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Summer Tour:

Alpine Europe

Office of the President

Summer 2022

Mark your calendars and reserve your spot to join Concordia University Irvine President Dr. Michael Thomas on a tour of Alpine Europe in the summer of 2022. The tours will include a stop at the famous Passion Play of Oberammergau.

Alpine Europe

Including the Passion Play of Oberammergau

11 Days: July 18-28, 2022

Visiting
Heidelberg * Rhine Valley * Lucerne * Innsbruck * Salzburg * Munich * Oberammergau * Rothenburg * Frankfurt

Hosted by
Dr. Michael and Mrs. Kimberly Thomas
President, Concordia University Irvine

Dr. Michael and Mrs. Kimberly Thomas

Dear Friends,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I invite you, as the President of Concordia University Irvine, to join Kim and me on our 11-day Alpine Europe tour with a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend the world-famous Passion Play in 2022 in Oberammergau, Germany. The villagers of Oberammergau first performed the play in 1634 in fulfillment of their promise to God for sparing them from the Black Plague, and it has been presented there every 10 years since then, excepting the recent pandemic. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle!

This tour will take us to one of the most beautiful parts of the world: Switzerland, southern Germany and Austria. Whether visiting medieval towns, driving through the breathtaking Alps or simply relaxing at a sidewalk café, we will experience the unique atmosphere of this region and its people. In addition to our time spent in Oberammergau, we will have the opportunity to enjoy Heidelberg, the oldest university town in Germany; Lucerne, with its beautiful 14th and 15th century covered bridges; Innsbruck and Salzburg, two picture postcard cities situated in the Alps; Munich, the capital of Bavaria; Neuschwanstein, King Ludwig’s fairy tale castle; and Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved medieval town.

The price of our tour includes roundtrip airfare from LAX, first class/select hotels, private homes/pensions in the Oberammergau area, most meals, admission tickets for the Passion Play, the services of a professional tour director and sightseeing in a deluxe motor coach. Gratuities are additional. We look forward to having you join us on this trip of a lifetime. It promises to be a wonderful experience for all with time to enjoy the fellowship of old friends and new. Nawas International Travel is making the arrangements for us and has earned a reputation for reliability and excellence in their over 72 years of business. NOW is the time to make plans and reserve your place on the tour as space is limited. With European traveling opening up again, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to see the Passion Play and experience the history, culture, and remarkable scenery of Alpine Europe!

We’re so excited for you to join us on this tour.

Pax Domini,

Dr. Michael & Mrs. Kimberly Thomas
President, Concordia University Irvine

Tour Features

  • Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles
  • $600 Government taxes/airline surcharges
  • First class (Category 1) admission ticket to the Passion Play of Oberammergau
  • Accommodations at first class/select hotels based on two persons sharing in twin-bedded rooms with private bath (hotels & guest houses are used in the Oberammergau area)
  • Most meals
  • Services of a professional English-speaking tour director
  • Comprehensive sightseeing throughout
  • All hotel service charges, value added taxes, porterage where available and entrance fees per itinerary

Tour Details

  • Beautiful bridge over water with mountains in the background
  • The Passion play stage
  • Scene from the Passion play

Day-by-Day Itinerary

July

18

Los Angeles / Across the Atlantic

Monday, July 18, 2022

Depart Los Angeles today and connect with your overnight transatlantic flight to Frankfurt, arriving the following day.

July

19

Arrive Frankfurt / Heidelberg / Rhine Valley

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Arrive Frankfurt. Drive to Heidelberg, the oldest University town in Germany and home of the “Student Prince.” View the medieval Town Hall and the University, founded in 1386. Cross the Neckar River and see the ancient castle high above the city and river. Overnight in the Rhine Valley.

Dinner included.

July

20

Rhine Valley / Rhine Falls / Lake Lucerne

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

View the magnificent Rhine Falls then drive to Lucerne. Its attractive waterfront, 14th and 15th century covered wood bridges and medieval walls make Lucerne one of Switzerland’s prettiest cities. Walk along the quaint, winding streets of the Old Town and see the 14th century wooden Kapell Bridge and the Lion Monument. Free time to stroll along the bridges, relax on the lakeshore or visit the elegant shops. Overnight in the Lake Lucerne area.

Breakfast and dinner included.

July

21

Lake Lucerne

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Tour Switzerland’s breathtakingly beautiful Bernese Oberland. Follow the Bruenig Pass road to Interlaken, a popular summer resort dwarfed by the famous snow-covered Alpine peaks of the Eiger and the 13,642-ft. Jungfrau. Proceed to the picturesque villages of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald and then return to your hotel for the night.

Breakfast included.

July

22

Lake Lucerne / Innsbruck

Friday, July 22, 2022

Drive to Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian province of Tyrol, set in the heart of the Alps. The 800-year-old city was named for the bridge across the Inn River, first built in the 12th century. On your orientation tour of Innsbruck, view the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), a late Gothic oriel with 2,657 gold-plated tiles. It was built under the rule of Emperor Maximilian I as a royal box for spectacles held in the square below. Also see Wilten Basilica, Hofburg Palace and Maria Theresia Avenue.

Breakfast and dinner included.

July

23

Innsbruck / Salzburg

Saturday, July 23, 2022

Admire the majestic mountain scenery as you travel east through the Kitzbuheler Alps to Salzburg, one of the world's most beautiful cities. Featured in the movie “The Sound of Music,” Salzburg will always be remembered as Mozart’s birthplace. On a city tour see the Mozarteum (house where Mozart lived) and visit the Church of the Franciscans and the Alter Markt in the heart of the Old City.

Breakfast included.

July

24

Salzburg / Munich

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Return to Germany and continue to Munich, capital of Bavaria. Munich was ruled for over 650 years by the Wittelsbacher dukes and kings, who left their mark on the architecture and founded the world-famous Munich art collection. On a city tour see Marienplatz, Munich’s town square, and view Nymphenburg, the former Royal Residence; Odeon Square with the beautiful Theatiner Church; and the Hall of Generals. Overnight in the Munich area.

Breakfast included.

July

25

Munich / Neuschwanstein / Oberammergau Area

Monday, July 25, 2022

Ascend the Bavarian Alps and view Mad King Ludwig’s fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most photographed palaces in the world and the model for the castles at the Walt Disney theme parks. Next visit the unusual, oval rococo Wies Church designed in the late 1740s and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Onto Oberammergau, site of the world-famous Passion Play.

Breakfast and dinner included.

July

26

The Passion Play of Oberammergau

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

The highlight of your trip! In keeping with their 389-year old promise, the villagers of Oberammergau present their Passion Play depicting the last week of the life of Christ. The play's presentation can be traced to 1633 when the Black Plague swept Europe. The people of Oberammergau took a solemn oath: if God spared them, they would present a day-long play depicting the last week in the life of Christ. To this day they have kept their promise and every ten years the citizens of Oberammergau perform their passion play with the same love and devotion they have shown for over 380 years. Today the play takes place on an open-air stage with a covered auditorium seating 4,700, against a beautiful backdrop of towering Alpine mountains.

Breakfast and dinner included.

July

27

Oberammergau / Rothenburg / Frankfurt

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Travel north on the Romantic Road through fairy-tale towns surrounded by moats, gates and towers. Admire the landscape dotted with lovely church spires standing since the Middle Ages. Arrive in Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved medieval town. Rothenburg’s ramparts, cobbled roads, and high gabled houses invoke the romance of the Middle Ages. The battle-scarred walls that encircle the town still protect St. Jakobskirch, with its altar carving by Tilman Riemenschneider. After a visit, proceed to the Frankfurt area for the night.

Breakfast and dinner included.

July

28

Frankfurt / Los Angeles

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Bid farewell to Europe as you transfer to the airport for your flight to Los Angeles, arriving the same day.

Breakfast included.

Tour Details

Traveling with Dr. Thomas

Beautiful European city street

Payment Schedule

Reservations may be secured upon payment of a deposit. Tickets to the Passion Play are very limited and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Book early!

  • An $800 deposit is due with your reservation
  • An additional deposit of $1,200 is due by July 20, 2021 (total deposit required by July 31, 2021 is $2,000)
  • Final payment is due by February 22, 2022

Cost: $4,699 per person
includes tax, service charges, and airline fees

Reserve Your Spot: Summer Tours with President Thomas

11-Day Alpine Europe Tour including the Passion Play of Oberammergau

July 18-28, 2022

Due to its popularity, AT THIS TIME we are only able to add new passengers to our wait list.

To inquire where you are on the wait list you may contact Mike Bergler, University Advancement, at (949) 214-3187 or [email protected]. If spaces open, Mike will contact you to request payment and complete your registration at that time.

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