German Christmas Markets - Go East

Exclusive small group tours 2010 - Crafts, Art, Music, Nostalgia

Our escorted Advent Tours take you on a fascinating journey to Germany during the pre-Christmas season. Discover the magic spirit of the Advent time, explore traditional German handcraft and listen to the magnificent sounds of church music, choirs and organs. Germany's capital Berlin offers various Christmas Markets, both nostalgic and artistic. It's the perfect destination to explore German history, culture, classical music and arts - not to forget about all the fantastic shopping opportunities! Enjoy the still vivid charm of the old kingdom Prussia in Potsdam with its world famous palaces and gardens. Glass and porcelain manufacturers in the rural Thuringian Forest and woodcraft in the Saxon Ore Mountain region Erzgebirge are only two examples of lively German traditional handcraft. In Thuringia's capital Erfurt the over 150-years old Christmas Market is loceted in the historic town at the foot of the magnificent cathedral. Leipzig's city center turns into one big Christmas Market and offers a unique selection of art, craft and design. In the UNESCO world heritage city Dresden you will feel like traveling in a time machine - modern car production right next to Germany’s oldest Christmas market. The Advent tours take you on romantic rides through the beauty of fairy-tale forests in Thuringia and Saxony as well as through the "land of lakes" Brandenburg. The Advent season in late November and December is also the perfect time to savor the many local culinary delights at authentic German restaurants. We always travel in small groups of 4-6 or 10-18 guests maximum in order to provide a flexible individual travel experience. Groups are escorted 24/7 by an English speaking guide. We consider your wishes and ideas. Travel to Germany - Go East!

Travel Impressions from our Christmas Market Tour (Nov 27 - Dec 06, 2009)

Quote from on of our guests about the 2009 Christmas Market Tour:

"Delightful Christmas Market Tour - lovely decorations and lights, great food and sights. Ute is ever attentive, efficient, and knowledgeable. I couldn't have enjoyed myself more." (J.H., New York)

     

Christmas Markets in East Germany - Itinerary for Download (PDF)

Travel dates Christmas Market Tours 2010:

Tour 1: Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010   (10 days, Friday - Sunday)
Tour 2: Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010   (10 days, Friday - Sunday)

Route: Berlin – Potsdam – Leipzig – Dresden – Erzgebirge – Erfurt – Thuringian Forest - Berlin
 

Itinerary - Overview:

Day 1 Friday:   Individual departure from the USA or elsewhere.

Day 2 Saturday:  Individual arrival in Berlin, the capital of Germany. At the hotel you will be greeted by your tour guide. You will have time to rest, get to know your fellow passengers, or go on individual excursions to Christmas Markets and museums (tips and maps will be provided). Later, we will have our welcome dinner together at the typical Berlin corner pub ”Sophienkeller”. Overnight Berlin.

Day 3 Sunday:    Today we will explore the centre of Berlin – one of the most vibrant cities in the world. On our sightseeing tour we will visit historic Berlin’s highlights and UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Museum Island with old master’s paintings collection, Berlin Cathedral, Hackescher Market and Courtyards with small art and fashion galleries, Promenade “Unter den Linden”, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag building, Berlin Wall Museum, Gendarmenmarkt and much more. We will have our individual lunch at the brewpub „Lindenbräu“ at Potsdamer Platz with its modern style Christmas Market. Later that day you have time to visit art and crafts museums, galleries or manufacturers of your choice – such as the New National Gallery or the Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufacturer KPM. We spend the evening at Berlin's most magic Christmas Market at the Gendarmenmarket with a special stage program. Overnight Berlin.

Day 4 Monday:     In our private van/coach we will travel to the former capital of the kingdom Prussia, Potsdam. We will go on a guided tour to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Palace Cecilienhof, the Dutch Quarter Potsdam and more. We will have group lunch at the residential palace restaurant “Krongut Bornstedt” at a historic setting including a guided tour through the distillery and brewery. Afterwards we will proceed to Leipzig. Leipzig, the city of music, books and art presents itself with history and flair. First documented in 1015, Leipzig has always been known as a place of commerce. The Leipzig Trade Fair, which began in the Middle Ages, is the oldest remaining trade fair in the world. There is hardly another city with such a great musical tradition like Leipzig: Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann worked here and Richard Wagner was born here. After check-in, you have time to relax, to explore Leipzig on individual excursions or to go shopping in the Arcades. Overnight Leipzig.

Day 5 Tuesday:     On a guided walking tour we will experience history, culture and modern European lifestyle in Leipzig. The sightseeing tour include the old and the new town hall, market plaza, St. Thomas Church, St. Nicholas Church, Opera House, Gewandhaus, Auerbach’s Keller at the Arcades “Maedler Passage” and much more. We will enjoy Leipzig coffee & cake specialties at the nostalgic coffee house “Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum” in a historic setting. In the afternoon we will explore Leipzig’s rich, young and dynamic art scene. Depending on your personal interest, you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts (opened in 2008), the Museums Grassi and/or the “Cotton Mill” Leipzig modern art centre or you can stroll the city in the footsteps of J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Later that day we will attend Leipzig’s Christmas markets spread all over the historic town with its advent calendar, and wind instruments concert – we will go there when the locals go. Overnight Leipzig.

Day 6 Wednesday:    In our private van/coach we will travel to the former capital of the kingdom Saxony, Dresden. We will stop at the fairy-tale castle Moritzburg. We will go on a guided city tour in Dresden visiting the many historic sites of the former capital of the Saxon kingdom: Church of Our Lady, Semper Opera House, the palace “Zwinger”, the Bruehl Terrace, Altmarkt Square and much more. In an old gas-storage building, the artist Yadegar Asisi created an impressive 360°panoramic painting “Dresden 1756”. From an elevated viewing platform you can enjoy a magnificent view over the rooftops of baroque Dresden with light and sound effects.  You can visit the world-known Treasure Chamber “New Green Vault” with its unbelievably fantastic treasures of Saxon Kings. In Dresden, the oldest German Christmas market “Striezelmarkt” is centrally located. It has taken place since 1434, and presents the world’s tallest Christmas pyramid. We will have a group dinner at the one of the authentic restaurants with typical Saxon culinary delights and local wine. If available, we will attend an Organ concert. Overnight Dresden.

Day 7 Thursday:    We continue our journey through the Saxon ore mountains Erzgebirge to the city Erfurt in Thuringia. On our way you will discover a hidden pearl of living German Christmas tradition, the toy-maker village Seiffen. Here the handcraft of manufacturing toys, wooden angels, pyramids, nutcrackers and smoking manikins was elevated to a unique local art, which you can still experience in its original active form. Today these charming and nostalgic Christmas decoration are famous all over the world. We will visit typical workshops and watch the making. The last stop before Erfurt will be in one of the unique and typical small towns of the Erzgebirge region, Annaberg-Buchholz with its authentic Christmas Market and Saxony's biggest Gothic hall church. You will enjoy scenic rides through a romantic countryside with villages whose countless windows are lit up with traditional Christmas decoration. Overnight Erfurt.

Day 8 Friday:   This day we will spend in the Luther town and Thuringia’s capital Erfurt. Erfurt’s medieval heart that is one of the best preserved in Germany and here we will find Europe’s longest inhabited bridge housing small shops and handcraft workshops, aptly named The Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke). The magnificent St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Severus and the Citadel Petersberg preside over Erfurt’s nostalgic Christmas market. We will explore the historic town on a guided sightseeing walking tour. We will enjoy Thuringian culinary specialties at our group lunch in one of the many traditional restaurants. Especially during Advent season you can enjoy numerous organ recitals, choral concerts and other musical performances. We will visit the unique exhibition “Floral Art” located in the cellars underneath the Cathedral Plaza – showing floral Christmas decoration made by local artists. We will visit the local Chocolate manufacturer including a fine tasting. Overnight Erfurt.

Day 9 Saturday:    Today we will explore the Thuringian village Lauscha, the historic centre of artistic glass-blowing manufacture. In 1847, the Christmas glitter ball was invented by a poor Thuringian glassblower who could not afford the original Christmas tree decoration: expensive walnuts and apples. But Lauscha is also well known for modern style glass art, such as vases, jewelry and glass decoration. You can not only buy the glassy art and watch the process of making, but you can also try to blow a glass ball or paint one yourself. On our way back to Berlin you will enjoy the scenic ride along the Transromanica route through the Thuringian forest – the home of the brothers Grimm’s fairy tales. In Berlin you will have some time left for individual activities. We will have out Farewell Dinner together at a restaurant in the “scene district” Mitte in East Berlin – Bar crawl afterwards optional. Overnight Berlin.

Day 10 Sunday:    Individual departure for the USA or elsewhere & Arrival.

Christmas Markets in East Germany - Itinerary for Download (PDF)

Travel route tour "Christmas Markets in Germany - Go East" at Google Maps

Registration Form for Christmas Market Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010) - DOC for Download

Terms and Conditions for Christmas Market Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010) - PDF for Download

Registration Form for Christmas Market Tour 2 (Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010) - DOC for Download

Terms and Conditions for Christmas Market Tour 2 (Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010) - PDF for Download

Creditcard Billing Authorization Form for Christmas Market Tours 2010 - DOC for Download

Travel Insurance information - PDF for Download
 

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Package includes:

- 8 overnight stays at selected hotels/pensions/Inns with buffet breakfast
- Private coach transportation and experienced driver

- English speaking tour guide throughout

- Experienced local city guides

- Entrance fees & expenses for tour related visits & excursions

- Welcome dinner & Farewell dinner including beverages
- Three additional meals (dinner/lunch) including beverages

- One traditional Coffee House visit

- Two Tastings (Wine / Beer / Chocolate)

Package does not include:
airfare (individual arrival & departure), optional tours, personal expeditions, individual meals, travel insurance.

Itinerary & accommodation are subject to change.

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The tour also includes local classical concerts and/or organ/choral performances at Christmas markets and in churches. We will provide more specific information as soon as the information is available. For your purchases we can organize a shipping serviceThis Advent Tour to Germany includes several local city/town sightseeing tours and Christmas market visits on foot. Walks of around 1 hour up to 2 hours (including stops) might be involved at several occasions.

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Tour price 2010* (on ground, air fare not included, double occupancy)

$2,389 per person
+ $ 450 per person (single occupancy)

Minimum participants: 4 persons for group size 4-6 or 10 persons for group size 10-18

For single travelers we offer the service to connect you with other single travelers who are interested in sharing a twin bed room in order to save the single supplement - if it's possible we make it happen.

* The preliminary $ price is based on a currency exchange rate 1 Euro = 1.40 USD.
  The $ price is subject of change due to currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Please make your reservations before August 10th, 2010 for Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05) or before August 20th, 2010 for Tour 2 (Dec 10 - Dec 19).

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Special offer for Travel Planners:

"With 12 you go free!"
If you get a group together of 12 or more people, you travel for free!**

And we will work out a tailor-made itinerary - together with you for your group and your travel date!

** double occupancy, ground package, air fare not included

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Please contact us for further information, detailed itineraries and reservations.

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