Since 2011, our Summer Festivals Tours have become a tradition. For July 2026, we're offering 4 days at the prestigious Colmar International Festival, Alsace's biggest classical music event, preceded by the same number of days at the Baden-Baden Festival. We end in Zürich, in time to catch the final performances of the opera season: Massenet’s Werther, Wagner’s Tannhäuser, and Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte. One performance of your choice at each festival plus an opera in Zürich are included in the price of the tour; additional performances will be optional.
Alsace-Lorraine has been the subject of numerous territorial disputes between France and Germany over the centuries. It is incredibly picturesque, with endless rows of vineyards, half-timbered houses, navigable canals, and marvelous examples of Gothic and Renaissance art.
We will include visits to Strasbourg, capital of Alsace and the area's most important city; Freiburg, a university city in the wine-rich corner of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany; and Basel, Switzerland’s cultural metropolis. We will discover the most beautiful villages on the Alsace Wine Route, such as Barr, Sélestat, Mittelbergheim Eguisheim, Ribeauvillé, and Riquewihr, tasting some of their iconic wines along the way.
Your reservation will be confirmed when we receive your completed form and deposit.
AND PRICES
Prices per person
for the two-week tour:
$5,540
sharing a double/twin
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$7,370
single occupancy
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Prices are stated in
U.S. Dollars
calculated on an exchange rate of $1.17 to the Euro
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Prices include:
Accommodation in these
4- and 5-star hotels
Roomers Hotel Baden-Baden
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James Boutique Hotel Colmar
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Hotel Europe Zürich
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Breakfast each day
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7 lunches or dinners
(drinks included)
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2 wine tastings
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Airport transfers
* see important note below
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Ground transport by
private coach
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Tours with expert guides as described to the right
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First category seats for three performances of your choice,
one at the Baden-Baden Festival
one at the Colmar Festival
one at the Zürich Opera
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Additional performances
of your choosing,
as available, at additional cost
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* Please Note:
On July 2 there will be a single transfer by private coach, departing Frankfurt Airport
no later than 2:00 PM.
Be sure to make your
travel plans accordingly;
there are options on every major airline partnership that arrive before noon.
If you arrive too late for the group transfer, you or your travel insurance will be responsible for the cost of a private transfer
to Baden-Baden.
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Wednesday, July 1: Departures
Depart for Frankfurt on your preferred airline. United/Lufthansa, /Delta/KLM/Air France, and British Air/American all offer one-change schedules from Houston or most other major hubs, both ways. Choose a flight scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt no later than 12:00 Noon on Thursday, July 2.
Thursday, July 2: Arrivals
Arrivals at Frankfurt Airport and transfer to Baden-Baden. Our private coach must depart for Baden-Baden not later than 2:00 PM, to check-in and get settled before our welcome dinner. If you decide to fly to Germany earlier, plan to meet the group at the international arrivals area of the Frankfurt airport by 1:00 PM or make your own way to our hotel in Baden-Baden.
Friday, July 3: Freiburg
Today we take a trip to Freiburg. Located on the edge of the Black Forest, the city’s oldtown boasts a rich medieval and Renaissance architectural heritage; the cathedral (Münster) is Freiburg's prime attraction, one of the oldest and most beautiful in all of Europe. A center of sustainable development, much of the city, especially the newer quarters, is arranged using cutting-edge sustainable development ideas. Lunch is included.
Saturday, July 4: Baden-Baden
Today we discover the unique flair, history, and sights of the modern spa and cultural city of Baden-Baden, including a tour of the Festspielhaus, Germany's largest opera and concert venue (2,500-seat capacity), originally built in 1904 as the town’s central railway station. The afternoon is free; this evening’s concert by the London Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin(repertoire TBA). Sorry, no fireworks!
Sunday, July 5: Baden-Baden
Today is free for you to explore as you wish. The Caracalla Spa and Friedrichsbad Spa offer a wellness experience to fit every taste, from thermal water pools to massages and wellness & beauty treatments. If there is enough interest, we can offer a “Musicians in Baden-Baden" tour, in the footsteps of those who frequented the famous spa town (such as Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann, C.M. von Weber, and Pauline Viardot). Tonight’s concert by the London Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Antonio Pappano (repertoire TBA).
N.B. You may choose either of the two performances by the LSO, or both at additional cost.)
Monday, July 6: Colmar via Strasbourg
This morning, we travel to Colmar via Strasbourg, where we have lunch and visit the major landmarks including its imposing Notre Dame Cathedral and the Petite France District.
Tuesday, July 7: Alsace Wine Route
The legendary 170-km-long Alsace Wine Route passes through well-known wine-producing estates and a string of picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, flower-laden windowsills, and cobblestone lanes. We explore this area over two days.
Our first stop today is Obernai, a charming small town boasting a fortified citadel surrounded by ancient ramparts. Time permitting, we also visit the renowned Spindler’s wood marquetry in nearby Boersch. After our included lunch, we continue to Barr, Mittelbergheim, and Sélestat, finishing up at a family wine estate for a wine-tasting experience. Evening performances TBA.
Wednesday, July 8: Colmar
Our guided walk in Colmar, which boasts meticulously preserved architecture spanning from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, ends at the Unterlinden Museum. We will focus on the Isenheim Altarpiece, one of the world's most treasured works of ecclesiastical art (1512-1516), leaving you with time to explore the rest of the museum on your own. Also on your own, you may want to visit the Dominican Church, which houses Martin Schongauer's Virgin of the Rose Bush, an extraordinary multi-panel masterpiece (1473). Evening performances TBA.
Thursday, July 9: Alsace Wine Route
Our second day on the Alsace Wine Route acquaints us with Eguisheim, Riquewihr, and Ribeauvillé. Each is a postcard-perfect medieval village, listed as one of “the Most Beautiful Villages of France." Another cellar tour and tasting takes us to a family estate where the passion for wine has been passed on for 7 generations. Evening performances TBA.
Friday, July 10: Zürich via Basel
We drive to Zürich via Basel, where we take in glorious sights of the well-preserved city from the comfort of our bus, passing by the town gates, the university, and various museums. We then disembark to walk from the Kunstmuseum Basel to the Münsterplatz and Pfalz, the viewing platform high above the Rhine. After another included lunch, we continue to Zürich.
At the Zürich Opera House, any or all of three operas: Tannhäuser, Cosí fan tutte, and Werther. One is included in the price of the tour with any additional you may choose in the price category of your preference. Tonight’s performance is Massenet’s Werther conducted by Marco Armiliato.
Saturday, July 11: Zürich
Today you might want to discover the collection at the Kunsthaus; highlights include the largest Munch collection outside Norway and the most extensive gathering of works by Alberto Giacometti in a museum, as well as outstanding Impressionist and modernist paintings. If several would like to benefit from the insights of a specialized art historian, we can arrange a private tour for you. Tonight’s performance is Wagner’s Tannhäuser, with Eric Cutler in the title role. Tugan Sokhiev conducts.
Sunday, July 12: Zürich
Today is a free day. You may want to attend an optional matinee concert with Tugan Sokhiev conducting the Zürich Opera orchestra in a French program: Fauré’s Pelléas et Mélisande; Glière’s Harp Concerto; Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé: Suite no. 2; and Debussy’s La Mer. Tonight’s opera is Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte, performed by the Musikkollegium Winterthur, the oldest orchestra in Switzerland, under the direction of Roberto González-Monjas.
Monday, July 13: Zürich
We dedicate this morning to church windows: the five stained glass windows by Marc Chagall ((1970) at the Fraumünster, plus seven agate and five colored glass windows by Sigmar Polke (2009) at the Grossmünster. We cap off our summer tour with farewell lunch, sharing libations, food, as well as memories and experiences!
Tuesday, July 14: Departures or Onward Journeys. Transfers to the Zürich airport are included in the cost of the tour.
