Tour Code: 19670 Grade 6 & 7 A wealth of alpine walking in 's Holiday Duration: 8 days HOLIDAY DATES Salzburgerland 22nd Aug 2018 - 29th Aug 2018

Maria Alm is in the Hochkonig region of Austria, in the Salzburgerland close to the border with Germany.

HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Alpine flower presentation from a local guide

The Hochkönig Panorama Trail, with stunning views north to the highest mountain in the Alps.

The walk to the Klingspitz (1,988m) with views all the way down the valley to . MARIA ALM

Climb the Hundstein peak with changing perspectives as you walk. Brilliant views of the peaks and glimpses of marmots, deer and horses along the way. A trip to the amazing gorge at Wiebach. Even an impromptu yodeling session - all memories of Maria Alm which is in the Hochkönig region of Austria, in the Salzburgerland close to the border with Germany.

The valley is dominated by the rocky peaks of the Hochkönig Massif which provide the awesome backdrop for much of the walking in this area. The valley boasts 220 miles of well marked and maintained hiking paths and we cover much of the 45 miles of the Königsweg long distance trail. The rustic mountain huts provide welcome rest stops, with beer, coffee and apple strudel along the way.

Above Maria Alm, the Hundstein peak at 2117m is an achievable target for strong walkers and presents no technical difficulties. We can explore all the postcard perfect villages along the valley including , Dienten and Mühlbach. WHATS INCLUDED  Return flights from Gatwick to (British Airways)  Airport transfers  Half board accommodation  Two walks, two leaders, two grades on some dates  Lift pass  All local transport costs

HOLIDAY GRADE

This is a Grade 6 moderate holiday which includes full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent with walks in some remote areas. Paths are mostly good, but there may be some steep and rough ground. Walks will last up to 6 hours and could involve as much as 750m of ascent and descent and are likely to be at the upper level of ascent, descent, walking time and distance. See the Walks & Excursions section for more information.

This is a Grade 7 holiday. Stamina is the key to this challenging holiday. There is plenty of ascent and descent over rough and steep ground, so a steady foot and a good head for heights is advisable. 800-1,000m of ascent and descent in a day is likely to be the norm throughout and you will generally be walking for up to 7 hours. See the Walks & Excursions section for more information. steadily through forest until we reach Lechneralm Proposed Itinerary with wide open views of the valley and Maria Alm below. From the Massingsattel at 1344m, the Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the highest point of the day, We follow a pleasant outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local forest path gently downwards to Brimbachalm for a conditions can change due to weather or other picnic lunch. After lunch we continue to the Natrun unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that lift station and take the lift down to the hotel, or the routes and timings need to be amended or the order more energetic can take the path down. 8 miles, of days may change, sometimes at short notice. 12km, 700m ascent, 400mm descent, 5 hours

Key to Meals: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner. The Hundstein. This walk takes us to highest peak In flight meals, if appropriate, will be advised in on the grassy side of the valley at over 2000m. your final travel documents From the start of the walk at 1400m there are great views across the valley to the peaks of the Day: 1 - Maria Alm (D) Fly from London Gatwick Hochkönig massif. The gradient uphill towards the to Salzburg Airport. On arrival we travel by road 1 Hundstein is moderate and on good paths. We take hour 30 minutes to Hotel Niederreiter, Maria Alm for a break near Langegg before continuing to the top 7 nights. for an early lunch and a welcome drink at the Statzerhaus. There are stunning views in all Day: 2 to 7 - Maria Alm (B,D) Walking directions, including the lake at . We programme in and around Maria Alm for the return by the same route as far as Langegg where following 6 days. A free day will be offered to allow there is a choice of return routes to the Hintermoos you to further explore the area independently of lift station for our return to Maria Alm. 8 which you can do so with the Hochkönig Card. See miles,12km, 700m ascent and descent, 5 hours. details in our Walks and Excursions section.

Day: 8 - - (B) Transfer by road to Salzburg Airport The Panoramaweg from Filzensattel to for Check in and return flight to London Gatwick. Arthurhaus. This is a wonderful walk along the base of the Hochkönig massif, undulating all the way to the top of the valley at the Arthurhaus. One of the best walks on the programme for wildflower Walks & Excursions lovers. From the Filzensattel car park wewalk uphill The following itinerary is designed to balance our to Pichalm and continue on the well marked path clients' desire to have a good idea of what to expect towards the Erichhütte, a good place for coffee and with the need our leaders have to be flexible. The strudel. From the terrace on a clear day there are weather, the group's ability or personal preferences views as far as the Grossglockner. We continue to of the leader will all come in to play. The order in Vierhütten for our picnic lunch and a drink at the which the walks are done may well change and Alm, admiring the many wildflowers along the way. alternative walks not mentioned below may replace From our final destination, the Arthurhaus, we catch those described. In other words the itinerary is not the bus back down the valley. 9½ miles, 15km, set in stone, but we believe it all the same gives a 600m ascent, 400m descent. 4 ½ hours. good indication of what will be offered on our grade 6 and 7 programme: The Schneeberg. A wonderful walk on the grassy side of the valley from Mühlbach to Dienten crossing Our walks at grade 6 are likely to include the the Schneeberg and Schneebergkruz at 1938m. We following: start at over 1500m from where we walk uphill on well graded paths. At Schneebergkreuz we take a break and admire the 360 views before continuing Massingsattel. We start our walk along the river on a beautiful undulating ridge. We will have a towards Waldhaus and Rohrmoos. Our path climbs picnic lunch along the way before reaching the Burglalm the descending to Dienten. 7 miles,11km, Karbachalm and Pronebenalm. A lovely walk 560m ascent, 1100m descent. 4 ½ hours. with a few possible refreshment stops in stunning locations. We take th bus from Maria Alm up the valley to Muhlbach and take the lift to the top. The The Klingspitz. This high level walk takes us to walk trends downhill gently most of the day, with one if the highest peaks in the area, the Klingspitz one uphill section. We may stop for a drink on the at 1988m. The views as you approach the summit terrace of the lovely Althausalm and afterwards are simply stunning stretching down the valley as continue towards Pronebenalm, taking our picnic far as Saalfelden. A steady climb and many photo lunch along the way. We will walk past Gasthaus stops will see us at the summit just before Paussbauer or maybe stop for refreshment before lunchtime. We will drop down to a col to take a continuing into the Muhlbach to catch the bus back picnic lunch after which we will continue towards to Maria Alm. 8 miles,12km, 300m adcent, 1000m Reicheralm and onwards to reach Dienten for our descent. bus back to Maria Alm. A long but rewarding day. 11½ miles, 18km, 600m ascent, 1000m descent, 6 hours. Weissbach and Bindalm. This walk again takes us out of the valley to Weissbach, north of Saalfelden. We use transport to take us to the Filzensattel to Natrun. A lovely walk for flowers Visitors Centre at Weissbach. Our walk starts up and a few Alms along the way for refreshments. We through the Seissenberglamm, a wonderful gorge take the bus from Maria Alm to Filzsensattel and which was formed at the end of the last ice age. walk uphill to Gabuelhutte, option for a drink here or Woodcutters constructed a path through it in 1831 at Steinbockalm a little further on. We continue on and the boardwalk is fully maintained today for a well graded path with open views to the south. visitors. From the top of the gorge we will walk to Our picnic lunch spot is another stunning location Bindalm, just inside the German border where we with views to the Hundstein and Klingspitz. will take our picnic lunch. We will return by the Continiung down there are further opportunities for same route to Weissbach. 10 miles, 16km, 800m refreshments at Jagglhutte or Eggeralm. Continuing ascent, 800m descent. down we reach the main road at Hintermoos where it is possible to catch a bus to Maria Alm but also to continue the walk up to the Natrun lift station and The Pilgrimage Route to the Furstenbrunnl. return to the hotel using the lift. 9 miles, 14km, This walk starts from the hotel and takes us up 650m ascent, 800m descent. close to the mountain range below Riemannhaus. We follow part of the annual pilgrimage route which takes place each year on the Hoffer Plattl and Schihutte. We leave the hotel Saturday after 24th August. The pilgrimage route on foot, crossing the main road and taking the path starts in Maria Alm and finishes at Konigsee crossing uphill. It will be worth stopping off a short distance the . We will reach the off the path to look and the tiny pilgrimage church Furstenbrunnl (water fountain) before making our of Friedenskapelle before continuing to way back via Kronreith (best apple strudel in the Hinterjetzbachalm, a lovely quaint Alm is a stunning area) to Maria Alm. 8½ miles, 13km, 700m ascent, setting where a stop off for a drink will be very 700m descent. welcome. We continue to the open are at Schihutte to take our picnic lunch before making our descent back to Maria Alm. 8½ miles, 13.5km, 820m ascent, Our grade 7 walks are likely to include the 820m descent. following:

Saalachter Hohenweg. This walk takes us away The Braggstein (1826m) is a favourite walk from the valley we have been walking in to the amongst locals and visiting hikers alike. It sits Valley west of Saalfelden. We will take dramatically below the higher peaks of the Selbhorn hired transport to the Asitz Kabinenbahn and take and the Schönfeldspitz which are nuzzled in the the lift to the top lift station. The walk undulates on Steinernes Meer or Stone Sea range, forming the good paths over a number of peaks with views of northern backdrop to Maria Alm. We use the lift just the Leoganger mountain range. We will have a outside the hotel and start out walk from the top- picnic lunch before descending through forest to the station, and hike back to the hotel via our peak. As Berggasthof Biberg for refreshments on the terrace. we gradually get higher, great views are possible. Continuing downhill we reach the lift station where 9½ miles, 15 km, 900m of ascent / 1200m of we take the chairlift down to the valley bottom. For descent. a more exciting option use the toboggan which is free once with the Hochkonig card (weather dependent). Another 45 minutes walk will take us Klingspitz & Hochkasern .From Dienten we take to the Saalfelden train station from where we take the peaceful Gabühel double chair lift up through the bus back to Maria Alm. 10 miles,16km, 600m the trees to the Steinbockalm. We follow the ascent, 800m descent. delightful woodland path to Lettenalm then continue up to the ridge at Marbachhöhe and onto the Klingspitz (1988m), then the Hochkasern (2017m). We descend along a ridge before entering a wilder ground through the rock to the Seehorn peak section, then take the Schwarzeckalm chair lift back (2321m), arriving around lunchtime. This is followed down. 13 miles, 20km, 900m of ascent / descent. by a very rocky and rugged walk down. 7 miles, 11.5 km, 1000m of ascent / descent.

Bertgenhütte. The beautiful neighbouring village of Hinterthal is the start of many good hikes. We start The Schneeberg and Schneebergkreuz We walk next to the river, before turning up through the in the slate green hills on the opposite side of the trees, then up the narrow valley towards the valley to the Hochkönig, where sit the Schneeberg Bertgenhütte, a climber's hut. The route up to the and Schneebergkreuz (1938m). This walk allows hut is steep, with short sections of very easy the possiblity to have brilliant views all day long. We scrambling assisted by wire and staples. After the wind our way up to the peaks for lunch and then ascent we descend part of the same route, then continue on the King's path through to Dienten. 9 climb gradually up through the trees emerging at miles, 14.5 km, 980m of ascent / 1500m of descent. the Pichlalm for a break, an old alm with good views and specialising in cheese. From here we only have half an hour to our bus stop. 8 miles, 12 km, 1020m Pronebenalm A very pleasant walk up through of ascent /750m of descent. meadows and woods to visiting the Pronebenalm for lunch and drinks. We continue around the valley to the Karbachalm and take the lift back down to The Riemannhaus From Maria Alm it's difficult to Mühlbach. 7 miles, 12 km, 1000m of ascent / 250m see how it would be posible to climb up to the of descent. Riemannhaus. This walk is often voted the best walk of the holiday but you need a good head for heights. We climb into the Steinernes Meer on the old Haidensperre This walk include the Haidensperre, pilgramage route into the mountains, and aim for a steep narrow path mostly protected with fixed the Riemannhaus. The first section is easy, then the wires and staples. This is an interesting day but not path starts to get steep with vertiginous drops-offs. for the faint hearted. We take lunch in the meadows Before getting to the col, the path narrows and around the Steinalm then continue to the balcony there are fixed wires for 30 minutes. On return, we path taking us to a proper Austrian Alpine hut, the veer off to an alm where the apple strudel is Peter Wiechenthaler Hütte, for drinks. From here a recommended. 8 miles, 12km, 1050m of ascent / well engineered path takes us back down to the 1480m of descent. valley. 8 miles, 13km, 1160m of ascent, / 1450m of descent.

The Hochkeil. Today's circular walk starts in a different valley below the Hochkönig massif. We The Karlkopf This walk takes us into Germany, contour across undulating terrain, then climb more then walk back into Austria via a splendid peak, the steeply to the summit of the Hochkeil (1782m) from Karlkopf (2196m) on the Austro-German border, a where we can glimpse into far off valleys and distant really good challenge at top of the grade 7. An early mountain ranges. We visit the Arthurhaus, where it start is required to take us to the German border is posible to see marmots and have a ‘cheeky' quick and start point. Some steep and rocky ground to the drink. Leaving here, we walk the panoramic path summit, and back down. We finish the walk at a with the Hochkönig to our right. 11½ miles, 18km , local Gasthaus. 8 miles, 13km, 1050m of ascent / 850m of ascent / descent 1300m of descent.

The Hundstein This is a demanding walk with a lot A free day will be provided each week. There are of descent, this is one of the classic walks of the lots of local attractions to investigate including a area and maybe one of the highlights of the tour. tubular slide all the way down a mountain, a From the top of the Schwarzeckalm chair lift we toboggan run and of course it's not far to Zell am climb the Hundstein (2117m), for a break and a See for a tranquil walk around the lake followed by drink at the hut. The Hundstein is the scene of lunch, then a boat journey back to Zell, which is ‘Ranggeln', the ancient annual summer Austrian always a popular choice. wrestling competition. The peak is reported to be the highest peak in Austria with a green top. From here the undulating ridge provides excellent views in all directions including the Grossglockner range, the 2x Walks, 2x Leaders, 2x Grades highest in Austria. We can enjoy a picnic on the On ‘2x Walks, 2x Leaders, 2x Grades' departures, Schönwiesk or Schwalbenwand, before heading where we provide two tour leaders and offer a down to Maria Alm. 13 miles, 21.5km, 1120m of choice of easier or harder walks each day, we hope ascent / 1500m of descent. to be able to accommodate your choice of walk. However safety considerations do govern the sizes of groups in each walking grade; the minimum The Seehorn peak This circular walk is in a number of participants for a guided walk at a given remote Área away from regular hikers and tourists. grade and the maximum group size will be as The walk takes place by a small lake in the morning, indicated for the walk grade. where it may be possible to swim. Then some steep On most departures we are able to accommodate Our maximum group size for guided walks between most clients' first choice of walk most of the time, grade 5 and grade 8 is 18 persons. however some flexibility and co-operation may be required. In unusual circumstances where a disproportionately high number of clients wish to Tour Leaders walk at one grade, for safety reasons, we may not Your tour leader makes the world of difference to be able to provide you with your choice of walk each your holiday and ours are as passionate about day. Although we will endeavour to accommodate as discovering the world on foot as you are. They're many clients' choices as possible, it may be resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They necessary for you to switch between higher and will handle all the local administration and other lower grade walks during the holiday. Any decision needs that might arise to ensure that you don't regarding group sizes and the participants in the have to worry about planning your days and you can day's walking programme rests with our tour enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, leader(s). they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual For safety reasons the minimum number of style, talents and professional backgrounds and all participants on a walk will be 4 plus the leader. are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible. Optional Excursions A range of local excursions and activities may be On most holidays of 7 nights and over, the tour available to book in your destination through a local leader will have one day's break a week, enabling operator. We have no involvement in such activities you to have a 'free' day too! or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.

Leaders Evening Briefing Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know. Local Transport Costs All local transport costs, in conjunction with the advertised activity programme, are included in the holiday cost.

Personal Expenditure You will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, possible non-included entrance fees, any optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally as well as any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry when budgeting for your holiday.

Small Groups

Group Size Coming from all walks of life your fellow travelling companions will share your desire to discover great things and have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy their infectious enthusiasm, cameraderie and great dinner conversation.

These small-group guided holidays usually have a group size of 10 - 18 people. arrival time and departure point so that the group Travel Details leader is able to meet up with you. Flights are from London Gatwick to Salzburg and return with British Airways. If you wish to organise your own flights from a non- UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'no-travel' reductions are Our groups are met at Salzburg airport. Details of often available. Please contact us for details. where to meet your Ramblers leader will be sent with your final documentation. Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended Transfers between Salzburg and Maria Alm date of travel. (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) are by road. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance. holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior Passports and Visas to departure. Passports should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay in Austria. Your passport does not need any additional period of validity beyond this. Personal Details Check When confirming your booking, we provide you with a Personal Details Check form. This is to ensure that British passport holders don't need a visa to enter we have an accurate record of the information you Austria. have provided us such as your passport details (if relevant), date of birth and any other important detail necessary for us to properly manage your If you are a single parent or travelling to Austria holiday arrangements. When you receive this, with a child under 18 who is not your own you will please check the details, complete any missing or require documentary evidence of parental pertinent information and return it to us as soon as responsibility and a letter of consent. possible.

General Passport & Visa Advice Land Only It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the If you are joining and leaving at your holiday personal details pages of your passport. Should you overseas we assume, unless you advise us lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday replacement documents and your return to your from your hotel. home country.

Although airport transfers are not included for those Passport and visa requirements can change at any making their own independent travel arrangements, time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, inform yourself from a professionally qualified depending on your flight arrival time, you may be source on, and comply with, such requirements. able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for General travel and destination advice for UK more details. nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 at www.gov.uk/travelaware. minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, Accommodation

Hotel Niederreiter Oberdorf 6 A-5761 Austria

Phone: 0043 65847754 Web: www.niederreiter.com Email: [email protected]

Buffet breakfasts are plentiful and typically a three course dinner (including a salad buffet and soup/starter) are included in the holiday charge and will be provided at the hotel. Lunches are not included.

Austrian Type Beds Twin bedded rooms usually contain typical 'Austrian type beds' which consist of one bed frame fitted with two single mattresses and bed-packs with individual duvets. Footwear Water-to-Go Lightweight waterproof walking boots with a good An alternative to bottled water from single-use moulded rubber sole (such as Vibram or similar) and sealed water bottles is filtered water from a a deep tread which provide ankle support are refillable bottle containing its own water filter such strongly recommended and may be essential for as a Water-to-go bottle available from some walks. www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water Good quality waterproof walking boots with a source and save the environment from disposable moulded sole and deep tread and which provide plastic bottles. good ankle support are essential. We recommend that you either wear your walking We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that helping the environment. Please go to their website your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 participate in the holiday programme. when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Kit List Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays. Outdoor activities are always more enjoyable if you are prepared. The following list is a basic guideline that will enhance your experience. Please don't Trekking Poles hesitate to contact us with any questions you may Many of our clients find walking poles hugely have. beneficial when walking. They can both reduce stress on the knees and aid confidence. If you use them please make sure that you have the rubber A basic kit list is likely to include: tips covering the sharp metal points. There is - Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and increasing evidence that the bare metal tips are trousers damaging footpaths both in the UK and abroad. - Lightweight, quick drying trousers - Several polo shirts, T-shirts or specialist walking shirts Survival Bags - Fleece jacket On this, as on all grade 7 and above holidays, we - Comfortable walking socks strongly recommend that all group members carry a - Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate) simple orange plastic survival bag. In the event of - Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun you being injured it will keep you warm and dry block whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive. - Swimwear (if appropriate) It is cheap and lightweight and doubles as a mat to - Day sack (25 litre capacity) to comfortably carry sit on. These are widely available online or from the kit you'll take out on your days activity outdoor equipment shops. - Strong polythene bags to keep the contents of your daypack dry - Water bottle(s) - at least 1 litre capacity Travel Document Checklist - Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, Documents and Information to take with you: antiseptic etc) - Insect repellent - Your passport (make sure it's valid and it's yours) - Waterproof bag or container and knife for your - Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary lunch - Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if - Walking/trekking poles (if applicable) required) - Holiday money - Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost) - Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked) - Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked) - Your holiday Booking Confirmation document - Your travel insurance details - Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence) - Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport - A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant - Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about Maps, Guidebooks & Advice Maps and guidebooks relating to your holiday may be obtained before departure from:

The Map Shop (www.themapshop.co.uk)

Apart from any books available in local libraries, the internet is now an excellent resource for information about holidays in Austria. The local tourist office websites www.mariaalm.at (in German) has pictures and videos of the area.

Meanwhile www.hochkoenig.at/en/urlaubserlebnis/sommer/wa ndern (in English) is all about hiking in the area. There is also a link from this website to several live webcams.

Weather and Climate Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:

Weather2 www.myweather2.com

BBC Weather www.bbc.co.uk/weather participate in our local walking and other activity Currency programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance. The currency in Austria is the euro. Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for medical expenses, Health mountain rescue and emergency repatriation in the No compulsory immunisations are required for visits event of illness or injury, and that your policy to Austria. provides adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during You should be up to date with the usual your holiday. See our brochure or website for immunisations recommended in the UK. further advice regarding holiday insurance.

You may wish to consider immunisations against Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you Diphtheria, Tetanus and Tick-borne Encephalitis. take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your Health requirements can change at any time. It is insurer's name, the policy number and emergency your own responsibility to ensure that you inform assistance contact numbers. yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is insurance once your holiday arrangements have available from your GP. started.

Further Travel Health Advice EHIC Cards For further advice please visit: Please take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you; it will help you in the event of you - The National Travel Health Network and Centre needing medical assistance during your holiday. (NaTHNaC) travel health website at Please note the the EHIC has an expiry date, so www.travelhealthpro.org.uk please check that your card is valid for the duration - The NHS 'Fit for travel' website at of your holiday. Please note however the an EHIC www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk should not be considered a substitute for medical or - The Foreign Office Office Travel Advice Website at travel insurance. For more information please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. www.ehic.org.uk. - Or a local travel health clinic. Personal Safety You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up hand gel with you for times when you're unable to to date information on security and local laws for wash your hands. travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please Language take a few minutes to look at the current advice on The language spoken in Austria is German. your planned destination.

Please be aware of what's going on around you, Insurance take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as Travel Insurance wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. carry more cash on you than you will need for each We do not insist that you insure with us but we day, and we recommend that a money belt is used. require that you are adequately insured for the nature of your holiday. You will be unable to Should we make a major change to your holiday Cultural Awareness arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to Responsible Travel specifically draw your attention to any significant We're committed to ethical tourism in all our change. destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. You may wish to review the latest version of this Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up Holiday Information Sheet online prior to travel. close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate Please note that any advertised offers, benefits or environment. We feel that the most important initiatives may be discontinued at any time. starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website. Contact Us Ramblers Walking Holidays Heart & Sole We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to - Tel: UK +44 (0)1707 331133 be able to use our profits to help make a difference - Email: [email protected] to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed - Web: www.ramblersholidays.co.uk by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Our office is open and our Sales & Reservations Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a team available to speak to you from: long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even - 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday a small amount goes a long way. See our website - 9.15am to Midday on Saturdays for more information and details of some of the - 9.15am to 3pm on Saturdays in January & projects we support. February only

Please quote your Booking Reference number and Communication Tour Code whenever contacting us.

Mobile Phones We wish you an enjoyable holiday! Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.

Please do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.

As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.

Emergency Contact Numbers (Austria)

Police, Ambulance, Fire: 112, Mountain Rescue: 140 or 112 Feedback We welcome all comments about our holidays and value ideas for the future. If you have provided us with an email address we will invite you to complete an online questionnaire or to add feedback to our page on independent review site 'Feefo'. Important Information Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued.

In most cases the revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will remain unchanged.