Day 1: Arrival Berlin – Wittenberg ( 110km/1h30min)
Welcome to Germany! After time to explore the nearby Kaiser Wilhelm Church, purchase lunch, and shop, we will gather back at the hotel to begin the tour (time will be confirmed once we know all the flight arrival times.) We will start our Reformation Tour with a panoramic sightseeing tour of the reunified German capital, highlighting the Reichstag (parliament building), the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the refurbished city center and Gendarmenmarkt. We will also see Alexanderplatz, the famous boulevard “Unter den Linden”, and the Berlin Cathedral. We will continue to Lutherstadt-Wittenberg and check in our hotel. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)

Day 2: Wittenberg
This morning our local guide will take us on a tour of Lutherstadt Wittenberg. It was here in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church (Schlosskirche). Although the original doors were destroyed in the Seven Years War, we can see Luther’s texts cast in bronze on the new doors. We will visit St. Mary’s Church where Luther regularly preached and visit the Old Latin School next door. Luther’s former home, the Lutherhalle, is now a Reformation Museum and we will see where he lived with his family, as well as some of Luther’s very own personal library, rare manuscripts, and early Bibles. We will arrange for a time of fellowship today, either in the Old Lutheran School, or with the Wittenberg English Ministry. The rest of the day will be free to explore independently. (B)

Day 3: Wittenberg – Erfurt ( 220km/3h)
This morning we will drive to Erfurt. Our local guide will take us on a tour including St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. Severin’s Church and the famous Merchant’s Bridge. We will also tour the Augustinian Monastery where Luther became a monk on July 17, 1505. We will be able to see his monastic quarters, including one cell furnished to look as it would have when he lived there. (B/D)

Day 4: Erfurt-Eisenach (70km/1h)- Rudesheim ( 260km/3h)
In 1521, while fleeing from the wrath of the Pope, Luther took refuge in the Wartburg Castle after a fake kidnapping staged by his friend and protector, Frederick the Wise. We will tour the Wartburg and see where Luther finished translating the New Testament into German in just eleven weeks. In the afternoon we will travel down to the Rhine region and check in to our hotel in Rudesheim. We will have dinner in the stunning Eberbach Abbey. (B/D)

Day 5: Rudesheim - Rhine Cruise, Rothenburg ( 260km/3h)
What better way to start the day than with a Rhine cruise! We will board the boat and sail past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley rock to St. Goar. Every bend in the river will bring more stunning scenery, ships pass left & right, and numerous trains roar up and down the Rhine River valley. We will continue on to medieval Rothenburg, where we will have leisure time to shop, walk around the walls and explore the town. This evening we will have the option of joining the Night Watchman on his nightly tour (public tour). (B)
Day 6: Rothenburg – Neuschwanstein (250km/3h) – Oberammergau ( 50km/1h)
This morning we will drive down the Romantic Road to Neuschwanstein and tour this gorgeous fairy tale castle. We’ll end the day at our hotel in the Oberammergau area. (B/D)

Day 7: Oberammergau
The morning will be free to stroll around Oberammergau before eating lunch and heading to the Passion Play. The seven-hour performance is truly a moving experience as we witness the passion of Jesus, recalling how He gave His life so that we might be forgiven. Gathered together with Christians from around the globe, this once-a-decade play is an unforgettable experience. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Oberammergau – Munich ( 90km/1h30min)
After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel up to Munich. In the afternoon, we will have a walking tour of Munich, including the Cathedral, the Marienplatz, and the Old Town. This evening we will finish our fun tour with a farewell Bavarian meal in a traditional restaurant. We will overnight in Munich. (B/D)

Day 9: Departure Munich
We will leave this morning and drive to Munich Airport for our flight home. A post-tour to Salzburg can be arranged for anyone who’d like to extend their time in Europe. (B)