Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B= Breakfast, D = Dinner

Day 1: Wednesday, April 11, 2018: Flight
We will leave today for our overnight transatlantic flight to Prague. (IF)

Day 2: Thursday, April 12, 2018: Prague
When we arrive in Prague, our Reformation Tours’ Tour Director will greet and escort us to our waiting deluxe, air-conditioned motor coach. We will transfer to our hotel for a well-deserved night’s sleep. (IF)

Day 3: Friday, April 13, 2018: Prague
Our expert local guide will join us this morning for a walking tour focused on Jan Hus, the leading personality of the Czech Reformation movement. We’ll visit Bethlehem Chapel where he preached, and see the Hus monument outside Týn Church. Hus was a contemporary of John Wycliffe and was heavily influenced by his writings. They both agreed that all Christians are members of Christ’s church and that Jesus is the head. We’ll also visit the Castle, which is a complex of palaces, courtyards, streets and churches including St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to complete. We will then take a stroll across Charles Bridge, past the famous statues. The afternoon is at leisure before a Czech folk dinner this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Saturday, April 14, 2018: Dresden, Wittenberg
Crossing into Germany, we will stop in the wonderful Baroque city of Dresden. Our guide will lead us on a walk through the magnificent palatial buildings around the Theaterplatz and the Brühl Terraces, and the many art treasures at the state museums. Germany’s largest Protestant church, the Frauenkirche has now been fully restored after being damaged during WWII. J.S. Bach was the first to play on the Silberman organ when the church was originally built. There is a lunchtime concert at noon which we can attend at no extra charge. We will then continue on to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg and check-in to our hotel. We will join the 5 pm service hosted by the Wittenberg English Ministry, then dine in a local restaurant. (B/D)

Day 5: Sunday, April 15, 2018: Wittenberg
This morning we are invited to attend church (German) in either Castle Church or St. Mary’s. In the afternoon we will have a tour of Wittenberg, where Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the Castle Church door in 1517. We will spend time in the Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum, where Luther lived first as a monk, then later with his wife and children. We’ll be able to view some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, and early Bibles. The tour will also include Castle Church, Stadtkirche St. Marien (St. Mary’s church) where Luther preached and where his children were baptized, and the Luther Oak where he burned the edict from Rome, condemning him as a “heretic”. This evening we can dine in the restaurant of our choice. (B)

Day 6: Monday, April 16, 2018: Erfurt
We will have an early breakfast, then set off for Erfurt. When we arrive, we’ll have time for a typical German lunch of Bratwurst! Our guide will then meet us for a walking tour including St. Mary’s Cathedral where Luther was ordained. We’ll also tour the Augustinian Monastery and its Luther exhibition, including a typical cell from Luther’s time. We will end the tour with a special service in the chapel. This evening we will dine in the “Luther Cellar” restaurant with a traditional meal from his time. Our guide will lead an optional evening walk to see the floodlit cathedral and lively cafes. (B/D)

Day 7: Tuesday, April 17, 2018: Eisenach, Rudesheim
We will begin our day with a tour of Wartburg Castle, near Eisenach. In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the castle after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We will see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just 11 weeks. Luther spent time in the nearby town of Eisenach at as school boy and sang in the choir of St. George’s Church, where the Bach family also worshiped. We will visit the Luther House Museum before driving down to the Rhine region. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 8: Wednesday, April 18, 2018: Cruise, Mainz, Rüdesheim
Our morning begins with a relaxing cruise down the Rhine from St. Goar, past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock. We will spend the afternoon in Mainz, where we will learn more about Bible printing history and the contribution of Johann Gutenberg, who developed moveable type. We will be amazed as we view original copies of the Bible in the Gutenberg Museum. We will also view Mainz Cathedral, dating back to 975. We will return to Rudesheim and the rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Thursday, April 19, 2018: Worms, Heidelberg, Strasbourg
Our morning begins in Worms, where we will visit the site of Luther’s Worms Debates (Diet of Worms), now a park, with a plaque commemorating Luther’s brave stand for faith and truth. We’ll have a photo stop at the stunning Reformation Monument. We will continue to Heidelberg and tour the Castle, where we will learn more about the Heidelberg Confession. We will end the day in Strasbourg, France and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 10: Friday, April 20, 2018: Strasbourg
We will have a morning tour of Strasbourg, including the Cathedral. Strasbourg was an important town for John Calvin. He pastored French Huguenot refugees, got married, and wrote a second edition to his famous book, the Institutes. Strasbourg, as a free imperial town, was a beacon for Protestantism right from the 16th century. During his time in Strasbourg, Calvin was not attached to one particular church, but held his office successively in various local churches. Our tour guide will lead an optional excursion in the afternoon to explore charming Colmar. This picturesque town escaped damage during the war, and has numerous half-timbered houses. It was the hometown of Frederic Bartholdi (creator of the Statue of Liberty) and the town includes a small museum. We will have an early evening boat ride on the canals, followed by dinner in a restaurant. (B/D)

Day 11: Saturday, April 21, 2018: Constance, Zurich
Today we will have breakfast in France, lunch in Germany and dinner in Switzerland! In Constance, we will pray on the spot where the pre-Reformer Jan Hus was martyred, and see the Cathedral where some of the trials were held. Crossing over in Switzerland, we’ll dine in an authentic Swiss restaurant. We will spend the night in Zurich. (B/D)

Day 12: Sunday, April 22, 2018: Zurich, Geneva
This morning our local guide will take us on a walking tour of the key Reformation sites in Zurich, including the Grossmünster, the Helferei (where Zwingli lived) and the Zwingli Statue. We will leave late morning and drive to Geneva. On arrival in Geneva, we will tour the incredible interactive Reformation Museum (closed on Mondays). Below the museum and the Cathedral, we will also see the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, a 4th century basilica, and a 6th century church. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 13: Monday, April 23, 2018: Geneva
This morning our local guide will join us for a tour of the Reformation highlights in Geneva. We will begin at the impressive Reformation Monument. Four statues of four Reformation leaders stand as sentinels to truth and courage inspired by godly faith. We will tour St. Pierre’s Cathedral, where John Calvin preached. We can see his chair and a restored section decorated as it would have been before Calvin. We have a free time this afternoon to experience these key sites before we dine at a local restaurant this evening for our farewell meal. (B/D)

Day 14: Tuesday, April 24, 2018: Return
We transfer from our hotel to the airport for our morning flights. (B/IF)

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

Pre-tour nights are available. Please contact us for details!

Prague, Czech Republic
April 12–14, 2018
Hotel Yasmin
Politických vêznu Vodickova St. 20
CZ-110 00 Praha

Wittenberg, Germany
April 14-16, 2018
Luther Hotel
Neustraße 7-10
06886, Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
April 16-17, 2018
Augustinerkloster
Augustinerstraße 10
D-99084, Erfurt

Rüdesheim, Germany
April 17-19, 2018
Ringhotel Central Rüdesheim
Kirchstraße 6
65385, Rüdesheim

Strasbourg, France
April 19-21, 2018
IBIS Strasbourg Centre Gare
10 Place de la gare
67000 Strasbourg

Zurich, Switzerland
April 21–22, 2018
Hotel Alexander
Niederdorfstr. 40
CH-8025, Zurich

Geneva, Switzerland
April 22–24, 2018
Hotel Royal Manotel
43, Rue de Lausanne
CH-1201, Geneva

Flight Information

We can either assist you with flights or you can book your own, but we do ask that you wait until it’s a guaranteed departure before you book non-refundable flights. Please ensure we have a copy of your itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

What’s included in the land price of $3,299?

Price based on a minimum of 20 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation (Group air from Houston $1,045)
•   Single supplement ($550)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)
•   Gratuities for tour director, and driver

Payment Schedule

• Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
• Final invoices will be sent in December 2017
• Final payment is due by January 26, 2018
• Reservations will be accepted after January 26, 2018, subject to availability, and will need to be paid in full.

Insurance
Starting in 2018, we are switching to the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. This will be automatically added to your invoice.