Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Friday, June 3, 2022: Fly to Berlin
Our journey to explore the sites and heroes of the Reformation begins with an overnight flight to Berlin. If you’d like to arrive a day or two early, here are some ideas for exploring Berlin.  (IF)

Day 2: Saturday, June 4, 2022: Berlin, Wittenberg 
Welcome to Germany! On arrival in Berlin, travelers will transfer to our centrally located hotel. After time to explore the nearby Kaiser Wilhelm Church, 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.) Our afternoon bus orientation tour will include a stop at the famous Brandenburg Gate for photos. We’ll then go back to the time of Luther as we visit Lutherstadt-Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Reformation. This evening we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner and spend our first night in Wittenberg. (IF/D)

Day 3: Sunday, June 5, 2022: Wittenberg
This morning is at leisure, with the opportunity to attend a church service at St. Mary’s (in German) where Luther regularly preached. In the afternoon our local guide will take us on 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 also revisit 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, as well as some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, and early Bibles. The rest of the day will be free to explore independently. (B)

Day 4: Monday, June 6, 2022: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we will visit Eisleben, one of Luther’s favorite towns. This is where he was born and also where he died, so it is sometimes referred to as his Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We’ll visit both these homes with our guide, 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. We will then continue to Erfurt and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 5: Tuesday, June 7, 2022: 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. Luther spent time in the nearby town of Eisenach as a schoolboy and sang in the choir of St. George’s Church, where the Bach family also worshiped. We will have lunch together, then return to Erfurt. Our local guide will take us on a tour including viewing St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Severus, and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. The evening is at leisure. (B/L)

Day 6: Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Erfurt, Mainz
We will begin our day with a tour of 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 stained glass windows are mostly original from Luther’s time and inspired his seal. At the end of the tour we will have a group worship service in the chapel. On our way to the Rhine River, we will watch a Reformation DVD. 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 stay overnight in Mainz and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 7: Thursday, June 9, 2022: Rhine Cruise, Worms, Heidelberg
What better way to start the day than with a Rhine cruise! We’ll board the boat and sail past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock to St. Goar. Every bend in the river brings more stunning scenery, ships pass left & right, and numerous trains roar up and down the Rhine River valley. From there we will drive to Worms, where 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, followed by a visit to the Church of the Holy Trinity.  Tonight’s dinner will be in a winery, then we will check in to our hotel in Heidelberg. (B/D)

Day 8: Friday, June 10, 2022: Heidelberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber
We have visit Heidelberg Castle this morning which boasts the world’s largest wine barrel, a fascinating history and a stunning view. We will then drive to Rothenburg, the most picturesque and well-preserved of the towns along the famous “Romantic Road”. It’s one of Germany’s very best walled medieval cities, most of the buildings were built by 1400. We will begin with a walk along the city wall. Inside St. Jacob’s Church we will see the famous carved “Holy Blood Altar” by Tilman Riemenschneider. We will continue through the lower town gate into the area where the castle once stood. Some may wish to shop at the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt store. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 9: Saturday, June 11, 2022: Neuschwanstein, Wieskirche, Oberammergau
We will travel south today using the fabled “Romantic Road,” Germany’s most famous and popular tourist route which runs for 350 romantic kilometers across a rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps. Neuschwanstein Castle was constructed in the later 18th century for Bavarian King Ludwig II, who wanted a medieval style castle. We’ll pass small historic villages full of their original charm, including the small village of Wies. This is home to the famous rococo Wieskirche and we will have a tour of this beautiful baroque church. We will end our day in our 4-star hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Day 10: Sunday, June 12, 2022: Oberammergau
We will transfer to Oberammergau this morning and have time to shop or explore locally on our own. We will eat lunch together before Part One of the Play, which begins at 2:30 PM. There is a break for dinner from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and we will dine together in a restaurant in Oberammergau. Part Two ends at 10:30 PM and then we will board our bus to return to our hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Monday, June 13, 2022: Munich
After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel to Munich for a combined bus and walking tour. Our local guide will take us to the Cathedral, the Marienplatz, the Nymphenburg Palace (outside) and other iconic sights in the Old Town. The afternoon is at leisure for last minute shopping or a relaxed coffee and cake. This evening we finish our fun tour with a farewell Bavarian meal in an authentic Bavarian beer garden. We will overnight in Munich. (B/D)

Day 12: Tuesday, June 14, 2022: Fly
We will provide transfers for morning flights back to the USA. Post-tour nights in Munich are available on request and here are some ideas for exploring Munich. (B)

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!

Berlin, Germany (pre-tour)
June 3-4, 2022
Park Inn by Radisson Berlin
Alexanderplatz 7
10178 Berlin

Wittenberg, Germany
June 4-6, 2022
Brauhaus Wittenberg
Markt 6
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
June 6-8, 2022
Augustinian Monastery
Augustinerstraße 10
99084 Erfurt

Mainz, Germany
June 8-9, 2022
Novotel Hotel Mainz
Augustusstraße 6
55131 Mainz

Heidelberg, Germany
June 9-10, 2022
Hotel Holländer Hof
Neckarstaden 66
69117 Heidelberg

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany
June 10-11, 2022
Hotel – Gasthaus Schranne
Schrannenplatz 6
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Oberammergau Area
June 11-13, 2022
Hotel Seinz
Kurhausstrasse 1
Bad Kohlgrub, 82433

Munich, Germany (same hotel for post-tour)
June 13-14, 2022
Flemings Hotel München-Schwabing
Leopoldstraße 130-132
80804 München

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.

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

Group air is not available on this tour as we don’t have 10+ traveling together.

Option 1: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking.

Option 2: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of June 4, 2022 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Berlin. You are welcome to depart at any time on June 14, 2022. Please send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

Please note that if you would like to use air miles you will need to book directly with the airline.

We can arrange pre-tour nights in Berlin and post-tour nights in Munich, but due to the volume of tours in 2022, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.

What’s included in the land price of *$3,699?

*Price based on a minimum of 25 participants.

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 3-star and moderate 4-star hotels
•   Category 1 seats for the Oberammergau Passion Play
•   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
•   Group arrival and departure transfers
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips, including the driver and guides

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation
•   Individual arrival and departure transfers
•   Single supplement ($850)
•   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)

Payment Schedule

The deposits can be paid online or by check sent to Reformation Tours, 64 Fiesta Cir, St. Louis, MO 63146.

Postponed travelers – if you have a credit voucher we will send you an updated invoice, so there’s no need to send the initial deposit.

•   Initial deposit of $1,000 will secure your place on the tour
•   Final invoices will be sent in February 2022
•   Final payment is due by March 25, 2022
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 25, 2022, subject to availability

Insurance

We will continue to assist clients who have a current policy with Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. Travelers who had a policy in 2020 or 2021 have credit towards a new policy.

If you don’t have insurance yet, Squaremouth is an award-winning company which helps travelers search, compare, and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price. We recommend using the following filters: trip interruption, coronavirus pandemic, travel delay ($500), emergency medical ($100,000), medical evacuation ($100,000), baggage delay and baggage loss.  Please read these instructions and if you still need assistance you can e-mail us and request a quote.

For other questions relating to Covid and travel insurance, please click here.

Cancellation

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. All cancellations must be in writing and the date of postmark will determine the amount of refund due. 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. Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.

Oberammergau ticket deposits ($750) are non-refundable, but we will endeavor to find replacement travelers.

The following cancellation penalties apply, unless otherwise noted on the tour documentation:

From time of deposit to until December 8, 2021: $850 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From December 9 – April 21, 2022: $1,350 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From April 22-May 5, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 60% of land costs plus any non-refundable deposits
From May 6 – May 19, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 80% of land costs any non-refundable deposits
From May 20, 2022 to departure: No refund

Terms and Conditions

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: 1 Euro = $1.1864. Should currency fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price, the adjusted price will be reflected in the final invoice.

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Please note that all travelers are required to be fully-vaccinated against Covid.