Railways of the Austrian Alps 2012 

Our Austrian holiday begins at the restored St Pancras International station, where we join the Eurostar to Brussels. Travelling in Standard Premier Class, we enjoy a light meal and drinks served at our comfortable seats. On arrival in Brussels we change trains and continue in First Class on the high-speed service to Cologne. We stay here overnight at either the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre or the Four Points Hotel, both situated close to the station, the Rhine and the city's magnificent Gothic Cathedral - a UNESCO World Heritage site. (E,D)

Leaving Cologne behind, today we enjoy a journey in First Class along the scenic Rhine Valley. Our high-speed service continues southwards towards Lake Constance, then skirts Switzerland and crosses the Austrian border. Our destination is Innsbruck, the capital of the beautiful Tyrol. We stay here for seven nights at the welcoming Hotel Grauer Bär. (B,D)

We begin our stay in Innsbruck by taking a morning guided walking tour of this most striking Alpine city. The tour introduces sights such as the Golden Roof, built for the Emperor Maximilian I to serve as a royal box from which he could observe the tournaments below, and including nearly 3,000 gold-plated copper tiles. The Golden Roof sits within Innsbruck's beautiful Old Town, close to Maximilian's Imperial Palace and the impressive 15th century city tower. In the afternoon, we take a scenic excursion into the mountains surrounding Innsbruck on the scenic Stubaitalbahn Railway. Opened in 1904, this 11-mile narrow-gauge railway connects Innsbruck's metropolis with the beautiful mountain hamlets surrounding it. On leaving the city, the train climbs past the Olympic ski-jump at Bergisel, and continues climbing, using 180 degree bends to gain height. The journey takes us past idyllic scenery, including lush Alpine meadows, up to more than 1,000 metres at the line's peak. (B,D)

Today's full-day excursion takes us firstly to Jenbach and continues through the dramatic Ziller Valley on the Zillertalbahn Railway. Travelling in wonderfully restored four-wheeled carriages, we enjoy a steam-hauled journey through breathtaking scenery, passing charming villages of traditional chalets as we make our way to Mayrhofen at the head of the valley. Here we have some free time to explore its cobbled streets lined with shops, restaurants and pretty pavement cafés before making our return journey. (B,D)

Today you have the opportunity to explore Innsbruck at your own pace. Located in the Inn Valley beneath the impressive backdrop of the Alps, Innsbruck is known for its collection of fantastic Imperial buildings. Perhaps visit the maze of cobbled alleyways in the medieval Old Town, which still reflects the city's historic and cultural past with its wonderful Renaissance and Baroque architecture. It is also a perfect place to enjoy a coffee and to sample some of the exquisite local cakes. Alternatively, take the train to Igls, a charming town which offers great views of the surrounding valley, and is well worth a visit. (B)

Today's excursion by rail takes us from Innsbruck to Seefeld, one of the Tyrol's premier resort towns. Your day here is free for you to explore this pretty town. Set on a verdant plateau amongst Alpine peaks, Seefeld offers a variety of walks, ranging from gentle strolls through to hiking trails into the mountains. One particularly scenic path is the one that encircles the Wildsee lake at the edge of the town. Otherwise, you could perhaps visit the Seekirchl, a unique, oniondomed church. We return to Innsbruck and enjoy dinner together this evening. (B,D)

Today is at leisure to further explore the Tyrol. You could take a journey on the Hungerburgbahn, a funicular railway to the Hungerburg mountain. The line was redesigned in 2007 and now features panoramic carriages giving wonderful views. Otherwise, perhaps visit one of the pretty towns of the Inn Valley, such as Rattenberg, a picturesque town which is renowned for the fine glassware and crystal which has been produced in the town for centuries. Or, you could head to Kufstein, and discover the spectacular Kufstein Fortress, which affords a splendid panorama of the town. Another option is nearby Hall in Tirol, with its abundance of Gothic architecture and the imposing 14th century Hasegg Castle. (B)

This morning we board a steam train on the Achenseebahn Railway, a four-mile narrow-gauge railway leading from Jenbach to Seespitz on the shores of Achensee, the Tyrol's largest lake. Having opened in 1889, the line is Europe's oldest steam-powered cog railway, and we enjoy the beautiful scenery as we travel into the mountains. At Seespitz we board a ship for a cruise on Lake Achensee, a beautiful expanse of water created by glacial activity, and surrounded by mighty mountain peaks. We cruise at a gentle pace, allowing us to take in the magnificent views of the pretty towns on the shore. After time to break the trip at one of these lakeside towns, we make our way back to Innsbruck. (B,D)

We leave Innsbruck today by high-speed train direct to Cologne. On arrival, we walk the short distance to our base for the night, either the Grand City Hotel Cologne Centre or the Four Points Hotel. (B,D)

This morning we depart from Cologne, and travel by high-speed train to Brussels. In the Belgian capital we board the Eurostar service back to London. A light meal and drinks are served on board 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