Castles, Farms & Forests: Walking in Austria, France & Germany

Our Group Leader, Christian Furhmann, for me, made this tour one of the most enjoyable, invigorating and exciting. He went above and beyond in making this one of the most challenging and rewarding adventures. I wish to express my gratitude to Christian for his kindness, knowledge, experience and efforts in making this trip a treasure-trove of memories. The local guides, Birgit, Michael and Martin added to an exhilarating adventure. I loved walking around the small quaint villages. The hotels in Turckheim and Austria were so sweet and charming and of course the beauty of the magnificent hikes were breathtaking. The camaraderie shared by the group was awesome and so much fun. I cannot say enough of how brilliant this trip has been ... I'm ready for my next great adventure. Best to all, Matilde

Great walks and hikes in beautiful countryside, iconic villages and towns, and such a variety of experiences in parts of Europe not often frequented by Americans. Each day was special and unique, from walking in WW I trenches to meandering through vinyards ripe with grapes to exploring lovely towns. This trip was a special treat!

My husband and I just completed our first RS trip with our main guide Christian and other fantastic local guides .This is a fun walking trip and we enjoyed the many trails and experiences in Austria, Germany and France! Each day was an adventure, and the group we traveled with soon became a tight family of friends. I was amazed at how the trip blended old history, great foods and the present day culture of these different countries! The trip is well thought out logistically and has a great rhythm. If you enjoy being outdoors and learning about the land and how different cultures work it and care for it , you will enjoy this trip! Oh, and don’t forget to listen for the cow bells in the Austrian mountains.

Excellent trip! We hiked/walked in beautiful country, ate great food, had great conversations with travel mates, and tour guides were excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed this trip.

This trip was on my life long bucket list and Road Scholar fulfilled every list wish on it. I could not be happier with my experience. From our exceptional tour guide Martin and his local experts, to the amazing hikes in the mountains and local adventures (and don’t forget the fabulous FOOD!) ; it truly was one of my dreams come true. I can’t wait to do it again!!

I am not a relaxed traveller. We delved into this adventure not really knowing what to expect. Even with so many unknowns, we knew we had to do this and we are so glad that we did. From the moment we landed in Zurich, to the last day leaving Zurich, this trip was amazing! Our fearless leader Martin marched and we followed. We trekked up hills and down deep into gorges, ate the most amazing food and then trekked again. We would emerge tired and sweaty and almost victorious back to hotel to shower and meet for dinner. We would discuss the next days adventure and then off to bed for a much needed sleep. The next day was a whole new adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed every single day. This was an exceptional, well thought out and seamless experience that I will never forget. 10 out of 10 stars.

This was undeniably the best Road Scholar program to date. The group leader, local guides, itinerary, food and accommodations were all excellent. It was an amazing experience.

Dear Road Scholar This note is written to complain about the unfair arrangement of the shuttle to Hotel Gsthof Adler, Lingenau. According to the travel brochure, and by the explanation by the agent, this shuttle service was supposed to be given when the agenda was finalized. Due to the complication of the transportation, the shuttle was supposed to be given even for those who would not take the group air travel. Following the advice of the agent, I repeatedly requested the shuttle when the agenda was finalized, but my request was denied. To be at the meeting place in Lingenau on time, I had no choice, but to bear an extra night at the hotel in Bregenz before the start of the trip. My complaint is the fact that another couple who were under the same conditions as mine taking their air was given the shuttle, but not me. If I were also given a shuttle, I would not need to pay the extra cost of the hotel, or stressful travel to the remote area in Austria by myself. Without the German Language, my train and local bus travel were disastrous with a large suitcase. Not only did I miss the train and pay the train ticket twice, but I got off the bus at the wrong stop. Izumi Tokunaga

A great program, with lots of hiking (not strenuous hiking, but plenty of it.) The trip was educational too, with visits to sights connected to medieval times through WWI and WWII.

An experience of a lifetime!

This was a fabulous and fun trip, even without my luggage. Visiting and hiking in all the villages, vineyards, farms, and forests was an experience this Florida lady would do again. Christian was a wonderful group leader and worked well with our guides and hotel hosts. The traditional food served was wonderful; the best breads, cheeses, and desserts. I highly recommend this trip. The people I traveled with were all “like-minded” outdoor types and I am so glad I was able to spend this time with them.

This was a great outdoors experience, well paced with hiking, walking, and time to relax a little while riding. The leaders were so pleasant and really knew their areas of leadership and expertise.

I loved this program! Great leaders, food, and accommodations. Just a beautiful area and plenty of hiking to see it closeup.

A very nice opportunity to stay in small villages and hike out into the hills, see rural life, wild flowers and local business. The leader was quite enthusiastic as well as well informed and brought good cohesion into our group.

1. Your review system should be a sequential listing of the trip and ask for feedback on each step asking input about location, activities, hotel, food, guides, etc. 2. The trip overall was interesting and as advertised. 3. We enjoy outdoors time that is quiet and reflective and it would have been beneficial to have that opportunity on this trip. 4. As vegetarians, we were often not given full menu options. Several times, the only soup course was meat based, some meals we were not served a main course because the only option was meat ( we had salad and potatoes). When there were vegetarian options for menu selection, many of the other guests opted for vegetarian and there should be good options for everyone at all meals. 5. The guides for the program were good, especially Michael in Germany. 6. It would have been great to get higher in the Alps in Austria. 7. The bus we took when leaving Interzarten was powered by renewable fuel. This is terrific. One of our concerns with travel is our carbon-footprint that results. Providing travel with renewable fuel will booster our initiative to travel more and to travel with a company that provides such environmental awareness. This could even be part of your advertising. We would be willing to pay a little more for 'green' travel. Sincerely, Stephen and Sheryl Guy

A fabulous hiking trip, just challenging enough to keep things interesting, filled with many varieties of activities. You travel primarily to villages, not the usual tourist haunts. The landscape is gorgeous, the food delicious, and the whole experience quite moving and unique.

Educational and enjoyable. Christian was the best!

This is a great program and experience, but it does require some physical exertion, long walks of maybe 5 miles a day with some hill climbing on established trails. Martin, our leader, was excellent.

This trip was a wonderful experience. The three countries we visited were beautiful and each different from the last. The food was all regional and delicious and the midday meals during hikes were in local, interesting small inns which enhanced the program experience. We enjoyed the hikes which were not difficult and always in beautiful locations. We always had two hike leaders so that the hike could be divided or adjusted for multiple interests and abilities within our group. Our program leaders, Christian and Martin, were both outstanding.

This is a great trip, with very different experiences in three countries. The balance of hiking experiences, cultural, and natural/environmental activities is perfect, and the leadership of Christian Fuhrmann ensures an atmosphere of camraderie and friendship, as well as comfort.

Fantastic scenery on this trip. None of the walks were strenuous, though a couple hills did have my wife and I huffing and puffing a bit. Still, I doubt we walked more than 5--6 miles each day. There is very little free time on this tour. Breakfast doesn't begin until 7:30am and dinner is a 90-minute affair starting at 7:30pm. Often during the day the group was bused to the start of the walk so you are pretty much trapped with the group. Food at meal times ranged from generally adequate to generally bad. Lunches were particularly basic as RS cuts cost with plated lunches. This is almost no choice on what is offered for lunch and dinner. Indeed, the group leader described the choice simply as "meat or vegetable". Salads were rare. Still, overall this tour was a positive and I would recommend it to those who want or need the comfort and security of a group and group leader. However, independent travelers and/or individuals who had lived in Europe before will feel stifled with the "follow the leader" set-up. My wife and I simply went off on our own often and those were all best times of the trip. Still, the scenery was memorable.

We had lots of memorable hikes through charming small towns and the countryside around Central Europe. Our leader was fun, knowledgeable and caring.

A delightfully varied program that takes you through four major world cultures in a way that encourages participants to interact with the people, their cuisine and their lifestyles in a way that is comfortable and positive.

This program gives the participant a closer look at village life along the Rhein River region of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France. The long and rich history of the region is shown through its architecture, customs, and commerce as you walk through forests, towns, and vineyards dating back to Roman times.

This was a program I'd been looking at for awhile - and we're so glad we signed up! It was a wonderful combination of hiking and learning activities in beautiful settings and with excellent guides. Diana, our program leader, was outstanding and made sure we were well taken care of and knew which buses/trains to take, as well as how to count in German AND French! It was nice to have some free afternoons and to be "turned loose" to do as we wished; we were given passes which enabled us to use the trains, as well as do other activities in some regions. Using the public transportation - which is so easy and available - was a good way to somewhat experience the local way of life. Austria, Germany, Alsace in France, plus a bit of Switzerland, with their mountains and vineyards and streams and food and medieval towns, plus pleasant fellow participants.... What more could one ask?

There was soooo much to see and do, here's only a snippet about this trip: In Austria, the theme is cheese- there's a visit and tasting at an Alpine dairy farm. The extent to which nature governs the lives of the locals is apparent when visiting an open farm project in Egg with its goat house, dairy production show, herb garden, and scrumptious lunch. Then it's off to Germany, and on the way you get a boat ride right up to the Rhein Falls and a quick stop in Switzerland. Walk the Rhine River Valley which provides spectacular views of the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. Stroll around an immense fortress. France is the final stop. A field trip through "Little Venice," a tour of a medieval fortress, and a visit to a winery are only a few highlights, with the most profound being a visit to the trenches of the WWI battlefield of Le Linge. Busses, train rides, and gondolas get you to exciting destinations where knowledgeable guides lead and inform, and there's time for independent exploration. Stroll around postcard-perfect, charming and enchanted villages steeped in old-world charm throughout this adventure and chose a treat from the market or dine al fresco, it's ALL delicious. The scenery is lush, green, and mountainous. Weather varies from day to day- cool and rainy to sunny and warm. Accommodations are clean, cozy, comfortable and provide delicious foods. Bonus: Most of the walks are relatively easy, but definitely bring hiking shoes.