NEW ITINERARY!
Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France!
July 25* to Aug 7
$2,999 + air, per person based on double-occupancy. $400 deposit per person necessary to reserve your spot!
Airfare not included.
Optional Single Supplement: $800
*It’s necessary to arrive in Frankfurt, Germany, by the evening of July 24
14 Days and Nights. Contact us for availability.
Price Includes: Hotels in the heart of the places you came to see; all in-Europe transportation (large and comfortable private bus with professional driver); admission to all sights visited by the group (that’s pretty much all of them!); breakfasts and select group lunches/dinners; two travel guides who’ve done the planning, reserving, and organizing, and who will lead the group, provide walking tours, take photos, lend advice, manage the schedule, check-in at hotels, and pay the bills.
If you’ve always wanted to experience some of the BEST of EUROPE, but just weren’t sure where to start, how to go about it, or what to see – this is the tour for you! These locations and activities have been specifically chosen for their stunning beauty, historical significance, and ability to delight!
Below is a short summary of highlighted places and activities. Not all sights or activities are listed – that would just be too long to describe! All planned activities are subject to change.
Day 0 (July 24)
Arrival in Germany – Frankfurt
We’ll all need to be in Frankfurt by July 24. On that night we have reservations at a hotel where we’ll meet and prepare to begin our adventure first thing in the morning! To chase away the jetlag, explore the nearby Old Town with its classic German architecture, historic church, and plazas with open-air markets. Sleep in Frankfurt, one night.
Day 1 (July 25)
Rothenburg ob der Tauber – A Medieval Time Machine
After meeting our fellow travelers and boarding our private bus, we’ll head for the Romantic Road of Germany’s Franconian heartland. Attractions and Activities: Stay within the walls of the Medieval marvel of Rothenburg ob der Tauber! This is one of Europe’s greatest preserved medieval cities. Completely surrounded by ramparts, this is storybook Germany at its best! Sleep in Rothenburg, Germany, 1 night.
Day 2 (July 26)
Munich – Capital of Bavaria
Attractions and Activities: Munich, the beautiful Bavarian capital, always offers the quintessential German experience. We’ll enjoy lunch together at the famous Hofbrauhaus and explore the heart of the city while learning of its long and fascinating history. The evening is yours to enjoy as you please, so grab a pretzel and join in the oom-pah fun! Sleep in Munich, Germany, 1 night.
Days 3, 4, 5 (July 27, 28, 29)
The Heights of Bavaria and Austria
Attractions and Activities: We’ll head through the heart of Bavaria and high into its Alpine peaks in Berchtesgaden! Here we’ll visit the famous Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s showpiece teahouse built on a pinnacle overlooking the Berghof, a Nazi stronghold forged in the mountains. Nearby, we’ll cruise the crystal-clear waters of the Koenigsee lake, surrounded by towering rocky slopes. Austria beckons from just over the border, where we’ll enjoy Salzburg – the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music . We’ll also venture further into the Salzkammergut region, famed for bucolic mountain scenery, shimmering lakes, and sleepy villages. Sleep in Berchtesgaden, Germany, 3 nights.
Day 6 (July 30)
The King’s Castle
Attractions and Activities: Enjoy the view as we travel the winding roads of Bavaria, passing verdent fields, rolling hills, primevale forests, and medieval burgs. Our destination is the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, perched on a forested mountainside and gleaming like a fairytale! This romantic citadel has inspired generations of visitors seeking to capture the medieval fantasy of their dreams (including Walt Disney, who used it as a model for Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland). Sleep in Füssen, Germany, 1 night.
Days 7, 8, 9 (July 31, Aug 1, 2)
Majestic Switzerland
Attractions and Activities: From Germany we’ll climb further into the Alps in search of our next destination, the inspiring “Valley of the Waterfalls”. Soaking in the amazing Swiss landscape of your dreams, you’ll gaze skyward at impossibly beautiful mountain peaks covered in a snowy glaze, slowly melting into streams that cascade down velvety green slopes and punctuated in cascading waterfalls! Hiking, gondola rides, relaxing, and amazing scenery are all on tap! On August 1, it’ll be Swiss Day and we’ll join the national celebration by watching fireworks from the private balcony of our hotel. Sleep in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, 3 nights.
Days 10, 11 (Aug 3, 4)
The Fairytale Land of Alsace, France
Attractions and Activities: Descend from the mountains with a stop in the Swiss capital of Bern, then into the rolling hills and sprawling vineyards of Eastern France. We’ll explore traditional villages with pastel half-timbered buildings, narrow and crooked cobbled lanes and burbling canals and streams, watched over by brooding castle ruins. An optional excursion will take us to neighboring Strasbourg, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and home to a soaring medieval cathedral. This is a region where French and German cultures combine to create a place all its own. Sleep in Colmar, France, 2 nights.
Day 12 (Aug 5)
Echoes of WWI and the Historic Captial of Lorraine
Attractions and Activities: This border region between France and Germany has seen centuries of conflict and we’ll explore an area scarred by the violence of what was originally called “The Great War.” We know it as WWI, and we’ll have the opportunity to climb through real-life trenches and bunkers carved into rocky hills, embeded into this long contested land. Next, we’ll experience the elegant city of Nancy and it’s 18th century city square, surrounded by Baroque and Classical architecture, wrought-iron gates, and fountains. As dusk falls, a laser projection show will bring the buildings to life with lights, music, and sound effects, creating an unforgettable summertime memory. Sleep in Kaysersberg-Vignoble, France, 1 night.
Day 13 (Aug 6)
20th Century Wars and Underground Fortifications
Before returning to Germany, we’ll have a last adventure together, this time undergound as we visit a subteranean fort in the “Maginot Line” – a remarkable feat of engineering intended to prevent a second world war. Following the horrifying destruction suffered by France in WWI, the French military hoped they could deter a future German invasion with overwhelming preconstructed fortifications. With miles of undergound tunnels, stored armaments, troops, artillery pieces, living space, kitchens and even medical facilities, France hardened its border with Germany. Sadly, it was better suited for the wars of the past and not the more agile tactics and technologies employed by the German Blitzkrieg that started WWII. German forces did avoid these undergound defenses and instead invaded France with swift moving armor and soldiers pouring through the forests and hills of Luxembourg and Belgium. Still, these fortresses stand as a fascinating testament to the destructive wars of the 20th century and make for an intersting visit. Sleep in Frankfurt, Germany, 1 night.
Day 14 (Aug 7)
Frankfurt
After breakfast, our tour concludes. The nearby airport is one of Europe’s busiest and offers many flights home. Your guides can assist with transportation connections (many choose to team up with fellow travelers and share a van ride to the airport). For those desiring to extend their stay in Europe, Frankfurt can connect you to just about any destination you desire via train, rental car, or air.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US! WE’D LOVE TO SHARE THIS ADVENTURE WITH YOU!
$2,999 + air, per person based on double-occupancy ($400 deposit per person necessary to reserve your spot)!