Trip Itinerary

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

Optional Pre-Tour Package ($250 per person / $370 in single)

Pre-Tour Day 1: Friday, May 13, 2022: Fly to Berlin
Those on the pre-tour will depart from the USA today. Group flights are available from LAX. (IF)

Pre-Tour Day 2: Saturday, May 14, 2022: Berlin
On arrival in Berlin, we will transfer to our centrally-located hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. (IF)

Pre-Tour Day 3: Sunday, May 15, 2022: Berlin
This morning we will have the opportunity to attend a service at Berlin Cathedral, followed by a guided tour. In the afternoon we will visit the Pergamon Museum which contains treasures such as the Greek Pergamon Altar, the Roman Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate and Processional Way of Babylon. We will dine together this evening at a local restaurant. (B/D)

Day 1: Sunday, May 15, 2022: Fly to Berlin
Our journey to explore the sites and heroes of the Reformation will begin with an overnight flight to Berlin. Early arrivals are welcome to meet up for an optional dinner at a local restaurant. (IF)

Day 2: Monday, May 16, 2022: Berlin, Wittenberg
Welcome to Germany! On arrival in Berlin, travelers will transfer to the centrally-located hotel in Berlin. After time to explore the local area, we will meet at the hotel  for a welcome lunch. 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/L/D)

Day 3: Tuesday, May 17, 2022: 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. The rest of the day is free to explore independently with vouchers for museum entries. (B)

Day 4: Wednesday, May 18, 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: Thursday, May 19, 2022: Eisenach, Erfurt
We will have an excursion this morning to the Wartburg Castle, near Eisenach. 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 castle and see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. We will have a medieval-themed lunch in Erfurt, then return to Erfurt. Our walking tour will focus on Martin Luther’s life as a student before he joining the Augustinian monks, including viewing St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Severus, and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. (B/L)

Day 6: Friday, May 20, 2022: Erfurt, Mainz
Luther called the Augustinian Monastery his spiritual home and he became a monk in Erfurt 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. In the afternoon we will drive down towards the Rhine region. On arrival in Mainz, we will visit the Gutenberg Museum, then dine in a local restaurant. (B/D)

Day 7: Saturday, May 21, 2022: Rhine Cruise, Worms, Heidelberg
What better way to start the day than with a Rhine cruise! We’ll board the boat in Bingen 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: Sunday, May 22, 2022: Heidelberg, Rothenburg
We have a leisurely morning today. We can either attend church, relax, or visit Heidelberg Castle 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 and 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. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 9: Monday, May 23, 2022: Romantic Road, Oberammergau
We will travel south today using the fabled “Romantic Road,” Germany’s most famous and popular tourist route. 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 also visit Neuschwanstein Castle, built for Bavarian King Ludwig II.  We will end our day in our 4-star hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Day 10: Tuesday, May 24, 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: Wednesday, May 25, 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: Thursday, May 26, 2022: Fly
We will provide transfers for morning flights back to the USA. Post-tour nights in Munich are available on request. (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!

• Pre-tour 2 night Berlin package: $250 in double room / $270 in single
  
• Pre-tour night: $125 in double room / $200 in single

Berlin, Germany (same hotel for pre-tours)
May 15-16, 2022
Park Inn by Radisson Berlin
Alexanderplatz 7
10178 Berlin

Wittenberg, Germany
May 16-18, 2022
Luther-Hotel Wittenberg
Collegienstraße 62
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Erfurt, Germany
May 18-20, 2022
Augustinian Monastery
Augustinerstraße 10
99084 Erfurt

Mainz, Germany
May 20-21, 2022
Novotel Hotel Mainz
Augustusstraße 6
55131 Mainz

Heidelberg, Germany
May 21-22, 2022
The Heidelberg Exzellenz Hotel
Rohrbacher Straße 29
69115 Heidelberg

Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber, Germany
May 22-23, 2022
Hotel – Gasthaus Schranne
Schrannenplatz 6
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Oberammergau Area
May 23-25, 2022
Hotel Seinz
Kurhausstrasse 1
Bad Kohlgrub, 82433

Munich, Germany (Same hotel for post-tour)
May 25-26, 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

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

Option 1: If we have at least 10 from Los Angeles on the 2-day pre-tour, then we can offer a group flight option.

Option 2: 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 May 16, 2022 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, there’s a 1 or 2-day pre-tour option.  You are welcome to depart at any time on May 26, 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 35 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, other than for the driver and tour director

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   2 night Pre-Tour Berlin Package: $250 in double / $270 in single
•   1 Pre-Tour night in Berlin: $125 in double / $200 in single
•   1 Post-Tour night in Munich: $125 in double / $200 in single
•   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)
•   Tips for the driver and tour director

Payment Schedule

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

•   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 6, 2022
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 6, 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 November 19, 2021: $850 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From November 20, 2021, to April 2, 2022: $1,350 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From April 3-16, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 60% of land costs plus any non-refundable deposits
From April 17 – 30, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 80% of land costs any non-refundable deposits
From May 1 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.

Once this form is submitted, you will receive an instant email confirmation. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox.

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