44903AUS
Excursion
Half day excursion to the salt mines
Check the time of your reservation. This affects your departure time.
14.00 Depart from Salzburg – be sure to use the Nonntal bus terminal,
which is far closer to Hallein. Follow signs to Hallein, staying on
the northern side of the Salzach river. Just before Hallein turn off (do not go into Hallein town). The Salzbergwerk (salt mine) is clearly signed. There is a large free bus park.
14.30 Arrive at the salt mine. Warn the group to leave rucksacks and coats on the bus. It is worth taking phone cameras with them, but they will have to carry them in their hands. When getting the tickets insist that you have a school group with teachers, as the reduction is considerable. You will be given a single ticket for the whole group, so they MUST enter together at the designated time.
There is an area with a shop, a café and toilets if they have to wait, but be careful that they do not go too far as you do need to enter the turnstiles together as one group with no interlopers.
After the turnstiles you will go down to dressing rooms where you get miners’ overalls. From there you board a small train which takes you into the mountain. The guide takes you through the corridors and, cross the German border and back again later. There are information films, wooden slides and a raft across an underground salt lake (with sound and light show).
The tour lasts around 90 minutes and involves a fair amount of walking on some uneven surfaces and the visit isn’t suitable if you are claustrophobic. Before departure give them some time for souvenirs etc. They can also visit the utterly uninspiring Celtic village reconstruction free of charge if you have time.
16.30 Departure for Salzburg. You may wish to turn RIGHT out of the carpark and follow the L256 road into Germany, then the B999 and B319. It is far more scenic, you will catch site of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and it will bring you out at the Neu-Anif turning on the A10. It adds 10 minutes journey time.
17.00 Arrival back in Salzburg
- If you leave Salzburg an hour earlier, it’s possible to give your group
a couple of hours free (shopping) time when you return to the city.