Majestic Austria: Cities, Lakes and Mountains

Day 1 - UK to Vienna.

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Austria. Arrive in Vienna, Austria’s elegant capital, and check in for a three-night stay at the 4-star Hotel Arcotel Wimberger. Located close to the MuseumsQuartier and Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna’s longest shopping street, the hotel puts many of the city’s attractions within easy reach. Settle in before enjoying a three-course dinner at the hotel.

Arcotel Wimberger, Vienna (4-star)

Day 2 - Vienna.

Get to know Vienna on a full-day guided tour, travelling by coach and on foot through the heart of the city. Grand palaces, historic buildings and broad boulevards reflect the city’s imperial past as you see the State Opera, Parliament, City Hall and Burgtheater. Continue to the Hofburg Palace, once the centre of the Habsburg Empire to enjoy the gardens before exploring more of the city on foot. See St Stephen’s Cathedral from the outside, one of Vienna’s most recognisable landmarks, and the Danube area.

Arcotel Wimberger, Vienna (4-star)

Day 3 - Vienna.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Vienna. Browse the shops along Mariahilfer Strasse, explore more of the city independently or stop at one of its traditional cafés. This is a good opportunity to try a Wiener Melange, Vienna’s classic coffee speciality, perhaps accompanied by a slice of Apfelstrudel with vanilla sauce or Sachertorte and cream. This afternoon, join a guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs. Explore the lavish state rooms before heading outside to wander through the extensive palace gardens. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Schönbrunn offers an insight into the scale and grandeur of life at the Habsburg court.

Arcotel Wimberger, Vienna (4-star)

Day 4 - Vienna to Mondsee.

Leave Vienna behind and head west, with the landscape gradually changing from Austria’s capital to the lakes and mountains of the Salzkammergut. En route, stop for a guided visit of Melk Abbey, one of Austria’s best-known examples of Baroque architecture. Continue to the lakeside village of Mondsee and explore on foot the colourful buildings and mountain views surround the historic centre.After some free time, check in to the unique Schlosshotel Mondsee for a three-night stay. Set within the historic walls of a former Benedictine monastery, the hotel combines its heritage with modern comforts in the centre of the village. Later, Visit Basilica St Michael, better known as the ‘Sound of Music Church’, where Maria and Baron von Trpp were married in the famous film.

Schlosshotel Mondsee, Mondsee (4-star)

Day 5 - Salzburg.

Head to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart. A guided walking tour takes us through the historic Old Town, where Baroque architecture, narrow streets and ornate façades reflect the city’s rich history. See Mirabell Gardens and the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress before strolling along Getreidegasse, one of Salzburg’s best-known streets. Later, visit a local farm and artisanal dairy to learn how milk from their Jersey cow herd is made into traditional Austrian cheese, with an opportunity to sample some of the produce and cosmetic products they make. Return to Mondsee for a behind-the-scenes tour of our historic castle hotel – led by one of the hotels owner’s family – for a close look at its past and the building’s former use.

Schlosshotel Mondsee, Mondsee (4-star)

Day 6 - St Gilgen and St Wolfgang.

Travel deeper into the Salzkammergut today, following the shores of Wolfgangsee to St Gilgen. Enjoy a short walk through the village and take in the views across the lake before boarding a boat for a scenic journey across to St Wolfgang. Explore this historic lakeside town on foot and visit its famous pilgrimage church, home to the remarkable, winged altar created by Michael Pacher, plus see the renowned White Horse Inn, which has stood on the lakeside for centuries. Return to Mondsee by coach and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Schlosshotel Mondsee, Mondsee (4-star)

Day 7 - Mondsee to Kitzbühel to Alpbach.

Today brings another change of scenery as we leave the lakes of the Salzkammergut behind and travel west towards the Austrian Tyrol. The landscape becomes increasingly mountainous as we pass traditional villages and head into the Alps. Stop in the renowned alpine resort of Kitzbühel, where there’s time to explore the historic Old Town before continuing onto the picturesque village of Alpbach, our base for the next three nights. Settle into the 4-star Hotel Alphof before dinner and an evening at leisure.

Hotel Alphof, Alpbach (4-star)

Day 8 - Innsbruck and Rattenberg.

Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, sits at the heart of the Alps, with the Nordkette mountain range rising to around 2,300 metres directly behind the city. A guided walking tour takes us through the historic Old Town, including the Golden Roof, a 500-year-old landmark covered with 2,657 gilded copper shingles. Admire the colourful historic buildings and mountain backdrop before visiting the Swarovski Store. Continue to Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town and a centre of traditional glassmaking. Watch a glass-blowing demonstration and learn more about this long-established craft. Return to Alpbach for dinner.

Hotel Alphof, Alpbach (4-star)

Day 9 - Lake Achen and Gramai Alm.

The scenery becomes distinctly alpine as we travel to Lake Achen, Austria’s largest mountain lake. In the village of Pertisau, take in views across the clear waters towards the Karwendel and Rofan Mountains. Continue by coach into the Karwendel Mountains towards Falzthurnalm. From here, choose to travel by coach or join a guided walk to Gramai Alm, following a path through alpine meadows with mountain peaks rising around you. The walk takes approximately 75 minutes and includes some uphill sections. There’s time to take in the mountain scenery before sampling Kaiserschmarrn for lunch, a traditional Tyrolean shredded pancake served with fruit compote. Return to Alpbach for dinner and a final evening in the Tyrol.

Hotel Alphof, Alpbach (4-star)

Day 10 - Alpbach to Munich to UK.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK. Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.