Travel Dates: May 2, May 16, June 6, June 27, July 25, August 23, September 19 & October 10, 2009.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Saturday: USA - Frankfurt. Depart from the United States on a regular scheduled flight to Frankfurt.
Day 2, Sunday: Frankfurt - Eisenach - Weimar
Your tour departs from Frankfurt Airport and will take you to Eisenach, to visit one of the most important structures of German History, the Wartburg Castle. While inside, stop at the room where Luther lived and worked for many years and eventually spent his last years in seclusion. Continue to Weimar, one of Germany´s greatest cultural treasures. Poets such as Schiller and Goethe, musicians Liszt and Strauss, and writers Nietzsche and Gropius all lived and worked. This evening, enjoy your welcome dinner. Overnight stay at Hotel Leonardo or similar. Includes: (D).
Day 3, Monday: Weimar - Wittenberg - Potsdam
After breakfast, you head to Luther’s Wittenberg, where the reformation started when he pinned his 95 thesis to the portal of the church. Continue on to Potsdam, and visit Sanssouci Palace, the former summer residence of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Overnight stay at the Tryp Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 4, Tuesday: Potsdam - Berlin
Today you depart for Berlin. Upon your arrival, tour the highlights of Germany´s most important and exciting city. Visit Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag, and the Berliner Dom (the Protestant Cathedral). After check-in at your hotel, the afternoon is free to enjoy the numerous well-known museums or visit Berlin‘s various department stores, like the KaDeWe. You may choose to participate in an optional boat trip which allows you to view some of Berlin‘s important sights from the River Spree. Overnight stay at Hotel Express by Holiday Inn Berlin City Centre or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 5, Wednesday: Berlin - Dresden - Berlin
Following breakfast, you will travel to Dresden for a day trip. Enjoy one of the loveliest cities of central Europe, known as “Florence on the Elbe”. Visit some of its well-known landmarks, including the beautifully restored Frauenkirche, the Semper Opera House, Green Vault, the Baroque Zwinger Palace and many more. Late this afternoon, you return to Berlin. Includes: (B).
Day 6, Thursday: Berlin - Hamburg
In the morning, you head north to Hamburg, where a tour of this impressive city will begin. The main sites of Hamburg including the Michel, Reeperbahn, Alster and others will be included before you enjoy a harbor cruise of Germany’s largest seaport. This evening, you can choose to enjoy a visit to the amusement quarter, in Hamburg’s Reeperbahn. Overnight stay at Hotel Panorama-Hamburg-Billstedt. Includes: (B).
Day 7, Friday: Hamburg - Bremen - Hamelin
After breakfast, you depart for Bremen, the Free Hanseatic City known for its tradition of trade and seafaring. Visit the picturesque market place with the statue of “Roland“, the Old Town, City Hall and the Cathedral. The tour continues along the Fairy-Tale Road, and will bring you to Hamelin, city of the Pied Piper. Tonight, enjoy dinner with the group. Overnight stay at the Hotel Mercure or similar. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 8, Saturday: Hamelin - Frankfurt
This morning, enjoy the delightful old quarter of the historical town of Hamelin on the River Weser. Afterwards, we continue south along the Fairy-Tale Road and will make stops along the way depending on the weather and local traffic. Your afternoon arrival in Frankfurt features a tour showcasing this traditional, yet modern city. Dinner will be on your own this evening. Overnight stay at Express by Holiday Inn or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 9, Sunday: Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Trier
After breakfast depart for the old university town of Heidelberg, located in the heart of the Neckar Valley. Visit the inner courtyard of the famous castle, and its wine cellar. Enjoy lunch in the famous 16th century Zum Ritter St. Georg Restaurant, served with a glass of regional wine. In the afternoon drive to Trier, Germany’s oldest city located on the River Moselle, which became a preferred residence for several Roman Emperors. Overnight stay at the Hotel Golden Tulip or similar. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 10, Monday: Trier - Cologne
In the morning, there is a walking tour of Trier. A stop will be made at the Porta Nigra, a beautifully preserved fortified gate, dating back to 180 AD. The UNESCO World Heritage Organization has classified the city of Trier as a treasure, because of its architectural monuments, churches, and Roman Ruins. Trier is also Germany’s oldest wine growing center, where some of the most celebrated wine products and vineyards of the region are located. Early this afternoon, travel along the scenic Moselle, stopping in one of its wine villages for a tasting. This evening you arrive in Cologne, where you can explore some local breweries, where “Kölsch” (light beer served in small glasses) can be sampled. Overnight stay at the Maritim Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 11, Tuesday: Cologne
Following breakfast, today’s first tour stop will be at the Cathedral of Cologne, one of the largest Gothic churches in Europe. The city tour will continue, and will take you through small old-town alleys and splendid avenues to the Rhine River with its bridges and parks. For sweet-lovers, a trip to the Chocolate Museum is planned, where you will learn all about chocolate and visit the museum‘s large fountain of chocolate. This afternoon is at your leisure to explore Cologne on your own. Includes: (B).
Day 12, Wednesday: Cologne - Koblenz - Ruedesheim
After breakfast you leave for Koblenz, where the Moselle River meets the Rhine. Early this afternoon, take a Rhine cruise from St. Goar to Ruedesheim, passing romantic castles and the Loreley Rock. Following your arrival in Ruedesheim, there will be a regional wine tasting. This evening, a farewell dinner will be hosted at the Restaurant Ruedesheimer Schloss. Overnight stay at the Hotel Traube Aumueller or similar. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 13, Thursday: Ruedesheim - Mainz - Frankfurt
After breakfast you will drive to another famous city along the Rhine - Mainz, and visit Old Town, the Cathedral and the Museum of Johannes Gutenberg, the man who invented the printing press. Your tour concludes in Frankfurt this afternoon. Overnight stay at the Intercity Hotel or similar. Includes: (B).
Day 14, Friday: Frankfurt. Following breakfast and hotel check-out, transfer on your own* to the airport for a regular scheduled flight back to the United States. Includes: (B).
Note: We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance, which we offer through Travel Guard. A pre-existing medical condition exclusion is waived if insurance is purchased within 24 hours of initial tour deposit.
Air taxes, fuel surcharge and any other charges and taxes related to the airline ticket are Not included and will be charged at the time of ticketing. Optional airport transfers available at an additional cost. Tour Prices Start at $3,330* - $3,860* per person, double occupancy.
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Round-Trip Air, New York to Frankfurt (other gateways available at an additional cost)
- 12 nights accommodation in first class and superior tourist class hotels
- Full buffet-breakfast daily
- One Lunch
- Three Dinners
- Transportation by air-conditioned Motorcoach
- Professional English Speaking guide throughout the tour
- City tours as detailed in the itinerary, with local guides
- Hamburg Harbor Cruise & Rhine River Cruise
- Entrance Fees to Wartburg Castle, Sanssouci Palace, the Green Vault, Heidelberg Castle, Chocolate Museum and Gutenberg Museum
- Wine tastings in Moselle and the Rhine Valleys
- Comprehensive information folder
- Taxes and service charges
- Baggage Handling (one piece per person).
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Germany
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
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