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Discover Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria with Oberammergau's Passion Play 
July 17 - 26, 2010Explore Engelberg, Bern, Bear Pit, Lucerne, Innsbruck, Austrian Alps, Salzburg, Mirabell Gardens, St. Peter's Restaurant, Bavaria, Oberammergau, and the famed Passion Play Vacation Highlights
Day 2: Engelberg - Your tour begins in Engelberg, a mountainside resort nestled at the foot of Mt. Titlis. Relax in this beautiful village as you stroll the streets that are surrounded by white snowcapped peaks. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner. Today dinner will be included. Day 3: Engelberg, Bern, Engelberg - This morning you travel to the capital of Switzerland, Bern. Explore delightful Bern on a panoramic sightseeing tour featuring the Bundeshaus (the Swiss Parliament), the famous Bear Pit, the Rose Gardens, and the gothic cathedral, which dominates the Old Town skyline. Your visit to the Bear Pit will answer the question as to why bears are so revered in this beguiling city. LANGUAGE DISCOVERY: Today, your Tour Manager will help you discover the origin and history of the language you will experience on your tour along with key words and phrases that will help you communicate with the locals. Tonight, enjoy a traditional Swiss cheese fondue dinner in one of Bern's local restaurants. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 4: Engelberg, Lucerne, Engelberg - Today you travel to Lucerne, the "Swiss Paradise on the Lake." Enjoy a leisurely-paced Alstadt (Old Town) walking tour exploring the hidden treasures of the city. In addition to its natural charm and tranquility, Lucerne has more than 800 years of history. Explore such medieval treasures as the covered Chapel Bridge (1833); the famous Water Tower which has served as a prison, watchtower and treasury; the Renaissance-style Town Hall; the baroque Jesuit Church; and the Lion Monument, carved from natural rock to commemorate the heroic Swiss Guard. Today breakfast will be included. Day 5: Engelberg, Innsbruck - Travel the picturesque highways of Switzerland to the Austrian border and the striking Olympic city of Innsbruck, the "Capital of the Tyrol." A local guide leads a panoramic Innsbruck city tour highlighting the popular thoroughfare, Maria Theresienstrasse; the Hofburg, now a museum, but once the seat of Habsburg princes; and the "Golden Roof," all set against the imposing backdrop of the lovely Austrian Alps. This evening, join your fellow travelers for dinner featuring local specialties. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 6: Innsbruck, Salzburg, Innsbruck - Travel through the picturesque Austrian countryside to Salzburg, a city filled with beautiful gardens and wondrous architecture. Upon arrival, enjoy a leisurely-paced walking tour featuring Mirabell Gardens (seen in the "Sound of Music"), the quaint Getreidegasse (site of Mozart's birthplace), and many other highlights of this beautiful city. The afternoon is at leisure to explore and enjoy Salzburg's fabulous sights. The day concludes with a delightful dinner in the historic city center at the centuries-old St. Peter's Restaurant, Austria's oldest, which may have hosted both Charlemagne and Columbus. Today breakfast and dinner will be included.
Day 8: Innsbruck, Bavaria, Oberammergau - Fairy tales come to life today with a picture stop at Bavaria's most famous castle, Neuschwanstein. Next, visit Wies Church, proclaimed a World Heritage site, before proceeding to Oberammergau. Upon arrival, enjoy a brief orientation tour of this quaint, picturesque village. Today breakfast and dinner will be included. Day 9: Oberammergau Passion Play - The morning is yours to enjoy at leisure. This afternoon, witness the performance of the Passion Play. The original performance dates back to 1634. During the Thirty Year War, the village of Oberammergau was spared the Black Plague and for this reason, the villagers vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the life of Christ. The performers are native Oberammergauers. To lend authenticity to the performance, the cast start to grow their hair and beards more than a year in advance. Also, the intricate costumes are made locally by the villagers. During the break of the performance, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of a memorable trip. Today breakfast, lunch and dinner will be included. Day 10: Tour Ends - Today breakfast will be included.
Please Note: To make your trip more hassle-free, we include roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers when purchasing Member Choice Vacations airfare with your tour. If you have arranged for your own air, we are pleased to provide you the option of purchasing these transfers. Please note that all transfers w ill leave at pre-scheduled times. Member Choice Vacations air passengers will arrive into the Zurich, Switzerland airport and depart from the Munich, Germany airport. All Collette transfers will depart from/return to these airports. This itinerary is preliminary and subject to change. The order of events is subject to change on some departure dates. All tours will be subject to the frnalization of play tickets. In the event that AAA Member Choice Vacation cancels the tour, vou will be refunded 100%. Please note that single accommodations are extremely limited and are available on a first come, first served basis. If you wish to secure single accommodations it is highly recommended that you book early. Also, triple and child rates are not available. At Member Choice Vacations, we pride ourselves on bringing travelers the very best experiences a destination offers. Our itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or require significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations by foot because motorcoaches are restricted. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes. Due to flight restrictions, you may require an early morning departure from your hotel. Included Breakfasts are Buffet Breakfasts.
For more information on this or other Discoveries by AAA, call 1-888-222-3575 or stop by your local AAA Central Penn office.
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Day 1: Overnight Flight - Discover spectacular Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria on a tour featuring multiple night stays in three cities. The Alpine city of Engelberg is your host for three nights while you explore the many cultural aspects and spectacular scenery that only Switzerland offers. Then, an extended stay in Innsbruck offers the perfect vantage point for exploring the delights of Austria and Bavaria. Your tour of the region concludes with a stay in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau which includes the amazing Passion Play.
Day 7: Innsbruck - Today is at leisure for you to enjoy this beautiful city. You may choose to stroll through the old town and shop at many of the city's outstanding stores or perhaps
venture into one of the city's many interesting museums. Or, you may just relax and breathe in the fresh mountain air while enjoying a beverage in the many cafes that truly make Innsbruck the charming city that it is. Today breakfast will be included.
