Switzerland and Germany with Oberammergau (9 Days, Standard)

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.

Wies Church
Visit the Church of Wies, a place of pilgrimage since the 18th century and classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit its miraculous figure of the Scourged Savior. Legend claims that the wooden statue shed tears during prayer.

Neuschwanstein Castle
This fairy-tale castle was built on the ruins of an earlier castle by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, beginning in 1864. The king had spent time in his youth in the town near the site of the castle, and when he took the throne he began building a fantasy castle on the ruins of two earlier fortresses. Many of his fantasies came from his love of the musical mythological works of Richard Wagner, who was his friend, and he spent most of his personal fortune and borrowed to build Neuschwanstein Castle. He only lived there 172 days before his death. The castle was an inspiration for the Disneyland Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Black Forest
This is a heavily forested mountain range in southwest Germany that lies east of the Rhine River and borders France on its west and Switzerland in the south. The highest peak in the 150 km-long (93 miles) region is about 1500 meters/4,900 feet, and there are several beautiful glacial lakes within the forest, such as Titisee and Feldsee. The famous spa town of Baden-Baden is in the northern part of the forest, and there are numerous hiking trails and driving circuits to visit the traditional villages. The Black Forest is known for wood-carving, especially in the manufacture of cuckoo clocks, and for foods like Black Forest ham and Black Forest Cherry cake.

Chateau de Chillon
This castle is located in southwest Switzerland on an island in the eastern end of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva), and it dates from the early 11th century. It was made famous by Lord Byron in his poem “The Prisoner of Chillon”; Byron even carved his name on a pillar in the dungeon. It was home to the Counts of Savoy, including Peter II, who was uncle to one of Henry VIII 's wives, Eleanor of Provence. Today 's castle began as about 100 smaller buildings that were gradually connected to form what we see now.

Zermatt
This town is located in southwest Switzerland in the canton of Valais, and is best known by the nearby 14,000ft (4267m) Matterhorn. The town began as an agricultural area and in the 19th century became famous as a ski and mountaineering resort. Most of the town now depends on tourism, and in ski season the town of 5,000 swells several times over. To keep the air clean, all vehicles are now electric and mostly silent, with only emergency access by gas-powered vehicles such as firetrucks. The famous Glacier Express train which begins in far eastern Switzerland near St. Moritz ends in Zermatt.

Matterhorn Museum
Visit the Matterhorn Museum which highlights the historical Zermatt region and provides an in depth look at the legendary mountain. Learn more about the triumph and tragedy of the first ascent of this imposing peak as you immerse yourself in the mesmerizing stories and artifacts.

Grimsel Pass
Travel through the breathtaking scenery of the Grimsel Pass, crossing over the Bernese Alps surrounded by nature. Views of glaciers, crystal clear rivers, and snowcapped mountains will catch your eye as you make your way through the region.

Lucerne
This city of 80,000 people is in north-central Switzerland in the canton of Lucerne and sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne. The town began with a Benedictine monastery in the 8th century and gained importance from its location on trade routes. The most famous sights in Lucerne are the wooden Kapellbrucke (Chapel Bridge) across the Reuss River, the Hofkirche (Church of St. Leodegar) and the Swiss Museum of Transport. The city celebrates Carnival every year beginning the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Mt Pilatus, with the world 's steepest cog railway, is visible from Lucerne.

What's Included

Hotel Details:

• Oberammergau region hotel - Oberammergau, Germany
• Hofgut Sternen, Titisee - Black Forest, Germany
• Hotel Alex - Zermatt, Switzerland
• Radisson Blu Hotel - Lucerne, Switzerland

Dates & Prices

Note: Rows highlighted in green below are guaranteed departures