
Paddle in Austria!
Join John and Linda Dyer on this journey with fellow paddlers from across the USA for a week of fun in Austria! Meet Austrian paddlers and enjoy friendly competition on the water during the Vienna Dragon Boat Festival, hosted by the Police Sport Association in historic Vienna along the Danube River. Explore the sights of Vienna, Linz, and Innsbruck. From the Vineyards outside of Vienna to the peaks of the Alps towering over Innsbruck this will be a week of camaraderie with fellow paddlers and chance to create new memories to last a lifetime!
Table of Contents
DAILY ITINERARY
DAY 1 | Wednesday, September 13
Depart on an overnight flight to Vienna, Austria.
Select meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on board the flight. Enjoy reading through the great tips and travel information in your American Expedition handbook!
DAY 2 | Thursday, September 14
Welcome to Vienna, the vibrant capital of Austria.
Arrive in Vienna. Your American Expeditions tour manager will greet you in the Arrivals Hall.
Your Vienna experience begins with a guided sightseeing tour of Vienna. Gain an introduction to Austria's glorious capital. See St. Stephan’s Cathedral, known for its “lace-in-stone” spire, this impressive 13th-century is the symbol and focal point for old-world Vienna. Just next door is Mozart’s apartment at the Figaro House, so named because it was here that Mozart composed one of his most famous works, The Marriage of Figaro. Stroll down Kärntner Strasse, Graben, and Kohlmarkt, bustling pedestrian streets lined with boutiques, bakeries, and famous Viennese coffee houses. See the impressive State Opera House, and the palace home of world-famous Spanish Riding School, and the Hofburg, a sprawling palace that was once the primary residence of the ruling Habsburg family. Following your tour, check in to your hotel and refresh.
This evening, kick-off the Joy Boat Austria 2023 tour with a welcome dinner of Austrian specialties at Zwölf Apostelkeller, “The Twelve Apostle’s Cellar”, where you will enjoy the historic ambience of a building that has been in Vienna’s center since 1339!
Later, settle in for a good night’s rest at the hotel.
DAY 3 | Friday, September 15
EXPLORE VIENNA | HEURIGEN DINNER
After breakfast in the hotel dining room, take the morning to discover Vienna. You may choose to visit one of many world-class museums, or take a tour of the illustrious Opera House. Have fun exploring central Vienna on your own using your included Ubahn (subway) pass; your American Expeditions tour manager will be happy to make recommendations for must-visit sights and eateries in this amazing city.
Following a fun day of independent exploration, head back to the hotel and get ready for this evening's exciting cultural culinary experience.
Tonight, visit the 800-year-old wine village of Gumpoldskirchen, where you will dine on a traditional Austrian “Heurigen” dinner of grilled meats, sauerkraut, and bread, served family-style on long wooden tables. A local musician strolling through the restaurant inspires guests to sing along.
DAY 4 | Saturday, September 16
After breakfast, transfer to Sports Centre of the Police Sport Association along the Old Danube to partake in the Vienna Dragon Boat Festival .
After a fun day of friendly competition, enjoy a group dinner with other festival participants sharing traditional Viennese cuisine, delicious Austrian wine, and the camaraderie that only a Dragon Boat competition can elicit!
DAY 5 | Sunday, September 17
Today offers a unique opportunity for a "fun race" with other festival paddlers. In this special and light-hearted offering, race participants will start a 200m paddle stationery in the boat and must first finish a two-liter bottle of "Sturm" (new wine with a little bit of alcohol) or "Traubensaft" (new wine without any alcohol).
Once finished, the team proceeds to the start line and completes a race over 200m. A test of both your drinking and paddling skills!
This afternoon meet with another local Viennese team and paddle together along the Danube!
This evening, a group dinner with traditional Viennese goulash is served in celebration of two fun days paddling along the Danube.
DAY 6 | Monday, September 18
Following breakfast, check out of your Vienna hotel and depart for Linz, the capital of Upper Austria and the third largest city in Austria. En route stop in the picturesque town of Melk, located on the banks of the Danube River. Considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Austria, the stunning baroque Melk Abbey is perched on the hill above town. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then take a guided tour of the Abbey. The most breathtaking space is the magnificent Melk Abbey Church, decorated in sculptures and covered in gold leaf.
Continue on to Linz, and connect with another enthusiastic local Dragon Boat team for a friendly paddle along a new section of the Danube.
After a fun paddle, check-in to your centrally located hotel and freshen up.
This evening, you are free to explore Linz on your own. Perhaps your new Dragon Boat friends will want to join you for a fun group meal in Linz!


DAY 7| Tuesday, September 19
After breakfast at the hotel, check out of your hotel and depart for the city of Innsbruck.
Innsbruck, capital of Austria’s western state of Tyrol, is a city in the Alps that's long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its Imperial and modern architecture. The Nordkette funicular, with futuristic stations designed by architect Zaha Hadid, climbs up to 2,256m from the city center for skiing in winter and hiking or mountaineering in warmer months.
Enjoy the day and evening at your leisure. Your American Expeditions tour manager will be happy to make recommendations for must-see sights and can't-miss restaurants.
DAY 8 | Wednesday, September 20
Enjoy breakfast in the hotel dining room before heading to neighboring Bavaria, Germany to visit a fairytale castle unlike any other.
Take in majestic Bavarian architecture with an excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle, a spectacular 19th-century fairytale castle in the German Alps. See the royal staterooms and throne hall and enjoy sweeping views from the castle's perch high on a rocky outcrop.
Enjoy a local lunch of Bavarian specialties before returning to Innsbruck for a free afternoon of exploration, shopping, and sightseeing.
Tonight, a festive farewell dinner will be served to your group at a local restaurant. There will be ample opportunity to recount the many highlights of your wonderful trip!
DAY 9 | Thursday, September 21
After breakfast, this morning, check out of the hotel and depart for the Munich Airport and your return flight to North America. Select meals, snacks, and refreshments will be served on board the flight.
Welcome home!
Austria awaits....

Your Tour LAND PACKAGE INCLUDES:
ACCOMMODATIONS - thoughtfully selected to match group needs
MEALS - varied, flavorful, and highlighting local cuisine
ACTIVITIES + TOURS + ENTRANCES - handpicked for your travelers
TOUR MANAGER to handle on-the-road logistics
TRANSPORTATION in a private, modern, climate-controlled motor coach with a professional driver for all services specified in your itinerary.
INSURANCE that covers our commitment to you
TOUR ENHANCEMENT MATERIALS to help plan, promote, and prepare for your tour
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONS SERVICE goes beyond logistics
CONVENIENT ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM - tour accounting has never been easier!


TOUR PACKAGE PRICES you can rely on
LAND PACKAGE PRICES BASED ON A MINIMUM OF 30 PAYING TRAVELERS:
Your Tour includes everything above. Here’s what’s not included:
FLIGHTS - professionally managed with group airfare
For those flying out of the Northeast of the USA we are reserving a group block from Boston's Logan Airport or Burlington, VT. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
TRAVEL INSURANCE is recommended!

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OctTravel Tips
We know that collecting the funds for a performance tour can be a challenge for individual travelers as well as for group leaders. Over the years we have seen ensembles have great success through fundraising to help support their travel costs and we want to share some of the ideas they have used.
Understanding that each community and ensemble has different potential for fundraising, it is helpful to have a variety of ideas to choose from that may help you find the right match for your situation.
Health & Wellness Travel Tips
We know that collecting the funds for a performance tour can be a challenge for individual travelers as well as for group leaders. Over the years we have seen ensembles have great success through fundraising to help support their travel costs and we want to share some of the ideas they have used.
Understanding that each community and ensemble has different potential for fundraising, it is helpful to have a variety of ideas to choose from that may help you find the right match for your situation.
Useful Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to your Traveler’s Resource Site! Here at American Expeditions, we are committed to bringing you the travel experience of a lifetime! As you get excited and begin making plans for your upcoming trip, here are some helpful resources and information to guide you.
In this section you will find answers to frequently asked questions on the following topics:
