Day 1 - After joining your holiday coach, head south to Dover for your ferry crossing to Calais. Continue through France for your overnight hotel stop. BB
Day 2 - Drive on for your first sight of the magnificent Alps and scenic Austrian countryside to check into your resort hotel for your 5-night stay at
3* Ferienhotel Hofer, located in a rural location with views of Lake Attersee. DBB
Day 3 - 6 - At leisure in Strass im Attergau with
four included excursions. The hotel benefits from a quiet countryside location in beautiful mountain surrounds overlooking Lake Attersee. Enjoy an included visit or excursion every day of your stay
Included ExcursionsSalzburg (may operate by local coach)
Salzburg - one of Europe's most enchanting cities, famous as the birthplace of Mozart and the setting for "The Sound of Music". A charming Baroque city in its own right, it is dominated by the magnificent Hohensalzburg Fortress, church steeples, quaint courtyards, pedestrian alleyways and magnificent buildings. Don't miss the famous Getreidegasse, the narrow lane in which Mozart was born and of course who could resist skipping and dancing through the glorious Mirabell gardens? A
walking tour (2 hours) is included for you to gain an orientation of Salzburg before enjoying time to explore at leisure
Hallstatt & Bad Ischl - Pretty as a PictureHead to Bad Ischl, the handsome spa town made famous by Emperor Franz Josef as the location of his summer residence, the
Kaiservilla, where entrance is included for a self-guided visit. Then it is off to the UNESCO World Heritage site of picturesque
Hallstatt, nestled on the banks of the Halstättersee with a backdrop of the towering Dachstein mountains - truly a photographer's delight. A return ride on the
cable railway takes you comfortably up to the Hallstatt high valley. A panoramic lift and
sky bridge takes you to a viewing platform and free-floating skywalk, 360m above the town, from where you can admire a fabulous view of the historic town centre, the lake and Salzkammergut region - breathtaking!
Lake Wolfgang & Schafberg Mountain RailwayJourney through the
Salzkammergut to the traffic-free village of
St Gilgen, a place that was a source of inspiration for Mozart and home to his mother. Full of character with its frescoed houses, take a stroll past interesting shops and bustling cafes. Take a 30-minute
cruise across the water to the picture perfect resort town of
St Wolfgang where you will board the steepest cog railway in Austria, the
Schafberg Mountain Railway. In just 35 minutes, the railway rises 1190 vertical metres and on a clear day, you will be treated to a 360 degree panoramic view of the sparkling lakes of Wolfgang in Austria and Chiemsee in Germany with soaring mountains majestically framing the spectacular scenery.
Berchtesgaden & Eagle's Nest Nip over the border into Germany today to the small alpine town of Berchtesgaden, best known for the
'Eagle's Nest', perched 1,834m high on the Obersalzburg mountain. The 'Kehlstein' lodge was infamously used by Hitler and other Nazi party members during World War II and since 1952, the building has been open to the public as a mountain top restaurant offering the most spectacular views across the region and the serene Lake Konigssee. The Eagle's Nest was originally designed by Martin Bormann and is one of the few undamaged monuments of the Hitler era. Due to its high elevation, the Eagle's Nest is only accessible by special mountain buses and then by lift. There will be a brief introduction and tour by a local guide.
Day 7 - Today it's farewell to Austria as you return through Germany to your final overnight stop. BB
Day 8 - After breakfast, continue through Belgium and France to Calais for the return to England.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION
EES (European Entry & Exit System). This is the new entry and exit system for UK citizens (and many other citizens) when entering or exiting the EU. For more information, please visit travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en.
At present there is no fixed start date – planned November 2025.
The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) 'Visa-waiver' programme is currently expected to be implemented 6 months after the EES comes into place. Please note: Once implemented ETIAS will be compulsory, like a Passport. No ETIAS - No Entry. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the required documentation in place.
For the latest information regarding ETIAS please visit: 'travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en' or 'Gov.uk'.
Passport
For advice on passports when travelling into Europe please visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/travelling-in-europe/