Bavaria Around the Edges
May 16 – 28, 2013
Dear Friends:
Care to join me on a trip to Bavaria? Whether you’ve been there before or have just
dreamed about visiting this part of Europe, why not consider our May 2013 Bavaria
Around the Edges trip? Interested? Then read on…
I put this itinerary together because so many who went on our May 2011 trip to Bavaria
asked me to offer another one, so here it is. The itinerary takes in some of the towns we
visited in 2011 – Mittenwald and Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber – but also adds two more,
Lindau and Passau. And as the title of the trip suggests, all of these four towns are
literally around the outer edges of the State of Bavaria, Germany. They all are also
fascinating, lovely spots in Bavaria, and I guarantee that you won’t to leave any of them!
While there, we’ll be staying in some wonderful hotels, visiting many of the most
important sites within those towns, and providing you with plenty of free time, so you
can explore some on your own. Care to just sit down and relax in a Bavarian beer garden
in Mittenwald? Or perhaps rest your weary legs in a café along Lake Constance in
Lindau? If not that, you just might want to stop and sit on a bench along the Danube and
admire the view in Passau. Or finally, watch in wonder as mechanical figures act out the
“Meistertrunk” in the main square of Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber?
This isn’t one of those canned, large group tours - we’re capping our numbers at 25 – and
it’s not a If this is Belgium, it must be Tuesday tour. As you’ll see, we’re spending two
nights in Rothenburg, but three nights in each of the other three towns we’ll be visiting.
It’s a tour designed to allow you to see some of the most beautiful parts and towns of
Bavaria, but also one which will give you time to enjoy those places.
So, how about joining me? Haven’t you always wanted to go…or go back?
Jeff Driscoll
Jeffdriscoll1944@verizon.net
karen@richardsworldtravel.com
Our Itinerary:
Thursday, May 16
We’ll depart the US on an evening flight with meal service in flight.
Friday, May 17 (Dinner at the hotel)
After our arrival in Munich, we’ll drive to the medieval town of Rothenburg-ob-derTauber, stopping along the way for lunch. In Rothenburg we’ll check into our hotel, have
some time to relax a bit, get unpacked, then you can join Jeff on an optional late
afternoon walk around town. Rothenburg is one of Germany’s oldest towns and
overlooks the Tauber River from its rocky crag. As well as being ancient and historic,
the town is both picturesque and unspoiled and you can almost be in a 16th century time
warp. Welcome dinner in hotel with wine or beer. Early to bed!
Saturday, May 18 (Breakfast at the hotel)
Sleep in a bit! Then, about 10:30 a.m., we’ll enjoy a half-day tour with a local
Rothenburg guide, who will bring alive the history of this walled town. The rest of the
day is yours! Pick your own restaurant, browse in one of the many shops, or perhaps visit
the Kriminalmuseum.
Sunday, May 19 (Breakfast at the hotel in Rothenburg and Dinner at the hotel in
Passau)
We’ll leave Rothenburg about mid-morning and head east to Passau, a delightful
Bavarian city on the northeastern edge of the State of Bavaria. We’ll stop along the way
for lunch and a little sight-seeing, arriving in Passau around 4:00 p.m. The nooks and
crannies of Passau’s well-known old town reflect its seven thousand years of history.
Passau, the city where the rivers Danube, Inn and Ilz meet, is a young-old city, casting its
spell over all its visitors. In the old town you’ll find picturesque squares like the
Domplatz, Residenzplatz and Rathausplatz. The city, nestled in between the Inn and
Danube Rivers, boasts a myriad of narrow streets and alleys, as well as a number of
footpaths that hug the rivers’ shorelines, and the junction of the three rivers provides a
breathtaking natural spectacle. After our arrival, Jeff will again offer an optional lateafternoon walk. We’ll dine together at the hotel tonight for dinner.
Monday, May 20 (Breakfast at the hotel)
This morning we’ll be treated to a tour of the beautiful city of Passau by one of the local
guides. Our tour will include a walk along the Danube and Inn Rivers, as well as a visit
to St. Stephans’s Cathedral, which is located on the old town’s highest point. The
Cathedral, which was practically all destroyed in the devastating fire of 1662, was rebuilt
by the famous baroque architect Carlo Lurago, its stucco works done by G.B. Carlone,
and the frescos painted by Carpoforus Tencalla, all of them Italian baroque artists. With
17,974 organ pipes, 233 stops and 4 carillons, the organ in St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the
world’s largest cathedral organ. Dinner is on your own tonight, but don’t worry – you’ll
have plenty of options!
Tuesday, May 21 (Breakfast at the hotel)
Sleep a bit later this morning, if you wish, but be ready by mid-morning for a river cruise
on the Danube. Enjoy these unforgettable views of Passau, with its Italian flair and
colorful buildings. See St. Stephan’s Cathedral and the confluence of the three rivers: the
Danube, Inn and Ilz. From the boat, we’ll also view the Oberhaus Castle and the
Monastery Mariahilf. While you’re relaxing and taking in the sites, enjoy the onboard
commentary about the city. After the cruise, you’ll have plenty of free time to explore on
your own. Dinner is on your own again, so Guten Appetit!
Wednesday, May 22 (Breakfast at the hotel in Passau and Dinner at hotel in
Lindau)
We’ll head out from Passau this morning and have our longest drive ahead of us – all the
way to southwest Bavaria, to the breath-taking town of Lindau, on Lake Constance.
We’ll stop several times along the way, but we should reach Lindau by late afternoon.
Lindau is located on the German side of Lake Constance (der Bodensee, in German).
The island portion of Lindau is connected to the nearby lakeshore by bridges and is a
charming town boasting many beautiful buildings and monuments. Places to visit
include the harbor’s Seepromenade with its Bavarian Lion Monument, the town’s two
lighthouses and some beautiful churches. We’ll check into our hotel on the island of
Lindau and give you some time to relax and settle in. Join Jeff on another pre-dinner
walk around the town. We’ll gather together for dinner at the hotel.
Thursday, May 23 (Breakfast at the hotel)
This morning, we’ll meet our local guide for a look around this enchanting spot on the
largest lake in Europe. We’ll make sure our guide gives us some time to stop at a café
along the town’s harbor, so we can enjoy the scene. When our tour is over, you’ll have
the rest of the day to do as you wish. You won’t have any problem filling up your time,
as Lindau is as charming a town as you’ll ever visit. Oh, and yes – remember – you’re on
your own for dinner tonight! Perhaps you’ll pick out a special restaurant during your
morning walking tour.
Friday, May 24 (Breakfast at the hotel)
After a hearty breakfast, freshen up for another cruise, this time on Lake Constance,
going from Lindau to Konstanz in Switzerland. The lake is surrounded by picturesque,
historic towns and villages, where visitors can still see many buildings dating from the
Middle Ages. Most of these towns are linked by boats. In the summer, Lake Constance
sparkles against the backdrop of the Alps, radiating a Mediterranean atmosphere with its
many boats and white and colored sails. You will get to see a bit of Austria and
Switzerland, so you’ll be able to say you SAW two other countries on your trip!
Saturday, May 25 (Breakfast at the hotel in Lindau and Dinner at the hotel in
Mittenwald)
You may wish to stay in Lindau, but the coach will roll out this morning, this time for the
marvelous Bavarian town of Mittenwald, well east and almost in Austria. This Alpine
town sits in among the Bavarian Alps and is not often on the itinerary for most
Americans, but trust me – you’ll love it! As before, we’ll stop a few times during our
trip, but we should arrive in mid-afternoon. Apart from its worldwide reputation as a
center of violin-making, Mittenwald is best known for its 80 miles of paths and trails in
the adjacent mountains, and its terrific winter sports offerings. There are plenty of shops
and cafés, and a must-do is a visit to the Violin Making Museum, with its outstanding
collection of instruments. Jeff will tell you about the plethora of trails in and around
Mittenwald, as well as the Karwendal cable car and the Kranzberg chairlift. We’ll check
into the outstanding Hotel Post and Jeff will again go out for a late afternoon walk before
we gather together in the hotel for dinner.
Sunday, May 26 (Breakfast at the hotel)
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast while admiring the incredible scenery, but at mid-morning be
ready to enjoy a walking tour of Mittenwald with our local guide. Walking the streets of
Mittenwald is sort of like stepping back in time a few hundred years. If we’re lucky, we
might get a chance to see one of the town’s violin-makers at work. The afternoon is
yours and Jeff suggests a walk up into the mountains, perhaps to the Lautersee. For
dinner, you may choose to just enjoy a delightful meal at the Hotel Post, but there are
many other spots in town.
Monday, May 27 (Breakfast at the hotel)
This day is entirely yours, with an optional ride over to nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
For those wishing to see that town, meet Jeff at 10:30am and we’ll take the 20 minutelong coach ride over to this very famous Bavarian resort town. We’ll spend a few hours
there and return by mid-afternoon. If you don’t want to see Garmisch, you’ll have plenty
of things you can do in Mittenwald: take the cable car up to the top of Karwendel
Mountain; walk up the Kranzberg to one of the cafes; or perhaps just lounge around our
hotel, taking in the breath-taking views. But whatever you decide to do, be back in the
hotel well before evening as we gather together for our --- alas! - Farewell Dinner!!
That’s it, that’s our tour to Bavaria Around the Edges, 2013. Next year at this time, you
could be sitting in your living room sighing about what you missed…or enjoying your
photos, memories and souvenirs. The choice is yours. The time is now. Hope to hear
from you soon!
Hotels - First Class hotels throughout our tour with porterage included at the hotels.
Rothenburg –l Prinzhotel Rothenburg / 2 nights
Passau – Hotel Residenz / 3 nights
Lindau- Hotel Stift / 3 nights
Mittenwald – Posthotel Mittenwald / 3 nights
Meals
Breakfast Daily at the Hotels
Dinner – 5 at the Hotels
How To Sign On
Land Cost: $2795.00 per person, twin (Euro exchange rate does fluctuate, so price
could increase by a few dollars).
$300.00 additional for single supplement ( based on one person to a room)
Air Cost: Air pricing will be available 10 months prior to return date. (August 1, 2012)
Deposit: A $500.00 per person and a completed Reservation Form will reserve your spot.
Unfortunately all deposits and final payments must be made by check. The supplier
(Select Travel) will not accept credit cards. In the event that you need to withdraw your
reservation after deposit has been made, $450.00 of the deposit will be refunded to you.
The remaining $50.00 will be forfeited for administrative costs.
Final Payment: Due on or before March 18, 2013 or on receipt of final statement.
Cancellations: Between January 18 and February 18, 2011, there will be a $250 penalty
for withdrawal.
After February 18, 2011 there will be a penalty of $500.00
After March 18, 2011, there will be no refunds.
Vacation Protection Plan: We strongly suggest you consider the purchase of Trip
Cancellation/Interruption Insurance which will cover you for cancellations necessitated
by medical illness or accident of yourself or your family before or during your trip. A
brochure will be mailed to you with your Reservation Form. The Travel Insurance must
accompany your Deposit of $500. Please contact Karen Moulton at Richards World
Travel if you have questions at extension # 129
Documentation: A valid US Passport will be required by each participant.
Travel Arrangements By
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Hagerstown MD 21742
301-791-1010 or 800-638-3502