New Year with the Sound of Music Tour

Your tour commences this evening in cosmopolitan Munich. Tonight we enjoy a welcome drink and dinner. This is an ideal opportunity to meet and get to know your fellow travellers.

Crossing into Austria mid-morning we reach Salzburg – the baroque city of Mozart sitting beneath its enormous Festung (Fortress). A walking tour with an expert local guide will introduce you to this enchanting city, including several locations used in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. Afterwards enjoy time at leisure in the old town centre. Mozart’s Birthplace makes a fascinating visit, as does the ancient castle. Later we drive through the ornate iron gates and enter the grounds of the spectacular Schloss Leopoldskron, where we will stay for the next five nights. On arrival we will enjoy an orientation tour of this grand historical building, including the superb Chinese and Venetian rooms and the Marble Hall. We will discover the hidden staircase in the ornate, old-world library. Built in 1736, this rococo palace was lovingly restored to its current glory in the early 1900’s by its then owner, the famous theatre and film director Max Reinhardt.

Nestled by a small, idyllic lake with a majestic view of the Untersberg Mountain, Leopoldskron is not only the birthplace of the Salzburg Festival, but is also one of the principal locations of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 1965 film ‘The Sound of Music’. This evening at our Schloss, we sample local wines with an Austrian wine connoisseur whilst enjoying dinner in the magnificent Marble Hall.

Heading deep into the Bavarian mountains we visit the old Salt Mines near Berchtesgaden. After dressing up in a salt miner’s uniform, we enjoy a fun filled ride on a small train deep underground, take wooden slides (or steps) and then float on a barge across a crystal clear underground lake, beautifully illuminated by a light show. Lunchtime will be spent amongst the cobbled streets of Berchtesgaden. Later we visit perhaps the most beautiful lake of all, Königssee – famous the world over for its steep cliffs and fjord like lake. We have included a relaxing cruise along the length of the lake to visit the romantic pilgrimage church on St Bartholomew Island. This evening we will return to nearby Salzburg where we have arranged a special dinner in the St Peter Stiftskeller – Austria’s oldest restaurant which dates back 1200 years! Be enchanted as we step back in time to the late 18th century.

A New Year’s Eve to remember! Driving south, we stop at the ski resort of Filzmoos where we board a horse drawn carriage to enjoy a ride through this winter wonderland. Passing through the snowy woods, and surrounded by majestic mountains, we reach the remote Oberhofalm alpine hut which provides a perfect lunchtime stop. Later, we return to the schloss allowing plenty of time to prepare for your elegant New Year’s Eve Gala event! In this stunning location we enjoy dinner and entertainment in the Marble Hall followed by music and dancing. At midnight we will gather on the Palace terrace to welcome the arrival of the New Year, whilst watching the fireworks across the lake!!

New Year’s Day! Rest, relax and enjoy your amazing surroundings. The special New Year’s Day breakfast rolls into brunch, and then lunch! Maybe enjoy quiet time in the schloss library, perhaps stroll around the lake or, take a winter walk into nearby Salzburg town. This afternoon ‘The Sound of Music’ fans will be able to watch the famous film, here on the location where it all actually happened. Tonight after dinner, step back in time to the days of the salons of Max Reinhardt, as you are treated to an intimate concert experience in the Great Hall.

Today we visit the beautiful Salzkammergut – the Austrian Lakes District. Our morning stop will be at the village of St Gilgen on the northern end of Lake Wolfgangsee, to catch the cable car up to the top of the Zwölferhorn Mountain to enjoy the sweeping views down over Wolfgangsee and across the mountains. Afterwards we visit St. Wolfgang, the town which gave its name to the extraordinarily picturesque Lake Wolfgangsee. As a finalé we will visit the town of Mondsee where you can visit the church made famous in the wedding scene of the film ‘The Sound of Music’.  This evening, back at our schloss, we enjoy a farewell dinner to bring this amazing week to a close.