Trekking Austria & Italy
Aug. 1-15, 2015
Tour Leaders: Jutta Brendel & Richard Ruppel
the Alps
Overview
The magnificent landscapes, rich culture, & history of the Habsburg Empire, the longest reigning dynasty in
Europe (1278-1918), will fascinate adventurers on this tour. Richard Ruppel and Jutta Brendel will take you on
this wonderful journey through south central Europe exploring Austrian & Italian centers of culture and leisure.
Salzburg, Austria, one of Europe’s most beautiful baroque cities, hosts the Salzburg Music Festival (the oldest
and most famous in Europe) and you’ll experience the festival in full swing! Beyond the festival, enjoy a
concert, perhaps a play or an opera, relish the fine local cuisine and visit the stunning historic sites such as the
Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabelle Gardens, Mozart’s birthplace, and historic and contemporary art exhibits. Then,
travel on to the spa resort of Bad Gastein, a nineteenth-century Alpine spa built upon the terraces overlooking
the valley and surrounding peaks of the Goldberg Mountain Range. Experience European wellness in a
traditional Baroque setting and enjoy local concerts and exhibitions while the beauty of the Alps lures you into
some hiking adventures. Travel across the border into Italy to Cortina d’ Ampezzo, the heart of the Dolomites,
an international center for summer hiking and mountain climbing. Cortina is also a nineteenth-century spa
resort, yet you will love to hike in the Italian sunshine and protected setting at the foot of Mt. Tofana. The
journey ends in Triest, an important shipping port on the northern Adriatic and the Mediterranean port to the
Habsburg Empire. Relax in the central square with three nineteenth century palaces, visit the fifth-centuryRomanesque Cathedral of San Guisto, explore Miramare Palace (Kaiser Maximilian of Austria), and experience
many more cultural sites and sounds. The languages along this journey stretch from German to Italian, English,
and more, but no need to worry as Richard & Jutta are fluent in English and German and Jutta is fluent in
Italian plus both know Austria and Italy well. They’re excited to bring you along this captivating journey!
Tour Itinerary
Aug. 1 - Depart U.S. and fly to Salzburg
Salzburg is the capital city of the state of Salzburg. The city spans both banks of the Salzach River and is
wedged between the Kapuzinerberg (mountain) on the right bank with its 18th century cloister and the
Mönchsberg and the Fortress of Hohen Salzburg, which forms the dramatic backdrop to the old city. The old
city, renowned for the transalpine architecture, particularly the influence of the Italian Renaissance and
Baroque, is often referred to as the Rome north of the Alps. Four magnificent churches are all located next to
each other in the old city, reminds one that Salzburg was a Bishop’s seat and enjoyed Vatican-like status within
the Habsburg Empire until 1814. It is here that the
World gathers in July and August each summer
since 1920 to enjoy international musical and
theatrical talent in the oldest continuous summer
music festival on the continent, which you will be
able to experience.
Aug. 2 - Arrive in Salzburg
Arrive in Salzburg and transfer from the airport
to the Hotel Mercure Salzburg City. After getting
settled in, the group will enjoy a walking tour of
the city to become oriented and see some of the sights such as Mirabelle Gardens, the quaint old Getreide
Market (Grain Market), Salzburg’s narrow winding pedestrian street with its beautiful iron signs and old world
flavor; home to Mozart’s birthplace; sip a coffee at the traditional Café Tomaselli, the traditional Salzburg Café,
and watch the world, yes literally the world, go by; visit the Cathedral Square. You will enjoy the first evening
with a group dinner. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Salzburg City**** www.mercure.com/de/hotel-0984-hotelmercure-salzburg-city/index.shtml
Aug. 3 - Salzburg
In the morning, Visit Fortress Hohen Salzburg, the castle that dominates the city and today contains a museum
of medieval artifacts as they pertain to Salzburg; wonderful views over the city. Possibility of walking from the
fortress to the Mönchberg and descend into the city. The afternoon will be free for sightseeing: Mozart’s
birthplace, museums such as the newly renovated Dom Quartier (Cathedral Museum) which connects 1 and ½
Kilometers of museum space in the residence and buildings surrounding the Cathedral Square. Or visit the
Salzburg Museum in the New Residence on Mozartplatz which offers several exhibitions both permanent and
travelling. In the evening, you’ll enjoy music concerts within the framework of the ongoing Salzburg Music
Festival. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Salzburg City****
Aug. 4 - Salzburg
Your morning will embrace many options: One can tour the local Salt
mine - an enjoyable tour (Lying on the Salzach River - river of salt,
Salzburg became a salt fortress and thus wealthy because of the salt
mines. Salt was important in medieval times because it was needed
for conservation of meats.); Visit the Cloister of Heilbrunn where the
bishop had all kinds of water tricks planned for his guests.; Visit any
number of museums based on individual interests. Later in the day,
you can take a hike up the Kapuzinerberg not far from the hotel for
some quiet time above Salzburg and enjoy some incredible views
over the city. Overnight at Hotel Mercure Salzburg City****
Aug. 5 - Coach Bus Transfer to Bad Gastein
This morning you’ll hop on the coach bus and transfer to Bad Gastein, a beautiful small city amidst the Austrian
Alps. After checking into the hotel, the leaders will take you on an orientation walking tour of Bad Gastein. Bad
Gastein is Austria’s more significant and elegant nineteenth-century Baroque spa, famous for its thermal baths
where visitors came to sample the pure air and enjoy the mineral water. The village sits at 3,000 ft. along the
banks of the Ache River fed by collective waterfalls falling some 450 into the middle of town. The spa is framed
by the Graukogel-peak (7,500 ft.) to the south and the Stubnerkogel (6,800 ft) to the west. Famous artists from
Franz Schubert, Gustav Klimt, and Thomas Mann summered here and were inspired by the alpine scenery. Bad
Gastein offers a variety of exhibitions, concerts, summer theater and visiting artists - an array of cultural
offerings in the setting of a nineteenth-century European spa setting. In the
evening, you’ll enjoy dinner with the group. Overnight at Hotel BellevueMondi**** www.bellevue.mondiholiday.at
Aug. 6 - Bad Gastein
The group will take the Schlossalmbahn (cable car) up to the Schlossalmsee,
an alpine lake, for some walking while enjoying views over surrounding
peaks. Much of this day you’ll have a chance to relax or explore on your own.
Overnight at Hotel Bellevue-Mondi****
Aug. 7 - Bad Gastein
For a different hiking destination, the leaders will take you to Fulseck (via the
Gipfelbahn - cable car) for a prominent local hike to Mirror Lake on the
Fulseck. It’s a magnificent Alpine lake reflecting the surrounding Alpine
scenery. More free time on this day will give you opportunities to sight see.
Overnight at Hotel Bellevue-Mondi****
Aug. 8 - Bad Gastein
Take the Stubnerkogelbahn (cable car) up to the Glockner View platform at 7,000 feet for a 360 degree view
and an extraordinary view of the Glockner range, including the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak.
(Depending on weather, these hikes may take place on different days in order to obtain the best views.)
In the afternoon, explore the Gasteiner Museum which shows the history of this famous spa-resort. Overnight
at Hotel Bellevue-Mondi****
Aug. 9 - Coach Bus Transfer to Cortina d’ Ampezzo (Italy)
Morning transfer to Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy. Cortina D’Ampezzo is known as a high altitude spa resort (3,600
ft) with an international reputation. It is the capital of the Italian Dolomites. It is situated on a broad part of the
Ampezzo Valley with the majestic Tofana range to the west. It is particularly admired for its abundant sunshine
and its protected location. The residents speak Ladin, a dialect of Rhatoromansch, spoken in the Engadin Valley
in Switzerland and in isolated Italian Alpine villages. Afternoon: Take a walking and orientation tour through
Cortina, a stunning town of 5,000 surrounded by 18 peaks over 9,000 feet. Cortina was home to the 1956
Winter Olympics and is a center for Alpine skiing in the Dolomites and also well known for summer hiking and
mountain climbing. It boasts some 400 Kilometers of marked hiking trails. Enjoy an evening dinner with the
group. Overnight at Hotel Royal*** www.hotelroyalcortina.it/
Aug. 10 - Cortina d’ Ampezzo
Take the cable car from Cortina to the summit of the Faloria (6,970 ft). From there we will ascend to the
Rifugio Tondi (hut) with great views of the Tondi de Faloria. From the Refugio Faloria (hut) we will hike down
to the Restaurant Rio Gere and continue through the forest down to the Refugio Col Tondo. From there we can
return to Cortina via cable car. Overnight at Hotel Royal***
Aug. 11 - Cortina d’ Ampezzo
Early or late morning, travel over the Tre Croci Pass toward lake
Misurina to Refugio Auronzo (7,650 ft) where our hike begins. This
is a famous hike in this area because it circles the Tre Cime, (Three
Summits) with stunningly dramatic views of the Dolomites. We’ll
have lunch at the Rifugio Locatelli / Drei Zinnen Hut (7,800 ft) with
views of the Three Summits and will return to Refugio Auronzo and
to Cortina from there. Overnight at Hotel Royal***
Aug. 12 - Cortina d’ Ampezzo
The Cinque Torri was finally scaled in the 1930s and has been the goal of serious climbers ever since. This was
also the center for the mountain artillery in WW I. Once can visit the Great War Open Air Museum. We’ll take a
chairlift to the Bai de Done and then ascend to the
Refugio Cinque Torri (hut) for lunch. This two hour hike
will allow free time in the afternoon, but there are also
options to extend the hike. Overnight at Hotel Royal***
Aug. 13 - Transfer to Triest on the Adriatic
Triest is arguably the most important harbor of the
Adriatic Sea. It was the transfer and export harbor for
the Danube region and an important harbor for the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Romans made Triest into
an export trade center. It became a free and open harbor in 1719. The harbor was extended and the city
enjoyed a flourishing period of growth. Triest became part of Italy in 1918, because despite its multi-ethnic
population, the majority of residents were of Italian descent. Morning transfer to the hotel in Triest. Take an
afternoon walking orientation tour of Triest including Piazza Unita d’Italia, the old Roman Theater, Saint Anton
& Canal Grande and the Gulf of Triest Promenade. Group Dinner in the evening. Overnight at Best Western
Hotel San Giusto*** www.hotelsangiusto.it
Aug. 14 - Triest
On the last full day you’ll visit Miramare Castle built between 1856 and 1860 for Archduke Maximilian of
Habsburg. It is situated in a beautiful estate park with exotic plants and has a commanding view of the Gulf of
Triest. The interior features furnishings that reflect the Viennese Court of the Habsburgs. Visit to Giusto Castle
and Cathedral built between 1468 and 1636 on the site of at least two previous churches. The afternoon is
yours to visit museums, refresh at cafes, and wander through the city. You’ll then reminisce in the evening at
the group farewell dinner. Overnight at Best Western Hotel San Giusto***
Aug. 15 -Morning Transfer to Venice International Airport (Marco Polo), Return Flight to the U.S.
COST: $3,960 (USD)
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $580 (USD)
INCLUDED: Cost includes all accommodations, breakfast each day, 5 group dinners, all coach bus transfers,
and 1-2 UWSP Adventure Tours tour leaders (flying out of O’Hare). Please note, cost includes land only rate,
per person, with double occupancy accommodations. Single rooms (w/ single supplement) may be limited.
Depending on weather and other variables, some activities or accommodations may change prior to or during
the tour. This tour will accommodate most fitness/health levels, however it is suggested that all participants
have at least a moderate/fair level of fitness and health. There are many options built into the itinerary to
maintain flexibility and ensure a leisurely wellness adventure for everyone aboard.
NOT INCLUDED: Roundtrip flights to Salzburg, meals except as noted (“group” meals), additional
activities and admissions/passes, travel insurance, and items of a personal nature (phone calls,
alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, laundry, gratuities, etc.).
TOUR LEADERS: Richard Ruppel & Jutta Brendel
GROUP SIZE: 20 maximum
CONTACT: Trevor Roark, 715-340-8186, adventure.tours@uwsp.edu
REGISTRATION: print registration, complete, & send along with $300 (per person) nonrefundable
deposit (preferred) or register online with a credit card
WEBSITE: www.uwspadventuretours.com