Expect a mix of easy and demanding walking at 1700 to 1900m altitude. A good level of fitness and appropriate equipment is required, and you will be walking between four and six and a half hours daily. Not overly arduous and the rewards are many.

Only 26km from Vienna, this popular spa resort dates back to Roman times, when the healing properties of the natural thermal springs were first discovered. Baden can be easily reached from Vienna by bus, tram or train. The unique Art Deco swimming pool with its sandy beaches, the vineyards and inviting 'Heuriger' ensure that Baden is one of the most popular resorts in Austria.

Depart by train for Mödling, a town of the Biedermeier period. Start your walking tour along the high-altitude path to the famous wine-growing town of Gumpoldskirchen. You should visit a local wine-growers inn (Heurigen), where wine and food is excellent. In the afternoon, follow the Vienna water pipeline through vineyards back to Baden.

Take the world's first mountain-train to the well known high altitude town of Semmering. The Ghega-Railway and the surrounding mountains are now listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Carlo di Ghega, the Venetian civil engineer, oversaw the building of the line to connect Vienna to Trieste. Overnight in Payerbach or Prein.

A rest day or you could walk along the water pipeline to Kaiserbrunn (Emperor's Brook) which supplies half of Vienna's water. Visit the museum for a thorough understanding of this beautiful region.

Travel by cable car to the Rax plateau at 1500m altitude. Fine trails lead you from hut to hut and on sunny days you will even see the Alps. Crossing the plateau from Prein will be a little bit more demanding but the spectacular views make the extra effort all the more worthwhile.

Ascend to the Waldburg-Anger hut where the high alpine pasture of Bodenwiese starts. Cross the pasture and walk downwards and over a small pass to the village of Puchberg. You will have the Snowy Mountain in sight the whole day - a preview of tomorrow's walk.

Today you take the famous Snowy Mountain railway to more than 2000 m above sea level. The summit is not far away and the view on the Alps is wonderful.

Take a last stroll around Puchberg or visit Wiener Neustadt - a city founded by Babenburger Duke Leopold V in 1194. A city full of history and culture., home also to the military academy founded by Empress Maria Theresa in 1751. Continue by train to Baden where your tour ends. Think about extending your stay in Baden to enjoy the hot spas and the relief they will bring to aching muscles...

Price Includes:

• 7 nights accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels, with private facilities and half-board (breakfast & dinner) daily
• Transfers by train and cable cars as per the itinerary
• Baggage transfer bewteen hotels - 1 piece per person
• Route map and one rucksack per room
• Service charges and taxes