Spectacular Salzkammergut & the Sound of Music

Day 1

After departing, we travel south for our ferry across the channel. After arriving in France, we continue our journey and travel to tonight's overnight hotel.

Day 2

After breakfast, we travel through the heart of Europe before arriving in Austria and our hotel for the next six nights, located in St. Georgen in the Attergau region.

Day 3

We head to Gmunden for a guided tour behind the scenes of the world-famous producer of Gmunden Ceramics and gain detailed insights into the creation of the unique Gmundner ceramics. From turning, glazing, painting, flaming and firing - experience how much craftsmanship goes into making Gmundner ceramics. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore Gmunden as you wish; why not stroll through the little, romantic roads of this beautiful city or enjoy a lakeside lunch if you desire? This afternoon, we continue onto nearby Schloss Ort. Located on an island in Lake Traunsee, this historic, whitewashed castle dates back to the 11th century and is one of the Salzkammergut's most famous sights. Before we return to our hotel, we also include a visit to nearby Lake Attersee.

Day 4

Enjoy a visit to the famous pilgrimage destination and the spa town of Bad Ischl, which rose to fame in the late nineteenth century when Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary established his summer residence here. We include a guided tour of the Kaiservilla, a Neoclassical villa where the Emperor signed the declaration of war on Serbia, marking the beginning of World War I. We continue to the idyllic Hallstatt, found on the western shore of Lake Hallstatt, Austria's oldest village, whose civilisation dates back to the eighth century BC. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site framed by towering Alpine hills and blue lake waters, it's easy to see why it's one of the most photographed spots in Austria.

Day 5

'The Hills are alive with the Sound of Music' as we follow in the footsteps of the Vonn Trapp family today. We begin in the majestic Mondsee, located on the banks of the crystal-clear waters of the lake, where the iconic wedding scene from The Sound of Music was filmed. See the beautiful Baroque twin-towered church where Maria married Georg von Trapp; don't forget to take your photo out front! From here, we continue to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, for a guided city tour taking in some of the places familiar from The Sound of Music including Mirabell Gardens, where Maria and the children sang "Do-Re-Mi", the Residenzplatz and the Getreidegasse, which capture vibrant reminders of Salzburg's rich history and the timeless allure of the classic feature film, based on the true story of the von Trapp family and their escape from the clutches of the Nazis.

Day 6

Get personal with 'The Sound of Music' as you explore the region by cruise and rail today. Starting in St. Gilgen, the birthplace of Mozart's mother, we join a boat cruise across the flawless crystal waters of the lake to the famous pilgrimage town of St. Wolfgang. Visit the world-famous Weissen Rössl (White Horse Inn), used for a scene from The Sound of Music, before taking a stroll to explore the town centre, where you'll find a maze of cobbled streets lined with beautiful, frescoed houses, shops and cafes. We can't promise you'll 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', but we can offer you a ride on the cog railway to the summit of Schafberg Mountain with our optional journey (additional charge applies). Dating back to the nineteenth century, this is the steepest cog railway in Austria and home to one of the oldest steam engines in the world. With mountain panoramas and views of eleven different lakes awaiting you at the top, you might even be lucky enough to spot clumps of Maria's beloved Edelweiss growing along the way!

Day 7

Today, visit Berchtesgaden, which boasts a rich history of hosting prominent guests. Chosen by the kings of Bavaria as their summer residence and immersed in centuries of history, it is surrounded by majestic mountains atop one of which is the Kehlsteinhaus or the 'Eagle's Nest'. Perched at six-thousand feet, the building was constructed by Martin Bormann and given to Adolf Hitler for his fiftieth birthday. Designed initially as a teahouse for visiting diplomats, it remained unscathed by the bombing and, since 1952, has been open to the public as a mountain-top restaurant with a spectacular view, accessible only by special mountain buses and the famous 'golden lift'. We continue to Königssee or the King's Lake. Surrounded by majestic mountain scenery, this lake is renowned for the clarity of its grand echo, which reverberates up to seven times. Why not take a stroll along the St. Bartholomä Peninsula with the unmistakable red onion domes atop the ancient pilgrimage church?

Day 8

We bid our Austrian hosts 'so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye' as we depart and travel to this evening's overnight hotel.

Day 9

We continue our journey by ferry crossing and return home today.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner