Our Salzburg flights are flown over a magnificent landscape of great natural beauty. We drift through the gently sloping Alpine foothills, over crystal clear lakes, meadow-carpeted valleys in many hues of green, and pretty country villages. Brightly painted onion-domed churches and charming old farmhouses gaily decorated with masses of flowers in the traditional Austrian style will slip quietly beneath you. To the south, the permanently snow-covered Alps provide a breathtaking background. It is a thrilling experience. The Austrian people make our visit even more delightful with their friendliness and the warm welcome they give our balloons. They often gather at our landings, frequently wearing their splendid traditional dress
Day One
Welcome reception and depart for our late afternoon balloon adventure through very pretty meadowlands. Dinner party at our historic hotel.
Our trip meets at 3:00 p.m. at 5 star Hotel Schloss Fuschl, with afternoon check-in for four nights at this beautifully restored, 14th century former hunting castle of the Archbishops of Salzburg.
Day Two
Our wonderful city guide, Heidi, with her interesting stories, makes this morning’s walking tour a real pleasure. Our elaborate lunch will be on the terrace of 5 star Sacher Hotel, followed by our late afternoon balloon adventure through the Lakes District countryside. Dinner at our lovely hotel.
After breakfast explore the romantic “old city” of Salzurg, birthplace of Mozart and filled with Baroque and Gothic architectural treasures under UNESCO protection. A highlight will be the colorful and lively Getreidegasse, Austria’s most beautiful shopping area. A quaint old lane of high, narrow houses with medieval wrought iron guild signs, it is full of fashionable shops and romantic passageways.
Day Three
For luncheon we’ll be the guests of one of Salzburg’s most celebrated personalities and our very good friend, Princess Manni Wittgenstein, in her lovely Alpine home. She is a brilliant hostess, sharing with us wonderful tales of her fascinating life. She also frequently flies with our guests in our balloons, and thoroughly enjoys helping us make their Austrian visit a memorable one. Late afternoon balloon adventure through the beautiful Austrian landscape, returning to Schloss Fuschl for dinner.
Morning drive to colorful St. Gilgen, gaily painted in the many soft pastel colors of the Austrian style. Board a lake steamer and sail to the extremely picturesque old market town of St. Wolfgang, with its even more richly decorated 15th century houses and its world famous Baroque style church filled with unusually magnificent furnishings.
Day Four
A pre-luncheon rafting party with champagne will be held on the lake before dining in a charming restaurant. Late afternoon balloon adventure through the summer meadowlands of the Alpine foothills, with farewell dinner party at Schloss Fuschl.
Today we’ll explore the ancient village of Hallstaat, easily the most striking lakeside village in the region. This tiny, picturesque hamlet clings to a ledge at the foot of a steep cliff, surrounded by the towering Dachstein mountains. Best enjoyed from the water, we will use a small fleet of electric boats to slowly cruise back and forth along the shoreline of ancient boathouses and quaint wooden homes. A major Celtic archaeological landmark and UNESCO protected site, the treasures unearthed here are so extensive that one era in Celtic studies (800 - 400 BC) is called “the Hallstatt period.”
Day Five
Our trip ends after breakfast at our hotel.
|
Five Days / Four Nights
September 1-5, 2008
$ 8,940 per person, double occupancy |
 |
To check availability or receive additional information on Buddy Bombard Vacations, drop us a note, or call.... 800-777-7739 |
reprinted with permission of the Bombard Society
Content provided by Online Travel Content, Inc.