Swiss Highlands and Bavarian Alps Eastbound including the Oberammergau Passion Play 2022

Itinerary

Tour Begins: 6:00 PM, Bellevue Palace Bern. A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to the Bellevue Palace Bern, a jewel of Art Nouveau architecture ideally located in the historic heart of this UNESCO World Heritage City amidst stunning Alpine views. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight, inspiring with Swiss flair.

A garden of delights awaits your discovery on a drive to the flower-filled Rosengarten and the famous Bear Park, Bärenpark. Long a symbol of the city and its namesake, bears have been a draw in Bern since the 1500s when they were first put on display as entertainment for its residents. You'll see bears featured on the town emblem and flag and in the park you'll explore this morning, where a family of brown bears live in an enclosed riverside setting. Join a local guide on a walk through the rose gardens and bear park, followed by a stroll past the Einstein House, where Albert Einstein developed his Theory of Relativity, to the Bern History Museum; take a guided visit of the Einstein Museum located inside. Experience a taste of local life on an afternoon visit to the Craftman's Village in Wasen, during a Swiss sumo-like wrestling demonstration at the "Schwingen" club in Affoltern and an interactive cheese-making tour in Emmental highlighted by a light tasting dinner.

The imperial legacy of the Habsburgs comes alive today when you meet the Habsburgs during a Tauck Exclusive lunch at medieval Habsburg Castle, one of the most influential royal houses in Europe during the Middle Ages. Next it's on to a chocolate making adventure that indulges your sweet tooth with a taste of this coveted Swiss specialty, made in mechanized Swiss chocolate factories since 1819. Your destination tonight is the cobblestoned town of St. Gallen, renowned for its textiles and its lavish Abbey District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A guided tour this afternoon includes a walk through town, a visit and demonstration at the textile museum and a visit to the Abbey Library of Saint Gall, considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

Drive to Appenzell for a day of scenic delights. Ride a cable car up towering Santis Peak for views of mountains and cliff-top chalets that will take your breath away, then spend the afternoon exploring the sights in the town's car-free center. Boasting a quintessential fairy-tale setting, the old town invites with colorful wooden buildings, frescoed and flowered, with old-fashioned signage that takes you back in time. Return to St. Gallen for dinner at your leisure.

You're off to the village of Oberammergau this morning; along with the Passion Play, the village is also renowned for its tradition of skilled woodcarving and the charming lüftimalerei (frescoes) that decorate many homes, depicting scenes from Bavarian folktales. Early afternoon marks the beginning of one of Europe's most beloved and venerable traditions, the performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele) depicting the story of the Passion of Christ. In the 1630's, as the plague raged throughout Europe, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform a play about the life of Jesus Christ every ten years if they were spared from the epidemic... and they have kept their promise. The play begins early afternoon; following a dinner break, it continues into the evening. An English libretto is provided to enhance your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Journey along the scenic Yellow Roads to Germany to Munich this morning for a two-night stay. Enjoy guided city sightseeing this afternoon, including visits to the Baroque-styled Nymphenburg Palace, lavishly inspiring, inside and out, and the Carriage Museum, located in the palace's former riding stables. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure, dining in a choice of hotel restaurants.

Depart for Dachau this morning, where the first of Germany's infamous Nazi concentration camps opened in 1933 and was used as a model for others that followed. Your visit to the memorial site will be a poignant one that provides historical context to an unimaginable time. Enjoy time at leisure to experience Munich as you wish. Your day ends with a farewell dinner at an iconic city restaurant that serves up a feast of regional fare.

Tour Ends: Munich. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Bayerischer Hof hotel to Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport. Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in at the airport.