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HIGHLIGHTS
OF GERMANY - 2010
13
days incl. air, or 12 days from Frankfurt to Frankfurt (CO-6040)Return to Italy
Vacations & Tours 
Return to
France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco Vacations & Tours Vacation
Overview
This comprehensive
vacation focuses on the crown jewels of Germany, starting and ending in
Frankfurt. Begin your trip with a panoramic Rhine River cruise. See
Cologne with its gothic cathedral, the historic buildings of legendary
Hamelin, the harbor city of Hamburg, and Hanseatic Lübeck. Enjoy two
overnights in Berlin, Germany’s once-divided capital, then the cultural
centers of Dresden and Leipzig. Stop in Weimar, where the Bauhaus
architectural movement started in the 1920s, and Coburg with its medieval
fortress. From Nuremberg, follow the Romantic Road and discover the
half-timbered houses of picture-postcard Rothenburg. Wander at leisure in
Munich’s Marienplatz and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Munich, Germany’s
“secret capital.” Sample some of its fresh beer, shop, and tour some of
Munich’s famous sights. Experience the gems of the Bavarian Alps: the
Passion Play village of Oberammergau and King Ludwig’s breathtaking
Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy more German panoramas as you drive through
the Black Forest and stop in Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university
town, before returning to Frankfurt, where you’ll say “Prost!” to this
exciting adventure. If you want to see and tour Germany, this vacation is
for you.
Itinerary
Day
1 Thu. BOARD YOUR OVERNIGHT TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT
Day
2 Fri. ARRIVAL 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 travelers. (D)
Day
3 Sat. FRANKFURT-RHINE CRUISE-COLOGNE
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)
Day
4 Sun. COLOGNE-HAMELIN-HAMBURG Hamburg
Leave
Cologne this morning and journey into Niedersachsen to visit Hamelin.
Admire its town center with its colorful 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 harbor cruise. (B)
Day
5 Mon. HAMBURG-LÜBECK-BERLIN Berlin
Start
the day with an orientation drive to see one of Germany’s greatest
maritime cities. Later this morning a comfortable drive to Lübeck,
formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state. Lübeck, now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered the cultural capital of northern
Germany. Thomas Mann, Günther 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)
Day
6 Tue. 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)
Day
7 Wed. 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)
Day
8 Thu. 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. Enjoy some free
time in the picturesque town center before heading for Nuremberg for an
overnight. (B,D)
Day
9 Fri. NUREMBERG-ROMANTIC ROAD-ROTHENBURG-MUNICH
Start
the day with an included orientation drive of Nuremberg to see some of
its highlights. Later, travel west and then southwards through the
beautiful scenery of the Romantic Road. Visit picture-postcard medieval
Rothenburg by the Tauber River, then on to the Bavarian capital, Munich,
for two overnights. (B,D)
Day
10 Sat. 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! Optional excursions are also available. (B)
Day
11 Sun. MUNICH-OBERRAMMERGAU-NEUSCHWANSTEIN-BLACK FOREST AREA
Leave
Munich and drive into the heart of the Bavarian Alps to visit
Oberammergau, home of the famous Passion Play which takes place every 10
years. Next, 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,D)
Day
12 Mon. BLACK FOREST AREA-HEIDELBERG-FRANKFURT
The
day starts by traveling 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 miles
to Frankfurt. (B)
Day
13 Tue. YOUR HOMEBOUND FLIGHT ARRIVES THE SAME DAY
(B)
AIRPORT
TRANSFERS
Airport transfers
may be included when you make your international flights arrangements.
Dates
and Prices
|
Departure
Details
|
Departure
Date
|
Tour
Start Date
|
Return
Date
|
Land/Cruise
Price Only
|
Status
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
4/22/2010
|
4/23/2010
|
5/4/2010
|
$1,459.00
|
Available
|
|
4/29/2010
|
4/30/2010
|
5/11/2010
|
$1,489.00
|
Sold Out
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/6/2010
|
5/7/2010
|
5/18/2010
|
$1,489.00
|
Available
|
|
5/13/2010
|
5/14/2010
|
5/25/2010
|
$1,489.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/20/2010
|
5/21/2010
|
6/1/2010
|
$1,489.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
5/25/2010
|
5/26/2010
|
6/6/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/1/2010
|
6/2/2010
|
6/13/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/8/2010
|
6/9/2010
|
6/20/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/15/2010
|
6/16/2010
|
6/27/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
6/22/2010
|
6/23/2010
|
7/4/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
6/29/2010
|
6/30/2010
|
7/11/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
7/6/2010
|
7/7/2010
|
7/18/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
7/13/2010
|
7/14/2010
|
7/25/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
7/20/2010
|
7/21/2010
|
8/1/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
7/27/2010
|
7/28/2010
|
8/8/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
8/3/2010
|
8/4/2010
|
8/15/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
8/10/2010
|
8/11/2010
|
8/22/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
8/17/2010
|
8/18/2010
|
8/29/2010
|
$1,485.00
|
Available
|
|
8/31/2010
|
9/1/2010
|
9/12/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/7/2010
|
9/8/2010
|
9/19/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
9/14/2010
|
9/15/2010
|
9/26/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
9/21/2010
|
9/22/2010
|
10/3/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
9/23/2010
|
9/24/2010
|
10/5/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
Popular
Departure
|
9/30/2010
|
10/1/2010
|
10/12/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
10/7/2010
|
10/8/2010
|
10/19/2010
|
$1,499.00
|
Available
|
|
10/14/2010
|
10/15/2010
|
10/26/2010
|
$1,459.00
|
Available
|
Popular
Departure - due to itinerary and time of year, this departure
historically sells out quickly. Early booking is encouraged.
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