Day 1: We meet at your town of departure to board our bus to O’Hare Airport, and check in for our flight to Frankfurt. We will be served dinner and can watch a movie during our overnight flight. (In-flight meals)

Day 2: After our arrival in Frankfurt, we meet our driver; board our coach and dive to Bamberg, the old Franconian imperial city declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 1993. En route, we stop in Wurzburg, where we enjoy a spectacular view from the Marienberg Fortress, the former stronghold of the Prince- Bishops of Wurzburg. We drive the Franconian wine route and stop in the charming medieval town of Prichenstadt before our arrival at the hotel. This evening we have an opportunity to stop by the Klosterbrau or Schenkerla Breweries and sample the famous local Rauchbier (smoked beer) before dinner at out hotel. (B, D)

Day 3: Our route takes us east today as we drive through the scenic Fichtel Mountains to Plzen (Pilsen). We stop for lunch at the Plzen Brewery and sample the special Pilsener Urquell beer. We arrive in Prague in time to stroll along Wenceslas Square and explore the Old Town Square. In the evening, a special treat awaits us- a Czech folklore show including dinner with Czech specialties at the Raca Wine Cellar. (B, D)

Day 4: this morning our local guide joins us on a walking tour through the castle grounds of Hradcany Castle, where the 30 Year Religious War started. We visit the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral and stroll across the famous Charles Bridge to reach the Old Town Square. Here we enjoy free time for lunch and a chance to look for bargains in Bohemian crystal or garnet jewelry! In the afternoon, we walk through Joseftown, the old Jewish Quarter and tour one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries from the 11th century. This evening we have dinner at the U Fleku Brewery, which includes the brewery’s special beer (B, D)

Day 5: We drive south today and stop in Ceske Budejovice to sample the original “Budweiser” beer at the Ceske Budejovice Brewery. Our next stop is the Cesky Krumlov, the “pearl” of the Czech Republic, before we transfer to the romantic, fortified town of Freistadt, the chief town in the lower Muhlviertel in Upper Austria. You may wish to walk the ramparts to experience this delightful medieval town. (B, D)  

Day 6: We travel through the scenic Muhlviertel (Mill Quarter) in Upper Austria and tour a Hops farm where we can brew our own beer. Our next stop is the market town of Klam. We tour Castle Klam, one of Austria’s best retained fortresses and sample the famous beer brewed by the castle brewery since the 16th Century. We travel along the Austrain Romantic Road, stopping in Steyr before our arrival in Kremsmunster, where a gourmet dinner served by the chef of the house awaits us. (B, D)  

Day 7:  We experience the beauty of the Salzkammergut, one of Austria’s favorite vacation areas, as we drive to Gmunden, located on Traun Lake. We tour the famous Gmundener Keramik Factory and, after some free time to walk along the lake promenade, drive to Schleedorf. Here we tour the Kaserei and learn about the process of cheese-making in Austria. (B, D)

Day 8: This morning we explore Salzburg, the town made famous by its native son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and as the setting for the Sound of Music. A local guide takes us on a walking tour of Old Salzburg: we stroll through the picturesque Mirabell Garden to reach the Getreidegasse. We walk past Mozart’s birth house to visit St. Peter’s Cemetery and see the catacombs. After some time to relax at our nearby hotel, we return this evening to Salzburg and attend the Sound of Music Dinner Show. (B, D)

Day 9: We take a short drive to Berchtesgaden this morning and experience an excursion to the Kehlstein Mountain, the site of the tea house built fro Adolph Hitler by the Nazi Party and commonly known as the “Eagle’s Nest.”  We admire the fantastic Alpine panorama and then drive to Schonau and relax during a cruise on the Konigssee. In the afternoon, we drive through the beautiful Alpine countryside. We tour a Schnapps Museum in Schwaz and overnight in the Innsbruck area. (B, D)

Day 10: We enjoy the Olympic City of Innsbruck this morning and then drive over the Fernpass to Oberammergau. En route, we tour Palace Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle built by the eccentric King Ludwig II of Bavaria. After a tour of the castle, we continue to the Wieskirche, the beautiful rococo “church in the meadow,” before we transfer to our hotel in Oberrammergau. (B, D)

Day 11: We drive north to Freising and tour the Weihenstephan Brewery established in 1040 and considered to be the oldest brewery in the world. After lunch à la carte at the brewery, we drive to Munich, the capital of the “Free State of Bavaria.” This evening we have dinner at the renowned Hofbrauhaus, where we become acquainted with local songs and dances during a Bavarian Folklore Show. (B, D)

Day 12: After breakfast, we meet our local guide for a panoramic city tour of Munich. We visit the grounds of Nymphenburg Palace- the birthplace of King Ludwig II – dive along the elegant Maximilian Street, pass by the colorful Viktualien Market and see the twin-towered Frauenkirche- Munich’s landmark. After the tour, we have free time to explore this cultural city or attend the Oktoberfest! (B, D)