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READ MORE...Discover some of Germany’s most treasured destinations. Cruise along the picturesque Rhine River and travel through the magical landscapes of Germany's romantic south, visiting medieval towns and picturesque castles along the way. Admire the famous clock tower in Munich, sample local cheeses in the Black Forest and typical 'snowball' pastry in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. A tour to Colmar & Strasbourg in France is also included.
Saturday - Arriving at Frankfurt airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After checking in, the rest of the day is free to spend at your leisure. Frankfurt is the financial and commercial heart of Germany, a city full of fascinating contrasts between modern development and historic landmarks. At 7:00 pm, meet your tour guide and travel companions at the welcome dinner in the hotel. (D)
Accommodation at the 4* Hotel Mövenpick Frankfurt City, or similar.
Sunday - After breakfast, we travel to Rüdesheim for a short tour of the city‘s historic centre. Next, we board a ship and sail along the most picturesque stretch of the Rhine, the famous Lorelei Valley, while enjoying a wine tasting onboard. Disembarking in St. Goar, we return to Frankfurt and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Monday - In the morning you travel to Heidelberg to visit the famous castle, followed by a tour of the city's historic centre. Idyllically located on the shores of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest university town and one of the most popular destinations in the country. We then travel to Baden- Baden, the former summer residence of the European nobility and worldwide known for its thermal baths, and finally continue to lovely Freiburg, famous for its beautiful church tower. (B)
Accommodation at 4* Hotel Central Freiburg, or similar. (B)
Tuesday - The Rhine River forms the natural border between Germany and France, and today, after crossing the river, we arrive in Colmar. This city is known for its outstanding wines and architectural heritage that reflect the long history of this region and the German and French influences. Here you'll enjoy a typical Alsatian lunch. We then travel on to Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace, for a sightseeing tour of the city. Being the base of several European institutions, Strasbourg is also a symbolic capital of Europe. In the afternoon, we return to Freiburg for overnight accommodation. (B.L)
Wednesday - After breakfast, we depart Freiburg and drive to the Black Forest where we enjoy a short presentation on the cuckoo clock production and visit a small traditional Black Forest farm to enjoy a cheese tasting and get a chance to see the true way of life in this charming region. We travel on to the small island of Lindau in Lake Constance, which offers spectacular views of the Alps. Depending on weather conditions, we will take the Alpine road from Lindau, via Oberstaufen & Immenstadt, to our final destination of today Füssen, the southernmost point on our tour of Romantic Germany. (B)
Accommodation at the 4* Hotel Hirsch in Füssen, or similar.
Thursday - We start the day with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, the famous fairytale castle built by Ludwig II, the notorious “Mad King“. At midday, we travel to Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Play and lovely crafts. Along the way, we visit the Wieskirche Church and make a brief stop at the Benedictine Abbey in Ettal, before continuing the tour to visit the stunning Linderhof Castle. This is one of the 3 famous castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one where the king actually lived for a significant amount of time. Return to Füssen for overnight accommodation. (B)
Friday - In the morning we travel to Munich, the capital of Bavaria where you'll discover the city’s main attractions during a guided tour which concludes at the Marienplatz square with its famous clock tower. Munich is a city that combines modern infrastructure with heaps of traditional charm and is famous for its Oktoberfest, which is celebrated annually in September. The afternoon is free to explore at your leisure and in the evening you'll enjoy a traditional Bavarian dinner. (B.D)
Accommodation at the 4* Holiday Inn Munich City Centre, or similar.
Saturday - After breakfast, we start our day excursion to Berchtesgaden. Berchtesgaden is a typical traditional Alpine village at the foot of Mount Watzmann. The region’s attractions include the salt mines, Lake Königssee and Obersalzberg with the Eagle’s Nest, once the site of Hitler’s mountain retreat. After a visit to the infamous Eagle’s Nest (depending on the weather conditions), you have time to take an optional boat tour on Lake Königssee (not included) before returning to Munich in the late afternoon. (B)
Sunday - In the morning we travel to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Romantic Germany. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of this lovely medieval town concluding with a Schneeballen (snowball) tasting, a pastry considered the signature dish of Rothenburg. Next, we travel to Nuremberg where we visit the historic city centre and learn more about its impressive history with a tour of the well-preserved castle, Gothic churches, romantic houses and peaceful squares. (B)
Accommodation at the 4* Hotel Park Plaza Nürnberg, or similar.
Monday - Today we visit the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Ground. To this day, the gigantic remains of buildings in the southern districts of Nuremberg are a reminder of the megalomania of the National Socialist regime. Spread across eleven square kilometres, a monumental backdrop was to be created for the staging of the Nazi Party rallies. Today the unfinished Congress Hall houses the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
Tuesday - This morning, we depart Nuremberg and journey toward Würzburg, a pretty town on the banks of the Main where we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the city including a visit to the Residenz Palace of Würzburg, certainly the highlight of today's tour. After this visit, we then proceed toward Frankfurt, with a brief stop at the Mespelbrunn Castle on the way. (B)
Accommodation at the 4* Hotel Mövenpick Frankfurt City, or similar.
Wednesday - Sadly, your Heart of Germany Tour ends today. Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before being transferred to the airport for your return flight home. Auf Wiedersehen! (B)
Saturday - May 16, June 20, July 18, August 08, September 12* & October 10, 2020. (*) Date with Oktoberfest
Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 25 participants.
Please note: Hotels may be substituted depending on departure dates. Hotel names to be confirmed at time of booking.