Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Sunday, June 13, 2020: Arrival in Amsterdam
We will depart on our overnight flight to Amsterdam. (IF)

Day 2: Monday, June 14, 2020:  Amsterdam
Upon arrival at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, we will be welcomed by our driver and tour escort who will transfer us to the city center of Amsterdam. The capital of the Netherlands consists of 70 islands which are separated by nearly 50 miles of canals and connected by more than 1000 bridges. Our first acquaintance with this beautiful city will be by boat. We will enjoy a narrated canal excursion, passing gabled warehouses, noble mansions, arched bridges, and colorful houseboats. Afterward we will transfer to our hotel in Amsterdam for check-in and have our welcome dinner. (IF/D)

Day 3: Tuesday, June 15, 2020: Amsterdam
After breakfast we will enjoy a guided walking tour of the capital of the Netherlands. During the tour we will see the Our Lord in the Attic Museum, a church hidden in the attic of a seventeenth-century house from the Dutch Golden Age. We will see the Dam Square with its Royal Palace, the Koepelkerk,  National Monument, and sights from the history of the Lutheran church in Amsterdam, such as the West Indisch Huis (West Indian House) a former orphanage, the Claeszhofje, a courtyard surrounded by almshouses (charitable housing) of the denomination, and De Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). This monumental church is known as the place where Queen Beatrix was officially inaugurated and where the wedding between King Willem Alexander and Princess Maxima took place. Next we will walk to De Westerkerk, a 17th-century Protestant church which is the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. We will view the Anne Frank House, located mere footsteps from the Westerkerk. After lunch on our own, we will continue on foot to the Biblical Museum where we will see models of the temple of Solomon and Herod and the Tabernacle, constructed with the utmost precision from precious materials. Afterward we will see the Old Lutheran Church, the first Lutheran church in Amsterdam, located in former warehouses and stroll through the Begijnhof, one of Amsterdam’s best known almshouses. Via the Bloemenmarkt, the only floating flower market in the world, we will walk to the Waterlooplein (Waterloo Square) with its famous market, the Rembrandt House and the Portuguese Synagogue. The evening will be at leisure. (B)

Day 4: Wednesday, June 16, 2020: Alkmaar, Witmarsum, Volendam, Amsterdam
This morning we will visit Alkmaar to enjoy a guided city tour, including a tour of the Cheese Museum. After lunch on our own in Alkmaar, we will depart by coach to Witmarsum, the birthplace of Menno Simons, the influential Anabaptist leader.  We will visit the Menno Simon Monument near Witmarsum,  marking the spot where he preached. In  nearby Pingjum, we will see a film at the Baptist Church about his life. On our way back to Amsterdam, we will visit the picturesque village of Volendam. Although Volendam’s fishing industry is no longer flourishing, the harbor area with its many boats is still bustling. Volendam’s traditional costume is one of the best known examples of ancient clothing in Holland. This evening we will return to Amsterdam and have dinner on our own.(B)

Day 5: Thursday, June 17, 2020: Amsterdam, Basel, Lucerne
After breakfast we will board our train in Amsterdam and take the scenic journey to Basel, Switzerland. On arrival we will board our bus and meet our Swiss guide. We will have a city tour of Basel including the romantic Old Town. The narrow streets have houses dating back to the Middle Ages. The cathedral dates back to the 13th century and houses the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam, the famous Dutch philosopher and theologian. The city is regarded as the cradle of the Reformation in Switzerland due to the printing of many translations of the New Testament in Greek and Latin with Reformation texts. While he was living in Basel, Calvin began working on the first edition of The Institutes of the Christian Religion, which appeared in 1536. After our tour, we will transfer to our hotel in Lucerne. After check-in and time to freshen up, we will have a traditional Swiss dinner together. (B/D)

Day 6: Friday, June 18, 2020: Lucerne
After breakfast this morning, we will start with a boat trip on Lake Lucerne to Alpnachstad. Then we will ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway and visit the top of Mount Pilatus. We will breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the stunning views from above! At the top, we will have some free time for lunch on our own. We will then make our way down by Panorama Gondola and Aerial Cable car and again be amazed by the view. The evening is at leisure to relax in Lucerne. (B)

Day 7: Saturday, June 19, 2020: Lucerne, Einsiedeln, Zurich
This morning we will have a guided walking tour of the medieval streets of Lucerne, including the Old Town, the Kornmarkt (grain market), the Old Town Hall, a fine Renaissance building, and the restored houses at the Hirschenplatz and the Weinmark decorated with paintings and guild flags. We will walk along the famous Chapel Bridge and see the  Jesuits’ Church, which dates back to 1667. On the way to Zurich,  we will drive to Einsiedeln Abbey for a guided tour.  The monastery complex includes not only the living space for monks but also a diocese school, ten workshops, a wine cellar for the monastery’s own wine and stables for the monastery’s own breed of horses. Einsiedeln has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1000 years. Zwingli came to the monastery in 1516 and spent two years serving as a preacher. He also used his time for intensive Bible study. We will have dinner and overnight in Zurich. (B/D)

Day 8: Sunday, June 20, 2020: Zurich
After breakfast we will have a guided city tour and learn about how the Reformation came about in Zurich. In 1519, Huldrych Zwingli became lay priest at Zurich’s Grossmünster church, putting Zurich at the heart of the Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland. He also paved the way for a social welfare system, the core of which remains unchanged to this day. guided tour of Zurich: the historical guildhouses and medieval churches on the banks of the Limmat river, the lake with its parks and harbors, the elegant shopping area of the Bahnhofstrasse and the banking and university district.  We will see the famous Chagall stained-glass windows at Fraumunster church and visit the Cathedral (Grossmünster) erected between the 11th and 13th centuries. Zurich is home of the Reformation in German-speaking Switzerland. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Monday, June 21, 2020: Depart
We will transfer to the airport in Zurich for our flights to the US. (B/IF)

We are also offering a special discounted rate for anyone would like to add a post-tour to Germany to see the Oberammergau Passion Play. The 5-day post-tour includes Munich, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Palace, and Category 1 seating for the Passion Play. Click here for details.  The discounted post-tour price of $1,999 includes the flight from Zurich to Munich.

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!

Amsterdam, Netherlands
June 14-17, 2020
Sir Albert Hotel Amsterdam de Pijp or similar
Albert Cuypstraat 2-6
1072 CT Amsterdam

Lucerne, Switzerland
June 17-19, 2020
Hotel Monopol or similar
Pilatusstrasse 1
6002 Luzern

Zurich, Switzerland
June 19-21, 2020
FIFA Hotel Ascot or similar
Tessinerplatz 9
8002 Zurich

Flight Information

When this tour is a guaranteed departure, we will be able to start making air reservations. Various flight booking options will be available at that time. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.

Option 1: For 10+ traveling together, we can provide a group air booking. Payment is due with final payment in February 2020.

Option 2: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking.

Option 3: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of June 14, 2020 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Amsterdam. You are welcome to depart at any time on June 21. Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare, and 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 Amsterdam and post-tour nights in Zurich, 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 *$2,699?

*Price based on a minimum of 25 participants.

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in 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 transfers, as a group
•   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
•   Single supplement ($730)
•   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

•   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.
•   If you are adding the Passion Play, there is a second deposit of $500 per person due by May 1, 2019.
•   Final invoices will be sent in January 2020
•   Final payment is due by February 15, 2020
•   Reservations will be accepted after February 15, 2020, subject to availability

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 $2,699 – $500 x 6.14% = $136. 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:

From time of deposit to 100 days before departure: $100 cancellation penalty
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 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.
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.