Best of the alps >> 2010
This journey takes us from Munich via the Alps to Vienna. We cross historical Austria by VIP Bus, venturing through its most beautiful sceneries. Other forms of transport are historical steam railways, steamboats, cable cars, etc. We pedal on our bikes through the most scenic parts. We will visit romantic palaces and castles. Our accommodation varies from a castle hotel to a mountain hotel (2000 m above sea level). The crowing event will be a walk to an "Alm (mountain hut) lying in the midst of the breathtaking Austrian Alps. You will be in tune with nature.
Arrival at Munich airport. The NOTHEGGER TRAVEL TEAM will welcome you there. By luxurious bus (special trailer for the bicycles) we drive to our hotel in Munich. The afternoon is free at your own disposal.
In the morning there is a guided sightseeing tour of Munich by bike. In the afternoon we will visit Nymphenburg Palace and the Olympic Grounds. We'll have fun in the evening at an original Bavarian Beer Party.
After breakfast we drive to Oberammergau. We have the opportunity to visit the world famous woodcarvers. On the houses we will see beautiful mural paintings, called "Luftlmalereien". We continue to Castle Linderhof, the smallest but surely most beautiful castle of Ludwig 11 of Bavaria. We visit the castle and view the artificial grotto, which was specially built for Richard Wagner's Operas. Lunch at the Pub Forellenhof at Lake Plan see. We pedal on our bikes alongside this beautiful lake. By bus we climb the "Fernpass" and stop at a gloriously green mountain lake. We take a short walk here. Later on we travel on via the "Mieminger Plateau" to our castle hotel in Igls. From here we get a fantastic panoramic view of Innsbruck and the surrounding Alps. Our hotel is well equipped with sauna, indoor swimming pool, fitness room, etc.
Today we go by nostalgic railway to Innsbruck. We do a Sightseeing tour of Innsbruck on horse carriages. Afterwards we take a walk trough the Old City and view the Golden Roof, City Tower, Court Castle of Innsbruck, etc. We continue by bus to the "Bergisel" from where we get a marvelous view of Innsbruck. We travel on to have lunch at the medieval Town Hall. After our meal we take a leisurely stroll around this town. In the afternoon we pedal alongside River Inn to Volders, where we visit the private Castle Friedberg. Our guide is the owner of the castle Mr. van Trapp, a descendant of the famous Trapp Family (Sound of Music). We return by bus to Igls. Those who want to can go back by bike (approx. 15 km). ln the evening we go by bus or walk (approx. 20 minutes) to the mountain hut "Heiligwasser" (1475 meters above sea level). Tonight we have a fun party with typical Tyrolean Food and Folk Music. Later on we return to our hotel in Igls.
After breakfast we drive by bus to Jenbach. We ascend by steam rack railway (bui lt at the turn of the century) to Lake Achensee. We cross the lake by steamboat and go ashore at Pertisau. From here we ride on our bikes through a picturesque valley arriving at the "Falzthurn Aim" (mountain hut) for lunch. We continue by bike through breathtaking countryside to our Mountain Hotel "Gern Aim". Evening meal and overnight stay here.
After breakfast we walk up to the "Plumsjoch" (approx. 2 hours) where a typical Tyro lean "Brettljause" (Spread of bread, cheese, cold meats, etc.) is served. In the afternoon we climb down on the other side to the Eng Aim (approx. 1 112 hours). We will celebrate our conquering of the Alps in the evening with excellent Tyrolean cuisine and Folk Music. We stay overnight at a comfortable Mountain Hotel.
In the morning we pedal on our bikes through a maple forest (the largest in Europe) to a village called Vorderriss. We continue by bus passing Lake Achensee to the "Kanzelkehre". We have lunch here and can enjoy the beautiful panoramic view oft he Inn- and Zillervalley. We drive on to Rattenberg, a medieval town known for its famous glass blowing workshops. We visit one of the workshops, then pedal on alongside romantic lakes to a Tyrolean Farmhouse Museum. Here we view the historical farmhouses and sample a Tyrolean dish called "Krapfen" (samosas with potatoes herb or cheese filling). Later on we drive by bus through the "Berchtesgadenerland" passing Salzburg City to a village called Eugendorf. Evening meal and overnight stay at a very good country hotel.
After breakfast we drive via the "German Alpine Road" to Berchtesgaden. We cross Lake K6nigsee by boat and visit the chapel St. Bartholomew. You can test the famous Echo of Lake Königssee here. Lunch at a cozy country pub in Anif. In the afternoon we visit the Mozart City Salzburg. We view Mozart's birth place, the famous shopping street "Getreidegasse" and other major sights. By bike we go a little way out of Salzburg to Castle Leopoldskron, where the world famous movie "Sound of Music" was filmed. We return by bus to Eugendorf. Those who want to can go back by bike (approx. 10 km) further enjoying the fresh country air. If you wish you can dive into the hotel's pool before dinner. Evening meal and overnight stay at the Hotel Holznerwirt.
ln the morning we drive to Lake Mondsee and visit the Dome there (shooting place of the film "Sound of Music"). We mount our bikes and ride alongside the lake passing former "Pfahlbauten" (Lake Dwellings) arriving at Lake Wolfgangsee. ln St. Wolfgang we have lunch at the popular White Horse Inn. ln the afternoon we travel on to Lake Hallstattersee, which is one of the most beautiful lakes in Austria, situated in the midst of the Dachstein Mountains. From Obertraun we ascend by cable car to our Mountain Hotel Krippenstein (2100m). From here we get a magnificent view of the whole Dachstein Region. Evening meal at the Panorama Restaurant and overnight stay here.
The morning is free at your own disposal. You have the opportunity to visit the Ice Caves near the hotel. After lunch we go down to the valley by cable car. We take a boat trip across the romantic Lake Hallstattersee and visit Hallstatt. From here we take the diagonal railway to the Salt Mine, which is thousands of years old. We partly slide on a chute through the tunnels (great fun!). Later on we return to our Mountain Hotel. Those who want to can use the hotel sauna. Tonight there is a jolly mountain hut party with entertainment (games, dances, etc.) Overnight stay again at Hotel Krippenstein.
After breakfast we descend by cable car to the valley. We drive on to Graz and settle in at our Castle Hotel. After a princely meal we visit the major sights of Graz. Dinner and overnight stay at the Castle Hotel.
In the morning we drive by bus to the "South Styrian Weinstrasse". We mount our bikes and pedal through romantic vineyards to IlImitz. After lunch we continue by bus and later on ride again on our bikes on the "Schilcherstrasse" to our Heurigen (typical local Vine Bar). A "Brotzeit" (Spread of Bread, cheeses, cold meats, etc. is served here and we'll also sample the excellent "Schilcherwine". Later on we will return to our hotel by bus.
We say farewell to our princely lodgings and drive on direction Vienna. We stop at Eisenstadt for lunch and visit Esterhazy Palace. From here we continue to Rust. After settling in at our guest house we take a leisurely stroll through this charming village. Evening meal and overnight stay in Rust.
Trip to Vienna. Sightseeing tour by nostalgic tramway. We view all major sights of Vienna - Opera House, Schönbrunn Palace, etc. Afterwards we drive up to the Kahlenberg to enjoy the marvellous view over Vienna City. Lateron we return to our guesthouse in Rust. Here we'll have a jolly farewell party at a "HEURIGEN" (Typical Austrian Vine Bar).
Airport Vienna. End of a fantastic journey.