Austrian Lake District 2012 

We set off from the impressive station at St Pancras International, and travel by Eurostar to Brussels. Sit back and relax in your comfortable Standard Premier Class seat, and enjoy your complimentary light meal and drinks served during the journey. On arrival in the Belgian capital we change trains and continue in First Class on the high-speed service to Cologne. Here we stay for the night at the popular Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre, situated close to the station, the Old Town and the UNESCO-protected Gothic Cathedral. (E,D)

After breakfast, we depart from Cologne in First Class and continue our journey southwards, travelling across Germany and into the state of Bavaria. Here we join the rail service which takes us across the Austrian border to the city of Salzburg. Here we are met by a coach for the final transfer to Traunkirchen, a peaceful town set on the tranquil western shore of the fjord-like Lake Traunsee. Our base for seven nights is the Hotel Post, which is beautifully situated in a central location at the edge of the magnificent lake. On arrival at the hotel we are treated to a complimentary welcome drink, and after time to settle in to our new surroundings, this evening we enjoy dinner together in the hotel. (B,D)

We begin our stay in Traunkirchen with a guided walking tour of the town and its main sights. Following the tour, we embark on a cruise on beautiful Lake Traunsee, enjoying the alternative views of Traunkirchen and the surrounding mountains from its rippling emerald waters. The lake's eastern shore laps at a number of large rocky grags, the tallest of which is the imposing Traunstein. At 1691 m (5,548 ft), Traunstein dominates the local skyline, and is often called the "guardian of the Salzkammergut". On our return to the landing point - just a few minutes' walk from the hotel - the rest of your day is free for you to spend as you wish. After a pleasant walk through the wonderful scenery around the lake, or into the surrounding meadows, the hotel's wellness centre is the ideal place to relax. Otherwise, there is an excellent variety of restaurants in nearby Bad Ischl, offering regional specialities along with international dishes. As you are free for dinner tonight, you have the ideal opportunity to sample these. (B)

No journey to the Salzkammergut region would be complete without visiting Hallstatt, which is one of Austria's most photographed villages. With its traditional pastel-coloured houses perched on the tiny plain between the mountains and the Hallstättersee Lake, this stunningly beautiful village has UNESCO World Heritage status. We reach the Hallstättersee by train, and then cross to the secluded village - nestled between towering Dachstein peaks on all sides - on a scenic boat cruise. We enjoy time to explore Hallstatt and its charming pedestrianised lanes before returning to Traunkirchen. (B,D)

Another of the highlights of our holiday awaits today, as we embark on a coach excursion to Salzburg. Known for being the birthplace of Mozart, Salzburg is one of Austria's largest and most famous cities, whose centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour. The city's internationally renowned Baroque architecture sits in one of Europe's best-preserved city centres, which combines with the lovely local scenery to create a unique charm. On completion of the tour, you have some free time to continue discovering this fascinating city at your leisure. Salzburg's squares are delightful; and another popular option is the Getreidegasse, which offers retail therapy in the most= splendid setting. Otherwise, the Hohensalzburg Fortress offers superb views of the city and the courtyard cafés are a great place to relax with strudel and a coffee. We break our return journey with a visit to Mondsee, a pretty town set on the lake of the same name. Its most famous sight is the 15th century parish church, which featured in the wedding scenes of 'The Sound of Music'. (B,D)

Today is free for you to do as you wish. You could spend the day relaxing and enjoying your surroundings in Traunkirchen, or you could perhaps make the short journey to see the sights of Bad Ischl. The Emperor's Villa and Park is situated here, as is the Salt Mine and a number of museums. Furthermore, the famous Konditorei Zauner, makers of outstanding confectionery, are just a short walk from the station. (B)

Today we take a ferry across Lake Traunsee to the pretty town of Gmunden. You have free time here to explore the Old Town, and relax in one of Gmunden's many cafés. Otherwise, you could take a ride on the Traunsee Railway on the scenic route to nearby Vorchdorf, a charming market town. We begin our return to Traunkirchen by taking the Gmunden tram system to the railway station. Dating from 1894, the Gmunden tram system is one of the world's oldest and shortest, at just 1.4miles in length. We then take a train which skirts the lake on a scenic trip back to Traunkirchen. (B,D)

We travel by coach to St Wolfgang on Wolfgangsee, where we join the Schafbergbahn Cog Railway. The line has been in operation since 1893, and runs both diesel and steam engines. At less than 4 miles in length, the train climbs 1,190m (3,904 feet) in about 45 minutes. After time for lunch at the summit we descend back to the lakeside. We continue with a scenic cruise on Wolfgangsee from St Wolfgang to the beautiful village of St Gilgen. After free time in the village we return to Traunkirchen by coach. (B,D)

This morning we bid farewell to Traunkirchen and return to Salzburg by coach, where we join our high-speed train for our journey in First Class, bound for Cologne. We stay overnight at the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre. (B,D)

Today we take a train for Brussels, travelling in First Class. In Brussels we connect with the Eurostar service to London. A light meal and drinks are served at our seats before our arrival into St Pancras International. (B,E)

E=Eurostar Meal, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
These meals, where shown are included in the price of your holiday