Che Bella Book Club 2027:
This is going to be epic! We will keep to 12 book club members, but travel companions are welcome.
This year, I will be the book club moderator along with my sister, Chris Martin. Zoom book club meetings are held the every second Monday of the month starting October 19, 2026.
Small Group Tour with Sandy Gregory
Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka
Nov 8 - 21, 2027
PRICING COMING SOON!
This is going to be epic! We will keep to 12 book club members, but travel companions are welcome.
This year, I will be the book club moderator along with my sister, Chris Martin. Zoom book club meetings are held the every second Monday of the month starting October 19, 2026.
Small Group Tour with Sandy Gregory
Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Matsumoto, Takayama, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka
Nov 8 - 21, 2027
PRICING COMING SOON!
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Please join Tour Director Sandy Gregory for this wonderful adventure through Germany and Austria, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience with our Concierge Travel Services.
Suggested time to travel: October and November and the spring during flower-blossom season |
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4 nights Tokyo
2 nights Hakone 2 nights Takayama 2 nights Hiroshima 2 nights Kyoto 3 nights Osaka |
Day 1. Mon, Nov 8. Arrive Tokyo |
Welcome to Tokyo—a dazzling metropolis where ancient tradition and cutting-edge modernity exist side by side. From serene temples tucked between skyscrapers to neon-lit districts that pulse with energy, Tokyo offers a sensory introduction to Japan unlike anywhere else. As you arrive, you’ll immediately notice the city’s remarkable efficiency, cleanliness, and deep cultural respect embedded in everyday life.
Your private driver will be waiting for you as you exit baggage claim and transfer you to our hotel.
Please note that we highly recommend coming in early on Nov 7 for a pre-tour room to get rid of jet lag.
Nov 8 - 12. 4 nights with breakfast
Included Welcome dinner
Japanese cuisine, known globally as washoku, is a refined culinary tradition rooted in seasonality, balance, and presentation. Meals emphasize fresh, high-quality ingredients—often prepared simply to highlight natural flavors. Staples include rice, seafood, miso soup, and delicately arranged side dishes. From sushi and tempura to ramen and street food, dining in Japan is as much an art form as it is nourishment, with deep ties to cultural rituals and aesthetics.
Your private driver will be waiting for you as you exit baggage claim and transfer you to our hotel.
Please note that we highly recommend coming in early on Nov 7 for a pre-tour room to get rid of jet lag.
Nov 8 - 12. 4 nights with breakfast
Included Welcome dinner
Japanese cuisine, known globally as washoku, is a refined culinary tradition rooted in seasonality, balance, and presentation. Meals emphasize fresh, high-quality ingredients—often prepared simply to highlight natural flavors. Staples include rice, seafood, miso soup, and delicately arranged side dishes. From sushi and tempura to ramen and street food, dining in Japan is as much an art form as it is nourishment, with deep ties to cultural rituals and aesthetics.
Day 2. Tues, Nov 9. Full-day tour of Tokyo |
Our full-day private tour begins at the bustling Tsukiji Outer Market, where the spirit of Japan’s seafood trade lives on through vibrant stalls and sizzling street food. Continue to the historic Sensoji Temple, Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, where incense fills the air and centuries-old traditions remain alive. A stroll down Nakamise Street reveals a lively row of traditional snacks and handcrafted souvenirs. Your day culminates at the soaring Tokyo Skytree, offering panoramic views of the vast city—a striking reminder of Tokyo’s scale and sophistication.
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Day 3. Wed, Nov10 To Nuremberg |
The drive to Nuremberg takes us via the Wannsee House Memorial and the Bridge of Spies to Potsdam, where we will stop for a tour of Sanssouci Palace and Gardens, the retreat of King Frederick the Great of Prussia and some time in the Potsdam old town. On the way, we will pass by the Church of Peace, Luisenplatz and the original Brandenburg Gate.
Steeped in history, the formidable walls and castle of Nuremberg, restored after the Second World War, stand as testimony to its glorious past. Nuremberg, having witnessed the infamous war crimes tribunal known as the Nuremberg Trials, has transformed into a vibrant and exciting place to explore. The robust restaurant and bar scene ensures that visitors can enjoy a variety of local and international cuisines, accompanied by some of the finest Bavarian beers. Hansel and Gretel would have loved this place!
Nuremberg Hotel. Oct 5 - 7. 2 nights.
Included dinner
Steeped in history, the formidable walls and castle of Nuremberg, restored after the Second World War, stand as testimony to its glorious past. Nuremberg, having witnessed the infamous war crimes tribunal known as the Nuremberg Trials, has transformed into a vibrant and exciting place to explore. The robust restaurant and bar scene ensures that visitors can enjoy a variety of local and international cuisines, accompanied by some of the finest Bavarian beers. Hansel and Gretel would have loved this place!
Nuremberg Hotel. Oct 5 - 7. 2 nights.
Included dinner
Day 4. Tues, Oct 6: A Day in Nuremberg |
Morning tour: With half a million people, Nuremberg is Bavaria's second largest city. While its history dates to the 11th century, Nuremberg is most often linked to World War II. It first served as the site of many pre-war Nazi rallies, then was nearly leveled by Allied bombing, then was the site of the famous post-war Nuremberg Trials, where Hitler held his Naz rallies, the courthouse where the Nuremberg trials were held, and the Documentation center, where Hitler planned to build his own stadium to hold 400,000 spectators. This former Nazi rally site hosts a historical exhibition relevant to the context of the Monuments Men's work, providing insight into the scale and manipulation of the Nazi system.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Day 5. Wed, Oct 7: To Munich. |
It's a short, 2-hour drive to Munich. After we drop our bags, I will give you an orientation to the area and you will have the rest of the day to explore, shop and enjoy this beautiful city. Perhaps a bit of German lunch and good cheer at the Hofbrau Haus to start?
Optional: Car factory tour at BMW or Christmas shops
Included dinner
Oct 7 - 9. 2 nights
Optional: Car factory tour at BMW or Christmas shops
Included dinner
Oct 7 - 9. 2 nights
Day 6: Thurs, Oct 8: Munich morning tour, Dachau afternoon |
This morning, we delve into Munich's cultural highlights - which celebrate this beautiful city - but will also discover the sites that provided backdrops to Adolf Hitler and his followers as they set about founding the Third Reich, giving Munich its title as the ‘Capital of the Nazi Movement.’ See beerhalls where Nazi brown shirts first gathered, buildings from where Hitler delivered speeches, and memorials to opposers of the movement. Hear about the Nazi propaganda machine and lead-up to World War II. Learn how Munich saw the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. See streets and buildings where Hitler fought his way to power. Visit memorials to those who died opposing the hate-filled Nazi ideology. We will, of course, see the Glockenspiel in the Marienplatz.
Afternoon tour of Dachau. Dachau was Germany’s first concentration camp - opened immediately after Hitler’s rise to power. During this powerful tour, we will walk along the remaining buildings and reconstructions and learn more about the biographies of former prisoners. Maintained as a memorial, this visit to Dachau will provide unmatched insight into this tragic period in history.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Afternoon tour of Dachau. Dachau was Germany’s first concentration camp - opened immediately after Hitler’s rise to power. During this powerful tour, we will walk along the remaining buildings and reconstructions and learn more about the biographies of former prisoners. Maintained as a memorial, this visit to Dachau will provide unmatched insight into this tragic period in history.
Tonight is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Day 7: Fri, Oct 9: Eagles Nest and Berchtesgaden and on to Salzburg |
This morning we head south for a day of touring through the German Bavarian Alps. The first stop will be Hitler’s hideaway, known as Eagles Nest. A gift to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday in 1939, Eagle’s Nest was funded by Hitler’s inner circle. Legend says that Mussolini gifted the fireplace to the project. Although a fortune was spent to build the perch, Hitler only made 14 official visits. During our time at the Eagles Nest, will also visit the Documentation Center, a museum in the Obersalzberg resort near Berchtesgaden, where we’ll learn how this mountainside retreat was used by Nazi leaders, especially Hitler who regularly vacationed in this area beginning in 1928 and captured by Allied forces in May 1945.
We then head to Berchtesgaden, a picturesque village of 7,000 tucked against the sheer walls of the Bavarian Alps surrounded on three sides by Austria. Stroll through the winding streets lined with pastel buildings decorated with “Luftmalerei” paintings, browse the wood carvings and Bavarian clothes in the shops, and stop at one of the many cafes with outdoor seating to enjoy Bavarian specialties and beer, or Kaffee und Kuchen (pastries).
Included dinner. Tonight we dine at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe, Salzburg’s number one address for great food served with a generous helping of Mozart.
Salzburg: Oct 9 - 11. 2 nights
We then head to Berchtesgaden, a picturesque village of 7,000 tucked against the sheer walls of the Bavarian Alps surrounded on three sides by Austria. Stroll through the winding streets lined with pastel buildings decorated with “Luftmalerei” paintings, browse the wood carvings and Bavarian clothes in the shops, and stop at one of the many cafes with outdoor seating to enjoy Bavarian specialties and beer, or Kaffee und Kuchen (pastries).
Included dinner. Tonight we dine at the oldest restaurant in Eastern Europe, Salzburg’s number one address for great food served with a generous helping of Mozart.
Salzburg: Oct 9 - 11. 2 nights
Day 8. Sat, Oct 10: A Day in Salzburg |
Pretty villages with flower boxed windows and balconies; glacial lakes nestled in the border fingers of the Alps; pastureland and forests flowing over the rolling moraines of the alpine foothills: Bavaria is one of those places with an almost mythological reputation, and our tour today explores the Bavarian Way of Life.
This morning we will enjoy a private city tour.
You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to explore Salzburg at your leisure.
Overnight in Salzburg.
This morning we will enjoy a private city tour.
You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to explore Salzburg at your leisure.
Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 9. Sun, Oct 11. The Lakes District to Vienna |
The real scene-stealers of the area is Austria's Lake District, known as Salzkammergut. We will enjoy the stunning panoramic vistas of Lake Wolfgangsee and Lake Hallstatt and make a stop to stroll the picturesque narrow streets of the Old Town of Melk with a visit to Melk Abbey, a golden-hued monastery perched on a hill overlooking the Danube. Discover this Baroque treasure with its richly decorated church, stunning library, and lovely garden terraces offering views of the surrounding Wachau Valley. Our journey continues to the Mauthausen Memorial. This thoughtfully maintained site honors those who suffered here during World War II and provides important historical context through its exhibitions. Extraordinarily distinctive white wines are produced in this valley, some of which grow on steeply terraced hillsides, so our day will also include a lovely included winetasting.
Vienna: Oct 11 - 14 . 2 nights
Included dinner
Vienna: Oct 11 - 14 . 2 nights
Included dinner
Day 10. Mon, Oct 12. A Day in Vienna |
Morning musical training performance at the Spanish Riding School, an Austrian institution dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of Lipizzaner horses.
After lunch, we will meet up with our local guide. On a walk through the Inner City, we will learn about Vienna at the outbreak of the Cold War between 1945 and 1955. The tour includes a visit to the Third Man Museum, which is dedicated to post-war Vienna from the point of view of the 1949 film noir, The Third Man. This movie is celebrated for its depiction of post-war Vienna, its exploration of morality, and its suspenseful plot. The film is often cited as one of the greatest British films ever made. The film centers on American writer Holly Martins, who arrives in the city to accept a job with his friend Harry Lime, only to learn that he has died. Martins stays in Vienna to investigate Lime's death, surrounded by the exhaustion and cynicism at the start of the Cold War.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
After lunch, we will meet up with our local guide. On a walk through the Inner City, we will learn about Vienna at the outbreak of the Cold War between 1945 and 1955. The tour includes a visit to the Third Man Museum, which is dedicated to post-war Vienna from the point of view of the 1949 film noir, The Third Man. This movie is celebrated for its depiction of post-war Vienna, its exploration of morality, and its suspenseful plot. The film is often cited as one of the greatest British films ever made. The film centers on American writer Holly Martins, who arrives in the city to accept a job with his friend Harry Lime, only to learn that he has died. Martins stays in Vienna to investigate Lime's death, surrounded by the exhaustion and cynicism at the start of the Cold War.
The afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure.
Day 11. Tues, Oct 13. A Day in Vienna at Your Leisure |
Vienna is a sophisticated, historical city and very walkable. Think about:
Visiting the Sisi Museum: Beautiful and celebrated Empress Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi) has long since become a cult figure. The Sisi Museum in the Imperial Apartments of the Imperial Palace compares the myth and the facts. It offers a detailed look into her life, with exhibits including personal items, clothing, and accounts of her assassination.
Explore the Hapsburg's Palaces: Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' opulent summer residence or Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Visit the Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss," and other impressive art collections.
Linger at one of the many cafes and enjoy a Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte.
Enjoy a music tour: Vienna has been considered Europe’s “City of Music”. Experience its rich musical heritage first-hand with this tour of Vienna’s top music-related landmarks and performance spaces. Kick off with an exclusive peek at the Vienna State Opera before strolling through the city with your guide to discover where composers like Beethoven and Mozart once lived and performed.
Tonight: Farewell Dinner. Tonight we’ll be treated to an evening of delicious Austrian cuisine and music.
Visiting the Sisi Museum: Beautiful and celebrated Empress Elisabeth (nicknamed Sisi) has long since become a cult figure. The Sisi Museum in the Imperial Apartments of the Imperial Palace compares the myth and the facts. It offers a detailed look into her life, with exhibits including personal items, clothing, and accounts of her assassination.
Explore the Hapsburg's Palaces: Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburgs' opulent summer residence or Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Visit the Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, "The Kiss," and other impressive art collections.
Linger at one of the many cafes and enjoy a Viennese coffee and Sacher Torte.
Enjoy a music tour: Vienna has been considered Europe’s “City of Music”. Experience its rich musical heritage first-hand with this tour of Vienna’s top music-related landmarks and performance spaces. Kick off with an exclusive peek at the Vienna State Opera before strolling through the city with your guide to discover where composers like Beethoven and Mozart once lived and performed.
Tonight: Farewell Dinner. Tonight we’ll be treated to an evening of delicious Austrian cuisine and music.
Day 12. Wed, Oct 14. Flights out |
Included transfers the Vienna airport or join us on our post-tour excursion to Budapest and Prague
OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO BUDAPEST AND PRAGUE
Day 1. To Budapest. Information coming soon!