Alpine Belle Steam Spectacular – May/June 2026
| 2026 | City / Port | |
DAY 1 SUN 31 MAY |
Australia to London Depart Australia on your flight to London. |
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| DAY 2 MON 01 JUN |
LONDON On arrival transfer to your London hotel. Overnight: 5 star : The Kensington Hotel (or similar) 4 star : Melia London Kensington (or similar) |
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| DAY 3 TUE 02 JUNE |
LONDON Full day at leisure. Overnight: 5 star : The Kensington Hotel (or similar) – (B) 4 star : Melia London Kensington (or similar) – (B) |
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| DAY 4 WED 03 JUNE |
LONDON to COLOGNE Transfer to the station for on an early morning scheduled Eurostar train from London St Pancras and a high speed train to Cologne via Brussels. Upon arrival in Cologne, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight: 5 star : Hotel Excelsior Ernst- (B) 4 star : Hilton Cologne – (B) |
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| DAY 5 THU 04 JUNE |
COLOGNE to LINDAU, LAKE CONSTANCE – 1 We will set out from Cologne for our journey south, stopping in the Hesse region to allow our steam locomotive, 01 1104, to join us for the journey of nearly 300 miles south towards Lindau on Lake Constance. Lindau is an extraordinary place, literally an island in the lake. The whole island is easily walkable and is known for its historic centre, charming squares and iconic harbour entrance – all set against a backdrop of the shimmering waters of Lake Constance and snow-capped Alps on the far side of the water. Overnight: 5 Star : The Bayerischer Hof Hotel (or similar) – (B,L,D) 4 Star : Hotel Reutemann-Seegarten (or similar) – (B,L,D) |
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DAY 6 |
LINDAU – 2 In Lindau, optional excursions* may include a paddle steamer cruise, but some may choose to stay in their hotels, drink in hand, admiring the beautiful views. The more adventurous among you may wish to take advantage of the proximity of neighbouring countries and choose to wake up in Germany, cycle to Austria for lunch, and make it to Switzerland in time for afternoon tea! Overnight: 5 Star : The Bayerischer Hof Hotel (or similar) – (B) 4 Star : Hotel Reutemann-Seegarten (or similar) – (B) |
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| DAY 7 SAT 06 JUNE |
LINDAU – ALPS – INNSBRUCK – 3 After two days admiring the distant Alps from the shores of Lake Constance, the Alpine Belle will set off towards them in style – taking in three countries in one day! From Lindau, we skirt the edge of Lake Constance before crossing over the Rhine into Switzerland, where our steam locomotive joins us for a journey through the Appenzell Alps. Our train then turns East, as we head into the Austrian Alps behind a vintage electric locomotive and carves a route through the Klostertal Valley before heading through the Arlbergtunnel, which was the longest railway tunnel in Austria when opened in 1884. Emerging on the other side of the Alberg pass in Tyrol we continue to wind our way through the alpine valleys to Innsbruck. Overnight: 5 Star : Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol (or similar) – (B,L,D) 4 Star : Hotel Das Innsbruck (or similar) – (B,L,D) |
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| DAY 8 SUN 07 JUNE |
INNSBRUCK- 4 Innsbruck, capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, is known for its Imperial and modern architecture. Passengers can opt for a leisurely day by staying in their hotels and enjoying scenic walks through the surrounding alpine terrain or join us for one of our optional sightseeing excursions*. Just 25 miles east of Innsbruck lies the town of Jenbach, where not just one but two steam railways branch off – the historic Achensee Railway to the north offering a breathtaking journey to Lake Achen on the oldest cog railway in Europe still steam operated, and to the south, the Zillertal, a narrow-gauge railway to the town of Myrhofen. We plan to offer at least one of these railways as an optional excursion*. Other excursions* may include the Nordkette funicular which climbs up to 2,256m from the city centre for stunning views, or Swarovski Crystal World with its gardens and art museum. Overnight: 5 Star : Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol (or similar) – (B,D) 4 Star : Hotel Das Innsbruck (or similar) – (B) |
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| DAY 09
MON 08 JUNE |
INNSBRUCK – SALZBURG – 5 Today we set off through the heart of the Alps with a German steam loco on the front of our train, likely to be former freight locomotive, G10 class 657. We plan to make a mid-afternoon stop at the charming town of Zell am See on the shores of Lake Zell, where there is a narrow-gauge railway through the Pinzgau mountains. From Zell am See we steam on further east into the Alps before turning north and descending into beautiful Salzburg. Overnight: 5 Star : Hotel Bristol (or similar) – (B,L,D) 4 Star : The Hyperion Hotel (or similar) – (B,L,D) |
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| DAY 10 & 11
TUE 09 – WED 10 JUNE |
SALZBURG – 6 & 7 For anyone who has never been to Salzburg the whole place is an amazing revelation – with a storybook setting among the mountains and stately baroque Altstadt. For our passengers over the next few days the hills will be alive with not only the sound of steam but all kinds of music and the beautiful Salzburg bells which ring out every day at 6pm. As you would expect, optional excursions* will include Mozart and The Sound of Music Tours, but you may choose to explore the city’s many attractions including the imposing Hohensalzburg Fortress or the Mirabell Gardens and Palace. Optional railway excursions* may include a journey along the Salzburg to Ampflwang Railway Museum by vintage train. In traditional carriages with open balconies we will steam 50 miles up the mainline to the preserved railway, its mining museum and railway roundhouse. A must for true lovers of steam. Other excursions* may include a journey up the steepest cog railway in Austria, which runs steam hauled from the valley at St Wolfgang to the summit of Schafberg Mountain, offering views of 11 nearby lakes, or a trip over the border to Germany to visit the Eagle’s Nest, which overlooks Berchtesgaden. Overnight: 5 Star : Hotel Bristol (or similar) – (B) 4 Star :The Hyperion Hotel (or similar) – (B) |
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| DAY 12 THU 11 JUNE |
SALZBURG TO FRANKFURT & WIESBADEN – 8 Our steam locomotive from day one, Class 01 1104, is back at the helm for our final day on board, as we journey across the border and into Germany, making our way towards the Rhine Valley and our hotels in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt for our last night. Tucked in a valley between the Rhine River and the Taunus Mountains, the relaxed spa town of Wiesbaden is the perfect place to reflect on our adventures. Those staying in Frankfurt will enjoy a stay in one of the city’s most exclusive postcodes, next to the Opera House and overlooking the lush Liesel-Christ Park Overnight: 5 Star : Sofitel Frankfurt Opera Hotel (or similar) – (B,L,D) 4 Star : The Radisson Blu Schwarzer Bock Hotel Wiesbaden (or similar) – (B,L,D) |
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| DAY 13 FRI 12 JUNE |
WIESBADEN / FRANKFURT to AUSTRALIA After a leisurely breakfast in our hotels in Frankfurt or Wiesbaden, you will be transferred to Frankfurt International Airport to board your flight home to Australia – (B) |
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| DAY 14
SAT 13 JUNE |
Arrive Australia | |
| * Optional excursions (at additional cost) will be sent to all booked passengers closer to departure date. |
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Head Office - Sydney
Central Coast NSW
Perth WA
Contact us if you would like to arrange a face-to-face or virtual meeting.
