Departure from the U.S.A. Possibility to leave earlier and meet the group in Strasbourg
Meal: D
Arrival in Strasbourg either by air or with TGV train from Charles de Gaulle Airport, Roissy
Group transfer to HOTEL “LES HARAS” for those traveling as a group
Check-in for for 3 nights
Welcome dinner at Restaurant “WINSTUB”, a typical Alsatian restaurant. 3 course dinner mineral water, tea or coffee included
Meals: B, D
Morning gourmet walking tour with 3 stops to allow the tasting of 3 different local pastries: Kouglof, gingerbread and a 3rd pastry or a cold or hot drink
Visit the highlights of the city: the Old town, the cathedral and the Petite France district.
Free time after visiting the cathedral which is open between 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM on sundays.
4:00 PM : Cooking class with English speaking chef to prepare a 3 course Alsacian meal.
Wine and mineral water are included with your dinner.
Meals: B, L
Excursion to Northern Alsace
In Gundershoffen, visit a pretzel factory followed by a visit of “raifort (horseradish) and mustard factory in Mietesheim, just a few miles away
Lunch in a village winstub: a real authentic experience
After lunch proceed to Saverne where you will visit a local brewery and taste some Alsatian beer.
Return to Strasbourg for an evening at leisure
Meals: B, L
Morning departure for Obernai located on the “Wine Route” for a tour of Alsace’s ‘Route des Vins” including: English speaking guide, guided visit of Obernai and a few miles further in Barr Village, walking tour of Mittelbergheim vineyards, picnic with a winemaker and Alsace wine tasting
Continuation to Ribeauville where you will have a chocolate experience including tasting, accompanied by a Gewurztraminer glass of wine.
Arriving in Gerardmer, check-in at the GRAND HOTEL & SPA for 3 nights.
Meals: B, L
Excursion in the Vosges mountains to learn to recognize edible plants and berries that grow locally. Collect your harvest that you will cook for lunch at this very French farm. The tour is an easy walk through the forest with little elevation; soup, lasagne, salad, a gratin full of good vitamins will be served for lunch
Return to your hotel-spa in the afternoon.
Meals: B, D
Full day excursion going first to Selestat: Free time in the center of town. This little town is known for its humanist library with works dating from the 7th to the 16th century. In the old center you will see beautiful Renaissance houses, the Romanesque church of Sainte-Foy and the Gothic church of Saint-Georges. Free time for a visit on your own and for lunch.
Proceed to Haut Koenigsbourg Castle: guided tour of the chateau, an interesting fortress built in the XIIth century.
Return to Gerardmer and dinner at the hotel,
Meals: B, L
Departure for Munster. Visit the Cheese Museum where you will get a demonstration of Munster Cheese making. Experience a Marcaire lunch at a local farm: no trip to Alsace would be complete without trying the famous repas marcaire. This farm-style meal is reputed to have originated as the meal of choice of the cow herds of the Vosges, a simple affair of potatoes roasted in the coals served with farmhouse cheese and wine.
Your Marcaire lunch menu will be a “tourte” (salted pie) or soup, smoked meat and “roigabrageldi” (cooked potatoes), Munster cheese or fruit pie
Drive to Colmar after lunch.
Guided city tour on arrival includes the view of “La Maison des Têtes”, the “Little Venice” and a visit to the Unterlinden Museum.
Check-in for 3 nights at HOTEL TURENNE in the center of Colmar.
Meals: B, D
Morning in Colmar: free time and canal cruise for 30 minutes before starting our private cooking class at 4:30 PM to learn more of the secrets of various Alsatian recipes.
Dinner to enjoy the dishes you prepared
Meals: B, L
Excursion through charming country villages. First we drive along the Kaysersberg Vignoble and you will be able to take magnificent pictures and stroll around. Continue to Riquewihr and enjoy the beauty of this very picturesque village.
In Haeberlin, we will have our farewell Lunch at the mythical “Auberge de l’Ill” a famous 3 star Michelin restaurant run by Chef Marc Haeberlin.
Return to Colmar and free time for the remainder of the day.
Meal: B
Transfer to Strasbourg station or airport
● Strasbourg, stroll the canal banks of Grande Île – the very first UNESCO World Heritage Site
● Tour the Strasbourg Cathedral, Old Town and famed Petite France district
● Excursion to Northern Alsace; pretzel, mustard and horseradish producers tour and tastings
● Visit Obernai along the “Wine Route”, winery visit and tasting and picnic in the vineyard
● Three night stay at Gerardmer, a historic spa-hotel in the Vosges Mountains park.
● Expert guided excursion to the Vosges Mountains, forage for wild edible plants and berries
and then cook lunch
● Visit to Selestat and the Haut Koenigsbourg Castle
● Marcaise lunch, a farm-style meal favored by the cow herds of the Vosges
● Learn the secrets of Alsatian cuisine with a chef-led cooking class in Colmar
● Visit the charming wine route villages of Riquewihr and Kaysersberg
● Farewell lunch at “Auberge de L’ill”, a very famous 2 * Michelin restaurant
● 9 night’s accommodation, double occupancy
● Daily breakfast at the hotels
● Five lunches at restaurants and with cooking classes
● Four dinners
● Bottled water on coach and with meals
● Coffee and tea with meals
● Expert commentary, culinary advice and background by Chef Aliza Green
● Two hands-on cooking classes
● Vineyard tour and wine tasting
● Brewery tour and beer tasting
Proposed Hotels
3 nights Strasbourg Hotel Les Haras (or similar)
In an exceptional setting, in the heart of Strasbourg, on the edge of the historic district of “La Petite France”, rediscover the unique charm of Les Haras: A magical and secret place, built in the middle of the 18th century along the medieval ramparts of the city, housed in the former National Studs of Strasbourg. Listed as a historical monument since 1922, it has been renovated by the architectural firm Denu et Paradon and the Espace design agency Jouin et Manku.
3 nights Gerarmer, Grand Hotel & Spa (or similar)
In the heart of a Regional Park of the Vosges Mountains, the Grand Hotel & Spa offers elegance and tradition. The Vosges Mountains are home to the Grand Hôtel & Spa, Gérardmer’s flagship guest establishment, the fruit of a long and fascinating history.
3 nights Colmar, Hotel Turenne (or similar)
Near the historical and romantic old town, called the Petite Venise, the hotel Turenne enables you to enjoy your stay in the middle of Alsace. In addition to a warm and friendly welcome 24 hours a day, you can also benefit from a careful and personalized service. The hotel team is at your disposal throughout your stay.
This itinerary is subject to possible changes or adjustments due to weather and traffic conditions or other unpredictable events. We will make every effort to ensure that any substitutions are of equal value and interest.
This trip is offered by Aliza Green Culinary & Cultural Tours www.alizagreen.com
Reservations are made through Celestial Voyagers
Price $7450 per person, sharing a double room
Single supplement + $1125
| You need a round trip airline ticket to go and return from Strasbourg, France; it will most probably go via Paris, CDG. Note that if you stay in Paris before or after the trip, it is easier to reach Strasbourg with the TGV, high speed train. The ride is more or less 2 hours.. This trip is a land only program. You can book your airline ticket prior to travel. Celestial Voyagers is an IATA licensed tour operator. We will be able to advise the best schedule, the best routing and best value for your ticket. Please contact us before booking your flights. Should you choose to purchase your airline ticket on your own, please provide us with a copy of your schedule. You may have to book additional private transfers between the airport and your hotel. |
Celestial Voyagers Terms and Conditions relate to specific contracts with various suppliers. The policies and regulations below must be strictly enforced.
Due to the Covid situation, we may adjust the program, but we will commit to creating the best possible program for guests with safety, comfort, and ease our top priorities.
DEPOSITS:
A deposit of $750 is due at time of your reservation. This secures your place and helps us to determine the size of the group.
Your deposit is fully refundable until Friday, March 10, 2023
After March 10, 2023, your deposit is sent to the local suppliers to confirm the tour services such as transportation, hotels, restaurants and activities.
BALANCE DUE:
Due to the changing nature of the Covid situation, your balance is now due no later than Friday March 23, 2023, instead of a customary earlier period. At that time, required payments will be sent to the suppliers and any refunds will depend on their willingness to return the money or give a credit for future use.
In case of cancellation due to Covid after Friday, March 23, 2023 we will negotiate with our suppliers to protect your payment. In the past, we have been able to get a full or partial refund and/or a full or partial credit for future travel. Although we will do our best, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee results.
Keep in mind that such refunds are to be considered in case the tour is cancelled due to Covid situation and you cannot be covered by travel insurance. In case of individual cancellation, because of personal issues, refunds will be processed by travel insurance, which you are required to purchase.
After March 23, 2023, suppliers in France will be paid in full and refunds to participants will be subject to whatever refund or credit will be available from the suppliers.
A cancellation can always be replaced with a new participant and name change fees will be waived.
We highly recommend that you protect yourself with trip cancellation insurance including medical coverage.
All changes and cancellations must be provided in writing via email or postal service.
We advise all travelers to purchase travel insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances and if you are no longer able to travel. We offer the following insurance policies through Allianz Travel Insurance: Basic, Classic, and Classic with cancel anytime. Prices vary with age and amount insured.
Click on the link below for more details:
https://keyword.celestialvoyagers.com/leisure/leisure-insurance-passports-visas/
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Most countries require that a passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of a trip. If your passport expires before December 19, 2023, you must apply to renew your passport. If you are not a US citizen please check with the consulate of Portugal or a visa agency for the latest requirements. You will also need a re-entry permit to return to the USA.
Aliza Green is a renowned chef, an award-winning author of 15 cookbooks, and a certified tour director who is experienced in planning and leading international culinary tours. She loves to share her deep culinary knowledge, her fascinating stories, and kitchen tips and tricks gained from her extensive experience in the kitchen.