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Snow and sea in summer

Hi

I have been following your very informative forum. We are a malaysian couple planning to attend our child graduation in Olomouc in Czech. To maximise our trip there, we intend to visit snowy mountains in zell am see, austria and greek islands as well. The following is our ambitious plan as it is not likely we will return to europe for a long long time.

9-Jun 2.10am/4.55am KL/Dubai

9-Jun 8.50am/1.15 pm Dubai/Munich

9-Jun 2.30pm/3.30pm Munich airport to main train stn

9-Jun 5.31pm/8.14pm Train to Zell Am See

9-Jun 9pm Check into hotel

10-Jun Kaprun-Kitzsteinhorn

11-Jun 2.17pm/3.48pm Kaprun/Salzburg by 1 1/2 hr train at Euro24/pax

12-Jun Salzburg/Halstatt

13-Jun Halstatt/Salzburg

14-Jun 12.22pm/7.02pm Salzburg/Olo 6 1/2 hr train RM188/pax

15-20 jun Graduation in olomouc

21-Jun Olo/Prague by train

22-Jun 11.25am/2.55pm Flight Prague/Athens

23-Jun Mykonos 6hrs ferry 2nites/3pax

24-Jun Mykonos

25-Jun Santorini 4 hrs ferry 2 nites/3pax

26-Jun Santorini

27-Jun Santorini/Athens 7hrs ferry

28-Jun Athens/Meteora

29-Jun Meteora/Athens

30-Jun 6.05pm Athens/KL

Is above doable. We love scenic holidays and understand we would be skimming through the places. But given the limited time from work, we hope to cover as much as possible.

Thank you for your advice which is much appreciated.

PONG

Posted by
4066 posts

If you want snow and sea in June/July/August, travel to the southern hemisphere where it is winter. Consider South America.

Posted by
2681 posts

you are not going to see much snow in Europe during the summer ,as you are going to Zell am See you should be able to visit the Grossglockner Glacier and you may see some snow high up .

Posted by
21099 posts

Despite the season, there is skiing year round on the glacier at Kaprun. So yes, there will be snow there.

Edit - Just quick look says it is doable, if a bit busy, but it is a long way from KL, so you can be forgiven. One thing that popped out was the June 11 Zell a S to Salzburg. You can take an REX train at 1:15 or 3:15 pm with an Einfach-Raus ticket for 34 EUR total (17pax). Train is direct, no changes in 1 hr 36 min. There are other little details like that which can be fine tuned. Czech trains are very cheap bought in country.
Also, Rick Steves suggests you try the "world's stinkiest cheese" in Olomouc.

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you so much for all your advice. May I know if i should consider kitzsteinhorn or grossglockner to see snowy mountains. I understand Austria transportation is very efficient so I assume my pack schedule should be ok? Any comments about my greece itinerary as I read that they are quite unreliable.
Appreciate much. And yes, we will certainly try the stinky cheese in olomouc. Thanks Rick.
PONG

Posted by
2681 posts

Olomoucké tvarůžky is not that stinky, yes pungent but not bad , best way to have it is inside a potato pancake and it is on many pub menus throughout the Czech republic.

Posted by
2478 posts

Any comments about my greece itinerary as I read that they are quite unreliable.

That's true for the trains but not for the buses (there is just one direct train to Kalambaka per day anyway). As a rule KTEL buses are reliable and clean. You would go by long distance bus from the bus terminal at Liossion street to Trikala and from there by local bus to Kalambaka. According to the Athens KTEL website (in Greek) buses leave

07.00 - 08.00 - 09.30 - 11.30 - 13.30 - 15.30 - 17.00 - 19.00 - 21.00

Book your seats calling 210 8311434 (or better: ask your receptionist to do that for you).

Still, your schedule is tight. The monasteries close by 4 or 5 pm, so in order to see the most important three (Megalo Meteoron, Varlaam and Hagios Stephanos) you would have to split your visit between jun 28 afternoon and jun 29 morning. You probably would not have time to escape the crowds and see the less visited Hagia Triada (access to which requires sturdy shoes). To save time, I'd stay in Kastraki on the road from Kalambaka to the Meteora (numerous hotels and restaurants of all types) and arrange with the hotel for a driver service in order to minimize walking times between the monasteries.

EDIT: I have just found out that the KTEL Trikala website has information in English:

http://www.ktel-trikala.gr/?module=default&pages_id=16&