Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

IF = In-flight meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Monday, May 20, 2019: Depart
We will depart from the US on our overnight trip from Chicago. Reformation Tours can also arrange pre-tour nights in Prague for anyone who wishes to travel before the tour begins. (IF)

Day 2: Tuesday, May 21, 2019: Arrival in Prague
When we arrive in Prague, we will transfer to our centrally-located hotel, where we will meet Frank Drinkhouse, our Reformation Tours’ Tour Director. We will have some free time for lunch, then our expert local guide will take us on a walking tour focused on Jan Hus, the leading personality of the Czech Reformation movement. We’ll visit Bethlehem Chapel where he preached (possibly closed for renovations) and see the Hus monument outside Týn Church. Hus was a contemporary of John Wycliffe and was heavily influenced by his writings. They both agreed that all Christians are members of Christ’s church and that Jesus is the head. We will end the day with dinner at our hotel. (IF/D)

Day 3: Wednesday, May 22, 2019: Prague
This morning we’ll explore Prague Castle, a complex of palaces, courtyards, streets and churches including St. Vitus Cathedral, which took 600 years to complete. We will then take a stroll across Charles Bridge, past the famous statues to the Old Town Square. We will finish by the Jan Hus Monument, built to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his martyrdom. This afternoon we will enjoy a 1-hour river cruise, complete with coffee/tea and cake. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure before a Czech folk dinner this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Thursday, May 23, 2019: Prague, Wittenberg
We will cross the border into Germany this morning and travel to 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. Our local guide will take us to St. Mary’s Church where Luther regularly preached. We can also 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 dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 5: Friday, May 24, 2019: Eisenach
This morning we will drive to Eisenach. In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We will tour Wartburg Castle and see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. We will dine in our hotel in Eisenach. (B/D)

Day 6: Saturday, May 25, 2019: Erfurt, Mainz
We will start the day in Erfurt. Our local guide will take us on a tour including viewing 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. In the afternoon we will have a teaching time in the Luthersaal, in the monastery. We will continue on to Mainz and dine in an authentic German restaurant. (B/D)

Day 7: Sunday, May 26, 2019: Mainz, Worms, Basel
This morning we will visit the Gutenberg Museum where we will learn about the contribution of Johann Gutenberg, who developed movable type. We will be able to see original copies of the Bible in the Gutenberg Museum. We will also view Mainz Cathedral, dating back to 975. In the afternoon we will see the site of the Worms Debates (Diet of Worms), now a park, with a plaque commemorating the Diet of Worms and the Reformation Monument. We hear the stories of Luther as he responded “Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me.” We will then head south to Basel, home of Erasmus and Johannes Oecolampadius. (B/D)

Day 8: Monday, May 27, 2019: Zurich, Basel
We will take a day trip to Zurich today and have a guided tour of the key Reformation sites, including Zwingli’s church, the Grossmünster, and the Zwingli Statue. We will have a stroll through the historic Altstadt (old city) and see the Zwingli Museum and the Helferei (where Zwingli lived). Other notable sites are the Anabaptist memorial, and the Fraumünster (the famous Catholic Cathedral) with its Marc Chagall windows. We will return to Basel and have a free evening to dine in the restaurant of our choice. (B)

Day 9: Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Basel, Geneva
It was here in Basel that Calvin published the first edition, in Latin, of his Institutes of the Christian Religion. We will join our local guide, for a walking tour of Basel, including St. Martin’s Church, the Marketplatz, Munster Church and the Rathaus. We will continue on to Geneva and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 10: Wednesday, May 29, 2019: Geneva
We will begin our final day of the tour at the impressive Reformation Monument. Four 5-meter statues of four Reformation leaders – Beza, Calvin, Farel and Knox – stand as sentinels. Our tour will also include Cathedrale St. Pierre (St. Peter’s Cathedral) where Calvin regularly taught. It’s only 157 steps up to the top of the North Tower, where the view is worth the effort. Under the Cathedral are the ruins of a Roman sanctuary, a 4th century basilica, and a 6th century church. Close by is the Auditoire de Calvin (Calvin’s Academy, also known as the Protestant Lecture Hall), where Calvin and Knox both taught.  We will then visit the Reformation Museum, which we can tour with the included audio guides. The afternoon will be at leisure and we will meet up at a local restaurant by the water for our farewell meal. (B/D)

Day 11: Thursday, May 30, 2019: Geneva
We will transfer to Geneva Airport for our flights back to the USA. (B)

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!

Prague, Czech Republic
May 21-23, 2019
Hotel Grandium
Politickych veznu 913/12
110 00 Prague

Wittenberg, Germany
May 23-24, 2019
Luther Hotel
Neustraße 7-10
06886 Lutherstadt Wittenberg

Eisenach, Germany
May 24-25, 2019
Hotel Glockenhof
Grimmelgasse 4
99817 Eisenach

Mainz, Germany
May 25-26, 2019
Novotel Mainz
Augustusstrasse 6
55131 Mainz

Basel, Switzerland
May 26-28, 2019
Novotel Basel City
Grosspeterstrasse 12
4052 Basel

Geneva, Switzerland
May 28-30, 2019
Royal Hotel Manotel
Rue de Lausanne 41
1201 Geneva

Flight Information

Now that the tour is guaranteed, you are welcome to book your air.  We will assist anyone who would like help. Please ensure we have a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it. If you would like assistance with flights, or pre- or post-tour travels, please e-mail Rowena to arrange: Rowena@ReformationTours.com.

Arrival
Please arrange to arrive in Prague no later than 11 AM on May 21, 2019. We will arrange a transfer for you to the hotel, which is the tour starting point.

Departure
You can arrange to depart from Geneva at anytime on May 30, 2019. The airport is easily reached by train and the station is across the street from our hotel.

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

Price based on a minimum of 20 participants, double occupancy.

Your Tour Includes

•   Ground 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
•   Entrance fees included as per itinerary
•   Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
•   All transfers, as a group
•   Insurance during the tour (pre-tour coverage upgrade available)
•   Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
•   All taxes and tips

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Air transportation (can be arranged by Reformation Tours)
•   Single supplement for those not sharing a room ($600)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for months beyond return date.
•   Pre-tour cancellation insurance (details sent with reservation form)

Payment Schedule

•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in February 2019
•   Final payment is due by March 6, 2019
•   Reservations will be accepted after March 6, 2019, subject to availability

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan  by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. We include $500 coverage in your tour price and you are welcome to upgrade to cover the full tour premium. The cost of the tour insurance is the tour cost (minus $500) x 6.14%. A quote will be automatically added to your invoice.

Cancellations

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 until 100 days before departure: $100
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 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.

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