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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Classic Austrian Alps

Nine-day Austrian Alps escorted tour from London via Eurostar and First Class rail

Illustration of Classic Austrian Alps

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day escorted journey through the Austrian Alps, departing London St Pancras and returning via Cologne. The tour combines Eurostar Plus and First Class rail travel with a six-night base in St Johann, a charming Tyrolean town. From there, you take a steam-hauled narrow-gauge train through the Ziller Valley to Mayrhofen, cross Austria's highest surfaced mountain pass on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road to visit the Pasterze Glacier, cruise on Lake Zell, and enjoy a guided tour of Salzburg's UNESCO-listed Old Town. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, handling logistics and leading excursions. Days 3 and 7 offer leisure time to explore St Johann at your own pace or make optional trips to nearby Kitzbühel or Innsbruck. Breakfasts, dinners with wine and beer in St Johann, and all included rail journeys appeal to those seeking comfort and structure on their first major Alpine railway adventure, or to repeat rail travellers wanting to experience Austria's heritage lines and dramatic mountain scenery.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement (GBP 2,399) is significantly higher than half the double price (GBP 949.50 per person for the from-price); confirm the exact single room cost before booking.
  • Hotel Park in St Johann is family-run and chalet-style, booked for six nights; no accommodation alternatives are listed for that portion.
  • Day 7 is entirely free in St Johann with optional self-arranged activities (Kitzbühel by train, Innsbruck, or local walks); no guided programme is provided.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Munich

    From London to Munich

    Gather at London St Pancras and meet the Tour Manager. Board the Eurostar in Plus class to Brussels, enjoying a light meal at your seat. Change trains in Brussels and continue in First Class via Cologne to Munich. Check in to the hotel and enjoy the first group dinner.

    Meals: Eurostar Light Meal, Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: St Johann

    Journey into the Austrian Alps

    After a leisurely breakfast, return to Munich station and board a scenic local train across the Austrian border to Wörgl. A coach transfers you to St Johann, your base for the next six nights. Settle into the family-run chalet-style hotel and enjoy dinner with drinks included.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3overnight: St Johann

    Getting to know St Johann

    Free time to explore St Johann at leisure. Visit the Mariä Himmelfahrt church, the town museum in an 18th-century penitentiary, or take the Harschbichl cable car to over 5,000ft for breathtaking views. Enjoy coffee and cake in the afternoon before dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: St Johann

    The Grossglockner High Alpine Road & Lake Zell cruise

    Visit Hohe Tauern National Park and ride over Austria's highest surfaced mountain pass. Stop at Edelweissspitze (8,400ft) for panoramic views, then travel to the Hochtor Pass summit. Divert to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe for views of the Grossglockner and Pasterze Glacier. Free time for lunch. Continue to Zell am See for a relaxing cruise on Lake Zell before returning to St Johann for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: St Johann

    Riding the steam-hauled Zillertal Railway

    Coach to Jenbach to join the narrow-gauge Zillertal Railway for a 19-mile steam-hauled journey through the Ziller Valley to Mayrhofen. Free time to explore Mayrhofen's streets, cafés and shops, or take the Penken or Ahorn cable car for panoramic views. Return to Jenbach by rail and coach back to St Johann for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: St Johann

    The musical city of Salzburg

    Travel to Salzburg for a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, including the Hohensalzburg Fortress, churches, squares and Baroque spires. Afternoon at leisure to visit Mozart's birthplace, Mirabell Garden, or take a cable car up Untersberg Mountain. Return to St Johann for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: St Johann

    A day at leisure in the Austrian Alps

    Free day to explore at your own pace. Options include visiting Kitzbühel by train, travelling to Innsbruck and Swarovski Crystal Worlds, or enjoying a gentle walk around St Johann. Reconvene in the evening for a traditional Tyrolean dinner featuring regional specialities.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  8. Day 8railovernight: Cologne

    By rail to Cologne on the Rhine

    Coach from St Johann to Wörgl, then local train to Munich. Board the First Class service to Cologne, passing through Ulm with its record-breaking minster spire. Arrive in Cologne in the early evening and check in to the hotel near the main station for the final group dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9rail

    Homeward bound

    After breakfast, return to Cologne station and board the First Class train to Brussels. Switch to the Eurostar in Plus class for the journey to London St Pancras, enjoying a light meal at your seat.

    Meals: Breakfast, Eurostar Light Meal

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board Eurostar in Plus class from London St Pancras to Brussels with a light meal at your seat, then continue in First Class via Cologne to Munich.
  • Day 4Cross the Hochtor Pass on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, stopping at Edelweissspitze for panoramic views, then visit Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe overlooking the Grossglockner and Pasterze Glacier before a relaxing cruise on Lake Zell.
  • Day 5Ride the steam-hauled Zillertal Railway on a 19-mile narrow-gauge journey through the Ziller Valley to Mayrhofen, with free time to explore the town or take the Penken or Ahorn cable car for views.
  • Day 6Guided tour of Salzburg's UNESCO-listed Old Town, including Hohensalzburg Fortress, churches, and Baroque squares; afternoon at leisure to visit Mozart's birthplace or Mirabell Garden.
  • Day 8Return journey by First Class rail to Cologne via Munich and Ulm, passing beneath Ulm Minster with its record-breaking spire.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 8 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Eurostar Plus class travel (London St Pancras to Brussels and return)
  • First Class rail travel (Brussels to Munich via Cologne, and return)
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Eurostar light meals on outward and return journeys
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • Beer, wine and soft drinks during dinner each day in St Johann
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

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Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included in the price?
Yes. The from-price includes Eurostar Plus class (London to Brussels and return), First Class rail (Brussels to Munich via Cologne and return), the local train from Munich to Wörgl, and the steam-hauled Zillertal Railway from Jenbach to Mayrhofen.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is fully escorted. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager throughout the nine days, and all excursions and transfers are arranged.
What is included in the daily meals?
Breakfast and dinner are included each day. During the six nights in St Johann, beer, wine, and soft drinks are included with dinner. Eurostar light meals are provided on the outward and return journeys.
How much free time is there?
Day 3 in St Johann is free to explore at leisure. Day 7 is entirely free to visit Kitzbühel or Innsbruck by train, take a walk, or rest. Day 6 includes afternoon leisure time in Salzburg. Day 5 offers free time in Mayrhofen between the train journey and return.
When does the tour run?
Departures are scheduled in April, May, June, July, August, September, and October in 2026 and 2027.
What happens on the first day?
Day 1 involves gathering at London St Pancras in the morning, boarding Eurostar Plus to Brussels with a light meal, changing trains there, and continuing in First Class via Cologne to Munich, arriving in the evening for the first group dinner.

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