Best of Southern Germany — Füssen, Munich, Dachau, Black Forest, Rhine Valley, Salzburg — TOUR DETAILS Germany & Austria Highlights • Price: $2,295 USD • Neuschwanstein Castle • Discounts: • Black Forest • 5% - Returning Volant Customer • Rhine Valley • Munich • Duration: 10 days • Berchtesgaden: Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest • Date: October 21-30, 2017 • Dachau Concentration Camp • Difficulty: Easy • Bavaira • Salzburg Inclusions • Würzburg Residence • All internal flights (while on tour) • All accommodations (2-3 star) • All meals Exclusions • Transportation throughout tour • International airfare (to Berlin Tegal • Airport transfers Airport) • Neuschwanstein Castle entrance fee • Entrance fees to museums and other • Dachau Concentration Camp entrance fee attractions not listed in ‘Inclusions’ • Würzburg Residence entrance fee • Personal items: Laundry, shopping, etc. • Personal guide • Traveler’s insurance ITINERARY Best of Southern Germany - 11 Days / 10 Nights Itinerary - DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS • Arrive: Frankfurt Airport Frankfurt 1 • Transfer to hotel • Overnight: Frankfurt Dinner • Walking tour of Old Town Frankfurt Würzburg - Nuremburg • Transfer to Würzburg (1h 30m) 2 • Tour Wurzburg Residence & Marienburg Fortress Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Overnight: Nuremburg (1h) • Train to Salzburg (3h 30m) Salzburg • Optional: Sound of Music tour & Mozart tour 3 • Tour Schloss Hellbrunn • Overnight: Salzburg Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Travel to Berchtesgaden (35m) Berchtesgaden - Füssen • Experience Hitler's Eagles Nest 4 • Tour the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines and/or the Berchtesgaden National Park • Enjoy a scenic drive to Fussen (3h) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Overnight: Füssen Munich • Tour Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau Castles 5 • Overnight: Munich (2h) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Day trip: Dachau Concentration Camp (36m) Dachau - Munich 6 • Walking tour Old Town Munich • Overnight: Munich Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Tour Old Town Augsburg (1h) Augsburg - Ulm - Freiburg 7 • Tour Old Town & Cathedral Ulm (1h) • Overnight: Freiburg (2h) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Drive north to Baden Baden (1h) Baden Baden - Black Forest - • View Black Forest Heidelburg 8 • Summit Merkur Mountain vis Funicular • Overnight: Heidelburg (1h) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Rhine Valley - Heidelburg • Explore Rhine Valley 9 • Overnight: Heidelburg Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner • Walking tour of Old Town Heidelburg Rheintal - Frankfurt 10 • Day trip to Rheintal • Overnight: Frankfurt (1h) Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Frankfurt 11 • Depart: Frankfurt International Airport Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner ITINERARY Berlin POLAND GERMANY Leipzig Rhine Valley Würzburg Bavaria Frankfurt Prague CZECH REPEBLIC Heidelberg Nuremberg Augsburg Black Forest Ulm Dachau SLOVAKIA Vienna Freiburg Munich Salzburg Bratislava FRANCE AUSTRIA Füssen Berchtesgaden TOUR MAP DAY 1: FRANKFURT Welcome to Germany! A Volant representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. DAY 2: FRANKFURT - WURZBURG - NUREMBURG In the morning we will look into local attractions including the Frankfurt Cathedral, Römer, and the Staedel Museum. Sometime before lunch we will begin the drive towards Nuremberg. At about the halfway point we will stop in Würzburg, Bavaria. While in Würzburg we will tour both the Würzburg Residence and Marienberg Fortress. Built in the 1700s this Baroque style 'residence' has been a world heritage UNESCO site since 1981. The Marienberg Fortress has also been reconstructed due to WWII and now houses two museums. In the afternoon we will continue our drive into Nuremberg where we will stop for the night. As Bavaria's second largest city Nuremburg was also a former Free Imperial City. While we are there we might as well tour its castle, Kaiserburg Nurnberg, as well as St. Sebaldus Church. If time permits the Schöner Brunnen and Ehekarussell are both iconic water fountains downtown that shouldn't go unseen. ITINERARY DAY 3: FRANKFURT - SALZBURG After our 3.5 hours train ride through Bavaria we will reach Salzburg. This town offers a wide variety of tourist activities. For those who may be interested there will be the opportunity to view the original film locations of the Sound of Music as well as the birthplace and museum of Mozart. For others, the Salzburg Fortress, one of Salzburg's most iconic landmarks, provides tourists with an extraordinary view of the Alps as well as the city. In the evening we will stroll through the quaint streets of Salzburger Altstadt, Old Town Salzburg. If time permits there is also a renaissance palace south of town, Schloss Hellbrunn, that is known for its novelty fountains and pleasure gardens. Nestled in between the Alps and the Salzach River, Salzburg is a fairy tale. ITINERARY DAY 4: SALZBURG - BERCHTESGADEN - FUSSEN Making our way back into Deutschland we will stop in Berchtesgaden. Tucked away in the Bavarian Alps, on the outskirts of town we will visit Hitler's Eagle's Nest, Kehlsteinhaus. Adolf's former mountain-top base offers spectacular views and delicious food. While in this area we will have the opportunity to walk along the Mannlgrat ridge which is considered to be the easiest way to reach Hoher Göll's summit. After lunch, if time permits we will explore the Salt Mines in town or the Berchtesgaden National Park. Dressed as miners we will hop aboard a trolly that will takes us back in time to discover the history of the mines. On the other hand the National Park offers incredible views of Lake Konigssee, one of the most pristine lakes in Germany. With its blue waters and green backdrop, Lake Konigssee will sure to be one of the most memorable views on this trip. That afternoon we will enjoy a scenic drive to Fussen in a private car. ITINERARY DAY 5: FÜSSEN - MUNICH Today will be dedicated to the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. Only an 8 minute car ride from downtown Fussen we will make our way to the castles after breakfast. First we will explore Neuschwanstein. This 19th century romanesque revival palace was built upon a hill in southwest Bavaria as a hideaway for a reclusive king. Its neighboring castle, Hohenschwangau was built years before by the father of the aforementioned king. Talk about competition between family members, needless to say the son won that battle. In the afternoon we will take the 2 hour drive up to Munich where we will rest for the night. ITINERARY DAY 6: DACHAU - MUNICH Before lunch we will visit Dachau, a Nazi Concentration camp that was responsible for the imprisonment of around 200,000 people. After a sobering tour of Dachau we will make out way back into Munich to explore old town. As the capital of Bavaria there is enough here to keep us busy for more than an afternoon. Marienplatz, or the heart of old town, contains many historical landmarks. With that being said we will be sure to visit St. Peter's church, Munich's oldest church as well as Frauenkirche, a gothic church that is infamous for its Devil's Footprint. The Munich Residenz is also a must see due to its art collections and treasury room. In the evening we may decide to continue touring the many sites of old town or head north to the English Garden for spectacular sunset over this urban park. While in Bavaria it is crucial that we try a local Breze, also called a soft pretzel. Kässpätzle is another local delicacy. Found somewhere between pasta and dumplings, Spätzle is made by dropping soft dough into boiling water. These staples will be found all over town as they are traditionally found in southern Germany. Tonight will be spent in Munich. ITINERARY DAY 7: MUNICH - AUGSBURG - ULM - FREIBURG After getting an early start to our day, we will leave Bavaria behind us and work our way to Freiburg. Along the way we will make a couple pit stops to get out and stretch our legs. Our first stop will be made in Augsburg, Germany's third oldest city. Keep your eyes peeled for Augsburg's city hall and the Perlach tower. Both iconic buildings in the Augsburg landscape. Next we will drive through Ulm, a town rich in history due to the fact that it was founded in 850 and was formerly considered a free imperial city. Sometime in the afternoon we will arrive in Freiburg, a town known for its medieval old town and temperate climates. DAY 8: FREIBURG - BADEN BADEN - HEIDELBURG Freiburg will serve as our gateway into the Black Forest. As we head north to Heidelberg for the night we will stop in Baden Baden. For those who may be interested there will be the opportunity to summit Merkur Mountain by way of funicular. The summit provides fascinating views of the Baden Baden basin and overlooks the Black Forest as well as local ruins. Lichtentaler Allee is another attraction in Baden Baden that should be well explored. The beauty in this park is magnificent. ITINERARY DAY 9: HEIDELBURG - RHINE VALLEY - HEIDELBERG The next 48 hours will be spent in the Rhine Valley. The castles, historic towns and vineyards all along the Rhine River should keep us busy indefinitely. We will make sure to seek out the Worms Cathedral in Worms. Just wait until you see this cathedral's alter! Known for its medieval old town and half-timbered houses, Mainz is a historic town in this area. The Palatinate Forest is another must see. Located near the French boarder this forest contains magical natural landscapes as well as ruins from the 1200s. DAY 10: HEIDELBERG - RHEINTAL - FRANKFURT The first half of our day will be spent in Heidelberg. Heidelberg's old town lays adjacent to the Neckar River. Here we will tour the Heidelberg Castle and the Church of the Holy Spirit. Before we end our visit in this historic university town we will be sure to check out King's Throne. The view from this mountain summit overlooks Heidelberg and the Neckar River. The second half of the day will be spent exploring some of the many attractions of the Rheintal that we didn't have time for the day before.