Rome to Oberammergau

The Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play dates back to the 17th Century. During the Thirty Years War, the people of Oberammergau vowed to celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord every ten years if their village would be spared from the plague that was ravaging the area.

During the five-hour-performance, more than 2000 participants bring the story of Jesus to the open-air stage of the Passion Play Theater.

2022 marks just the 42nd time the Passion Play has been offered.

Is this trip for you?

You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We can walk up to 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.

You need to be able to carry your own luggage.
You are responsible for your luggage and getting it from the plane to the bus and the bus to your hotel rooms. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.

You must be flexible.
This is Europe, things may close without notice, a protest could spring up without warning. But, it’s not all negative, great things come up unexpectedly as well. Being flexible is the key for happy travels!

Itinerary

Thursday, September 1st – Sunday, September 4th
I will provide you the detailed Rome itinerary once our Mass times are confirmed.

But we begin on September 1st at 3 PM.

We have four nights in Rome in the charming Borgo neighborhood – with lots of great food and shopping just outside the door, and Saint Peter’s Basilica a 60 second walk away. Over the next four nights we will dig into the founding of Rome… from the Appian Way, to the Colosseum, and Roman Forum. Then we will explore early Christian Rome, with a visit to the first place where Mass could be celebrated without fear of persecution, and lots of underground house churches from the first century. We will tour the Vatican, see the pope (his schedule permitting), and have some excellent meals along the way.

Monday, September 5th
Today we head north into Umbria, and spend the next three nights in Assisi. On the way, we will stop for lunch in the hill town of Orvieto, known for the Eucharistic Miracle that led to the Feast Corpus Christi. We have a huge Umbrian feast planned for tonight.

Tuesday, September 6th
Our hotel is located just off the main piazza, in the center of town. Our local guide will take us to the shrines of Assisi, including San Damiano, the Hermitage, and the Porziuncola. We will have dinner together where the Slow Food movement began.

Wednesday, September 7th
After Mass this morning, we will head across the valley to Montefalco to have a wonderful meal and wine tasting on a small family farm.

Thursday, September 8th
Today we fly to Munich. We will have Mass and dinner this evening.

Friday, September 9th
This morning we will celebrate Mass before a walking tour of Munich. This afternoon we will have a solemn visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp.

Saturday, September 10th
Today we will explore the region of Bavaria. We will travel to the town of Altötting to visit the Grace Chapel with the Smiling Madonna. We will have Mass at the Shrine. Next we will stop in the town of Marktl am Inn, the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI, and visit the church where he was baptized. Dinner together this evening.

Sunday, September 11th
Today we travel to Oberammergau. We’ll have Mass and lunch on arrival. This afternoon the Passion Play begins at 2:30 PM and runs until 5:00 PM. We will have a dinner break before the second act of the play begins at 8:00 PM and ends at 10:30 PM.

Monday, September 12th
Our pilgrimage is over after breakfast. Our private motor coach will head back to Munich late the morning. If you have an early flight home from Munich, I can help arrange a transfer for you.

Price

$4,400 per person (land only)

$1,000 deposit secures your spot.

Final payment of $4,400 is due August 9th, 2022. Final payment is nonrefundable.

This cost is for double occupancy. Traveling alone? There are limited number of singles rooms available. There is a single supplement of $900.

Included in the price

Our flight from Rome to Munich

Accommodations for 11 nights

4 nights in Rome

3 nights in Assisi

3 nights in Munich

1 night in Oberammergau

Breakfast daily plus 9 additional meals in some of my favorite restaurants, never hotels!
Drinks, including beer and wine, are included in our meals.

All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.

Full time service of a tour director
Visiting new countries can be intimidating! That’s why you will have an experienced Catholic American tour director (me!) with you at all times.

Local guide
We will have local experts join us throughout the pilgrimage.

No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for the meals you have on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and anything you want to do in your free time. Tips, air taxes, drinks with meals? Already included!

Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!

All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included and we take care of that behind the scenes.

Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities.

Social planning
Plan your trip with your traveling companions before you leave! We set up private Facebook groups for each tour to give you a chance to meet before you meet!

You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. We also include free time for you to explore, shop and relax on your own.

Not Included

Your flights
You should arrive in Rome no later than September 1st, we will begin at 3 PM on September 1st. If you want to arrive early, let me know and I can arrange the extra nights.

You should depart Munich no earlier than the afternoon of September 12th, our last group activity will be the Passion Play on the September 11th, which runs until almost midnight.

Most airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Most airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Things could change before our pilgrimage, but currently…

There are no vaccination requirements and no testing requirements to enter Europe or to return to the US.

Masks

As of this writing, masks are required in very few indoor public places, including the Vatican Museums.

Openings and Closings

Currently, everything in Europe is open, including churches, museums, restaurants, cafes, and bars. But keep in mind that things can change. Again, we need to be flexible. If something unexpectedly closes, we will look for a good alternative.

Cancellations

I want you to feel comfortable signing up for my pilgrimages to the Europe.

If Europe changes their requirements for entry, and you decide that doesn’t work for you, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all within 30 days of departure, you’ll get everything back minus the deposit.

Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are in Italy. If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. A “Cancel for Any Reason” plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.

Sign up

Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, email me at mtn@thecatholictraveler.com

Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.