Austrian Lakes & the Tyrol for Christmas

Austrian Lakes & the Tyrol for Christmas What's Included Return scheduled flights Six nights’ accommodation in a family run four star hotel including ...
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Austrian Lakes & the Tyrol for Christmas What's Included Return scheduled flights Six nights’ accommodation in a family run four star hotel including all breakfasts, evening meals and one lunch Porterage Personal audio guiding system Hosted drinks reception on arrival and departure Drink included with all meals Use of the hotel’s swimming pool and sauna facilities Traditional Austrian Advent ceremony followed by a festive Austrian Christmas dinner Candlelight dinner and Mozart concert on Christmas Day in Salzburg Traditional Austrian music on one evening Horse and sleigh ride amidst stunning local scenery Executive coach throughout Exclusive services of a One Traveller Tour Manager

Excursions as follows: Bad Ischl and St. Wolfgang including horse and carriage ride Salzburg guided tour and time to explore the Christmas markets Kitzbühel and Saalfelden nativity exhibition Gosau and Hallstatt (including boat ride on Lake Hallstatt)

Not Included

Holiday Insurance You need to arrange your own but we can help. For more information, please see our suggested insurance services. Mozart concert and dinner in Salzburg Day trip to the towns of Bad Ischl (a spa town) and St Wolfgang with horse and carriage ride

Itinerary Key: Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Drink

Afternoon Tea

Longer walks and steps may be involved on this day

1 Travel from the UK to Austria Meet your One Traveller representative and fellow travellers at the airport before boarding your flight to Munich. On arrival your Tour Manager will organise the onward coach to take you to the hotel for your six-night stay. Evening: A hosted warm welcome with a drink from the owner will be followed by dinner with another drink included.

2 Hallstatt and Gosau Morning: a breath-taking drive through the Lammertal to picturesque Hallstatt listed by UNESCO for its outstanding natural beauty; a boat ride is included to truly capture the stunning scenery. Afternoon: continue to Lake Gosau with an awesome view before a mid-afternoon return to the hotel to enjoy its facilities. Evening: dinner in the hotel with a drink.

3 Salzburg Morning: Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and, of course, home to The Sound of Music. We include a guided walking tour in the heart of this once Archbishop Principality. Afternoon: meander the traditional Christmas markets that are set among the squares and cobbled streets as well as the area surrounding the cathedral which has live musicians and mulled wine stalls. Evening: dinner in the hotel with a drink.

4 Christmas Eve - Kitzbühel and Saalfelden Nativity Exhibition Morning: scenic drive over the Thurnpass to the famous ski resort of Kitzbühel and home to the famous Hahnenkamm downhill ski run with heavenly views across the Wilder Kaiser mountain range. Afternoon: continue through Tyrolean mountain scenery to Saalfelden to visit a unique display of homemade and ornately carved nativity scenes. Evening: enjoy a traditional Austrian Advent ceremony followed by a festive Austrian Christmas dinner with a drink included.

5 Christmas Day Morning: take a mid-morning horse and sleigh ride amidst stunning local scenery. Sleigh bells ring as you glide through the snow and pause at a local inn. Afternoon: lunch with a drink, and then relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities. Evening: an exquisite candlelight dinner and Mozart concert, with a drink included in the magnificently decorated Baroque Hall of St. Peter Stiftskeller, the oldest restaurant in Europe dating back to 803.

6 Boxing Day – Bad Ischl and St. Wolfgang Morning: a picturesque drive to Bad Ischl, a spa town that is home to the summer residence of the Habsburgs the Kaiservilla where you will have a guided tour and see many possessions of the emperor Franz Josef I and empress Elisabeth. Afternoon: continue to the stunning Abersee Lake and resort of St. Wolfgang; the home of Ralf Benatzky’s operetta The White Horse Inn. You will also see many beautifully decorated houses and quaint gift shops. Here we include a scenic horse and carriage ride in the surrounding hamlets. Evening: farewell drinks and dinner in the hotel.

7 Fly home

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before transferring to Munich Airport for the flight back to the UK, concluding our extra special Christmas holiday.

Included excursions Bad Ischl and St. Wolfgang including horse and carriage ride The spa town of Bad Ischl is home to the summer home of the Habsburgs the Kaiservilla where the Emporer Franz Josef I signed the declaration that started World War I. A guided tour of all the private and state rooms is included. Then travel on the Abersee lake and the small lakeside town of St. Wolfgang; famous for the Ralf Benatzky Operetta “The White Horse Inn” with many mural painted houses. Here we include a horse and carriage ride to stunning unspoilt scenery.

Salzburg guided tour and time to explore the Christmas Markets Birthplace of Mozart and the Rome of the North. This fine Baroque city is the home of “The Sound of Music”. A guided walking tour (all on flat ground) is included to see the sights, fine Baroque architecture, palatial residences and the cathedral of this magnificent former archbishop principality. Another chance to explore Christmas markets and listen to the pealing of the bells late afternoon as the cities churches ring in Christmas Eve.

Kitzbühel and Saalfelden nativity exhibition Kitzbühel is one of Austria’s most famous and chic resorts amidst the Wilder Kaiser mountain range and home to the Hahnenkamm ski run and cable car (at own cost). Here you can appreciate great views over the area or enjoy creamy hot chocolate whilst watching the skiers. From here we drive to Saalfelden at the foot of the Steinerndes Meer (Wall of Stone) mountain ridge where there is a unique exhibition of handcrafted and very ornate traditional nativity scenes.

Horse & sleigh ride amidst stunning local scenery A magical ride wrapped up in rugs as you plough through the snow amidst a winter wonderland to a local inn to enjoy a hot toddy before continuing on possibly singing a carol or two!

Candlelight dinner and Mozart concert on Christmas Day in Salzburg Held in the splendour of the baroque salon of St Peters Abbey in the heart of the city, this concert is played all to candlelight with music played between the three courses and the musicians are in period costume. The AMADEUS CONSORT performs arias, duets and overtures from ‘Don Giovanni’, ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ and ‘The Magic Flute’, as well as a rendition of ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’. The superb dinner is inspired by 18th century recipes. Dress is smart casual though gentleman will not necessarily

need a jacket and tie. The venue is in the heart of Salzburgs old town.

Hallstatt & Gosau (including boat ride on Lake Hallstatt) A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997 for its outstanding natural beauty. A lake cruise is included and time to wander and have lunch. On this day we drive through the Lammertal to Lake Gosau with views of the Dachstein Glacier and unspoilt serene views.

Exclusive Austrian folklore evening on Boxing Day An evening of traditional Austrian Folklore with gentleman in Lederhosen and ladies in Dirndl dresses. Thigh slapping, shoe tapping and intricate hand changes displaying an array of national dances that is great fun and worth a photo or two!

Traditional Austrian Advent Ceremony followed by a festive Austrian Christmas Dinner Prior to your festive Austrian style Christmas Eve dinner gather in the dining room for poetry recital music from live musicians, Christmas carols, readings and a personal message of hope, cheer and goodwill from your landlady over a warming Gluhwein.

Hotels Brückenwirt Hotel In the elegant four-star family-run Brueckenwirt Hotel you will have a double room to yourself. Petra, your friendly host, will ensure everyone is made to feel welcome and comfortable. The hotel’s facilities include a year-round outdoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, gym, massage service and aromatherapy treatments. The dining is excellent with a choice of three main courses each evening. The resort of Saint Johann im Pongau has a range of shops and boutiques selling unique and traditional gifts, as well as bakeries and confectioners selling seasonal specialities, coffee houses, banks and a supermarket.