B OBERAMMERGAU B PASSION PLAY 2020 GERMANY AND AUSTRIA In 1633, the villagers of the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau suffered devastating losses due to the Bubonic Plague. Those survivors appealed to God for Divine Intervention for their families, vowing they would perform the Passion Play every decade if they were spared. Still today the residents host thousands of travelers as they depict the life and death of Jesus. Tour Dates: July 7-16, 2020 Oberammergau Passion Play 2020 Germany and Austria Join Dea and Declan in 2020 for 10 Days • 11 Meals this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Explore the wonder of old world castles and three of Europe's most spellbinding cities. A seat at this decade's only performance of the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany is truly a highlight. Come follow in the footsteps of this centuries-old tradition! TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 4 11 meals (3 dinners and 8 breakfasts) Visit the famous fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein 4 Airport transfers included 4 English speaking local guides for all included excursions DAY 1 – Depart the USA 4 Tour Bavaria’s capital city of Munich and visit Nymphenburg Palace Depart St. Louis (or other destinations near you) with your tour direc- 4 Witness the spectacular Passion Play in Oberammergau with tors Dea and Declan on your overnight flight to Munich, Germany – Category 1 tickets in a prime seating location the capital of Bavaria. 4 Discover King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle, Neuschwanstein 4 Marvel at the beauty of Salzburg and surrounding area on an DAY 2 – Munich, Germany included city tour Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to 4 Visit the sites of The Sound of Music in Salzburg and Mondsee your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure for you to begin ex- 4 Tour the Benedictine Melk Abbey, overlooking Austria’s Lower Alps ploring this fantastic city. This evening, dinner is included. 4 Experience the scenic Danube Valley with a cruise on the Danube Meal: D River between Krems and Dürnstein 4 DAY 3 – Munich City Tour See the highlights of Vienna on an included tour and visit Begin the day with an included tour featuring the highlights of Mu- Schönbrunn Palace nich. See historic sites and landmark buildings, including the Alte and 4 Earn $50 in Are We There Yet? Bucks Neue Pinakotheks (museums), National Theater, Hofbräuhaus and Cathedral. See its popular squares including the beautiful Odeonsplatz and Karlsplatz. During the walking portion, visit the Marienplatz, Mu- Overnight nich’s central square, housing the City Hall and its famous glocken- Start City spiel. The tour concludes with a visit of Nymphenburg Palace, former End City summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria. Following the tour, the af- Visit ternoon and evening are at leisure in this capital city. Meal: B GERMANY Tour Route DAY 4 – Oberammergau – Passion Play Dürnstein Depart Munich this morning and travel to Oberammergau. Known as 2 Munich Neuschwanstein Melk home to the most important Passion Play in the world, Are We There Castle 2 Vienna 1 Yet? has secured reserved seats in the best ticket category, for you to Oberammergau 3 Salzburg witness this life-changing event. Performed every ten years by the in- habitants of this small village, the play depicts Christ’s Passion, and is held in honor of the village surviving the plague and Thirty Years’ War. AUSTRIA Over 2000 villagers are proud to participate in this 6-hour spectacle, during its 5-month run. Dinner is included during the performance, and following the play, we will check in to our hotel for overnight ac- commodations. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Meals: B, D Days Two and Three – Hotel Maritim, or similar, Munich, Germany Day Four – TBA, Oberammergau area DAY 5 – Neuschwanstein Castle This morning begins with a visit to King Ludwig II’s fairytale castle, in Days Five through Seven – Crowne Plaza, or similar, Salzburg, Austria Days Eight and Nine – Hotel AT Savoyen, or similar, Vienna, Austria a postcard perfect setting on the shores of Swan Lake, surrounded by the idyllic Bavarian Alps. Upon arrival, we will be transferred up the steep hill to the entrance. Built as a retreat, hear intriguing stories about the reclusive king and learn how he became known as ‘Mad King The sites of The Sound of Music come to life in Salzburg, Austria Sail along the Danube River to Dürnstein – ‘The Pearl of the Wachau Valley’ Ludwig’ as you explore the interior of this amazing castle. Stunning Krems and Dürnstein. Remarkable scenery awaits! Following the views of the surrounding countryside await as you peer from the por- cruise, reboard the coach and continue to Vienna. Meal: B tals of the castle. After the visit, we will be transferred back down the hill, and continue our journey to Salzburg, our home for the next three DAY 9 – Vienna nights. The day begins with a panoramic orientation tour of this capital city. Meal: B Travel along the Ringstrasse and see the grand buildings of Vienna, in- cluding the impressive Opera House, Parliament and famous concert DAY 6 – Salzburg Discover the beauty of Salzburg and sights from The Sound of Music on halls. Stately architecture and historic monuments grace this imperial your full day excursion. Begin with a walking tour through this city, steeped in history. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer resi- charming city, birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. See the his- dence of the Habsburgs, with its magnificent interiors and landscape toric Old Town and stroll along the Getreidegasse, a picturesque shop- gardens. Our tour includes the Hall of Ceremonies, the Imperial ping lane with architecture that still looks much as it did in Mozart’s Apartments, as well as the Audience Chambers of Maria Theresa and day, and home to Mozart’s birthplace at #9 Getreidegasse. We walk the apartments of Franz Joseph. After the excursion, the afternoon is at through Mirabell Gardens, pass the Pegasus statue where the children leisure for your independent exploration. This evening, gather for a sang Do-Re-Mi and danced on the steps of the fountain. Next we visit farewell dinner. Meals: B, D Hellbrunn Castle, home to the gazebo scene of Sixteen Going On Seven- teen, known for its unusual, trick fountains. We travel outside the city, DAY 10 – Vienna / USA through spectacular alpine scenery, to Mondsee to visit the church After discovering Germany and Austria and enjoying the life enriching where Maria and Captain von Trapp were married. After a day filled experience of attending Oberammergau’s Passion Play, it is time to say with scenery and song, return to our hotel in Salzburg for an evening ‘auf wiedersehen’ and depart for the Vienna airport for our flight home. at leisure. Meal: B Meal: B Itinerary is subject to change. DAY 7 – Salzburg Enjoy a full day at leisure to further experience all this city has to offer. Optional tour: Ask about joining Dea to see the Lippizzaner Horse Per- formance. Sign up is requested prior to the tour. Details and price available upon schedule release. Meal: B DAY 8 – Danube Valley Departing Salzburg, today’s adventure unfolds with the exploration of the sites and cities of the Danube Valley. Enroute to Vienna, visit the famed Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, majestically tow- ering over the Danube River. The Abbey provides a sweeping panorama of the Lower Alps and is one of the most significant Baroque-style building complexes in Europe. During the guided visit, see the Marble Hall and the Library with thousands of identically bound books. The highlight of the visit will be the Abbey Church, re- garded as the most beautiful church in the world. There’s no better way to experience the Danube Valley than on a boat ride between Visit Schönbrunn Palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs Oberammergau Passion Play The small community of Oberammergau with its 5,300 inhabitants is situated in the Ammer Valley close to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and is known worldwide for the impressive Passion Plays performed every ten years. Once again in 2020 this unique tradition will attract visitors from all over the world. Only the inhabitants of Oberammergau are allowed to perform onstage before an audience of 4,800. The set’s artistic background and costumes are provided by the long and lively tradition of woodcarving and painting passed down from the traditional family businesses dating back to the Middle Ages. Alpine meadows and towering mountains provide a fascinating backdrop as this deeply moving, centuries old spectacle is played out by the villagers on an open-air stage. PER PERSON SINGLE Contact Maggie for information on Trip Coverage. 2020 DEPARTURE TWIN ROOM ROOM* Cancellation Charges Without Trip Coverage: July 7 $5,989 $6,916 • 181 days or more prior to departure: Deposit Amount is non-refundable • 180 days to day of departure: 100% of total tour • No refund on unused portions of the tour Pricing includes round trip airfare from St. Louis, airport transfers, gratuities to all drivers and tour guides and 2 professional tour directors. Exclusions: Mayflower Tours reserves the right to alter its refund and cancellation policy Air itineraries may not be available until documents are received. Air seats are assigned by the airline for when a substantial amount of cancellation or postponement of travel is attributable to: conditions resulting from an act of God, natural or man-made disaster, fire, government the entire group. Seat changes can only be attempted upon receipt of tickets and documents at which action, civil disorder, war, hostilities between nations, or unavailability of transportation time availability may be limited.