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Germany Beer Tour
10 days / 9 nights
Amsterdam - Cologne - Dusseldorf - Bamberg - Andechs - Ayinger - Munich

Day 1 Amsterdam
Upon arrival, transfer to hotel in the heart of the city.

Day 2 Amsterdam
Tour begins with a stroll around the historical centre. See the peaceful, tree-lined canals, inviting side-streets and perfectly preserved 17th century houses as your experienced guide brings to life over 800 years of Amsterdam culture. From tales of the city’s humble beginnings on the river Amstel to its glorious “Golden Age,” you’ll get to know Amsterdam in a highly personal way. After that visit Amstel Brewery. The brewery was founded on June 11, 1870 in Amsterdam and named after the Amstel River, the waters of which also served for refrigeration. Amstel brewery was bought out by Heineken Internationa in 1968, in 1972 it was closed and production was relocated to the main Heineken plant in Zoeterwoude. The building on the Mauritskade was torn down. Only the former administration building was kept and has meanwhile become part of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Heineken offers several beers under the Amstel brand. Amstel Lager uses predominantly light pilsner malt,although some dark malt is also used. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 3 Amsterdam – Cologne (270km/3,30h)
Departure to Cologne. After arrival have a walking tour of the old city. Be sure to stop into a bar or two for a fresh delicious Kolsch! Tonight enjoy a Traditional Local Dinner in a classic Koelner beer hall.

Day 4 Cologne - Dusseldorf (40km/1h) - Cologne
This morning travel up the Rhine to Cologne's historic rival city - Dusseldorf. Here visit as many Alt bars as you can to learn the ins and outs of one of Germany's few ales. You'll have a traditional lunch pub lunch as well. Return to Cologne this evening.

Day 5 Cologne
A full day to spend in one of Germany's great cities! Enjoy the wintry panorama of Cologne's Old Town, visit Cologne`s Dom Cathedral and if you are in a good shape take the 509 stairs to the top of the south tower – it worth it! Cologne is well known and for its "Veedel" or traditional neighborhoods. Here, most notably in the bohemian Agnesviertel,can find independent designers, bookshops, bars, and art galleries. Visit the Locking Bridge – all of it is covered in padlocks. The locks are placed there by couples to show their loyalty to each other. Later stop in a pub for a beer or two and return to hotel for overnight.

Day 6 Cologne - Bamberg (400km/5h)
This morning travel to Bamberg and spend the night in the heart of this medieval city. There will be time to visit a couple of breweries this afternoon. This evening eat at the historic Schlenkerla brewery tap - home of one of the world's original smoke beers. Overnight.

Day 7 Bamberg
This morning take a guided, walking city tour to get oriented in beautiful Bamberg City offers many beer options and plenty of worthwhile sites, churches and museums. Renting a bike is a great way to explore even more brewery taps and beer gardens. Franconia boasts hundreds of small private breweries reached by easy public transportation links. No doubt visits will be made to local Bamberg breweries as well.The afternoon is free to explore the town or to continue visiting the 10 brewery taps in this city of 70,000. The per capita beer consumption averages 330 litres per year. This is a beer city if ever there was one; and also a UNESCO World Heritage site for architecture throughout the city centre.

Day 8 Bamberg – Andechs (270km/3,30h) -Ayinger (70km/1,30h)
Depart Bamberg bound for Kloster Andechs - for a lunch and drink their infamously powerful beers.After lunch, continue to Aying and Ayinger Brewery, home of Bavaria's best-known country beers. After touring their beautiful brewery and tasting some beers, enjoy a multi-course beer meal - each course paired with one of Ayinger's beers. Overnight.

Day 9 Ayinger – Munich (40km/1h)
Leave Ayinger on the way to Munich.Start in Royal Munich where lies the great neo-classical plaza, Konigsplatz (Munich's Acropolis), and a few minutes from there is the equally imposing Odeonsplatz. Both are the legacy of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, a 19th century monarch who set out to put Munich on the map as a center of European royal grandeur. Stop at the famous Chinese Tower beer garden for refreshments. Then cruise along the lovely banks of the river Isar, which will finally lead you back into the heart of Munich's beautiful Old Town.

Day 10 Munich
Transfer to Munich's Airport.