Join us for memorable concerts and unique cultural experiences!
The Sarasota Concert Association invites you on a tailor-made, 11-day classical music journey through the cultural heart of Europe—Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden. Follow in the footsteps of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Mahler as we experience unforgettable performances including a night at the Berlin Philharmonic and two concerts at the world-renowned Dresden Spring Festival. You will also enjoy a private concert in the historic home of Robert and Clara Schumann, and a performance in the very church where Bach spent 27 years composing his masterpieces.
With great music, rich history, and wonderful company, this is a one-of-a-kind experience. Space is limited—reserve your spot today!
“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.”
― Johann Sebastian Bach
World-Class Classical Performances
Attend five unforgettable concerts, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Dresden Spring Music Festival, Bach’s St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, and an exclusive recital in the home of Robert and Clara Schumann. Experience performances by world-renowned artists such as Martha Argerich and Seong-Jin Cho.
Walk in the Footsteps of Great Composers
Follow the legacy of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Mahler, and Wagner through the cities that inspired their greatest works. Explore Leipzig’s composer homes, Berlin’s world-class museums, Dresden’s Old Masters Gallery, and the royal palaces of Potsdam and Meissen.
Art, History, and Culture of Germany’s Great Cities
Discover the artistic and cultural treasures of Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden—from the Pergamon Museum and Zwinger Palace to Meissen’s porcelain factory and a scenic Spree River cruise. Immerse yourself in the beauty and history that define Germany’s classical heartland.
Tour Highlights
Includes tickets to five glorious classical music events:
- The Berlin Philharmonic, the Rotterdam Philharmonic with world-renowned pianist Martha Argerich, St. Thomas Church Bach organ and choir concert and an exclusive concert in the home of Robert and Clara Schumann.
- Hand selected, centrally located, 4-star hotels throughout.
- All breakfasts and ten additional meals featuring regional cuisine, and multi-course dining, entrance fees to museums, palaces, composer homes, and daily walks with local historians.
- Top tickets to the Dresden Spring Music Festival, a visit to the romantic world of Royal Potsdam, and a tour of Meissen’s world-famous porcelain factory.
- Airport transfers if arriving and departing on tour days.
- Fully guided by an Earthbound Expedition program director.
- Gratuities for your guides and drivers.
- Transportation by private, first-class motor coach.
DETAILS & ITINERARY
Tuesday, May 26 – Friday, June 5, 2026
- 3 Nights Berlin
- 3 Nights Leipzig
- 3 Nights Dresden
- 1 Night Berlin
Tour Pricing
11 Days/10 Nights (not including air travel)
$7,995 per person double occupancy
$1,995 single supplement
Day 1: Tuesday, May 26 – Guten Morgen! Arrive in Berlin
Berlin, once devastated and divided, has spent the last two decades rebuilding into a cultural powerhouse. With thriving orchestras, newly reopened museums, and the revitalized Unter den Linden boulevard, the city is now Europe’s cultural hub. Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation with your Sarasota Concert Association hosts and Earthbound Expeditions guide. Sleep in Berlin.
Day 2: Wednesday, May 27 – Discover Berlin
Join an expert guide for a full-day exploration of Berlin’s most significant historical landmarks. Our journey begins with a visit to the Holocaust Memorial, followed by the Bebelplatz, infamous for the Nazi book burnings on May 10, 1933. Delve deeper into 20th-century history as we visit a preserved section of the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie. Enjoy a special lunch inside the iconic Reichstag building and a cruise on the Spree River to view Berlin’s historic architecture from the water. Sleep in Berlin.
Day 3: Thursday, May 28 – Berlin’s Great Museums
Berlin is home to some of the world’s finest art and archaeology collections, making it a must-visit for culture enthusiasts. This morning, we will explore the renowned Pergamon Museum, which houses ancient treasures like the Ishtar Gate and the Pergamon Altar.
A traditional multi-course lunch is included. Then, the afternoon is yours to further explore the treasures of Berlin. This evening, attend the Berlin Philharmonic with conductor Semyon Bychkov leading the orchestra in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and pianist Vikingur Olafsson performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5. Sleep in Berlin.
Day 4: Friday, May 29 – Historic Potsdam and an Evening with Bach in Leipzig
This morning, we depart Berlin for Leipzig. Crossing the legendary “Bridge of Spies” we first visit Potsdam Schloss Cecilienhof, where Truman, Churchill, and Stalin shaped the future of post-war Europe.
After an included lunch, we continue to Leipzig, long celebrated as a center of music and culture. The city has inspired great composers including Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Robert and Clara Schumann, Wagner, and Mahler. This evening, experience a concert featuring the 90-member St. Thomas Boy Choir at St. Thomas Church, where Johann Sebastian Bach once served as cantor. Sleep in Leipzig (B, L)
Day 5: Saturday, May 30 – In Bach’s Footsteps
After breakfast, meet your local guide for a glimpse into the world of Bach. Leipzig is where Johann Sebastian Bach spent 27 of his most productive years. A new Bach Museum recently opened and it’s been brilliantly done. Bach worked at St. Thomas Church as a cantor and his remains are buried below the altar. Enjoy excerpts from Bach’s B-minor Mass at St. Thomas Church this evening. Sleep in Leipzig.
Day 6: Sunday, May 31 – A Day with Mendelssohn and the Schumanns
Explore the historic homes of Felix Mendelssohn and Robert and Clara Schumann. Discover how Mendelssohn shaped Leipzig’s musical life leading the Gewandhaus Orchestra, reviving Bach’s works, and founding Germany’s first Conservatory of Music. Visit his former residence, now the Mendelssohn Museum, once a gathering place for the great composers of his time. Nearby, tour the Schumann House, where Robert and Clara’s love and artistry flourished, and enjoy a private piano recital in their honor. Sleep in Leipzig.
Day 7: Monday, June 1 – Leipzig to Dresden
This morning, travel east to Dresden, often called “the Florence of the North.” Journey along the scenic Elbe River, passing picturesque villages and medieval castles. En route, stop in Meissen, world-renowned for its fine porcelain. Enjoy a guided tour of the Porcelain Museum and a multi-course lunch.
Continue to Dresden, your home for the next three nights. Once the capital of Saxony and a crossroads of European trade, Dresden has long been a center of art and music and was home to Handel, Bach, and Wagner. After checking into your centrally located hotel, enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the historic Old Town, where the city’s rich cultural legacy comes to life. Sleep in Dresden.
Pianist Martha Argerich
Day 8: Tuesday, June 2 – A Day of Art and Music in Dresden
This morning, in the company of a local art expert, immerse yourself in Dresden’s world of masterpieces. Within the graceful Zwinger Palace, the Old Masters Gallery unveils centuries of brilliance—Raphael’s luminous Sistine Madonna, Giorgione’s serene Sleeping Venus, and works by Titian, Vermeer, Dürer, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Each gallery reveals the soul of Europe’s artistic past, preserved in this Baroque jewel of a city.
Savor a refined luncheon before a leisurely afternoon—perhaps to wander along the Elbe, linger in a café, or explore Dresden’s elegant boulevards and quiet courtyards. This evening you’ll attend a concert by the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, with conductor Lahav Shani leading the orchestra in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, and extraordinary pianist Martha Argerich performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Sleep in Dresden.
Day 10: Thursday, June 4 – Return to Berlin
After a leisurely morning we return to Berlin by private coach. Enjoy a farewell lunch together in a nearby Saxon winery before returning to Berlin for the evening. Sleep in Berlin.
Day 11: Friday, June 5 – Return home with a lifetime of memories!
Your journey concludes after breakfast. Airport transfers are included if departing today. Happy and Safe travels!
If you have extra time and love classical music, consider extending your journey to the city that Mozart loved best! Prague is just a 2.5 hour train or bus ride from Berlin.
Make Your Reservations
Coordination of all aspects of the tour, including registration, will be managed by Earthbound Expeditions, renowned for their exceptional international music tours.
Pay your final balance by check or by Zelle at info@earthboundexpeditions.com and save $100 per person!
Earthbound Expeditions, PO BOX 11305, Bainbridge Island WA 98110
Questions? Contact Earthbound Expeditions: 206-842-9775, or info@earthboundexpeditions.com; or contact Linda Moxley of Sarasota Concert Association at 941-966-6161, ext. 2 or by email at linda@scasarasota.org.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Reservations and Deposits:
- A $1,000 per person deposit is needed to confirm your space on this journey.
- You can make a credit card deposit online or by phone.
- Deposits are refundable, minus a $500 per person cancellation fee, for 60 days from the processing date or February 25, 2026, whichever comes first.
- Deposits made after February 25, 2026 are not refundable.
- Final payment is also non-refundable, which is why we strongly urge guests to purchase travel insurance.
Additional Notes:
- Not Included: International airline tickets, alcoholic beverages, room service and gratuities for hotel staff, travel insurance, meals not listed in brochure, and any activities or items not listed in your itinerary.
- Physical Requirements: It is the responsibility of each guest to be aware of their physical abilities or limitations and to be in sufficient good health to undertake the trip. Click here to read “Is an Earthbound trip right for you?” or call the Earthbound 206-842-9775 for more details.
- Travel Insurance: Earthbound Expeditions strongly encourages the purchase of travel insurance coverage. We include information on trip insurance in your deposit information.
- Events: If a planned event is cancelled for any reason, another event will be included in its place. This is not cause for refund. Events are subject to change. Terms & Conditions: Click here to read the full terms and conditions.
