Travel
Information
Season:
Mid June to mid-September.
The first Hotel: in Schwarzenberg. Train Zurich Airport to Bregenz then included transfer to Schwarzenberg. Clients should aim to arrive by 6pm.
Nearest airport: 1) Friedrichshafen Airport, for RyanAir flights, at least 1 hour’s train journey to Bregenz then: 2) Zurich Airport , for most flights: At least 2 hours train journey to
Bregenz.
End of Tour: The tour ends on Day 8 in Brand. Transport back to Bregenz, for trains back to Zurich etc. Note that we do not advise a morning flight out of Zurich, as the train from Bregenz takes at least 2 hours, and you still have to get to Bregenz from Brand. If you have a flight out around midday, you will need an early transfer to Bludenz (nearer Brand) and take trains to Zurich. There is usually a direct early train early in the morning.
Travel options from the UK
There are daily flights on British Airways from London Heathrow to Zurich. Then a train to Bregenz (approx 2 hours). Flights from regional airports maybe available with a supplement. There are also ‘cheap flight’ options. E.g for U.K.-based ‘land-only’ customers. You can also fly to Munich, then train to Bregenz although the train journey is around 4 hours.
You can also take the ‘Low Cost’ Ryan Air option from Stanstead to Friedrichshafen; then take an airport train into town and then take the train to Bregenz, an approx. hourly train taking about 40 mins.
Note that we do not recommend flying in and out of Salzburg as the train transfer times are significantly longer
than from Munich. If you decide to drive, you may leave your car at the
first hotel and then at the end of the tour the transfer will take you
back to the first hotel rathern than to the station at Bregenz.
Level
of Difficulty
Grade & Fitness: We grade this tour as moderate; anyone used to hill walking with a daily height gain/loss of just over 3,300 feet (1000 metres) should find the tour within their capability. Note that one day is considered Moderate to Challenging. (Day: 6). On most days there are steep ascents and descents to various degrees.
Day Stages: Average duration of walking per day is about 6 hours. Some of the walks may be shortened if desired by the use of cable cars and local postbuses.
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Waymarking
As one would expect in Austria, the trails are generally very well marked and often signposted, but it is advisable to carry and be able to use a map and compass in case of mist etc. Waymarking is usually red and white paint marking, but can also frequently be yellow / orange and white, and Blue and white at one point.
In late June and early July there can be snow patches on higher trails (above 1000m), while new snowfalls are possible in September.
General Information
Baths:
it is not normal for your room to have a bath, the main reason being that it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it is showers.
Breakfast: usually buffet style – continental: pastries, cereals, cheeses, yoghurt and fruits. Please don’t offend your hosts by making up a picnic lunch from the breakfast buffet unless it has been specifically organised for you. It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are staying with.
Single Supplements: are payable on most of our tours. 1) The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities as double/twin rooms. 2) You are not just paying a supplement on the room but the luggage transfer costs you are paying in full. The cost of moving 1 bag or 2 bags etc remains the same. On some of our trips it is possible to reduce the cost of the single supplement if you happen to be a 3rd person travelling, or have chosen a date when other clients are booked.
Language: Although most people engaged in tourism here will at least know a smattering of English, please try to learn a little German and take a phrasebook, it will certainly add to the experience.
Luggage: When staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to you room awaiting your arrival. However don’t be surprised if your luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room.
Twin Rooms: In Austria twin rooms tend to be 1 double bed that has 1 or 2 separate mattresses and 2 separate duvets.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation
is on a half board basis for 7 nights (7 evening meals included); in
hotels generally of 3 star standard. All rooms have ensuite facilities when
available.
Lunches are not included in the tour cost.
However, picnic materials can be readily bought on weekdays in
each of the towns and villages we stay at. The hotels if requested the
evening before can also provide packed lunches. In addition, there are a
few inns and cafes along the way, which serve lunches.
Please
note that we are not able to guarantee the accommodation exactly, but
the descriptions of the hotels and guesthouses below are the normal ones
used.
q
Night: 1 In Schwarzenberg:
We use a gem of a hotel with a 250
year long tradition. The guesthouse, together with the Baroque church
and some impressive farmhouses make up the historic center of
Schwarzenberg. Feel the charm of the turn of the century in the
house’s drawing room and banqueting hall. All rooms have a warm and
cosy atmosphere. Excellent cuisine (Gault Millau awarded) and
‘extraordinary wines’ are served (their quote not ours!).
q
Night: 2 Our accommodation is in the center of Mellau.
You have a very nice view over to the mountains around the hotel. It is
a typical chalet style hotel and there is a restaurant and a large
terrace. The rooms are all with shower or bath, WC, hair dryer,
telephone and balcony. In the morning we have a breakfast buffet and for
dinner we serve a four course meal with three dishes to choose from, one
is always vegetarian. As a hotel guest you can use the indoor swimming
pool with hot whirlpool, sauna and steam bath free of charge.
q
Night: 3 In Fontanella, we
use a quality
hotel, rooms are en-suite with a breakfast buffet, 5-course dinner,
sauna, steam bath, solarium. A family hotel with a personal atmosphere.
At an altitude of 1,200 m in a small mountain village that is surrounded
by wonderful mountain scenery. In summer you can also enjoy yourself
with tennis (free of charge).
q
Night: 4 Near Blundenz. We
use a small town hotel about
15 minutes to the pedestrian precinct of this small
Alpine town. The rooms are spacious, but there is no restaurant
here and you will normally eat at a 4 star hotel in the center
where you can enjoy famous Austrian food on one of the most beautiful
terraces in the area. Rooms are
equipped with bathroom facilities, satellite TV, minibar and safe. Some
rooms also have a balcony.
q
Night: 5 At Dalaas. Our
guesthouse has 12 rooms which are well equipped. There is an original
rustic dining room dating back to the golden times of romantic carriages
and an À la carte restaurant.
q
Night: 6 In Tschagguns. Our
hotel would like to be your home! Simply enjoy that extra piece of
personal free space with an individual atmosphere. Our rooms are
equipped with every comfort and allow you the room to move that you need
to relax. All rooms are made of natural spruce wood and display a
comfortable interior. Each room is equipped with colour TV, radio,
telephone, minibar and safe.
q
Night: 7 At Brand. We
stay at a ‘sports hotel,’ that is nevertheless one of the most
traditional hotels in the area. There are indoor and outdoor swimming
pools, sauna, tennis court etc. Very good dining facilities and rooms as
you will expect from a hotel of this standard.
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Outline
Itinerary
Day
1: Fly to Zurich and take train to Bregenz.
We will need to be informed of your
approximate arrival time in Bregenz so that you can be met by the
transport to take you to Schwarzenberg.
This taxi transfer takes approx 25 minutes (included in cost).
Settle into your hotel, there are numerous hiking paths nearby if
you want to go for a ramble. Dinner at hotel.
Day 2: Schwarzenburg to Mellau Total Ascent: 667 m / Descent 1090 m. Distance: 16 km approx, 5 hours walking. In the morning catch the public bus which comes up from Dornbirn to Bodele above Schwarzenburg (1140m). From here you should get beautiful views over the Bregenzerwald.
Take a series of paths up to a view point at Hochalpele 1464m, with an opportunity for drinks. A wide gravel trail then takes you past the alp at Alpele to the Lustenauer Hut at 1250m for a break, you then follow the “Weibenfluhweg” trail to the Weibenfluhhutte which serves some regional speciality dishes, such as clear soup with dumplings. If it is clear, You can enjoy a great view of lake Constance and the Swiss mountains, before continuing on the forest road towards Hangspitz. There follows a descent on a gravel trail and then road to the village of
Mellau.
Day 3: Mellau to Fontanella via Damuls. Total Ascent: Assuming Gondola is used going up, but not coming down: 1010m / Descent: 1234m. Distance approx: 23 km (HoBstellalpe to Damuls11 km & Damuls to Fontanella 12km) Time: 7 hours to do the whole route. You start by taking the cable car up from Mellau to the RoBstelle mountain station with great panoramas. At 1390m and follow the trail to Kanisalpe 1463m. this area enclosed with mountains, presents one of the most beautiful vistas of the tour. If you feel fit you can climb the Mittagspitze 2095m. It is a climb on steep gravel secured with wires. Descend to Uga Alp by foot or chair lift. If you feel you have had enough, there is the possibility of shortening the day and catching a post -bus to your hotel in Fontanella. Continuing on from Damuls and then take the Unterdamulser Weg footpath around Turtsch Alpe to and Fontenella via Mittleberg. New mountain vistas open up all the time!
Day 4: Fontenella to Bludenz. Ascent 822m / Descent 1198m. 4.5 hours (3.5 hours with gondola descent). Distance 11 km (without gondola descent). Time: 4 hours. This is a straight up then straight down sort of day! From the hotel a car will take you to the little village of Raggal, with its attractive onion domed church, where you follow the trail to Nitzkopf 1709m and have a stop at the FraBen Hutte. From here you can optionally ascend the peak of Hohner Fraben 1979m. The walk continues down to the Muttersberg mountain gondola station. Having admired the views you can either take the gondola down or follow the footpath down to the small industrial alpine town of Blundez, which has an interesting Mediaeval core..
Day 5: Blundez to Dalaas Ascent 1130 metres / Descent 855 metres. Distance: 21km approx. Time: 6 Hours. This is a long lower day, passing through pastures and woodlands, under a few cascades. The footpath at Blundez takes you towards Gastastigele, following the Romerweg to Innerbraz and on to Mutheralpe then following a forest road onto the village of Mason, from where you descend into the valley at
Dalaas.
Day 6: Dalaas to Tschagguns Total Ascent: 1072 metres / Descent 1562 metres ( without bus to Schruns / Tschagguns) Distance: 14km approx to Fernblick Hotel (possible drink spot from where the bus can be taken, add 4 km if walking on to Tschagguns). Time: 5.5 hours to Fernblick, 6.5 hours to Tschagguns. This is the hardest day. The attractive steep alpine trail follows the ‘Kristbergweg’ to a saddle in the hills called Kristbergsattel 1484m. Should be a lot of cows clanging away! There is the opportunity to stop at a restaurant up here, and once more admire the views. With some excellent panoramas. The next part of the trail is called the ‘Panoramaweg Ganzaleita.’ This trail takes you up through the mountains to the optional wire assisted peak of Itonskopf 2099m, great views across from here to the mountains on the Austro-Swiss border, an area known as the ‘Ratikon.’ You then descens through alpine meadows to the Fernblick Hotel 1107m. At the berghotel, after a pint of beer there is a bus stop for taking the bus to Schruns and then on to Tschagguns and your hotel, Or you could walk down.
Day 7: Tschagguns to Brand. Total Ascent 910m / Descent 833m. 5.5 hours. Distance: 16 km (Gruneck to Douglashutte, add 6 km if walking to Brand). Time:5- 6 hours. This day, more than any other gets you into high alpine peaks – The mountains of the ‘Ratikon’. Start in the morning by taking the public bus up the valley to Latschau, you then take the Golmerbahn cablecar to Gruneck mountain station (1800m). Then you follow the attractive footpath to the alpine cottage known as the Lindauer Hutte which you reach after about two hours of pretty walking. From here we follow the wanderweg to the Lunersee (a classical alpine lake within mountain surroundings) and continue along the lake bank to the Douglasshutte at 1980m. Then take the Lunerseebahn cablecar down the valley to Brand an important ski resort in the winter.
Day 8: Depart. After breakfast a car will come and transfer you back to the railway station at Bregenz. (included in cost). Please note that you should contact the the ground handling agency earlier in the week if you need to have the transfer at another time, or perhaps to Bludenz which is the nearest train station to Brand.
What's Included
The
price is based on two people sharing a twin or double room and includes
bed & breakfast accommodation and evening meals on 7 evenings. You
will also be transferred from Bregenz/Dornbirn
to the first accommodation and from
Brand at the last accommodation back to the railway station,
back to Bregenz/Dornbirn: but note
that this may not be available
very early in the morning , in which case it may be advisable to
catch the train from
Bludenz. Also included is the transfer of baggage on days where you walk
to the next hotel. Please note that Sherpa pays for one piece of luggage
per person to be moved. You will also get a pass, which is only valid in
the Bregenzerwald-area, called the "Bregenzerwald-Inclusive-Card."
This means that all cable cars and public buses are included until you
reach Damüls (Day 3 and 4) which is when you move outside the region.
For the rest of the tour, you will have to pay extra for buses and cable
cars etc. because there is
no card on
which we are able to include the whole tour.
Not
included: Train or cable car services
within Austria / Germany apart from transfers to and from Bregenz/Dornbirn
railway station and movements within the
Bregenzerwald area. Packed lunches, snacks and drinks etc.
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