The Classic Europe Christmas & New Year tour from Expat Explore Travel runs 14 days and suits travellers who want the continent's headline cities at the most atmospheric time of year, with Christmas markets, New Year celebrations and a fixed itinerary already arranged. The from-price of $3,655 per person covers accommodation, meals, transport and a guide. It is a land price, so you add your own international flights, and it also excludes travel insurance, optional excursions and any extra services the operator sells separately. With a 5 rating across 17 reviews, it is the seasonal variant of the Classic Europe itinerary, so compare it against the year-round version before booking.
What The Itinerary Actually Covers
This departure runs London to London, a loop rather than a one-way sprint, and over 14 days it threads eight countries. That shape suits a first trip to Europe: the headline stops packaged into a single booking.
The pace is brisk. Long stretches of coach transit sit between stops, and some stops are short, an evening or a morning rather than a full day. That is the trade this route makes, and the festive departure does not soften it.
Real time goes to the marquee cities and the seasonal moments around Christmas and New Year. Smaller places along the way get a pass-through. Travellers after a broad sweep with the logistics handled will be content; anyone chasing slow, unhurried stays in one or two cities should look elsewhere.
What Is Included, And What Is Not
Accommodation, transport for the full route, the services of a guide, and meals: those are the inclusions the listing names, and they form the practical backbone of the trip. Nothing beyond them is itemised on the page.
Pricing is per person. The from-price of $3,655 reflects the lowest advertised departure, and the package sells land only unless the listing states otherwise. Read the fare as a starting point rather than a fixed figure.
Not listed as included: international flights to the start point and home again, travel insurance, visas, optional excursions, tips, and drinks. Insurance matters here, since Expat Explore requires proof of adequate cover before day one and can refuse embarkation without it. Budget separately and confirm anything unclear with the operator before booking.
Who This Package Suits
This departure suits travellers who want the Classic Europe route timed around the holidays: 14 days, 8 countries, from $3,655 per person. The listing states no group cap, so expect a standard coach-tour crowd rather than a small circle. It fits people who are happy trading quiet downtime for festive city stops and a fixed itinerary.
Anyone hoping for a slower or cheaper run should look elsewhere. Europe Escape covers similar ground in 12 days from $2,715 per person, and the 14-day Taste of Europe tour starts at $2,238.12. Travellers who want a small group and a dedicated leader, rather than a big-group holiday departure, will find better matches among the semi-private Balkan options.
Questions To Settle Before Booking
What does this package cost per person?
The package is listed from $3,655 per person. That figure is the lowest advertised departure, quoted per person, and it is land only unless the listing states otherwise. Festive departures often price above the year-round from-rate for the same route, so treat this as the floor and check the live booking page for the departure you actually want.
How many countries does it visit?
Eight: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Be clear about what that number means. Some countries are overnight stops with time to explore, while others may amount to a border crossed or a scenic transit on the way to somewhere else. The listing's country count is a route fact, not a promise of a night in each. Check the day-by-day itinerary before assuming you will sleep in all eight.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes, and it is contractual. Expat Explore Travel's booking conditions state that adequate travel insurance is a condition of booking, and that you must provide proof of cover before the tour starts. Without it, you will not be permitted to embark on day one. Note this is an operator requirement, not a legal Schengen entry condition, though insurance remains sensible regardless.
Do I need ETIAS for this trip?
ETIAS is not in operation, and no start date has been published beyond the last quarter of 2026, so there is nothing to apply for yet. The Europe Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, but that registers you at the border rather than requiring advance paperwork. At 14 days, this trip sits comfortably inside the Schengen 90/180 allowance. One country on the route, the United Kingdom, is outside Schengen, so it has its own entry rules.
