16-Day England and Passion Play
OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2022
DAY 01: USA / LONDON. We depart the U.S. on our transatlantic jet bound for London. We enjoy a hearty dinner on board. (meals aloft)
DAY 02: LONDON / SALISBURY / STONEHENGE / BRISTOL. We arrive in London; continue to Salisbury to visit its Cathedral. See Stonehenge - a fascinating collection of ancient monoliths placed there nearly 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. Then to Bristol, rich in seafaring tradition and linked with the colonization of America. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 03: BATH / COTSWOLDS / BIRMINGHAM. Travel to Bath and visit the old Roman baths. Drive through the beautiful region of Cotswolds villages such as Lower Slaughter and Stow-on-the-Wold to Birmingham. Overnight at our centrally-located hotel. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 04: STRATFORD / BIRMINGHAM. Travel this morning to Stratford - William Shakespeare's birthplace, and see the 16th century Harvard House, the Guildhall and Anne Hathaway's lovely thatched cottage, preserved just as it was in Elizabethan times. Return to Birmingham in time for evening dinner and overnight.
DAY 05: WARWICK / COVENTRY / BIRMINGHAM. Today we journey to Warwick Castle, an imposing, well-preserved medieval fortress that is still inhabited. From here visit Coventry to see the new cathedral designed by Sir Basil Spence. Return to Birmingham in the late afternoon.
DAY 06: RUTHIN/CHESTER/LAKE DISTRICT. This morning we cross into Wales. We visit the city of Ruthin before we return to England. Our sightseeing in Chester will include the medieval walls that completely enclose the city, the "magpie" houses, the 13th century Cathedral and St. John’s, an impressive Norman Church. We travel to the Lake District for dinner/overnight
DAY 07: LAKE DISTRICT/EDINBURGH. We have a scenic tour through the Lake District National Park and after passing through Carlisle, we enter the land of the kilts - Scotland. We head for Edinburgh, the capital, for dinner and overnight.
DAY 08: EDINBURGH. On our city tour we visit Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyrood House, drive to the Scott Monument, Princes Street, St. Giles Cathedral (Thistle Chapel), the prestigious Edinburgh University, Greyfriars and the Mound. The afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 09: YORK/NOTTINGHAM. Today we drive past Abbotsford, the turreted mansion built by Sir Walter Scott. We continue to York, where our sightseeing includes a visit to the Minster with its majestic towers and priceless stained glass windows, and a walking tour through medieval streets where the upper stories of houses lean precariously across the roadway towards each other. On to Nottingham, where we have our dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: WILLIAM CAREY SITES/OXFORD. Today we visit sites connected with William Carey - Kettering, Moulton, Olney, Bedford, Elstow, and continue to Oxford, the intellectual center of western civilization. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: OXFORD/LONDON. As early as the 12th century, Oxford was already a renowned center of scholarship. Today it is composed of 28 colleges (one of which we will visit). We also see sites associated with C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and their friends, the inklings. We continue on to London for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12: LONDON. Panoramic tour of the city -- Marble Arch, Mayfair, Piccadilly, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard ceremony (if held) and Hyde Park. Visit famed Westminster Abbey, home to many coronations and royal weddings. Afternoon at leisure for exploring on your own, shopping or just relaxing. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
DAY 13: LONDON / MUNICH. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Munich, Germany. Upon arrival we are met and drive to Linderhoff. and Linderhoffs Castle - built by mad King Ludwig - a dazzling castle set high in the Bavarian Alps. Then on to Oberammergau, home of the world-famous Passion Play which is performed once every ten years. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 14: PASSION PLAY. The entire day is devoted to attending a performance of the world famous Passion Play which is held once every ten years in this charming small Bavarian village. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 15: OBERAMMERGAU / MUNICH. This morning we return to Munich. Our sightseeing tour of Munich includes the gothic Rathdus (town hall) with its famous glockenspiel, the awesome twin-spired Frauenkirche, Marienplatz, imperial residence Alte Pinakothec and other principle places of interest. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 16: MUNICH / NORTH AMERICA. After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our return the United States of America. The end of a most enjoyable journey.