The Real Deal: Before the week is over, you'll hike 60 miles, much of it a mile high, and even if you've never climbed any mountain, you'll find the going surprisingly easy and spectacular with views of Austria's tiny villages that just cannot be had from ground-level. This self-guided trek on well-worn trails takes you through verdant pine forests, where the only sounds are songbirds and rustling Alpine streams. The best parts of this deal: (1) your bags are transported for you from inn to inn, so you hike without extra weight to carry; and (2) it’s a great way to enjoy time alone with your partner, having an adventure you can brag about for years. Every night you bunk down in a woodsy, charming ski chalet that probably houses jet-set skiers in winter, but in summer tourists are few, the pace is relaxed, and the prices are rock bottom. Priced from $1168 to $1352 per person (or $542 for land only), the package includes seven nights in delightful inns, two hearty meals (breakfast and dinner) daily, transportation of your luggage, maps and a guidebook, and air from Boston or New York to Munich (add-ons from other cities are available). In summer, when Europe's metropolises are bursting with tourists and prices head skyward, you won't find a keener deal than this Alpine trek.

Memories from the Trail: I almost cried. I was so sure we had gotten hopelessly lost on the path from Maria Alm to Hintermoos, and it was raining, hard. We're going to drown...die...starve...freeze to death, I kept thinking as each step seemed to take us further into nowhere. This trip was my idea and I worried that my girlfriend was not so happy about how it was turning out. I stepped in mud as she dodged heaps of cow manure, the rain tumbling from the sky and dense fog rolling down off the mountaintop to enshroud us in its chill. But, somehow we found the trail again (duh...by following the directions in the guidebook), and then we laughed because we realized that despite the unexpected one-day storm, we had found the perfect vacation--amazing scenery, quiet time together and a healthy dose of exercise. Yes, the trek was physical, yet surprisingly nurturing of our bodies because the reward for a day's walk was awaiting at the ski chalet--delicious food (deer stew, pork chops, potatoes, soups--sturdy rustic fare), plus good local beers and homebrewed schnapps, a white-lightning made seemingly by every Austrian innkeeper following his own prized recipe.

Privacy Quotient: Very high. Many days you'll be alone on the trail, won't see another soul. Feeling romantic? There are no bears, no snakes, no threats that we know of in these woods. Bring a blanket, have a cuddle, and add to your tales to tell.

Best Town: All the villages on this trail (tiny places named Maishofen, Hintermoos, Hinterthal, Dienten) are quaint, but the drop-dead looker is Maria Alm (this site is in German, but catch the images).

Night Life: Bring your own. There's none in these villages, just a scattering of pubs. But after doing 10 to 15 miles in the Alps during the day, you'll be shocked at how heavy your eyelids get around 9 p.m.

Must Bring: Good, thick socks. The Alps are gentle, even rolling mountains, without the abrupt steepness of the Rockies, but blisters are a bummer.

Alternatives: A common route and the one we did is the Saalach Valley, outside Salzburg (itself a gorgeous city and Mozart's birthplace, so plan to add on a couple nights). But there are other hiking routes such as Muhlviertel, along the Czech border, a fairytale region of thick forests and ancient castles.

Get the Facts:For information about Austria, contact the Austrian National Tourism Office.

Photo Credit:
Austrian National Tourist Office/Mallaun