Dresden - Annaberg - Weimar - Frankfurt
DAILY ITINERARY – November 27th to December 5th, 2011
Sunday, November 27th – Dresden
Arrival in Dresden. We will meet you at the airport.
Day at leisure to explore Dresden’s Striezelmarkt. Dating back to 1434, it is the oldest Christmas market in Germany. You’ll find a wonderful selection of wood carvings, ceramics, gingerbread, porcelain and unusual flower arrangements. Be sure to taste the Dresdener Christstollen, a rich fruit filled cake. Evening reception.
Blu Gewandhaus Hotel.
Monday, November 28th – Dresden
Our local guide will show us Dresden’s most famous sights, including the city’s finest jewel, the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche. The Procession of the Dukes is a detailed 300 foot wall made entirely of Meissen tiles. We’ll also visit the extraordinary SemperOpera House and the famous baroque Zwinger with its beautiful baroque pavilions and terraces. Afternoon at leisure for museums or continue exploring the Christmas market.
Blu Gewandhaus Hotel. Meals (B, D)
Tuesday, November 29th – Annaberg
This morning we travel through the snow-covered Erzgebirge Mountains, the wooden toy-making center of Germany. In Seiffen watch the local craftsmen at work making the wooden ornaments; including the smoking man, the horseman and elaborate Christmas pyramids.
Hotel Wilder Mann. Meals (B, D)
Wednesday, November 30th – Annaberg
Annaberg has one of the prettiest markets in the region. Our guided tour includes a visit to St. Annen church, dating back to 1499. We will be entertained with a short organ concert. Afternoon at leisure to visit the museums and explore the large market with time out for coffee and the tasty local Kuchen. After dark you will notice that every house has a light in the window, celebrating the coming of Christmas.
Hotel Wilder Mann. Meals (B, D)
Thursday, December 1st – Weimar
We continue to Leipzig, ranked by the New York Times as one of the top places to visit in 2010. Its market dates back to 1767 and is one of the largest in Germany. Weimar’s UNESCO heritage includes the many famous composers and writers who lived and worked here. Tonight's hotel has a rich 300 year history as a social meeting point and frequently had Bach, Wagner, Goethe and Tolstoy as guests.
Hotel Elephant. Meals (B, D)
Friday, December 2nd – Weimar
Our local guide will escort us through the sights of the historic old town. Once you gain your first impression of one the Cultural Capitals of Europe you may want to use your afternoon free time to continue exploring the many museums, galleries, palaces and parks on your own.
Hotel Elephant. Meals (B)
Saturday, December 3rd – Frankfurt
A short drive takes us to Erfurt, with one of Germany’s most beautiful Christkindlesmarkts. Over 200 decorated wooden huts fill the old quarter, offering Thuringian specialties. Highlights of our tour will include the 14th century cathedral and the Kramerbrucke, a unique bridge with half-timbered houses on its sides, that was built in 1325 and is still in use today.
Frankfurt Hilton Hotel. Meals (B)
Sunday, December 4th – Frankfurt
Morning guided tour to discover the highlights of this fascinating city. The afternoon is free to stroll through the Christmas Market or explore one of the many museums. The large tree in the central square sparkles with 4,000 lights, 150 golden bells and red bows. Tonight we'll celebrate our farewell with a special dinner.
Frankfurt Hilton Hotel. Meals (B, D)
Monday, December 5th – return to USA
Depart from Frankfurt airport. Farewell to Europe and jet back to North America, arriving home the same day. Meals (B)
If you have time you may wish to stay in Frankfurt an extra night or join the Rhine Cruise.
PRICE PER PERSON: $1,995 land cost, $395 single room surcharge
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GROUP SIZE IS LIMITED TO 29 GUESTS MAXIMUM
RESERVATIONS: Notify us that you wish to join the tour. Your space will be reserved and a sign-up packet will be forwarded with registration form and an invoice for deposit. Upon receipt of your deposit, an information packet will be forwarded with further confirmation of your reservation and details to help prepare for the tour. Full and final payment is due 80 days prior to departure.
AIR TRANSPORTATION: Airfare is not included in the tour price. Flight arrival and departure times should coincide with Gerhard’s group transfer schedule to/from the hotel and airport that will be provided on the day the tour starts. Specific transfer times will be listed in the information packet, which is forwarded upon receipt of the tour reservation form. Independent transfers can be arranged for those arrival and departures that do not coincide with the group transfer schedules and for those arriving prior to the start of the tour.
EXTRA NIGHTS: Special rates are available at the hotels used at the start and finish of the tours. If you wish to arrive a day early or extend your return by a day or two, the rate of $295 per double room ($270 single) will apply at the hotel in Dresden – $165 per double room ($125 single) will apply at the hotel in Frankfurt. A buffet breakfast, taxes and service charges are included at all hotels. Additional nights are confirmed on a space-available basis. Airport and hotel transfers are not provided for extra nights.
TOUR COMBINATION: It is easy to combine two, three or all of the tours together. Please contact us for details and special prices.
View the Tourist Office Web sites for some of the destinations we visit. http://www.christmastrips.com/pages/travelresources.htm
2011 detailed tour itineraries:
November 19th to November 27th – Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in Germany
Includes Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Feuchtwangen, Ulm, Lindau & Munich
November 27th to December 5th – East Germany
Dresden, Seiffen, Annaberg, Leipzig, Weimar, Erfurt & Frankfurt
December 4th to December 13th – Cruising on the Danube with AMA Waterways
Budapest, Vienna, Passau, Regensburg, Nürnberg & Frankfurt (hosted by Tina Lynch)
December 8th to December 17th – Cruising on the Rhine with AMA Waterways
Stuttgart, Baden Baden, Basel, Colmar, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Cologne & Amsterdam