Oberammergau, Rome, The Vatican and Assisi.May-Sept 2010 13 Nights from £1420.00

Don’t miss your chance to experience the world famous Oberammergau Passion Play in 2010. Visit Rome and immerse yourself in the history and culture of Italy’s wonderful capital. Then onwards to see the play itself in Oberammergau.

Prices from £1420 per person departing 06 Jun 2010, 13 nights accommodation based on two sharing by coach with Passion Play tickets.Other dates available

Hotel Mizar

Chianciano Terme is a small peaceful town in the south of Tuscany, surrounded by the green of the Siena hills landscape .The hotel Mizar lies only a few metres from the Piazza Italia, the main square of Chianciano. The hotel was completely renovated recently and reopened to offer more space. Facilities include a bar, living room , and a large dining room with exit to the garden.

Rooms are newly furnished with air conditioning, security safe, telephone, and satellite TV. Many also have a balcony.

Hotel Pace, Lake Garda

The fine position of the hotel allows easy access to the countryside, including walks along the river to the lake. Torri del Benaco and the surrounding area offer many sporting facilities : wind surfing, water skiing, horse riding, fishing, rowing, sailing, golf and tennis.

The Oberammergau Passion Play

The Passion Play is famous throughout the world. It is expected that over 500,000 people will attend the performances in 2010. The play runs from May to Oct, starting at 2.30pm and finishing at 10.00pm with a break at 5.00pm for dinner.

The performers are drawn solely from Oberammergau and the surrounding villages to maintain the tradition of the solemn vow made to villagers in 1633.

14-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart from one of our local joining points or take advantage of our Door to Door service* and connect to your transfer service to Dover. Here you meet your Silver Service luxury coach and fellow travellers then sail to Calais and onwards to our overnight stop hotel in northern France.

Day 2 - We travel south to the Milan area for an overnight stop. [B]

Day 3 (Pisa) - We journey south through Italy making a call into Pisa where you can view the famous Leaning Tower. We then continue to the spa town of Chianciano Terme, located in the wine producing area of Umbria about 80 miles north of Rome where we stay for 5 nights. [B, D]

Day 4 (Local Vineyard) - A relaxing day today with a morning at leisure followed by an afternoon visit to a local vineyard and wine cantina where you can taste and purchase some of the local produce. [B, D]

Day 5 (Rome & The Vatican) - A full day visit to Rome and the Vatican City. We begin in the Vatican where you can discover its treasures on our optional guided tour. Escorted by a local guide, you will take in the awe inspiring frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, and visit St Peter’s Square where some of the most important Papal ceremonies take place. Afterwards you will have free time in Rome, or why not join our guided sightseeing tour by coach and on foot to take in the sights of Rome such as the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, the Piazza Venezia and much more. We will stay in Rome until mid evening to allow you to enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful city. Although a long day, today will be fulfilling. [B]

Day 6 (Siena) - After a leisurely morning join our optional afternoon excursion to Siena. No visit to Italy is complete without seeing this beautiful city. Discover the Piazza del Campo, claimed to be perhaps the most attractive in Europe and wander the maze of narrow medieval streets. [B, D]

Day 7 (Assisi) - Today we visit Assisi, known for the famous Basilica, where St Francis is buried and one of the greatest Christian Shrines in the World. [B, D]

Day 8 (Florence) - We leave Chianciano and visit Florence where you will have some free time to relax and explore this marvellous city with its culture, art and outstanding Renaissance architecture. In the afternoon we continue north to Lake Garda, our base for the next two nights. [B]

Day 9 (Lake Garda) - A day to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures of life around this beautiful lake. Our optional guided tour will visit some of the local villages on the shores of the lake with a backdrop of mountains rising sharply from the shore side. [B]

Day 10 - We leave Lake Garda and travel north over the spectacular Brenner Pass from Italy into Austria, then over the mountain pass into Bavaria arriving late afternoon at our accommodation in the Oberammergau area for a two night stay. Relax tonight ahead of tomorrow’s spectacle. [B]

Day 11 (Oberammergau) - Enjoy a relaxing morning in the environs of Oberammergau. Lunch is taken at noon before the start of the Passion Play at 2.30pm. After a break for dinner between 5 and 8pm the Play ends at 10.30pm. Transfer back to your accommodation. [B, L, D]

Day 12 (The Romantic Road) - We leave Oberammergau after breakfast and travel north through Germany along the Romantic Road calling into Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany’s best preserved medieval towns. Enjoy some free time to relax before we continue to our hotel in the Mannheim area for an overnight stay. [B, D]

Day 13 (The Rhine Valley) - Our route takes us through the picturesque Rhine Valley. Our first call is Rüdesheim on the banks of the river. The heart of the old town is the Drosselgasse, a narrow cobbled street with restaurants and wine taverns. As we venture north along the valley you will have the chance to go on a relaxing sightseeing cruise to take in the views from the river. Our overnight stay tonight is in a 4-star hotel in Belgium. [B]

Day 14 - We travel onto Calais for our return crossing to the U.K. and then continue on our transfer service to your chosen local drop off point or, if you selected our Door to Door service, to your front door. [B]

B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner