Imagine This: The crisp air of December smells like roasted nuts and spiced, mulled wine. Hopefully, snow dusts the sharp spires of centuries-old churches and the walls of medieval castles, all while thousands of lights illuminate the cobblestone streets.
This is not a scene from a movie, but this could be your December!
Join me on my fifth trip to Germany as I host this active, personally handcrafted and curated tour through the heart of old world Germany.
- $4020.00 per person sharing (couples, friends, family)
- $4735.00 single occupancy (solo traveler)
A $350.00 deposit is required to save your spot. This amount will be applied to your final balance and is 100% refundable if the tour does not operate. If the tour is confirmed to operate, this deposit becomes non-refundable.
- Capped at 16 guests
- Experienced Tour Manager
- Expert local guides for our private tours
- Visit 6 Christmas markets
- Active and immersive
Click this link to open my Calendly app to setup 15 minutes for us to chat about this tour.
Book a Spot opens the booking form, which requires an electronic signature, so you must verify your email.
Click View Itinerary to see all the wonderful stops on this tour.
- Take in the wonder of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau castles
- Explore and uncover the secrets of three medieval castle ruins alongside an expert local guide
- Cross into Austria to experience a thrilling and majestic alpine view on a winter Christmas adventure
- Purchase unique treats and handmade trinkets from the historic Christkindlmarkts of Munich, Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Füssen
- Go adventuring in Munich with me to experience two completely unique Christmas markets that most people miss
- Consume a majestic feast fit for a royal emperor
- Explore the cobblestone medieval history of three of Germany's oldest cities
- Enjoy a free day in Munich to do as you please.
- You are also welcome to join me on an optional, day-long adventure to historic Regensburg, Germany (at your own expense).
From the majestic height of a noble family's fortress, to the cozy warmth of Germany's most iconic Christmas markets, this journey is designed to keep you moving, exploring, and indulging in the magic of the season.
To help you prepare, please note that we’ll be very active. Our day trip to Nuremberg includes approximately 3.5 - 4 miles of walking to see the sites of the medieval old town, a tour of the castle, the exploration of tunnels used as art bunkers in WWII, a look around the beer cellars, the time spent exploring the famous Christkindlesmarkt, and walking to the train station. We have other days similar to this one.
Because our exploration includes uneven historic ruins, worn and narrow circular castle stairs, and inclined cobblestone streets and alleys, the activity level for this tour is fairly high.
Premium Accommodations
- 6 nights in Munich at the Holiday Inn Munich - City Center, with breakfast included
- 2 nights in Füssen at Hotel Ludwigs, a boutique hotel in the heart of the old town, with breakfast included
- 1 night at the Munich airport completes your tour with a stay at the IBIS Styles Hotel, Munich International Airport (MUC), with breakfast included
Regional Transportation
- Airport arrival transit: One S-Bahn train ticket from Munich International Airport (MUC) to Munich Central Station
- City Commuter Pass: One Metro/Tram pass for the week, valid across Munich City Center to out Zone M
- Day Trip Rail Journeys: Round trip train tickets from Munich to the historic cities of Augsburg and Nuremberg
- Private Coach Transfers: Rest easy re-charge in the private comfort of our transfers:
- Munich hotel to Schloss Kaltenberg and return
- Munich hotel to our Füssen hotel, includes one stop
- Füssen Hotel to Ehrenberg Castle ruins and return
- Füssen Hotel to our Munich airport hotel, includes three stops
Fully Covered Tour Activities (includes all entry tickets)
- Guided historic walking tours: Immersive walks through the old cobblestone towns of Augsburg, Nurember, and Munich
- Royal Palaces and Residences: Guided tours of Nymphenburg Palace and the Marstallmuseum, as well as the Residenz München, Treasury Room, and Cuvillies Theater
- World War II History: A sobering, professionally guided tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
- Nuremberg Castle Experience: A combination entry ticket covering Nuremberg Castle, the Deep Well, and includes an audio guide
- Art and Underground Secrets: A guided tour of Historischer Kunstbunker (Nuremberg's WWII art bunkers)
- Exclusive Christmas Market: An admission ticket to the grounds of the medieval Kaltenberg Castle Christmas Market
- Historic Castle Ruins and Fortresses: A guided exploration of Eisenberg and Hohenfreyburg castle ruins and museum, a guided tour of Burg Trausnitz, and a guided tour of Ehrenberg castle ruins (includes lifts, highline suspension bridge, museum, and LUMAGICA ticket)
- Fairytale Alpine Castles: Guided interior tours of Neuschwanstein castle and Hohenschwangau castle
Imperial Dining and Group Meals
- Daily Breakfast: A breakfast is included each morning at the hotel
- Nurember Group Dinner: A traditional feast fit for an emperor, with your choice of beer or water
Group Activity Gratuities
All tips for our collective group experiences, including our private coach drivers, scheduled local step-on guides, and the waitstaff at our designated group dinner, are fully included in your tour price.
- International or domestic airfare
- Travel insurance
- Daily lunches and dinners, to include beverages not explicitly listed as being included
- Optional excursions, transportation, guides, and entry fees for activities chosen during your free day, including optional participation in the Regensburg day trip, or the St. Peter church tower climb
- Hotel incidental purchases, room service, mini-bar purchases, laundry services, phone calls, movie rentals, additional cleaning services
- Personal expenses, souvenirs, shopping, food, beverages, trinkets at Christmas markets, and snacks
- Personal and independent gratuities, you are responsible for tipping waitstaff during your independent lunches and dinners. Customary tipping for sit-down table service is 5% to 10%. If paying and tipping with a card, verbally tell the waitstaff the tip so they can add that to the bill, as there is no tip line to manually enter a gratuity
My passion for travel began decades ago while serving in the U.S. Army in South Korea. Instead of taking standard leave, I spent two weeks traveling through Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and China. I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have experienced many other places, with Egypt and Botswana topping my list of favorite destinations.
The Art of Complex Travel Planning
While many find travel logistics stressful, I consider it an art form. I love the challenge of piecing together complex itineraries involving flights, trains, and day trips, so our day is full of adventures.
Why Choose to Travel with Me?
I personally design, build, and manage each of my tour experiences from scratch, and want to maximize your travel dollars. We will not spend much time sitting around the hotel. We are going to leave around 8:30 am and explore Germany until the sights close for the day. I'm turning my lifelong passion into a business to create deeply memorable, custom journeys for you.