This area above the Bodensee is a little known walking destination, at least to non Austrians! Most tourists who know anything of Austria may know the Bregenzerwald and the Brandantel valley as a skiing resort. But there is a lot more to it than that! In the summer the area has flower-filled pastures, green mountains, traditional, wooden houses, and of course the cows which produce such a wealth of cheeses. The sound of them clanging away is omnipresent even on days of bad weather. It is a very pretty region, not of the highest Alps, but of forests and smaller pre-alp mountains with their associated Wandwerweg and Bergweg footpaths. On these walks you have sweeping views from the excellent network of paths dotted with mountain huts offering great coffees, Weiss beers and Wurst lunches: Hopefully you won't be 'wurst' for wear after all this lot! You will certainly be away from the mainstay of Alpine tourism, yet you will still get great Alpine views across into the main chains. The tour offers quality Alpine walking, with the use of cable cars and autobuses on occasion to lessen the ascents or descents. The weather, especially in the Summer also tends to be slightly more stable than that of the Swiss or French Alps. Bregenzerwald where the tour starts, is one of the main valleys in the Vorarlberg the western most federal state in Austria, and it borders Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein as well as the Austrian state of Tyrol. Brandantal is the main town of the upper valley where you end up on this tour. People mostly work in agriculture and tourism, but the importance of farming is decreasing rapidly due to better traffic connections to the Rheintal and over the last 30 years other economies have developed.

The tour starts at Schwarzenberg, a typical village in the Bregenzerwald woods. We take a public bus up to Bodele (1140m) with excellent views over the Bregenzerwald. A good trail heads off leading to panoramas of the Swiss Alps and to Lake Constance. You reach 1370m on forest trails before descending to the village of Mellau. The third day is a long mountain trail route, starting with a ride up on the Mellau cable car, you then follow the ‘Kanisfluhweg’ path towards the Mittagspitze (2095m) which fit walkers will be able to ascend in good weather. There follows the descent to Damuls by foot or chair lift perhaps for lunch before heading on the trail to Fontanella via Mittelberg. The following day there is a taxi transfer to Raggal from where a wanderweg path takes us past charming alpine cottages. There is an option to climb up to Hoher Fraben (1979m) before descending to Blundez. From here we follow the ‘Romerweg’ trail past more alps through Innerbraz, Gavaralpe and Mutheralpe then following an attractive forest road into the village of Mason and Dalaas. Our sixth day takes us along another ‘Panoramaweg’ to Amaslegi and then into the valley to Fernblick, where after a beer or a late lunch you take the bus to Tschagguns. On the last walking day we start early in order to link up with the Golmerbahn cableway to take us up to the Gruneck mountain station (1800m) to follow a delightful wanderweg to the attractive ‘Lunersee’ lake. We end the day on the Lunerseebahn cableway and then the bus to Brand and our last night stop.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly to Munich (Germany) and take train to Dornbirn in Austria. We will need to be informed when you are your approximate arrival time in Dornbirn so that you can be met by the transport to take you Schwarzenberg. Settle into hotel, there are numerous hiking paths nearby if you want to go for a ramble. Dinner at hotel.

Day 2: Schwarzenburg to Mellau approx 5hours, ascent 250m. descent 700m. In the morning catch the public bus which comes up from Dornbirn to Bodele above Schwarzenburg (1140m). From here you should get beautiful views of the Bregenzerwald A wide gravel trail takes you past the alp at Alpee to the Lustenauer Hut at 1250m for a break, you then follow the "Weibenfluhweg" trail to the Weibenfluhhutt which serves some regional specialty dishes. When you reach 1370 m. you can enjoy a great view of Lake Constance and the Swiss mountains, before continuing on the forest road towards Hangspitz. There follows a descent on a gravel trail to the village of Mellau.

Day 3: Mellau to Fontanella via Damuls Approx 7 hours Ascent 750m, descent 800m. You start by taking the cable car up from Mellau to the Roßstelle mountain station with great panoramas. At 1390m and follow the trail to Kanisalpe 1463m. If you feel fit you can climb the Mittagspitze 2095m. It is a climb on steep gravel secured with ropes. Descend to Uga Alp by foot or chair lift and then take the Unterdamulser Weg and Turtsch Alpe and Fontenella via Mittleberg.

Day 4: Fontenella to Blundenz approx 4 hours, ascent 710m, descent 320m. From the hotel a car will take you to Raggal where you follow the trail to Nitzkopf 1709m and have a stop at the Fraßen Hutte. The walk continues up to the Muttersberg mountain station. From the top, having admired the views you can either take the cable car down or follow the footpath down to the small romantic alpine town of Blundez.

Day 5: Blundez to Dalaas approx 6.5 hours. Ascent 815 m, descent 500m. The footpath at Blundez takes you towards Gastastigele, following the Romerweg to Innerbraz and on to Mutheralpe then following a forest road into the village of Mason near Dalaas.

Day 6: Dalaas to Tschagguns approx 5.5 hours, ascent 779m, descent 473m . The attractive alpine trail follows the 'Kristbergweg' to a saddle in the hills called Kristbergsattel 1484m. Should be a lot of cows clanging away! There is the opportunity to stop at a restaurant up here, and once more admire the views. There are some excellent panoramas. In fact the next part of the trail is called the 'Panoramaweg Ganzaleita.' We follow this trail to Amaslegi before heading into a valley to a place called Botzis and Fernblick 1107m. At the berghotel, after a pint of beer , there is a bus stop for taking the bus to Schruns and then on to Tschagguns and your hotel.

Day 7: Tschagguns to Brand 6.5 hours, ascent 740m, descent 660m. Start the morning by taking the public bus up the valley to Latschau. The route takes the whole day so it is just as well to have an early breakfast and get started. After the bus you take the Golmerbahn cablecar to Gruneck mountain station (1800m). Then you follow the attractive Latzscatzer Hohenweg to the alpine cottage known as the Lindauer Hutte which you reach after about two hours of pretty walking. From here we follow the wanderweg to the Lunersee Lake and continue along the lake bank to the Douglasshutte at 1980m. Then take the Lunerseebahn cablecar down the valley to Brand.

Day 8: Depart. After Breakfast a car will come and transfer you back to the railway station at Dornbirn. Depart on train to Munich, about 3.5 - 4 hours.

Level: Moderate. anyone used to hill walking with a daily height gain/loss of up to 3,300 feet (1000 meters) should find the tour within their capability. Most days are easier than this. Average duration of walking per day is about 6 hours. Some of the walks may be shortened if desired by the use of cable cars and local postbuses. As one would expect in Austria, the trails are generally very well marked and often signposted, but it is advisable to carry and be able to use a map and compass in case of mist etc. Waymarking is usually red and white paint marking, but can also be yellow / orange and white. In late June and early July there can be snow patches on higher trails (above 1000m), while new snowfalls are possible in September.

Prices & Departures for 2005

Available Mid-May-Mid-October	8D/7N Daily
Per Person in Double	$1335
Per Person in Single	$1470

YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS: Please note that we are not able to guarantee the accommodation exactly, but the descriptions of the hotels and guest houses below are the normal ones used.

Night 1 In Schwarzenberg: We use a gem of a hotel with a 250 year long tradition. The guesthouse, together with the Baroque church and some impressive farmhouses make up the historic center of Schwarzenberg. Feel the charm of the turn of the century in the house´s drawing room and banqueting hall. All rooms have a warm and cozy atmosphere. Excellent cuisine (Gault Millau awarded) and 'extraordinary wines' are served (their quote not ours!).
Night 2: Our accommodation is in the center of Mellau. You have a very nice view over to the mountains around the hotel. We have got a restaurant, a large terrace, TV room and a small reading room. Our rooms are all with shower or bath, WC, hair dryer, telephone and balcony. In the morning we have a breakfast buffet and for dinner we serve a four course meal with three dishes to choose from, one is always vegetarian. As our hotel guest you can use the indoor swimming pool with hot whirlpool, sauna and steam bath free of charge.
Night 3: In Fontanella, we use a quality hotel, rooms are en-suite with a breakfast buffet, 5-course dinner, sauna, steam bath, solarium. A family hotel with a personal atmosphere. At an altitude of 1,200 m in a small mountain village that is surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery. In summer you can also enjoy yourself with tennis (free of charge) or swimming in the Lake Seewaldsee.
Night 4: Near Blundenz. On the sunny terrace above Bludenz, yet only five minutes to the pedestrian precinct of this small romantic Alpine town. Enjoy famous Austrian food on one of the most beautiful terraces in the area. There are 75 Beds in single, double and triplebed rooms. They are equipped with bathroom facilities, satellite TV, minibar and safe. Some rooms also have a balcony.
Night 5: At Dalaas. Our Guesthouse has 12 rooms, which are well equipped. The family personally looks after your well-being during your stay. There is an original rustic dining room dating back to the golden times of romantic carriages and an À la carte restaurant for resident guests and visitors.
Night 6: In Tschagguns. Our hotel would like to be your home! Simply enjoy that extra piece of personal free space with an individual atmosphere. Our rooms are equipped with every comfort and allows you the room to move that you need to relax. All rooms are made of natural spruce wood and display a comfortable interior. Each room is equipped with color TV, radio, telephone, minibar and safe.
Night 7: At Brand We stay at a sports hotel, that is nevertheless one of the most traditional hotels in the area. There are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, tennis court etc. Very good dining facilities and rooms as you will expect from a hotel of this standard.

(Subject to change)