I am all packed and ready. There is a nervous excitement as I leave for the airport. Do I have the only two things I really need in order to travel internationally?
Passport: Check
Prescription meds: Check
It's go time!
The first flight is a short one, but the next one is the 8 hour flight where I settle in to my seat, pull out my headphones and book and relax. I love this time. I get served drinks and dinner just before they dim the lights and I rest. I don't usually sleep, although occasionally I am gifted with an hour or two. I get up and move around to keep the joints from getting stiff. I indulge in some movies and the next thing I know they are serving breakfast an hour before landing.
We get off the plane and grab our luggage and head out to meet our Tour Director; my new best friend. We hop on the bus and head to the hotel, or maybe even to the city for a bit if he has to grab another group from the airport. Either way, we will have free time in our first city until our welcome dinner. This is where we get to meet any other travelers that we will be sharing our bus, hotel and guide with.
From here, I imagine immediately wanting to sleep or, if I'm, feeling adventurous, I will go out and run around the town. My first chance at exploring...no map, no plan, just wandering.
For June 6-14 2020 we have an amazing itinerary to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Prague! This is always subject to minor changes as our Tour Director can offer special excursions such as a bike tour or wine tasting etc... who knows! It's all a big surprise! But here are the basics:
Jun 06: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Switzerland today.
Jun 07: Arrival in Lucerne
Included meals: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Switzerland! After arriving in Zurich, transfer to the Lucerne region to meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Jun 08: Sightseeing tour of Lucerne
Included meals: Breakfast
Get an up-close look at Switzerland’s idyllic Alpine city on the northern shores of Lake Lucerne during a guided tour. * View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution * Pass the hand-painted facades that line the cobbled streets of the Old Town * See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built north of the Alps in Switzerland * Cross the medieval Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, and view the Water Tower Enjoy a free afternoon in the Lucerne region or add an excursion.📷Mount Pilatus 4.5 hours
Munich
Jun 09: Travel to Munich via Neuschwanstein
Included meals: Breakfast, DinnerTravel through the mountains of Bavaria en route to Munich, Germany. Along the way, stop for a guided tour of Neuschwanstein, the fairy-tale retreat of “Mad” King Ludwig II. * Step inside Neuschwanstein Castle * Take time to explore its stalactite grotto, artifacts, and murals
Jun 10: Sightseeing tour of Munich
Included meals: Breakfast
Get to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour. * Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district * Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty * Walk from Odeonsplatz through the Hofgarten to view the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria * Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel Spend a free afternoon alone or with Laura, discovering the beer and food of Munich at famous beirgartens around town. Or add an excursion to Dachau; 4 hours
Salzburg
Jun 11: Sightseeing tour of Salzburg
Included meals: Breakfast
Say goodbye to Germany and head to Salzburg, Austria, a city famed for its churches and musical history. There, a local guide leads you on a walking tour of the Old Town. * View the University of Salzburg and the churchyard of St. Peter * See the Kapitelplatz, Residenzplatz, and Alter Markt, in the city’s Old Town * Enter the 17th-century Salzburg Cathedral, built in the Baroque style * Pass through scenery from the beloved film The Sound of Music * Take the funicular to the hilltop Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of Europe’s largest medieval castles Enjoy a free evening in Salzburg or add an excursion.
📷Mozart Concert & Dinner4.5 hours
Vienna
Jun 12: Travel to Vienna via Melk Abbey
Included meals: Breakfast
Stop in Melk for a guided tour of the town’s Baroque abbey, then continue your drive through the Austrian countryside to Vienna. Spend a free evening in Vienna or add an excursion.
Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening 4 hours
Jun 13: Sightseeing tour of Vienna
Included meals: Breakfast
Get transported back to the Age of Empires on a guided tour of Vienna. * Step inside Belvedere Palace, home to the world’s largest collection of paintings by artist Gustav Klimt, and admire the palace’s impressive gardens * Travel down the Ringstrasse, passing the Parliament building, Vienna State Opera, and Kunsthistorisches Museum * See the grand Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg’s preferred winter residence
Prague
See why Prague is known as "The City of One Hundred Spires." The pinnacles of this bewitching city’s churches and castles create one of Europe’s most majestic skylines, and its cobblestone streets and courtyards will delight you at every turn.
Jun 14: Travel to Prague
Included meals: Breakfast
Drive through the pastoral landscapes of Bohemia on your way to one of Europe most beautiful cities: Prague, Czech Republic.
Jun 15: Sightseeing tour of Prague
Included meals: Breakfast . Discover why Prague is known as "The City of One Hundred Spires" on a guided tour. * Visit Prague Castle, from which Charles IV governed the Holy Roman Empire * Admire the soaring Gothic vaults of St. Vitus Cathedral * Walk down to the Malá Strana district to sip a coffee at a local cafe * Cross the elegant Charles Bridge for breathtaking views of the city * Stroll through Old Town Square to view the 15th-century Astronomical Clock Tonight, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members. Then, spend a free evening in Prague or add an excursion.
Farewell excursion:
Château Sychrov 6 hours
Check this out! Built in the classic Neo-Gothic style, the 17th-century Château Sychrov is an aristocratic residence that cannot be missed. Soak in the beauty of the castle on a private tour, admiring the colorful walls, intricate wood carvings on the ceilings, and built-in furniture as you make your way through the rooms. From the beds to the bureaus, each area of the castle has perfectly preserved pieces of 19th-century decor on display. See famous paintings of French royalty and the former residents, the Rohan family, while learning about their daring escape from persecution in France. After you finish touring the manicured grounds, attend a private recital of classic Czech music performed by some of Prague's most cherished musicians. Then, conclude the magical evening by enjoying a private dinner at an on-site restaurant featuring regional specialties and local beer or wine.
Jun 16: Departure
Included meals: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
For specific information on this tour, details on excursions, and pricing, click on the pink tab at the top of the website or go to https://www.grouptoursite.com/tours/LauraSmith