Classic Austrian Alps

Your alpine journey begins today on arrival in the German city of Munich. Using your included rail ticket, travel from the airport to the city center to check into our conveniently located hotel for the night.

The capital of Bavaria, Munich effortlessly blends traditional charm with modern urban life. Famous for its historic Old Town, world-renowned beer gardens and proximity to the Bavarian Alps, the city offers a rich mix of culture, history and everyday life. At its heart lies Marienplatz, the city's central square, where the ornate Neues Rathaus draws crowds with its famous Glockenspiel. Nearby, the twin domes of Frauenkirche rise above the skyline, a lasting symbol of the city.

You can begin exploring all of this, if time allows, before meeting the Tour Manager and your travel group in the hotel's lobby this evening for our first dinner. Overnight Munich.

• Dinner

Setting off after a leisurely breakfast, we return to Munich station for our onward journey. Boarding a scenic local train, we travel across the Austrian border to Wörgl, watching as the gentle Bavarian countryside gives way to the dramatic landscapes of the majestic Alps.

From here, a coach transfers us to St. Johann, where we check into our hotel for the next six nights. Set in a broad, amphitheater-like valley and surrounded by the towering summits of the Tyrolean Alps, this charming town enjoys an idyllic setting. It is a beautiful and peaceful base for our alpine vacation - brimming with traditional buildings adorned with colorful flowerboxes.

Our family-run hotel boasts an idyllic chalet-style façade, and we settle down to enjoy dinner with beers, local wines and soft drinks included from the time the appetizer is served until dessert is served, as they are every night of our stay. Overnight St. Johann.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

After our first breakfast in Austria, there is free time to explore St. Johann at leisure.

The quaint Mariä Himmelfahrt church, with a yellow façade and twin Baroque towers, has an ornately decorated interior and sits in the main square. You could also visit the town's museum, which details the region's social and natural history and is housed in an 18th-century penitentiary for dissolute priests. Leaving from near our hotel, the Harschbichl cable car delivers incredible views of peaks and valleys on its way to the mountain, more than 5,000 feet above sea level. Here, the taller Kitzbühel Horn dominates the skyline and breathtaking vistas stretch as far as the eye can see.

Returning to the hotel at leisure, there is a selection of cakes and coffee available for you to enjoy in the afternoon, followed by dinner in the evening. Overnight St. Johann.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

Today's visit to Hohe Tauern National Park is a trip highlight, as we ride over the highest surfaced mountain pass in Austria.

Our first stop is the Edelweißspitze, an 8,400-foot peak accessible by road that offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of snow-capped mountains. Afterward, we travel through the wilderness to the summit of Hochtor Pass. As the route winds gently down the mountains, we take a short diversion to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe. Named after the Habsburg emperor who stopped here in 1856, this viewpoint commands views of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain, and the snaking Pasterze Glacier, the largest in the eastern Alps. With a few restaurants to choose from, you have free time here to find lunch while soaking up the scenery and keeping an eye out for native ibex and marmots.

We continue our journey through alpine valleys to the lakeside town of Zell am See. Here, we enjoy a relaxing cruise across the sapphire-blue Lake Zell, admiring the lush forests, rolling hills and towering mountains beyond.

Back on land, we return to St. Johann, ready for dinner. Overnight St. Johann.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

Traveling by coach to Jenbach after breakfast, we join the narrow-gauge Zillertal Railway* for a 19-mile journey through the picturesque Ziller Valley. First opened in 1902, the route is operated by a steam engine hauling beautifully restored carriages through lush green pastures stretching between rolling hills. Views of remote villages of half-timbered houses and traditional chalets guide our way to Mayrhofen.

This popular alpine town at the head of a valley is backed by increasingly tall peaks, and you are free to explore. Alternatively, take a cable car higher into the mountains to enjoy panoramic views while savoring your picnic lunch. The Penken cable car carries passengers to a mountainside meadow overlooking Mayrhofen and its surrounding snow-capped peaks. At the top of the Ahorn cable car is a rustic amphitheater, crystal-clear lakes, rural huts and spectacular views.

Returning to Jenbach by rail in the early afternoon, we travel by coach back to our St Johann hotel with free time before dinner. Overnight St. Johann.

*Please note: Depending on timing and availability, some groups may instead journey on the Achenseebahn today.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

The birthplace of Mozart and the setting for The Sound of Music, Salzburg is our destination today. After arriving by coach, we explore this musical city's impressive sights during a guided tour. Overlooked by the 11th-century Hohensalzburg Fortress, set high on a hill, we stroll through the well-preserved and UNESCO-listed Old Town, admiring churches, squares, alleyways and Baroque spires.

With an afternoon at leisure, there are many appealing options. You might choose to visit the former residence of the Mozart family, who lived at Getreidegasse 9 from 1747 to 1773. It is where Wolfgang was born in 1756 and is now a house museum detailing his young life. His old Makartplatz home is also a museum displaying artifacts from the composer's life. Alternatively, you could take a walk along the river, visit Mirabell Garden or take a cable-car ride up Untersberg Mountain for spectacular views across the Berchtesgaden Alps.

We return to our hotel by coach in time for dinner. Overnight St. Johann.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

The day is yours to enjoy St Johann and the surrounding areas at your own pace. You might choose to visit nearby Kitzbühel, just a short train journey away. Known for its attractive medieval center, it is a delight to explore, with colorful buildings, boutique shops and inviting cafés. You might also like to take the Hahnenkamm cable car for panoramic views across the mountain landscape, with a selection of scenic walking trails to enjoy at the summit.

Alternatively, you could travel further afield to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, where historic architecture meets a vibrant alpine setting. While here, you might consider a visit to the renowned Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a glittering attraction just outside the city.

If you would prefer a more relaxed day, St. Johann offers the perfect setting for a gentle walk or simply soaking up the atmosphere of this charming Tyrolean town. However you choose to spend your day, we reconvene this evening for a traditional Tyrolean dinner, featuring regional specialties. Overnight St. Johann.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Drinks package included during Dinner

Our time in St. Johann allowed us to experience the stunning Austrian Alps, from the region's awe-inspiring landscapes to the charming towns. After exploring the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, riding the Zillertal Railway to Mayrhofen, cruising Lake Zell and discovering the beauty of Salzburg, your journey comes to a close this morning.

Leaving St. Johann this morning, a coach transfers us to nearby Wörgl. Here, we board a local train, watching the Austrian Alps fade into the backdrop as we journey toward Munich. Arriving later today, you are free to continue your onward travels home using your included ticket to Munich's airport.

• Breakfast