Explore Austria's Tyrol region as scenic walks reveal views of turquoise lakes and alpine huts, while heritage rail journeys add a touch of nostalgia to this walking holiday

Your walk and tour holiday begins as you meet the Tour Manager and group at London St Pancras ahead of a Eurostar journey to Paris.

Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats on our way to the French capital. From Gare de l'Est, we continue by First Class rail into Germany, arriving in Stuttgart this evening. The majestic spires of the historic Old Palace and the soaring TV Tower are two of the city's architectural landmarks while its nickname 'cradle of the automobile' comes from the famous car brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

Checking in to our nearby hotel for the night, we enjoy our first dinner together.

Returning to Stuttgart's station after breakfast this morning, our journey to Austria continues by First Class rail, changing in Munich before we arrive in Jenbach.

From here, a coach transfer takes us through the scenic Alpbach Valley to our four-star hotel in Alpbach. Known as Austria's most beautiful village, it exudes Tyrolean charm with its timbered chalets. This famed destination delivers picture-postcard scenery and dramatic views of craggy peaks - and you can even hear distant cowbells from the pastures surrounding Alpbach.

Our high-quality hotel in this illustrious village is a great base from which to explore the area. All guest rooms have a balcony where you can relax and soak up the views across the valley. After checking in, we sit down for a five-course dinner this evening.

After breakfast, we embark on our first day's walking, with two options to choose from. Both routes begin outside our hotel and reach the historic Bischoferalm mountain hut, where there are fantastic views over the Alpbachertal, one of the most beautiful valleys in the Alps.

The shorter walk is a circular route, climbing from the pretty village of Alpbach to Bischoferalm before returning through pine forests and alpine pastures. The second option reaches Bischoferalm, then continues to the Bischoferjoch before descending to the mountain hut and following the route of Option A back to Alpbach.

Back at our hotel, there's a free afternoon to unwind, enjoy the hotel's facilities or explore Alpbach before dinner this evening.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

Today features a combination of excursions and hiking as we are transferred to Jenbach by coach, ready for a journey on the historic Achensee cog railway.

The oldest of its type in Europe, it climbs to Eben before descending gently to Seespitz on Achensee. Our walks begin as we disembark beside this spellbinding turquoise lake, choosing either to stroll along the shore and travel by cable car into the Karwendel mountains. Alternatively, continue by coach into the Karwendel Valley to climb to the Feilalmkopf summit.

Whichever option you select, you can soak up beautiful alpine views before we return to Alpbach this afternoon in time for dinner.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

There's a full day at leisure after breakfast today and there are many options in this beautiful part of the world. With a pool, sauna and afternoon tea including cakes available at our hotel, you might want to spend the day unwinding in Alpbach. With the Alpbachtal Card, you can hop on the area's cable cars and ascend the Wiedersbergerhorn. At the top, there is a choice of good walking circuits providing excellent views.

The Alpbachtal Card also includes free travel on the local buses to Brixlegg, from where you can journey a short distance by train - or walk beside the river - to Rattenberg. Known as Austria's smallest town, the quaint and colourful streets have for centuries been home to renowned glassblowers.

Further along the Inn Valley, you could travel by train to Innsbruck. The town's grand architecture reflects its importance as Tyrol's historic capital. Seek out the cathedral and Hofkirche, or admire the Golden Roof and the ornate Hölbling house with its imposing 14th-century watchtower. Whatever you choose to do today, you can return to our Alpbach hotel in time for dinner.

Travelling by coach to Jenbach after breakfast, we join the narrow-gauge Zillertal Railway for a 19-mile journey through the picturesque Ziller Valley. Views of remote villages of half-timbered houses and traditional chalets guide our way to Mayrhofen. This popular alpine town at the head of a valley is backdropped by increasingly tall peaks, and you're free to explore the pretty streets lined with cafés and shops, perhaps stopping to grab lunch.

Afterwards, we take a short drive to 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. 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.

Entrance is included and you have free time to do one of the different walks to uncover this breathtaking natural spectacle, before we return to Alpbach for dinner this evening.

We continue our explorations of the Alpbach Valley today as we head deeper into the scenic landscapes and travel by local bus to Inneralpbach.

Walking through pretty alpine pastures at the end of Alpbach Valley, both options are wonderful ways to spend our final day in the Tyrolean region of Austria. The focus of both routes is the beautiful, 400-year-old Farmkehralm mountain hut. This charming, traditional timber hut offers a glimpse into life in this area over the centuries, and also provides great views of the rocky peaks towering overhead.

There's time to grab a bite to eat at Farmkehralm, before we return to our hotel for time to relax ahead of dinner this evening.

View this tour's walking maps and elevation profiles here.

Leaving Alpbach after breakfast this morning, a coach transfers us to nearby Jenbach. Boarding a local train, we say goodbye to the wonderful Austrian Alps as we journey by First Class rail to Munich.

In the Bavarian capital, continue by First Class rail to Cologne. Passing through the charming city of Ulm, look out for its majestic minster, the spire of which is the tallest in the world.

Arriving in Cologne, our hotel is just a short distance from the main station. This German city sits beside the Rhine and was founded as a military camp by the Romans who named it Colonia, which is from where the modern term 'colony' is derived. After checking in, we have our final dinner together as a group.

Surrounded by towering peaks and lush alpine pastures, our base of Alpbach - Austria's most beautiful village - allowed us to explore the stunning Tyrolean Alps on foot and during scenic excursions. On our walks, we savoured views of Achensee, hiked to a 400-year-old mountain hut and headed out from out hotel to uncover panoramic vistas of the Alpbach Valley and the village itself. Riding two heritage railways and visiting the dramatic Krimml Waterfalls revealed more of the culture and natural beauty of this part of Austria.

After breakfast this morning, we return to Cologne station to board the train to Brussels in First Class. In the Belgian capital, we switch to the Eurostar service in Plus class and enjoy a light meal at our seats as we travel to London St Pancras, where you exploration of the Austrian Alps concludes.

Walking with Great Rail Journeys is about blending scenic walks and enjoyable excursions into one memorable holiday.

Choosing the right holiday and grade for your ability is essential for your enjoyment and safety. All our walking holidays are designed for our Level 4 Active Adventurers. You will be an active person more than capable of walking the distances and ascents, descents and types of terrain described for the walk options.

The walks will cover distances of between 3mi/5km and 8mi/13km, and each walking day has a choice of two walks that cater for different levels of ability and fitness.

You should consider your fitness levels and be confident that you'll be able to manage the distances, ascents, descents and types of terrain described for the walk options that you're likely to choose. Remember - each walking holiday will include walks of varying grades.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

If your tour is marked as Small Group, enjoy a more immersive holiday experience, exploring with a like-minded group of 16-25 travellers, with an average of 22.

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.

In the heart of Austria's breathtaking Tyrol region, the Zillertalbahn wends its way across open meadows, through the scenic Ziller valley and below the mountains. The train's cheerful red carriages and engine are easy to spot, as the Zillertalbahn crawls like a bright caterpillar across the Ziller valley floor offering a glimpse into the distinct charm of Austria's verdant countryside. Beginning at the market town of Jenbach near the shimmering Achen Lake, the Zillertalbahn snakes its way through the enchanting small Tyrolean towns and villages on its way to the ski resort of Mayrhofen. In winter, the route becomes a dazzling gallery of spectacular winter scenery encompassing frosted forests, white snow fields and awe-inspiring snow-capped mountains. In summer, the flower filled meadows and rolling green foothills are drenched in sunlight, showing an entirely different side of Austria.

The train line was officially opened in 1902, mainly operating as a passenger service for residents of the Ziller valley and the rest of the Tyrol region. The line has expanded to take on freight services, and the line actually owns a series of steam engines which are put on occasionally to take passengers and tourists back in time.

On the edge of the pretty Tyrolean village of Alpbach, this 4-Star hotel reflects the region's heritage through its striking timber-framed chalet architecture. With great views across the valley, the hotel features a large spa area and a small indoor pool, while there's a restaurant serving regional cuisine and a bar with an open fireplace. Each guest room has a balcony and seating area and comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safe, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries.

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.