Heaven of the Bavarians - Oktoberfest
September 27 - October 4, 2025
A beer lovers journey throughout Bavaria and Franconia experiencing their 1000 years of brewing tradition as we explore their Breweries, Beer and Beer Culture culminating the week at the largest beer festival in the world Oktoberfest!
$2995 pp plus airfare
Included in Cost:
- All ground transportation
- All overnight accommodations double occupancy. $350 supplement for single room.
- Breakfast and 1 lunch or dinner & 2 beers per day
Not Included:
- Bottled beverages
- Meals and beers outside of above mentioned
- Travel Insurance
Itinerary:
Saturday September 27:
After our overnight flight from the US we will load up our van and drive approximately 1 hour to the Kloster Mallersdorf home the the Franciscan order of Nuns, who in 1881 opened a brewery to provide a “pure nutritious drink” for the sisters and the community living around the Abbey. We will visit their Biergarten for a nice welcome lunch and fresh beer. After lunch we will drive to the oldest monastic establishment in Bavaria, Weltenberg Abbey founded around the year 600. A brewery was established here in 1050 and after a visit to the Church of St. George we will enjoy a beer at Klosterbrauerei Weltenburgs, Klosterschänke tavern before we head to the UNESCO world heritage site of Regensberg. Here we will explore the Alstadt: including St Peters Cathedral, the 13th century Altes Rathaus (the Old Town Hall), the old stone bridge, grab a sausage at the oldest sausage house in the world the famous Wurstlkuchl and the Thurn and Taxis Palace before our night of local brewery halls. Spitalbraurei garten, Bischofshof Braustuben, Brauhaus am Schloss, Brauereigaststatte Kneitinger, and the Alte Linde Bier Garten.(lunch and 1 beer @ Kloster Mallersdorf and 1 beer @ Weltenberg)Day
Sunday Sept. 28:
Today will head to the small hamlets of the Oberpfalz: home of the Zoigl Bier. Zoigl is a bottom-fermented beer (‘ein untergäriges Bier’), which is brewed according to traditional methods in five towns within the Oberpfalz, a region located in the east of the German state of Bavaria. Zoigl has been brewed for over 500 years, with its secrets handed down through families.‘Echter Zoigl’ – that is, genuine, traditional Zoigl beer – is brewed in the community brew house (‘Kommunbrauhaus’) in the small towns of Eslarn (1522), Falkenberg (1467), Mitterteich (1516), Neuhaus (1415) and Windischeschenbach (1455). The dates indicate when certain citizens in each town were given the right to brew and serve beer. This right, known as ‘Zoiglbraurecht’, is attached to houses that are located within a specific area, usually around the old town centre. As the dates indicate, in some cases, the Zoigl and ‘Kommunbrau’ tradition in the Oberpfalz is much older than the famous ‘Reinheitsgebot’ – the Bavarian Beer Purity Law, which was promulgated on 23 April 1516. Here we will spend the night and explore the different bier houses. A typical echter Zoiglstube is only open once per month on a Friday through Monday in the afternoon and evening. There are fourteen Zoiglstubes in Windischeschenbach/Neuhaus. The various Zoiglstubes take turns so at least 2 or 3 are open on a given weekend so we must check the calendar to see where we will enjoy Zoigl (Dinner and 2 beers)
Monday Sept. 29:
Today we head to the city of Bayreuth. Famous for its Bayreuth Opera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site a destination culturally rich in music and great beer. Here we will visit the famous Maisel's brewery and their Liebesbier restaurant, Bayreuther Bierbrauerei, Manns Brau. If time permits we will visit en route the Kloster Speinhart and Klosterbrauerei Kemnath. (Dinner and 2 beers at Liebesbier)
Tuesday Sept. 30:
Today we had to the quintessential medieval town of Bamberg. Bamberg is known for its any specialialty beers (Kellerbier, Zwickelbier, Vollbier, Bockbier and Schwarzbier), many Bierkellers and beer gardens. The most famous of Bamberg’s breweries is the historic Rauchbier (smoked beer) brewery, Schlenkerla. This 6th-generation family brewery has been quenching thirst since 1405 and still taps beer the old-world way – from wooden barrels. Here we will explore the old town, starting at Obere Brücke, the pedestrian-only Upper Bridge. From here, you'll be rewarded with superb views of Klein-Venedig, or "Little Venice," with its quaint old fishermen's houses and the Old Town Hall (Altes Rathaus) as well as many other sites such as the Bamberg Cathedral, Old Court (Alte Hofhaltung), New Residence (Neue Residenz), Michelsberg Monastery (St. Michael's Monastery).Over the two days we will also drink and eat in some of the best breweries and bier gardens in Germany: Mahrs - Brau, Klosterbrau, Brauerei Fassla, Brauerei Spezial, Ambrausianum, Greifenklau, Kaiserdom, Keesman, Wilde Rose Keller. (lunch and 2 beers at Schlenkerla)
Wednesday Oct 1:
Today we will board the train to one of Germany’s oldest cities, Augsburg with 2000 years of history, We will explore this beautiful cities architecture and its fabulous breweries. Sites include: the Fuggerei dating from 1561, which is the worlds oldest housing complex, the Augsburg Cathedral, The town hall, and the Perlachturm. Our beer tour will take us to Thorbrau, Die Drei Koniginnen, Gasthaus Bauerntanz, and Brauhaus Riegele. (Dinner and 2 beers)
Thursday Oct 2:
This morning we will take a half hour train ride to the capital of Bavaria and the Oktoberfest, Munich. After dropping our bags off we will head to one of the oldest and largest Biergarten in Munich, the Augustiner Keller for lunch. We will then head to city square the Marienplatz, the heart of the city since 1158. with its Neues Rathaus and the elaborate Glockenspiel cuckoo clock. We will explore here taking in the sites of the Theatinekirche, St Peters Church, Frauenkirche, the Hofbrauhaus and the Spatenhaus. We will then head to the Theresienwiesse for our first night of Oktoberfest.
Friday Oct 3:
Today we will take a short train ride to the oldest brewery in the world Weihenstephan dating from 1040, where we will enjoy lunch at the Bräustüberl. Returning to Munich for more city exploring before our second night at Oktoberfest. Some of todays other brewery visits: Augustiner Braustuben, Lowenbrau Keller, the old Stehausschank pub, Der Pschorr, Bratwurstherzl, Schneider Brauhaus, Ayinger am Platzl, Wirthaus in her Auand the Wiener Pltz. (Lunch and 2 beers @ Weihenstephan)
Saturday Oct 4:
Today is officially the end of our Bavaria Journey. However we offer two options. Return home to the USA or extend the trip for $300 supplement, a visit to the Spectacular Kloster Andechs and more opportunity to visit some of the above bier halls, concluding with one more night at Oktoberfest. (Lunch and 2 beers @ Andechs
Sunday Oct 5:
Depart for home.
For more info or to register:
email or call us at
717.917.1359
