Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Friday, September 12, 2025: Depart
We will depart from the USA. Group flights can be arranged. Reformation Tours can also arrange pre-tour nights in Berlin for anyone who wishes to travel before the tour begins. (IF)

Day 2: Saturday, September 13, 2025: Berlin, Wittenberg
Welcome to Germany! On arrival in Berlin, travelers will transfer to the centrally located hotel. After time to explore, purchase lunch, and shop, we will gather back at the hotel to begin the tour (time will be confirmed once we know all the flight arrival times.) We will start with a panoramic sightseeing tour of the reunified German capital, highlighting the Reichstag (parliament building), the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the refurbished city center, and Gendarmenmarkt. We will also see Alexanderplatz, the famous boulevard “Unter den Linden,” and the Berlin Cathedral. We will continue to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg and check-in. We will dine in our hotel this evening, then go to the weekly Wittenberg English Ministry service.  (B/D)

Day 3: Sunday, September 14, 2025: Wittenberg
We will have a free morning to attend a church service or have free time. After lunch, we will take a tour of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. It was here in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church (Schlosskirche). Although the original doors were destroyed in the Seven Years War, we can see Luther’s texts cast in bronze on the new doors. We will visit St. Mary’s Church, where Luther regularly preached, and visit the Old Latin School next door. Luther’s former home, the Lutherhalle, is now a Reformation Museum, and we will see where he lived with his family (if it’s reopened), as well as some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts and early Bibles. We can arrange for a time of fellowship today with the Wittenberg English Ministry. The rest of the day will be free to explore independently. (B)

Day 4: Monday, September 15, 2025: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we will drive to Eisleben, where Luther was born and also where he died. It is sometimes referred to as his “Bethlehem and Jerusalem”. We will visit both of these homes, as well as St. Anne’s, an old miner’s church famous for the Biblical Scenes hewn in stone. St. Peter and St. Paul Church is where Luther was baptized, and St. Andrews is where he preached his last sermon. In the afternoon, we will continue on to Erfurt (via Stottenheim) and dine together. (B/D)

Day 5: Tuesday, September 16, 2025: Erfurt
This morning, we will have a walking tour, including St. Mary’s Cathedral, Church of St. Severus, and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. We will also tour the Augustinian Monastery, where Luther became a monk on July 17, 1505. We will be able to see his monastic quarters, including one cell furnished to look as it would have when he lived there. The rest of the day is at leisure, or we can join the optional tour to Buchenwald.  (B)

Day 6: Wednesday, September 17, 2025: Eisenach, Erfurt
In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We will tour the Wartburg and see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. We will have some free time in Eisenach to visit the Bach House, Luther House and St. George’s Church.  We will return to Erfurt and have a group dinner in the Augustiner Restaurant. (B/D)

Day 7: Thursday, September 18, 2025: Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber
We will drive down to Rothenburg this morning, the most picturesque and well-preserved of the towns along the famous “Romantic Road”. It is one of Germany’s very best walled medieval cities – most of the buildings were built by 1400. Our walking tour of the town will include St Jacob’s Church and the City walls. After an early dinner, we will join the Night Watchman Tour on his nightly rounds. (B/D)

Day 8: Friday, September 19, 2025: Heidelberg
Today we will visit Heidelberg, a city with a fascinating history. The Heidelberg Confession was drafted by Zacharius Ursinus (age 28) and Caspar Olevianus (age 26). After free time for lunch, we will visit Heidelberg Castle which boasts the world’s largest wine barrel, and a stunning view. The evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Saturday, September 20, 2025: Worms, Mainz (World Children’s Day)
In Worms, we will tour the Cathedral, followed by 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 in 1521. We’ll have a photo stop at the stunning Reformation Monument and visit the Church of the Holy Trinity. In Mainz, we will tour the Gutenberg Museum, which celebrates the work of Johannes Gutenberg, who invented book printing with movable letters. This led to the media revolution and the spread of Reformation teaching. We will have dinner with wine-tasting this evening. (B/D)

Day 10: Sunday, September 21, 2025: Frankfurt, Mainz
We will attend Sunday morning service at Trinity Lutheran in Frankfurt, where Rev. Bob Flohrs served as pastor for many years. This is an English-speaking congregation.  We will have lunch, with some invited members of the congregation (plan for 4). We will enjoy a leisurely Rhine Cruise in the afternoon before returning to our hotel to pack. (B/L)

Day 11: Monday, September 22, 2025: Return
We will transfer to Frankfurt Airport for our flights back to the USA.. (B/D)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

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!

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Once the tour is a guaranteed departure our air team can assist you with booking flights and transfers. If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.

Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.

Flight Information

*Please do not book non-refundable flights until the tour is a guaranteed departure. Our air team will be happy to assist you with flights.

Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in Berlin no later than 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Pre-tour night is available)

Departure: You are welcome to depart from Frankfurt at any time on Monday, September 22, 2025.

Pre- and post-tour nights can be booked through us.

What’s included in the tour price?

Price based on a minimum of 20 tour 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 taxes and tips – including tour director and driver

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation and related taxes and fees
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Single supplement
•   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
•   Baggage handling (let us know if you need assistance)

Payment Schedule

•   The deposit of $350 per person is due at the time of booking through the registration system. As you register you will be given the option to pay by ACH (direct from your bank) or by credit card (3.5% fee). If you prefer, checks can be mailed to “Reformation Tours”, 12316 244th St, Chisago City, MN 55013-9688.
•   Final invoices will be sent in May 2025
•   Final payment is due by June 18, 2025
•   Reservations will be accepted after June 18, 2025, subject to availability

Insurance

There are two levels of insurance offered. Click here to compare. When you fill out the registration form, you will be given quotes for both.

Standard is 4.55% of the trip cost and can be purchased up until 2 days prior to departure, although we recommend purchasing it before.

Enhanced is 7.6% of the trip cost and includes cancel for any reason benefits. It has to be purchased within 14 days of registration.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly, so we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance:

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.

Terms and Conditions

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