Seefeld Plateau Discovery Tour
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Seefeld Plateau Discovery Tour Destination: Austria Trip code: ATLEL HOLIDAY OVERVIEW From our base in the peaceful hamlet of Weidach, we will enjoy marvellous Alpine scenery, flower-filled meadows and pretty hamlets on this Seefeld Plateau Discovery Tour. WHAT'S INCLUDED • Good quality en-suite accommodation in one of our European partner hotels • Half Board – continental breakfast and evening meal • The services of an experienced HF Holidays’ leader • Full day excursions with all essential transport in resort • ‘With flight’ holidays include return flights from the UK and hotel transfers HOLIDAYS HIGHLIGHTS • Enjoy breathtaking mountain views from the Karwendel Railway to Innsbruck. • Ride the steam-operated rack and pinion railway to Achensee Lake for a cruise. • Enjoy a cable car ride up Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze • Explore the mystical Leutasch Spirit Gorge. www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 1 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 TRIP SUITABILITY Discovery holidays involve active sightseeing and you should expect to spend lots of time on your feet. Optional short walks of approximately 2½ miles allow you to stretch your legs and see the best of the local scenery. ITINERARY Day 1: Arrival Day Day 2: The Seefeld Plateau Today we discover and explore the natural beauty of the Seefeld Plateau with a walk around the Wildsee and a visit to the Mosern Peace Bell, which is swung daily at 5pm. From here, there are fantastic views down to the Inn Valley over Telfs. Day 3: Innsbruck This morning sees us taking a scenic train journey on the mountain railway to the city of Innsbruck. Here we shall visit the charming Old Town with its sophisticated mixture of Gothic and Baroque architecture. We’ll stop at the famous Golden Roof – or Goldenes Dachl – and will also have plenty of time to stroll through the city’s many alleyways. Day 4: Free Day On our 7-night holidays, we allow one free day where there is no organised excursion. This is an ideal opportunity for you to relax, enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the area independently. Day 5: Garmisch Partenkirchen And The Zugspitze Another train journey from Seefeld takes us across the border into Germany to the Garmisch Partenkirchen. Weather permitting, there will be an optional cable car ride up to the top of the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. On clear days it is possible to see Munich from the top of this 2,962-metre-tall giant! Day 6: Achensee Today’s unforgettable itinerary begins with a ride on the steam-powered rack and pinion railway to Achensee. The 128-year-old railway is the oldest of its kind in Europe, still carrying passengers to this day. Once we’ve disembarked from the train, it’ll be on to the boat for a relaxing lake cruise. Day 7: Leutasch Gorge And Mittenwald A gentle walk through the Leutasch Valley awaits today as we follow the course of the river to view the impressive Leutasch Gorge. We’ll also stop at the small Bavarian town of Mittenwald, known for colourful houses and its violin-making museum. Day 8: Departure Day www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 2 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 ACCOMMODATION Hotel Kristall - Seefeld Plateau The superb 4-star Hotel Kristall is run by the Pfeffel family who have been welcoming HF Holidays' guests for over 10 years. Set in the small hamlet of Weidach in the Leutasch valley the hotel boasts beautiful mountain views on every side. The bedrooms are decorated in a contemporary style but still maintain a traditional alpine charm. Many rooms offer balconies. The recently renovated and extended wellness centre offers two swimming pools, sauna, tepidarium and steam bath. Winner of Best Food 2018 in the HF Holidays Hotel Awards, the 5 course evening meals are of an exceptional standard. Accommodation Info Rooms Hotel Kristall has 40 comfortable bedrooms, most of which have balconies. As is usual in Austria, twin beds may be arranged in one large frame with separate mattresses and bedding. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with bath or shower, telephone, satellite TV, safe, refrigerator and internet access. The balconies offer a lovely view across the village and mountains. Facilities The public rooms include an attractive lounge with open fire, sun terrace, public bar, games room, free internet access and ski/boot room. There is also a large luxurious wellness centre, two indoor swimming pools, spa pool, Finnish sauna, Turkish steam bath, tepidarium, adventure and wellness showers and infrared sauna. Food & Drink Our Guided Walking holidays at Hotel Kristall are on a Half Board basis and include breakfast and evening meal. Breakfast The buffet-style breakfast has an extensive selection of breads and jams, fresh fruit, cheese, cold meats, cereals, pastries and cakes, smoked salmon and champagne (on sundays). Tea and coffee are also available. Lunch (Payable Locally) Ingredients for a picnic lunch can be bought from local shops or you may choose to eat at a mountain hut - your leaders will advise you of the options. Afternoon Tea Complimentary homemade cakes are served every afternoon. Evening Meal Hotel Kristall provides either a five course meal or a theme evening buffet. Particularly popular is the Tirolean www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 3 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 feast, prepared with traditional recipes. All ingredients are sourced locally and are free range and organic where possible. Vegetarians and special diets can usually be catered for if requested in advance of the holiday. The hotel also offers an aperitif evening once a week in front of the open fire. Drinks The hotel has a bar serving beer, wine and spirits. Your Evenings The friendly atmosphere of our holidays continues into the evening. Enjoy a glass of wine or local beer before hearing about the next day's activities. The focus of your evening will be a leisurely meal. Your leader will also be checking out for any local events going on nearby or you may like to relax in the bar, with a drink and chat with your fellow guests. USEFUL HOLIDAY INFORMATION Holiday Information Situated in the Northern Calcareous Alps, in the Austrian Tyrol, only 21km from Innsbruck, the elevation (1,200m) and spaciousness of the Seefeld Plateau guarantees a truly relaxing and enjoyable stay. The plateau rises 600m above the Inn Valley to its south and is set against a stupendous natural backdrop. To the east rise the peaks of the Karwendelgebirge (known as the Seefeld Dolomites). In the west you have the big bulk of Hohe Munde (2,662m above sea level) and to complete the scenery are The Wetterstein Mountains. These mountains form the boundary between Austria and Germany and its highest peak is the Zugspitze (2,962m). The Seefeld Plateau or Olympia Region Seefeld has many Olympic sports facilities. It has hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, and also the World Nordic Championships in 1985. More recently it hosted the first winter junior Olympics in 2012. The region consists of five villages or areas, Seefeld, the Leutasch Valley, Mosern, Reith and Sharnitz. There are 150km of well-groomed walking trails, criss-crossing the plateau. With its many restaurants and leisure facilities, you are ensured a warm welcome. Dense Alpine forests intermingle with sparse larch groves and wide grasslands covering 70 sq.km. The beautiful Alpine meadows and mountain lakes are the perfect opportunity for leaving your cares and woes behind you. Our base is in Weidach, the largest of the hamlets found in the Leutasch Valley. It is situated on the main bus route that links the villages of the Olympia region. Weidach has a small selection of shops and facilities, including a tourist information office, banks, sports shops, souvenir shops, bars, cafes and restaurants. It is a pretty village and an excellent location for our excursions. Essential Information To enjoy your holiday comfortably and safely, it’s essential that your clothing and footwear is suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Changeable weather is possible throughout the year, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities – hot, cold, wet or dry. All of our Discovery Tours involve active sightseeing and you should therefore be prepared for walking between the sights and wear flat, comfortable shoes. In the evening most guests wear casual clothing. You will probably find a small rucksack or cross-body bag useful for carrying spare clothing, camera, sun protection, drinks (at least 2 litres) etc during the day. A money belt is always a good idea. You’ll also need to bring your: • Booking confirmation • Travel insurance cover note and contact details www.hfholidays.co.uk PAGE 4 [email protected] Tel: +44(0) 20 3974 8865 • European Health Insurance Card (if applicable) • Completed guest registration form • Photocopy of photo page of passport • Sunhat, sun cream and sunglasses Medication: If you require any medication, please take adequate supplies for the duration of your holiday. It’s advisable to carry your medication in your hand luggage instead of packing it in your suitcase. Admission costs are not included in this holiday and all are entirely optional. Reductions on entrance fees are often available for students and senior citizens, providing you can produce proof of your age or status. Please allow around €50 per person. Dietary Requirements Vegetarians and special diets can be catered for if requested in advance of the holiday. Useful Information Insurance is a condition of booking. Therefore if you have not already arranged insurance, it is imperative that you do so, and advise us of the insurance company and policy number.