SOUTHERN ROMANTIC GERMANY

7 days/6 nights - GUARANTEED DEPARTURE TOUR
Come and explore the Southern Romantic Germany and enjoy beautiful landscapes, picturesque villages and sparkling cities

Frankfurt - Rhine Valley - Heidelberg - Black Forest - Lake Constance - Neuschwanstein - Innsbruck(Austria)/Swarovsky - Eagle's Nest - Salzburg(Austria) - Nuremberg - Rothenburg - Wuerzburg - Frankfurt

Day 01:

Sunday Frankfurt - Rüdesheim to St. Goarshausen/Rhine Valley - Heidelberg (D)

Departure from Frankfurt. Our frst stop is the town of Ruedesheim located on the banks of the River Rhine, surrounded by vineyards and on top of one of those , dominated by the Germania a statue on the Niederwald-monument. We will have a short walk through the famous Drosselgasse and then visit Siegfrieds Mech. Musikkabinett before boarding the Rhine steamer to do a scenic cruise passing nice villages & castles. This part of the Rhine River, from Ruedesheim to St. Goarshausen where we will disembark, is the most scenic and romantic of all. Also it was nominated UNESCO World Heritage. We are heading south to another historic place - the city of Heidelberg. There we will visit the famous castle, built from red sandstone found at the River Neckar, before walking through the old town, where you will see - beside other beautiful sights - the famous university. The welcome dinner will take place in one of the oldest Restaurant of Germany, the "Zum Ritter St. Georg". Overnight at hotel Leonardo in Mannheim or similar in Heidelberg Area.

Day 02: Monday

Black Forest - Lake Constance
In the morning we are heading south for the Black Forest. On our scenic route you will get an impression of this area with the dark woods, the murmuring creeks, the ambrosial glades and the romantic valleys. We will of course stop at one of the manufactories where the famous cuckoo clocks are built and at one of the most scenic lakes, the beautiful Lake Titisee. Onward to the largest lake of Germany - Lake Constance, is one of the most popular regions of the country, with beautiful scenery and a very special, healthy climate. Overnight at Hotel Messmer in Bregenz or similar.

Day 03: Tuesday

Neuschwanstein - Inssbruck
After breakfast we are taking the German Alpine Road to the Wies church (Church of the "Flagellated Saviour in the Meadow") on of the most beautiful rococo churches in Germany. On we go to Hohenschwangau where we will visit Neuschwanstein Castle built by King Ludwig II. This castle ranked no. eight when millions of people decided on the "new seven world wonders" and was model for the Cinderella castle by Walt Disney. After that outstanding experience, we will be crossing the Austrian border and drive on a scenic route to Innsbruck, capital of Tyrol. There your tour guide will take you on a city walk to show you the important sights of the city like the Golden Roof, Cathedrale St. Jacob, the Hofburg and much more. Overnight at Hotel Maximilian in Innsbruck or similar.

Day 04: Wednesday

Inssbruck - Eagle's Nest - Salzburg
From Innsbruck it is not far to the Swarovsky Kristallwelten in Wattens built by plans of the famous Austrian Artist Andre Heller they have shops all around the world. Our next topic will be a journey to Berchtesgaden. At the shores of the lake Königssee which has a depth of 602m at the deepest spot, you can enjoy the beautiful nature around the la ke. It's just a short walk to the eastern shore and the famous "Malerwinkel" (painter's corner). Here you will have a stunning view on lake Königssee and the steep walls of the mountain Watzmann (^2712m/ ~8897feet) or make your own way up to the Kehlsteinhaus known as Eagle's Nest in English) where you will be lifted up to the summit by an luxurious brass eleva tor. Enjoy this example of historic architecture and a stunning alpine setting. As the allied bombing of World War II did not damage the Eagle's Nest and Today the Eagle's Nest remains in its original state. You will have a magnifcent view over the Alps and Lake Königssee (for this excursion on your own, you have about 2 hrs). From there it is just a short ride to Salzburg. Overnight at Hotel Kasererbrau in Salzburg or similar

Day 05: Thursday

Salzburg - Munich
In the morning we will have a walking tour of "the city of Mozart" - Salzburg. Besides the well known sites like Getreidegasse, the cathedral, the festival house, we will also see Mozart´s birthplace. If the weather is well and having good visibility you will enjoy a ride with a cable car up to the Fortress Hohensalzburg. From this spot you will have a beautiful view over Salzburg and the surrounding mountain scenery. If the weather does not allow this activity, we will visit the Mozarthaus - and it is a must to try the local specialty - the famous sweets called "Mozartkugeln". Around noon we are heading north for Munich - the capital of the state of Bavaria. Our frst stop is at Nymphenburg castle, the baroque palace was in former times residence of the monarchs of Bavaria. After that we will go on an orientation city tour , where your guide will show you the splendid sights of the city, like the Residence, Maximilian- & Leopold Street, the Opera, the Olympic Grounds, the Marienplatz with the City Hall, and its Carillion, the church St. Peter, the Viktualien-Market and many more. Overnight at Hotel Park Inn in Munich or similar

Day 06: Friday

After breakfast we are le aving Munich and heading north to Nuremberg. This franconian metropolis has a very special fair, which you will experience on your orientative city tour. You will see the Reichsparteitagsgelände (Party Rallye Grounds) , courtroom 600 where the famous Nuremberg trials were held - due to reconstruction works in courtroom 600 in 2010, we cannot visit the inside, as it will be change into a permanent exhibition (yet no dates known of fnishing the works), the beautiful old town with still preserved city wall and gates, the Hauptmarkt, the Kaiserburg and a lot more. Nurem berg and the franconian region is also famous for the special grilled sausage the so called "Nuernberger Rostbratwuerste" which you can try when you have some time for own activities, before we are following the Castle Road to Rothenburg o.d. Tauber. Rothenburg o.d. Tauber is called "medieval jewel of Germany" and after the city walk we are sure that you will agree. Our tour guide will show you the almost totally preserved town wall with its gates and fortifcations, the Jacob Church with the beautiful, wood carved altar made by Tilman Riemenschneider, the city hall on the market square and much more. As in Rothenburg you can have Christmas all year long, when having some time on your own, you can visit the Kaethe Wohlfart´s World of Christmas, where Christmas Goods are sold all year and added to that is the Christmas Museum. In the evening we will hold a farewell dinner in a typical restaurant.

Day 07: Saturday

Wuerzburg - Frankfurt

From Rothenburg we go on to Wuerzburg, where we will take a visit to the Residence a real masterpiece from the baroque. Also worth seeing is the Juliusspital, the cathedral and the city hall. In the afternoon we are heading back to Frankfurt, where the tour will end at approx 04.00 pm (depending on traffc conditions.)


Services included:
- Six overnight stays at frst class and tourist superior hotels (local 3*/4*-category) including tax, service charges and baggage handling (one piece per person). All rooms with private bath or shower and toilet.
- Transportation by modern air-conditioned motor coach with WC (Exception: if less than 12 participants we use air conditioned mini coaches without WC)
- Professional bilingual English/Spanish speaking guide throughout the tour (With less then 8 participants - minivan with driver-guide)
- All excursions and city tours not marked as optional.
- Entrance fees/fares/additional: Rhine River Cruise from Ruedesheim to St. Goarshausen - Heidelberg Castle inner courtyard and wine cellar and big raf- Deep well & Tower at Kaiserburg Castle, Nuremberg - Neuschwanstein Castle
- Nymphenburg Palace, Munich - Documentation Centre Nuremberg - Jakobskirche, Rothenburg - Residence, Würzburg - Swarovski Crystal World - Cable car ride to fortress Hohensalzburg or visit of Mozarthaus

Meals:
- Welcome dinner incl. welcome drink
- Six breakfast buffets
- Farewell dinner

Departure Dates 2010 - departing on Sundays:
May 23, June 13, July 18, Aug 15, Sep 19 *, Oct 17
(*These dates include a Oktoberfest supplement for accommodation in Munich: tour price with Supplement !!!)

Departure Points/Times 2010:
08h00 Moevenpick Hotel Frankfurt City, Den Haager Straße 5 - Lobby
08h15 Intercontinental Hotel, Wilhelm-Leuchner-Straße 43 - Lobby
08h25 Hamburger Hof, Frankfurt, Poststraße 8 - Lobby
09h00 Airport Frankfurt, Meeting Point Arrival Hall B, Terminal 1

Prices:
Tour price: $1435 (per person based on double room occupancy)
Third person in extra bed: $1395
Single supplement: $370
Supplement for Oktoberfest tours:* $190 (per person)