Trip Itinerary

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

Day 1: Monday, September 19, 2022: Depart
We will depart from the USA. Group flights can be arranged. Reformation Tours can also arrange pre-tour nights in Berlin for anyone who wishes to travel before the tour begins. (IF)

Day 2: Tuesday, September 20, 2022: 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 in the early afternoon 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. (B/D)

Day 3: Wednesday, September 21, 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. 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: Thursday, September 22, 2022: Eisleben, Erfurt
This morning we will drive to Eisleben, where Luther was born and also where he died. It is sometimes referred to as his Bethlehem and Jerusalem. We will visit both of 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, and St. Andrews, where he preached his last sermon. In the afternoon, we will continue on to Erfurt. We will have a fun dinner tonight in a medieval-style restaurant featuring foods from Luther’s time. (B/D)

Day 5: Friday, September 23, 2022: Erfurt
This morning our local guide will take us on a tour including St. Mary’s Cathedral, Church of St. Severus, 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. The rest of the day will be at leisure.  (B)

Day 6: Saturday, September 24, 2022: Eisenach, Mainz
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. We will have some free time in Eisenach to visit the Bach House or Luther House before we drive down to our hotel in Mainz. We will have dinner in a local restaurant. (B/D)

Day 7: Sunday, September 25, 2022: 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 and 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 walk around the walls and explore the town. (B)

Day 8: Monday, September 26, 2022: Romantic Road, Oberammergau
We will have some free time this morning to visit the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop or walk around the medieval walls. We will then travel down the fabled “Romantic Road,” a famous and popular tourist route, displaying a rich and varied cultural landscape, through the Franconian wine country to Bavaria. We will pass small historic villages full of their original charm on our way to our hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Day 9: Tuesday, September 27, 2022: 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 10: Wednesday, September 28, 2022: Neuschwanstein, Augsburg
After a leisurely breakfast, we will tour the magnificent fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for the Disney Palace. This castle was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the 19th century and is now one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. We will also visit Linderhof Palace and Gardens, before checking into our hotel in Augsburg. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 11: Thursday, September 29, 2022: Munich, Oktoberfest, Augsburg
This morning we will depart for Munich, Bavaria’s fun-loving capital. A local guide will join us for a tour of the city, including the Olympic Village, Nymphenburg Palace, the elegant Maximillian Strasse and the Glockenspiel. This afternoon we will enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Oktoberfest. We’ll dine together at the Oktoberfest, then return to our hotel in Augsburg. (B/D)

Day 12: Friday, September 30, 2022: Return
We will leave this morning and drive to Munich Airport for our flight home. (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!

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 will reserve group air flights if we have 10+ flying from the same aiport.

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 July 4, 2022 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Vienna. You are welcome to depart at any time on July 16, 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? (Price pending)

*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
•   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, except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation
•   Individual arrival and departure transfers
•   Single supplement
•   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)
•   Gratuities for the tour director and driver

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
•   Second deposit of $1,000 is due by October 1, 2021
•   Final invoices will be sent in June 2022
•   Final payment is due by July 11, 2022
•   Reservations will be accepted after July 11, 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. Policies are now transferable to tours in 2021 and 2022.

If you don’t have insurance yet, we are now partnering with an award-winning company called Squaremouth, which helps travelers search, compare, and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price. They offer excellent customer support and can help you find the best policy for your trip.

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 March 26, 2022: $850 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From March 27 – August 7, 2022: $1,350 cancellation penalty plus any non-refundable deposits
From August 8-21, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 60% of land costs plus any non-refundable deposits
From August 22 – September 4, 2022: Cancellation penalty is 80% of land costs any non-refundable deposits
From September 5, 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.

This tour is currently reserved for the 2020 postponed travelers, but if you are interested in joining, please fill out the form, but don’t send a deposit until we have space available.

2020 travelers: Please fill out the form and we will e-mail you an updated invoice with the full value of your credit voucher. You can also transfer to any other tour in 2021 or 2022. If you aren’t able to travel, we will send a partial refund once travel resumes and we have cash flow.