Wednesday, September 15: Departure
from Minneapolis
Depart the Twin Cities
on an overnight transatlantic flight. In-flight
Service
Thursday, September 16 - Munich:
An
early morning arrival in Munich. Upon clearing customs,
you’ll
meet Helmut and Fredy, your guide and driver, and
be transferred by motorcoach to the charming town
of Mittenwald. Along the way, you’ll stop
in Garmish—a premier region of the Alpine
resort community. In the afternoon, you’ll
check-in to your hotel. You will have a chance
to relax
or to join Helmut in a walking tour of the city.
A welcome
dinner will be this evening. D
Friday, September 17 - Munich:
This morning
you’ll
have the option to take the Karwendel cable from
Mittenwald up the Alps to the sundeck for coffee
and a magnificent panoramic view of the region. Then
it’s off to Munich, the capital of Bavaria.
First, you’ll see some of the city’s
highlights via motorcoach. You then will have a chance
to stroll the Marienplatz—the world-famous
city center of Munich and home to the famous, animated
Glockenspiel. Your day will conclude at the Englisher
Garten for some Bavarian cuisine and an opportunity
to participate in Oktoberfest celebrations including,
perhaps, some German beer and a bratwurst. B
Saturday, September 18 - Oberammergau - Passion
Play:
After
breakfast, we leave Mittenwald and head to Oberammergau.
Along the way, we will stop and visit Schloss Linderhof,
the elaborate summer home of Mad King Ludwig II. It
was built in 1869 and features beautiful fountains
and gardens. Your highlight of the day, of course,
will be the Passion Play performance in Oberammergau,
which begins at 2:30 PM and includes premier seating
and dinner. B D
Sunday, September 19 - St. Wolfgang:
Today we leave Bavaria
and Germany. Our first stop along the way will be in
the Austrian medieval city of Kufstein. This ancient
city is partially surrounded by old walls and a moat.
Nestled above the city, in the Tyrolean Alps, is the
town’s landmark - Kufstein Fortress. Following
lunch, we’ll continue on to Salzburg. Salzburg
is the fourth largest city in Austria and was the setting
for the movie The Sound of Music. Here you will have
the chance to explore the old town, “Altsadt”,
with its famous baroque architecture. It is one of
the best preserved city centers north of the Alps and
was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
You will also see the Mirabel Gardens, the cathedral,
St. Peter’s Monastery and cemetery, as well as
Mozart’s birthplace. After dinner, we’ll
check in to our hotel in St. Wolfgang. B
Monday, September 20 - Austria:
Enjoy a leisurely day as
we experience the famous scenery, picturesque villages
and lakes of the Salzkammergut. This area is called
the lake district of Salzburg and you will be touring
by both boat and coach. Final stops will include the
villages of St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen, Fuschl and Hallstadt.
B
Tuesday, September 21 - The Dolomites:
Following
breakfast, you head south to the Dolomites. This
region is a fascinating blend of Austrian and Italian
culture, with limestone peaks that tower above deep
green, valleys of pine forests and meadowlands scattered
with century-old villages, gothic churches and isolated
farm houses. Along the way, you will have plenty
of photo opportunities. Dinner this evening will
be at the hotel in St. Ulrich. B D
Wednesday, September 22 - Bolzana, Italy:
Today you will
spend the day exploring the Dolomite region. This will
include a walking tour of Bolzana. With its medieval
city center, Gothic and Romaneque churches and bilingual
signage, the tour delivers a unique experience of a
city at the crossroads between Italian and Austrian
cultures. B
Thursday, September 23 - Lake Como:
On
to Italy’s third largest lake, Lake Como. This
area is amazing and is an oasis of tranquility with
a magnificent combination of lush Mediterranean foliage
and snowy alpine peaks as its backdrop. This promises
to be another day of spectacular of scenery. B
Friday, September 24 - Lake Como:
Following breakfast,
you’ll enjoy a guided panoramic cruise on Lake
Como to the enchanting village of Bellagio which is
referred to as the “Pearl of the Lake”.
Once docked, you can follow the steep lanes ascending
from the lake to the boutiques and cafes
housed in the historic buildings. You will also have
a chance to see the beautiful gardens of Villa Charlotta
as well as the picturesque fishing village of Varenna
with its charming homes with flowering balconies. Late
afternoon, the group cruises back and makes a quick
pass by Villa Oleandra, a private residence owned by
actor George Clooney. B
Saturday, September 25 - Lake Como:
This morning we’ll
visit the walled town of Como. This city is filled
with sightseeing attractions including a historical
cathedral and an “old town”. The popular
lakeside promenade is great for people watching. You
can also take time to experience the funicular railway,
the silk museum and a discount outlet. A farewell dinner
will be offered this evening. B D
Sunday, September 26 - Return flight:
An
early morning transfer to Milan airport for return
flight
to the
Twin Cities. In-flight Service
A Rome extension will be offered September 26 -
29, 2010. Call for details.
R = RECEPTION
B = BREAKFAST
L = LUNCH
D = DINNER
|