Lakes and Mountains of Austria

Fly to Munich where, on arrival, you will be taken just over the Austrian border to Salzburg, staying three nights at your hotel with daily breakfast.

Up until 200 years ago, Salzburg was an independent state ruled by a series of Archbishops who turned it into one of the most sophisticated cities north of the Alps.

The old town is delightful, displaying wonderful architecture dating from the medieval to 18th century, whilst one of Europe’s largest stone fortresses, the Hohensalzburg, perched high on a cliff-top, dominates the skyline. Spread below is a maze of tiny streets lined with the exquisite shops that make window-shopping so satisfying.

Then there is the wonderful Hellbrunn Palace with its famous trick fountains and the natural beauty of the Mirabell Gardens are a must for the fan of things horticultural. With its genteel atmosphere of bygone times, surrounded by a magnificent Alpine backdrop, Salzburg is a superb spot to relax and explore at your leisure.

Salzburg’s most famous citizen was Mozart, one of the greatest musical geniuses to have ever lived and whose achievements were staggering! He played the piano at three; could compose rudimentary music at five and wrote his first opera at fourteen! His home has been restored and reminders of him are evident throughout the city.

This morning, we have a guided tour seeing all the principal places of interest then you are free to enjoy the afternoon exploring the city at your own pace. And yes… there are plenty of interesting museums and hidden gems in the city which have nothing at all to do with Mozart or the ‘Sound of Music’, so famously filmed throughout the city and surrounding area!

Today we leave the city behind for an absolutely stunning display of outstanding natural beauty: the amazing Salzkammergut, the Austrian Lake District. This morning’s scenic drive takes you first to picturesque Mondsee, a charming town perched on the northern shore of the lake that bears its name and renowned for its church, the set for Maria’s wedding in the film “The Sound of Music”.

As the day progresses the scenery becomes ever-more spectacular. Following beautiful scenic routes alongside sparkling lake shores and through velvet green hill pastures brings us to the second lake of the day, the dramatic Traunsee and the picture postcard setting of the fishing village of Traunkirchen which until the last century could only be reached by boat.

Leaving lakes behind for a short while, we pass through the picturesque spa town of Bad Ischl. Mountains and forest stretch in all directions as we head for St Wolfgang where there’s time for lunch amidst truly glorious scenic surroundings.

St Wolfgang, with its lovely maze of 15th century, frescoed buildings, must surely rank as one of the most gorgeous villages you will ever see and it is famed for its church altar, one of the high points of Gothic Art. Relax in this delightful lakeside spot this afternoon or perhaps take the steam-hauled rack railway to the summit of the Schafberg Mountain high above, for a spellbinding view across the entire Lake District in all its unrivalled scenic splendour. We then return to the hotel.

Today, we visit the spectacular 17th-century Hellbrunn Palace just outside Salzburg. Commissioned by an archbishop and much visited by emperors, each room is a revelation decorated in a variety of themes from Chinese to those specially shaped with perfect acoustics where talented musicians performed.

The gardens are equally unique, and a local guide takes us on a tour of their famous Wasserspiele or ‘trick fountains’, which stop and start to catch visitors unaware, as well as its shell-covered grottoes and water-driven clockwork figures.

After this remarkable tour, we ascend into the High Alps to stay four nights in the village of Zell-am-See.

Today we commence our exploration of some of the world’s finest alpine scenery, seeing nature at its forceful best. After breakfast, we take the twisting road amongst timelessly picturesque woodland and peaceful pastures and through an ever-narrowing valley, discovering one of Europe’s great natural wonders, the Krimml waterfalls.

The highest in Europe and the fifth highest in the world, this amazing series of waterfalls tumbles 1,200 feet from icy glaciers, with huge clouds of spray seemingly suspended as if by magic over the lush green forests below, accompanied by the unmistakable roar of enormous volumes of cascading water, it makes an unforgettable spectacle. It is at moments like this that you become completely overwhelmed by Mother Nature’s unbridled power, majestic grandeur and sheer beauty.

We have ample time to explore the park, taking the dedicated path where alpine flora and fauna abound, before returning to our hotel.

Today we enjoy another breathtaking journey into this alpine wonderland, visiting Austria’s highest mountain – the Grossglockner, as we drive along one of Europe’s oldest and most celebrated alpine routes.

The scenery gradually changes from lush green meadow, through dark pine forests, then above the tree line a truly dramatic landscape of snow and ice reveals itself. Bronze Age knives, ancient gold jewellery and Roman statues found here prove traders have passed this way for at least 3,000 years.

The route evolved into a 17th century pack road and the present Grossglockner High Alpine Road, opened less than 100 years ago. It offers a spectacular show of continually changing vistas, glaciers, rugged valleys and mountains, each a postcard in itself, leading from the carpet-like pastures of the Salzach valley to the Hochtor pass at 2,505 metres – one of Europe’s highest.

We continue twisting up the rugged and beautiful valley to reach the mighty Pasterze Glacier and the ‘Emperor’s Viewpoint’. This is more than just a spectacular view: you can really immerse yourself in the high alpine surroundings, rocky crags and pure white snowfields, crystal clear waterfalls and deep blue glacier ice fields. You can hear the eerie whistling cry of the marmots, the rather endearing rodents found only in the high mountains – and keep a look out for the ibex with their striking horns whilst eagles soar on the clear thermals above.

This is a truly breath-taking experience! Should you wish, you can take the spectacular funicular railway ride to the Pasterze glacier and walk on the surface – there are few places in the world you can do this and it should not be missed! Please note this trip is subject to weather conditions.

We return to the hotel for dinner, over which you can reflect on the magnificent sights you have seen during this wonderful day.

Today you have a completely free day. Perhaps take the cable car to almost the summit of the Kitzsteinhorn, one of the largest glaciers in the Alps for truly amazing views across some of the finest mountain scenery on earth. Take a stroll around the village, catch up on some reading or perhaps visit nearby Zell for a boat trip on the lake.

Zell am See has a delightful centre and lakeside promenade and unlike many resorts, it has some fine traditional buildings too, some of which house small museums including one dedicated to the history of the region and its people, with the 11th century parish church also worth a look. You could take a lake steamer, study the teeming bird life, explore the villages on the opposite bank or perhaps take a leisurely stroll on the lakeside path.

For those with a head for heights, take the cable car to the summit of Zell am See’s own mountain, the Schmittenhöhe, for a marvellous 360 degree panorama of the snow capped Alps – breathtaking! For the more energetic there are many superb alpine walking trails suitable for all abilities.