Algarve Odyssey
The coast, villages and countryside of the Eastern Algarve and then explore the treasures of this most westerly corner of Europe.
The world's more beautiful on foot...
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
Call us on 01707 331133
Or, email us at [email protected]
A combination of two mountain holidays - discover your Tirolean summer
From£2,199
Austria
Flora
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
What does this mean?
Tour codes: 19450
Full day walks with moderate amounts of ascent and descent.
The paths are mostly good, but there may be some steep and rough ground.
Walks will last up to 6 hours and could involve as much as 750m of ascent and descent. Some walks will be less demanding.
Full day walks with appreciable amounts of ascent and descent.
These walks are in more remote areas such as Andorra or northern Portugal.
Similar to Grade 5, but with most of the walks at the upper level of ascent/descent, time and distance.
Hard mountain walking every day in the Alps, the Balkans and the Pyrenees, with long ascents, descents and scrambling.
Stamina and a good head for heights are essential.
Distances will probably not exceed 12 miles, but cumulative ascents and descents will normally be between 1000 and 1500m each day.
Overview
This holiday is a combination of our one week holiday in Stubai Alps and our one week holiday in Achensee.
A week in the Stubai Valley has everything you could wish from a summer holiday in the Alps. The picturesque valley villages, with their window boxes and surrounding hay meadows give way to woodland and high alpine pasture. Here cows roam, the views stretch far away down the valleys, and alpine huts dot the alms. We have a great selection of walks on offer opening up the magical world of the high Alps. Cable cars allow easier walking above Fulpmes and Neder, and at the southern end of the stubai valley, the Eisgratbahn top station (2,900m) gives us access to the Stubai Glacier. The Stubai Glacier, whose highest point is 3333m, is visible on many walks. We will never exhaust the almost endless selection of walks on offer. Cable cars to the Kreuzjoch above Fulpmes and the Dresdner Hut at the southern end of the valley open up the magical world of the high Alps. Our base is Fulpmes perfectly located in the Stubai Valley. It is just a short journey through the mountains from the beautiful city of Innsbruck which can easily be visited on a free day. Throughout the summer there are various Tirolean evening events and brass band performances to enjoy in Fulpmes.
Our second week holiday surrounds the beautiful turquoise waters of the Achensee, the largest lake in the Tirol, at the centre of the Brandenberg Alps. All of our walks will at some point have views of the beautiful lake. The area where we walk can be split roughly into three – Achenkirch where our hotel is to the north of the lake with generally easier mountains, the Rofan mountains with several accessible peaks to the east, and the Karwendel range to the south and west. Achenkirch is a pretty alpine village with traditional buildings, window boxes and spectacular scenery. In winter, Achenkirch is ideal for winter sports whereas summer is perfect for hikes and rides across the lake on a sailing boat or traditional steamboat! It is an ideal all year round destination! The mountain rock is limestone throughout, so the flowers are wonderful. Marmots and chamois can pretty well be guaranteed and ibex are sometimes seen in the Karwendel. There are plenty of mountain cafes with beer and cake and terraces from where you can soak up the views!
Our holiday departure on 21 June will be at a more leisurely pace to allow time to appreciate the flora. On day 10 of the holiday, we will be guided by a local walking and flower expert. We'll learn about the local plants and flowers, educating us ready for our week ahead. Please refer to this date specific Holiday Information sheet.
Our holiday departure on the 19 July is a two grade, two leader tour where grade 6 and 8 walks can be enjoyed. Please refer to this date specific Holiday Information sheet.
Click the button below for a detailed Holiday Information Sheet containing all the particulars about this trip.
NOTE: Itineraries and Holiday Information Sheets can vary by a specific date chosen
Itinerary & Travel
Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we may unfortunately need to withdraw a tour that is currently confirmed to operate and we therefore reserve the right to cancel your booking. We would always do our utmost to give you plenty of notice should we have to do this. Selected elements of this tour, including local attractions and restaurants, may change at late notice. Please ensure you have valid insurance cover before you travel.
Accommodation
Below is the accommodation featured on this holiday across all departure dates. Please refer to the Itinerary for more detail about each night's accommodation for each departure date.
We stay in the four-star comfortable Alpenhotel Tirolerhof in Fulpmes. This charming and traditional alpine hotel is perfectly located close to ski lifts and local bus stops, and has spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Stubai Alps. The Alpenhotel Tirolerhof is a positive blend of traditional and contemporary alpine beauty, decorated with colourful flowerboxes and rustic wooden furnishings.
There is a restaurant and bar area, ideal for a well-deserved glass of wine after an extraordinary day spent in the Alps. The bar area features specially themed weeks during the year, such as a gin week! There is a wellness area with an indoor pool, sauna, fitness room with new Technogym equipment and massage treatments, perfect for relaxing after a days walk.
We stay in en suite contemporary twin and single bedded rooms. Twin bedded rooms usually contain typical 'Austrian type beds' which consist of one bed frame fitted with two single mattresses and bed-packs with individual duvets. Rooms are stylish with wooden furnishings, free WIFI, safe, telephone, TV and balcony.
Achenkirch is a pretty alpine village with beautiful scenery and access to miles upon miles of hiking routes, perfect for our holiday! Achenkirch is small in terms of facilities. There is a supermarket approximately 15-20 minutes walk away and a few small sport shops. Pertisau and Maurach are villages just a short 15-20 minute bus ride away. Pertisau is set on the lakeside and is extremely picturesque. Here you can find an information centre and various shops and cafes. Maurach is larger with many large supermarkets, sports shops, banks, ATMs and cafes.
We stay in the four star Hotel Achentalerhof in Achenkirch. The hotel is run by the Waldhart family and now being managed by their third generation. The Achentalerhof is a very welcoming and comfortable hotel, treating its groups exactly as it treats its private guests. Its location is perfect as some of the walks start and/or end at the hotel. The bus stop for buses up and down the valley stops right outside the hotel.
The hotel has a 2000m2 garden park, a stylish vital area with an indoor pool and a south facing sun terrace with spectacular mountain views. Its Finnish sauna, steam bath, solarium, infrared cabin and spacious pine wood relaxation room are just another relaxing option after a day’s exploration. The sauna and steam need to be booked at least 30 minutes before you wish to use them. There is a games room with table tennis and table football. The hotel has a large bar area for relaxation!
Rooms include bath or shower with en-suite facilities, hairdryer, radio, telephone, flat screen TV and safe. Most rooms have balconies and twin rooms include Austrian style twin beds with one bed frame and two separate mattresses and bed packs. The nearest church is a long way away, so there are no bells ringing during the night!
The hotel has a supply of walking gear such as poles, waterproofs and maps for the use of hotel guests. There is no guarantee, however, that they will have your size, so please make sure you take your own.
Trip Information
This is a Grade 8 challenging holiday. It will include hard mountain walking every day with long ascents and descents and scrambling. Stamina and a good head for heights is essential. Distances will probably not exceed 12 miles, but ascents and descents will normally be between 1,000 and 1,500m. Expect long and exhilarating days. See the 'Proposed Itinerary' section for more information.
Local Transport Costs
All local transport costs in conjunction with the advertised activity programme are included in the holiday cost. There may be occasions where additional visits or excursions are added to enrich your experience, these will be paid for locally by you if you choose to participate. Local transport can be a mix of private hire coaches, taxis, local buses and ferries depending on the itinerary.
Optional Excursions
A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book at your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions.
Holiday Budgeting
When budgeting for your holiday, you will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, non-included entrance fees, optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally and any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry. A general guideline for lunches and drinks is £10-£20 per person per day.
Currency in Austria
The currency in Austria is the euro. You may wish to take some euro cash with you until you reach an ATM. Credit cards may not be accepted in smaller towns and rural areas.
Tipping
Although entirely at your own discretion, tipping is an important aspect of tourism and hospitality life and expectations are fairly high. In order to simplify tipping, we strongly recommend that you allow your leader to take care of making sure tips are given to hotel and restaurant staff and to local guides and drivers. This will be done using some funds provided by us together with, if you wish, a contribution from you, which he/she will collect during the holiday.
Tour Leaders
Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible.
Leader's Evening Briefing
Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. This will be your opportunity to discuss the details and ensure the planned activities suit your walking ability. If you have concerns on clothing or equipment, this can be discussed then also. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know.
Return flights are between London and Munich. Regional flights from Manchester to Munich and return are available on some dates. On dates where regional flights are available, the group may need to wait until all flights have landed before transferring to the hotel as the transfer will be combined.
Travel between Fulpmes and Achensee is by private coach and will take approximately 1 hour. Please be aware that your leader may be leading both weeks of our two week holiday so may require to leave on the morning of day 8 to return to the airport to bid farewell to our departing Stubai Alps 1 week group and greet our arriving Achensee 1 week group. This may mean that you require to travel by private coach from Fulpmes to Achensee independently. Please ask your leader for details.
Please be aware that if you do arrange your own travel arrangements, other airports may more appropriate for you to fly in to. Innsbruck airport is a shorter transfer to the hotel. Although you will not be able to use our complimentary transfer, there are plenty of public buses, trains or taxis available for you to use instead, at your own cost.
Booking Your Own Travel Arrangements?
If you wish to organise your own flights from a non-UK or provincial airport or travel by rail or car to your holiday destination, 'land only' reductions are often available. Please contact us for details.
Before finalising any independent travel arrangements, please check with us first - especially if doing so 12 weeks or more before your intended date of travel. If you do intend to join your holiday locally please do tell us at least 14 weeks in advance.
If you are joining and leaving your holiday overseas we assume, unless you advise us otherwise, that you will join and leave the holiday at your hotel.
Although airport transfers are not included for those making their own independent travel arrangements, if you wish to join the group at the overseas airport, depending on your flight arrival time, you may be able to be included on the group's transfer. Please contact us at least 5 weeks before departure for more details.
Please note that your flight must arrive within 30 minutes of the group flight to be able to join the group transfer. We also need your flight number, arrival time and departure point so that the group leader is able to meet up with you.
Regional Transfers
Regional Flights (R2). We offer regional flight options on this holiday but due to the location and travelling time to our resort we operate just one transfer vehicle between the airport and hotel. This may mean that there is a wait at the overseas airport in one or both directions.
Luggage Allowance & Travel Documents
For all those booking a flight or rail inclusive holiday, details of your travel arrangements and baggage allowance will be confirmed in your travel documents, sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure.
Personal Details Check
To ensure that we can accurately administer your holiday arrangements, please confirm that the personal details we hold for you are up to date and that you have provided the information we need to secure your holiday travel and accommodation arrangements. Please check your passport details, date of birth and any other important details necessary for us to properly manage your holiday booking. You can view and update information already provided, and add details not yet asked for, by using the Manage My Booking facility on our website www.ramblersholidays.co.uk, or by calling our Sales and Reservations team on +44 (0)1707 331133. When you receive your booking confirmation please check the details as soon as possible.
General Passport Advice
It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country.
Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements.
General travel and destination advice for UK nationals is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel and at www.gov.uk/travelaware.
Brexit Passport Advice
You should have at least 6 months validity left on your passport from your date of arrival.
If you renewed a 10 year passport before it expired, extra months may have been added to your passport’s expiry date. These extra months will not count, so you should ensure that your passport is not older than 9 years and 6 months from the date of issue at the time of travel.
You may wish to renew your passport sooner rather than later, in order to make sure you have it in time for your holiday or travel plans.
Please ensure to regularly check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for updates on passport requirements leading up to and after Brexit or contact us for more assistance.
UK Government Brexit Information for Passports can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/passport-rules-for-travel-to-europe-after-Brexit.
The UK Government has published a website tool to check the validity of your passport under these rules which can be found at www.passport.service.gov.uk/check-a-passport.
In the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK citizens will be able to visit the EU for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. The UK Government also has information for travellers available at gov.uk/EUexit
Non British Passport holders should consult the host country’s embassy for applicable passport and visa entry requirements.
We enjoy buffet breakfasts each morning at the Aplenhotel Tirolerhof which includes a selection of traditional and continental dishes such as farmers bread, regional sausages and cheeses, fruit, home-made jams and various hot drinks. We enjoy plentiful and excellent four course dinners with a salad buffet starter. The Alpenhotel Tirolerhof only uses sustainably, locally and regionally sourced and produced organic food to make its fresh traditional and international dishes. The hotel caters very well for special diets so please advise us at the time of booking of any dietary requirements. Coffee and cake are served on Sunday afternoons and there is a weekly all you can eat ice cream afternoon!
We dine at the Hotel Achentalerhof with a large traditional buffet breakfast and typical Austrian 5 course dinner. Our dinners will consist of an appetiser, soup, salad buffet, main course and dessert. We enjoy freshly grown vegetables and herbs from local organic farmers and from the hotel’s kitchen garden, where you can find various local herbs such as Oregano, Horse-radish and Melissa! The drinks prices are very reasonable and tap water is provided on the tables at the Achentalerhof. Again, lunches are not included but these can be taken as picnics or in local mountain restaurants. The Hotel Achentalerhof is happy for you to make up sandwiches and take fruit from the breakfast buffet to make up your lunch at no charge. They also provide hot water for you to fill up flasks if you want a hot drink to take on the walk.
Footwear
Good quality waterproof walking boots with a moulded sole with a deep tread and good ankle support are essential for holidays at grade 7 and above.
General Kit List
Outdoor activities are always safer and more enjoyable if you are prepared.
If you have not travelled with us before the following list might be of use:
This list is not exhaustive and every walker is different and may have their own preference.
Travel Documents Checklist
Documents and Information to take with you:
Electricity in Austria
In Austria the electricity is supplied at 220 Volts. If you wish to use electrical equipment you will need a European two pin adaptor with round pins. More information can be found at https://www.power-plugs-sockets.com/
Water To Go
An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from www.watertogo.eu. Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles.
We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays.
Maps, Guidebooks & More
The following maps cover our walking in the Stubaital and are easily available in the village.
Apart from any books available in local libraries, the internet is now an excellent resource for information about holidays in Austria. The local tourist office website www.stubai.at has a section on walking holidays which will whet the appetite. Alternatively, many pictures of the area are available on picture storage websites such as www.flickr.com. Just enter ‘Stubai summer’ into the search engine.
The internet is now an excellent resource of information about holidays in Austria. The local tourist office website is www.achensee.com/en/ and provides a range of information about the area of Achensee plus walking routes. More information on walking can be found at www.tyrol.com/regions/a-achensee/hiking.
Cicerone guide to Alpine Flowers. We like this pocket-sized book on the 230 Alpine flowers you are most likely to come across on a holiday in the Alps. There’s a really interesting introduction to the properties flowers need to survive life at altitude and good clear photos with short descriptions arranged according to the predominant colour of the flower. Order it from Cicerone directly and quote code RAMBWH for a 25% discount.
The Map Shop
Maps and guidebooks relating to the areas you will be walking in may be bought before your holiday from The Map Shop at www.themapshop.co.uk
Weather
Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination:
Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP.
Health Advice for Austria
No compulsory immunisations are required for visits to Austria. You should be up to date with the usual immunisations recommended in the UK. You may wish to consider immunisations against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Tick-borne Encephalitis
Further Travel Advice
For further advice please visit:
You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.
You must be adequately insured to join our holidays. You will be unable to participate in our local walking and other activity programmes without being able to demonstrate that you have valid travel insurance.
Please ensure that as a minimum your travel insurance policy covers you for travel to your holiday destinations (country and geographical region) and for medical expenses, mountain rescue (including helicopter rescue) and emergency repatriation to your home country in the event of illness or injury. Your policy should also provide adequate cover for the activities, included and optional, you are likely to participate in during your holiday.
Whoever you insure with, please ensure that you take full details, and ideally the policy itself, with you on holiday and provide our tour leader with your insurer's name, the policy number and emergency assistance contact numbers.
Please note that it is very difficult to obtain travel insurance once your holiday arrangements have started.
EHIC Cards
From January 1st, 2021 UK travellers can continue to use their European Heath Insurance Card (EHIC) – which can last up to five years, until its expiry date, to gain access to medical assistance during your holiday. However, you will no longer be covered in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Travellers without a valid EHIC can apply for a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which will replaces the EHIC once it has been phased out. Please note however that the EHIC/GHIC should not be considered a substitute for medical or travel insurance.
For more information, please visit www.nhs.uk/ehic
The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at www.gov.uk/travelaware. Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination.
Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used.
Responsible Travel
We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website.
The Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust
Unlike many tour operators we have our own trust through which RWH Travel’s profits are channelled back into a variety of outdoor, walking-related or environmental conservation projects in the UK. The focus of the Trust’s financial support is Britain’s leading walking charity, The Ramblers, and their role in promoting the benefits and importance of walking to the British public. In addition the Trust welcomes applications for small grants from local organisations in the UK who need support for walking-orientated activities. This includes the establishment of footpaths and bridleways, funding for rebuilding bridges and renovating huts, as well as bursary funding for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for children who could not otherwise afford to do it. Please visit the ‘About Us’ section of our website and click on the Charitable Trust link for more details.
Heart and Sole
We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support.
Mobile Phones
Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements.
Do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements.
As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals.
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Language
Time Difference
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Visas and Passports
January
Avg. Rain: 54mm
February
Avg. Rain: 48mm
March
Avg. Rain: 65mm
April
Avg. Rain: 70mm
May
Avg. Rain: 92mm
June
Avg. Rain: 122mm
July
Avg. Rain: 132mm
August
Avg. Rain: 114mm
September
Avg. Rain: 89mm
October
Avg. Rain: 72mm
November
Avg. Rain: 73mm
December
Avg. Rain: 64mm
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