Progressive Pilgrimage

  • Home
  • Pilgrimages
    • A Celtic Journey: Ireland and Scotland | Aug. 8-18, 2022
    • Swiss Reformation, Passion Play + Oktoberfest | Sept 23-30, 2022
    • Celtic Spirituality + Peacemaking: An Ecumenical Journey | Sept 27-Oct 10, 2022
    • Providence Presbyterian Fairfax | In the Footsteps of Jesus
    • Sample Tours and Pilgrimage Planning
  • About Us
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Our Guides
    • Our Philosophy
  • FAQs
  • 2023 Booking Inquiry
  • Schedule a Call

Swiss Reformation, Oberammergau Passion Play + Oktoberfest

September 23 – 30, 2022

from $3,595 per person

  • Oberammergau Passion Play
  • Oktoberfest in Munich
  • Zurich
    Reformation in Switzerland

Part pilgrimage, part party! This eight-day journey provides an introduction to the life and ministry of Protestant Reformers John Calvin in Geneva and Uldrich Zwingli in Zurich then moves on to the 400-year-old, once-in-a-decade performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play. Close your pilgrimage with a visit to Munich, staying in the heart of the city for easy access to one of the world’s best parties: Oktoberfest.

September 23-30, 2022 Daily Itinerary

September 23, 2022 | Arrival in Geneva

When you arrive in Geneva, it’s a 10 minute walk to the Hotel President Wilson, with a view of Lake Geneva. Geneva was the center of ministry for Protestant Reformer, John Calvin. The pilgrimage officially begins with a walking tour of the city focusing on the life of Calvin and the events of the Protestant Reformation including the Reformation Wall and St. Pierre’s Cathedral. A celebratory welcome dinner is included tonight. Overnight in central Geneva.   Please note that this itinerary uses a variety of transportation modes including trains, private coaches, and public transportation. In Oberammergau, some accommodations may not have an elevator. Pilgrims should expect to handle their own luggage. We encourage you to travel light and not bring more than you can manage on your own.

September 24, 2022 | Geneva to Zurich

Enjoy time this morning to explore the city of Geneva on your own. You might enjoy strolling along the shores of Lake Geneva, visiting the Palais des Nations (headquarters of the UN in Geneva) or World Council of Churches, touring the English Garden with it’s flower clock, or wandering the winding cobbled streets of the Old Town.

In the afternoon, the group will take the train to Zurich arriving in time for dinner (on your own) and overnight accommodations in Zurich’s walkable old city.

September 25, 2022 | Zurich

We begin this Sunday morning with worship at Fraumünster or Grossmünster Kirche at 10am, followed by a half-day tour of Zurich including both churches. At Fraumünster, take in the stunning stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. We will also visit a number of sites associated with Ulrich Zwingli throughout Zurich, before dinner on your own. Overnight in Zurich’s walkable old city.

September 26, 2022 | Neuschwanstein, Pilgrim Church of Wies, Oberammergau

We depart Zurich by private coach, driving along the foothills of the Alps until we reach Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. After lunch, we will tour the castle-like palace that was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1869 but not completed until after his death. It’s Romanesque-revival architecture has inspired many, including Walt Disney.

We continue on to the nearby Pilgrim Church of Wies, a UNESCO World Heritage site with remarkable Rococo architecture commemorating the miraculous appearance of tears on a wooden statue of Christ in 1738.

Finally, travelers will arrive at their accommodations in the Alpine villages around Oberammergau for dinner and overnight accommodations. Please note that three-star accommodations are guaranteed, but exact properties are not finalized until shortly before travel dates. All travelers may not be accommodated in the same property.

September 27, 2022 | Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play is a once-in-a-decade event that has been performed continuously for over 400 years. Each decade, the hamlet of Oberammergau in the Bavarian Alps gathers of cast of hundreds of performers, chorister, orchestra, and technicians to tell the story of Jesus suffering, death, and resurrection. Your package includes shuttle service from your accommodations to the theatre, tier-1 tickets to the Passion Play, dinner during intermission, and return shuttle service to your accommodations at the end of the evening.

September 28, 2022 | Oktoberfest

You may be tired after a late evening at the Passion Play, so we’ll enjoy a mid-morning departure from the Oberammergau area. We will share lunch together before getting settled in at the lovely Hotel Mio in Munich with easy pedestrian access to the Old City and public transit access to the rest of the city.

In the late afternoon, we’ll go together to the Oktoberfest grounds known as the Theresienwiese. We’ll celebrate together in the Schottenhamel-Festhalle (inclusive of beer and rotisserie chicken dinner). Later in the evening you can explore the grounds on your own and visit other tents, music, food vendors, and amusement-park style rides. Make your way back to the hotel at your leisure using a 3-day Munich City Pass, included in your package.

September 29, 2022 | Munich, Dachau

Munich has a rich history and walkable central area. We will begin the day today with a walking tour of Munich covering the city’s history including it’s role in the rise of the Third Reich.

After lunch (included), we will have a guided tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp to remember and honor the victims of the Holocaust.

In the evening, you are free to explore the city on your own or return to Oktoberfest for another night of celebrating.

September 30, 2022 | Departure from Munich

If you plan to stay out late at Oktoberfest, be sure to book a later departure from the Munich airport. Your pilgrimage officially ends after breakfast today. You can use your Munich City Pass to take public transportation to the airport.

Custom extensions are available including Martin Luther in Germany, World War II in Germany, Sound of Music in Austria, visiting Paris and Normandy, and more. Contact us if you are interested in extending your trip.

What’s Included

The cost for this pilgrimage is $3,595 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy is available for a surcharge of $1,019. Group size is limited to 24 travelers. There are four (4) seats remaining.

plane-iconThree-star or better hotels schooolbusGround Transportation planeExpert Local Guides
paper-plateBreakfast daily, 5 lunches, 3 dinners ticketsTier-1 Tickets for Passion Play bookPre-trip Educational Resources
ticketsEntry Fees prayer-handsSpiritual and Logistical Guide coinsGratuity for Drivers and Guides

A $500/person deposit is due at time of registration, payable online via credit card.

Terms and conditions

Sensitive to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we have offered a more flexible payment and cancellation policy as follows. These terms supersede the standard cancelation policy found on the Terms & Conditions page. You can find our full Coronavirus update here.

  • Initial deposit ($500) and 50% balance ($1547.50) due upon registration. You will receive an invoice for this amount via email after registration. These payments are non-refundable.
  • Final balance is due July 24, 2022. 50% of this payment is refundable until August 18, 2022.
  • After August 18, 2022, no refunds are available.

The pilgrimage officially begins at the Geneva hotel at 2:00pm on Friday, September 23, 2022 and ends in Munich after breakfast on Friday, September 30. Travelers should arrange their travel accordingly or can contact us for air travel arrangements. Progressive Pilgrimage is not responsible for any expenses incurred for travel to or from the destination and will not reimburse travelers for missed programming or other expenses if flights are delayed.

Participants will be invoiced for additional payments which may be paid by check, ACH, or credit card. Credit card payments of the remaining balances will incur a 3% fee.

Please read the complete Terms and Conditions online. ENROLLMENT IN AND PAYMENT FOR THE TOUR CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONDITIONS AND STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

Filed Under: Featured, Uncategorized

Your Guides



Eric and Heather Doss are the founders of Progressive Pilgrimage. Heather designs every pilgrimage to be spiritually fulfilling and intellectually challenging. Heather is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Eric, a trained historian and teacher, handles much of the pre-trip planning and joins many trips to provide logistical support.

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Search

Copyright © 2022 Progressive Pilgrimage, LLC. -- Contact Us