Steam trains in Austria

Steam in Austria and other trains

Day 1 – Thursday
Your journey towards Austria and the Dirndltal begins. The first night you will spend in Stuttgart, Germany.

Day 2 – Friday
On the next day the trip continues to Austria where you reach the 4 star hotel Naturerhotel Steinschaler Hof which is situated in Lower Austria – your home for the following five nights. The hotel owner Mr. Johann Weiss will welcome you with storytelling about the region “Dirndltal”. Halfboard at the hotel.

Day 3 – Saturday
After breakfast enjoy your first steam ride at 10.00 hrs. The “Ötscherland Express” carries you from Kienberg/Gaming to Lunz am See. The route where the “Ötscher Express” travels today played an important role for trading in this region from back in the 16th century. In 1840 the first forest train track was built and from 1894 to 1898 it was extended to a single track railway from Kienberg/Gaming to Lunz am See. During this journey indulge yourself with the marvellous view of the nature. Once you arrive in Lunz am See you can enjoy lunch at a restaurant next to the lake and afterwards have a walk at the shore of the lake or a ride by boat. In the late afternoon you will return to the hotel and Mr. Johann Weiss introduces the “Mariazellerbahn” – the train which you take on the next day and its history. After the storytelling you enjoy a dinner at the hotel restaurant Steinschalerhof.

Day 4 – Sunday
Your “steam ride to Heaven” – Mariazell starts today, following breakfast. Departure at 09.19 hrs to Mariazell where you will arrive at 11.00 hrs. The town Mariazell is situated on a hill where you have an impressive view of the Alps and the River Salza. Since 1330 – until now – Mariazell and afterwards its basilica have been an official place of pilgrimage. After gathering first impressions about this unique town you will enjoy lunch in the hotel “Drei Hasen” in Mariazell. In the afternoon experience a guided tour through the Lebkuchen Museum Pirker where one of the most famous Lebkuchen (ginger bread) in Austria gets produced. Find out how many different things can be made from Lebkuchen and honey. The tour will last for about 1.30 hrs including a Lebkuchen heart decoration and beeswax candle rolling. Afterwards enjoy a guided tour in the famous and impressive basilica of Mariazell before driving back towards the hotel - with a stop in Rabenstein - where the evening ends with dinner and traditional music from the region.

Day 5 – Monday
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before starting your Danube Valley Tour. A guide at the Abbey Melk introduces you to the history. Afterwards you can enjoy lunch in one of the restaurants. The journey carries on to Emmersdorf from where you take the train Wachbahn at 14.45 hrs to Krems where you arrive at 15.45 hrs. At Krems you visit the wine farmer Sandgrube13 where you get a tour through the wine yards. Afterwards the journey goes back to the hotel where you enjoy a degustation with Most (cider) after dinner.

Day 6 – Tuesday
After breakfast enjoy a trip to the capital of Austria – Vienna where a local guide shows you the impressive and most important sights of the town, for example the Schönbrunn Palace. Explore the shops, cafes and restaurants in the inner city afterwards on your own. In the evening, indulge dinner at a traditional restaurant “Heuriger” in Vienna before going back to the hotel Steinschalerhof.

Day 7 – Wednesday
Departure after breakfast. Enjoy a last glass of Most in the Dirndltal and take home a farewell gift from Lower Austria which reminds you of the trip you’ve just had. Overnight stay in a hotel in Germany.

Day 8 – Thursday
Travel to Belgium for an overnight stay.

Day 9 – Friday Return to the UK.