Tour Duration: 12 days Tour Code: 60402012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$1593 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to see some of Frankfurt. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers. (D)
2
FRANKFURT-RHINE CRUISE-COLOGNE AREA. Today's highlight is an included Rhine cruise from Oberwesel to Boppard to enjoy scenic views of the Rhineland including the famous Lorelei rock. The next highlight is Cologne and a visit to its impressive gothic cathedral, started in 1248 and completed in 1880. (B,D)
3
COLOGNE AREA-HAMELIN-HAMBURG. Leave the Cologne area this morning and journey into Niedersachsen to visit Hamelin. Admire its town centre with its colourful historical buildings and magically fancy gables. Also hear the story of the Pied Piper. Continue to Hamburg, where you arrive in time for an optional harbour cruise. (B)
4
HAMBURG-LUBECK-BERLIN. Start the day with an orientation drive to see one of Germany's greatest maritime cities. Later this morning a comfortable drive to Lubeck, formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state. Lubeck, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the cultural capital of northern Germany. Thomas Mann, Gunther Grass, and Willy Brandt-all Nobel laureates-were among the famous residents of this city. Continue eastwards on the Autobahn to reach Berlin in time to enjoy your first evening in the capital of Germany. (B)
5
BERLIN. No longer divided but every bit as fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall separating two different worlds. Now the city has developed into a harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in the most daring architectural styles. See all of this on the included city sightseeing with a Local Guide. In the afternoon there is an optional excursion to historic Potsdam to visit Sanssouci Park, a marvel of landscape gardening and architectural wonders, and Cecilienhof Castle. (B)
6
BERLIN-DRESDEN-LEIPZIG. This morning, travel southwest to Dresden, the old capital of Saxony, at one time rightly called the "Florence on the Elbe." See the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion and much more of this city on your included sightseeing. Then it's on to Leipzig, where the great composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn lived the last years of their lives. It was Mendelssohn who founded the Leipziger Conservatory in 1843. (B,D)
7
LEIPZIG-WEIMAR-COBURG-NUREMBERG. Leave Leipzig for a stop in Weimar, home to many intellectuals of the past but mainly known for the name given to the historical period of the "Republic of Weimar.' This city is also famed as the home of the Bauhaus architectural movement in the 1920s Next stop is Coburg. Visit the dominating and mighty Veste Coburg Castle, built in 1225. Continue to Nuremberg for a visit to its famous town centre dominated by the Imperial Castle. (B)
8
NUREMBERG-ROTHENBURG-MUNICH. Visit picture-postcard medieval Rothenburg by the Tauber River. Then, travel west and then southwards through the beautiful scenery of the Romantic Road. Continue to the Bavarian capital, Munich, for two overnights. (B)
9
MUNICH. With a Local Guide, take advantage of the included sightseeing tour of the city known as Germany's "secret capital.' Time to admire the beautiful main square, Marienplatz, do some shopping, and sample its most famous product-beer! (B,D)
10
MUNICH-NEUSCHWANSTEIN-BLACK FOREST AREA. Leave Munich and drive into the heart of the Bavarian Alps to visit the most famous 19th-century neo-romantic castle of the world, King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy more fairytale scenery on your way through the Black Forest for an overnight here. (B)
11
BLACK FOREST AREA-HEIDELBERG-FRANKFURT. The day starts by travelling to Heidelberg for a short visit. This city is the location of Germany's oldest university and became an inspiration and myth for the German Romantic movement. From here, just a few more kilometres to Frankfurt. (B)
12
FRANKFURT. Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS: Rhine cruise, Romantic Road, German Alpine Road and Bavarian Alps, Black Forest
GUIDES: Local Guides for city sightseeing in Berlin, Dresden, Munich. Services of a professional Tour Director while touring
TRANSPORTATION: Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach. Rhine cruise
HOTELS: Rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, porterage, tips, and service charges
MEALS: Buffet breakfasts (B); 4 dinners (D)
Meals Breakfast - 11 Lunch - 0 Dinner - 4
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
25
EUR
Name:EVENING HARBOUR CRUISE Location:HAMBURG Details:See one of the world's greatest harbours from the water - the Port of Hamburg on a boat cruise with a drink on board.
35
EUR
Name:ZIKO'S GRILL DINNER Location:BERLIN Details:A fun evening at a local restaurant with good food and atmosphere. You will be served a four-course meal with 2 drinks per person and coffee/tea. During the evening musical entertainment you can even dance between the tables!
40
EUR
Name:POTSDAM & CECILIENHOF Location:BERLIN Details:Potsdam is famous for its fine palaces and many beautiful historical buildings. Visit the Cecilienhof Palace where Truman, Attlee and Stalin signed the Potsdam agreement in 1945.
40
EUR
Name:BAVARIAN EVENING AND DINNER Location:MUNICH Details:Enjoy a typical Bavarian evening in the world famous Hofbrauhaus, where you will have the opportunity to taste German beer (or a soft drink if you prefer) with a local specialities dinner, entertained by Bavarian live music.
20
EUR
Name:DACHAU Location:MUNICH Details:The former concentration camp of Dachau is situated North of Munich. You will have time to look around the memorial site and the museum and also see a documentary film on the history of Dachau. Audio guides are included.
Optional Excursions
