Group members gather in Toronto for our overnight flights to Berlin.

Upon arrival in Berlin, we will meet our tour manager and transfer to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, the historic city where Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation. This evening, gather for a welcome reception and briefing followed by dinner and overnight. Best Western Soibelmanns (2 nights)

Our first day of travel brings us to Berlin. Dating from the 13th century, Germany’s capital retains many reminders of its turbulent 20th-century history, including the Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Divided during the Cold War, its 18th-century Brandenburg Gate has become the symbol of reunification. With a local guide, our private tour of Berlin will feature a visit to the 1905 neo-baroque Berlin Cathedral, the Hohenzollern court church on the Spree River, the bomb-damaged tower of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, the Reichstag, and “Unter den Linden," the government district. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in this fascinating city before returning to Wittenberg for dinner and overnight.

This morning, a local guide will show us the town where Martin Luther lived and taught for 36 years, including the brilliant interior of the Castle Church, Town Church, Wittenberg’s historic Market Square, Town Hall, and the Luther House museum. Wittenberg is not only the cradle of the Reformation, but also a perfect example of how some of the  delightful little towns in East Germany restored their heritage from the ashes resulting from 40 years of communist rule. Visit beautiful courtyards and medieval workshops that function as they did centuries ago. After some free time for lunch, continue to Leipzig. In May 1989, the people of Leipzig first organized the demonstrations that brought hundreds of thousands into the streets for the “Peaceful Revolution.” We will visit their rendezvous point at the Gothic St. Nicholas Church, built in 1165 as well as St. Thomas Church. This evening, dinner will be in the historic Auerbachs Keller, where, in a scene made famous from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Faust, Faust and Mephistopheles drank with the local students before flying away on a barrel. The Westin (1 night)

Badly damaged by Allied bombing in 1945 and ignored during the Communist period, Dresden has been restored to its Baroque splendour, since the reunification of Germany in 1990. Today we shall see the magnificent architecture of the Semper Opera House, the Church of Our Lady and the Zwinger Palace. Following some free time to have lunch and to explore further on our own, we will continue south into the Czech Republic and Prague, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.  NH Prague City (2 nights)

This historic city of golden stone and architectural grace offers a mix of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo treasures. Today we will have an opportunity to see the city and its treasures, as we explore and discuss Prague’s history with our local guide. We will begin in the castle of Prague, which dates back to the 8th century, when Slavonic tribes built the first fortifications here. Then  we stroll through the Old Town to view the Jewish Quarter as well as the churches and palaces, many of them used today for cultural events, ministerial offices, embassies and art galleries. 

Re-entering Germany this morning, we will visit Nuremberg, where a local guide is waiting to show us the charming medieval centre during a walk that will include the fortress and the Old Town. This is a walk through time from the Middle Ages to the present, highlighted by a visit to the St. Lawrence Church and opportunities to shop for Lebkuchen and pewter. NH Collection Nurnberg City (3 nights)

Bamberg’s medieval historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, laid out over seven hills where the Regnitz and Main rivers meet. Its old town preserves structures from the 11th to 19th centuries including the muralled Altes Rathaus, the town hall, which occupies an island in the Regnitz reached by arched bridges. The Romanesque Bamberg Cathedral, begun in the 11th century, features 4 towers and numerous stone carvings. We meet our local guide for a guided walk through the heart of the city. We return to Nuremberg for a free evening.

We focus on Germany’s Romantic Road today, which passes the most attractive countryside between the River Rhine and the Alps. The highlight, beyond any doubt, is the medieval town of Rothenburg, with its magnificent setting above the Tauber River and its timbered houses, ramparts and narrow cobbled streets. Back in Nuremberg, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Follow the Main River south to Regensburg, a city with a history that dates back to the Stone Age. Enjoy a guided walk through the old city. Regensburg is known for its well-preserved medieval core and the 12th century Stone Bridge, 310 metres long with 16 arches. The 13th century Regensburg Cathedral, a twin-spired Gothic landmark, is home to the Regensburger Domspatzen choir. This afternoon, continue south to the Alps and the Passion Play village of Oberammergau. Hotel Alte Post (2 nights)

We will have the morning free to enjoy the colourful paintings on the wooden houses in the village and to do a little shopping. Following lunch, the highlight of the trip, the Passion Play in Oberammergau, begins! The Play was instituted in fulfilment of a vow made in 1633, when the town was stricken by the plague. It was performed for the first time in 1634 and since then has been played every ten years. It’s just a short walk from the hotel to the theatre, which was built in 1930 and has seating for 4,800 spectators. While the seats are covered, the stage is open to the elements, using the natural grandeur of the region as a backdrop.

This morning enjoy some final alpine vistas as we head north to Munich. On arrival a local guide will introduce us to the sights of Bavaria's capital, the Nymphenburg Palace gardens, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Olympic Stadium. This evening, we celebrate the past two weeks, sharing our stories and memories at our Farewell Dinner. Holiday Inn Leuchtenbergring (1 night)