Austrian Lakes & Peaks

Pretty as a picture, the Austrian Lakes District, is a glorious region of sparkling blue lakes, soaring mountains, lush green valleys and idyllic villages. Experience the region at its best when you visit picturesque St Wolfgang and photogenic Hallstatt. You also visit the 'Sound of Music' city of Salzburg, renowned for its palaces, gardens and magnificent Hohensalzburg Fortress as well as for being Mozart's birth place. Excursions for 2025 include entrance to the Kaiservilla plus rides on Schafberg Mountain Railway, the Hallstatt cable railway and a boat trip on Lake Wolfgang. Simply stunning!A Crusader Favourite!
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\n\nDay 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\n\nDay 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\n\nIncluded Excursions\nSalzburg (may operate by local coach)\nSalzburg - 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\n\nHallstatt & Bad Ischl - Pretty as a Picture\nHead 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!\n\nLake Wolfgang & Schafberg Mountain Railway\nJourney 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.\n\nBerchtesgaden & Eagle's Nest\nNip 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.\n\nDay 7 - Today it's farewell to Austria as you return through Germany to your final overnight stop. BB\n\nDay 8 - After breakfast, continue through Belgium and France to Calais for the return to England.

Holiday Highlights
- Hotel for 5 nights in Austria with continental breakfast buffet & 3-course dinner with soup, salad buffet & choice of main course- Porterage in Austria- Pre-dinner welcome drink on arrival day in Austria- Overnight hotel for 2 nights with breakfast- BBQ dinner or Farmers Buffet one evening (depending on weather)- Four included excursions & entrances as stated- Guided walking tour of Salzburg- Entrance and self-guided visit to Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl- Return ride on Hallstatt Cable Railway- One way cruise St Gilgen - St Wolfgang- Return ride on the Schafberg Mountain Railway- Visit & introduction to the Eagle's Nest with local shuttle bus serviceFerienhotel Hofer, Strass im Attergau 3* family run hotel
The smart, chalet-style 3* family-run Ferienhotel Hofer is beautifully located in the heart of the Salzkammergut nature in peaceful wooded countryside above Lake Attersee. Guestrooms are comfortable and spacious and are equipped with in room safe, hairdryer, sateliite TV and WiFi. Ensuite bathrooms feature a walk-in shower (with a step up). NB Twin rooms are 'continental' twins with two mattresses on one bed frame. All rooms have a balcony with forest or lake views. The hotel offers a spa with a range of treatments (at additional cost) as well as a sauna, steam and relaxation room. There is also an outdoor pool and mini-golf course. The restaurant serves seasonal and regional produce and the bar with its panoramic sun terrace is the ideal place to enjoy an aperitif. There is a lift.