Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Thursday, August 13, 2020: Depart
We will depart from the USA. Group flights can be arranged from Portland, OR. Reformation Tours can also arrange pre-tour nights in Berlin for anyone who wishes to travel before the tour begins. (IF)

Day 2: Friday, August 14, 2020 Berlin, Wittenberg
Welcome to Germany! On arrival in Berlin, travelers will transfer to the Hotel Movenpick. 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.) We will start our Reformation Tour 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 our hotel. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 3: Saturday, August 15, 2020: Wittenberg
This morning 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 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, as well as some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, and early Bibles. We will arrange for a time of fellowship today, either in the Old Lutheran School, or with the Wittenberg English Ministry. The rest of the day will be free to explore independently. (B)

Day 4: Sunday, August 16, 2020: Erfurt
This morning we will drive to Erfurt. Our local guide will take us on a tour including St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Severin’s Church 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. (B/D)

Day 5: Monday, August 17, 2020: Eisenach, Rudesheim
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. In the afternoon we will travel down to the Rhine region and check in to our hotel in Rudesheim. We will have dinner in the stunning Eberbach Abbey. (B/D)

Day 6: Tuesday, August 18, 2020: Rhine Cruise, Rothenburg
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. We will continue on to medieval Rothenburg, where we will have leisure time to shop, walk around the walls and explore the town. This evening we will have the option of joining the Night Watchman on his nightly tour (public tour). (B)

Day 7: Wednesday, August 19, 2020: Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau
This morning we will drive down the Romantic Road to Neuschwanstein and tour this gorgeous fairy tale castle. We’ll end the day at our hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Day 8: Thursday, August 20, 2020: Oberammergau
The morning will be free to stroll around Oberammergau before eating lunch and heading to the Passion Play. The seven-hour performance is truly a moving experience as we witness the passion of Jesus, recalling how He gave His life so that we might be forgiven. Gathered together with Christians from around the globe, this once-a-decade play is an unforgettable experience. (B/L/D)

Day 9: Friday, August 21, 2020: Munich
After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel up to Munich. In the afternoon, we will have a walking tour of Munich, including the Cathedral, the Marienplatz, and the Old Town. This evening we will finish our fun tour with a farewell Bavarian meal in a traditional restaurant. We will overnight in Munich. (B/D)

Day 10: Saturday, August 22, 2020: Return
We will leave this morning and drive to Munich Airport for our flight home. A post-tour to Salzburg can be arranged for anyone who’d like to extend their time in Europe. (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!

Optional pre-tour hotel in Berlin, Germany for $100 per person
August 13-14, 2020
Movenpick Hotel
Schöneberger Strasse 3
10963  Berlin

Wittenberg, Germany
August 14-16, 2020
Luther Hotel
Neustraße 7-10
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
August 16-17, 2020
Augustinian Monastery
Augustinerstrase 10
99084 Erfurt

Rüdesheim, Germany
August 17-18, 2020
Central Hotel
Kirchstraße 6
65385 Rüdesheim am Rhein

Rothenburg, Germany
August 18-19, 2020
Akzent Hotel Schranne
Schrannenpl 6
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Oberammergau, Germany area
August 19-21, 2020
Hotel Schillingshof 
Fallerstraße 11
82433 Bad Kohlgrub

Munich, Germany
August 21-22, 2020
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. There’s no group air option, as we don’t have a minimum of 10 traveling together. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.

Option 1: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking. Please note we are currently not purchasing any new flights, as airlines are so affected by the coronavirus.

Option 2: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of August 14, 2020 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 August 22. 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 2020, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.

What’s included in the land price of *$2,999?

*Price based on a minimum of 30 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
•   Shuttle bus transportation in the Oberammergau area
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary (water is included with dinners)
•   Merrill Mixer as tour guide throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary not referred to as optional
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   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
•   Single supplement ($780)
•   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.
•   End of tour tips to the driver and tour guide
•   Passenger trip cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)

Payment Schedule

•   Initial deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all checks to Reformation Tours, P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Second  deposit of $500 is due by February 1, 2019
•   Final invoices will be sent in March, 2020
•   Final payment not due to the Passion Play’s cancellation

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company.  We offer all of our travelers post-departure insurance coverage (up to $500 of coverage.) If you would like to have pre-tour cancellation and trip interruption coverage, the upgrade cost depends on the tour price. It’s approximately the tour cost (minus the $500 that we cover) x 6.14%.  To insure your land costs, the price is $2,999 – $500 x 6.14% = $154. A quote will automatically be added to your invoice and updated once the air cost is available.

Cancellation

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:

Oberammergau ticket deposits ($650) are non-refundable, but we will endeavor to find replacement travelers.

From time of deposit to until December 1, 2019: $350 cancellation penalty
From December 1, 2019 to 15 days prior to departure: $650 cancellation penalty 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.

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