Leading walking and cycling specialist, Headwater, is offering 5 hand-picked travel writers the opportunity to join an exclusive press trip to the Austrian Salzkammergut  in May. This lakeside region is a glorious mix of spectacular scenic views, gentle shoreline cycling routes and swimming opportunities galore. And, with electric bikes on offer too, it's the perfect choice for couples, friends and families of all abilities! Hotels are high quality *** and **** levels.

The press itinerary is as follows, and the full 10-night Headwater holiday trip can be found at http://www.headwater.com/holidays/cycling/austria/C10SZ.htm

21st May

Austrian Airlines Heathrow to Salzburg via Vienna 06:00/10:45 (transfer to hotel in Mondsee, 45 mins). After settling in, we will kit you out with bikes before lunch the, in the afternoon, you can either enjoy gentle pedalling around town – the frescoed church in Mondsee's high street was the setting for the famous “Sound of Music” wedding! – or, for those who want, we'll drive up to The Ruins Wartenfels, an old Roman ruin affording fantastic valley views. Time for a dip in the whirlpool spa before dinner and overnight at Hotel Leitnerbraeu -

http://www.leitnerbraeu.at/at/xlayout/guide/50474at,en/objectId,ACC110418at/home.html

22nd May

After breakfast, we'll have a short guided tour of Mondsee before heading off (28kms) to lovely lakeside St Gilgen –lunch stop and home of the famous Mozart Museum (his mother was born here). Suitably refuelled, we'll cycle on (8kms) around the lakeshore to Gschwendt where we catch the local boat (with bikes) to St Wolfgang village. Renowned for its beautiful C15 church, this famously pretty village boasts a maze of cobbled streets lined with attractive frescoed houses, cafes and restaurants with panoramic lake views. Our final cycling stretch (8kms) takes us to the elegant Hotel Bergrose in Strobl in time for some late afternoon pampering in the top-of-the-range spa. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Bergrose - http://www.bergrose.at/en/

23rd May

This morning's 16km cycle takes us east through gentle poppy-strewn meadows to the elitist holiday resort of Bad Ischl. The late Emperor Franz Josef was born here and the spirit of the monarchy remains strong. You have the choice from here to transfer by road or bike (19kms) to Gmunden on Lake Traunsee. Lunch before visiting the romantic Seeschloss Orth – a 400-year old “floating” castle on the lake. We end the afternoon with a boat trip on Traunsee before dinner and overnight at Hotel Billroth - http://www.billroth.at/

24th May

We spend today in the beautiful lakeside village of Hallstatt, home to the world's oldest salt mines. Nestled between the edge of Hallstätter See and the towering Dachstein Mountains, Austria's oldest and possibly most photographed village is something like a mirage in the Salzkammergut Lake Region – it's so unbelievably spectacular that the Chinese have even created their own replica village! Keen photographers are urged to follow the nature trail through the Echerntal trail and discover landscapes that have attracted mountain climbers, explorers, romantic poets, and painters for centuries.We take you to the airport to catch your 18h30 flight back (via Vienna) to Heathrow.

Places will be allocated, in the first instance, to journalists with firm commisions from quality national newspapers/ magazines, and/or leading on-line writers and travel bloggers.

Headwater background/ customer base:

* Established 1985 and now a leading UK tour operator specilaising in top end walking and cycling holidays, mainly in Europe but also beyond

* Typical customer : well travelled, well-heeled AB1 empty nester couple and/ or families with teenagers. Interests likely to be a combination of: art/history; food/ wine; nature/ wildlife

* Every holiday is hand-crafted by the Headwater research team and, as such, cannot be bought from anyone else on UK market

* Focus is very much on gentle actvity by day with zero compromises to creature comforts in the evenings.

To apply for a place on this trip, please send commision details (with relevant circulation figures please) to

catherine.press@headwater.com