Day One. We journey to our overnight ferry to the continent, where we enjoy dinner, entertainment and breakfast on board.
Day Two. We continue to our dinner, bed and breakfast overnight hotel.
Day Three. Onwards to Austria’s lake district to check into the Ferienhotel Hofer in time for dinner and our seven night stay.
Day Four. We travel the short distance to the tiny hamlet of Attersee, home to UNESCO World Heritage Site stilt houses. Here we enjoy a cruise on the sparkling lake, taking in views of the surrounding hills. Then its free time in the village before we return to our hotel with the rest of the day at leisure.
Day Five. Continuing our adventure through Austria’s lake district, our first stop is Mondsee, where we view the delightful church where the wedding scene in The Sound of Music was filmed. We move on to St Gilgen, a graceful village that was the birthplace of Mozart’s mother. Here we embark on a relaxing sail on the turquoise-blue
Wolfgangsee lake to St Wolfgang.
Day Six. Salzburg, the city of music, is our destination where sights include Mozart’s birthplace, and the glorious Hohensalzburg Castle as well as stately Mirabell Palace and Gardens which was the backdrop to The Sound of Music’s ‘Do-Re-Mi’ song. Perhaps use the hop on, hop off bus to see the main attractions.
Day Seven. We journey up the Bavarian Alps to the attractive town of Berchtesgaden. Here we take a brass elevator trip through the mountain and into Hitler’s imposing Eagle’s Nest for a guided tour of this hideaway, perched 6000 feet high on top of the Obersalzberg mountain. Take in the panoramic views and explore the historic dwelling that was built for Hitler’s fiftieth birthday and has a visitors’ centre and eerie tunnels.
Day Eight. We’re off to the pretty spa town of Bad Ischl, home to grand architecture such as the Imperial Villa. It has splendid museums, leafy parks and a cable car taking visitors up the mountain.
Day Nine. Linz is our treat today, a splendid city of contrasts with a historic Old Town and a waterfront futuristic museum.
Day Ten. Check out after breakfast then journey to our dinner, bed and breakfast overnight hotel.
Day Eleven. We travel to our overnight ferry for the return sailing with dinner, entertainment and breakfast onboard.
Day Twelve. We continue home after our spectacular holiday.