Guided Walking Tour

Walking in the Salzkammergut
Scenic Austria - the romantic backdrop for the “Sound of Music”; the land of ancient baroque villages and medieval castles; the land of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven and some of their favorite cities including lovely Linz, sensational Salzburg and elegant Vienna. East of Salzburg, you find a breathtaking region dotted with many lakes called the Salzkammergut.  The landscape includes fjord-like steep rocks and cliffs bordering lush, green mountains and pristine green-blue mountain lakes. This stunning panorama of natural beauty has drawn European tourists for centuries and was the favored summer resort of the Habsburg monarchy.  Note that the Hallstättersee region was recognized by the UNESCO as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its great natural and cultural heritage. The idyllic village of Hallstatt is “the jewel of this region” but Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, St. Wolfgang and St. Gilgen are some of our other favorite villages you will visit.

Our walking vacation offers about 4 hours of fairly flat walking each day but as you stay in each hotel 2 nights you can take a rest day or two if you prefer.  Austria is famous for its many, well organized walking trails.  Accommodations are charming 3 and 4 star family hotels chosen for their comfort, friendly service and authentic Austrian ambiance.  Daily breakfast, dinner and on walking days a packed lunch are included in the tour price. If you have extra time we strongly recommend that you spend a few days at the beginning or end of the tour in close by Salzburg, the birth place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Daily itinerary:

Day 1: Individual arrival in your hotel in Abersee near St. Wolfgang

Day 2 - St. Wolfgang-St. Gilgen
Begin the day with a short boat ride from Abersee to St. Wolfgang.  Here we’ll walk along the lake and then gently up the pilgrim’s path to “Falkenstein Mountain”, really a cliff with a very nice view over the lake and the small villages.  The idyllic ‘Fürberg Walk” brings us to the village St. Gilgen, where Mozart’s mother was born. Gilgen is smaller than neighboring St. Wolfgang, just across the lake, yet presents a unique baroque and rococo character with plenty to do. Colorful streets, lined with cafes, bars, fascinating shops and old frescoed houses lead to the onion-domed church and enchanting Mozart fountain. Return by boat to our hotel in Abensee.

Day 3 - Schwarzensee and Strobl
Another morning boat ride to St. Wolfgang. First we’ll walk up to the shimmering lake Schwarzensee, where we’ll rest in a nice mountain hut with a terrific view over the lake and enjoy some tasty local specialities. We’ll walk down on a small footpath into the valley next to a gorge and around the Bürglstein, a rock outcrop jutting into the lake.   In the afternoon we end in Strobl and transfer to the “Emperor’s Town” Bad Ischl.

Day 4 – Rest Day in Bad Ischl
Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite town was Bad Ischl, the cultural and geographic centre of the Salzkammergut, where he and his wife Elisabeth (the captivating “Sisi” of the famous film) regularly spent their summers.  Visit the Emperors Villa, Café Zauner and the Hotel Austria,

Day 5 – Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern
Salt always has been an important raw material of the Salzkammergut.  Today we follow the “historical salt water path”, the world’s oldest pipeline, which was established in 1607. In order to make the brine flow, the pipeline (as well as the path) slopes down slightly, and therefore it is a relatively easy walk to Bad Goisern.  This lovely village was once known as the “Monarchy’s prettiest town” and retains all its charms today.  

Day 6 – Walk to Hallstatt
Today’s walk is slightly ascending and offers beautiful views on the quaint little town of Hallstatt and the marvellous and massive of the Dachstein Mountain (the highest in Upper Austria). Hallstatt owes its prosperity to the salt mines ('hall' is a Celtic word meaning 'salt'). In the afternoon we’ll cross the lake by boat and return to Bad Goisern.

Day 7 – Bad Ischl to Strobl
Transfer to Bad Ischl from where we follow the “Elisabeth-Walking Path”, one of Sisi’s favourite hiking and riding tracks.  We’ll admire the idyllic little lake Nussensee and then continue along the River Ischl to Strobl.  From late medieval times to the 17th century Strobl was a center for pilgrims.  In Strobl we’ll have gorgeous views on St. Wolfgang, Schafberg and the lake itself.  

Day 8 – Departure after breakfast

Included:

Daily Lodging in 3 and 4-star hotels and inns. Daily breakfast and dinner. Transportation and entrance fees as described in the itinerary.

2008 Tour Dates: May 17-24, May 31-June 7,
June 14-21, July 12-19, Aug. 9-16 and Sept. 6-13

Tour Price: $1275  Single Supplement: $275
Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Daily Distance: 3-4 hours of easy to moderate walking

Walking along the Danube

The Wachau Region along the Danube River is the most beautiful section of the river’s completely lovely length.  A friendly climate and steep slopes form ideal conditions for vineyards and orchards. Some of Austria’s finest wines grow in Wachau as well as delicious local apricots.

This varied hiking tour takes you over soft hills and through fragrant vineyards bounded by impressive rock outcroppings and is nothing less than blissful.  A special feature of the countryside is the myriad of charming villages where everything centres on good food and great wine.  You’ll love the Wachau!

This tour is terrific in any season - in spring time dazzling wildflowers are in bloom, in summer mouth watering fruits are ripening and in fall it is ‘wine harvest’ time.

Daily itinerary:

Day 1 - Individual arrival in your hotel in Krems

Day 2 – Walk high up into the vineyards to Dürnstein

Today’s walk begins in the vineyards directly on the outskirts of Krems and our route takes us fairly high up where we’ll enjoy a lovely view on the River Danube. Across rolling hills we walk to small but delightful Dürnstein, where Richard the Lionhearted was held prisoner in the castle of Dürnstein (now a ruin with a very nice view over the Danube Valley).

Day 3 – Walking through Rossatz (or to the observation point on Seekopf)

In Dürnstein we’ll ferry across to Rossatz where we’ll walk through vineyards and orchards. Later on we’ll pass the Danube again and walk on the high trail around Weissenkirchen.  More demanding will be the trail up to Mount Seekopf where we have another splendid view over the Danube valley.  Overnight in Weissenkirchen

Day 4 - Rest day in Weissenkirchen

You’ll find many friendly wine taverns ("Heurigen") in this pleasing little town on the Danube where you can change the pace with some sightseeing, window shopping and more sampling of the great variety of Wachau vintage.

Day 5 - From Weißenkirchen to Spitz via Buschandlwand

Today begins with a walk passing through the vineyards of Weissenkirchen and a steady climb up to Mount   Buschandlwand.   On top we’ll have another stunning view of the peaceful surroundings. Then we’ll take a serpentine downhill trail though forests and vineyards to the village of Spitz.  If you prefer an easier walk, you can skip the climb to the mountain summit and continue walking though the lower hillside vineyards to Spitz.

Day 6 – Walk up to the ruins of the Aggsbach Fortress of the robber barons

We’ll cross the Danube by ferry again and follow the Buchtal Valley uphill. Shortly before we reach Maria Langegg we join the Austrian St. Jacob’s Trail, which leads up to the ruins of Aggsbach Fortress.   Visit the fortress and learn about its gruesome past.  There is a wonderful vista from the top and also a restaurant for refreshments. After the walk we’ll transfer by bus to the fascinating city of Melk. 

Day 7 – River cruise back to Krems

In the morning we’ll have a guided tour of the incredible Benedictine Monastery, the Stift Melk, founded in 1089 high above the river. It was rebuilt between 1702 and 1726 in splendid high baroque style.  Also visit the beautiful garden and then enjoy a relaxing boat trip to Krems.

Day 8 - Individual Departure after breakfast

Included:

Daily Lodging in 3 and 4-star hotels and inns. Daily breakfast and dinner. Transportation and entrance fees as described in the itinerary. Expert Austrian guide!

2008 Tour Dates: May 3-10, June 14-21, September 20-27

Tour Price: $1425  Single Supplement: $295
Level of Difficulty: Moderate - Challenging
Daily Distance: 5 hours of moderate walking

Tour Price: $1425  Single Supplement: $295

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