essential Trains of Austria

Day 1 London - Munich - Jenbach Fly from London Heathrow Airport on a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to Munich. Upon arrival we will transfer to the Hotel Jenbacherhof (4T) in the small Tyrolean town of Jenbach, where we will be staying for the next five nights. After welcome drinks we will have dinner at the hotel. Day 2 Achensee Cog Railway - Lake Achen After spending this morning at leisure, we take our seats for a scenic journey on the Achenseebahn, Europe’s oldest steam-operated cog railway, which dates back to 1889. The train winds its way from Jenbach to the shore of Lake Achen, almost 7km to the north. Once at the lake, the largest in the Tyrol, you are free to explore at your own pace. You could enjoy a cruise aboard the waiting ship, follow one of the well-signposted hiking trails or perhaps take the Rofan Cable Car up the mountain for superb views over the valley. Day 3 Zillertal Valley Steam Railway - Rattenberg Today we ride on the nostalgic Zillertal Valley Steam Railway, a narrow-gauge railway with a track gauge of just 760mm. Opened in 1902, it is still a well-used transport link for the locals, as well as a popular tourist attraction. We step aboard at Fügen for the 22km journey to Mayrhofen, travelling through one of the Tyrol’s most beautiful valleys, with some folk music and a glass of schnapps to enjoy along the way. On our way back to the hotel, we will make a stop at Rattenberg, Austria’s smallest town, with a population of around 400. Today it is known for its glassmaking, and we visit one of the showrooms here to see the artisans at work. Day 4 Salzburg Music lovers will be in their element on today’s excursion to Salzburg. The city where Mozart was born was also the setting for the classic 1965 musical, ‘The Sound of Music’ and our guided walking tour will introduce you to the sights of this captivating city. The house where Mozart spent the first 17 years of his life is now a museum dedicated to Salzburg’s most famous son, with displays including the infant Mozart’s violin and the clavichord on which he composed ‘The Magic Flute’, while other highlights include the Baroque cathedral and the 17th century Mirabell Palace. Day 5 The Pinzgauer Narrow Gauge Railway The Pinzgauer narrow gauge railway has been running since 1898 and today we enjoy the journey through the lovely Salzach Valley to the Hohe Tauern National Park, home to Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, and Europe’s highest waterfalls, the 380m-high Krimml Falls. Follow the hiking trail for a close-up experience of this impressive natural spectacle and explore the wild beauty of Austria’s biggest national park. We return to our hotel in time for dinner this evening. Day 6 Jenbach - Munich - London Today we transfer to Munich Airport for a direct, scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow.