INDIAN HILL CHURCH’S GERMANY 2020 TOUR JUNE 26 TO JULY 6, 2020
Join members of the Indian Hill congregation on this rewarding journey through Germany in 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mr. Philip Clary at [email protected]
INDIAN HILL CHURCH’S GERMANY 2020 11 DAYS
TRAVEL DATES: June 26 to July 6, 2020 DEPARTING FROM: Cincinnati, Ohio
TOUR INCLUDES: • Round-trip air transportation with air-taxes, fees & surcharges • 9 nights in selected three-star & four-star hotels in double or triple rooms • Full-time services of a professional, multi-lingual CHA Tour Director • On-tour transportation services by private motorcoach • Breakfast and dinner daily • Guided sightseeing & visits to special attractions listed in italics in itinerary
DAILY TOURING ITINERARY:
DAY 1 DEPARTURE FROM THE USA (FRI JUN 26)
DAY 2 ARRIVAL HAMBURG (SAT JUN 27) Welcome to Hamburg, a major port city in northern Germany located along the Elbe River, which has been nicknamed the country’s “Gateway to the World.” Upon arrival in Hamburg, meet your CHA Tour Director at the airport and transfer by motorcoach to your hotel. Later, get better acquainted with Hamburg on a CHA Walking Tour.
DAY 3 HAMBURG (SUN JUN 28) The morning begins with Sunday church service at the 18th-century St. Michael’s Church. At St. Michael's Church, we will connect with the Atze Family. Emil Atze was a foreign exchange student with Phil Clary and Erin Russell during the 2017-2018 school year and played drums in the IHC Youth Choir. His mother, Julia, is a pastor at St. Michael's. IHC has invited parishioners from St. Michael's Church to join us on our tour of Germany. After free time for lunch at St. Michael's, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Hamburg highlighting the city’s harbor, its numerous canals and bridges, and the treasures of the Neustadt (new town) with the Altstadt (old town). The balance of the day is yours to explore Hamburg with the assistance of your Tour Director.
DAY 4 HAMBURG – BERLIN (MON JUN 29) Today’s journey leads to Berlin, Germany’s unified capital. After checking into your hotel, accompany your Tour Director on a CHA Walking Tour to the lively Kurfurstendamm to get better acquainted with the city.
DAY 5 BERLIN (TUE JUN 30) Your expert guide introduces you to Berlin’s historic and modern highlights on your morning sightseeing tour. See Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Europa Center, the Tiergarten, the Reichstag, Bellevue Palace where the German President resides, and Charlottenburg Palace, the former summer residence of Prussian kings.
Afterwards, you will enter East Berlin to see traces of the Berlin Wall that once divided the city. Visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, documenting the Berlin Wall’s history. Then drive along Unter den Linden to Brandenburg Gate, once the city’s triumphal arch. End with a visit to the Pergamon Museum, one of the world’s finest museums of ancient art and antiquities. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Berlin with the assistance of your Tour Director.
DAY 6 BERLIN – WITTENBERG – LEIPZIG (WED JUL 1) Journey south to Wittenberg located along the Elbe River where sightseeing includes a visit to All Saints Church (also known as the “Castle Church”) where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses in 1517, an event which marked the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, and historic Wittenberg Castle. While there, we will try to connect with the Wittenberg English Ministry for an English language service in the Chapel. Continue to Leipzig where sightseeing highlights the city’s Renaissance old town hall and includes a visit to St. Thomas Church, renowned for concerts by its distinguished boys’ choir, where classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach is buried.
DAY 7 LEIPZIG – NUREMBERG (THU JUL 2) Drive to Nuremberg in Northern Bavaria where sightseeing upon arrival reveals the city’s medieval walls, its cliff-side fortress-castle and includes a visit to 13th-century St. Sebald Church. Also included today is a visit to a Nuremburg Trials Memorial detailing the famous trials following World War II. The balance of the day is free to explore Nuremberg at your leisure with the assistance of your Tour Director.
DAY 8 NUREMBERG – OBERAMMERGAU (FRI JUL 3) Drive to the picturesque Bavarian village of Oberammergau where you will attend its world-renowned Passion Play. Performed every ten years, the play was originally staged by the village’s inhabitants in 1634 in gratitude to God for sparing them from a plague that had ravaged the region. The play depicts the passion of Jesus, from his visit to Jerusalem to his crucifixion and resurrection. (Please note that the overnight stays in Munich and Oberammergau may be reversed due to availability of Passion Play tickets.)
DAY 9 OBERAMMERGAU – ETTAL – (SAT JUL 4) NEUSCHWANSTEIN – WIES – MUNICH The day begins with a visit to Ettal Abbey, the Benedictine monastery founded by Ludwig IV in 1330, and a tour of its historic brewery where monks still brew beer using traditional methods. Afterwards, journey high into the Alps for a fascinating guided tour of King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle followed by a visit to ornate, rococo-style Wieskirche. Continue to the Bavarian capital of Munich where you will spend the next two nights. This evening, join your Tour Director on an Evening Walking Tour.
DAY 10 MUNICH – DACHAU – MUNICH (SUN JUL 5) Sample the many delights of Bavaria’s capital on this morning’s sightseeing with your expert local guide. Admire the double-domed Gothic Frauenkirche, the Opera House, and the Olympic Stadium. Included is a visit to elegant Nymphenburg Palace, the one-time summer residence of Bavarian rulers, and a charming Glockenspiel performance at the New Town Hall in the historic Marienplatz (time permitting). This afternoon, take an excursion to nearby Dachau to learn more about the atrocities of World War II. Tonight, celebrate your last evening in Munich at our fun-filled Bavarian Dinner at the world-famous Hofbrauhaus complete with regional music and entertainment.
DAY 11 DEPARTURE FOR THE USA
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Mr. Philip Clary at [email protected]