Classic Danube with Oberammergau (10 Days, Alternative)
By Collette Tours
Itinerary
Day 1: Overnight Flight
Set out to experience the epic Oberammergau Passion Play and explore the Danube River.
(Meals: None)
Day 2: Oberammergau, Germany - Tour Begins
Your tour begins in the quaint village of Oberammergau, nestled in the Bavarian Alps and renowned for wood-carving and the Passion Play. Time permitting, enjoy a brief orientation walk through town before sitting down for a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.
(Meals: Dinner)
Day 3: Oberammergau - Passion Play
This afternoon, witness a performance of the epic Passion Play. The original performance dates back to 1634. During the Thirty Year War, Oberammergau was spared the Black Plague and for this reason, the citizens vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the last days of the life of Christ. The performers of this once-in-a-decade event are all native to the village. To lend authenticity to the performance, the cast starts to grow their hair and beards more than a year in advance. Also, the intricate costumes are made locally by the villagers. During a break in the performance, join your fellow travelers for dinner before returning for the remainder of your Passion Play performance.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Oberammergau - Munich - Passau - Board Cruise Ship
Journey to Munich for a fascinating city tour that highlights Olympic Park, the world-famous Glockenspiel* and Marienplatz, a beautiful square surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafés. Continue to the charming town of Passau, a 2,000-year-old fairy-tale city that rests at the confluence of the Inn, Ilz and Danube rivers. Unpack for a relaxing 6-night Danube River cruise aboard your lovely ship. This vessel offers the newest technology, a panoramic deck, terrace café, panorama salon and bar, excellent cuisine, outstanding service and unlimited wine and beer with every dinner onboard. Meet your crew at a welcome aboard cocktail reception, followed by a delightful dinner.
(Meals: Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Passau - Linz, Austria
Join a local guide on a leisurely paced walking tour of Passau. Explore the ornate Baroque architecture, the quaint cobblestone streets, and St. Stephan 's Cathedral, home to Europe 's largest church organ. Continue sailing to Linz, Austria 's third-largest city, and enjoy a tour of the riverside town of Linz featuring the 13th-century Hauptplatz (Austria 's largest medieval square) and the 18th-century Trinity Column. Enjoy free time to explore the old castle grounds, the beautiful views of the river, or visit the neo-Gothic New Cathedral, Austria 's largest church.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Linz - Wachau Valley
This morning, enjoy a leisurely morning of board your cruise ship. This afternoon, continue cruising through the romantic Wachau Valley, dotted with magnificent castles and small riverside towns. Sail towards Vienna, Austria 's beautiful capital city.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 7: Vienna
Join a local expert exploring Vienna's Imperial architecture including the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse, and the awe-inspiring St. Stephen's Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Vienna's Baroque elegance, visit one of their famous museums, stroll along the Kartner Strasse, or sample some of Vienna's famous pastries.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 8: Bratislava, Slovakia - Budapest, Hungary
Tour Slovakia's remarkable capital, Bratislava, and discover the city 's most celebrated sites including the 13th-century castle, Old Town, St. Martin's Cathedral, Michael's Gate, and the Archbishop's Palace. Continue sailing to Budapest, “Queen of the Danube.” Tonigiht you are invited to attend the Captain's Gala with your fellow passengers.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 9: Budapest
Embark on a tour of Budapest, Hungary 's lovely capital, featuring the historic Buda Castle area, Fisherman's Bastion and the 500-year-old St. Matthias Church. Enjoy splendid views of the twin cities of Buda and Pest, nestled on opposing banks of the river. Gather this evening for a farewell dinner, then take in the essence of the region during an evening cruise to view Budapest's stunning night skyline. Cap the night off with a fun-filled folklore show, celebrating the end of an unforgettable journey.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 10: Budapest - Disembark Ship - Tour Ends
Your tour comes to a close today.
(Meals: Breakfast)
Sightseeing Highlights
Oberammergau
Travel to the picturesque Bavarian hamlet of Oberammergau and witness a performance of the epic Passion Play. This legendary play is only performed every ten years, and has been performed every ten years since the Black Plague ended in 1634.
Munich
This is the 3rd largest city in Germany and capital of Bavaria, population about 1.5 million in the city itself. It began as the site of a Benedictine monastery where the old city is today, and the name of the city comes from the word “monk”. It is famous today as the home of Oktoberfest and the Hofbrauhaus, the Glockenspiel clock in the Old Town Hall, its Christmas Market and the headquarters of BMW and Siemens. There are several universities there and it was the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Passau
Passau is in Lower Bavaria near the Austrian border, and is known as the “City of Three Rivers” because the Inn and Ilz Rivers join the Danube there. It dates from the Stone Age, and became an important religious center in the 8th century. Its major attractions include St. Stephan 's Cathedral, with the world 's largest organ, and the Bishop 's Castle. Passau was famous for manufacturing swords and other weapons during the Renaissance.
Linz
This Austrian city is on the Danube just south of the Czech border, and it is capital of its region, Upper Austria. It was at one time one of the most important cities of the Holy Roman Empire, and lost status to Vienna and Prague in the late 15th century. Adolf Hitler spent his youth in Linz, as did Adolf Eichmann, and Hitler wanted to make it the cultural center of his empire. Mozart wrote several pieces in Linz and spent quite a bit of time there.
Wachau Valley
This Danube valley is 25 miles long and runs from Melk to Krems in Lower Austria, and is a UNESCO site. The valley has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and is a famous wine region. There are no bridges across the Danube in the valley, so ferries are the only way to cross. The town of Durnstein in Wachau Valley was where King Richard Lionheart was held captive by Duke Leopold.
Vienna
This is the capital city of Austria, located on the Danube, with a population of over 2 million in the metro area. It is known as the “City of Music” because of the numerous famous composers who have lived and worked here, such as Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms, and also as the “City of Dreams” as it was home to Sigmund Freud. Some of its primary sights are Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Opera House, Belvedere and St. Stephen 's Cathedral. Vienna is also known for its coffee houses and restaurants.
Bratislava
This is the capital of Slovakia, and it is located on the Danube, close to the Hungarian and Austrian borders. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary when that country was part of the Hapsburg Empire, and became Slovakia 's capital when that country split from Czechoslovakia in 1993. Its most important attractions are the 13th-century Bratislava Castle, the Old Town, Michael 's Gate and St. Martin 's Cathedral.
Budapest
This city on the Danube is actually two cities: Buda and Pest, divided by the river. In its history, it has been Celtic, Roman, invaded by Mongols and Turks, second capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now the capital Hungary, with about 1.8 million people. Its varied architecture from so many cultures helped make Budapest a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is known for its coffee houses, traditional Hungarian restaurants and working Turkish baths from the 16th century.
What's Included
- 24 meals
- Centrally-located hotels provide a home away from home
- Hotel-to-hotel baggage handling
- A professional tour manager accompanies you throughout your trip
- Expert local guides provide insightful, personalized tours
- Unparalleled sightseeing includes all of the "must-sees"
- Enriching cultural experiences bring the destination to life
- Private climate-controlled motorcoach enhances your tour
- Free round trip sedan service that takes you from your home to the airport when you purchase an air-inclusive Collette tour (within 50 miles of nearest airport gateway)
Dates & Prices
Note: Rows highlighted in green below are guaranteed departures
| Start Date | End Date | Brochure Price | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun May 22, 2022 | Wed Jun 1, 2022 | $4999.00 | Reserve My Spot |
| Sun Jun 5, 2022 | Wed Jun 15, 2022 | $4999.00 | Reserve My Spot |
| Sun Aug 28, 2022 | Wed Sep 7, 2022 | $4999.00 | Reserve My Spot |
| Sun Sep 11, 2022 | Wed Sep 21, 2022 | $5249.00 | Reserve My Spot |
Tour Map
