Awesome Austria

Sole Occupancy Supplement

The sole occupancy supplement of £16 per night is already included in the cost of this holiday. – as shown at the top of the page.

The price you pay to Secret Hills Walking Holidays is a land only price.

When you reserve your flight, our policy is to enable you to fly from your local airport, wherever possible. This means that clients will arrive at Salzburg airport at different times and we will arrange the onward transfer to the hotel

Note – DIRECT flights into Salzburg from London Gatwick/Manchester/Birmingham/Glasgow.

From other regional airports – you can fly to Salzburg with one change

 Salzburg airport is approximately one hour from Schladming.

Note – we always try to advise that you fly from your local airport – this is one of the unique selling points for our holidays. The advantages in cost and convenience however far outweigh any additional local airport supplement – and to support the environment – reducing the overall carbon footprint is good policy.

Meeting you in Austria and Transfers

We will meet you at Salzburg airport for onward transfer to Hotel Zirngast.

Transfers – as you have the choice of airports and flight times- where this is practical – we arrange transfers that accumulate clients together for onward transfer to hotels/and return to the airport. This can mean small delays whilst we accumulate clients together for group transfers- unavoidable – and this policy impacts favourably on the cost of your holiday. Our transfers meet the morning flights from the UK.

If you arrive at another time period other than from the morning UK flights, then an additional transfer supplement will apply.

Should you want an individual transfer- to avoid any waiting time – then there will be an additional charge for this, We will calculate this once we know your flight details.

Occasionally – dependent on the numbers on the holiday and the times of your flight, rail transfers may be used to transfer you from the airport at Salzburg to the hotel in Schladming – the station is one mile from the hotel.

Return transfer is included in the holiday price as well.

 Flights to Innsbruck

It may be cost effective for you to fly to Innsbruck, as there are many flights from most UK airports – but the transfer time is longer, though the overall cost of the flight plus transfer may be acceptable, particularly if a number of clients are flying into Innsbruck.

Direct flight times for 2024

Flights from UK to Salzburg- time schedules to leave and the time arriving in Salzburg shown.

London Gatwick

 TUI 07.30am – 10.15am

British Airways- 09.30am- 12.30am

Easyjet – 18.10pm – 21.10pm

Manchester

TUI 07.35am- 10.45am

Birmingham

TUI – 06.55am – 09.50am

Glasgow

TUI 07.40am– 11.05am

Newcastle

TUI 15.00pm – 18.15pm

The Walks

Our base is the Schladming/Dachstein area of Styria – one of Austria’s favourite walking areas. Walking in Austria’s marvellous alpine hills, with stunning vistas of lakes and river valleys. There are alpine meadows to amble through, and fast flowing rivers, with many waterfalls.

Simply stunning alpine mountain scenery walks take us over stunning ridges, and down beautiful valleys. There are larger peaks to conquer as well, but we use Ski and Chair lifts  and mini buses to get us to within striking distance of bigger summits, the last few hundred metres can be steep, but the views are worth the effort, and there is a variety of scenery for the discerning walker. We grade the walks as moderate with some short strenuous stretches.  Five days walking during the week’s break, with one day as a rest day.  Walking is moderate,  we don’t rush the hills and ridges – talking, looking, learning about Austria- tends to slow the pace a little.

After a mini bus journey to the walk start, we walk for about five and a half hours, returning at about 4.30 pm – time for a swim, or simply rest before dinner in the  hotel’s dining room.  There is always a cooling  breeze so early mornings require a top layer, but after that, it is shorts and tee shirt walking.  

We use the ski lifts that abound in this area to take us to our walks start and finish.

Your walk leaders

Secret Hills Walking Holidays work with The A team, the best Schladming  guiding business. Two guides are provided for each walk, with back up from the Secret Hills team.  The guides will structure a balanced programme of walks to suit the ability of the group.  Your Secret Hills tour guide  is responsible for all aspects of your holiday in Austria

Lunch on our walks

We stop at the superb mountain huts that abound in the area- lovely food, plenty of choice, great service.

Sample Walks

Each day we will take transport to the areas mentioned below and conduct two separate walks. There are numerous walks in this area, here are a few we may chooses from:

• Duisitzkarseehutte/Fabriech Hutte in the Obertal valley
• Undertal valley and Wasse Wasser/Lake Reisach/Kallenbackaim
• Eiskerhutte/Rippelegg/Gasselhohe
• Schadlming/Ski Lift/Planai/Kranbegzinken
• Bischofmutze/Holpurglhutte/Mendling River/Kesselwand
• Gamsfeld/Steinerne Jungfrau/GH Edelbrunw/Bradalm
• Ramsau/Larch Bodenhalm/Guttenberg/Sinabell/Silberilar/Reibauer.
• The Dachstein glacier/Ice cave and a walk on the snow – weather permitting

Weather

The average temperature in June/July is between 18 and 22 degrees but don’t forget we are in a mountainous area, so early mornings will be chilly. At night, expect the temperatures to go down to about 8-12 degrees. Some days may be warm, remember we are in high mountains at 2000 metres high,  so you will need warm weather clothing early in the morning.

It will almost certainly be very misty in the early mornings, but that is not an indication of what the days weather will be. The 64,000 dollar question is – will it rain? Probably, and maybe around four o’ clock, it can have a good shower. Our guides carry umbrellas in their rucksacks – they say it takes 90% of the rain and protects their clothes – we cannot fault their logic and will be doing the same. One thing you will need is sun cream and after sun – at 2000 metres it may feel cool – the sun is very strong.

Exclusions

Although our leaders are well trained  and experienced in dealing  with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about  any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.

They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.

We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.

• Flights from your choice of UK airports
• Magnificent Austrian scenery from high mountain passes and rushing river valleys
• A visit to the Dachstein glacier
• Lovely hotel in the centre of Schladming – a lively town geared up for walkers
• Excellent local food – both in the hotel and in the various mountain huts we lunch in
• High level walking but transport and ski lifts to get you to the higher walks
• Option to visit to the iconic city of Salzburg – home of Mozart and the Sound of Music – a fabulous small city with a real character about it
• Local Austrian guides and UK tour guide
• Our relaxed social approach

Underfoot conditions are good, with some loose stones, and many tree roots on some paths. Green path walking is frequent.  Climbing is steady, with the occasional steep short stretches, not to be rushed, and downhills are … well downhills – always a pull on the old knees.  Distances are 7 – 9 miles a day.

Austria offers a wide variety of terrains and walking opportunities. We will describe each walk the night before and what it entails. We walk at a steady pace, we don’t rush – we want you to enjoy our lovely scenery. These mountains are a walker’s paradise with good, mainly well marked paths and an ever changing landscape.

 This is a land of ever changing vistas – on any walk we get four or five different landscapes to enjoy. Don’t forget your camera.

We walk between 9 and 10 miles per day. 

Paths on this Austrian holiday are mostly well marked and walked but can have rough and uneven with stony parts to them. The terrain and path types vary but many can be rocky and steep.

These we take carefully, bearing in mind your safety at all times.

You need good walking footwear, preferably waterproof walking boots with good soles for protection. You may find that walking poles will aid your enjoyment of this land.

Whilst we do not ascend the highest mountains- we will ascend and descend on our walks – up to a total in a day of 750 metres. So, there will be some short, sharp ascents and descents.

The walks on this trip are rated as Moderate with strenuous sections,  but each day involves a fair amount of ascent and descent. The trip requires a reasonable amount of fitness, ideally with previous hill walking experience.

Exclusions

Although our leaders are well trained and experienced in dealing with different capabilities of our walking clients, if they have any concerns about any clients ability or suitability to undertake safely any walking activity we plan or they feel that participation of an individual may affect the groups safety and cohesion, then they have full permission to exclude that client from an activity.

They will try at all times to provide an alternative suggested activity, though this may involve the client in additional local cost.

We rarely have to enforce this above recommendation, but it is a sensible and necessary protection for the individual client, the group and the leaders.

It’s all about meeting new friends. Each holiday is designed to be a friendly, relaxed and stress-free occasion. Talking is as important as walking on Secret Hills Walking Holidays. We don’t go in for discos, we may use an event that is taking place in the area we are in to boost the weekend’s activities – but it’s good, old fashioned chat that makes our short breaks successful.

“Make new friends that turn into old friends” – that’s our motto.

You might be surprised by what fun you’ll have with people who are older or younger than you during a holiday with us, and that’s exactly the sort of atmosphere we encourage; people find it very rewarding. It doesn’t matter what your reasons for travelling with us are, we’ve had people who are single, divorced or widowed, people who have partners that are unable to travel, and people who can’t holiday with their friends anymore as they’ve all got married themselves. There are people who want to make friends, see sights, and experience something completely new. Whatever your reason, we’ll welcome you with open arms and our friendly hosts will help you to get the most out of your holiday.

Don’t worry if this is the first time you have ventured to join a group holiday – its always a bit daunting – but we will look after you and ensure that you get used to being amongst friends again. Trust us to to get you back into the swing of things.

Oh – by the way – it’s not a dating agency – over the years we have had people meet and fall in love – but that’s just chance. Our aim is that you make like-minded friends – just relax and enjoy.

Just arrive and enjoy.

There are other walking holiday companies that cover Europe but we believe we offer the best value for many reasons….

• We specialise in organising guided walking holidays for singles and solo travellers
• We are a small friendly company
• We have a loyal customer base who return again and again (so we must be doing something right) – read our testimonials page on the website
• We offer a lot of flexibility – you can stay extra nights which we are happy to organise for you. We are also very flexible on the walks we provide, adapting to suit walkers and weather conditions
• Our walk leading is second to none. Unlike some other large Walking Companies, we use LOCAL leaders who live in the area and who love their surroundings. They have expert knowledge of everything you need to know to make an area come alive.
• You are safe in our hands – our guides are experts, fully qualified in first aid. Also, because of their local knowledge of the hills, they can respond to any situation that might for example demand cutting short a route. They don’t need to consult maps – they know the hills intimately.
• Our leaders are all easy-going, genuinely sociable people who want to ensure that you have the best time you can with the rest of the group. They make the weekend fun by engaging with all members of a group, and ensuring that everyone feels part of the group experience.
• We give great value for money. Because we recognise that lots of walkers holiday on their own, we have negotiated no single supplement deals with all our hotels to ensure the best possible deal.
• We always use good hotels, selected and constantly reviewed.
• We have smaller groups than some of the larger walking companies because we believe the social experience is much better in a smaller group. People can talk to everyone, especially at dinner where you can all sit at one table in a small group. Our numbers vary from holiday to holiday but an average group size would be 8-12.