Payment may be sent with your deposit or with final payment to Star Destinations. To view/download the Policy, go to: http://policy.travelex
insurance.com/APGB-1217.
A non-refundable $500 deposit per person is required with your registration form in order to reserve your spot. An additional non-refundable $500 deposit per person is required by November 1, 2021.
Final payment is due February 1, 2022
Meals/beverages other than those listed on the itinerary, beverages other than tea or coffee with included meals, items of a personal nature/souvenirs, phone calls and faxes from hotels, travel protection plan, passport fees, visa fees (if applicable), current baggage fees at the airport as assessed by the airline, and any service not listed in the above inclusions.
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Our journey begins as we board our international flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
Note: The airport location and airline will be confirmed no sooner than nine months before departure.
Upon arrival in Zurich, we will be met by our guide and coach to begin our exciting alpine adventure. We will stop for a glass of wine and a light lunch in Zurich followed by a visit to Teuscher Chocolates, where some of the world’s finest chocolates are made. Then we will make the short drive to the city of Lucerne, located on the shores of the magnificent Lake Lucerne. Here, we will cross the famous wooden Chapel Bridge and see the Lion Monument designed by the Danish sculptor Thorwaldsen as a memorial to Swiss mercenaries that lost their lives defending the King of France. After checking in to our Lucerne hotel, the remainder of the evening is yours to relax and have dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants.
(Lunch included)
After breakfast this morning, we will embark on a wonderful day of sightseeing, beginning with a short drive over the Brünig Pass to the Bernese Oberland, the heart of the Swiss Alps. In Lauterbrunnen, known as “the village of waterfalls,” we will board a cogwheel train for the journey to the Kleine Scheidegg for a panoramic view of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau Mountains! After lunch on our own, we will continue our train ride down the other side of the mountain to Grindelwald, the “village of glaciers!”
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Today’s adventure will have us journeying to Einsiedeln in the foothills of the Alps. Einsiedeln is an important Marian shrine in Switzerland and the home of the Abbey of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, a vital monastic community following the Rule of Saint Benedict. Tonight, we enjoy our dinner with some Swiss folklore entertainment.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
We say goodbye to Switzerland this morning as we make our way to Oberammergau. We’ll stop in the postage stamp country of Liechtenstein for a photo opportunity and then continue into Germany to tour Linderhof Palace. Nestled in the Bavarian countryside, Linderhof was the favorite of King Ludwig II’s three castles. The castle has a beautiful collection of vases and every room contains four pounds of gold leaf! Following our tour, we will visit the beautiful rococo cloister in Ettal before continuing on to our Oberammergau hotel for the next two nights.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Enjoy a relaxing morning in Oberammergau. Admire the bright frescoes that adorn many of the homes and businesses and perhaps do some shopping for a souvenir woodcarving for which the village is famous. This afternoon, we will attend Part One of the Passion Play! In 1633, the plague raged in many parts of Europe, including Oberammergau. Villagers promised to perform the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ every ten years if no one else died of the plague. The villagers were answered by God and held the first Passion Play in 1634, and the community has kept its promise for nearly 400 years! After dinner, we will return to the theater for Part Two of the play.
(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)
Our travels today take us first to Herrenchiemsee, one of the castles built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Situated on an island in the Chiemsee, it was modeled after the Palace of Versailles, although smaller and more intimate. We’ll then continue to Oberndorf, Austria, to see the Silent Night Chapel. It was here that Fr. Josef Mohr and Franz Gruber performed their composition of the world-famous hymn for the first time on Christmas Eve in 1818. Our day’s journey comes to an end in Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart and the city of The Sound of Music.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Following breakfast, we will head across the German border to nearby Berchtesgaden, one of the most scenic areas in Germany. We’ll drive partway up the Kehlstein mountain to an elevator that will take us the rest of the way to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. This Third Reich-era building was a foreboding mountaintop retreat used by Hitler during WWII. Then we will drive to the small town of Hallein for a fun, educational, and memorable adventure! Hallein was once a salt mining site, and we will don our mining garb and slide down into the earth to learn about this important industry that made the area prosperous. Once back above ground, we will return to our hotel in Salzburg for dinner on our own.
(Breakfast included)
We rise early this morning for a guided tour of Salzburg, including the Salzburg Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Mirabell Gardens, Mozart’s birth house, and sites from The Sound of Music. The remainder of the day is at your leisure in the Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s beautiful pedestrian shopping area. Consider riding the funicular to the Salzburg fortress, which looks down over the beautiful city. After a full day, our group will gather for a very special farewell dinner experience!
(Breakfast and dinner included)
We transfer to the airport for our flight home with memories of ancient castles, opulent palaces, scenic alpine views, and the inspiring Passion Play.
(Breakfast included)