01694 723600 info@secrethillswalking.co.uk

Awesome Austria

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June 22, 2024
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Why Book With Us?

  • Value for Money
  • Personal Service
  • Hand-picked Tours & Activities
  • No single supplement (UK only)
  • Flights from local airports (Europe only)

Make an Enquiry

Do not hesitate to contact us. We are an expert team and we are always happy to talk to you.

info@secrethillswalking.co.uk

01694 723600

You matter to us & we promise to provide you with a superb walking & social holiday, tailored specifically to your needs. We provide walking holidays for walkers & as walkers ourselves, we appreciate & understand the requirements of a walking holiday.

  • 22 June (2024)
  • Refund guarantee
  • Expert Tour Guides
  • Location: Austria
  • Price includes sole occupancy charge
  • Price excludes flight

The walking here is quite superb with a great variation of stunning scenery in all directions. Our solos guided walking holiday will introduce you to the very best walking in this beautiful landscape.

The price shown here excludes flights but includes a sole occupancy supplement

We specialise in offering guided walking holidays for solos and singles in beautiful locations in both the UK and Europe. Solos and Singles Guided Walking is our unique speciality – unlike other walking holiday companies. We also design bespoke holidays for special groups.

 

What’s included on a Secret Hills Solos Guided Walking Austrian  Holiday
  • Transfer from airport to Hotel Zirngast and return
  • Half board accommodation, including a three course dinner and breakfast
  • Guided walking
  • Any transport needed on the walks including ski and chair lift costs
  • The services of a local guide
  • The services of a Secret Hills tour guide
  • Individual attention
  • Our administration and management service
  • Advice on flight options when you enquire with us
  • Sole occupancy supplement

What’s not included

  • Lunch
  • Entries to museums
  • Any drinks you have in the hotel and out on the walks
  • Flights – which you book yourself

Additional days

We can arrange extra days at the end of your holiday/ coming out earlier.  

Hotel and Meals

We stay close to the centre of Schladming at the four star Hotel Zirngast – https://www.zirngast.at/

Sole traveller guided walking in Austria

Three star comfort, with 30 rooms, excellent cuisine, modern spa facilities and the warm hospitality of the Zirngast team make a holiday in Schladming so special.

The wellness centre – spa – has sauna and steam room facilities

Rooms

All twins and singles rooms are spacious and have the following facilities – bathroom with shower and toilet, mini bars, phone, Satellite TV, and wireless internet

There are two lounges a bar and a large dining area. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel

Solos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

Your Meals

Breakfast is self-service with a wide range of breads, cheeses, hams, yogurt choices, seeds, nuts, six kinds of cereals, excellent fruit and more. Jams honey etc. The usual teas, coffees and fruit juices are also available.  There will be a cooked option, mainly scrambled egg and ham and of course the inevitable sausages.

Dinner is pre order from a choice of three starters/mains and sweets – including vegetarian option for mains. There is an extensive salad bar which is excellent. Dinner is served to you.

 On one evening it is likely that there will be a hot buffet and if the weather is good we may have  a barbeque outside on one night.

Lunch – at one of the superb mountain huts in this area

 Facilities at the hotel

These include the following – restaurant, bar and wine cellar,  spa and fitness centre, sun terrace and of course reception and lobby. Outside sitting and drinking areas.

 

Single Supplement details

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.

Itinerary

Our base in the Schladming/Dachstein region of Styria is one of Austria’s best mountain walking areas. The lakes have  water so pure it can be used as drinking water . In the mountain inns, you are usually treated to home-made Austrian delights, regional specialties and sometimes even produce right from the Alpine pastures in front of the hut. Cold plates are popular (such as the famous Austrian “Brettljause”) and breads with all types of spread, but also traditional warm dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel, Schweinsbraten, Käsespätzle or Kaiserschmarren.

Solos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

Most regions offer summer cable cars or chairlifts to get up the mountains and to enable all hikers access to the most panoramic trails and to visit the most scenic summit platforms without hours of strenuous ascent on foot.

Hiking has a long tradition in Austria and is the country’s unofficial national pastime. There are many villages in the Austrian Alps that really dedicate themselves to hiking or mountaineering. Austria’s Hiking Villages are a perfect base for a hiking vacation with easy to difficult day hikes. Austria offers a huge variety of different hiking options and themed walks. Climbing up one of the countless mountain peaks, hiking from pasture to pasture, following a long distance hiking trail or just enjoying a leisurely day hike – all of this is part of the Austrian hiking experience!

It is an awesome place !

Flights and Transfers

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

 

 

 

Tour Details

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.Solos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

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 permittingSolos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

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.

Holiday Highlights

  • 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

Grades and Difficulty

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.

Meet New Friends

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.

Great Reasons to Join us

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.

How to Book

How to book your holiday

You may book on line.

Payment is in two parts – you pay a deposit of 25%, payable when reserving your holiday place. You will receive an invoice for the holiday showing the deposit paid, and full amount to pay for the holiday. This acts as your confirmation.

The balance is due 8 weeks prior to the holiday start date. You will be sent a reminder.

About three weeks prior to departure, we will send you holiday joining details, and details of the transfer from the airport to the appointed hotel we have arranged for you.

Once you arrive at your holiday destination, Secret Hills Walking Holidays organise all aspects of your holiday– including guiding, transport to walks start and provide you with an experienced tour guide. You make your own arrangements to get to the airport in the UK, we meet you at the airport you are flying to, and help you with your transfer to the appointed hotel.

It is important to read Secret Hills Walking Holidays Terms and Conditions – click on the tab on our web site – before you complete the booking form.

Insurances Required

Insurance – you need to be fully covered

It is a condition of joining any of our holidays that you must be fully insured against travel, medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs and air ambulance or helicopter rescue services where appropriate).

We will ask you to provide us with the details of your insurance prior to the holidays start date and it is a condition of reserving a place.

If you are a UK citizen and travelling in Europe you should obtain the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is available only online from the UK Government website. This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate travel insurance.

Location

Whether you prefer gentler nature experiences or you are drawn by the high peaks – as you explore the hiking paths of the Schladming-Dachstein region, you are certain to discover one destined to become your all-time personal favourite.

Solos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

About Schladming

Schladming is a small former mining town in the northwest of the Austrian state of Styria that is now a popular tourist destination. It has become a large winter sports resort and has held various skiing competitions, including most notably the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2013.

It is now designated as a city – has a large river running through it, with the Centre is on its banks. The River Enns, and this is joined by the River Untertal close to the city Centre. Just before it joins the bigger river it bounces down a series of waterfalls. The city stands at 750 meters above sea level. The local population is 4500 but it has trebled that number in the height of the tourism season in winter and late July and August. It is surrounded by super mountains with the Dachstien peak looming over the northern side of the city at 2900 metres.

The shopping area has many cafes, bars, restaurants and a variety of shops that cater to tourists. Shops include wide range of sports gear shops, ladies clothes shops. Monday is market day –The stalls are mainly crafts and local cheeses and hams.

See more at http://www.schladming.at

Salzburg

The magnificent city of Salzburg is just one hour away and easy to get to by bus and train. It’s a must for your day off – there is so much to see and do.

Solos and Singles Guided walking in Austria

Lonely Planet writes –

“The joke ‘If it’s baroque, don’t fix it’ is a perfect maxim for Salzburg: the storybook Old Town burrowed below steep hills looks much as it did when Mozart lived here 250 years ago. Standing beside the fast-flowing Salzach River, your gaze is raised inch by inch to graceful domes and spires, the formidable clifftop fortress and the mountains beyond. It’s a backdrop that did the lordly prince-archbishops and Maria proud.

Beyond Salzburg’s two biggest money-spinners – Mozart and The Sound of Music – hides a city with a burgeoning arts scene, wonderful food, manicured parks, quiet side streets where classical music wafts from open windows, and concert halls that uphold musical tradition 365 days a year. Everywhere you go, the scenery, the skyline, the music and the history send your spirits soaring higher than Julie Andrews’ octave-leaping vocals”.

Guided walking in Austria

Unesco World Heritage site

Art, culture and a unique history: Since 1997, Salzburg has been a proud member of the UNESCO World Heritage List – a city of “outstanding value to humanity”.  We invite you to experience it for yourself, as you pay a visit to the historical district of downtown Salzburg!

Visit the Castle, The Mozart museums, but most of all the cafes and squares of the old town- for sumptuous cakes and tea, and lots of people watching

Photos

Reviews

4 Reviews
Sort By:RatingDate

Heather Massey

Solo Traveller

I had an excellent time. Everything seemed very well organised. Very much enjoyed the guided walking.

July 26, 2019

Heather Massey

Solo Traveller

I had an excellent time. Everything seemed very well organised. Very much enjoyed the guided walking.

July 26, 2019

Jean Sapsford

Solo Traveller

Would you reserve another holiday with Secret Hills Walking, and would you recommend our Holidays to others?’
Yes, and yes. Alan Garner very kindly took a group of us to Salzburg for the day and walked us around the main tourist spots and highlights of the city.  This was really appreciated by all of us and this is where Alan goes over and above to provide good value to the customer.  Thank you so much, Alan is AWESOME!!!

July 16, 2019

Alice Dillon

Solo Traveller

My initial enquiry was dealt with promptly and then all subsequent communication was handled well. The food in the hotel was of an excellent quality and I enjoyed a variety of different meals throughout my stay.I found both Alan and Mike to be friendly and professional during my interaction with them. On our rest day we went to Salzburg for the day. Can I please extend my thanks to Alan for facilitating our day out, and for showing us around? I know that this was over and above the ‘call of duty’. Overall, I had a lovely holiday with an interesting group of people, and I would be interested in looking into some of your UK walking weekends. Thanks again to Alan and Mike for their hospitality.

July 16, 2019