Uncover the exquisite beauty of the mountainous Tyrol region of Austria, enjoying heritage rail journeys, lake cruises and a visit to Bavaria

Your holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager at London St Pancras, ready to board the Eurostar service to Brussels. In the Belgian capital, we switch trains as we continue to the German city of Mannheim, via Cologne.

Set at the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, Mannheim is renowned for its expansive palace. The terracotta and ochre Mannheim Baroque Palace is one of the largest in Europe and is just a short walk from our hotel near the station. Construction of the palace started in 1720, but it was not fully completed until 1760 and now houses the city's revered university. With a façade measuring more than 1,400 feet, it's a remarkable building that displays the importance of the Prince-Electors of Palatinate, a branch of the influential Wittelsbach dynasty who resided here between 1731 and 1777.

This evening, we gather in our hotel's restaurant for our first dinner together as a group.

After breakfast this morning, we take a short walk to Mannheim station and embark on a train journey to Austria. As we enter Ulm, look out for its majestic minster, the spire of which is the tallest in the world. Changing in Munich, we travel across the Austrian border passing beautiful alpine valleys surrounded by impressive, craggy peaks.

In Wörgl, we are transferred by coach to the resort of Kirchberg, where we check into our hotel for six nights. This charming Tyrolean town of part-timbered chalets is nestled amid gentle mountains and extensive alpine pastures. Our hotel is on the edge of the village and provides excellent views of the surrounding scenery. With a pool, spa and wellness centre and typical Tyrolean hospitality, the hotel is a great place to unwind after sightseeing.

After time to relax, we enjoy our first dinner in Austria in the hotel this evening. The all-inclusive package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, as well as afternoon coffee and cake or ice-cream. Enjoy unlimited drinks served from 9am to 10pm, including soft drinks, draught beer, house wine, tea and coffee.

There's a full day at leisure today to either unwind and make use of the hotel's spa facilities, explore Kirchberg in Tirol or head further afield.

Peeking through the huddle of traditional chalets is the green spire of the parish church, perched on a small hill. Legend has it that the church was originally going to be built in the town centre, but before the wooden shingles could be attached to the roof, pigeons carried them up the hill. The residents saw this as a sign from God and decided to relocate the church to its current location. Kirchberg is ideally located for scenic hillside strolls offering great views of the valley, while popular activity is swimming in the 'badesee' or bathing lake. The crystal-clear waters of this artificial lake and the heated outdoor pool offer relaxation in full view of beautiful forests and rolling hills.

Wherever you find yourself exploring today, you can return to our hotel this evening for dinner and drinks.

A coach journey after breakfast takes us to Jenbach for a day of quintessential alpine scenery.

Boarding the steam-hauled Achensee Railway, we travel the route of a little over four miles to Seespitz on the shores of Achensee. As the largest lake in the region, it is referred to as the 'Tyrolean Sea' or the 'Fjord of the Alps'. Renowned for its natural beauty, the emerald waters nestle between the stunning mountain scenery. From here, we continue by coach into the Gramai Valley to soak up astonishing views of idyllic meadows backdropped by the rugged Karwendel Mountains. An authentic flavour of the region follows as we savour a tasting of Kaiserschmarrn, sweet and fluffy pancake pieces that were created for Emperor Franz Josef I.

Returning down the valley to Achensee, we get a new perspective on this romantic landscape as we cruise across the water. Disembarking in Scholastika, we return to our hotel for dinner and drinks this evening.

A free day today provides an array of options if you want to explore further afield. The famous mountain resort of Kitzbühel is just a short train journey away. With charming medieval streets filled with colourful buildings, this attractive town oozes Tyrolean character.

St Johann is home to the quaint Mariä Himmelfahrt church with a yellow façade and an ornately decorated interior. Housed in an 18th-century penitentiary for dissolute priests, the town's museum details the social and natural history of the region. Near the German border, Kufstein is home to a medieval fortress perched on a hill providing great views of the surrounding peaks and Inn River. Further into Austria along the Inn Valley, you could travel by train to Innsbruck. The town's grand architecture reflects its importance as the historic capital of Tyrol. Seek out the cathedral and Hofkirche, built by Emperor Maximilian I, or admire the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), and the ornate Hölbling house with its imposing 14th-century watchtower.

Regrouping at our hotel, we gather for dinner and drinks this evening.

Heading deeper into Austria after breakfast, we visit the highest mountainside waterfall in Europe and the fifth tallest in the world.

With a drop of nearly 1,250 feet, the Krimml Waterfalls are a spectacular reminder of the majesty of nature. Entrance is included and you have free time to do one of the different walks to uncover this breathtaking natural spectacle while enjoying your picnic lunch. The three-tiered falls roar and thunder as more than 1,200 gallons of water per second cascades down from the mountains that separate Austria and Italy. Continuing by coach along the Salzach Valley to Niedernsill, we embark on a picturesque train journey aboard the Pinzgauer Railway - our only tour to include this trip.

The route takes us to Lake Zell and the lakeside town of Zell am See. There's free time to stroll along the lakefront promenade, savouring the views before discovering the picture-book Stadtplatz in the centre. Afterwards, we return to our hotel for dinner.

Crossing the border to Germany after breakfast today, we travel through incredible alpine scenery to a location that is as emotive as it is spectacular.

Towering at the top of a mountain high above the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden is the Eagle's Nest, originally built to coincide with Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. Despite its infamous past, the site was preserved as an important historical monument, and a guide joins us to explain its history. The summit is reached by way of a lift inside the mountain, and we are greeted by astonishing panoramic views. While the Eagle's Nest building itself is privately owned, there's free time without the guide to enter this unique piece of 20th-century history.

Descending the mountain by coach, we continue to Königssee, where we can enjoy our picnic lunch. Considered to be Germany's most beautiful lake, there is free time to soak up the stunning views of alpine peaks and emerald waters in this remote corner of southern Germany. Returning to Kirchberg, we enjoy dinner and drinks on our final night in Kirchberg.

Leaving Kirchberg after breakfast this morning, we are transferred by coach to Wörgl, where we switch to a train across the German border bound for Munich.

Continuing through Germany, we can admire views of picturesque towns and rolling countryside, with broad rivers, perching castles and dense forests lining the route. Our destination is Cologne, an important city on the mighty Rhine. Famed for its iconic Gothic cathedral with its intricate, piercing spires, Cologne was an important Roman city and the remains of the northern gate still stand outside the cathedral.

On arrival in this fine city this evening, we check in to a central hotel for the night and have our final dinner as a group.

Throughout this holiday, the natural beauty of Austria's picturesque Tyrol region has charmed us, whether on nostalgic train rides or from picture-perfect lakes. We have driven into the spellbinding Gramai Valley and marvelled at the astonishing Krimml Waterfalls.

Making our way back to Cologne station after breakfast this morning, we board the train to Brussels, switching here to the Eurostar service bound for London St Pancras, where your alpine adventure comes to a conclusion.

One of the excursions on this tour is at high altitude. If you have any medical conditions or concerns that could impact this part of the tour, we recommend you seek medical advice and talk to us. We want to make sure that any holiday you book is right for you.

Enjoy More with a GRJ All Inclusive Holiday

• On this GRJ All Inclusive tour, all meals in Kirchberg are included. On excursion days a picnic lunch will be provided.
• Drinks between 9am-10pm each day in Kirchberg include house wine, draught beer, soft drinks, tea and coffee (excludes spirits and drinks in the cellar bar).
• Coffee and cakes served each day from 3pm-4.30pm in Kirchberg.

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

In Austria, we travel on the Achenseebahn, a nearly 130 year old steam train that has been running constantly since its maiden journey in 1889. The train makes its way through the Inntal Valley from Jenbach to Achensee, travelling 4.2 miles and climbing 440 meters. This route passes through areas of unparalleled beauty, including the emerald waters of Achensee, the Tyrol's largest lake. This line is also in Europe's largest nature reserve, the Karwendel Mountains, filled with stunning mountains and wonderful Alpine scenery. This line holds the title of being the oldest cog railway still in operation in Europe, and some of its carriages date back to the early 1900's.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

First opened in 1898 after royal approval from Emperor Franz Josef I, this narrow-gauge railway follows the Salzach Valley. Attracting tourists with its breathtaking scenery, it also acts as a lifeline to local commuters and schoolchildren. The 10-mile section between Niedernsill to Zell am See through small towns and alpine pastures before reaching the shores of Lake Zell under the shadow of the Karwendel Mountains.

The traditional chalet-style 3-Star Lifthotel in Kirchberg is surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Austrian Alps. On-site, there's a restaurant that serves typical Tyrolean specialities, a sun terrace, free Wi-Fi throughout, and wellness facilities including a solarium and a sauna. Guest rooms all come with a balcony, many with mountain views, as well as a flat-screen television, safe, desk, and a comfortable seating area.

This large chalet-style 4-Star hotel benefits from its position on the edge of the town as alpine meadows roll down to the garden. The on-site restaurant serves international and regional cuisine in several dining areas, while the rustic bar area has large windows providing beautiful alpine views. Guests can unwind in the wellness area with heated outdoor pool, sauna and steam bath. Guest rooms all have balconies or terraces and come equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safety deposit box, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

Your holiday begins the moment you meet your Tour Manager at St Pancras International and board the Eurostar train for mainland Europe. If you wish to get your holiday off to an extra special start, why not consider upgrading your on-board accommodation from Standard Class to Plus Class?

As well as all the amenities enjoyed in Standard Class, Plus Class travellers benefit from extra spacious, comfortable seats, complimentary newspapers and magazines and a light snack with drinks served at your seat during the journey. Before 11am, the light snack comprises breakfast pastries, yoghurt, fruit juice and tea or coffee. After 11am there is a choice of 2 main dishes and a dessert, accompanied by soft drinks, wine or beer and tea or coffee.

Prices for an upgrade from £125 each way. Please call us for more details.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

Enjoy hassle-free travel with our return door-to-door luggage transfer service from only £199 per bag.

The service includes one 20kg bag per person which will be collected from your home before you depart and will be ready and waiting for you at your first destination hotel. Your bag will also be delivered back to your home address on your return.

If your tour involves an overnight stay enroute, you'll need to travel with an overnight bag as your luggage will be delivered direct to your first destination hotel. The luggage service is not available where you are flying to or from your destination and you will need to take your own luggage with you on the flight.