© 2011 Intimate France
7 July 2011
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Detailed Itinerary (or download a PDF copy here) Day 1 (Sunday, September 16) Our tour begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Mövenpick Hotel, near Franz Josef Strauss Airport, Munich. Within 90 minutes we are in the Alps at the lovely German village of Mittenwald. After free time in this typical Bavarian village, known for its colorful wall murals, we proceed to stately Innsbruck, with time to explore its historic, pedestrianized center. Late in the day we come to pretty Hall in Tirol and check into our comfortable, center-town hotel. We'll have a get-acquainted stroll through the narrow streets lined with charming, pastel-walled homes dating from the middle ages. After a WELCOME COCKTAIL, we have a typical Tirolean DINNER. OVERNIGHT – HALL Day 2 (Monday, September 17) After an orientation today to Austria and its Alps, lakes and monasteries, we explore the deep valley of the swiftly flowing Ötztaler Ache river. We visit the village of Ötz and the resort town of Sölden, viewing soaring mountains, roaring waterfalls and icy glaciers. Late in the day we return to Hall for free time. LUNCH in the valley of the Ötztaler Ache. OVERNIGHT – HALL Day 3 (Tuesday, September 18) Innsbruck, perched on the banks of the surging Inn River, has a wealth of natural, cultural and architectural treasures. Come along today to visit the Wilten Basilica, with its sumptuous rococo interior; Schloss (castle) Ambras, a fanciful renaissance palace; and the Hungerburgbahn funicular, leading to the leafy, lofty suburb of Hungerburg. OVERNIGHT – HALL Day 4 (Wednesday, September 19) Leaving Hall, we travel east, entering the narrow valley of the Ziller River. Soon we arrive at the thundering Krimml Waterfall, Europe's highest at 1,247 feet of vertical drop. Then we continue through scenic mountain backcountry, arriving in the afternoon at Zell am See, a postcard-pretty town on a lake at the intersection of the Glemm and Kapruner valleys. Here, after free time to explore the town, we enjoy DINNER. OVERNIGHT – ZELL Day 5 (Thursday, September 20) Today we journey along the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, Europe's most spectacular high Alpine road, traversing Hohe Tauern National Park with views of Grossglockner, Austria's highest mountain (12,460 feet). Along the way we stop at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe Visitor Center, with its Grossglockner exhibition. Returning to Zell, we have DINNER. OVERNIGHT – ZELL Day 6 (Friday, September 21) The village of Werfen is only an hour north of Zell. Arriving in late morning, there is time to visit the magnificent fortress of Festung Hohenwerfen, perched on a rocky outcrop. We then move on to emerald-green Wolfgangsee (lake), backed by craggy mountains. We settle into our comfortable hotel in St. Wolfgang, then get to know this picturesque, old lakeside resort. OVERNIGHT – ST. WOLFGANG Day 7 (Saturday, September 22) On a day trip out of St. Wolfgang, we first visit the pretty spa town of Bad Ischl, then push on to Austria's most perfect lakeside village – Hallstatt. You will love its rustic architecture, reflected in the still, green waters of Hallstättersee, and its romantic setting at the foot of the Dachstein range. After LUNCH we ride on a lake steamer, then via cable car climb to the salt mines at Salzwelten Hallstatt, which we visit via a small mining train. It is estimated that salt mining has been going on at Hallstatt for 7,000 years. OVERNIGHT – ST. WOLFGANG Day 8 (Sunday, September 23) Salzburg is one of Austria's most perfect baroque cities. Today we get to know its lively old streets, magnificent churches (including its Italianate cathedral, called the "most perfect" renaissance building in the German-speaking world) and magnificent castle, Hohensalzburg, towering over the old city. As time allows we'll also follow in the footsteps of Mozart, whose birth house and later residence are major sights here. We return to St. Wolfgang for DINNER. OVERNIGHT – ST. WOLFGANG Day 9 (Monday, September 24) Today we leave the lakes and mountains behind as we approach the Danube River, with its castles, vineyards and world-renowned monasteries. After passing through the pretty resort of Gmunden, we arrive at mid-day at Wilhering, whose abbey and church boast a riot of rococo decoration (think gilded stucco galore). Later it's on to the perfect riverside village of Dürnstein, encircled by medieval walls and crowned by a ruined fortress where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. We make Dürnstein our home for the next two nights. OVERNIGHT – DURNSTEIN Day 10 (Tuesday, September 25) From Dürnstein we visit the Wachau, a stretch of Danube riverside known for its picturesque villages, vine-covered hills and ruin-encrusted peaks. The Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We pass through pretty wine villages, including Spitz; visit the world-famous baroque abbey and old town of Melk (LUNCH here); and stop in pretty old Krems, a delightful wine village of elegant town houses. OVERNIGHT – DURNSTEIN Day 11 (Wednesday, September 26) We enter Vienna today after two visits: the elegant riverside town of Tulln, which grew up from a Roman camp to become residence of a pre-Habsburg dynasty; and the romanesque abbey at Klosterneuberg, dating from 1114, with outstanding ceiling frescoes, a magnificent high altar and richly guided choir stalls. After lunch we enter Vienna after a short drive, and check into our city-center hotel. Later there will be time to get to know the heart of old Vienna on an escorted walk. We'll orient ourselves by riding a tram around the Ring boulevard, which encircles the old town, and visit the vast gothic cathedral, the Stephansdom. OVERNIGHT – VIENNA Day 12 (Thursday, September 27) For those not extending their stay in Vienna after tomorrow, let's make the most of our day here. In the morning we visit the vast Hofburg imperial palace, a highlight of any trip to Vienna. After a festive AUF WIEDERSEHEN LUNCH. we continue our sightseeing with a choice: come along to the near Viennese suburbs to visit the sumptuous, opulent apartments of the Schönbrunn Palace, or view one of Europe's most important collections of art at the Kunsthistorisches (Fine Arts) Museum. Here, in addition to an extensive collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, you will find works by Dutch and Flemish masters, Italian classicists and many others. OVERNIGHT – VIENNA Getaway Day (Friday, September 28) This morning we fly home from Vienna's Wien-Schwechat Airport. Notes MEALS – Tour includes breakfast every day, as well as eight other meals (lunches and dinners), as indicated in BOLD CAPS on the itinerary. OUR HOTELS Gasthof Badl, Hall in Tirol Hotel Seehof, Zell am See Hotel Zimmerbräu, St. Wolfgang Hotel Sanger Blondel, Dürnstein Pension Nossek, Vienna HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS mentioned in the itinerary are subject to availability. ITINERARY – Details of this preliminary itinerary could change. A final itinerary will be issued closer to trip departure. SIGHTSEEING – All sightseeing listed in itinerary is included as part of the tour. * TOUR PRICE of $3,895 per person is an estimate as any significant decline in the value of the U.S. dollar vs. the euro may result in imposition of a currency surcharge. Ask us for details. |
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