Southern Germany and the Swiss

September 4 - 15, 2020

Hosted by Henk and Thressa Witte hosted by Henk & Thressa Witte 616-446-0745 [email protected]

enk and Thressa Witte invite you Hto join them on an unforgettable adventure through the magnificent Your hosts are Henk Alpine Region of Southern Germany, Witte, founder of Witte Travel & Tours, and his Austria, and ! Our journey wife, Thressa. Henk, who emigrated from the begins in the German province of Netherlands at age 12, is also the former Honorary Netherlands Consul for West Michigan. He started Witte Travel & Tours in 1975 Bavaria, where we will take in all this and today, over four decades later, the company has a staff of 25 travel professionals. beautiful area of the country has to The Witte’s have traveled extensively, both with groups and on offer. From there, we will travel through their own. Their retirement includes plans to see more of the world. Henk has visited nearly every city, town, and landmark Austria and into Switzerland, visiting included in this itinerary, and he and Thressa look forward to exploring them further with members of the tour. You can be sure castles nestled in the mountains, quaint that the Witte’s fun-loving spirit and cordiality will enhance the ski towns, and even taking a first- tour experience for every one of you. class journey on the renowned Glacier Tour Cost Express train! Our tour concludes in $5,395 per person from Grand Rapids, based on double occupancy Geneva with a view of the Palace of Register online at Nations, the Red Cross Museum, and bookings.wittetravel.com use booking code 090420WITT much more. or complete and return the printed registration form. Glacier Express: Take a trip on the world-famous Glacier Express train. The first-class train will travel from Chur or St. Moritz to Zermatt, through some of the most beautiful and iconic scenery Switzerland has to offer. The trip itself will take passengers across bridges, through tunnels, and give magnificent panoramic views of the Swiss Alps. Traveling in the remote valleys, quaint villages, over the famous Landwasser Viaduct, and even through the Rhine Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Switzerland, the journey is sure to be unforgettable. The large panoramic windows allow clear views of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as “Swiss Alps Jungrau-Aletsch.” The journey will take much of the day, but upon arrival you’ll wish it lasted a lifetime.

Inclusions: Flights from Grand Rapids to Munich and from Geneva back to Grand Rapids Hotel accommodations for 10 nights in moderate to standard first-class hotels Breakfast daily, two lunches and six dinners Multi-lingual European driver/tour manager to accompany the group throughout and local guides as needed Deluxe motorcoach transportation Glacier Express train in 1st class from Chur or St. Moritz to Zermatt Sightseeing and admission fees Local taxes and fees September 2020

4, Friday Departure The day of departure has arrived! We will meet at the airport for our overnight transatlantic flights to Europe. (D – in flight)

5, Saturday Arrival, Munich Good morning and welcome to Germany! After making our way through customs and gathering our luggage, we will meet our driver/tour manager and board our motorcoach. We will have an orientation tour of Munich and time for lunch before checking into the hotel. Following check-in and time for a short rest, we will head to the Hofbrauhaus, Munich’s most famous beer hall, for 7, Monday Moorish Pavilion and its grotto, dinner. (B-in flight, D) Munich > Ottobeuren > and the beautiful park. Our Neuschwanstein > next stop is the impressive 6, Sunday Oberammergau Benedictine Abbey in Ettal, a Dachau > Munich Today we travel to Baroque masterpiece. Before Our day begins with a visit to Oberammergau via Ottobeuren or after our visit, we will relax Dachau, a town whose name and Neuschwanstein. Our over lunch at a traditional will forever be linked to the first stop, Ottobeuren, is a city Bavarian restaurant. We will Nazis’ first concentration camp, famous for its 18th-century take a guided backstage tour which was set up in 1933. The abbey. After our abbey visit of the Passion Play theater camp was originally meant for and time for an independent in Oberammergau and have German political prisoners, but lunch, we will continue to the rest of the day free to fortified castle bears witness would eventually become the Neuschwanstein. This fairy explore this quaint village to the strategic importance of final destination for thousands tale castle, nestled in the with its painted houses and this section of the Inn Valley. of prisoners from countries Bavarian Alps, was started, but woodcarving shops. This We will take a short tour of around Europe, many of never finished, by Mad King evening’s dinner is independent the castle before time for whom were Jewish. After a Ludwig II and is a must see in Oberammergau. (B, L) an independent lunch. After visit to the Jewish Memorial, for anyone traveling to Bavaria. lunch, continue to St. Moritz, Protestant Commemorative From there, we will continue 9, Wednesday Switzerland’s best-known ski Sanctuary, and Catholic Chapel, to Oberammergau and have a Oberammergau > resort town, and our home for as well as the administration group dinner together. (B, D) Garmisch > Landeck > two nights. We will have dinner building-turned-museum, we St. Moritz together as a group. (B, D) will head back to Munich to 8, Tuesday This morning, we will depart view the 12:00 p.m. chiming Munich > Ettal > Oberammergau. Our first of the Glockenspiel. This Oberammergau stop is in Garmisch, a ski afternoon, we’ll visit the lovely Today we’ll head south to visit town in Bavaria and home to Baroque Nymphenburg Palace Linderhof Castle, a small palace Germany’s highest mountain, and Gardens and have time also built by King Ludwig II the Zugspitze. From there, to explore Munich. Tonight’s that is known for its delightful we will travel through Austria, dinner will be independent. (B) grounds. We will enjoy a stopping on the way to visit guided tour of the palace, the Landeck, whose massive 13, Sunday Zermatt > Visp > Martigny > Lausanne > Geneva Departing Zermatt by train, we’ll arrive in Tasch to board our motorcoach. A picturesque drive takes us northward to Visp, the last Germanic Swiss city on our itinerary and one of the sunniest cities in Switzerland. From there, we’ll travel into the French quarter of Switzerland, stopping in Martigny for lunch. This afternoon, photo stops will be made near Chateau de Chillon and Montreux. Time permitting, we will also stop at Vue du Signal for a great view of Lausanne and Lake Geneva. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Geneva, our final tour stop and home for two nights. After checking into the hotel, we will get together for our evening meal. (B, D)

14, Monday Geneva The day begins with a sightseeing tour of Geneva. 11, Friday 12, Saturday This tour will highlight the St. Moritz > Zermatt Zermatt Reformation monument, the Town Hall, St. Peter’s The Glacier Express awaits Following breakfast and an Cathedral, and the 10, Thursday us today! We’ll depart from orientation tour of Zermatt, the archeological site located in St. Moritz St. Moritz or Chur and take day will be yours to explore the front of the Chapelle des Our day begins with a short the day to travel through the the village of Zermatt. Like St. Macchabees. We’ll also see the walking tour of St. Moritz, Swiss Alps to Zermatt on Moritz, Zermatt offers a whole United Nations Peace Palace a quaint alpine village and the famous Glacier Express host of activities for any type and the Flower Clock. The rest two-time host of the Winter train. This world-class train of traveler. You can choose to of the day will be at leisure for Olympics. From there, the day offers panoramic views of the take the cog railway to the exploration and any last-minute is yours to explore this village. Swiss Alps and is sure to be summit of the Gornergrat for shopping. We will transfer to a You can choose to visit some an experience you will never a panoramic view of the Alps, nearby restaurant for a typical the first mineral spas in Europe forget. We will enjoy amazing including the ; hike Swiss fondue dinner. (B, D) or partake in one of the many views and first-class luxuries or ski in the mountains; or recreational activities that the as well as all the beauty that enjoy the day relaxing in this 15, Tuesday Switzerland has to offer. Once beautiful mountain town. (B) city has to offer. You will also Return have time to find the perfect we arrive in Zermatt, we Today we will transfer to the restaurant for this evening’s will get settled at the hotel airport for our flight to the independent dinner. (B) followed by our evening meal. (B, L, D) United States. We hope you enjoyed your tour! (B, L- in flight) 3250 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512 616.957.8113 | 800 GO WITTE [email protected] | wittetours.com