Travel and Sport blog

DAY 1 : 30 MARCH 2012

Johannesburg to Munich (South Africa to Germany)

Evening

The day has finally arrived!

One of our friendly Travel & Sport members will meet and assist you at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg from where you will be departing to Munich, Germany.

DAY 2: 31 MARCH 2012

Munich (Germany)

Breakfast / Morning

Welcome to Munich!

Once you have arrived in Munich, your coach driver, will wait for you at the arrival gate with a “Pietersburg” sign and a warm welcome.

After meeting your coach driver, transfer to the hotel to check-in.

Check in at the Comfort Hotel München Ost.

Afternoon

Depart to the starting point of your bicycle sightseeing of Munich, which will include the famous Beer Gardens.

The coach will drop you off at Herrnstraße / Thomas-Wimmer-Ring where you will be met by your guide from “Mike’s Bike Tour”. From here start your sightseeing tour of Munich.

After your tour walk 5 minutes to Hofbrauhuas for dinner.

Evening/ Dinner

Evening at leisure and dinner at Hofbrauhuas “Festsaal”.

Enjoy the traditional Bavarian music while having a delicious meal.

Overnight

3* Comfort Hotel München Ost

DAY 3: 1 APRIL2012

Munich to Strasbourg (Germany to Switzerland)

Breakfast/Morning

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

You will travel via Oberammergau (only stop here if time allows)

Arrival at Hohenschwangau at the visitor centre near the bus parking.

30 to 40 min walk to Castle (road only suitable for horse carts)

Meet your guide at the entrance of the castle for your guided tour of the Neuschwanstein Castle.

Time at gift shops, restaurants for lunch and walk back to coach parking.

Afternoon

Meet the coach and transfer to Strasbourg

Evening/Dinner

Evening at leisure and dinner at the Strasbourg Youth Hostel.

Overnight

Strasbourg Youth Hostel.

DAY 4: 2 APRIL 2012

Strasbourg – Europa Theme Park (Switzerland to France)

Breakfast / Morning

Departure to Europa Theme Park. Straße 2, 77977 Rust, Germany.

(Approximately 1 hour drive).

Afternoon

Lunch at the park (own expense).

Evening/Dinner

Evening at leisure and dinner at the Strasbourg Youth Hostel

Overnight

Strasbourg Youth Hostel

DAY 5: 3 APRIL 2012

Strasbourg – Brussels (France to Belgium)

Breakfast / Morning

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.

Check out and take a 20 minute drive to Place de l’Étoile

Meet you local guide at the Office de Tourisme for your visit to the Strasbourg Cathedral (entrance included).

Depart for 2 hour drive to Heidelberg.

Group to be dropped off at Neckarmünzplatz (Am Hackteufel) where you will meet your guide.

The group will take the train up to the Castle for a tour. There after they will take the train down again, take a short walk to the city centre with the guide to the University Refectory where they will have lunch at own expense (30 minutes).

Lunch

After lunch transfer to Brussels (approx. 7.5hours drive with rest times).

Evening/Dinner

Check in at the Brussels Youth Hostel

Overnight

Brussels Youth Hostel

DAY 6: 4 APRIL 2012

Brussels (Belgium)

Breakfast / Morning

After breakfast, you will go on a city tour of Brussels accompanied by a local guide.

Visit the Lace and Tapestry Factories and shops at De Grote Markt 38 and Boter Straat 46.

Meet coach at hostel. Drive to the Atomium, Square de l’Atomium – 1020 Bruxelles.

Visit the inside of the Atomium.

Afternoon

Lunch at the Atomium (not included).

Depart on city tour of Brussels on foot and coach with your local guide.

This tour also includes a visit to the Chocolaterie Zaabär (tasting included).

End tour at the Pieter Breughel Youth Hostel

Evening/Dinner

Evening and dinner at leisure at Brussels Youth Hostel

Overnight

Brussels Youth Hostel

DAY 7: 5 APRIL 2012

Brussels-Brugge (Belgium)

Breakfast / Morning

Enjoy breakfast at leisure.

Depart to Ypres for a visit to the World War Battlefields Cemetery.

This includes seeing the following sites:

• Tyne Cot Cemetery (90 South African graves are here)
• Hill 62
• Ploegstreet Memorial (South African names are on here)

Afternoon

Transfer to Brugge for a visit.

Transfer to Gent where you will be staying for one night.

Arrival in Gent

Evening/Dinner

Dinner at leisure at Gent Youth Hostel

Overnight

Gent Youth Hostel

DAY 8: 6 APRIL 2012

Gent-Amsterdam (Belgium to Netherlands)

Breakfast / Morning

After breakfast, check out of your accommodation and head towards Amsterdam via Antwerp, Delft and Den Haag. (5 to 6 hours driving time).

Outside visit of International Court of Justice in Den Haag (if time allows).

Lunch and sightseeing in Den Haag.

Afternoon

Depart for a visit to a traditional Cheese and Clog making factory in Amstelveen.

Transfer back to the hostel for the evening

Evening/Dinner

Evening at leisure and dinner at the Amsterdam Youth Hostel

Overnight

Amsterdam Youth Hostel, Zeeburg

DAY 9: 7 APRIL 20112

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Breakfast / Morning

After breakfast this morning the group will depart for a Canal cruise.

Lunch / Afternoon

Guided walking tour of Amsterdam with a local guide.

Highlights include:

• The old church
• The Jewish Quarter
  
• Royal Palace
  
• The Jordaan District
• The Dutch East Indian Company
• The Begijnhof Convent
• Masterpieces of the Dutch Art
• The widest Bridge and the Narrowest House

Visit to the Anne Frank House, Prinsengracht 263-267.

Evening / Dinner

Dinner at Amsterdam Youth Hostel Zeeburg. After dinner you are free to

explore this beautiful town at night!

Overnight

Amsterdam Youth Hostel, Zeeburg

DAY 10: 8 APRIL 2011

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Breakfast / Morning

Breakfast at leisure.

Tour of the Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1, 1071 CJ Amsterdam.

Lunch / Afternoon

Enjoy a traditional bicycle ride around the Amsterdam dikes.

Evening / Dinner

Dinner at Amsterdam Youth Hostel Zeeburg

Highlights include:

• A Proefokaal and other Historic Bars     
  
• World’s first Stock Exchange
  
• China Town         
  
• The Condomerie
  
  
• The Old Church
  
• Jazz legend Chet Baker’s place of death
  
• Warmoestraat: hardcore leather neighorhood
  
• S&M Specialist
  
• Elite Streets
  
• The Bulldog: Amsterdam’s first “Coffeeshops”
  
• Newmarket
  

Overnight

Amsterdam Youth Hostel, Zeeburg

DAY 11: 9 APRIL 2012

Amsterdam –Johannesburg (Netherlands to South Africa)

Breakfast / Morning

Breakfast and then transfer to the airport for your return flight to Johannesburg.

Evening

Arrive in at O.R Tambo this evening.