Bavaria

Boat Tours & River Cruises

The tour will take you from Salzburg straight to the entrance of the salt mines of Berchtesgaden. There, you will receive overalls to protect your clothing before climbing aboard the mine railway and traveling down into the shafts. An expert guide will lead you through the maze of branching tunnels and explain the fascinating history of Alpine salt-mining. The adventure continues with a slide, taking you yet deeper into the ground – an exciting experience for young and old! Finally, right at the bottom of the mine, climb aboard a raft to journey across the extraordinary underground salt lake. Before heading back to Salzburg, discover Berchtesgaden and its breathtaking scenery.

Take a breathtaking ride from the city of Salzburg into the Bavarian Alps along the Kings Lake-Ache up to the Obersalzberg, where the second headquarters of Third Reich used to be. Afterward, continue to the highlight of the tour, which is the 500-year-old Berchtesgaden salt mine. Slip into traditional miners’ clothes and take the miners’ train deep into the mountain. Experience the fascinating underground world of the salt-miners and discover the charm of the magnificently illuminated subterranean landscape. Take the slides down to the salt lake, which you will cross by boat. After this unique tour, explore the little picturesque town of Berchtesgaden and taste some Bavarian specialties. Leave Salzburg once more and pass by Lake Fuschl and Castle Fuschl. Explore the little town of St. Gilgen, where Mozart's mother was born. In the summer (May 1st to October 26th) enjoy a 45-minute boat ride to St. Wolfgang. During winter, take a coffee break at one of the traditional Austrian coffee houses.  At St. Wolfgang, your guide will show you the famous pilgrimage church with its carved gothic winged altar by Michael Pacher. There will be some time to explore the picturesque town or have a coffee break on the terrace of the famous White Horse Inn (Weisses Rössl) at your own expense. Continue your journey along the Krottensee with castle Hüttenstein and drive along Lake Mondsee before returning to Salzburg.

The high point of the evening is the Royal Water Music in the salon on the main deck of MS Starnberg, a luxurious concert hall with exceptional acoustics. The Residence Soloists and members of the Munich Philharmonic will play masterpieces by Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart and others. Traditionally, on such royal occasions, a hunt would take place: the quarry would be driven out of the woods into the lake for the courtly company to shoot at. Such entertainment cannot, unfortunately, be provided; but you are sure to enjoy the exciting tales of the Bavarian Kingdom, told by cultural historians on board. After this a 3 course dinner including drinks and a champagne reception awaits you. The first course includes canapés, shrimps in potato jackets, a selection of bruschette, Parma ham and antipasti satays, and smoked salmon tartlets. The main course is of pork medallions and turkey steak in Calvados sauce with potato gratin and seasonal vegetables. For pudding you will be served dark and white chocolate mousses with forest berries. The festive music, the thrilling courtly tales, and the delicious 3 course dinner afterwards make this voyage on the Starnberg Lake a glorious and unforgettable event. The team of Bavaria Klassik welcome you onboard Bavaria's biggest luxury ship, the MS STARNBERG, on the Starnberg Lake. Let them treat you like royalty on an incredible cruise and take a trip through time to the days of bavarian royalty with a cultural historian. The ship is well-suited to all weather; in good weather, the concert portion of the evening even takes place on the sun deck. Enjoy a greeting with prosecco before a delicious 3-course meal with drinks, and the night really goes out with a bang as a Baroque firework show awaits you in Starnberg at the end of the tour.

Spend a lovely day out on a boat exploring the beautiful Chiemsee and its two picturesque islands, the Herreninsel and the Fraueninsel. Known as “the Bavarian Ocean,” Chiemsee is the largest fresh-water lake near Munich. Herreninsel boasts wonderful Herrenchiemsee, a palace built by King Ludwig II in 1878 in the image of Versailles in France. In some respects, however, Herrenchiemsee actually surpasses Versailes – its Hall of Mirrors is a famous example. With its elegant gardens and walkways and the beautiful interiors of gold, glass, and porcelain, the palace is a visually stunning monument to opulence. King Ludwig's difficult personality is reflected in his famous elevated dining table, which was raised and lowered through the floor so the reclusive King did not have to see his servants. This tour gives you the full story of Chiemsee and its islands. You even get the option of touring the interior of the palace. This full day tour is one of the most unique and special touring experiences in Germany.

Start your morning with a beautiful drive off the beaten path, passing the meadow where the opening scene of "The Sound of Music" was filmed. The road will then lead up to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Berchtesgaden. After a short picture stop you will go on to the “Obersalzberg” the Eagle’s Nest bus terminal. You will then board a specially equipped mountain bus for a breathtaking ride up the 4-mile road, with a 27% incline to a rocky plateau, from where you will walk into a 406 foot (124 meter) long tunnel leading you directly to the original WWII brass elevator that will transport you up through the heart of the Kehlstein mountain for another 406ft straight into the Eagle’s Nest itself. After a tour through the Eagle’s Nest you will have some free time to enjoy the views or refreshments. Descending from the Obersalzberg on the way to the town of Berchtesgaden you will also see the underground bunker complexes below the mountain. The extensive fortress-like system was built as an air rad shelter, as war headquarters and as a possible last refuge for the leaders of the Reich. Coming back to daylight after a short walk you will visit the grounds where Adolf Hitler had his Residence the Berghof. After your visit of the bunker complex and grounds of the Berghof you will continue on to the beautiful Bavarian mountain town of Berchtesgaden located in the Kings Lake River valley. You will have time to explore Berchtesgaden on your own as well as to have lunch in one of the typical Bavarian Restaurants (own expense). In the afternoon you can choose between exploring the underground world of a 450 year old salt mine or taking a boat ride to St Bartholomew’s on the Königsee, a glacial lake situated in a valley surrounded by the Bavarian Alps. Your return drive back to Salzburg will take you along Kings Lake River back to your Hotel or any other destination in Salzburg. This luxury personalized tour is designed to give you the flexibility to pick and choose the venues you would like to visit. This is a fully-guided tour focusing extensively on the Eagle’s Nest, Bavarian mountains, Bunker complex, Königsee or the salt mine.