Bavarian Castles Tour – 2010 and 2011 

King Ludwig II's Castles and the Bavarian Lakes

Board your flight from your home destination to Munich, Germany.

This itinerary assumes this to be an overnight flight. 

Air fare independently arranged.

Arrival in Munich, Germany.  Your flight should arrive at the Munich Airport by 11:15 a.m. at the latest for the complimentary transfer at noon.

When the group is complete we head south to your home away from home in HOPFEN AM SEE, on the lake near Fussen (Füssen or Fuessen in German).  Our home base here at the southern end of Germany's famous Romantic Road is within hiking distance of Neuschwanstein in the beautiful Bavarian Alps.

You are staying in a typical local "landhaus", where you are a friend, not a tourist.  Your rooms are very gemuetlich, decorated in Bavarian country style, all with cable TV, telephone, refrigerator, extra sitting area, balcony, and a great mountain view.

Your local expert, Astrid Baur, will take you out for a Bavarian dinner on the Lake Promenade tonight.

>  Your tour includes: Transfer from airport to hotel, three-course welcome dinner with menu choices, one beverage, and coffee or tea after, overnight at Landhaus Koessel in Hopfen am See

Today we focus on NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE (Schloss Neuschwanstein in German), Germany's most famous castle.  First we go to Marienbruecke (Mary's Bridge) sitting high above the Poellat Gorge, where we can take the best pictures of the castle.  (If Mary's Bridge is closed because of ice or snow on the path, you will be taken to another lookout where you can take wonderful pictures of Neuschwanstein.)

From there we walk downhill for our inside tour of Neuschwanstein.  Afterwards there's time for lunch and a stroll on Lake Alpsee, where young Ludwig learned to swim.

[ Larger photos of Neuschwanstein, including new helicopter views, are included in the Bavarian Castles Gallery in the In Depth section below. ]

In the afternoon we visit SCHLOSS HOHENSCHWANGAU, the castle built by his father Maximilian, where Germany's fairy tale king spent much of his childhood, and where he dreamed about his future castles.  Local guides in both castles.

Fantastic dinner tonight in the area where Ludwig II was planning his next castle, Falkenstein.

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, entrances and guided tours of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, horse carriage, three-course dinner, Landhaus Koessel

Beautiful drive via Austria to Garmisch where we take a cable car up to the ZUGSPITZE, at almost 10,000 feet Germany's highest mountain, with a matchless panorama.

We continue on to SCHLOSS LINDERHOF, Ludwig's beautiful hiding castle deep in the forest, which served as a background for the romantic fancies of the young king. Inside visit with local guide.

Back home via the pretty village of OBERAMMERGAU, known for the passion play, a tradition which derives from a vow made by the inhabitants in 1633 that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region they would perform a passion play every ten years.

Medieval Dinner in Fussen tonight.

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, Zugspitze cable car, guided tour of Linderhof, three-course dinner, Landhaus Koessel

Today we focus on King Ludwig II's largest castle, HERRENCHIEMSEE, which he built on an island in Lake Chiemsee after a visit to Versailles, and where he stayed only one week.

Boat and horse carriage rides to the castle and local guide for inside tour.

On the way back we stop in the beautiful town of BAD TOLZ (Bad Tölz or Bad Toelz in German).

There's time to relax before we join the locals tonight for great atmosphere and food at a local brewery.

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, boat and carriage rides, Herrenchiemsee tour, dinner, Landhaus Koessel

We go to MUNICH (München or Muenchen in German, sometimes Munchen on the net) and first we visit SCHLOSS NYMPHENBURG (Nymphenburg Palace), where Ludwig was born, and the Marstallmuseum, containing many of Ludwig's elaborate carriages.

An Orientation Tour of Germany's secret capital features the Olympic stadium, Olympic Tower, Leopoldstrasse, Schwabing, Ludwigstrasse, Odeonsplatz, Koenigsplatz, Karlsplatz, Church of our Lady, and Marienplatz where you see the Glockenspiel.

Afterwards plenty of time on your own for shopping, more sightseeing (BMW Museum, German Museum, Pinakothek, ... the options list is endless).  Dinner on your own in the evening.  Why not have a stein of beer at the Hofbrauhaus (Hofbräuhaus), Munich's famous beer hall?

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, Munich orientation tour, entrance to Nymphenburg Palace, Landhaus Koessel

We take the Romantic Road today to visit the masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo, WIESKIRCHE, also known as the Church in the Meadow, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We continue to LAKE STARNBERG and at Berg see the Votivchapel and the cross in the lake where Ludwig died.  Then on to ritzy Starnberg with time for lunch and a stroll on the lake.

Afterwards a short drive to ANDECHS, a famous Benedictine monastery on the Holy Mountain.  The monks are also well known for making their own beer, which we have time to enjoy in one of the many beer gardens.

Great dinner in the country tonight.

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, three-course dinner with menu choices, one beverage, and coffee or tea after, Landhaus Koessel

Our last day takes us to LAKE CONSTANCE (or Bodensee, its German name), where we visit fortified, charming LINDAU, with its harbour and the old lighthouse, the narrow lanes, the many fountains, romantic courtyards and hidden corners.
 
After lunch we take a boat to visit the Island of MAINAU in the lake, a paradise for plant enthusiasts because even tropical flowers grow in the mild climate. The palace and the charming baroque church contribute to the magic of the island.

Expect a fantastic farewell dinner in a typical mountain inn tonight.

>  Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, ferry to Mainau, entrance to Mainau, three-course dinner, Landhaus Koessel

Time to say "Auf wiedersehen".

Transfer to Munich Airport for your return flight home.

Your flight should not leave Munich before 10:30 a.m.

If you wish, you can extend your vacation with the optional Three Nights Venice Extension outlined below.

>  Buffet breakfast, transfer to airport

The 2010 Bavarian Castles Tour can be extended by an additional day to include a complete performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play.  Guests return home one day later than on the basic Bavarian Castles Tour (on Day 10).

After a leisurely breakfast on Day 9 we begin with a guided walk through FUSSEN, an old Roman Town on the Lech River.  Walk its narrow streets and lanes and enjoy the details your local guide provides.
After free time for lunch we drive to Oberammergau for the Passion Play.

The Oberammergau Passion Play was first performed in 1634 to honour the village’s vow that it would perform a passion play depicting the life and death of Jesus every ten years if it were spared the effects of the bubonic plague then sweeping the region.  Oberammergau was spared the worst effects of the plague and has continued to honour its commitment throughout the centuries.

In the year 2000 Oberammergau presented its Passion Play for the 40th time.

The play is now performed repeatedly over the course of five months during the last year of each decade, and involves over 2,000 performers, musicians, and stage technicians, all residents of Oberammergau.  The Passion Play Theatre, with renovations completed in 1999, now accommodates an audience of 4,720 in covered seats.

The first part of the performance runs from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., the second from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m.  Your ticket category is “1” or “1a”.

During the break enjoy a nice dinner in town.  We return to the Landhaus for overnight.

• Door-to-door transportation on a 47-seat coach
• 7 breakfast buffets and 6 three-course dinners including one beverage and coffee or tea after dinner
• 7 nights accommodation
• All entrance fees and local guides
• No hidden extras
• Maximum group size of 30 people
• 2010 tours with the Oberammergau Passion Play extension have an additional breakfast, dinner, and accommodation night, and a Class 1 ticket for the play.

Complete printable itineraries in PDF format:

          Bavarian Castles Tour Itinerary

          Bavarian Castles Tour + Oberammergau Passion Play Itinerary  (Sold Out)

Astrid Baur is a German native who has successfully conducted over 200 tours throughout Europe and Germany for thousands of happy clients. Astrid will take you around Bavaria, which she knows by heart.

You will see not only the highlights but also the spots where only the locals go. The days are well planned to offer you many highlights, but you are not rushed. And there is no packing and unpacking, as we stay in the same place every night.

The tour language is English only.

Astrid organizes the tour personally, and you can contact her directly as explained in the Contact Information section below.

The Landhaus Koessel is located on Lake Hopfen, near Fussen, with beautiful scenery and mountain views of the Bavarian Alps.

You stay in Bavarian Country Style rooms, which are very spacious, with extra sitting areas, balconies, cable TV, direct-dial-telephones, coffeemakers, mini-bars, and hairdryers. You will feel at home immediately. High speed internet is available. For more information please see the Landhaus Koessel English-language page.

Find out for yourself what makes this particular place in the Alps so special that King Ludwig wanted to spend the rest of his life here.

Comments, experiences and recommendations primarily from guests on the May and June 2009 Bavarian Castles Tours are featured in the European Castles Tours  References Video .

2011 Early Bird Special

Book your 2011 tour by August 31, 2010 and save US $ 100 per person from the above prices.