Oberammergau & Lake Garda

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SAVE UP TO 15% ON 2022 - 2024 HOLIDAYS

The Oberammergau Passion Play 2022 is a theatrical event unlike any other - a once-a-decade labour of love produced and performed by 1500 villagers, and presented on a vast open-air stage surrounded by a covered 5000-seat auditorium. This astonishing, five-hour re-enactment of the last week of the life of Jesus draws visitors from around the world enchanted by the story and the idea of a community working together to fulfil a promise made almost four centuries ago.Join us, and combine this once-in-a-lifetime experience with two nights in the idyllic Austrian Tyrol and six at a four-star hotel on the shore of Lake Garda. See the historic cities of Salzburg, Innsbruck and Verona, and discover the spectacular scenery of Lake Garda and the heights of the Dolomites above.

Holiday Highlights

Spend two nights in the heart of the Austrian Tyrol
Explore the Tyrolean capital, Innsbruck
Discover Salzburg, the 'Sound of Music' city
Crossing the Brenner Pass into Italy
A stop at a village high in the Dolomites
A guided tour of Lake Garda
A half-day visit to Verona

What's Included

A Category 2 ticket for the Oberammergau 2022 Passion Play
Two nights' half-board accommodation at a four-star hotel in the Tyrol
One night's bed and breakfast accommodation at a three/four-star guest house in Oberammergau or the surrounding area
Six nights' half-board accommodation at a four-star hotel on the shores of Lake Garda
An evening meal during the play interval
A souvenir Passion Play textbook
Excursions to Innsbruck, Salzburg, Verona and around Lake Garda
Return flights from the UK to Munich (returning from Italy)
Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced Tour Manager

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Munich, meet your Tour Manager then relax as our coach carries you through the South Bavaria scenery into Austria and on to your hotel in Breitenwang. Spend a first evening settling in to your wonderful surroundings, and depending on the time of your flight, enjoying dinner at the hotel.

Day 2

Our next excursion takes us to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. Beneath the imposing Hohensalzburg castle and beside the Salzach River, Salzburg is a treasure-trove of onion-domed churches, elegant squares and cobbled thoroughfares. A guided tour will introduce the city's history and highlights, after which you'll have time to explore at your own pace. Don't miss the Castle, which towers 400 feet above the city, and offers predictably wonderful views, or the exquisite Dom cathedral and its frescoes. Connections with Mozart are everywhere, from the Glockenspiel clock on Mozartplatz to the composer's birthplace and his family home (entrances payable locally).

Day 3

Today we'll journey into the Bavarian Alps to Oberammergau. Relax, maybe sit down for a bite to eat or visit the village museum, which chronicles the development of the Passion Play since its first performance in 1634.In the early afternoon, you'll take your seat as the story of Christ's Passion unfolds on the vast open-air stage. The unfolding drama, of scenes from the Old and New Testaments, takes place over five hours and two acts. Over 1500 villagers are involved in the production, acting, singing or playing in the orchestra, and the production values are astounding. The acoustics of the auditorium are so carefully engineered that music and dialogue carry to even the furthest seats, despite the fact that no microphones are used.After the first act there will be an early evening interval during which you'll have time to stretch your legs and enjoy an included dinner at a local restaurant, and at the end of the performance, and after a unique and unforgettable day, you'll head to a local guesthouse allocated by the Passion Play organisers.

Day 4

The second leg of your holiday begins today as we head south, and cross the Brenner Pass into Italy. Along the way we'll stop in Innsbruck. See the famous copper-tiled 'Golden Roof' built for Emperor Maximillian I at the start of the 16th Century, stroll along elegant Maria-Theresien-Strasse or simply indulge in a little people-watching over coffee and cake, before we continue into the Dolomites for a stop in one of the delightful villages that nestle in the high mountain passes.We'll arrive at Lake Garda in the late afternoon, and you'll have time to check in to your hotel and relax before dinner.

Day 5

Stroll by the lake then watch the world go by from a cafe over a long lunch, discover your resort's shops and boutiques or simply relax in the comfort of your hotel.

Day 6

Today's coach tour is the perfect way to take in the exceptional scenery that surrounds the lake. Visit some of the charming lakeside resorts and discover the distinctive character of each section of the shoreline - from the mountains of the northern shore to the citrus and olive groves of the west and the fjord-like east.

Day 7

Spend another relaxing day enjoying Lake Garda, your hotel and the surrounding area.

Day 8

Iconic Venice, a mysterious labyrinth of waterways and alleyways, is one of the world's most beautiful cities. Join our fascinating optional excursion to discover legendary places like the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge's Palace, famous St Mark's Square with its basilica and bell tower, and the Palace of Prisons.

Day 9

Discover "fair Verona" on the banks of the Adige, now the eternal home of one of the literary world's most tragic love stories. In this captivating city you'll visit the Roman amphitheatre (venue for Verona's famous annual opera season), and have time to explore or to relax in a cafe on Piazza Bra, in the shadow of 2000 years of splendid architecture.

Day 10

Say a fond farewell to your resort, and to the shining waters of Lake Garda, as you return to the airport and check in for your flight home.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from Munich airport on arrival to your hotel is approximately two hours. From your hotel in Italy, it will be approximately one hour to Verona airport, two hours to Bergamo Airport and approximately three hours to Venice airport.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Booking optional excursions

If you'd like to join any of the optional excursions on this tour, please be aware that they are only available in advance and that it will not be possible to book them once you arrive on holiday.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. This includes reversing the itinerary. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Airport development fees

An Airport Development Fee has been introduced at a few UK Airports. You will be required to pay this charge at the following airports prior to checking in for your flight: Blackpool, Durham Tees Valley, Newquay and Norwich. The amount varies from airport to airport, but it is generally between £5 and £10 per person. Please visit the airport's website for further information.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be less than 10 years old on the day you return home – please check the 'date of issue' and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home – please check the 'expiry date'. These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.

Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total.

European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Towards the end of 2022, it is likely that non EU citizens will be required to apply online for an authorisation to visit most European countries. The current details suggest there will be a charge of €7 per person and the authorisation will be valid for all trips made to the EU in a three year period from issue. We will advise you of confirmed details prior to your tour’s departure.

Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required.

Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Mobile Roaming - Roaming charges are applied by some UK providers when visiting the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Prior to travel, please do check with your phone operator for the most up to date information.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: Save up to 15% discount applies to specific 2022-2024 holidays and tours only. All tours are marked with the discounted percentage. The ‘Dream it. See it. Share it.’ offer applies to new bookings only for 2022 -2024 departures booked between 6 June and 31 July 2022 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Lapland, Andre Rieu, and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have percentage discount applied on our website. The discount applies to the tour price (excluding extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

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