Munich - Annaberg - Weimar - Bamberg
DAILY ITINERARY – December 4th to 13th, 2010
Saturday, December 4th – to Europe
Overnight flight to Munich. Relax and enjoy your flight across the Atlantic, as your holiday begins.
Sunday, December 5th – Munich
Arrival in Munich. We will meet you at the airport. Free time to visit the nearby village of Freising or take an easy train ride into downtown Munich, to explore one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets situated on Marienplatz Square. Evening reception.
Kempinski Airport Munich.
Monday, December 6th – Annaberg
A morning sightseeing tour of medieval Regensburg, including the Old Town Hall. Visit the Kornmarkt Christmas market and shop at festive stalls adorned with fragrant fir branches. Annaberg has one of the prettiest markets in the region and after dark you will notice that every house has a traditional light in the window, celebrating the coming of Christmas.
Hotel Wilder Mann. Meals (B, L, D)
Tuesday, December 7th – Annaberg
A guided tour this morning includes a visit to St. Annen church, dating back to 1499. We will be entertained with a short organ concert. Afternoon at leisure to explore more of the large market with time out for coffee and the tasty local Kuchen.
Hotel Wilder Mann. Meals (B)
Wednesday, December 8th – Annaberg
This morning we travel through the snow-covered Erzgebirge Mountains, the wooden toy-making center of Germany. We’ll stop at a Nutcracker museum - the first nutcrackers were made in this region around 1870. 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)
Thursday, December 9th – 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. Our local guide will escort us through the sights of the historic old town. 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 10th – Bamberg
Morning at leisure to continue exploring Weimar’s many museums, galleries, palaces and parks. After lunch we travel through the glass-making region of Lauscha. Christmas tree ornaments and glass art will be available at factory prices. Arrival in 1,000 year old Bamberg 
with time to visit the market. Sample the holiday foods and the fruit bread and gingerbread that are a popular specialty here.
Romantik Messerschmitt. Meals (B)
Saturday, December 11th – Bamberg
Our local guide will introduce us to the grand Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture showcased in the towers, gables, squares and courtyards of Bamberg. Afternoon free to visit the Christmas market and 32 unique nativity scenes on display in the town churches and chapels.
Romantik Messerschmitt. Meals (B, D)
Sunday, December 12th – Munich
Our coach takes us into Munich city center for time at the large Christmas Market and museums. Enjoy the Christmas carols sung on the Marienplatz Square with the Cathedral and the neo-gothic town hall serving as a backdrop. There is also a nice Christmas market at the Munich airport, a short walk from our hotel. Tonight we'll celebrate our farewell with a special dinner.
Kempinski Airport Munich. Meals (B, D)
Monday, December 13th – return to USA
Fly out of Munich 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 Munich an extra night or join us for the Danube Cruise. Questions ? – call 1.800.966.2402
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.
EXTRA NIGHTS: Special rates are available at our hotel in Munich if you wish to arrive a day early or extend your return by a day or two. $220 per double room ($195 single) includes buffet breakfast, taxes and service charges. Additional nights are confirmed on a space-available basis.
TOUR COMBINATION: It is easy to combine two or all of the tours together. Those guests joining both the November 26th and December 4th trips, will receive a $125 per person price reduction. Those combining the December 4th and December 10th tours will receive a $200 per person price reduction.
November 26 to December 5, 2010 – Germany, Austria and Italy 
Includes Munich, Innsbruck, Garmisch and Bolzano, Italy
December 4 to December 13, 2010 – East Germany
Annaberg, Weimar, Bamberg & the Erzgebirge – home of the wooden ornaments
December 10 to December 19, 2010 – Christmas Cruise on the Danube
Munich, Vilshofen, Passau, Linz, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava & Budapest
Option of two nights in Prague prior to boarding the ship on the Danube