Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Thursday, May 16, 2024: Overnight flights
Our journey begins as we board our international flight to Berlin, Germany. Pre-tour nights are available in Berlin if you’d like to rest after the journey. (IF)

Day 2: Friday, May 17, 2024: Arrival in Berlin, Wittenberg
Upon our early evening arrival in Berlin, we meet our tour leader and coach driver and transfer to our hotel in Wittenberg. We will have a Welcome Meal together this evening. (B/D)

Day 3: Saturday, May 18, 2024: Wittenberg
We will begin our time in Germany with a guided 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.  Lutherhalle (Luther House) Museum. is currently closed for renovations, but the special exhibition “Literally Luther. Facets of a Reformer” will be open in the nearby Augusteum. In 1508, when Martin Luther came to Wittenberg, he lived in the Lutherhalle with other Augustinian Monks. Later, Luther and his wife, Katharina von Bora, raised six children here. We will dine together this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Sunday, May 19, 2024: Berlin, Wittenberg
This morning is at leisure to attend a church service (in German) or explore the town. In the afternoon we will have an excursion to Berlin. The panoramic tour of the city will include photo stops. We’ll see the famous Brandenburg Gate, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Cathedral, the Reichstag building and the lively boulevards. This city has undergone momentous changes since reunification. We will stop to visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, then return to Wittenberg. The evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 5: Monday, May 20, 2024: Erfurt
On arrival in 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. We will end our tour at 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. At the end of the tour, we will have a group worship service in the chapel. The evening is at leisure. (B)

Day 6: Tuesday, May 21, 2024: Eisenach, Speyer
This morning we will visit nearby Eisenach, for a tour of the Wartburg Castle, where Luther translated the New Testament into German. 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. The afternoon will be free to explore the town or tour the Bach Museum and Luther House Museum before we drive down to Speyer for our group dinner. (B/D)

Day 7: Wednesday, May 22, 2024: Rhine Cruise, Mainz, Worms, Heidelberg, Speyer
What better way to start the day than with a Rhine cruise! We will board the boat and sail past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock to St. Goar. Every bend in the river will bring 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 will have a photo stop at the stunning Reformation Monument, then visit Heidelberg to view the famous castle. Tonight’s dinner will be in a family-owned winery and our meal will include tasting 4 local wines.  We will return to Speyer for a second overnight. (B/D)

Day 8: Thursday, May 23, 2024:  Frankweiler, Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber
As the church is celebrating our 150^th anniversary, we will have a special trip to Frankweiler today, which has been the sister city of Cullman, AL in 1987. We will have a guided tour including the birthplace of Colonel John Cullmann. We will have lunch today with local people and hear more about the town twinning project. We will continue to Rothenburg, 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. We will dine in our hotel this evening.  (B/L/D)

Day 9: Friday, May 24, 2024: Romantic Road, Munich
We will begin with a walk along the city wall. On our tour of St. Jacob’s Church we will see the famous carved “Holy Blood Altar” by Tilman Riemenschneider. We will also have some time to shop at the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt store. We will travel south today using the fabled “Romantic Road,” Germany’s most famous and popular tourist route which runs through a rich and varied cultural landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps. In the afternoon we will have a walking tour of Munich, including the Cathedral, the Marienplatz, and the Old Town. This evening is at leisure to explore Munich. (B)

Day 10: Saturday, May 25, 2024: Bavarian Castles, Munich
Today is castle day! We will have a brief stop to see the Baroque paintings in the Wieskirche, then we will tour the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Disney Palace. Those would prefer can visit Hohenschwangau Palace which involves fewer stairs.  In the afternoon we will visit Linderhof Palace and Gardens and we’ll have dinner in the Ettal Monastery, which brews its own beer. We will return to Munich for our final overnight. (B/D)

Day 11: Sunday, May 26, 2024: Return
Our motor coach takes us to Munich airport for our return flights home.

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!

Wittenberg, Germany
May 17-20, 2024
Marta Hotel (new name for Luther Hotel)
Neustraße 7-10
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
May 20-21, 2024
Mercure Hotel
Meienbergstr. 26-27
99084 Erfurt

Speyer, Germany
May 21-23, 2024
Hotel Löwengarten
Schwerdstrasse 14
67346 Speyer

Rothenburg, Germany
May 23-24, 2024
Hotel Rappen
Vorm Würzburger Tor 10
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Munich, Germany
May 24-26, 2024
Maritim Hotel
Goethestraße 7
80336 Munich

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

Various flight booking options are available for this tour, including group air.

Option 1: We have reserved group air flights from Birmingham, AL

Option 2: You may request a flight quote from us when the tour is a guaranteed departure 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 in Berlin on the morning of Friday, May 17, 2024 no later than 5:00 PM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Berlin. You are welcome to depart from Munich at any time on Sunday, May 26, 2024.  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.

What’s included in the land price $3,399 / Land and air $4,999?

*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
•   Group arrival and departure transfers
•   All taxes and tips, except as indicated below
•   Full color tour book
•   Personalized travel app

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation ($1,600 from Birmingham, AL)
•   Individual arrival and departure transfers
•   Single supplement $600)
•   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 (options available)
•   Gratuities for the tour director and driver

Payment Schedule

The deposit of $350 per person is due at the time of booking through the new GroupCollect 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
•   Final invoices will be sent in January 2024
•   Final payment is due by February 17, 2024
•   Reservations will be accepted after February 17, 2024 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

The following penalties apply plus any non-recoverable expenses such as hotel deposits and attraction costs that had been made by the time of cancellation. Travel insurance is highly recommended for all travelers.

From time of deposit until 100 days before departure: $100 per person.
From 99-30days prior to departure: $350 per person.
30 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.

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.

Terms and Conditions

Reformation Tours reserves the rights to alter itineraries without notice should it become necessary.

Please click on the button below to register.

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