Bavarian Delights
May 31 - June 8, 2010
$4299 from Nashville;
$4399 from Chicago or Houston
DAY 1, MON, MAY 31 - USA/ZURICH
Departure from the USA on our transatlantic jet. (meals aloft)
DAY 2, TUE, JUNE 1 - ZURICH/LUCERNE
We arrive this morning in Zurich, the country's largest city and one of the world's most important financial capitals. We travel on to Lucerne, delightfully set beside the Lake of Four Cantons, also known as Lake Lucerne. The remainder of the afternoon will be at leisure. You may take a paddle steamer around the lake, ascend the mounts for terrific views or shop for glittering jewelry and watches. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in the Lucerne area. (B,D)
DAY 3, WED, JUNE 2 - LUCERNE/LIECHTENSTEIN/OBERAMMERGAU AREA
We have a morning guided visit of the city. Lucerne is a traditional vacation center and one of Switzerland's prettiest towns as well as a watch shopping center. It is famous for its carved stone lion and medieval wooden bridge with its painted roof. This afternoon we travel through the picturesque Swiss countryside to the tiny principality of Liechtenstein, where we pause to view Vaduz Castle. We continue across the border into Germany to the Oberammergau area where we have our dinner and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 4, THU, JUNE 3 - OBERAMMERGAU
This morning is at leisure in Oberammergau. Explore this quaint village, renowned since the 12th century as a woodcarving center. Following lunch, take your seat for the memorable opening act of the Passion Play, being performed for the 41st time in 2010. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant during a break between acts, and then return to the theater for the Play's thrilling conclusion this evening. Overnight in the Oberammergau area. (B,L,D)
DAY 5, FRI, JUNE 4 - OBERAMMERGAU/INNSBRUCK/SALZBURG
This morning we depart the Oberammergau area and travel through pristine Bavarian countryside and quaint villages. We visit Neuschwanstein, the iconic fairy-tale castle that Walt Disney used as the model for his Disneyland castle. From here we travel to Austria to the university town of Innsbruck. On our city tour we see the "Golden Roof," the Court Church, the Triumphal Arch built by Maria Theresa and St. Anne's Column. We continue through the beautiful Austrian countryside to Salzburg, in the heart of SOUND OF MUSIC country, for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 6, SAT, JUNE 5 - SALZBURG
Our sightseeing today includes Mozart's birthplace, the Cathedral, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Mirabell Palace and the Old City's baroque churches as well as the Getreidegasse pedestrian shopping street, where you will want to shop for Austrian souvenirs. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure with overnight again in the Salzburg area. (B)
DAY 7, SUN, JUNE 6 - SALZBURG/MELK/VIENNA
We depart Salzburg and travel through the magnificent Salzkammergut among spectacular soaring mountains, vast lakes, and rolling meadows. We continue to Melk to visit its stunning baroque Abbey overlooking the Danube River. We then enjoy a cruise along the Danube, sailing past orchards and vineyards in the picturesque Wachau Valley, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. Following our cruise we continue on to Vienna for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
DAY 8, MON, JUNE 7 - VIENNA
Baroque grandeur unfolds as our intriguing morning tour includes monuments to the great musicians and intricately carved St. Stephen's Spire. A visit to the treasures of enormous Schoenbrunn Palace highlights our morning sightseeing. The Palace, set in an exquisite French park, has 1400 elaborately decorated rooms. Other sites include the Imperial Hofburg Palace, Opera House and the National Museums. Leisure time this afternoon to explore the Vienna Woods, munch creamy pastries, shop for delicate Rosenthal porcelain or stroll lofty Belvedere Palace gardens. (B)
DAY 9, TUE, JUNE 8 - VIENNA/USA
Morning transfer to the airport for our return flight to the USA.
(B,meals aloft)