Europe tour package or plan it yourself? 10 days compared
By Ganesh ·
A 10-day Europe package from India costs about ₹1.8–3 lakh per person; planning the same Paris–Switzerland–Italy route yourself costs about ₹1.6–2.6 lakh. Cost table, comparison and a 10-day plan by train.
The short answer: a 10-day Europe tour package from India covering Paris, Switzerland and Italy typically costs about ₹1,80,000–₹3,00,000 per person, including flights, hotels, a coach and most sightseeing. Planning the same route yourself usually comes to roughly ₹1,60,000–₹2,60,000 per person. The saving is real but smaller than on short-haul trips; the bigger difference is pace. Packages cover more countries in less time; a DIY trip lets you stay longer in fewer places and travel by train.
All prices are approximate, per person, for two people sharing, mid-range hotels, travelling outside the Christmas peak. Check the official pages for current fees.
What a typical Europe package includes
- Return flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru or another metro.
- Visa assistance (document checklist, appointment booking; the visa fee itself may or may not be included).
- Hotels, often outside city centres, with breakfast; many Indian tour groups also include Indian dinners.
- A coach with a tour manager, and entry to headline sights: Eiffel Tower, a Seine cruise, Mt Titlis or Jungfraujoch, a Venice gondola or Vatican visit.
- A fast pace: 6–8 countries in 10–12 days is common, which means early starts and long coach days.
What it costs to do it yourself
| Item | Approximate cost per person |
|---|---|
| Return flights (into Paris, out of Rome or Milan) | ₹50,000–₹90,000 |
| Schengen visa fee + service charges | About ₹9,000–₹12,000 (check the embassy or VFS page for the current fee) |
| Travel insurance (required for the visa) | ₹1,500–₹4,000 |
| Hotels, 9 nights (shared room) | ₹35,000–₹70,000 |
| Trains: Paris → Switzerland → Italy | ₹10,000–₹25,000 if booked early |
| Swiss travel (pass or half-fare card) and one mountain excursion | ₹20,000–₹40,000 |
| Sightseeing tickets | ₹10,000–₹20,000 |
| Food and local transport | ₹20,000–₹35,000 |
| Total | about ₹1,60,000–₹2,60,000 |
Package vs DIY side by side
| Group tour package | DIY by train | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, 10 days | ₹1,80,000–₹3,00,000 | ₹1,60,000–₹2,60,000 |
| Countries covered | Often 6–8 | Usually 3, done slowly |
| Visa help | Included | You file it yourself (it isn't hard) |
| Food | Indian meals often included | Your choice; Indian restaurants exist in every big city |
| Flexibility | Fixed schedule | Change plans any day |
| Best for | Parents, first-timers, big family groups | Couples, friends, repeat travellers |
Who should pick which
- Pick a package if you're travelling with elderly parents, want Indian food every evening, or would worry about visas and trains.
- Go DIY if you want to spend two nights in each place, see Paris on foot rather than from a coach, and take scenic Swiss trains at your own pace.
- Middle path: book flights and hotels yourself, then add day tours (a Swiss mountain trip, a Tuscany day) where a guide helps.
A sample 10-day DIY plan
- Day 1: Arrive in Paris. Evening walk along the Seine.
- Day 2: Louvre in the morning, Eiffel Tower at sunset.
- Day 3: Montmartre, or a day trip to Versailles.
- Day 4: Train to Switzerland (Zurich or Basel), then on to Lucerne or Interlaken.
- Day 5: A mountain day: Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn or Mt Titlis.
- Day 6: Lake cruise and a slower day around Lucerne or the Lauterbrunnen valley.
- Day 7: Scenic train into Italy (via the Gotthard or Simplon routes) to Milan, then Venice.
- Day 8: Venice, then a fast train to Florence.
- Day 9: Florence, or a day out to Pisa.
- Day 10: Fast train to Rome; fly home that night or add two nights in Rome.
Tips
- Apply for the Schengen visa to the country where you'll spend the most nights; if nights are equal, apply to the country you enter first.
- Book TGV and Italian fast trains 4–8 weeks ahead; prices rise closer to the date.
- Compare a Swiss Travel Pass with the Half Fare Card for your exact plan before buying either.
- May–June and September are the sweet spots: long days, fewer crowds than July–August.
- Keep a printed copy of hotel bookings, insurance and your return ticket for immigration.
FAQ
Is a Europe tour package cheaper than DIY?
Not usually, but the gap is small because packages buy hotels and coaches in bulk. DIY wins when you travel off-peak, book trains early and stay in fewer places.
How many countries can I see in 10 days?
Comfortably three. Packages fit in more by spending much of each day on a coach.
Can I apply for the Schengen visa myself?
Yes. You need a filled form, photos, bank statements, an ITR or salary slips, flight and hotel bookings and travel insurance, then an appointment at the visa centre for biometrics.
Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?
It pays off if you take several long train or boat rides; for one or two mountain trips, the Half Fare Card is often cheaper.
You can build this route on Sancharees and share it with everyone coming along.
Photo: Canal Grande Chiesa della Salute e Dogana dal ponte dell Accademia by Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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