Germany, Austria & Switzerland

Our adventure starts as we depart from Minneapolis on our scheduled flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon our arrival in Frankfurt, we meet our driver and guide. We make our way to the medieval walled city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. After checking in at our hotel, we visit the St. James Church and see the famous altar created by the renowned woodcarver, Tilman Riemenschneider. The rest of the afternoon is ours to walk along the city wall, admire the half timbered buildings or shop at Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Village. After dinner with wine, for those who want to learn more about life in medieval times we accompany the Night Watchman on a guided tour of the town. Dinner included.

Today, we enter the Black Forest, famous for cuckoo clocks and half-timbered houses. Near Triberg, we visit the House of Black Forest Clocks for some unique souvenirs and perhaps a slice of the area’s famous chocolate torte. Finally, we check into our hotel and have time to relax before dinner. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Today our first stop is the charming town of Stein am Rhein, which is known for its painted facades and half-timbered houses. Next, we stop at the mighty Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. Later, we drive to Luzern where we view the poignant Lion Monument that pays tribute to the Swiss mercenaries who lost their lives defending the kings of France. There is free time to explore this beautiful city, including a walk across the famous wooden Chapel Bridge. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional Swiss dinner and folklore show that features alphorns, cowbells, flag throwing and, of course, yodeling. Breakfast and Dinner included.

This morning, we drive to view the Trümmelbachfälle, several waterfalls within a mountain that drain nearby glaciers. Afterwards, we take a hiking excursion in the heart of the Swiss Alps. We start by riding a cogwheel train to the small car-free town of Wengen, where we have some time to explore before taking a gondola up to the ridge of the nearby mountain. From there it’s an easy and leisurely hike to Kleine Scheidegg. Our walk affords breathtaking vistas of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. At Kleine Scheidegg, we have time for lunch before taking a train down to Grindelwald to meet our driver and return to our hotel. Breakfast and Dinner included.

In addition to chocolate and yodeling, Switzerland is also known for its cheesemaking. We tour a cheese factory and learn about the products and precise processes that make Swiss cheese so popular throughout the world. We also have the chance to sample several distinct kinds of this Swiss specialty. Today we travel a short distance and tour Palace Neuschwanstein, one of three palaces built by Bavaria’s King Ludwig II. Inspired by its romantic beauty, Walt Disney used it as the model for his Fantasyland Castle. Afterwards, we continue to Oberammergau, home of woodcarvers, painted houses and the site of the world-famous Passion Play that is performed here every ten years. Breakfast and Dinner included.

This morning, we visit Palace Linderhof, the smallest, but favorite residence of the eccentric King Ludwig II. Each room has about four pounds of gold leaf. That would equal $25,000 per room in gold alone, if gold were $400 an ounce! The real value, however, lies in the artistic worth of the building. Afterwards we stop at Benedictine Abbey in Ettal. This evening is free to explore Oberammergau. Breakfast included.

Our first stop today is in Berchtesgaden, where we don miners’ apparel and ride a small train into a salt mine for an unforgettable tour. Afterwards, we continue to see Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, a chalet built at the top of the Kehlstein mountain. On a clear day, the site affords a spectacular 360-degree view of the Alps. Next, we travel to Salzburg, Austria, a city famous for being Mozart’s birthplace and the backdrop for The Sound of Music. We enjoy some free time before dinner to explore the narrow winding streets of the city. Breakfast and Dinner included.

This morning a local guide joins us for a walking tour of Salzburg. Our sightseeing includes the magnificent Cathedral, the Getreidegasse, the city’s quaint shopping street, Mozart’s birth house and a stop at St. Peter’s Cemetery. The rest of the day is free to tour the fortress that overlooks the city or simply relax and appreciate the city that many have called the “Rome of the North”. Tonight, we are treated to dinner and a concert in the Stiftskeller St. Peter, the perfect setting to enjoy Austrian food and the music of Mozart. Breakfast and Dinner included.

This morning, we travel southward to Dachau, a Nazi concentration camp that was first opened in 1933. Our visit to the Concentration Camp Memorial includes a film in English, an informative historical account of the camp’s dark history and plenty of time to walk the grounds on our own. Afterwards, we continue to Munich, Bavaria’s friendly capital city. Our tour leader acquaints us with the pedestrian zone around the Marienplatz, including the Frauenkirche, the city’s landmark, the Odeonsplatz, a large square where Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler tried to seize power in 1923, and the Glockenspiel with its world-famous playing of the chimes and twirling mechanical figures. Breakfast and Dinner included.

This morning is a free morning to relax or explore more of Munich. We have lunch at the famed "Oktoberfest." After lunch the rest of the day is free to explore the "world's biggest celebration!" Breakfast and Lunch included.

Sadly, we say Auf Wiedersehen to Europe as we transfer to the Munich Airport for our return flight to the United States. We take with us memories of exciting cities, historical events, great entertainment, and beautiful scenery. Breakfast included.