Discover mad King Ludwig's baroque confections, amble the cobbled streets of medieval towns on the Romantic Road, soak in the fairytale splendor of the Bavarian Alps — and enjoy life in thriving, cosmopolitan Munich, and Dresden on a 11-day adventure this summer from Frankfurt to gay-friendliest Berlin.

From the cloud-shredding Alps to the fertile Danube plain, the Free State of Bavaria is a place that keeps its clichéd promises. Story-book castles bequeathed by an oddball king poke through dark forest, cowbells tinkle in flower-filled meadows, the thwack of palm on lederhosen accompanies the clump of frothy stein on timber bench, and medieval walled towns go about their time-warped business. Destinations are often described as possessing 'something for everyone', but in Bavaria's case this is no exaggeration.

Germany Gay Tour: Bavaria to Berlin Gay Tour Itinerary

Day 0 - Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Depart the USA, Canada
Depart USA, Canada on any regularly scheduled flight to Frankfurt, Germany.

Day 1 - Thursday, August 20, 2015
Arrive Frankfurt, Germany
Welcome to Germany! Upon arrival in Frankfurt, we are met by our local guide for the drive to Heidelberg, with the remainder of the day at leisure.

The drive to charming, medieval walled Heidelberg is less than two hours via the historic Bergstrasse, a fine introduction to the Rhine Valley. We suggest heading across the iconic old bridge for an inviting ramble along Philosophers Way.

This evening we gather for a welcome dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg City Center, Heidelberg, 5*

Day 2 - Friday, August 21, 2015
Heidelberg
Bridging the Neckar River in the Rhine River Valley, enchanting Heidelberg is a compact, cosmopolitan city of 140,000. This morning we set out for the old town, or Altstadt, dominated by Heidelberg Castle — and the University of Heidelberg, a Calvinist stronghold founded in 1386. We stroll down the cobbled Hauptstrasse to the lively market square at the center. We are introduced the first of many palaces and castles of Baden-Württemberg at the Heidelberg Palace, left partially in magnificent ruin, from which the region was ruled for hundreds of years.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Leonardo Hotel Heidelberg City Center, Heidelberg, 5*

Day 3 - Saturday, August 22, 2015
Würzburg / Rothenburg ob ten Tauber
Today we set out on picturesque castle-studded roads through the countryside to Rothenburg, making a grand loop to include Würzburg, young and old, and its spectacular Episcopal Residence — built by Balthasar Neumann and others and featuring altars and a ceiling fresco by the Venetian Tiepolo, the world's largest painting. The Baroque palace and its court gardens were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

After lunch we depart for the 13th-century walled village of Rothenburg ob ten Tauber, virtually frozen in time. Its stately towers, massive fortifications, churches, red-tiled houses, gables, gardens and spires beckon us to wander (sunset is lovely). The town is centered on the dignified Rathaus (it has dungeons, beware, and a tall tower with a secret door). We are overnight at the Romantikhotel Markustrun— a half-timber tollhouse from the year 1264 nestled in the old ring wall in center.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Romantikhotel Markusturm, Rothenburg ob ten Tauber, 4*

Day 4 - Sunday, August 23, 2015
Traveling the Romantic Road
Today we continue south on the Romantic Road, which runs across a rich and varied cultural landscape along the River Main and through the Franconia wine country to the Alps. From Augsburg to Hohenschwangau village, our destination for the evening, the road follows the ancient Via Claudia, built by the Romans in 47 AD. The drive takes us through the charming Tauber Valley, the Nördlinger Ries, the picturesque Lechfeld plain and Pfaffenwinkel (Parsons' Corner) — a land of farmers, artists and monks in the foothills of the Upper Bavarian Alps — before ending up in the land of mad King Ludwig's famous fairytale castles. We are overnight at the Hotel Müller in Hohenschwangau village, a short walk from the boyhood home (i.e. castle) of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Müller, Hohenschwangau, 4*
Room: Cottage Room

Day 5 - Monday, August 24, 2015
Ludwig's Neuschwanstein & Linderhof Castles / Munich
Horse drawn carriages take us right from our hotel this storybook morning into the fairytale wonder of Ludwig's Schloss Neuschwanstein, perched in solitary splendor in the Bavarian Alps. We continue to through the Bavarian Alps to another of Ludwig's palaces, this one originally inspired by Versailles and famous for its gardens—and the Baroque ecstasy of the royal bedchamber. Originally a hunting lodge, Linderhof's setting is as grand as its fanciful decoration.

We continue to Munich, where we check in at our centrally located hotel. Franz, Duke of Bavaria, who celebrated his 80th birthday in 2013, is the present head of the Wittelsbach dynasty (his great-grandfather was Ludwig II, deposed in 1918). Never married (hmmmm), lives in a suite of apartments in Schloss Nymphenburg outside Munich, the favorite summer residence of the Wittelsbach kings of Bavaria and where King Ludwig II was born.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hotel Platzl Munich, Munich, 4*

Day 6 - Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Munich / Regensburg
This morning we set out from Marienplatz square, heart and center of Munich, on a walking tour this morning: to Max-Joseph-Platz and on to posh Maximilianstrasse — a mile-long royal avenue studded with luxury, art and antique shops housed in grand Art Nouveau buildings. We continue across the Isar River to the Maximilianeum, seat of the Bavarian parliament, and admire the royal residences. The afternoon is at leisure, with the option to join a poignant tour of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site — once an artist community in a serene setting, its name forever eclipsed as site of one of the great horrors of the Nazi regime.

We continue to Regensburg and check-in at the "Arch", occupying a beautiful patrician house in the city's historic center. Set along the Danube, the entire Old Town of Regensburg, cited as "the only authentically preserved large medieval city in Germany" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Altstadthotel Arch, Regensburg, 4*

Day 7 - Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Regensburg / Nuremburg / Bamberg: World Heritage Fascination
Wear good shoes today! After breakfast we explore the remarkable preserved cobbled streets of Regensburg, much of it dating from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The market, city hall and cathedral define the character of a town marked by tall buildings, dark and narrow lanes, and strong fortifications. Buildings include medieval patrician houses and towers, a large number of churches and monasteries as well as the 12th-century Old Bridge.

We continue this afternoon to Bamburg, stopping at Nuremburg en route. Once an imperial residence, a powerful free city, an international trading center—and infamously both the "City of the Nazi Party Rallies" and the venue for the International Tribunal of War Criminals, Nuremburg shows its long history and medieval origins. Nuremburg won UNESCO Award for Human Rights Education for its active approach to dealing with its Nazi past, including establishing the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award, the excellent Documentation Centre on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Nuremberg Human Rights Film Festival.

We continue to Bamberg for the night, where we lodge at the Messerschmitt, an extremely warm and welcoming "weinhaus" run by the same family for six generations and within walking distance of everything.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Romantik-Hotel Weinhaus Messerschmitt, Bamberg, 4*

Day 8 - Thursday, August 27, 2015
Bamberg / Dresden
Breathe the air of past centuries and experience the world heritage city of Bamberg. With one of Europe's largest intact old town centers, Bamberg is an outstanding cultural and architectural highlight— and also the secret capital of beer! Art connoisseurs will wonder and fall into raptures just by the concentration of ecclesiastical and secular architectural art treasures.

We continue to Dresden, capital of Saxony, on the Elba River, about a four-hour drive east into what was, until the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago, East Germany. Our hotel is in the city center just across the river from the Neustadt district with its Baroque quarter and many restaurants and bars.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Art'otel Dresden By Park Plaza, Dresden, 4*

Day 9 - Friday, August 28, 2015
Dresden / Berlin
After breakfast this morning we explore the city, obliterated during World War II but since meticulously rebuilt in its original Baroque glory, including the pavilions, galleries and courtyards of the Zwinger Palace.

We continue to Berlin, two hours north, with the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. It's Friday night.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Bristol Hotel Kempinski, Berlin, 5*

Day 10 - Saturday, August 29, 2015
Berlin
Even the Klaus Wowereit, the Governing Mayor of Berlin since 2001, is gay! We stroll down Unter den Linden, from the grand Brandenburg Gate, toward the Opera House and Museum Island, taking in not just monuments, grand public squares and architecture but also the life of the city.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the collection of five museums on Museumsinsel, set in the River Spree, is fast becoming a 21st century center of culture in the city. We pause at the Memorial to the Homosexuals Persecuted under the National Socialist Regime (its official name) in the Tiergarten, opposite the stunning Holocaust Memorial, opened in 2005. We explore too Friedrichstrasse (shopping!) and Potsdamer Platz at the lively center of Berlin where the wall once stood. This neighborhood is an entirely new shopping, cultural, and residential quarter. Farewell Dinner tonight!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Bristol Hotel Kempinski, Berlin, 5*

Day 11 - Sunday, August 30, 2015
Depart Berlin
Grüss Gott! Departure Home from Berlin Tegel airport. Taxis are readily available for transfers to the airport or private transfers can be arranged. We would also be happy to extend your stay.

Meals: Breakfast