Oberammergau Passion Play and Agriculture of Bavaria & Austria

Day 1 : Fly to Munich

Relax and enjoy an overnight flight to Germany.

Day 2 : Salzburg

Herzlich willkommen in Deutschland! We meet our European guide in Munich and travel by motorcoach to Salzburg, Austria.

At Leitner Organic Wagyu, have a tour of the cattle farm and learn its history including how this farmer started breeding the special Wagyu breed. We discover enlightening facts about the breeding, processing of meat, and even the farm's marketing strategy. After, we enjoy a complimentary burger and beverage.

Our next destination is Salzburg, Austria, located along the Salzach River. We have a walking tour of the city known for its Renaissance and Baroque architecture, the birthplace of Mozart, and one of the filming locations for The Sound of Music. Stroll the Mirabell Gardens, cross the Makartsteg pedestrian bridge into Old Town, and pass Mozart's birthplace.

Tonight we get to know our traveling companions at a Holiday Vacations Welcome Dinner.

Day 3 : Alpine Beauty

We depart for the quaint Alpine town of Berchtesgaden at the foot of Watzmann, the third highest mountain in Germany.

Visit Wilden Käser, a local dairy farm, learn about cheesemaking, and taste different local cheeses.

Next we visit The Eagle’s Nest teahouse atop Kehlstein Mountain, witnessing Obersalzberg’s Alpine beauty and learning about its role in World War II.

Take a short train ride into the city’s salt mine and learn about its 500-year history.

This evening we return to Salzburg for a private dinner at St. Peter’s Stiftskeller accompanied by a string quartet performing selections by Mozart.

Day 4 : Tyrolean Alps

Begin the day at Zillertaler Heumilch Sennerei, a local dairy farm specializing in regional delights.

We then have a breathtaking cruise of beautiful Lake Achensee, the largest lake in the Tyrolean Alps.

We visit the authentic Eng Alm, an agricultural community with a farm shop and onsite dairy production, crafting a variety of delectable cheeses.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Innsbruck, Tyrol’s skiing capital.

Day 5 : Innsbruck

Surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes and picturesque villages, Innsbruck has been the site of two Winter Olympics, most recently in 1976. Narrow, twisting streets and tall houses built in the Late Gothic style reflect the city’s medieval past.

Our walking tour includes the Imperial Palace, Court Church, and the Goldenes Dachl (“Golden Roof”), a 15th-century stone balcony covered in gilded copper tiles.

Afterwards, take a gondola cableway up Nordketten mountain to visit Karwendel Nature Park, Austria’s largest protected area.

Day 6 : Neuschwanstein Castle

Today we explore the inspiration for Disney’s Magic Kingdom Castle and one of the most recognized castles in the world, the fairytale-like Neuschwanstein Castle. Commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in the mid-19th century, its Gothic architecture and richly-decorated rooms were influenced by the operas of composer Richard Wagner. Later, explore Oberammergau at leisure before arriving at our hotel in the Garmisch area.

Day 7 : The Oberammergau Passion Play

We experience the Oberammergau Passion Play today. In the 17th century, the people of Oberammergau made a holy covenant to portray the life and death of Jesus every 10 years if a plague would spare their community. Now a worldwide phenomenon, we feel the passion in our hearts as the incredible story unfolds before us featuring a full orchestra, choir, live animals, and more than 100 actors with speaking roles.

Day 8 : Munich

The fun-loving city of Munich welcomes us today.

On the way to Munich, we stop at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial for a guided tour as we contemplate humanity and the tragedy of Nazi Germany.

Upon arrival in Munich, we see some of the city's famous landmarks on a walking tour with highlights such as the Glockenspiel animated clock in the Marienplatz, Munich’s oldest church of Saint Peter, the open-air market Viktualienmarkt, and the Bavarian State Chancellery.

Tonight we gather for a joyful Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner at the Hofbräuhaus, one of Germany’s most famous beer halls.

Day 9 : Return Home