OBERAMMERGAU

PASSION PLAY 2010

TOUR 2

13 nights .

Tour reference TTT / 13n

 GERMANY - SWITZERLAND - AUSTRIA

Arrive at Frankfurt airport. Meet and greet by your European tour director and transfer to the ancient university town of Heidelberg, associated with the “Student Prince”.

Enjoy a walk through the town centre, see the Market Square, which is flanked by the Gothic Church of Holy Ghost and visit the Heidelberg Castle. Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel.

A full-day excursion to the Rhine Valley is on the agenda today. We start in Ruedesheim, a beautiful small town at River Rhine, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2002. From Ruedesheim board the boat for an unforgettable trip on the Rhine River with its terraced vineyards, passing hilltop castles and the legendary Loreley Rock. The bus will pick you up in St. Goar and drives you to Mainz, for a city walk including a visit to Gutenberg Museum, where you will see its collection of rare antique Bibles.

Dinner and overnight in Heidelberg.                                                 

Board your motor coach this morning and bid farewell to Heidelberg. Travelling southwards, drive through the Black Forest into Switzerland until you reach today’s ultimate destination: Lucerne, located on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Surely no European city is graced with more beautiful scenery than Lucerne - a picture perfect city with silver-white Alps capping the horizon.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in or around Lucerne.                           

Begin with a morning tour of this popular resort including the Lion Monument. Walk across the city’s chief landmark, the 14th century Chapel Bridge and stroll to Weinmarkt Square with its quaint stone buildings and Renaissance fountain. Lucerne is filled with interesting shops featuring clocks, watches and embroidery. Spend the afternoon and evening at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in or around Lucerne.                                    

Excursion to Bernese Oberland -

This full-day excursion takes you into the majestic Swiss Alps where you can enjoy some of the country’s most magnificent views. You will cross the Bruening Pass and drive along Lake Brienz, reaching the world-famous resort of Interlaken. Continue to Grindelwald, with thrilling views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau Mountains. Return to Lucerne via Lake Lungern and Lake Sarnen.

Tonight enjoy a swiss dinner with folklore show in a typical Swiss restaurant.

Overnight at hotel in or around Lucerne.                                 

Leave Lucerne in the morning and drive through the tiny Principality of Liechtenstein, with a stop in Vaduz. In 1919 the little state cut its last bonds with Austria and concluded monetary, postal, costumes and diplomatic conventions with the Swiss Confederation. Continue your journey via the Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck, the Tyrolean capital.

Dinner at typical restaurant and overnight at hotel in Innsbruck.            

Morning walking tour of Innsbruck, including the old quarter built under Maximilian I, with its Golden Roof and the Imperial Palace of Maria Theresia. Innsbruck is rich in history dating back to the reign of the Habsburgs in the 12^th century. Afterwards drive through the northern half of the country along the Danube River to Vienna.

Dinner and overnight in Vienna.                                                           

During your morning city tour of Vienna you will visit the Imperial Residence of Schoenbrunn one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites; see the Gothic

St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the elegant Kaerntnerstrasse. Travel along Ringstrasse to see the State Opera House, the Parliament, the City Hall and the University.

Dinner at a typical Heurigen (wine tavern) in Grinzing with wine.

Overnight at hotel in Vienna.                                                                 

This morning, begin the drive across scenic Austria. The tour winds its way through the beautiful Danube Valley, to Salzburg the city of music.

In the afternoon enjoy a walking tour of this lovely baroque city. See the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, now a museum; Mirabell Gardens, the quaint centre with its lovely market square, Salzburg Cathedral and nearby St. Peter.

Dinner and overnight in Salzburg.                                                   

A scenic drive takes you to the famous ski resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, site of the Winter Olympics. Continue on to Neuschwanstein Castle for a visit of this incredible fairytale fortress, built by Dream-King Ludwig II. In the afternoon drive through the Bavarian Alps to you your destination - Oberammergau.

En route you will see the Benectine Monastery at Ettal.

Dinner and overnight will be in or around Oberammergau.  

The history of the Passion Play at Oberammergau goes back to 1634, when the quaint alpine village of Oberammergau was threatened by the deadly and contagious disease known as the Black Plague that scourged Europe, killing two-thirds of the population of Germany. The people of Oberammergau vowed that if the village could be spared, a re-enactment of the life and suffering of Christ would be performed . The village was miraculously saved from the ravages of the Black Death. Since that date, the play has been performed every ten years.

Spend a leisure morning in Oberammergau. After lunch take seats in the theater to attend the performance of the world-famous Passion Play. This Play is performed by local villagers – often roles are handed down from generation to generation within families.

Dinner is included during a 3 hours break in the late afternoon. Performance lasts until 10:30 PM.

Overnight in or around Oberammergau.                                                                                

Board your motor coach this morning, departing Oberammergau for Munich, the capital of Bavaria. First head to the castle of Linderhof built by King Ludwig II in French rococo style with its fantastic grotto. En route you make a stop to visit the Church in the Meadow (Kirche in der Wies), a jewel among rococo churches in Europe. This visit is especially memorable after attending the Passion Play because one can recognize many of the performed scenes in the various mural paintings and ceiling frescos.

Dinner and overnight in Munich                                                 

Start the day with a morning sightseeing tour of Munich. First visit the Palace of Nymphenburg, residence of Ludwig I, King of Bavaria. It is famous for its “Gallery of Beauty”, a collection of paintings of the most beautiful women of Ludwig’s day. Pass the former Olympic ground, see the classical buildings and many other interesting places as Royal Square (Königsplatz), Ludwigstreet, the University etc. Take a walk through the traditional center of the city with the Church of the Lady (Frauenkirche Cathedral) and Marienplatz where you can view the famous Glockenspiel. Afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy farewell dinner with Bavarian folklore show in the evening                                                  

Overnight at hotel.

Morning transfer to Munich Airport for return flight.                                                                        

OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2010

TOUR 2

GERMANY - SWITZERLAND - AUSTRIA

RATE SHEET

PRICE PER PERSON (net) - estimate:

minimum 40 paying + 2 free                                               €  3,160.00         

minimum 35 paying + 1 free                                               €  3,225.00         

minimum 30 paying + 1 free                                               €  3,350.00         

minimum 25 paying + 1 free                                               €  3,520.00         

minimum 20 paying + 1 free                                               €  3,780.00         

Supplement for single rooms:                                             €     530.00         

Rates are subject to availability and are not valid during trade fairs and Oktoberfest in Munich which is held from September 17 - October 03, 2010

Supplement during this period is EUR 180.00 per person in double.

These are estimated rates based on 2008. 2010 rates are not known yet.

Rates do include current German VAT of 19 % and will be amended in line with any VAT increase.

Price includes:

·       11 nights in first-class / superior tourist class hotels in rooms with bath/shower and wc 

·       2 nights Passion Play-package with accommodation in first-class / superior tourist class hotels; including shuttle bus service

·       Admission tickets to the Passion Play performance with first class seats
Admission ticket to the Oberammergau Museum

·       Meals: daily breakfast buffet
daily dinner (special Swiss dinner with folklore show and special Bavarian farewell dinner with folklore show) except one dinner day 05 in Lucerne
one lunch in Oberammergau on day of performance

·       Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach throughout the tour

·       Professional English-speaking guide throughout the tour

·       Rhine cruise between Ruedesheim and St. Goar

·       Day excursion to Bernese Oberland

·       City-/ walking tours of Heidelberg, Mainz, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich

·       All entrance fees during city tours

·       Visit to Neuschwanstein Castle incl. pre-reservation

·       Visit to Linderhof Castle incl. pre-reservation

·       Luggage service of one bag per person at airports and hotels

·       All taxes and gratuities

NOT included: Tip to tour director and driver and local city guides

For reservations and further information, please contact,

Trade Fair Travel

Telephone 031 9161414,   Fax 031 9165674,

  e-mail : peter@tradefairtravel.co.za