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Heart of Europe Bike & Barge: Metz to Cochem

Activity Level: Easy | Daily Mileage: 15 - 35 mi | Daily Biking: 2 - 4 hr

Air package plus

12 days from only

^$4095

Price includes roundtrip airfare.

Land only

8 days from only

^$3195

Pre-trip Extension:
Munich · 3 nights $395

Post-trip Extension:
Berlin · 3 nights $395

Overview

Detailed Itinerary 2013

Pre-Trip Extension - Munich

3 nights for only $395

Three nights at Hotel Laimer Hof
Airfare between Munich and Frankfurt
Walking tour of Munich
Daily breakfast
City Information
Airport transfers

Founded in 1158, Munich has been the capital of Bavaria since 1503. Next to Berlin, it’s Germany’s most popular city, yet it’s small enough to be digested in one visit. It enjoys the added advantage of a great setting, with the mountains and the alpine lakes just an hour’s drive away. The best time to visit is from June through October, when the beer gardens, street cafes and bars are in full swing. The famous Oktoberfest is held on the Theresienwiese fairground starting on the second-to-last Saturday in September and lasting for the next 16 days (September 22 – October 7, 2012).

Available only with the Air Inclusive Package.

Single supplement: $185

Day 1 - Depart U.S./Fly overnight to Munich

Depart the U.S. for Germany. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 - Arrive in Munich/Begin your Trip Extension

Upon arrival in Munich you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Our transfer company is Taxi Munich Online tel: +49 173 38 250 38 from outside of Germany or 0173 38 250 38 from within Germany.

If you arrive early, your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m. You may store your luggage with the reception desk.

After settling in, enjoy the remainder of the morning and early afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you'll walk to the nearby Nymphenburg Palace and Gardens. VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes recommendations on what to see and do in Munich.

At 3:00 p.m., our local guide will meet you in the hotel and take you on a 3-hour walking tour. You will be shown how to buy tram tickets for our ride into Munich's center. Then, enjoy a walk through the historic streets thronged with street musicians and artists and past magnificent buildings. The guide will point out places for you to have dinner and return to during your next two days.

Day 3 - Independent exploration of Munich

At 11 a.m. and noon, the Marienplatz fills with onlookers as the carillon in the Rathaus tower clangs into action. Close by, the Peterskirche, the oldest church in Munich, is notable for its grisly relics of St. Munditia, patron saint of single women, and for the view from its tower (up several hundred steps but worth the climb on a clear day!). The Munchener Stadtmuseum is an excellent local history museum which includes a photo and film exhibit and a puppet display. North of Marienplatz is the posh end of the city center. And from the fashionable Maximilianstrasse, the little Kosttor road leads straight to the Hofbrauhaus, Munich's largest and most famous drinking hall.

The English Garden is Munich's largest natural area. Located north of the city, its vistas draw thousands of visitors for walks and picnics. Swimming in the rivers that run through the area is also an option. The garden houses several popular beer gardens that provide a lovely rest stop after a day of exploring.

Day 4 - Independent exploration of Munich

Today you may visit the interesting BMW Automotive Museum, which displays the history of the company in relation to the development of the modern automobile. Exhibits, videos, slide collections, and films are highlights of the museum. Nearby, visit the neighboring Olympic Park, the site of the 1972 Olympic Games. Walk through the lovely park, visit the modern and mesmerizing stadium, and see great views from the Olympic Tower.

Or you may wish to venture out of Munich. The Dachau Concentration Camp and memorial site is on the northern edge of Munich and was the home of Germany's first concentration camp. Today, Dachau Memorial Site is a place of memory and pilgrimage and makes for an educational and sobering day trip.

For a longer excursion, join a full-day coach trip to Berchtesgaden, Hitler's mountain retreat and the southern headquarters of the Nazi party. The dictator's Eagle's Nest is a mountaintop lodge built by the Nazis. At 6,148 feet atop Mt Kehlstein, the lodge has some of Germany's most amazing views of the Alps mountain range – despite its history.

Or visit the enchanting old-world town of Fussen, in the foothills of the Alps and surrounded by one of the most breathtaking natural settings in the world. You'll see the ethereal Neuschwanstein Castle, the nearby lake, and a postcard-perfect aerial view of the equally beautiful Hohenschwangau Castle and the waterfall gorge.

You can reserve all these tours through your hotel in Munich.

Day 5 - Transfer to Luxembourg

This morning, transfer from your Munich hotel to the airport for your flight to Luxembourg City.

Note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the Hotel Le Royal Luxembourg, where you will have time to explore and have lunch on your own. VBT provides you with City Information in your Final Travel Booklet that includes recommendations on what to see and do in Luxembourg City. Your hotel room may not be available until 2:00 p.m., but you may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. The rest of the day is free for you to explore this wonderful city.

VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Day 6 - Explore Luxembourg City

After breakfast, continue your exploration of the city. Your local guide will meet you at 10:00 a.m. in the hotel lobby for a two-hour walking orientation tour, during which you can get some inside tips.

Luxembourg City overlooks the Petrusse and Alzette valleys and sits high on a rocky outcropping. It offers a combination of cobblestone-arched narrow streets and small elegant palaces such as the Palais Grand-Ducal and the Chambre des Deputes. The beautiful Chemin de la Corniche is said to be Europe's most beautiful terrace, with a pleasant promenade that passes restored ancient homes. The Casemates du Bock, a defensive labyrinth excavated in 1745 in the rocks beneath the city, is partly open to visitors. Other remarkable places include the Place de la Constitution and the cozy Place du Marche, still used for weekly flower and vegetable markets.

Tonight, dine on your own. The city boasts more Michelin stars per square mile than any other and has a lively atmosphere in its many cafés, pubs and pizzerias.

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