Carinthia and the Dolomites

8 days, Self-Guided, Minimum 2 People, Seasonal Daily Departures, Centre-based

Welcome to Austria's Riviera! Blessed with a Mediterranean climate and long hours of sunshine, Carinthia's combination of lakes and mountains comes into its own. Pristine lakes you can drink from which are also warm enough for swimming and mountains that are never far away - from the rolling hills in the Nock Mountains National Park to the rocky peaks of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Towns are packed full of concerts, exhibitions, cultural events and culinary festivals and the area is perfect for soaking up the fresh alpine air and savouring the spectacular views.

This trip is centre-based in the charming town of Obervellach with use of a hire car allowing you to explore the area - the fabulous national parks with their waterfalls, glaciers, picturesque valleys and soaring mountains, including the famous Grossglocker, mixing days of challenging hikes with gentler jaunts through nature parks and gorges. You can even follow the Three Peak Circular Trail in the Italian Dolomites.

Whistling marmots, bearded vultures, elegant ibex, close proximity to the UK and excellent access combined with inspiring walking opportunities varying from two to five hours in length and 400 to 800 metres in ascent all on well marked paths - what more could a walking trip to Europe offer?!

Day 1. Outbound to Carinthia

Make your own way to Klagenfurt (or Trieste, Ljubljana or Salzburg), collect your hire car and drive the short distance to Obervellach in the mountainous north-west corner of the region.

Days 2 and 3. Hohe Tauern National Park

Drive through the waterfall-filled Malta Valley on the panoramic road up to the Kolnbrein Dam. The Elend Valley offers challenging hiking in this corner of the Eastern Alps, where there are 120 peaks over 3000 metres, or gentler options to mountain chalets for lunch. Take the Gamsgruben Trail from the Kaiser Franz Josef Visitor Centre at 2400 metres for stupendous views of the mighty Grossglockner (3798 metres) and the Pasterze Glacier, the largest in the Eastern Alps.

Day 4. Nock Mountains National Park

Take a trip along the scenic Nockalm road. The Nock Mountains are more rounded than the Hohe Tauern meaning that summits are more easily attained! Hike up Konigstuhl (2336 metres) for lunch at the Glocke Chalet returning via Bad Kleinkirchheim with its thermal springs. There is also the option of taking a cruise on the Millstatter See, known as the jewel of Carinthia.

Day 5. The Italian Dolomites

Head over the border, crossing from the South Tyrol into Italy to the Three Peaks Nature Park near Cortina, the famed ski resort nestled beneath a grand cirque of pinnacles. The Tre Cime of Lavaredo are three dramatic limestone towers soaring to 2999 metres. They are the most recognisable peaks in the Dolomites and certainly some of the most stunning in the world, similar to the mighty Torres del Paine in Chile. A superb circular trail leads round the three peaks which change hues in different light and provide a dramatic vista throughout your day in the Eastern Dolomites.

Days 6 and 7. Gorges Trails

Hike the three gorges trail taking in the spectacular Ragga Gorge with a walk along the River Moll. Your last day will see you walking through the Groppenstein Gorge to Himmelbauer for a special feast known as the 'National Park Platter'! A suitably hearty finale.

Day 8. Homeward

Return the car to your departure airport and fly home revitalised and refreshed having imbibed sunny, pure Carinthian air for a true Alpine glow.