The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail tour

Steam around the Austrian Lakes

Steam around the Austrian Lakes, a rail journey with The Railway Touring Company

An 8-day escorted rail holiday based in Salzburg, combining paddle steamer cruises on the Austrian lakes with steam trains, mountain rack railways and a side-trip to Bavaria's Eagle's Nest.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Salzburg

    Arrive in Salzburg

    Direct flight from London to Salzburg, transfer to hotel with lunch nearby. Receive an all-inclusive Salzburg Card (trolleybus network, fortress funicular, Monchsberg elevator, museums, Mozart sites, Stiegl brewery). Rest of day free.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Salzburg

    The palaces and mountain railways of Salzburg

    Free day to explore Hellbrunn Palace, the optional Untersbergbahn cableway to the 1972m Untersberg summit, or the optional Salzburger Lokalbahn local railway. Group dinner at a typical Austrian restaurant in the evening.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Salzburg

    Paddle cruise on Wolfgangsee and steam at the Schafberg rack railway

    Charter cruise on Wolfgangsee aboard the historic 1873 paddle-wheeler Kaiser Franz Josef, then ascent of Mount Schafberg by private steam train on its rack and pinion railway (1893). Dinner at the summit restaurant, descent by steam train, return to Salzburg by coach.

  4. Day 4overnight: Salzburg

    Alpine steam at Mauterndorf on the Taurachbahn

    Coach transfer to the castle town of Mauterndorf for a private charter on the narrow-gauge Taurachbahn to St. Andra, with photo and run-past stops. Time in Mauterndorf's town centre and castle before returning to Salzburg via Hohenwerfen Castle.

  5. Day 5overnight: Salzburg

    The Eagle's Nest and Alpine cruise at Lake Konigsee in Bavaria

    Visit to the Eagle's Nest, Hitler's mountain-top residence and command post at the Berghof above Berchtesgaden, followed by a cruise on Lake Konigsee. Return to Salzburg for an evening at leisure.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Salzburg

    Paddle steamer cruise on the Traunsee, Gmunden tramway

    Travel to Gmunden for a private charter cruise on Lake Traunsee aboard the paddle steamer Gisela of 1871, with buffet lunch aboard. Ride one of Austria's smallest urban tramways in Gmunden, then return to Salzburg by OBB service train.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Salzburg

    Steam in Tyrol at the Zillertalbahn and the Achenseebahn

    First Class OBB service train from Salzburg to Jenbach, then the narrow-gauge Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen, known for its summer 'Plandampf' steam. Back at Jenbach, ride the antique rack railway (dating from 1889) up to the Achensee. Return to Salzburg in First Class. Farewell dinner at 'Die Weisse' Brauhaus.

  8. Day 8

    Return to London

    Transfer to Salzburg airport for the morning flight back to London.

Included

  • Flights from London to Salzburg and back to London
  • 7 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • 2 lunches
  • 3 dinners
  • All specially chartered steam trains as detailed in the itinerary
  • All specially chartered trips on heritage trams and vintage ships
  • All train and road coach travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • All transfers and visits as detailed in the itinerary
  • A complimentary 48-hour Salzburg Card tourist pass
  • Admission to the Eagle's Nest at the Berghof
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Similar journeys, different answers