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Oberammergau and The Castles, Mountains and Lakes of Bavaria

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4.5 stars(67 reviews)
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Fantastic spectacle along with the fairy tale beauty of Bavaria

8 days Not yet on sale

2030 Tour code: BAE30

About the tour

One of most iconic Passion Plays in the world, performed over one summer every decade, the Oberammergau Passion Play is a magnificent sight to behold. Take in this fantastic spectacle along with the fairytale beauty of Bavaria, with its mysterious castles and forbidden forests.

Highlights

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What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - London to Stuttgart

We begin our Bavarian adventure at London St Pancras, where we travel by Eurostar to Paris. From here, we continue to Stuttgart for the night.

Includes
  • Eurostar Meal, Dinner
Day 2 - Füssen

Day 2 takes us by rail to the village of Füssen, on Germany's Romantic Road, our base for the next four nights. After checking in, there's time to explore this picture-book destination, home to colourful houses, medieval walls and historic churches. Füssen is hidden away at the base of the Alps, enjoying the beautiful landscapes of mountains, rivers, forests and rolling meadows this iconic mountain range provides.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The Zugspitze Railway

We enjoy an enthralling journey on the Zugspitze Railway to the summit of Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany. Travelling through pine trees and foothills, passing through charming Bavarian villages with chocolate-box railway stations, and straddling ancient mountains, the Zugspitze Railway offers panoramic views of the timeless Bavarian countryside. Chalets, barns and farmland dot the meadows, and our delightful carriages guarantee spell-binding views of the Zugspitze mountain range. The final leg of our journey takes us by cable car over the treetops to the very top, where we have free time to admire the scenery laid out before us.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

Our excursion today takes us first to glorious Neuschwanstein Castle. This fantastic fortress, nestled in the Bavarian Alps, is a stunning sight, both outside and in. Famously the inspiration for the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle, thanks its towers, buttresses and grand halls, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better example of a fairytale castle that looks as if it's been lifted straight from the pages of a Brothers Grimm story. Built by Ludwig II of Bavaria using his own funds, Neuschwanstein was intended as both a private retreat and a home. Sadly, the king was killed in suspicious circumstances in 1886 and consequently was never able to enjoy the fruits of his economic investment. However, the Romanesque style of architecture of Neuschwanstein has attracted many visitors over the years and recalls medieval fortifications of old.

We continue to the delightful yellow creation of Hohenschwangau Castle, located in a pretty village of the same name. Perhaps a less grand affair than its larger and more majestic neighbour, Hohenschwangau sacrifices grandeur for a more relaxed charm. It was the childhood home of Ludwig II and looks more like a country palace than the castle it claims to be. Its honey-coloured walls make this an iconic building, and both the exterior, interior and garden areas are a joy to discover. From a lookout point, you can even enjoy sweeping views across the valley to Neuschwanstein.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Füssen

Today is free to enjoy the charms of Füssen. Perched on the banks of the Lech River and near Forggen Lake, with a history dating back to the Roman Empire, the town is filled with historic buildings, leafy squares and a range of bars, cafés and restaurants. Well worth a visit is pretty St Mang's Abbey. This wonderful old Benedictine monastery boasts ornate plasterwork and splendid interiors within its noble old buildings. Nearby Forggensee is also an attractive proposition, and it's easy to reach the lakeshore where you can enjoy a relaxing boat ride.

Please Note that on departure BAE2211a, you will travel to your hotel in the Oberammergau area today."

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 6 - The Oberammergau Passion Play

We travel to Oberammergau by rail, checking into our hotel before making our way to the town's state-of-the-art theatre where we enjoy the undisputed highlight of our holiday, a performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play. This extraordinary event is entirely undertaken by the residents of Oberammergau, with a cast and crew of over 2,000 people. The production itself covers the Passion of Jesus Christ and is famous across the world for its scale, history and quality. An enormous amount of work goes into each production, which a myriad of fantastic props, costumes and backdrops combining to make this a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. Our tier one and two tickets are some of the best seats in the house and we enjoy a five-hour theatrical spectacular as well as a lengthy interval during which a special meal is served alongside complimentary drinks.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - Nuremberg

Leaving Oberammergau this morning, we board the train to Munich, changing for the service to Nuremberg for the night. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - London

On Day 8, we continue to Frankfurt before connecting with the Eurostar back to London St Pancras, via Paris.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Eurostar Meal
Days 1-2 - London to Füssen

We begin our Bavarian adventure at our dedicated Departure Office at St Pancras International where we travel by Eurostar to Paris in Standard Premier Class. Here, we continue to Stuttgart by First Class rail where we overnight.

Day 2 sees us travel on to the village of Füssen on Germany's Romantic Road where we stay for the next four nights. After checking in, you have time to explore this picture book village, taking in the colourful houses, medieval walls, and historic churches before we dine together this evening.

Füssen finds itself hidden away at the base of the Alps, enjoying all of the beautiful landscapes which this iconic mountain range provides. Sitting on the Lech River, Füssen is a charming base from which to venture out and take in everything this marvellous part of the world has to offer.

Includes
  • Day 1 - Dinner
  • Day 2 - Breakfast, Dinner
To Füssen
Day 3 - The Zugspitze Railway

Today we enjoy an enthralling journey on the Zugspitze Railway (Standard Class) which makes the delightful journey to the summit of Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany.

Trawling through pine trees and foothills, passing through charming Bavarian villages with chocolate box railway stations, and straddling ancient mountains, the Zugspitze Railway is panoramic, scenic and beautiful. Chalets, barns and farmlands dot the meadows, and these delightful carriages offer breathtaking views of the Zugspitze mountain range.

The final leg sees us take a cable car over the forests to the very top, where we have free time. The Zugspitze Mountain is instantly identifiable by its unique shape as it looms over the valley and forests below.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Zugspitze Railway
Day 4 - Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles

Our excursion today takes us first to the glorious Neuschwanstein Castle. This fantastic fortress, nestled in the Alps, is a stunning sight, both outside and in. With a storied history reaching back to the wealth of empires before it, this castle is famously the inspiration for the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle which makes up part of the Disney logo. With its towers, buttresses and grand halls, you would be hardpressed to find a better example of a fairy tale castle, as it stands tall and proud, as if straight from the pages of a Brothers Grimm story.

Neuschwanstein was built originally by Ludwig II of Bavaria using his own funds, and was intended as both a private retreat and a home. Sadly, the king was killed in suspicious circumstances in 1886 and consequently was never able to enjoy the fruits of his economic investment. However, his design has attracted millions of visitors to the region and the castle to enjoy the superb architecture and interiors. Designed in a Romanesque style, the architecture of Neuschwanstein recalls the old medieval castles and fortresses of old, with Ludwig II enjoying significant input into the design.

We also visit the delightful yellow castle of Hohenschwangau in the pretty village of the same name. Perhaps a less grand affair than its larger and more majestic neighbour, Hohenschwangau Castle sacrifices grandeur for a more relaxed charm. It was the childhood home of the aforementioned Ludwig II and looks more like a country palace rather than the castle it claims to be. The honey coloured walls make this an iconic building, and both the exterior, interior and garden areas are a joy to discover. This part of the valley also offers fantastic views of Neuschwanstein.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 5 - At leisure in Füssen

Today, you are at leisure to enjoy the charms of the quintessentially Bavarian Füssen. Füssen is actually a very old town, found on the banks of the Lech River and near the Forggensee lake, with its settlement dating back to the times of the Roman Empire. The town is filled with delightful buildings with rust-coloured red roofs and squares of bars, cafés and restaurants.

Well worth a visit is the pretty St. Mang's Abbey. This wonderful old Benedictine Monastery boasts ornate plasterwork and splendid interiors within its noble old buildings. With the town itself being used as a retreat for the Prince-Bishops of Augsburg, there are strong religious connotations here, and St. Mang's Abbey is a demonstration of the wealth which the visiting Prince-Bishops bestowed upon the region.

The nearby Forggensee lake is also an attractive proposition for visitors to Füssen, with the town itself having many transport links to this gentle lake where you can enjoy a leisurely boat ride.

Includes
  • Breakfast
  • Free Day
St Mangs Abbey, Fussen
Day 6 - The Oberammergau Passion Play

This morning, we travel to Oberammergau where we check into our hotel in or around the town. After settling in, we enjoy the undisputed highlight of our tour - the Oberammergau Passion Play. This extraordinary event is run by the residents of the villages with a cast and crew of over 2,000. The production itself covers the Passion of Jesus Christ and is famous across Germany and the rest of the world, for its scale, history and quality. An enormous amount of work goes into each production, which a myriad of fantastic props, costumes and backdrops combining to make this a true spectacle to be remembered by the audience.

The play itself was first created by villagers in the 17th century. When the village became infected by the bubonic plague, the population believed (as many did) that it was a sign of God's displeasure at humanity and human sin. In an attempt to appease God, they promised that if he spared Oberammergau from the plague, they would put on a play every ten years, detailing the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the story goes, the village was saved, and all those with the plague were cured, and since then, Oberammergau has organised a production each decade, and has done so ever since, apart from a brief break during World War II.

Our top tier tickets grant us seats at the front and centre, with some of the best seats in the house. Split into two halves, with each half lasting three hours with a two hour break, we spend the rest of the day here, enjoying a special dinner in the two hour break.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Passion Play Theater
Day 7- 8 - Return Home

Leaving Oberammergau this morning, we travel by rail (Standard Class) to Munich, from where we continue on to Nuremberg, where we stay for the final night of our tour. By evening, you may wish to venture out into the streets and explore a little of Nuremberg's medieval streets. Founded on important trade routes, Nuremberg lies in the shadow of an enormous castle made up of various buildings and keeps.

On Day 8, we make our return journey, travelling in First Class to Frankfurt before connecting with the Eurostar back to London via Paris.

Includes
  • Day 7 - Breakfast, Dinner
  • Day 8 - Breakfast
Nuremberg

Additional information

Seating Plan

For the Passion Play Performance you will be seated in category 1 or 2 seats, located at the front and centre of the theatre. 

Passion Play Theatre Seating Plan
Seating Plan

For the Passion Play Performance you will be seated in category 1 or 2 seats, located at the front and centre of the theatre. 

Passion Play Theatre Seating Plan
Recommended Airport

For this tour, we recommend arriving to, and departing from, London Gatwick or London Heathrow airport (LGW or LHR). London Gatwick is approximately 30 miles from your start and end point, and London Heathrow is approximately 19 miles from your start and end point.

Airport waiting room
Visa Requirements

It is your responsibility to check and fulfil the passport, visa, health and immigration requirements applicable to your itinerary. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel, or incur any other loss because you have not complied with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities. You agree to reimburse us in relation to any fines or other losses which we incur as a result of your failure to comply with any passport, visa, immigration requirements or health formalities.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Hotel Schlosskrone

Hotel Schlosskrone, Füssen

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Trains

Eurostar
Zugspitze Railway

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 67 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (46)
  2. 4 stars
    (13)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (3)

Fiona Maybrey

5 stars

Submitted 14 Oct 2022

Brilliant trip despite the weather, only downside was the non staggered seating and lack of a feeling of pilgrimage.

Collected by Trustpilot

MR S COOPER

5 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2022

Very good itinerary which was ideal for us and a great Tour Manager.

Collected by Trustpilot

B Coupar

4 stars

Submitted 09 Oct 2022

Passion Play was wonderful. Personal difficulties with a broken arm impinged on my enjoyment of the Bavarian experience but I have no complaints about the tour itself, the tour manager or my fellow travelers

Collected by Trustpilot

Roland Smithies

5 stars

Submitted 03 Oct 2022

Want a stress free holiday, then this is for you. Great Play, great tours, great trains.

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G Lunt

5 stars

Submitted 03 Oct 2022

Epic! Simple as that!

Collected by Trustpilot

J Hockenhull

4 stars

Submitted 26 Sep 2022

Would have been 5 stars but we missed the English briefing at the Oberammergau theatre, which a colleague with a different tour company had!

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