or simply relax in one of the city’s lovely parks. Alternatively, join the Paris Like Locals optional excursion for a guided day full of unique Parisian experiences. These include a macaron tasting, a visit to a famous parfumerie, a cruise along the River Seine and much more! This evening, choose to explore the stunning Montmartre neighbourhood and watch an exciting cabaret show!

Day 7: Paris - Burgundy - Swiss Alps

Location: Paris, Burgundy, Swiss Alps

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Au revoir Paris! Today, get a taste of small-town France with a lunch stop in Burgundy. In the town of Beaune, visit the beautiful Hospices de Beaune or try the region’s famous wine! After free time for lunch, take a scenic drive across the border into Switzerland. Welcome to the Swiss Alps, home for the next two nights! Leaving bustling cities behind, look forward to being completely surrounded by nature’s beauty. Turn in any direction and see snow-capped peaks, clear-blue lakes and perfect hiking trails. Breathe in the fresh air and make the most of the time in this idyllic place. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.

Visit Burgundy: Enjoy a stop in Beaune, a UNESCO World Heritage site and famous wine-producing region. Enjoy some free time to explore this beautiful medieval town centre and the opportunity to try local food and wine.

Scenic Swiss mountain drive: Look forward to spectacular views as the coach drives through mountain passes and alongside lakes, breathtaking mountain vistas and quaint Swiss towns.

Day 8: Swiss Alps: Free Day

Location: Switzerland, Swiss Alps

Meals Included: Breakfast

The Swiss Alps have some of the highest peaks in the world! Surrounded by these peaks and glaciers, take the opportunity to feel on top of the world at Jungfraujoch on this free day! Join this popular optional excursion and take a train or gondola to “the top of Europe” for magnificent mountain vistas. Admire picture-perfect beauty all around, play in the year-round snow and look forward to endless photo opportunities. For those wishing to spend their free day exploring the local sights, wander through the villages and breathe in that crisp, fresh, Alpine air! Why not warm up this evening with a delicious Swiss fondue dinner?

Day 9: Swiss Alps - Lake Como - Tuscany

Location: Swiss Alps, Lake Como, Tuscany

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, leave the Swiss Alps and head back towards Italy, stopping for lunch at the famous Lake Como. An enormous expanse of water fringed by picturesque scattered villages, it's perhaps not surprising that one of the villages, Laglio, is where George Clooney has a luxurious villa. Then, it's onwards to the exquisite Tuscan region - famous for wine, food, art and architecture. Settle in Montecatini Terme and join tonight’s optional excursion to fully experience this gorgeous spa town!

Visit the picturesque Lake Como: Enjoy free time for lunch at Lake Como in Italy, one of the most beautiful and glamorous destinations visited on the tour.

Day 10: Tuscany - Pisa - Florence - Rome

Location: Tuscany, Pisa, Florence, Rome

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, capture iconic shots at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa! The UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower is one of the most popular European landmarks. Then, head to the enchanting city of Florence. Arrive and embark on a walking tour with a local guide. History oozes out of every pore of this artistic and cultural centre which was the birthplace of the Renaissance. Afterwards, enjoy some free time to further explore. Or, join the Taste of Tuscany optional excursion to sample delectable local cuisine with a family-style meal. Later, the tour makes its way back to where this adventure began, because all roads eventually lead to Rome. The tour ends upon arrival. Expat Explore wishes you a safe journey onwards!

See the Leaning Tower of Pisa: See the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Europe’s most famous cultural landmarks. Take some iconic pictures of you ‘holding up’ the tower!

Guided walking tour of Florence: Join an expert local guide on a walking tour and see the main sights, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Della Signoria and the replica statue of David.

What's Included

Accommodation

9 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Transport

Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Meals

9 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners *Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
Experiences

See the sights of Venice on an orientation tour
Enjoy a scenic mountain drive through Brenner Pass
Visit the beautiful Austrian city of Innsbruck
See the restored Munich city centre on an orientation tour
Say “prost!” at an authentic German Beer Hall
Admire the scenery on Rhine River cruise
Taste local wines in the Rhine Valley
See the iconic Riekermolen windmill
Enjoy a traditional cheese and clogs demonstration
Cruise along the Amsterdam canals
Visit Ghent; a medieval Belgian city
See iconic landmarks on a driving tour of Paris
Visit Burgundy; a stunning French winemaking region
Enjoy a scenic mountain drive through the Swiss Alps
Visit the picturesque Lake Como
Get a photo by the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Explore Florence; the birthplace of the Renaissance

What's Not Included

International flights
Travel to the start point and from the endpoint is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.

Travel insurance
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.

All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Click here for more information.

Mode of Transport

Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard

Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)

Accommodation

9 nights in 2, 3 & 4* hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms

Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)

Traveller Comfort - COACH tours

We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.

Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.

Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.

We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.

For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.

With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.

For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.

Check out our Q&As

Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
Children on tour?

Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
What policies are in place for Covid-19?

The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
How long has the tour company been trading?

Since 2005
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!

Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc

Reviews of this Operator

Roger

Wonderful new addition

19-Oct-2022

Great new country and addition by Expat. One of the most interesting and beautiful countries I've ever been. Great food, scenery and lovely people.

Jamie the Kingslayer

Everything I had expected and more

01-Oct-2022

It was my first time traveling to Europe so I was nervous about everything including finding my way around, speaking the languages, and finding lodging. It turned out to be an incredible experience, I couldn't ask for a better your guide. Luke truly is the best in the business and we were so lucky o have him on the last tour of the season. I am definitely going to recommend Expat to my family and friends when they want to travel to Europe. I am going to go as far as finding out when Luke will be the guide and have family/friends specifically book the tour with him.

Randy

Outstanding!

25-Sep-2022

From orientation to farewell dinner Martina was always there to ensure that everyone was happy and enjoying the tour! It was fast paced, especially with the added excursions, but the tour covered the best of Italy and Martina was absolutely the best. She was entertaining and informative. Look forward to another tour with her!!

Emma

Perfect combination of sites, history, culture and food

19-Oct-2022

The highlights of Japan tour with Expat Explore was the ideal way to see the country. It had the perfect mix of big cities, small quaint villages, historical sites and food! The tour was well organised and a good pace to enjoy the various places and activities. We had the opportunity to be immersed in local culture and try the cuisine in a range of dining experiences. The hotels were clean and roomy to rest for days filled with adventures. Japan with Expat should be on your wish list!

CCY

Good experience

07-Oct-2022

Enjoyed the views of different places and learnt about the history of different places in UK/Ireland.

Kendra Olson United States

Classic Europe - 14 Days

03-Apr-2024

Such a great trip and saw so many places, if we did this trip on our own I think we would only get half of what we did done in this time period. It definitely was busy with not much down time but we didn’t pay to go be bored. Beautiful and memorable trip!

Travelling Solo

12 Day Italian Delights

18-Oct-2022

A great tour made even better by our tour leader Marty. She was so knowledgeable and helpful. Made us laugh, showed us amazing sites and always had great recommendations.

Tash

Really nice experience

26-Oct-2022

Loved the small country towns. Very beautiful MARTY AND ALEX THE DRIVER , made the tour experience perfect for me. She is a brilliant guide.

Disappointed

Totally exhausted

05-Oct-2022

I need a holiday to recover from this full-on, insufficient down time, tour. Late hotel arrivals, late city tours, late dinners and excessive walking due to public transport use and then early morning starts. And to top it off, no seat rotation (tour leader advised on day 2 for covid reasons) which made sense on day 2 but not by day 3 or 4 when we had been grouped together at meals, on walking tours, and sharing rooms with people we had just met...merrily spreading our germs between our group anyway! This seating rule however was waived for a special few...those who insisted that they get travel sickness (and must sit in the front seat) and..those who think the rule is not for them and aren't challenged by the tour leader anyway. No seat rotation also meant not getting the opportunity to get to know everyone on the tour on an equal basis.

Dates & Availability

tourhub Discount Available - Sign In

May
2024 Jun
2024 Jul
2024 Aug
2024 Sep
2024 Oct
2024 Nov
2024 Dec
2024 Mar
2025 Apr
2025 May
2025 Jun
2025 Jul
2025 Aug
2025 Sep
2025 Oct
2025 Nov
2025

Instant Booking Available

Sunday - Tuesday

May 05, 2024 - May 14, 2024

~~$2560~~ $2257 (USD)

Operator discount: -$303 (USD)