Austrian Alps: Lakes, Mountains and Alpine Villages

Day 1

Arrival in Salzburg,
Stay at Hotel Sacher Salzburg 5*

On arrival at Salzburg Airport, your private chauffeur will welcome you and transfer you to Hotel Sacher Salzburg, ideally positioned beside the Salzach River and within easy reach of the historic centre.

The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax after your journey. Perhaps enjoy a gentle stroll along the Salzach riverside promenade, taking in the views across the river and towards the surrounding hills before settling in for the evening.

Overnight: Salzburg

Day 2

Salzburg’s Old Town and Hohensalzburg Fortress

After breakfast, meet your private guide for a walk through Salzburg’s historic centre, where elegant squares, Baroque architecture and narrow streets reflect centuries of history. Visit Mirabell Palace and its beautiful gardens before continuing across the river to Salzburg Cathedral and along Getreidegasse to Mozart’s birthplace.

Along the way, hear stories of Salzburg’s prince-archbishops, its musical heritage and the people who helped shape one of Austria’s most beautiful cities.

After lunch at leisure, take the funicular to Hohensalzburg Fortress, which has watched over the city for more than 900 years. Explore its courtyards and historic rooms before pausing to enjoy the views across Salzburg’s rooftops towards the surrounding mountains.

Overnight:  Salzburg

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3

Lake Wolfgangsee and the Salzkammergut

After breakfast, your private guide will collect you from the hotel for a day among the lakes and Alpine villages of the Salzkammergut.

Begin in St. Gilgen, a traditional lakeside village surrounded by wooded mountains, before boarding a boat across Lake Wolfgangsee. Relax as you travel towards St. Wolfgang, with changing views of the shoreline, mountain peaks and small villages along the way.

On arrival, explore St. Wolfgang’s historic centre and visit its beautiful pilgrimage church before enjoying lunch at leisure beside the lake.

Later in the afternoon, return through the Salzkammergut countryside to Salzburg.

Overnight: Salzburg

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4

Hohenwerfen Castle and Zell am See,
Stay at Hotel Salzburgerhof 5*

Following breakfast, your journey continues south through the Salzach Valley, with a visit to Hohenwerfen Castle before arriving at your next hotel in Zell am See.

Standing high above the valley and framed by the surrounding mountains, Hohenwerfen has guarded this important Alpine route for more than 900 years. Explore the medieval fortress on its guided interior visit and discover its long history before continuing through the Austrian Alps.

Arrive in Zell am See during the afternoon and settle into Hotel Salzburgerhof. The remainder of the day is at leisure, perhaps enjoying a gentle walk beside Lake Zell before dinner.

Overnight: Zell am See

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

After breakfast, your private guide will collect you from the hotel for a full-day journey along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, one of Austria’s most spectacular mountain routes.

Travel through forests and Alpine meadows as the road climbs into an increasingly dramatic landscape of high valleys and rocky peaks. Pause at selected viewpoints along the way, with time for photographs and short walks surrounded by the mountain scenery.

Continue to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, where the landscape opens towards Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, and the Pasterze glacier below. Enjoy lunch at leisure in the mountains before returning to Zell am See during the afternoon.

This excursion is subject to seasonal road opening and weather conditions.

Overnight: Zell am See

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6

Schmittenhöhe and Lake Zell

After breakfast, make your way to the Schmittenhöhe cable car and ascend above Zell am See for sweeping views across the lake and the surrounding Alpine ranges.

Spend the morning at your leisure, enjoying the mountain scenery, following gentle paths and stopping at panoramic viewpoints. For lunch, visit Berghotel Schmittenhöhe & Genussalm, situated at 2,000 metres, where you can savour traditional Austrian cuisine on a panoramic terrace overlooking the surrounding Alpine peaks.

Return to Zell am See during the afternoon and enjoy a leisurely cruise across Lake Zell, admiring the wooded shoreline and surrounding Alpine peaks.

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Overnight: Zell am See

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7

Kitzbühel and Innsbruck,
Stay at Hotel Das Innsbruck 4*

Following breakfast, your journey continues west through the Austrian Alps towards Innsbruck, with time along the way to discover Kitzbühel.

Explore the historic centre of this elegant Tyrolean town, where colourful façades, traditional buildings, boutiques and cafés line the pedestrian streets. Enjoy time for a leisurely walk and lunch before continuing through the mountain scenery of Tyrol.

Arrive in Innsbruck during the afternoon and settle into Hotel Das Innsbruck, your base for the final three nights of the tour.

Overnight: Innsbruck

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8

Imperial Innsbruck and the Nordkette

After breakfast, meet your private guide for a walk through Innsbruck’s historic Old Town, surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Tyrolean Alps.

Discover the Golden Roof and the medieval streets around it before visiting the Imperial Palace, once an important residence of the Habsburg rulers. Along the way, learn how Innsbruck developed from a medieval trading town into one of the most important centres of imperial life in the Alps.

After lunch at leisure, travel directly from the city into the Nordkette mountains by funicular and cable car. Enjoy extraordinary views across Innsbruck, the Inn Valley and the surrounding peaks before returning to the city.

Overnight: Innsbruck

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9

Seefeld and the Leutasch Valley

After breakfast, your private guide will collect you from the hotel for a day exploring the mountain villages and countryside north of Innsbruck.

Begin in Seefeld, an attractive Alpine village set on a high plateau surrounded by mountains. Stroll through its centre, passing traditional Tyrolean buildings and the distinctive Seekirchl church before continuing into the peaceful Leutasch Valley.

Here, green meadows, small hamlets and traditional farmhouses lie beneath the dramatic Wetterstein mountains. Enjoy a gentle countryside walk followed by lunch at a traditional Tyrolean inn before returning to Innsbruck.

The evening is at leisure for your final night in Austria.

Overnight: Innsbruck

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10

Departure

After breakfast, enjoy any remaining time at leisure before your private chauffeur collects you from the hotel for your transfer to Innsbruck Airport.

For international flight connections, a private transfer to Munich Airport can also be arranged.

Meals included: Breakfast