How much does it cost?

From £1,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,430 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class to and from Brussels, regional InterCity trains across Germany and Austria, and two heritage railways: the Achensee Railway and the Pinzgauer Railway. A lake cruise on Achensee is also included.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager for the entire nine days, leading guided excursions and accompanying the group throughout.

What is included in the all-inclusive package?

Included are eight nights of hotel accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, five picnic lunches, unlimited drinks between 9am-10pm at Kirchberg (house wine, draught beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee), afternoon coffee and cakes between 3pm-4.30pm at Kirchberg, all rail and coach travel, a boat cruise, entrance to Krimml Waterfalls, and all guided tours and excursions. Cancellation and travel insurance are not included.

What physical activity is involved?

The tour includes scenic hillside strolls in Kirchberg, walking the trails at Krimml Waterfalls, exploring Berchtesgaden and Königssee lakefront, and strolling Zell am See. An ascent to Eagle's Nest is by lift inside the mountain, requiring minimal physical exertion.

When does this tour run?

Great Rail Journeys publishes scheduled departures; confirm current dates directly with the operator, as engineering works may affect certain months (noted for September and October departures).

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Discover the Austrian Alps

Nine-day escorted Austrian Alps journey from London via heritage railways

Great Rail Journeys operates this nine-day escorted journey into the Austrian Tyrol and neighbouring Bavaria, departing from London and returning there nine days later. The tour combines rail travel, including the steam-hauled Achensee Railway and the Pinzgauer Railway, with coach transfers and a lake cruise, creating a mix of heritage railway experiences and scenic Alpine landscapes. Travellers spend six nights based in Kirchberg in Tirol, a small mountain town, with two full free days to explore independently or join optional excursions. The itinerary brings you to Krimml Waterfalls, where you can walk the marked trails beside Europe's highest mountainside waterfall, to the emerald waters of Achensee by boat, and to Eagle's Nest above Berchtesgaden. All-inclusive pricing covers breakfast and dinner each day, picnic lunches, unlimited drinks during your stay in Kirchberg, entrance fees to major attractions, and the expertise of a Tour Manager from departure to return. With a maximum group size of 40 and a relaxed pace built around the six-night base, this tour suits couples, repeat rail travellers, and those seeking guided comfort in the mountains.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £300 since 4 Jul, to £1,799.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Two hotel options are listed for Kirchberg (Lifthotel or Hotel Kroneck); your final accommodation depends on availability and the operator's assignment.
Unlimited drinks are offered 9am-10pm daily in Kirchberg and exclude spirits and drinks in the cellar bar.

Day by day

The operator's published day-by-day is incomplete (day 2: the operator offers a choice of hotels for this night; the town comes from its heading and the options are listed separately). Day counts and hotel changes are not calculated from it.

Day 1railovernight: Mannheim
London to Mannheim
Meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras and board the Eurostar to Brussels, switching trains to continue to Mannheim, Germany, via Cologne. Mannheim is renowned for its Baroque Palace. First dinner together as a group at the hotel.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2rail
Through Germany to picturesque Kirchberg
Train journey via Ulm and Munich into Austria, passing alpine valleys. Coach transfer from Wörgl to the resort of Kirchberg (some departures stay in nearby Oberndorf instead) for a six-night stay, with pool, spa and wellness centre at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel options: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol on some departures)
Day 3overnight: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol)
Free day to discover the Austrian Alps
A full day at leisure to unwind at the hotel spa or explore Kirchberg in Tirol or Oberndorf, including the parish church in Kirchberg and the Mariä Himmelfahrt church and museum in Oberndorf.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol)
The 'Tyrolean Sea' and Gramai Valley
Coach to Jenbach and the steam-hauled Achensee Railway to Seespitz on Achensee, the 'Tyrolean Sea'. Continue by coach into the Gramai Valley, with a Kaiserschmarrn tasting, before a lake cruise back to Scholastika.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol)
Exploring the Tyrol or further afield at leisure
A free day with options to visit Kitzbühel, Kufstein or Innsbruck by train.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol)
Krimml Waterfalls and Zell am See
Visit the Krimml Waterfalls, Europe's highest mountainside falls and the fifth tallest in the world, with free time for walks. Coach along the Salzach Valley to Niedernsill for the Pinzgauer Railway to Zell am See, with free time by the lake.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Kirchberg in Tirol (or Oberndorf in Tirol)
Königssee and the infamous Eagle's Nest
Cross into Germany to Berchtesgaden and the Eagle's Nest, reached by a lift inside the mountain, with panoramic views and a guide explaining its history. Continue to Königssee for free time by the lake before returning for a final dinner in Kirchberg.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Cologne
Through Germany to Cologne
Coach to Wörgl then train across the German border via Munich to Cologne, home to the iconic Gothic cathedral. Check in to a central hotel for the final group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9rail
Homeward bound
Return to Cologne station after breakfast and board the train to Brussels, switching to the Eurostar to London St Pancras, where the holiday ends.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Board the Achensee Railway, a steam-hauled heritage line, for a 4-mile journey to Seespitz on Achensee, the Tyrolean Sea, followed by a coach journey into the Gramai Valley and a boat cruise back across the lake.
Day 6Visit Krimml Waterfalls, Europe's highest mountainside waterfall at nearly 1,250 feet, with entrance included and free time to walk the different trails.
Day 6Travel on the Pinzgauer Railway from Niedernsill to Zell am See, then enjoy free time to stroll the lakefront promenade.
Day 7Ascend to Eagle's Nest above Berchtesgaden by lift inside the mountain for panoramic views, then visit Königssee, Germany's most beautiful lake, for a picnic lunch.

Included

UK Tour Manager expertise from start to finish
8 nights' 3 or 4-Star hotel accommodation
Eurostar Standard Class rail travel; all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout
Breakfast and dinner each day
Unlimited drinks included each day between 6pm-10pm at the hotel
Afternoon coffee and cakes each day between 3pm-4.30pm at the hotel
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $2,430 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes Eurostar Standard Class to and from Brussels, regional InterCity trains across Germany and Austria, and two heritage railways: the Achensee Railway and the Pinzgauer Railway. A lake cruise on Achensee is also included.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an escorted tour. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager for the entire nine days, leading guided excursions and accompanying the group throughout.
What is included in the all-inclusive package?: Included are eight nights of hotel accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily, five picnic lunches, unlimited drinks between 9am-10pm at Kirchberg (house wine, draught beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee), afternoon coffee and cakes between 3pm-4.30pm at Kirchberg, all rail and coach travel, a boat cruise, entrance to Krimml Waterfalls, and all guided tours and excursions. Cancellation and travel insurance are not included.
What physical activity is involved?: The tour includes scenic hillside strolls in Kirchberg, walking the trails at Krimml Waterfalls, exploring Berchtesgaden and Königssee lakefront, and strolling Zell am See. An ascent to Eagle's Nest is by lift inside the mountain, requiring minimal physical exertion.
When does this tour run?: Great Rail Journeys publishes scheduled departures; confirm current dates directly with the operator, as engineering works may affect certain months (noted for September and October departures).