Depart the U.S. for the overnight flight to Europe and the Zurich airport.

Note: Overnight flight.

In Transit Overnight: Overnight flight to Europe and the Zurich Airport.

ZURICH AIRPORT ARRIVAL - BREGENZERWALD VALLEY - LINGENAU, AU 1 hour walk with the group leader introducing the participants to the Lingenau village.

Morning: After arrival at Zurich airport you are met by the group leader, and transferred by private coach to Lingenau (2 hours), offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. On arrival you will first be required to clear customs, and then proceed to claim your luggage and meet the group in the meeting area, Terminal "1" Arrival Hall. Look for the Road Scholar sign that the group leader will be holding, one hour prior to transfer time, and who will also want to see your nametag to note your arrival. Your luggage will be collected and transported directly to the hotel and placed outside your room.

Afternoon: After having settled in your rooms at the hotel, take a short walk with the group leader to become familiar with the village.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Evening: Welcome drink and orientation briefing followed by dinner.

Lodging: Hotel Gasthof zum Lowen

Meals Included: Dinner

THE BREGENZERWALD CHEESE TRAIL - CHEESE ROAD WHICH IS UNIQUE TO THE WORLD. Approximate walking time is 2.5 hours. Lecture: "Alpine Dairy Farms and Cheese Making".

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served at the hotel.

Morning: The first trans-regional cheese road (3210-5136 feet), which is unique in the world, features Alpine dairy farms, alps and private cheese manufacturers, farmhouses that are open to visitors, “cheese inns” that offer special cheese dishes on their menus and specialty stores selling cheese products as well as traditional craft shops and tourist facilities. Walk from farm alps and watch how they make their cheese to private cheese manufacturers - learning the different methods and taste of cheeses.

Lunch: Experience the local dish “Kässpatzle” (cheese dumplings).

Afternoon: Watch past and present cheese-making techniques before returning to the hotel. The local farmers will let you assist so you may get a feel of the manual process. On this field trip you will discover how cheese is made from milk, how cheese tastes as well as all the different foods which can be made from cheese. You will also found along this route some of the best establishments and cheese farms in the region. Upon the return walk via Hittisau and an excursion to the old water and saw mill.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Evening: Dinner tonight will represent a typical "Bregenzerwalder" farmer's buffet, see and experience how farmer's celebrate special occasions.

Lodging: Hotel Gasthof zum Lowen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

MAINAU ISLAND - KNOWN AS THE EXOTC FLOWER ISLAND (little tropical paradise). Approximate walking time is 2 hours. Lecture: "All You Need to Know About the Island".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: This morning begin today’s field trip by traveling to the Island Mainau (1300 feet) located in Lake Constance on the south shore. The island is known as the exotic flower island (a little tropical paradise) as everyone will realize as the curator explains while walking on the island park. The curator will lecture about the history, botany, about the Teutonic Knights, originally owners of the island, and about the present residents, Count Bernadotte's family, an uncle of the King of Sweden.

Lunch: Independent lunch on the island. Choose from 7 different restaurants from a restaurant that has been on the island since 1937 serving superb local and international cuisine to the style of a beer garden. All restaurants serve all types of beverages non and alcohol, and local produce along with the local wines. Go to the web-site www.mainau.de to learn more about the different restaurants.

Afternoon: Boarding a boat for a 30 minute ride on Lake Konstanz with a short stop in Meersburg (6783 feet) for a stroll through the picturesque town.

Dinner: Experience and learn about the traditional fondue dinner including cheese, meat, vegetables and fruit.

Lodging: Hotel Gasthof zum Lowen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

THE WALDERBAHNLE - RIDE THE NOSTALGIC LOCAL STEAM ENGINE TRAIN. Approximate walking time is 2.5 hours. Lecture: "History of the Walderbahnle".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: In the morning walk from Lingenau through fields and along the woods to Schwarzenberg (1408 feet), a beautiful old with traditional homes and a lovely church typical of the region.

Lunch: Lunch independent in Schwarzenberg with several choices of local establishments to choose from, the group leader will be happy to assist you with a decision.

Afternoon: In the afternoon a short walk to Bersbuch to board the nostalgic local steam-engine train (which was used between 1902-1980) to Bezau and back. Independent time in Schwarzenberg to explore on your own before returning by local transportation to Lingenau. Group leader will assist with options on how to spend your time.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Evening: At dinner tonight there will be a typical "farmers" buffet, a long-standing tradition in the Alp regions along with folklorist music.

Lodging: Hotel Gasthof zum Lowen

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

BREGENZERWALD (LINGENAU) TO HINTERZARTEN VIA THE RHEIN FALLS. Approximate walking time is 1 hour. Lecture: "The Famous Rhein Falls".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel before departure to Hinterzarten.

Morning: On the way to the Black Forest visit the breathtaking structure of the Rhein Falls, fed by the Rhine River, the largest waterfall in Europe. The falls is 50 meters in width, reaches a height of 23 meters, a torrential 700 meters of gushing water pouring over the cliff, offering visitors a stunning view of the cascading waterfalls.

Lunch: A stop will be made in Stein am Rhein, CH (1355 feet) for an independent lunch and time to explore this quaint village.

Afternoon: Arrive late afternoon in Hinterzarten (2904 feet), check-into the hotel, if time a brief stroll around the village.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schwarzwaldhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

THE HEIMATPFAD WALK including a demonstration of glass blowing and learn how the cuckoo clocks are made. Approximate walking time is 2.5 hours. Lectures: "St. Oswald Chapel", "The Art of Glass Blowing", and "Making of the Cuckoo Clocks".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: Begin today’s field trip along the “Heimatpfad” (4114 feet), a high Black Forest path known as the "local" history path and continues along the Loffel Creek. Continue the walk to Höllsteig for an excursion to St. Oswald Chapel dating back to 1148.

Lunch: Picnic lunch during the walk.

Afternoon: A demonstration of glass blowing and the assembling of the famous Black Forest cuckoo clocks. If you want try blowing glass for yourself, you will see there is a true art to this ancient craft. Before returning to the hotel delight in a slice of traditional Black Forest cake at a local establishment know for this famous cake.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schwarzwaldhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

FREIBURG, CAPITAL OF THE BLACK FOREST REGION including the magisterial "Altstadt" (old town). Approximate walking time is 2 hours. Lecture: "The Black Forest Capital, Freiburg im Breisgau".

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served at the hotel.

Morning: Walk to the train station for the transfer to Freiburg (912 feet), and to begin today's walking field trip of the capital of the Black Forest, university town since 1457, and “city of music”. The town was extensively destroyed in 1944 but no modern buildings have been allowed to challenge the supremacy of its magisterial “Altstadt”, (old town). During the walk one of the sights will be the famous cathedral built in 1120. The lecture, will be given by a local historian/guide of Freiburg and will educate you on the past and present history of the Black Forest Capital.

Lunch: Independent lunch in Freiburg.

Afternoon: Independent afternoon before returning at one's own leisure by train back to Hinterzarten. Prior to dinner there will be a briefing.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schwarzwaldhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

HOELLENTAL & RAVENNA GORGE an impressive walk located in the Black Forest Nature Park. Approximate walking time is 3 hours. Lecture: "Black Forest Nature Park".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast served at the hotel.

Morning: This morning transfer by postal bus to the Hoellental (Hell Valley) and Ravenna Gorge. This very impressive valley which is about 9 kilometers long is located in the southern Black Forest Nature Park (4648 feet). The walking trail follows the bottom of the ravine, known as the jaegerpfas (hunter’s path) once belonged to the Freiburg-Lake Constance walk.

Lunch: Lunch will be served today at a local guesthouse along the trail. Experience the local charm when welcomed by the owners to their establishment.

Afternoon: Return by postal bus back to the hotel. In the afternoon independent visit to the Ski Museum. The Black Forest region is the birthplace of skiing in Germany, and the museum exhibits the over one hundred year old history of skiing, and shows the past harsh life of the farmers during winter.

Dinner: A selected meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Schwarzwaldhof

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

BLACK FOREST TO THE ALSACE via the panorama road to St. Maergen. Approximate walking time is 2.5 hours. Lecture: "Introduction of the Alsace and the History".

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served at the hotel before beginning the transfer to Bischwihi (Colmar).

Morning: Private coach transfer via the panorama road to Sankt Maergen (3000 feet), starting point of today’s field trip, undulating trails with magnificent views of the High Black Forest (Hochschwarzwald) to Sankt Peter. Both of these villages are situated in a valley with cow-speckled hills and both represented with impressive cathedral/abbeys with Sankt Peter having the most famous one, Klosterkirche.

Lunch: Independent lunch en-route at Sankt Peter, one of the villages along the route. The group leader will assist with selections of local establishments.

Afternoon: Continue by coach to your hotel close to Colmar (625 feet), crossing the Rhein River en route. Briefing prior to dinner.

Dinner: A special meal of the chef's choice will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Les Portes de la Vallee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

COLMAR THE MOST ALSATIAN TOWN IN ALL OF ALSACE. Approximate walking time is 2 hours. Lectures: "Colmar" and "Unterlinden Museum".

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served at the hotel.

Morning: This morning the walking field trip is through the charming historical center of Colmar, also known as “Little Venice” which happens to have one of the largest pedestrian zones in Europe, and countless treasures from the middle-ages to the 20th century. Today’s walk also includes an excursion of the exquisite famous Unterlinden Museum, formerly the Dominican convent from the 13th century.

Lunch: Independent lunch in Colmar.

Afternoon: Independent afternoon in Colmar, the group leader will be happy to assist you with "must-see" suggestions. Return to the hotel at one's own leisure.

Dinner: Chef will assist the group in making their own dinner.

Evening: A cooking class to bake their own "flammachueche" - Alsacian Pizza - "bon appetite".

Lodging: Hotel Les Portes de la Vallee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

THE ALSACE VINEYARDS AND CASTLES, one of the most impressive Alsace fortress will be viewed the Chateau Haut-Koenigsbourg. Approximate walking time is 3 hours. Lecture: "Alsace Wines and Gastronomy".

Breakfast: Buffet breakfast is served at the hotel.

Morning: Private coach to the Château Haut-Koenigsbourg (2625 feet). Built in the 12th century, Haut-Koenigsbourg castle has witnessed eight centuries of European conflicts and rivalries between lords, kings and emperors. On the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 the castle was handed over to the French government and given the status of "National" palace. Today this Château gives a remarkable picture of life in a 15th century fortress in Alsace.

Lunch: A special lunch will be served at an establishment in Selestat.

Afternoon: This afternoon experience the wines first-hand when you are invited to a wine tasting. Following the wine tasting transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner: A farewell dinner will be served at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Les Portes de la Vallee

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast buffet served at the hotel prior to the transfer back to Zurich.

Morning: Transfer by private coach back to Zurich and check-in at the airport hotel, approximate transfer time is 2 hours.

Lunch: Independent lunch in Zurich.

Afternoon: Independent time, the group leader will be happy to give you ideas and assist with transferring into the city.

Dinner: Independent dinner in Zurich.

Lodging: Best Western Hotel Airport

Meals Included: Breakfast