Cows Down Kirchberg

Tyrolean Treats & The ‘Cows-Down’ Festival

9 days 15^th September 2026

 

Join us on this 9-day Austrian & Bavarian tour for an exciting mixture of excursions taking you down a fascinating Salt mine, a fascinating visit to an open-air Tyrolean farm museum and the highlight, to see the cows come down from the mountain pastures to celebrate the end of the summer adorned with flower garlands and bells to a party atmosphere of music and dancing. A fantastic festival not to be missed!

 

Tour Itinerary

 

Tuesday – Our luxury coach will depart this morning, and head to Folkestone where we will catch the Eurotunnel crossing to Calais, from there we make our way to Germany for our overnight stop and our evening meal. Comfort stops on route.

 

Wednesday – We leave Germany and continue our journey to Austria. Enjoy the changing landscapes as we arrive in Kirchberg in plenty of time to settle in before dinner.

Thursday – A free day to relax after our journey down and explore the area.

 

Friday – Today we are taking you to Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps to visit a 500-year-old working Salt mine on the ‘Salt Time journey’ an experience enjoyed by young and old. We begin with a train ride to take us down into the mine and the vast system of tunnels and chambers. Then we’ll enjoy a ‘slide’ down to the next level – great fun! Our tour continues on foot through well lit tunnels and finishes on a boat across a mysterious subterranean mirror lake. We have visited this mine 3 times before and everybody that joined us each time really enjoyed the experience! We continue this afternoon to nearby Konigssee lake a natural lake formed by glaciers during the last ice-age and stretches nearly 5 miles and a mile across. A beautiful Alpine lake with crystal clear waters and a perfect place to have lunch in the many small restaurants surrounding its shores and to browse the many small shops selling souvenirs of your visit. Back to the hotel late afternoon to relax before dinner.

 

Saturday – Every year in the Tyrol, some 180,000 cows, horses, sheep and goats spend the summer months in the mountains, grazing on Alpine pastures. In September, the animals return, and to celebrate this the cows and goats are dressed in magnificent headdresses, bells and flowers, a celebration called, ‘Almabtrieb’ in Austria and Bavaria to symbolize their safe return. A party atmosphere with singing and dancing, bands playing, these parades are a vibrant celebration of rural heritage highlighting strong cultural ties between communities and their farming roots. Today we will enjoy this celebration at a local festival.

 

Sunday – Today we are spending the time at the Tyrolean Farm museum, where 37 re-constructed historic wooden buildings recreate Tyrolean life in pre-industrial times. Explore the buildings which include a blacksmiths, a school and chapel and 14 farmhouses where you may try hands-on activities like clog making and bread-baking, knife grinding and cheese and butter making. Experiences that bring to life the day-to-day activities of bygone years in the Zillertal Valley. Back to the hotel mid-afternoon to relax.

Monday – Your second free day to do as you please.

 

Tuesday – Sadly we say goodbye to Austria and being our journey home. Retracing our steps, we head to Germany for our overnight hotel in time for dinner. Comfort stops on route.

 

Wednesday – We leave Germany and make our way back up to Calais and our Eurotunnel crossing, once back in the UK, we head to Wiltshire and our taxis which will be waiting to return you safely back home after our memorable holiday in Austria

Your Hotel

4* Zentral Superior – Kirchberg

 

Located in the picturesque town of Kirchberg, this beautiful hotel offers stunning en-suite bedrooms with free toiletries, hairdryer, TV, phone and free Wi-Fi. There is a wellness centre with steam room, sauna and infra-red cabin. All bedrooms offer balconies with views of the mountains. There is an extensive restaurant where we will enjoy 4 course dinners and superb buffet breakfasts. The hotel has a comfortable lounge, pleasant outdoor terrace, a bar and lift.

 

Price Includes

9 Days £1,349.00

Single Supplement £200 (Limited)

Double for Sole use