Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

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

Day 1: Thursday, July 7, 2016: Overnight Flight to Berlin, Germany
Our journey begins with an overnight flight to Berlin. (IF)

Day 2: Friday, July 8, 2016: Arrival in Berlin
On arrival in Berlin, we will be met at the airport and have an orientation tour of the city, stopping at the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie. We then check into our hotel in Berlin and enjoy a welcome dinner. (IF/D)

Day 3: Saturday, July 9, 2016: Berlin
We will have a relaxing breakfast this morning, then our expert local guide will take us on a World War II-themed tour of Berlin, including the Holocaust Memorial, the Bonhoeffer House and St. Matthew’s Church where Bonhoeffer was ordained. The evening is free to dine at the restaurant of our choice. (B)

Day 4: Sunday, July 10, 2016: Berlin, Wittenberg
We have the option of attending an English-speaking church service this morning in Berlin, or free time in the city. In the afternoon we will visit Sanssouci Palace and Gardens in Potsdam, the summer residence of Frederick the Great. We will then check in to our hotel in Wittenberg, our base for the next two nights. Dinner is at our hotel this evening (B/D)

Day 5: Monday, July 11, 2016: Wittenberg
Wittenberg was Martin Luther’s home for 30-plus years and the birthplace of the Reformation. We will enjoy a guided walking tour of the Luther House Museum, where Martin Luther and his family lived. This well-preserved place of Reformation relics includes Luther’s desk, his pulpit, and first editions of his books. We will go to the spot where Luther reputedly burned the Papal Bull, by which Rome condemned him as a heretic. Nearby is St. Mary’s Church, a twin-towered gothic church where Luther preached the Reformation, got married (1525), and baptized his six children. In the Castle Church we will see Luther’s tomb and gather outside the doors where Luther posted his 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences—and launched the Reformation in 1517. This afternoon we have free time and dinner at a restaurant of our choice. (Please note that some churches and museums may be closed in 2016 for renovations) (B/D)

Day 6: Tuesday, July 12, 2016: Leipzig, Eisleben
This morning we will drive to Leipzig for a walking tour of the city. Luther was here more than once, but Leipzig is really the town of Johann Sebastian Bach and he served as cantor in St. Thomas Church for 27 years. While in Leipzig we will also tour St. Nicholas’ Church and hear how the congregation was instrumental in the events that led to the collapse of the East German state in 1989, We will also admire the beautiful old city hall, which houses Katharina von Bora’s original wedding ring. We will end the day with dinner at our hotel in Eisleben. (B/D)

Day 7: Wednesday, July 13, 2016: Eisleben, Erfurt
Eisleben is where Luther was born and also where he died and it is sometimes referred to as his Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We’ll visit both these homes, as well as St. Anne’s, an old miner’s church famous for the Biblical Scenes hewn in stone. We will also visit St. Peter and St. Paul Church where Luther was baptized. Then we drive through the Thuringian countryside to Erfurt where Luther lived six years as a monk. We will have time to stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, and walk across the famous Krämer Bridge. We will stay in the Augustinian Monastery in Erfurt for two nights and soak up the atmosphere of this historic city. (B/D)

Day 8: Thursday, July 14, 2016: Eisenach, Erfurt
This morning we will visit Wartburg Castle, just outside Eisenach. This is where Martin Luther was captured for safety and translated the Bible into German in just 10 weeks. It’s only since then that ordinary folks are able to read the Bible in their mother’s language. We will return to Erfurt in the afternoon and join a local guide for a walking city tour, including St. Mary’s Cathedral where Luther was ordained as a priest and the Medieval Kramer Bridge, on which 33 dwellings are built. We will have a service in the monastery, then a free evening to dine in the restaurant of our choice (B)

Day 9: Friday, July 15, 2016: Nuremberg, Munich
On our way to Bavaria, we will stop in Nuremberg, which is well known for its long tradition of toy manufacturing. Nuremberg was also the city where the Nazis held their party rallies in the 1930s, and the Documentation Center presents this history on the rally grounds where it occurred. We will have a guided tour of Munich and dine at our hotel, where we will stay for two nights. (B/D)

Day 10: Saturday, July 16, 2016: Oberammergau, Munich
Today we will enjoy some of the highlights of Bavaria, including a tour of the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle and the Baroque splendor of Wieskirche. In the afternoon we go to the village of Oberammergau and have a guided tour of the famous Passion Play Theater, where the Passion Play has been performed every ten years or so, since the Middle Ages (next performance is in 2020). We will have free time to enjoy the woodworking shops before we return to Munich for dinner in the Pilsner House Restaurant. (B/D)

Day 11: Sunday, July 17, 2016: Depart
After breakfast, we will depart for Munich Airport for flights back to the USA. (B/IF)

Reformation Tours reserves the rights to alter itineraries without notice should it become necessary. While on tour, if conditions necessitate changes, or if certain features are unavailable or limited, we reserve the right to vary or substitute alternatives. All prices are calculated at the exchange rate in effect at the time of this quotation. Should currency fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price the adjusted price will be reflected in the final invoice.

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!

Berlin, Germany
July 8-10, 2016
Best Western Plus Amedia Hotel
Kurfürstendamm 203
10719 Berlin

Wittenberg, Germany
July 10-12, 2016
Luther Hotel
Neustraße 7-10
D-06886 Wittenberg

Luther Hotel, Wittenberg

Eisleben, Germany
July 12-13, 2016
Hotel Graf von Mansfeld
Markt 56
06295 Eisleben

Erfurt, Germany
July 13-15, 2016
Augustinian Monastery
Augustinerstraße 10
99084 Erfurt

Munich, Germany
July 15-17, 2016
Leonardo Hotel & Residence
Heimgartenstraße 14
81539 Munich

Flight Information

Please arrange to be in Berlin on the morning of  July 8, 2016.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel nights in Berlin. We can either assist you with flights or you can book your own. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

July 8, 2016: Please arrive in Berlin in the morning, preferably before 10 AM.

July 17, 2016: You can depart from Munich at any time.

Group air is not available for this tour (minimum of 10) but we recommend the following itinerary:

What’s included in the land price of $2,499?

Price based on a minimum of 20 participants

• Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coach
• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior tourist and moderate first-class hotels
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Professional Lutheran tour escort throughout the tour
• Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
• Entrance fees included as per itinerary
• All transfers, as a group
• Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
• All taxes and tips

Your Tour Does Not Include

• Air transportation, related taxes & fees
• Single supplement ($250)
• Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
• Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for months beyond return date.
• Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)

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 March 2016
•   Final payment is due by April 23, 2016
•   Reservations will be accepted after April 23, 2016, subject to availability

Insurance

The unexpected can happen, so we recommend our travelers insure everything that is pre-paid and non-refundable. If you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a policy covered reason then as travelers you have  “door-to-door” coverage and peace of mind. CLICK HERE for a quote or to purchase insurance.

To purchase travel insurance you will need to provide the following:

•  Names & ages of travelers
•  Trip cost (this can be adjusted later if you don’t have the air yet)
•  Travel dates
•  Your mailing address, phone, email or fax # for your travel docs delivery
•  Date of your initial tour deposit

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.

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