It’s been over a year since we’ve launched European group tours (except for river cruises). The main reason is that I don’t understand it – the world of European group tours is too complex for me to decipher. For instance, are there shopping stops in the itinerary? Are there extra fees? Are the attractions viewed from afar or can you go inside? How long do we stay at key attractions? Are the suppliers direct or not? It’s been confusing enough to make me pull my hair out, so I decided not to promote these tours.
Today’s edition finally features a European group tour!
I chose this product primarily for the following reasons:
1) Simplicity! A flat price of 4899 RMB allows you to join the tour upon arrival, with eight different routes to choose from. A Chinese-speaking tour guide guarantees weekly departures, even if it’s just one person. You can choose from Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Denmark), Eastern Europe (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Switzerland), Western Europe (France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg), the Balkan Peninsula (Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia), France-Italy-Switzerland (France, Italy, Switzerland), Western Iberia (Spain, Portugal), in-depth France (France, Spain, Andorra), or in-depth England.
2) Reliable suppliers.
The supplier behind this tour is GoEuGo, one of the largest Chinese travel agencies in Europe, which mainly operates these eight routes. The trips have no mandatory shopping stops and are conducted entirely in Chinese.
Here’s an overview of GoEuGo’s itinerary.
GoEuGo operates “circular tours,” meaning the same itinerary repeats continuously. Each route spans seven days with fixed daily activities that cycle weekly. By perfecting their operations, they have made it almost impossible for others to compete.
GoEuGo’s eight routes
3) Stockable! Plus, the validity lasts until the end of 2024.
If you don’t book, you can get a refund, and even after the expiry date, you will still receive an automatic refund. You can easily stock up and wait for cheap flights to Europe. This year, European transportation capacity has started to recover slowly, so I believe the chances of snagging a cheap airfare are quite high.
Next, I will detail the product:
A seven-day, six-night group tour of Europe with universal exchanges (eight routes, with access to 22 countries and 75 cities) for 4899 RMB.
Valid until December 31, 2024, with no price surges on holidays, guaranteed departures, and no forced shopping (almost no store visits).
To purchase, use the discount code: 47¥ MF1643 b10AWLXp5v2¥ https://m.tb.cn/h.5yBmfMz/
This is sold in the Fliggy self-operated store, so you can use a credit line to stock up; there’s no need to pay back immediately, just use the credit.
I will introduce these eight routes in detail.
Blue Line: Eastern Europe (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Liechtenstein), starting and ending in Frankfurt, with departures every Monday.
I love Eastern Europe – Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna… they are all historic cities rich with stories that need to be appropriately introduced through a tour.
Here’s the daily itinerary:
Each day typically features about 10 hours of scheduled activities, departing at 8 AM and concluding by 6 PM.
Day 1 (Every Monday): Frankfurt to Prague
This includes a visit to the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, a city that I have visited and particularly love. Prague is fantastic, recognized as a World Heritage site. Highlights include the 14th-century Charles Bridge, the 15th-century astronomical clock, and the 17th-century Church of Our Lady before Týn… Prague is definitely one of my favorite cities in Europe.
Day 2 (Every Tuesday): Prague to Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, a beautiful city situated by the Danube River. Other European capitals tend to be bustling, while Bratislava offers a quaint small-town tranquility. The architecture is beautiful and uncrowded; though it lacks a globally renowned site like Prague’s square, the old town itself is worth exploring.
Day 3 (Every Wednesday): Bratislava to Budapest
Budapest, a city that rivals Prague in its fairy-tale atmosphere, competes with Rome for its rich historical heritage and exudes unique romantic charm and allure. The Danube River divides the city into Buda and Pest. Pest is lively and bustling, serving as the administrative, cultural, and commercial hub. On the other hand, Buda is peaceful and sacred, home to the ancient Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Matthias Church, all imbued with a sense of grandeur.
Day 4 (Every Thursday): Budapest to Vienna
The movie “Before Sunrise” made me fall in love with Vienna, and I recommend everyone to watch it. The film tells an incredibly simple love story that spans a day—from dawn to midnight—between two strangers who share a night in Vienna, embodying a romantic atmosphere throughout the city. The cinematography beautifully captures the essence of Vienna.
Vienna itself is essentially a giant “architectural museum,” where Baroque, Renaissance, and Gothic styles blend harmoniously. UNESCO added Vienna’s historical center to its World Heritage list for its exemplary display of the three critical cultural and political developments in European history: the medieval period, the Baroque era, and the prosperous times.
Day 5 (Every Friday): Vienna to Moon Lake to Munich
In the morning, travel to the picturesque Alps, passing by Moon Lake, a beautiful lake in an Alpine town.
In the evening, you will arrive in Munich, Germany’s third-largest city, after Berlin and Hamburg, and one of Europe’s most vibrant modern cities.
Day 6 (Every Saturday): Munich to Vaduz to Mount Titlis to Lucerne to Zurich
Vaduz is the capital of Liechtenstein, one of the world’s smallest countries. Mount Titlis and Lucerne are scenic gems, while Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and a significant banking and financial center in Europe. It will be a relatively fast-paced day, but the itinerary is quite interesting.
Day 7 (Every Sunday): Zurich to Rhine Falls to Lake Titisee to Frankfurt
Start your morning enjoying Zurich, spend the day taking in the sights at Rhine Falls and Lake Titisee, and return to Frankfurt in the evening. Frankfurt is one of Europe’s major airports, with many direct flights available. Additionally, the red Western Europe line (Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg) also departs from Frankfurt, allowing you to continue your adventures.
This is a land-based group tour, with arrangements for a Chinese-speaking tour guide and transportation throughout, with no forced shopping. However, it’s important to note that entrance fees, lunch, and dinner are not included. Tour members will need to purchase their own tickets for attractions, and generally, the guide will drop everyone at a tourist area and indicate where to have meals and when to regroup.
Throughout the tour, participants will stay in three-star hotels, with two nights upgraded to four stars (excluding the purple UK line). In Europe, three-star and four-star accommodations are typically comparable; the primary hotels used by the supplier are NH (part of Minor), as well as Ibis, Mercure, and Courtyard, with some local brands included. Many European hotels are older and may lack air conditioning due to environmental concerns, hotel age, etc., especially since Europe has a mild climate.
It’s advisable for travelers to manage their expectations regarding hotels, as European infrastructure doesn’t quite match that of our country. Hotels of the same star rating and brand in Europe often don’t meet our standards. Consider three-star European hotels as just a place to spend the night (of course, safety is assured).
Moreover, breakfast at European hotels is typically basic—usually just bread, tea, juice, and coffee. Rooms often do not provide essentials like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and slippers. Most tap water in European hotels is potable (except in Italy), but generally, there may not be hot water available; those wanting hot water should bring a kettle.
For safety and efficiency, most group tour hotels are located outside city centers, and it’s essential to clarify this in advance. Again, European infrastructure is not on par with ours; hotels of the same star rating and brand simply don’t compare. Consider three-star European hotels merely as nighttime accommodations (they are safe, though).
Certain dates within some routes may have longer durations, but don’t worry as driving time is regulated. European law stipulates that drivers cannot drive over 9-10 hours a day, must have at least 12 hours of rest, and must take a 20-minute break every two hours. Without service area breaks, they must rest for 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving.
Also, even for land-based tours, they may be more suitable for older travelers. If young people are accustomed to independent travel, be cautious when choosing this itinerary. Travelers who tend to sleep in may find this schedule unsuited since the daily meet-up is at 8 AM. Group tours require punctuality, as waiting for latecomers is not advisable. These tours are carefully planned, with schedules packed. Before signing up, consider whether you’re suited for such a structured travel style.
There is no forced shopping, but there will be optional (not mandatory) expenses, and each person will need to provide a small tip (10 euros/pounds) for the guide daily. Initially, I wanted to mention that there would be no shopping store visits, but I later noticed that some itineraries do include stops at a French perfume factory, a leather store in Florence, and a diamond factory in Amsterdam (these are also considered part of the itinerary). However, such tours rarely focus on shopping.
Here’s a list of optional activities on the eastern European route. We’ve compared prices and generally found them to be quite reasonable.
I tend to approach this cautiously. Other platforms selling GoEuGo’s product usually indicate no shopping stops. While it is indeed true that there are typically no scheduled shopping visits, some itineraries may still have shop stops, prompting me to take a conservative stance.
Additionally, there are several other routes:
The green line is the classic route.
France, Switzerland, and Italy 7-day, 6-night tour (deep exploration of Southern France + Northern Italy, ideal for summer), departing from Paris every Saturday.
This classic line includes stops at Genoa, Monaco, Cannes, and Nice, and has garnered considerable interest from travelers. For a specific itinerary, you can look directly on the product page.
The brown line is one I favor, encompassing the Balkan Peninsula.
Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia 7-day, 6-night tour (a must for Game of Thrones fans, referred to as the European garden for the elite, recommended year-round), with departures from Budapest every Thursday.
Dubrovnik is known as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, and Sarajevo is one of the top ten travel cities as per Lonely Planet, definitely worth visiting.
The red line is also a classic itinerary.
Western Europe: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Luxembourg 7-day, 6-night tour, departing from Frankfurt every Monday.
It is recommended to visit in April or May during the tulip blooming season. This route also includes a visit to the champagne-producing region of France, Reims. If this is your first time to Europe, the Western Europe itinerary is an excellent choice.
The pink line features the Nordic route.
Denmark, Sweden, Norway Glacier Fjords 7-day, 6-night tour (the best choice for summer fjords, from April to October), starting and ending in Copenhagen, with departures every Sunday.
This route is particularly stunning in summer, and the Norwegian fjords are simply breathtaking.
The yellow line features the Western Iberian route.
Passionate West Iberia 7-day, 6-night tour (ideal from March to June and September to December, as summer can be very hot, offering popular yet unique travel experiences), departing from Madrid every Saturday.
You will visit picturesque cities like Mijas, which rivals Santorini, the birthplace of bullfighting in Ronda, the Game of Thrones filming location in Seville’s Royal Palace, and the westernmost point of mainland Europe at Cape Roca. Most major cities in Spain and Portugal are included. For a deeper exploration of Western Iberia, choose this line.
The purple line covers the British Isles (only in the UK).
British tour of 7 days, 6 nights covering London, Cambridge, York, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Loch Ness (also known as the home of Nessie), Lake Lomond, Manchester, Stratford upon Avon, and Bicester (winter trips go to Bath; summer trips to Loch Ness), departing from London every Saturday.
A must for fans of Harry Potter and Shakespeare, you’ll also get to stamp your passport in Cambridge and Oxford. This route sees some differences between winter and summer itineraries.
The orange line features a more in-depth exploration of France.
France, Spain, Andorra 7-day, 6-night tour (available in July and August), a cultural itinerary featuring art, flowers, and wine, departing from Paris every Thursday.
This route will not be available during the Olympic Games, primarily due to the lack of clarity from current French Olympic security regulations, making it uncertain where one can and cannot go at that time.
Visits include Van Gogh’s artistic town, vineyards in Bordeaux, and the renowned wines and châteaux of the Loire Valley; typically, one wouldn’t visit these locations independently in France.
Details for each route, including itineraries, are extensively outlined on the Fliggy product page. The GoEuGo circular routes have been in operation for many years, developing a well-established format, making them particularly suitable for first-time visitors to Europe. Just meet at the assigned time, and you can leave the rest to them.
These routes can connect with each other. For instance, the orange and green lines both depart from Paris, allowing for seamless transitions; the red and blue lines both start and end in Frankfurt, and can also be combined for further exploration.
Most travelers prefer a mix of group tours along with free time to explore cities like France, Budapest, London, and Madrid, which are all worth a longer visit.
All eight routes are priced at 4899 RMB/person, with the added benefit of long validity, making it very easy to stock up. If you plan to visit Europe this year, especially if it’s your first trip and you’re unsure about the itinerary, this is an excellent option to consider.