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Austria: Effortless Alps 2008 - Detailed Itinerary

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Day 1 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Depart US/Fly overnight to Salzburg

Depart from the U.S. for Salzburg. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of PRE-TRIP EXTENSION Arrive in Salzburg/Begin your Trip Extension

Upon arrival at the Salzburg airport, claim your luggage and clear customs, then proceed to the arrival terminal. VBT's representative, who will be holding a VBT sign, meets you there and helps you transfer by private car (approximately 20 minutes) to your centrally located hotel. Important: In the event of any delays or other problems with your arrival, see pages 2 and 3 of “For Travel-Related Emergencies.” At the hotel, VBT's representative is available from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to answer your questions and provide a city information package, which contains tips and maps to help you explore the area on your own. Please note: At this time, verify with your airport representative the time of your transfer from your Vienna hotel to the Vienna airport at the end of your trip. Your hotel room may not be available until 1 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. You have the rest of the day free to explore the city on your own.

Hotel: Austrotel

Day 3 of PRE-EXTENSION Independent Exploration of Salzburg

Discover the city independently today. Visit the Mozarteum, a museum dedicated to Mozart's life, or several other artistic centers like the Carolino Augusteum or the Baroque Museum. See the cathedral or St. Peter's Abbey. Salzburg's city center is easily walkable and contains a number of outdoor cafés and restaurants.Tonight, dinner is on your own in Salzburg.

Meals: B  Hotel: Austrotel

Day 4 of PRE-EXTENSION Independent exploration of Salzburg/Join VBT Air Package guests

The day is free for further exploration of Salzburg. VBT Air Package guests arrive throughout the day.

Meals: B  Hotel: Austrotel

Day 1 of AIR PACKAGE Depart US/In flight to Salzburg

Depart from the U.S. for Austria. The particulars of your arrival overseas are detailed with your flight itinerary and airline tickets.

Day 2 of AIR PACKAGE Arrive in Salzburg

Upon arrival at the Salzburg airport, claim your luggage and clear customs, then proceed to the arrival terminal. VBT's representative, who will be holding a VBT sign, meets you outside the sliding doors and helps you transfer by private car (approximately 20 minutes) to your hotel. Important: In the event of any delays or other problems with your arrival, see pages 2 and 3 of “For Travel-Related Emergencies.” At the hotel, you will be provided with a city information package, which contains tips and maps to help you explore Salzburg. Please note: At this time, verify with your airport representative the time of your transfer from your Vienna hotel to the Vienna airport at the end of your trip. Your hotel room may not be available until 1 p.m. You may store your luggage with the Reception Desk. You have the rest of the day free to explore the city and have lunch and dinner on your own.

Hotel: Austrotel

Day 1 of BIKE TOUR All guests meet in Salzburg/Transfer to Krimml

VBT No-Air Package guests: Meet the group outside the Salzburg train station's main entrance, on the sidewalk, at 11 a.m. Look for your VBT Trip Leaders, who will be wearing VBT staff garments. Please plan to buy some lunch on your own before meeting your VBT Trip Leaders. Lunch options are limited in Krimml, although our hotel will be open at noon. If your arrival at the Salzburg train station is scheduled later than 11 a.m., or if you are delayed, you must take a taxi at your own expense (approximately 185 euros/$260 USD) to the first hotel (approximately 1½ hours). Please contact your first hotel to advise of any travel delays or changes, and the staff will pass your message on to your VBT Trip Leaders. VBT Air Package and Pre-Trip Extension guests: After breakfast, explore the city until 10:30 a.m., when your VBT Trip Leaders meet you in the hotel lobby (they will be wearing VBT staff garments). Then travel via motorcoach with your VBT Trip Leaders to pick up any Land Package guests at the Salzburg train station and transfer to the first hotel. Once assembled, the group transfers via motorcoach (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes) to the Alpine village of Krimml and your first hotel. After lunch, your VBT Trip Leaders hold a safety and bike-fitting session, followed by a short warm-up ride to Neukirchen. Later, you have free time to explore on your own or relax in the hotel's sauna, steam room or swimming pool. Tonight, attend a welcome reception, then dine with the group at the hotel's restaurant.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Hotel Krimmlerfalle

Day 2 of BIKE TOUR Cycle to Hohe Tauren/Visit Krimml Waterfalls

Today we shuttle with Herbert, the hotel's owner and manager, to his generations-old mountain lodge in the Hohe Tauren National Park. This protected area is accessible only to bikers and hikers. On your arrival, expect to be greeted by Herbert's cows! Then spend the morning biking and hiking in this unspoiled area, the best way to experience local people and high-Alpine culture. Before lunch (a delicious picnic prepared by and shared with Herbert), you have the opportunity to meet 70-year-old Georg and visit his summer Alm (lodge). He has made cheese and been the Senner (lodge-keeper) all his life. Watch the cheesemaking process and sample some cheese. In the afternoon, hike back along the riverbanks to marvel at and photograph the highest waterfall in Europe, the Krimmler Wasserfalle. The Krimml River drops in three high steps, plunging nearly 400 meters (1,300 feet). Before dinner, your Trip Leaders offer a language class and teach you familiar Austrian words and expressions that can help you interact with locals during the week.

Meals: B, L, D  Hotel: Hotel Krimmlerfalle

Day 3 of BIKE TOUR DISCOVERY DAY! Cycle through the Pinzgau region

Begin cycling down a tree-lined path with spectacular views of the Krimml Waterfalls. After riding through typical Pinzgau villages, pedal past the picturesque Obersulzbachtal and Untersulzbachtal valleys. Then ride through the market square of Neukirchen am Grossvenediger. Next, enter Mittersill, the largest town in the upper Pinzgau region, located on an old trading route that crossed the Hohe Tauern Range. Outside of Mittersill, in the quaint hamlet of Stuhfelden, enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal during a family-hosted lunch with Theresia. Theresia lives in a five-century-old house with her three of her children. Her house has lots of Austrian character and charm, with its ancient wood beams and floor, pots of flowers, and portraits of Theresia's siblings and friends. You have an opportunity to view her talents in crafts and table decorations. Afterward, you have your choice of a shuttle back to the hotel or to continue riding. In the afternoon, cycle across a narrow valley as you head toward Zeller Lake. Ride by the impressive Lichtenau Castle, the 15th-century church of Schwarzenbach and the famous Kaprun Castle. Pass by the town of Kaprun, which lies near the base of the Kitzsteinhorn. Ride along a flat road through a nature reserve before reaching beautiful spring-fed Zeller Lake. Tonight, dinner is on your own. You may wish to try the Steinerwirt, a typical, century-old Austrian inn.

Meals: B, L  Hotel: Sporthotel Alpin

Day 4 of BIKE TOUR DISCOVERY DAY! Explore the Zell region

Ride into the Ursulau Valley on the way to the village of Maria Alm. The Maria Alm Pilgrimage Church, built in 1374, is documented to have the tallest spire in the region and continues to draw pilgrims from Salzburg, upper Austria and Bavaria. Later, return to Zell am See for an afternoon of discovery. Enjoy water sports on the lake, go glacier skiing, paraglide with a licensed instructor, play golf at one of the many nearby golf courses, try Nordic walking or take a breathtaking gondola ride to the top of the 6,000-foot Schmittenhohe (charges for these optional activities are not included in your tour package). If you prefer cycling, you can choose the longer cycling option and set out on an easy path to the Kaprun fortress. Later, gather with the group for dinner at the hotel's fine restaurant.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Sporthotel Alpin

Day 5 of BIKE TOUR Travel through the Saalach Valley to Salzburg

Today, travel by train or bike to Saalfelden. During the trip, the majestic Steinernes Meer Mountains surround you. Your route brings you through the narrow Saalach Valley, hugging the base of the Steinernes Meer, and leads you past the Seisenbergklamm, one of Austria's deepest gorges. After lunch, take a brief private motorcoach transfer to the hotel in Wals to get an early start on our night in Salzburg. If you prefer, cycle to the hotel through a spectacular forested region that enters Germany at Bad Reichenhall. For dinner, you are free to explore the old town and choose a cozy Gasthaus or perhaps the Steigl Keller, a classic beer garden with a stunning view of Baroque Salzburg, for dinner.

Meals: B  Hotel: Gasthof Grunauerhof

Day 6 of BIKE TOUR DISCOVERY DAY! Journey the backroads of Salzburg

After a hearty breakfast, ride along a level pathway that follows the Saalach River to its confluence with the Salzach River. You arrive in the heart of the city, Mozartplatz, where you meet your local cycling guide, Helmut, and travel around the city partly by bike. Stop at strategic points in the Altstadt, or Old Town, where Helmut tells about interesting topics including architecture, religion, history, art and, of course, The Sound of Music. In the afternoon, explore the fantastic shopping districts or just pass the time at one of many famous cafés. Your leaders may invite you to visit and stop at the Augustiner Brewery for a mug of delicious Austrian beer. VBT's local leaders say that the Augustiner (or “Muellner Braeu” as it is called here) is known by tourists but is a favorite place for locals too, thanks to its cozy and authentic atmosphere and the excellent ale, produced according to old traditional methods. Tonight, join the group for a farewell dinner at the hotel.

Meals: B, D  Hotel: Gasthof Grunauerhof

Day 7 of BIKE TOUR Transfer to Vienna/Free day/VBT No-Air Package ends

After breakfast, transfer to the Salzburg train station, arriving at approximately 9:00 a.m. VBT No-Air Package guests: Your tour ends at the Salzburg train station. Important: VBT does not recommend train departures from Salzburg prior to 9:30 a.m. If you depart earlier, you must make transfer arrangements at your own expense from the last hotel in Wals near Salzburg to the train station or airport. Taxi cost to the Salzburg train station is approximately 15 euros /$22 USD (travel time 20 minutes). Taxi cost to the Salzburg airport is approximately 10 euros/$15 USD (travel time 10 minutes). VBT Air Package and Post-Trip Extension guests: Board a train to Vienna (travel time 3 hours). Upon arrival in Vienna, VBT's local representative meets you and helps you transfer (approximately 15 minutes) to the Hotel Stefanie. (The representative will meet you at the track and will be holding a VBT sign.) Upon arrival at the hotel, a hotel representative is available for a brief time to answer your questions and provide suggestions for visiting Vienna. You also receive a welcome packet that contains maps and recommendations for cafés, restaurants, museums and transportation. The rest of the day you are free to explore Vienna. Your hotel is located near the historic “Inner Ring” in the Old Town; many of the Old World palaces and concert halls are easily accessible.

Meals: B  Hotel: Hotel Stefanie - Post Trip Hotel

Day 8 of AIR PACKAGE Depart for U.S.

After breakfast, transfer to the Vienna airport (approximately 30 minutes) for your departing flight. Please note: Ensure you are ready in the hotel reception area at the designated time. VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder” or with the hotel's Reception Desk the night before your flight. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense. Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served. If you have chosen the Post-Trip Extension, continue to explore Vienna on your own. This is an independent extension: There is no VBT representative or Trip Leader. Vienna is famous for its museums, and today you may want to start your exploration of the city with stops at some of the more famous ones. The Secession Building is renowned for its architectural design as well as for its Art Nouveau collections. The Kunsthistorisches, rated as one of Europe's finest art museums, has a superb collection of Rubens along with a large collection of works by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. In the evening, enjoy dinner on your own in one of the city's many fine restaurants.

Meals: B

Day 1 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Remain in Vienna for your optional extension

If you have chosen the Post-Trip Extension, continue to explore Vienna on your own. This is an independent extension: There is no VBT representative or Trip Leader. Vienna is famous for its museums, and today you may want to start your exploration of the city with stops at some of the more famous ones. The Secession Building is renowned for its architectural design as well as for its Art Nouveau collections. The Kunsthistorisches, rated as one of Europe's finest art museums, has a superb collection of Rubens along with a large collection of works by Pieter Brueghel the Elder. In the evening, enjoy dinner on your own in one of the city's many fine restaurants.

Meals: B  Hotel: Hotel Stefanie

Day 2 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Independent exploration of Vienna

Today, continue your exploration of the city, perhaps visiting the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. The school trains both horses and riders according to centuries-old methods and is famous for its Lipizzaner horses. Or, spend the afternoon at the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Built in 1279, it remains an impressive tribute to the Habsburgs' great power and wealth. Today it houses the offices of the Austrian president, the chapel where the Vienna Boys' Choir performs, and the hall where the Spanish Riding School Lipizzaner stallions amaze their audiences. Another notable sight is St. Stephen's Cathedral, renowned for its gothic stonework and the largest bell in Austria. The Schonbrunn Palace Gardens offer symmetrical paths and manicured trees. Be certain to shop at the Nachsmarkt — Austria's largest and grandest open-air market. If you've already explored the urban charms of Vienna, head for the rolling hills and trails of the Wienerwald or the Prater woods. Beethoven used the Viennese woods for inspiration, and often strolled them while composing music in his head. Strauss also incorporated the woods and their charms into his music. The delightful woods of Vienna are within easy reach of the city.

Meals: B  Hotel: Hotel Stefanie

Day 3 of POST-TRIP EXTENSION Vienna Extension concludes/Depart for home

After breakfast on the final morning, transfer to the Vienna airport (approximately 30 minutes) for your departing flight. Please ensure you are waiting in the hotel reception area at the designated transfer time. VBT recommends that you check your transfer time in your “Transfer Reminder” or with the hotel's Reception Desk the night before your flight. VBT transfer times and departure points are finalized in advance and cannot be modified for individual guests. If you extend your stay beyond the scheduled program dates, return transportation to the airport will be at your own expense. Please note: For guests with early-morning departures, breakfast at the hotel may not be available. Please check with the Front Desk to verify the times that breakfast is served.

Meals: B