DAY 1

You are met at the Salzburg airport and driven to your hotel (approximately 45 minutes) in Mondsee. You have time to explore Mondsee on foot, then perhaps sink into the Jacuzzi before dinner.
Hotel Leitnerbraeu, Mondsee

DAY 2

This morning you pedal past yachts and wooden boathouses on Mondsee’s north shore. Onward through rolling pasture dotted with country churches, as the triangular white sails scoring the blue surface of Lake Attersee hove into view, you descend to the lakeshore. Then, heading inland, you pass a deer farm and roadside stalls piled high with colorful local produce, before receiving a warm welcome from the Sollinger family.
Hotel Attergauhof, St. Georgen im Attergau

DAY 3

You can follow in the footsteps of Gustav Mahler in Attersee—he composed prolifically here. Enjoy a local-style lunch—freshly smoked fish are sold along the lakeshore—and there’s a fabulous swimming pool complex. Then perhaps take a boat ride to the pretty village of Weyregg beneath craggy mountains on the Eastern shore.
Hotel Attergauhof, St. Georgen im Attergau

DAY 4

Today you enjoy views of the over 3,000-foot high peaks on the east shore of Attersee Lake as you freewheel down to Schorfling, whose castle was painted by Gustav Klimt with its reflection mirrored on the lake surface. Fields of wheat fringed with poppies and cornflowers pass by before you coast into Gmunden with its cobbled marketplace and painted buildings. Dinner on the terrace of the hotel is delightful, with Gmunden’s lights shimmering above the surface of Lake Traunsee.
Hotel Gruenberg, Gmunden

DAY 5

Today you can take a trip on the Gisela—the last coal-fired paddle steamer, also used by Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The cable car to the top of Gruenberg (984 meters or about 3,300 feet) offers wonderful views at the summit, from where you look down onto Gmunden’s esplanade and the romantic Seeschloss Orth—known as the “floating” castle on the lake, dating from the 17th century.
Hotel Gruenberg, Gmunden

DAY 6

Today you take the Traunsee boat from the dock below the hotel to Ebensee on the south shore. It is well worth taking the cable car up to the Feuerkogel Peak for spectacular views. Then you return along a beautiful riverside route, crisscrossing the sparkling River Traun, and on through scented pine forest to Bad Ischl. You may choose to relax in the opera house gardens before returning to the hotel for a swim.
Hotel Hubertshof, Bad Ischl

DAY 7

Options abound today in and around Bad Ischl: you may choose to spend the morning visiting the Kaiser and Lehar Villas, indulging in coffee and cakes at the famous Zauner restaurant, perhaps moving on to lunch in the Kurpark listening to the string quartet.

In the afternoon, you can visit the Imperial Spa, then head to the Ice and Mammoth Caves near the pretty village of Obertraun.
Hotel Hubertshof, Bad Ischl

DAY 8

This morning you can explore the Emperor Franz Josef’s former vacation home, the Kaiservilla, before setting off along the banks of the River Ischl. Sunlight sparkles on the water as you pass tiny shrines hidden in the pines below Leonsberg and Bleckwand peaks. Lakeside Strobl has a popular beachfront for a cooling swim or you can board a boat cruise on the lake.
Hotel Bergrose, Strobl

DAY 9

One option for today is an exploration of Salzburg; it’s just an 80-minute bus journey. The city has been described as a Baroque jewel, and its old center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Places to tour are the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the beautiful Mirabell Gardens, and the Mozart Museum, finishing up the afternoon with a beer tasting at the medieval brewery.
Hotel Bergrose, Strobl

DAY 10

Keeping close to Wolfgangsee’s southern lakeshore, a level bike path through a tiny nature reserve brings you into lovely St. Gilgen. Here you can also visit the Mozart museum, or take the cable car up the Zwolferhorn for stunning 360-degree views. In the afternoon you coast downhill to Mondsee Lake, before returning to the hotel in time for an aperitif before dinner.
Hotel Leitnerbraeu, Mondsee

DAY 11

A transfer is provided to the Salzburg airport after breakfast to continue your explorations of this enchanting city or for connections for onward travels.

Itinerary Changes

Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual activities, sites, and accommodations may vary due to season, special events, weather, or transportation schedules. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

Nights 1 & 10

Hotel Leitnerbraeu
Mondsee, Austria

This four-star historic hotel with a typical Tyrolean exterior is centrally located near the lake and just opposite the 15th-century “Sound of Music” church in the town of Mondsee. Extremely spacious rooms have queen beds and pine furnishings. A spa with whirlpool, sauna, and steam bath is available. The “gateway” to the Austrian Lakes region, this charming lakeside town has a pretty waterfront, pedestrian center, numerous museums and restaurants to choose from.

Nights 2 & 3

Hotel Attergauhof
St. Georgen im Attergau, Austria

A welcoming family run three-star hotel in the center of the thriving market town of St. Georgen. Spacious guest rooms have wooden furnishings and floral-print fabrics. Within the hotel are a restaurant, main bar, and a popular wine/ice cream bar. A sauna, steam bath, and table tennis are also available. Located about two miles from Lake Attersee, both a small railway and a cycling path run between St. Georgen and Attersee.

Nights 4 & 5

Hotel Gruenberg
Gmunden, Austria

Poised with a perfect hillside location overlooking the lake, this hotel has striking views of the Gruenberg Mountain, accessible by cable car from the center of town, which is only a 10-minute ride away. Contemporary spacious bedrooms all have lake views. Guests can enjoy a 3-course dinner on the panoramic terrace. A swimming dock lies just below the hotel, where boats also offer regular service to town. A larger town famous for its ceramics, Gmunden has a lakeside esplanade between the town hall (Rathaus) and a historic castle.

Nights 6 & 7

Hotel Hubertushof
Bad Ischl, Austria

Located in the center of Bad Ischl, this family-run hotel is a restored grand historic townhouse with classic Austrian furnishings, antiques, and paintings. The dining room is a stube, the traditional Austrian wooden-walled room with an impressive antique oven with decorative tiles, and serves a 3-course menu. A swimming pool, sauna, and steam bath are available. This 19th-century royal spa town was the summer home of the Habsburg emperors of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire; the imperial spa can still be visited, as well as the charming town center.

Nights 8 & 9

Hotel Bergrose
Strobl, Austria

A lovely four-star hotel with traditional Austrian architecture and décor has a riverside secluded garden and wellness center. All luxuriously decorated bedrooms are suites, with quality pine furniture. Dinner is a 4-course menu including either a salad or starter buffet. Just a few minutes from both the Eastern shore of Lake Wolfgangsee and the center of Stobl, the flat lakeshore and natural beaches make this one of the most attractive village resorts in the Salzkammergut region for both watersports and the charming center.

Please note that this is a sample hotel itinerary for this tour. While these exact hotels are featured on most departures, we occasionally reserve other hotels of similar style and quality. If you are currently booked on a Country Walkers adventure, a hotel itinerary has been sent to you for your exact departure date. Please call Country Walkers at 800.464.9255 if you have any questions about the exact hotels selected for any of our tours.