Enchanting Austria: Fall into a Fairytale

Austria’s dreamlike mountainscapes, glistening glacial lakes and captivating castles seem to have leapt from the pages of a fairytale. 

Our Essence of Austria tour distils the magic of this country into eight enchanting days – uncovering local stories and bewitching sights further off the tourist trail. Are you ready to turn the page on a new adventure? 

Our story begins in a land of shimmering lakes and soaring snow-topped Alps. Austria’s landscapes are nothing short of spellbinding; that’s why we’ll be taking the scenic route on our Austrian adventure! Day 2 of our tour leads us to the lovely lakeside town of Zell am See – a lesser-visited gem not far from Saltzburg. Here verdant, rolling mountains hug a dazzling aquamarine lake – best appreciated from the cable car up Mt Schmittenhöhe. 

All aboard! On Day 6 we’ll settle into a historic cog train and travel in vintage style to the top of Schafberg mountain. On a clear summer’s day the views from the summit are truly unforgettable.  

And naturally, we couldn’t leave out Germany’s lakeside beauty spot... We’ll also take to the glassy waters of Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria – close to the German/Austrian border – for a tranquil boat trip along its picturesque shores. A true storybook setting! 

Austria was home to one of the most important dynasties in European history: the Habsburgs. Ruling over a large empire from the thirteenth century up until 1918, the Habsburg monarchy left a grand imprint on Austria’s architecture. Ornate Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is a particularly lavish example, with 1440 rooms fit for any fairytale king or queen. 

Spectacular Salzburg is the setting for Day 5 of our tour, where the Sound of Music was famously filmed. Here imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress – one of Europe’s largest medieval castles – perches on a hilltop and stands guard over the city. We’ll soak up the melodies of Saltzburg’s famous son, Wolfgang Mozart, with a magical evening concert at this atmospheric venue. 

Moving into the more recent past, we’ll also pay a visit to Berchtesgaden – a picture-book Bavarian town and home to Hitler’s mountaintop retreat: Eagle’s Nest. 

It’s delicious (we promise!). On Day 3 of our adventure we’ll try our hands at making apple strudel under the guidance of the experts – a classic Austrian delicacy!  

The apple theme continues on Day 7 of our tour, albeit of the liquid variety... We’ll learn all about the cider-making process at a local distillery, before having the chance to sample the tipple ourselves. Not forgetting Austria’s fine cheeses, on Day 6 we’ll call in at a traditional farm within the beautiful Salzkammergut region for a tasting session. And like all good fairytales, our Austrian escape will include plenty of feasting along the way! 

Ready to find your ‘happily ever after’? Our Essence of Austria tour has Guaranteed departures for summer 2023. Your carriage awaits!