Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

LeShuttle to Calais and overnight stay in northern France on a bed and breakfast basis. 

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

We continue our scenic journey, arriving at our overnight hotel in Germany in time for dinner. Along the way, we stop in Baden-Baden for some time to explore. Set against the backdrop of the enchanting Black Forest, reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm fairytales, this elegant town was built on thermal springs, making it a popular holiday destination for centuries.

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

Sit back and relax as we make our way to the Fish’Inn Zell – Hotel Fischerwirt in Zell-am-See.

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

Much of the day is left free to discover the picture-postcard town of Zell am See, nestled by the glorious re?ective waters of Lake Zell and surrounded by stunning alpine scenery. The town is popular with visitors all year round and it’s easy to see why! Take in the breathtaking views, enjoy the fresh clear air and stroll through the charming medieval centre, studded with colourful chalets and bursting with Austrian charm.
Later, we admire the scenery from a different perspective with a relaxing cruise on the beautiful lake. This is a lovely introduction to this stunning region!

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

We travel to Kaprun and catch the shuttle bus to Europe’s largest open inclined lift, the Larchwand, which ascends to Mooserboden dam (2,040 metres above sea level). A marvel of engineering nestled amidst the spectacular scenery of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the colour of the water almost needs to be seen to be believed! Learn more about the Kaprun High Mountain Reservoirs area during a guided tour of the dams, followed by free time to stroll the pathways or relax at the mountain restaurant. 

This afternoon, we continue to the natural wonder of Sigmund Thun Gorge, where wooden walkways safely weave through a narrow 320-metre long gorge with turquoise glacier water flowing beneath. Please note that the path is easy and suitable for a group walk, however it does involve some steps along the way.

Full Day

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

This morning, you may like to join our tour manager to walk to the cable car station close to the hotel and ride up the Schmittenhohe for stunning views over Zell am See, the lake and the Alps. At the top, enjoy well-marked walking paths and time at the café before a free afternoon back in the town. Within our included ‘Zell am See Kaprun Summer Pass’, you’ll have free or discounted access to local museums, the swimming pool, lakefront beach lido and more – so there’s plenty to do.

Full day

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

After breakfast, we head to enchanting Salzburg, lying at the northern boundary of the Alps and famed as the birthplace of Mozart and filming location for parts of the iconic film The Sound of Music. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, its wonderful architecture and breathtaking setting make it one of the most picturesque cities in Europe. On our guided city tour, we discover some of the main sights such as the beautifully-preserved Old Town, overlooked by the medieval Hohensalzburg Castle. Afterwards, there’s time at leisure for you to wander at your own pace before we make our way back to the hotel. Along the way, we stop at an artisanal daily farm for an informative insight into the local cheesemaking process, complete with tastings.

Full Day

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

We return towards Kaprun and board the cable car to the spectacular Kitzsteinhorn Glacier, which sits 3,000 metres above sea level and is renowned for its breathtaking scenery. Enjoy access to the panoramic viewing platforms at Gipfelwelt 3000, plus entry to the Cinema 3000, offering an immersive journey through the region’s beauty, and the National Park Gallery, providing insights into the unique geology and ecosystem of the area. 

This afternoon, we drive along the Grossglocker High Alpine Road, the highest surfaced mountain pass in Austria which snakes into Austria’s largest national park, High Tauern National Park. The road is dotted with fantastic viewing platforms and along the way, we stop to admire the majesty of Grossglockner. Take in the stunning views and look out for the unique wildlife in its natural habitat, including ibexes, chamois, marmots and golden eagles.

Full day

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

Travel to our overnight hotel in eastern France or Germany, with a light evening meal included.

Salzburg & the Austrian Lakes

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and head to Calais for our journey home on LeShuttle.

Ascend via Europe’s largest open Larchwand inclined lift to the turquoise lakes above Kaprun, then step onto the crest of the Mooserboden dam at 2,040 metres. Surrounded by jagged peaks, the panorama stretches deep into the Hohe Tauern.

Join a guided tour of the dams to learn how glacial “rock flour” tints the water an unreal blue and how this vast scheme powers Austria. Cafés and waymarked paths invite unhurried exploration in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park.

Walk the timbers of the Sigmund Thun Gorge, where sturdy wooden walkways trace a narrow chasm carved by the Kapruner Ache. Peer into jade pools and feel the cool spray as water rushes beneath your feet between polished rock walls.

Learn how ice and meltwater sculpted this 320-metre cleft over millennia, creating swirling potholes and strata that tell a geological story in motion. Gentle gradients with steps make this a mood-rich, sensory encounter with Alpine nature.

Join a guided city tour through Salzburg’s UNESCO-listed Altstadt, crossing baroque squares to views of Hohensalzburg Castle. Stroll the ornate Getreidegasse, where wrought-iron guild signs hang above boutiques, and admire the pale stone facade of the Salzburg Cathedral.

Hear stories of Mozart’s birthplace, prince-archbishops, and 17th-century urban grandeur set between river and mountains. Your guide weaves architecture, music, and daily life into a portrait of a city whose steeples and domes rise in harmony with the Alps.

Ride the Schmittenhohe cable car from the edge of Zell am See to a classic Alpine summit at 1,965 metres. From the terraces, take in views over Lake Zell and a skyline bristling with 3,000-metre peaks, including the snow-bright Kitzsteinhorn.

Follow easy, well-marked ridge paths or linger at a mountain café as paragliders wheel overhead. First made widely accessible in the early 20th century, this beloved viewpoint remains a quintessential introduction to Austria’s high country.

Ascend by cable car to the realm of ice and sky at Gipfelwelt 3000, where high-altitude platforms reveal a sawtooth horizon stretching across the Hohe Tauern to Grossglockner. Step inside Cinema 3000 for an immersive journey through seasons of the high Alps.

Explore the National Park Gallery, a tunnel-like exhibition that opens onto a panorama of glaciers and crags while explaining geology, wildlife, and climate. In rarefied air at 3,000 metres, the elements feel close enough to touch.

Travel the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road, a feat of 1930s engineering threading hairpins and misty mountain passes into the heart of the Hohe Tauern. Scenic stops unveil glaciers, tumbling streams, and meadows alive with alpine flowers.

At classic lookouts, gaze toward Austria’s highest peak, watch marmots sun themselves, and scan for ibex or golden eagles riding thermals. With interpretive displays and sweeping terraces, the route pairs drama with insight into Europe’s great protected landscapes.

Visit a family-run dairy to learn how alpine milk becomes rich wheels of Bergkäse and creamy specialties matured in cool cellars. Meet the makers, step through the production rooms, and enjoy tastings at an artisanal dairy farm showcasing the character of Pinzgau pastures.

Sample regional cheeses alongside rustic accompaniments as you hear about transhumance traditions, seasonal grazing, and the terroir of alpine meadows. This is Austrian food culture at source—simple, expressive, and deeply local.

Explore elegant Baden-Baden at the edge of the Black Forest, a spa town famed for thermal waters and Belle Époque architecture. Wander the manicured Lichtentaler Allee and the colonnades of the Kurhaus quarter, where cafés spill onto leafy promenades.

Absorb a leisurely atmosphere once prized by artists and aristocrats, and glimpse bathhouse traditions that made this a cosmopolitan retreat. With gardens, galleries, and ornate facades, the town blends culture and well-being in a refined, walkable setting.

Cruise the clear waters of Lake Zell, gliding past flower-decked chalets and the medieval spire of Zell am See. From the open deck, take in sweeping views of Schmittenhohe and the distant Kitzsteinhorn as the shoreline shifts from lively promenade to tranquil coves.

Hear tales of this glacier-fed lake in the shadow of the Hohe Tauern, and linger on deck to pause for photos and reflection as mountain peaks ripple across the glassy surface. This relaxing voyage reveals the region’s alpine drama from a serene, water-level perspective.