Fairytales & The Black Forest

DAY 0     TRAVEL DAY

Fly from the US to Frankfurt, Germany. Let us know if you'd like to arrive a day or two early. We are happy to put an extension together for you. Frankfurt is a fun and do-able city where you can hit all of the highlights in 2-3 days.

Overnight: Flight     Meals: In-flight

---

DAY 1     FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Upon landing, you'll have private transfer to our über comfortable luxury hotel, and you'll have the day to rest and/or explore, letting your energy level guide you. In the evening, we'll enjoy a special welcome dinner (beer or wine included) with a local "Frankfurter" and his family. If the weather cooperates, they'll take us on a riverside walk along the Main River.

Overnight City: Frankfurt          Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner

---

DAY 2     STRASBOURG, FRANCE

We'll have private transport from Frankfurt, making a stop to visit the historic city of Heidelberg. Continuing on, we'll reach Alsace: nestled in the foothills of the Vosges mountains this French region is known for its fairytale villages and mild, sunny microclimate. Fought over for hundreds of years by both the Germans and the French, this region has an independent spirit and is proud of its unique culture, traditions, language, and cuisine.

Our Alsatian adventure begins in Strasbourg, green and beautiful, and the official seat of the European Parliament. A vibrant city of gastronomy and street art, you'll have free time to settle in, rest, or explore on your own. We'll meet up for dinner.

Overnight City: Strasbourg     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 3     STRASBOURG

Our local, expert guide will take us on a walking tour of this charming city of canals, half-timbered houses, stunning Gothic architecture, and narrow streets. We'll enjoy a fantastically authentic local dinner together.

Overnight City: Strasbourg     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 4     ALSACE VILLAGES

Leaving Strasbourg, we'll make a stop to visit charming Obernai. Next stop? Your choice! Choose between Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle or Montagne Des Singes, a refuge to over 200 free-roaming Barbary macaques. Then we're our way to Colmar, a cheery, flower-filled village consistently ranked by the French as the most beautiful in their country! Our path traces France's oldest wine route, the Alsace wine route. Colmar will be our home base for exploration the next four nights.

Overnight City: Colmar   Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 5    ALSACE VILLAGES & WINE VISITS

Today we have a private tour of Alsace's most beautiful wine villages, including Kaysersberg and Eguisheim with a luncheon and tastings! The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free in Colmar.

Overnight City: Colmar     Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

---

DAY 6     COLMAR

Our local, expert guide will take us on a walking tour. After lunch, you'll design your day: relax, check out the covered market, go for an easy hike or e-bike to see castle ruins and/or have your travel director arrange wine tastings. Or just meander the streets, rub shoulders with the locals, do a little shopping, spend some time at a café... you do you! We will give you a full menu of ideas. Don't feel like exploring on your own? Join your tour director and explore the market and the Unterlinden Museum.

Overnight City: Colmar     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 7     ALSACE VILLAGES & WINE VISITS

Today we have a private tour of Alsace's most beautiful wine villages, including Ribeauvillé and Riquewihr with a vineyard luncheon! The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free.

Overnight City: Colmar        Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

---

DAY 8     BERN, SWITZERLAND

This morning, our driver will give us private transport to our next home in the Bernese Alps. We'll make a stop to explore Bern, whose well-preserved medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight City: Bernese Oberland     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 9     BERNESE OBERLAND

Today we make a picturesque stop in Interlaken before heading for a visit to the dreamy Alpine village of Grindelwald and then onto Jungfraujoch to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jungfrau-Aletsch - the longest glacier in the Alps. This is the "Top of Europe," and in addition to taking in the breathtaking views, we'll visit the Ice Palace, a collection of elaborate ice sculptures displayed inside the Aletsch Glacier.

Overnight City: Bernese Oberland     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 10     GRUYÈRES, SWITZERLAND

Today is all about beauty and food! We're off to the preserved medieval village of Gruyères, complete with its fairytale castle. We'll learn about the production of Gruyère cheese as we sample our way through La Maison du Gruyères, and we'll also indulge in a chocolate tasting! We'll have a fantastic, traditional Swiss lunch, and then a little free time to explore the village or maybe take in the H.R. Giger Museum or the Tibet Museum.

Overnight City: Bernese Oberland     Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

---

DAY 11     BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY

Today, we cross over into Germany head north, through the hilly and picturesque Black Forest Region, taking in its Hansel and Gretel dwellings and postcard-worthy villages. We will "time travel" to see Black Forest life as it was 400 years ago. We will then stop for lunch and take a stroll in the picture-perfect village of Gengenbach, which the Germans refer to as the "Pearl of the Black Forest." Then, it's off to our hotel in the spa town of Baden-Baden to rest, recharge and reset. It'll be our home for the next three nights.

Overnight City: Baden-Baden     Meals: Breakfast

---

DAY 12     BADEN-BADEN

World famous spa and culture town, and UNESCO World Heritage site, Baden-Baden has been on the map since Roman times! The town boasts Germany's largest opera house and concert hall and the most opulent casino in the world, inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Today will have a casino tour, and you're welcome to head back in the evening and feel like a high-roller in a James Bond film!

You may also want to check out one of forty-four easy to moderate walking trails (including Germany's most beautiful trail, the "Panorama Way") while breathing the amazingly pure air that German doctors actually prescribe to their patients. Click here see the extraordinary options this city offers!

Overnight City: Baden-Baden     Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

---

DAY 13    BADEN-BADEN

Design your day! We'll give you lots of ideas, or you can explore alongside your travel director. There is much to do in this walkable city. Keep in mind that what keeps Baden-Baden on the map are the restorative and healing properties of its twelve thermal springs. Every day, more than 200,000 gallons of thermal water bubble up from the ground in Baden-Baden with temperatures of up to 150 °F. On its way up from a depth of over a mile beneath the earth's surface, the springs bring minerals with it: sodium, chloride, fluorine, lithium, silicic acid and boron. These substances are the source of its healing effect.

Whether heart and circulation problems, metabolic disorders or respiratory diseases, the healing power of the springs is said to promote well-being and recovery. In addition, the thermal water, due to its warmth and ingredients, improves blood circulation to your muscles, joints and skin. You can visit the very same thermal spa that Mark Twain visited to alleviate his rheumatism. In addition to the healing waters, Baden-Baden has become a center for healing with just about any treatment you can imagine (and many you could never imagine!).

In the evening, we will have an incredible farewell dinner!

Overnight City: Baden-Baden     Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

---

DAY 14     DEPARTURE

We will have private transportation taking us from Baden-Baden to Frankfurt International Airport for our return home

Meals: Breakfast

 

2026: September 19 - October 2, 2026
IMPORTANT: The trip starts on 9/19 in Frankfurt. You will need to depart the USA on or before 9/18.

Prices are in USD per person, based on double occupancy.

Price: TBD             Single Supplement: TBD*

NOTIFY ME WITH PRICING

Indulgence Option: Want luxury hotels only? We are always happy to upgrade all your hotels to a 5-star (when we are staying in a 4-star). For this specific trip, the recommended upgrade is in Baden-Baden, to one of the most luxurious spa hotels in the world. This renowned luxury hotel includes daily unlimited spa time in a spa complex that is five floors high and includes a 5,000-square-foot sauna, indoor swimming pool, plunge pool, and a ladies sauna. Extra $1,519/person, double occupancy.

*The single supplement is a cost increase paid by solo travelers booking a room to themselves. Hotels charge the same amount per room, regardless of whether the occupancy is a single or a couple. S² firmly believes that group travel is the absolute best way to travel, especially for singles! If you are traveling alone and would like us to try and find someone to share a room with you, let us know! We do not mark up our single supplement!

Necessary Country Information: Passport, visa, and safety information

CDC Information: Health and vaccination requirements and recommendations from the CDC

Mobility Information:
S² trips may include walking tours, which you are free to join or to skip. If opting out of the walking tour, your travel director will give you excellent options. These may include cafés or wine bars to soak in the atmosphere of the city or the location of mini-trains that can take you on a riding tour of the city.

Saints & Sages is committed to helping guests of varying mobility enjoy and experience Europe. That said, guests do need to be able to walk minimal distances sometimes with uneven, cobblestone surfaces and may occasionally need to navigate steps. Every individual has their own mobility needs, and every location has its specific challenges. Please contact us, and we will help you determine if an individual trip is a good fit for you.