Take a short shuttle to the nearby village of Schoppernau for a hands-on introduction to one of the region’s most loved dishes. Join local hosts for a Käsknöpfle cooking class, where you’ll learn how to prepare these soft alpine dumplings, finished with melted cheese and crispy onions, a staple of Bregenzerwald cuisine.

In the afternoon, ride the cable car to Diedamskopf, Schoppernau’s local mountain. From the summit, set out on an easy hike along marked trails through alpine meadows, with wide views across the surrounding peaks and, on clear days, as far as Lake Constance.

After your hike, return to the hotel in Au by private shuttle.

Today you’ll leave Au and travel east toward Salzburg, passing through some of the most scenic landscapes of the Alps, including the Arlberg region, long known as one of the birthplaces of Alpine skiing.

Along the way, stop at Neuschwanstein Castle, one of Europe’s most recognizable landmarks. Set high above the village of Hohenschwangau, the castle’s towers and dramatic alpine setting famously inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Take time to explore the surrounding forest paths and viewpoints, which offer striking views of the mountains and nearby lakes.

Afterward, enjoy lunch at your leisure in the nearby village before continuing on to Salzburg, where the next part of your journey begins.

Today you’ll set out to explore Salzburg. Begin with a shortened walking tour of the UNESCO-listed Old Town, designed to keep younger travelers engaged. Stroll through the narrow streets and lively squares, passing landmarks such as Mozart’s birthplace and Residenzplatz, with time to pause along the way.

Next, make your way up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. Explore the fortress grounds and take in wide views across the city and surrounding mountains while learning about Salzburg’s long history.

The afternoon is free to continue exploring Salzburg at your own pace.

Today you’ll venture into the mountains just outside Salzburg for a day of underground exploration. Begin at Salzwelten Hallein, the oldest salt mine in the world. Here you’ll descend into a network of tunnels that tell the story of more than 2,000 years of salt mining in the region. Along the way, learn how salt was extracted and transported, and ride the famous wooden miners’ slides used by generations of workers.

Next, continue to Eisriesenwelt Werfen, the largest ice cave system in the world. Inside the mountain, explore a remarkable landscape of frozen waterfalls, towering ice formations, and glittering crystal structures. The cave stretches deep into the mountain for many kilometers, though visitors explore about one kilometer of this icy underground world.

Return to Salzburg in the evening and enjoy dinner at your leisure.

Travel by private shuttle to the lakeside village of St. Wolfgang. Here you’ll board Austria’s historic Schafberg cogwheel railway, the steepest steam-powered cog railway in the country, for a memorable ride to the summit of Schafberg. As the train climbs the mountain, it passes through forests and rocky alpine slopes while revealing increasingly wide views over Lake Wolfgangsee and the surrounding Alps.

At the summit, take time to enjoy sweeping 360-degree views across the lakes of the Salzkammergut and toward the peaks of the Dachstein range. Afterward, descend back to St. Wolfgang and enjoy some free time by the lake—perhaps with a swim in the clear waters of Wolfgangsee before returning to Salzburg.

Say goodbye to Austria and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.