2023 USC Trojan Marching Band Tour

2023 USC Trojan Marching Band European Tour

Itinerary and Registration Form

Please complete one registration per traveler. If you are registering more than one traveler, you may return to this page.

Current Itinerary (subject to change)

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Depart on overnight connecting flights from LAX to Munich.

Monday, May 15, 2023

Arrive in Munich, meet your tour managers, and transfer by motorcoach to Salzburg, Austria. Hotel check-in and dinner in Salzburg.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Enjoy a full breakfast at the hotel each morning of the tour. The first full day begins with a walking tour of Salzburg. Ascend via funicular the Festungsberg to the Prince-Archbishop’s Fortress perched high above the Salzach River, then visit the Baroque Salzburg Dom (Cathedral) where many of Mozart’s liturgical works were premiered. See the Festival House, home to the world-famous Salzburg Festival, pass through the market square, and walk down the historic merchant’s street: the Getreidegasse. Explore the beautiful blooming gardens of Mirabel Palace, then have lunch on own and the remainder of the day free for further independent exploration.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

At the center of the Old Town’s Main Street, the Getreidegasse, a certain Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. A child prodigy in a musical family, Mozart served as a musician and composer in the court of the Prince-Archbishop, and is still widely revered – and represented! – throughout the city. Take a guided visit to the Mozart Birth House and Museum, with educational artifacts from the composer’s life and family, then attend a music history lecture at the Mozarteum. The capstone of this musical day will be the TMB’s own contribution to the famous musical landscape of Salzburg.

Thursday, May 18, 2023

Transfer to Vienna with a stop in Hallstatt. This picturesque town in the area known as the Salzkammergut is nestled on the shore of Lake Hallstatt at the foot of Dachstein mountain. Ascend the mountain via cable car for unparalleled views of the beautiful Lake District. While atop the mountain, visit the world’s oldest operating Salt Mine by taking a tobaggan ride into the mine to see and learn about the mineral that brought great wealth to – and named – the entire region. Descend the mountain by cable car and continue the journey to Vienna with a rest stop en route.

Friday, May 19, 2023

Embark on a guided panoramic and walking tour of Vienna, starting with the Ringstrasse. Once the site of the city walls, this ring road is now lined with great examples of late 19th-century architecture housing government buildings, university buildings, and private homes. See the Hofburg Palace, seat of the of the Hapsburg Empire, and the nearby Burggarten and Volksgarten. End the walking tour at the Stephansdom, the towering cathedral at the center of town which was the site of Mozart’s funeral in 1791. Afternoon free for independent exploration of this vibrant city.

Saturday, May 20, 2023

Morning visit to the Beethoven Museum, housed in an apartment in which Beethoven lived during his many years in Vienna. Originally from Bonn, Germany, Beethoven first arrived in Vienna to study with Mozart, but Mozart passed away before their collaboration could begin. Beethoven then studied with Franz Joseph Haydn, a court composer for the Esztherhazy family not far from Vienna. Afternoon performance in a city square. Optional late afternoon visit to Vienna’s Central Cemetery to see the many monuments to the great composers who worked here, including Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, and more.

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Morning departure for Prague, with rest stops and lunch on own en route. On arrival in Prague, embark on a walking tour of the Old Town Square, marveling at the Horologe, the 14th-century astronomical clock that has become a symbol of the city. Continue to the Charles Bridge, an equally ancient stone bridge lined with 30 statues. The beautiful view of the Vltava River and Prague Castle makes the bridge a haven for street artists. Return to the city center via the Jewish Quarter, a small area dating to the 10th century which once housed as many as 18,000 residents seeking refuge after expulsion from other European countries.

Monday, May 22, 2023

Morning visit to Prague Castle complex, which dates to 880 and is considered the largest castle complex in the world. Visit royal buildings such as St. Vitus Cathedral and Old Royal Palace, and see how the court, merchants, and servants positioned themselves around the seat of power when visiting Golden Lane and Lobkowicz Palace. The Bohemian family Lobkowicz was an important patron of the arts over the course of centuries, and the Palace houses original manuscripts annotated by Beethoven and Mozart. Afternoon performance in Prague.

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Transfer to Munich with rest stops and lunch on own en route. On arrival, take a walking tour highlighting the city’s rich history. See the Residenz palace complex, home to the Bavarian State Opera House and Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, pass the site of the infamous “Beer Hall Putsch,” and explore Marienplatz with its beautiful New Town Hall and Glockenspiel.

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Take a full-day excursion to the Bavarian Alps to see the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Built in the late 1800s by the Bavarian King Ludwig II, this fairy-tale castle is best known around the world as Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Nestled in the mountains and often shrouded in mysterious mist, the interior of the castle is decorated throughout with images related to the operas of Richard Wagner, of whom King Ludwig II was a major patron.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for the return flight(s) to Los Angeles.

Flight deviations are permitted on the return if you wish to extend your stay in Europe or if you need to return to a different city in the US. Information on how to request a deviation will be sent upon registration.

Optional Extension May 27 - June 3, 2023

The second-longest river in Central and Western Europe, the Rhine flows nearly 800 miles from the white-dusted peaks of the Swiss Alps to the rainbow-hued blossoms of the Netherlands. Offering sweeping views of five countries, an array of cultures and flavors, plus a rich history that dates back to the Holy Roman Empire, this river was once considered the boundary of the “civilized world.” The Rhine is much more than the river of princes, poets and painters – it’s the river of adventure seekers. Cruise fare starts at $3,199 per person in double occupancy. You may request additional information on your registration form.

Tour Price

$3,895 per person in double occupancy
Single supplement is $896 per person
Land only price is $2,600; TMB approval required to travel land only

Payment Schedule

$250 non-refundable deposit due by October 31
$725 due December 1, 2022
$725 due January 1, 2023
$725 due February 1, 2023
$725 due March 1, 2023
$745 (balance) due April 1, 2023

Note: tour price and payments are based on cash/check/ACH; credit cards are accepted with payment of a 2.5% processing fee

Cancellation Schedule

$250 initial deposit is non-refundable
From December 1, 2022 through January 31, 2023, a total of $675 is non-refundable
From February 1, 2023 through March 31, 2023, a total of $1,500 is non-refundable
From April 1, 2023 on, the entire trip is non-refundable

Tour Inclusions

Roundtrip international airfare
Private luxury motorcoach and driver throughout the tour
Full-time tour manager (one per bus); local guides for city tours
Equipment truck and driver throughout the tour
10 nights hotel, including daily breakfast; 5 dinners
Tours, sightseeing, and entrances as specified in the itinerary
Performances in Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague
Gratuities for tour manager, city guides, bus drivers, and hotel/meal staff
Tourist/city taxes collected by the hotels
Overseas medical insurance plan with trip delay and interruption benefits
Coverage under a $2M tour operator liability policy

Tour Exclusions

Meals indicated “on own” or not otherwise specified
Snacks, souvenirs, and items of a personal nature
Passport acquisition (passports must be valid for six months after the trip)
Visa acquisition (U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a visa)
ETIAS fee to enter Europe, if implemented prior to the tour (€7.00)
Trip cancellation insurance
Any other items not specifically mentioned