2020 Italy’s Cultural Capitals & Swiss Alps with Oberammergau Passion Play
Prepare to be moved, inspired and challenged by this event… The Oberammergau Passion Play ›
With Post-Tour option: Israel: ‘In The Footsteps Of Jesus’ ›
Departs Zurich September 25th 2020, for 21 days. SOLD OUT! Wait list only.
| September 2020 |
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| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | | | |
Day 1, Friday, Sep 25th
Switzerland On arrival in Zurich Airport today we are transferred to our lakefront hotel in Interlaken, our home for 3 nights. [D]
Day 2, Saturday, Sep 26th
Every day on the Great Trains of Europe Tours begins with a full buffet breakfast. Today the Golden Pass Panorama train takes us from the Bernese Oberland to Lake Geneva, with time in Montreux for lunch on the lakefront esplanade or on a lake steamer. Home to Interlaken.
Day 3, Sunday, Sep 27th
A quiet day to take a steamer across the lake to the pretty market town of Thun, or a train into Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and financial capital, nestled on Lake Zurich. Alternatively, ride the Jungfrau Express to the highest railway station in Europe at over 11,000 feet. Tour members with heart or respiratory conditions are warned to seek medical assistance before deciding on this excursion.
Day 4, Monday, Sep 28th
Our luggage is taken on ahead as we join the world’s favourite little red Swiss mountain train, the Glacier Express. Enjoy breathtaking views from your panorama car as you cross the Alps at 7,000 feet to Switzerland’s oldest town, Chur.
Day 5, Tuesday, Sep 29th ^ Top ^
Today we take a rail journey to Switzerland’s highest town, Davos, famous from the nineteenth century as a “Wellness” centre, and now a very trendy ski resort in Winter.
Day 6, Wednesday, Sep 30th
Bernina Express One of the world’s great rail journeys today on the Bernina Express across the Alps to Tirano in Italy. So stunning is the scenery that one section of the route has been classed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Retrace your steps home to Chur.
Day 7, Thursday, Oct 1st
Farewell Switzerland today. As our luggage is taken on ahead, we train through the Aarlberg Pass into Austria and the beautiful Alpine Village of Igls, perched above Innsbruck.
Day 8, Friday, Oct 2nd
Pack an overnight bag, for our transfer to the village of Oberammergau where we arrive in time for lunch and to settle into our overnight accommodation, returning to the theatre in the village for the first half of the performance this afternoon. Prepare for an inspirational experience as we re-live the last week of the earthly life of Jesus. There is a break for dinner and, then we return for the climax of the performance. We are transferred to our overnight accommodation.
Day 9, Saturday, Oct 3rd
This morning we return to our hotel in the village of Igls, for a relaxing afternoon.
Day 10, Sunday, Oct 4th ^ Top ^
Austria An exploration of the city of Innsbruck today, and a ride to the top of the Alps for a breathtaking view from 7,000 feet.
Day 11, Monday, Oct 5th
Italy As our luggage is taken on ahead today, we cross the Alps again, via the Brenner Pass, into Italy and arrive in the city of canals, Venice, our home for 3 nights.
Day 12, Tuesday, Oct 6th
Awake to the sounds of the water traffic. This morning we enjoy one of the great experiences of Europe: riding a vaporetto (waterbus) down the length of the Grand Canal. We begin to explore the art and history of Venice. St Mark's, the historic Doge's Palace and its Bridge of Sighs are “must sees.” Venice is best appreciated at leisure, wandering along her canals and bridges.
Day 13, Wednesday, Oct 7th
There is time for a gondola ride or for a visit to an outer island. Art lovers will want to see the Tintoretto paintings in the Scuola di San Rocco, the Titian in the Friary Church, and the collection of Venetian Renaissance art in the Accademia Gallery.
Day 14, Thursday, Oct 8th
We enjoy a last morning in Venice's shops before joining the Eurostar Italia for our rail journey across Italy's Northern Plain and through the Appenines to the cradle of Western civilization and birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence. Our luggage awaits our arrival. This afternoon we tread the cobblestones Cosimo d'Medici and Leonardo da Vinci trod.
Day 15, Friday, Oct 9th ^ Top ^
We visit Michelangelo's statue of “David”, the cathedral and the Baptistery with its bronze doors, and the twelfth century Ponte Vecchio bridge. If you loved the movies “Room with a View” and “Tea with Mussolini”, this is your town.
Day 16, Saturday, Oct 10th
A quiet day in Florence - the markets, quality shops and the museums. Or you may wish to join an optional excursion into the Tuscan countryside to visit the mediaeval hill village of San Gimignano and the cultural gem of Siena.
Day 17, Sunday, Oct 11th
Today we board Italy’s flagship high speed train, the Frecciargento, to the Eternal City, Rome, the last stop on our tour. Settle in to our hotel, our home for four nights.
Day 18, Monday, Oct 12th
Today’s sightseeing focuses on Classical Rome and includes entrances to the Pantheon, the Forum and the Colosseum. “Roma - non basta una vita!” (Rome - one life is not enough!) Join your Tour Leader for a stroll to the Trevi Fountain after dinner. If you throw three coins in the fountain, your return to Rome is guaranteed, so the legend goes.
Day 19, Tuesday, Oct 13th
Catholic Rome today, including entrances and a guided tour of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo's masterpiece. The fashion shops on the Via Condotti are open this afternoon.
Day 20, Wednesday, Oct 14th ^ Top ^
Visit to Assisi A visit today to the beautiful hillside village of Assisi, forever associated with the life of its most famous inhabitant, St Francis. Back to our Rome hotel tonight for our Farewell Dinner
Day 21, Thursday, Oct 15th
Your tour ends this morning after breakfast. Thank you for travelling on the Great Trains of Europe Tours. If you are continuing on the “Footsteps of Jesus” Tour of Israel, we leave the hotel mid-morning for the airport.
Escorted Tour costs:
$AUD 13,950 per person Twin Share.
Land Content only (i.e. Commences Zurich, ends Rome).
Single supplement $AUD 2,000
Enquire about our competitive air fares.
Deposit Details:
$1,000 per person initial deposit is required immediately to confirm your seat. A further $2,500pp deposit is required 12 months before departure. Balance will be payable 4 months before departure.
What’s included?^ Top ^
- Includes 21 days in four star city centre hotels and historic village inns
- Buffet breakfasts, one dinner at each stop,
- First Class rail travel throughout,
- All sightseeing and entrances with local guides,
- And a performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play.
The TOUR COST does NOT include:^ Top ^
- Hotel incidentals (eg. Mini-bars, telephone calls, laundry), airport and departure taxes, local transport in any city,
- Optional excursions listed or meals other than breakfast and the one restaurant dinner in each city - the first night in each new city, except Rome where it takes the form of a farewell dinner.
Commences 15 October 2020
Post-tour Add-on Israel: In The Footsteps Of Jesus
Day 1, Thursday, Oct 15th
You are welcomed on arrival in Tel Aviv Airport and transferred to your beachside hotel in Tel Aviv. Rest from the flight and meet your fellow pilgrims over dinner tonight. [D]
Day 2, Friday, Oct 16th
We drive north today to the Galilee region where Jesus spent most of his life, visiting Nazareth & Cana on the way to our hotel on Lake Galilee. [B][D]
Day 3, Saturday, Oct 17th
Today we cross Lake Galilee on a fishing boat to the Mount of the Beatitudes, then visit the Mount of Transfiguration and Caesarea Philippi. Back to our hotel on Lake Galilee. [B] [D]
Day 4, Sunday, Oct 18th
Heading south today, we visit the site where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, and on to Jerusalem. We pause for a spectacular view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, and a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane, before arriving in our Jerusalem hotel. [B] [D]
Day 5, Monday, Oct 19th ^ Top ^
We visit the Temple Mount today and the Western Wall. We explore the colourful bazaars, and walk the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said to be built on the spot of Jesus’ Tomb. In the afternoon we visit Jesus’ birthplace, in the nearby village of Bethlehem and visit the Shepherds’ Fields, the Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. Back to our Jerusalem hotel. [B][D]
Day 6, Tuesday, Oct 20th
We return to Tel Aviv for a visit to Joppa and a quiet afternoon. [B] [D]
Day 7, Wednesday, Oct 21st
Our tour ends this morning. There is a transfer to the airport for your onward or homeward flight. [B]
About the Italy’s Cultural Capitals with Oberammergau Passion Play
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