Day One - Departure: Today we begin our journey to Europe. Meals will be served aboard our transatlantic flight.
 
Day Two - Vienna: On arrival at the Vienna airport, we will be met by our tour manager and directed to our waiting motor coach. En route to our hotel, we will have an introduction to our tour before check-in and dinner.
Meals: Dinner
 
Day Three - Vienna: This morning’s city tour will reveal the splendor of a bygone era, when Vienna was at the heart of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire. Highlights will include our visit of the Schönbrunn Palace, summer residence of the Habsburg Emperors, the panoramic tour of the Ringstrasse, with the Parliament, City Hall, Hofburg Palace and State Opera House and a walk through the old town to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon and evening will be free for individual pursuits.
Meals: Breakfast
 
Day Four - Vienna / Graz / Zagreb: This morning we depart Vienna to enjoy some of Austria’s most verdant scenery, as we drive through the foothills of the Alps to the Styrian provincial capital of Graz for a walking tour of the old town and free time for lunch.  Standing for centuries on the ethnic border between Slavic and Germanic cultures, Graz is a jewel of different architectural eras, which blend harmoniously in the old town. Dominated by the landmark Clock Tower, we will see the City Hall, Gothic Cathedral, the Opera House and the famous Armory. In the mid-afternoon, we will continue to the Croatian border, through the Alps to Zagreb for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Day Five - Zagreb/Ljubljana: Following breakfast this morning, we will enjoy a tour of this fascinating city with our local guide, including the fortified Upper Town, the city’s historical center, St. Mark’s Church with its multicolored roof, the Cathedral, the Croatian National Theatre and the University. Following free time for lunch we will continue our journey mid-afternoon into Slovenia for our next two overnights in its capital city of Ljubljana.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Day Six - Ljubljana (City Tour and Lake Bled Excursion): This morning’s tour of Ljubljana explores the long history of this city which dates back to Roman times.  Dominated by its 500 year old fortress and almost surrounded by its river, the city’s picturesque location is enhanced by its unique mix of Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. We will see the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Opera House, the Dragon Bridge, the colorful Central Market Square and, time permitting, we will take the funicular train up to the Castle. Following the city tour we will drive the short distance to Lake Bled, the only lake in Slovenia. There will be time to enjoy the spectacular Alpine scenery, with the majesty of the mountains reflected in the thermal waters of the lake.  We will return to Ljubljana in the early evening for our overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
 
Day Seven - Ljubljana / Postojna Caves / Venice: Following breakfast, we will depart Ljubljana to visit the natural phenomenon of the Postojna Caves, regarded as the highlight of any visit to Slovenia.   Created by underwater rivers eroding the limestone rock, each of the caves are more spectacular than the one before, an exotic jungle of stalactites and stalagmites.  Later we will continue to the Italian border and in the late afternoon we will arrive in Mestre, the mainland port of Venice, for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Day Eight - Venice:  This morning we will board a motor launch and travel through the canals to the islands of Venice.  Our walking tour will include St. Mark’s Basilica, a visit of one of the glass factories, for which the city is so famous, and views of the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs.  After free time for lunch and shopping, we can take an optional gondola ride, before enjoying dinner on our own at one of the local restaurants.
Meals: Breakfast
 
Day Nine - Venice / Bolzano / Oberammergau: This morning we will depart the Adriatic coast and head back into the mountains.  As we return to the Alps, we will visit Bolzano and explore the South Tirol Archaeological Museum, which houses one of the most fascinating discoveries ever to be found in Europe. The Man in the Ice is one of the oldest and most complete human finds in the world, and was discovered on a glacier in the Ötz Valley and is estimated to be 5300 years old. Our visit of the museum provides a fascinating insight into the life of our prehistoric ancestors.  In the afternoon, we will continue over the Brenner Pass through the Austrian Tirol and on to Oberammergau for the last two nights of the tour.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
 
Day Ten - Oberammergau: The Passion Play has been performed in Oberammergau since 1634.  It is a tradition which, although common throughout Europe at that time, largely disappeared over the centuries. Except in this small Bavarian farming village, it not only survived more than 350 years, but became famous all over the world. Oberammergau is also well-known for the traditional craft of wood-carving and for the frescoes decorating the village houses. This morning will be free to absorb the unique atmosphere of this Alpine village, before the afternoon and evening performance of the Passion Play.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
Day Eleven - Munich: This morning we will be transferred to Munich airport to begin our journey home.