Austrian Gems Featuring Salzburg

Itinerary

_Day Itinerary

• Day 1

  Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then to Belgium for an overnight stay.

• Day 2

  Continue to Niederau in the Austrian Tyrol for a four-night stay.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 3 - Alpbach & Rattenberg

  After a morning at leisure we travel through the beautiful Alpine countryside of the Tyrol, to the mountain village of Alpbach on our included excursion. Voted ‘Austria’s most beautiful village’, Alpbach is picturesquely situated on a sunny plateau 1000 metres above sea level and creates a picture-postcard image with geraniums and other flowers adoring the many window boxes. From Alpbach we descend to the Inn Valley to the smallest town in Austria, Rattenberg, and the heart of glass making for over 600 years. We take you to the oldest glassmakers' in the town where you are shown the traditional method of glass blowing, carving and painting.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 4 - Free Time or Krimml Falls & Kitzbühel

  Today we visit the cascading waterfalls of Krimml on our optional excursion. At 380 metres, this is the longest free fall of water in Europe. There will be time at leisure for you to walk alongside the lower falls, so have your camera ready. Don’t forget your brolly as even on the sunniest days there can be quite a lot of spray from the falls, depending on which way the wind is blowing!

  We continue today’s excursion with a marvellous scenic drive along the Salzach Valley and over the Thurn Pass. We end the day with a visit to the internationally-renowned ski resort of Kitzbühel. The heyday of mining began here in 1450 but it wasn’t until the 16th century that silver was found. The city’s landscape is a consequence of that wealth. The town is nestled between the mountains of Kitzbühel Horn and the Hahnenkamm. In 1893 Franz Reisch became the first man to ski down from the Kitzbühel Horn after which, the first ski race was held in the town. You will have free time to explore the walled Old Town or you may wish to take a cable car ride up the mighty Hahnenkamm Mountain for some spectacular views of the region (at extra cost, payable locally).

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 - Salzburg & Lake Mondsee

  Today we include a visit to Salzburg, one of the most beautiful cities in Austria. Salzburg has something to offer every visitor, from lovely squares and medieval lanes to Gothic churches and quaint cafés. The city dates back to Celtic times and prospered in the Middle Ages on account of the salt industry from where the city derives its name. Many beautiful Baroque buildings are a testament to the city’s illustrious past when it was controlled by the powerful and wealthy bishops.

  The city is also famed in the world of music, as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and more recently as the setting for 'The Sound of Music' and is also home to the Getriedegasse, one of the most beautiful shopping streets in Austria.

  Why not join our optional guided sightseeing tour, by coach and foot to introduce you to the sights of the city. During our tour you will see many sights featured in the film along with many other attractions of this famous alpine city. We see the Hellbrunn Palace, home of the gazebo used for various scenes including ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ and Schloss Leopold, the Von Trapp family home in the film. A visit to Salzburg would not be complete without a mention of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and before the tour is over we see his former birthhouse and also the square that is named after and dedicated to the famous composer.

  In the afternoon we travel to crystal clear Lake Mondsee, one of the largest lakes in the region and also one of the warmest. Mondsee is home to the Basilica of St. Michael, the famous wedding church where Maria married Georg von Trapp in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. This Gothic former monastery is just as striking today as ever with its two towers stretching 52 metres high. The basilica reached international fame when the wedding scene, with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, was filmed inside. This is the reason why more than 200,000 people visit the church every year and make it one of the most photographed churches in the world. Almost every day a wedding takes places at the church, so don’t forget to applaud if the newlyweds emerge from the church whilst you’re there!

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6

  To Belgium for an overnight stay.

  Meals - Breakfast

• Day 7

  Return home.

  Meals - Breakfast

Accommodation

You will stay for four nights at the 3-star Hotel Harfenwirt in Niederau.

Overnight stays in Belgium will be in city-style hotels.