Munich, Strasbourg, Paris & London

June 1 – 14, 2024

The Vancouver Opera Guild invites you to join its Spring tour to Munich, Strasbourg, Paris and London with three nights in Munich followed by three in Strasbourg, four in Paris and two in London. 

Performance tickets include Norma and Tosca at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Brahms Requiem at the Palais de la Musique in Strasbourg, Don Quichotte at Bastille Opera and Cosi fan tutte at the Palais Garnier in Paris and Andréa Chenier at London’s Covent Garden. 


Performances you will see on the Tour

Norma by Bellini

June 2nd at the Bavarian State Opera at 6pm.

Tosca by Puccini

June 3rd at the Bavarian State Opera at 7pm.

Brahms Requiem

June 4th at the Palais de la Musique at 8pm.

Don Quichotte by Massenet

June 8th at Bastille Opera at 7:30pm.

Cosi Fan Tutte by Mozart

June 10th at the Palais Garnier at 7:30pm.

Andrea Chénier by Giordano

June 11th at Royal Opera Covent Garden at 7:30pm.


Tour Costs

  • Guild Members:  Cdn. $7,430 per person sharing
  • Non-Guild:  Cdn. $7,530 per person sharing
  • Single supplement:  Cdn. $2,520

Tour Includes

  • Accommodation for 12 nights at hotels listed including baggage handling
  • Welcome reception and daily breakfast
  • Two wine/Champagne tastings
  • Five opera tickets and one symphony ticket
  • Guided tours as described in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees where applicable
  • One day public transport travel pass in Paris (zones 1-3)
  • Coach and driver for tours and transfers
  • Gratuities to drivers and guides
  • Full-time tour manager from arrival Munich to arrival Paris
  • Vancouver Opera Guild Tour Director
  • $300 donation to the Vancouver Opera Guild 
    ($400 for non-members)

Tour Does Not Include

  • Airfare (Great Expeditions will be pleased to assist with airline reservations)

Tour Schedule (subject to minor change)

June 1, 2024: Munich

Arrival day in Munich (depart Vancouver by Fri. May 31).

Enjoy a welcome reception this evening.

Accommodation for three nights at the 4-star Platzl Hotel, located in the city centre, a short walk from Marienplatz, the Residenz Palace, the Bavarian State Opera and other city highlights.

June 2, 2024: Munich

Munich, Bavaria’s capital, is home to centuries-old buildings and numerous museums.  In the Altstadt (Old Town), central Marienplatz Square contains landmarks such as Neo-Gothic Neues Rathaus (town hall) with a popular glockenspiel show that chimes and reenacts stories from the 16th century.  Our morning guided walking tour shows us these highlights and the Frauenkirche.

6:00 p.m. performance of Bellini’s Norma at the Bavarian State Opera.

June 3, 2024: Munich

A day to explore Munich on our own.   Perhaps tour the city by Hop-On/Hop-Off bus, or enjoy the magnificent art galleries and the Deutsch Museum, considered “The Louvre” of science and technology.

7:00 p.m. performance of Puccini’s Tosca at The Bavarian State Opera.

June 4, 2024: Munich – Strasbourg

Morning departure for Strasbourg.  We will make a stop in Ulm, a picturesque medieval university city.  There will be free time here for exploring and for lunch.  Continue to Strasbourg and the 4-star Hannong Hotel & Wine Bar.  The hotel is situated in the heart of Strasbourg, close to the Petite France district, Strasbourg Cathedral and the Museum of Fine Arts.

8:00 p.m. performance of Brahms Requiem at the Palais de la Musique.  Coach transfers are included.

June 5, 2024: Strasbourg

Late morning departure to Orschwiller and entrance to the magnificent Chateau de Haut-Koenigsbourg which was built in the 12thcentury.  Continue to Riquewihr and visit Maison Jean Huttard for a wine tasting experience.

June 6, 2024: Strasbourg – Baden-Baden

Baden-Baden is a spa town in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest near the border with France.  Thermal baths led to fame as a fashionable 19thcentury resort.  Subject to performance scheduling, we will take a tour of the Festspielhaus which was converted from a train station and is the 2nd largest opera house in Germany.  There will be free time to explore the parks, museums, the many beautiful buildings and enjoy shopping opportunities.

June 7, 2024: Strasbourg – Paris

We leave Strasbourg this morning by coach to Paris.  Enroute we stop in Epernay situated in the Grand Est part of France and home to the famous Avenue de Champagne which is where many notable Champagne houses are located.  We will enjoy a Champagne tasting at G.H. Mumm or similar.

In Paris we stay four nights at the Chouchou Hotel situated in the centre of Paris and close to the Palais Garnier.

June 8, 2024: Paris

All day at leisure to explore on our own.

7:30 p.m. performance of Massenet’s Don Quichotte at Bastille Opera.  We take the metro to the opera and enjoy a coach transfer back to the hotel.

June 9, 2024: Paris

All day at leisure for further exploration of this beautiful city.

June 10, 2024: Paris

Another free day.  Perhaps enjoy a leisurely cruise along the Seine.

7:30 p.m. performance of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at the Palais Garnier.

June 11, 2024: Paris – London

This morning we transfer to Gare du Nord station for our Eurostar train to London (Standard Premier seats).  We arrive St. Pancras station and transfer to the Strand Palace Hotel for two nights accommodation.  The hotel is very centrally located on The Strand and a short walk to Covent Garden.

7:30 p.m. performance of Giordano’s Andrea Chénier at Royal Opera Covent Garden.

June 12, 2024: London

Free day.

7:30 p.m. optional performance of Swan Lake at Covent Garden.

 

Optional performance of Swan Lake Performance pricing was not available at time of printing.  Details will be advised when available.

June 13, 2024: Departure Day

The tour ends after breakfast this morning.


CONTACT

Lis Dawson 604-922-8008

Genny MacLean  604-738-5535

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

This paragraph defines our responsibility with respect to all our tours.  Please read it carefully.  Payment of deposit represents an acceptance by purchaser of the following terms and conditions.  Great Expeditions, its owners, outfitters, agents and employees, gives notice that all arrangements for accommodation, transportation and/or, all related travel services, have been made by Great Expeditions only as agent, upon the express condition that Great Expeditions shall not be liable for any injury, damage, delay, mishap, inconvenience or irregularity occasioned through the default of any company or individual engaged in providing the arranged accommodation.  Great Expeditions cannot be responsible for negligent conduct or financial irresponsibility of these suppliers, since they maintain no control over them.  Such passenger conveyance, hotel accommodation, etc. is subject to the laws of the state or country where provided.  In addition, Great Expeditions assumes no liability resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following causes:  acts of God, detention, annoyance, weather, quarantines, strikes, civil disturbance, theft, government regulations, etc. over which it has no control.  Great Expeditions reserves the right to substitute hotels and leaders and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary or advisable.  The right is also reserved to cancel any trip prior to departure upon the refund of all payments received which shall release Great Expeditions from any further liability.  Great Expeditions reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person or member of any tour should such person’s actions or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights or welfare or enjoyment of other members of the tour, and it is agreed a refund of the amount recovered from suppliers of unused land services is the limit of Great Expeditions responsibility.

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CANCELLATIONS

All payments are non-refundable unless space can be resold.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly recommend that tour members purchase trip cancellation/interruption insurance to protect themselves against money loss in the event of cancellation due to personal or family illness.  We also offer comprehensive insurance which includes trip cancellation/interruption plus excess hospital/medical benefits, baggage and travel accident.  Some exclusions for pre-existing conditions do apply.  Insurance premiums are age banded.  Please ask for an insurance quote at time of booking.

DOCUMENTATION

A valid passport is required.  An electronic visa waiver for EU countries is being introduced some time next year and may be required.  Tour members will be advised.