Austria - High Alps Explorer

ITINERARY

Saturday - Very early morning departure from Dorset via channel crossing to France and onwards to Novotel St Avold for overnight stay with set dinner and breakfast.

Sunday - Cross the mighty Rhine into Germany and start our climb up into the Alps. Arrive at St Anton am Arlberg for 5 night stay with a welcome drink on arrival while the bags are portered.

Monday - A day to relax in the charming village of St Anton. There is lots to see and do including many cable cars into the mountains, the charming museum of skiing, beautiful churches and manicured parks, great shopping and café culture. We have included The St Anton Card which gives free entry to some attractions, free cable car rides and free buses, so you can get around easily.

Tuesday - We traverse the spectacular Fern Pass, formed 12,000 years ago by a gigantic mountain collapse. The landscape is marked by a series of lakes, the largest of which is the Blindsee - near which we pause to take in the view of Germany's highest peak, The Zugspitze.
Continue over the Bavarian border to Garmish-Partenkirchen - a town used to rendering visitors speechless with its extraordinary beauty and jaw dropping fairytale views of cloud scraping peaks.
Later we cross back into Austria, past the Schlossberg Castle (now an entertainment venue) to the Imperial city of Innsbruck - small and friendly despite it's elegant Baroque and Gothic architecture it is easily explored on foot.

Wednesday - Off the beaten track and through the wild Lechtal Valley - one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the Alps which is famous for the frescos painted on the farmhouses, particularly near Holzgau and Bach. We shall visit the magnificent Linderhof Palace near Ettal built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria from 1869 - apparently inspired by Versailles - our guided visit includes the elaborate staterooms and glorious gardens. Hear the stories and history of this amazing place - from its Hall of Mirrors and elaborate throne with ostrich feathers, to the stunning marble water cascade, fountains and sculptures. An amazing place!

Thursday - An hours scenic drive through the Vorarlberg region brings us to the medieval town of Feldkirch, close to Austria's border with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is well preserved with a castle and cathedral, city walls and prestigious villas. After lunch we shall make a spectacular drive along the Silvretta High Alpine Road -"The Dream Road"- a toll road 15 miles long with 34 hairpin bends - it is one of the most beautiful and panoramic roads in the Alps! From Partenen to Galtur with a stop to view the dam forming the Silvretta Lake and other unmissable viewpoints along the way - this ride will have you reaching for your camera time and again!

Friday - We leave this stunning region to descend towards France for overnight stay at Novotel St Avold with dinner and breakfast.

Saturday - Homeward bound, crossing the channel and returning to Dorset by that evening.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner