Day One. You’ll be picked up at home and transferred to Edinburgh Airport for your flight to Munich, then onwards to Hotel Gradlwirt to check in for your seven night stay.
Day Two. We travel to Lake Achensee, the largest lake in the Tyrol. Here we enjoy a sightseeing boat trip across its turquoise waters, taking in the mountain scenery as we glide across the glassy lake, followed by free time.
Day Three. Our treat today is a guided tour of Innsbruck, the lively capital of the Austrian Tyrol where fascinating sights include the Hofkirche gothic church, Stadtturm medieval tower, the imperial Hofburg Castle and the Goldenes Dachl – a ‘golden roof’ covered with glittering fire-gilded tiles that was constructed for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. The first part of the tour will be by coach, followed by a short walking tour, then free time to explore at your own pace.
Day Four. A day at leisure for independent sightseeing. Experience Niederndorf and its surroundings with a horse and carriage ride. Perhaps catch the local bus to nearby Kufstein. One of the prettiest towns in the Tirol, Kufstein features a medieval old town with the world’s largest open air organ, which is played every day at noon. Visit majestic Kufstein Castle, stroll through the ancient, winding cobblestoned alleys of Romerhofgasse, or take the Kaiserlift up the mountain to the top station where you’ll find traditional huts selling local food.
Day Five. Our treat today is a guided walking tour of Salzburg, the city of music, where sights include Mozart’s birthplace, glorious Hohensalzburg Castle and stately Mirabell Palace as well as the locations where The Sound of Music was filmed in 1964. Afterwards, free time to continue exploring.
Day Six. Holiday highlight as we head to Reith im Alpbachtal for the annual Almabtrieb – the bringing down the cattle festival, celebrating the start of autumn with a colourful carnival of music, food and drink as the cows return from alpine pastures.
Day Seven. Another day at leisure.
Day Eight. We check out and make our way to Munich Airport for our return flight to Edinburgh, from where your taxi will take you home.