Private Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride from Salzburg
Salzburg, Austria
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Enjoy a fairytale alternative to your standard sightseeing tours on this private, horse-drawn sleigh ride through Austria's scenic countryside. Head out from the city of Salzburg to the pretty village of Faistenau and board a sleigh to travel through the Austrian Alps in style. Stay cozy with blankets, and enjoy unparalleled views of the snowy Salzkammergut region's mountains and lakes.
- Round-trip transport from your hotel in Salzburg ensures a seamless experience
- Enjoy the intimate atmosphere of a private sleigh ride
- Experience an alternative mode of transport to coach tours
- See a side of the Austrian countryside that many travelers miss out on
What's Included
- Transport by private vehicle
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Private driver/guide
- 50 minute private horse sleigh/carriage ride
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Your trip begins with pickup from your hotel in Salzburg, where you hop aboard your private coach.
Travel to the charming village of Faistenau and take a walk in the mountain air. Your private sleigh arrives soon after to take you through the scenic forestland. Hear the sleigh bells jingle and get cozy under a cocoon of warm blankets as you enjoy a unique tour of the Austrian landscape.
Your ride concludes with a stop at a local bar (optional), where you can purchase a warm drink before returning back to your Salzburg hotel.
Travel to the charming village of Faistenau and take a walk in the mountain air. Your private sleigh arrives soon after to take you through the scenic forestland. Hear the sleigh bells jingle and get cozy under a cocoon of warm blankets as you enjoy a unique tour of the Austrian landscape.
Your ride concludes with a stop at a local bar (optional), where you can purchase a warm drink before returning back to your Salzburg hotel.
1
Salzburg Panorama Tours
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Sankt Wolfgang im Salzkammergut
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Use of the horse sleigh is dependent on good snow coverage. When snow conditions are poor, your transport may be a horse-drawn carriage instead
- The maximum number of participants is 8 persons
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Collapsible wheelchairs can be accommodated providing the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.3
based on 46 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Brian_E, Dec 2025
Good pick up / return to hotel with friendly well informed guide in a smart car. He took us to St Wolfgang town and gave a walking tour of the place including it's history and a visit to the church before meeting the 'sleigh ride' in the town centre. Our guide was expecting a driver called Hans to arrive but it turned out to be a different driver/ rig. This was a shabby all wheeled six seater 'cart' (for want of a better word) At this time I should point out that there was no snow anywhere in the area and I do appreciate that this is beyond the control of the organisers. However, the pictures in the advert (and descriptions in reviews) suggested that, in these circumstances, the sleigh would have wheels that substituted for the runners. What we had could not be described as a sleigh!
I would also suggest that the urban roads and route taken could never have been travelled by any sleigh using runners in even the heaviest snow conditions at that altitude.
So, we set off (blankets over knees) out of the town and along a road above and parallel to the lake. Our views were restricted by fog obscuring the horizon but, of course, this is in no way the fault of the organisers.
Approximately 30 minutes (half way) in we stopped and were offered a glass of schnapps by the driver. This was accepted and we moved down to a road running alongside the lake for the return leg of the trip. Within a few metres the driver stopped to talk to two women (locals) and the next thing they were seated in front of us (complete with blankets and schnapps!) for the 25 minute ride back to town, spent chattering at full volume to the driver. It would appear that this guy is using paid for 'private' tours to run a free taxi service for his friends?
It was clear that our guide waiting back at the town centre was surprised (shocked?) to see two extra passengers alight. 'Interesting' was the comment made although I would imagine that, as a paid agent of the organisers, further deliberations would have been taboo.
The ride back to Salzburg was flawless, we were dropped close to our hotel and said good bye to our guide.
Having booked this (expensive) trip based on the advert and reviews we feel badly let down. For the reasons given this was NOT a private sleigh ride in any way shape or form. Other patrons have had and may have in the future a different experience - we can only give a factual account of OUR trip.
In hindsight we could have had a high class superbly presented horse drawn carriage ride in Salzburg city centre for a fraction of the cost!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you very much for taking the time to share such a detailed account of your experience. While we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the pickup, the return transfer, and the guiding service in St. Wolfgang, we are truly sorry that the main part of the tour did not meet your expectations.
We fully understand your disappointment regarding the vehicle used for the ride and the way the experience differed from what was advertised. Although weather conditions and the absence of snow are beyond our control, it is clear that the substitute vehicle did not reflect the quality or style of a traditional sleigh, and for that we sincerely apologize. Equally concerning is the situation with the additional passengers during what should have been a private tour. This is absolutely not the standard we expect from our partners, and we will be addressing this incident directly with the local operator to ensure that such behaviour does not occur again.
Your feedback about the route and the overall authenticity of the experience is extremely valuable. We are committed to improving the accuracy of our descriptions and ensuring that all elements of the tour reflect the level of quality our guests rightly expect.
We truly regret that your tour fell short, especially given the cost and the anticipation based on other reviews. While we cannot change what happened, please rest assured that your comments will be used constructively to prevent similar situations for future guests.
Thank you again for sharing your honest review. We appreciate your understanding and hope that, despite this disappointment, you were still able to enjoy the beauty of the region during your visit.
Deborah_L, Feb 2024
I was really disappointed as I had paid for a private sleigh ride for my friends 70th birthday unfortunately there was no snow and had to have a horse drawn carriage ride which was lovely but not what we went all the way to Salzburg for we were told by locals that due to climate changes over the years there is very little snow so chances of a sleigh ride is very slim , I feel as a company you should only offer carriage rides and cut the cost accordingly as the money I paid was not worth a carriage ride which you can do in any city at half the price
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent tour experience. We apologize if our tour did not meet your expectations. It is always our goal to provide informative, engaging, and well-organized tours. Please know that your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us identify areas for improvement.
We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide you with an exceptional tour experience.
kmarshall1982, Jan 2020
Great experience, though you need to read the fine print which says if there is no snow then this is just a horse ride through a pretty city. Which itself isn't an issue but you might as well do that on a group trip for 1/8 of the price, had there been snow it would have been worth the cost and time (the private tour and transport time, it's an hour and and a bit out of Salzburg). I had thought the hour drive was so that we were going somewhere that was most likely to have snow in December.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Hello,
thank you very much for joining our private horse-drawn sleigh ride and for taking time writing this kind review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed a great experience and that you were satisfied with our service!
We are sorry the tour did not quite meet your expectations expecting more snow. Please note weather forecast in the Alps is very hard to predict and spring temperatures in December and January are beyond our control.
We hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back on one of our tours in the near future!
With best regards,
your Salzburg Panorama Tours team
Eric_O, Dec 2019
I absolutely recommend this tour. It was definitely the highlight of our trip ! Luckily when we were there it was snowing and so the scenery was fabulous but snowing or not , it would be beautiful . Honestly it is expensive but worth the money for the memories . Beautiful Sherpa blankets keep you warm in the festive sleigh . The bells of the horses jingle too . I had read many reviews but I didn’t think it would be that good but it honestly is ! Another amazing part was stopping at a local cafe . Oh it was beautiful and to be honest there was so much Christmas cheer and feeling in there .
It’s amazing to get out of the city , especially if you have children or even teenagers love this .
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Hello,
thank you very much for joining our private Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride and for taking time writing this wonderful review! What a pleasure in reading your comment! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour so much and that you had so much luck with the weather! This sounds like it was the perfect day for a sleigh ride!
We hope we have the pleasure of welcoming you back on one of our tours in the near future!
With best regards,
your Salzburg Panorama Tours team
ManjitSingh_H, Dec 2019
The whole panorama tour was awesome. Our guide was superbly friendly and nice. We had an excellent ride on the horse sleigh.
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Hello,
thank you very much for joining our Private Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride and for your wonderful review! We are delighted you were fully satisfied and enjoyed the ride so much!
We look forward welcoming you back someday!
With best regards,
your Salzburg Panorama Tours team
Sally_M, Jan 2019
This was a wonderful experience with Joseph and his magnificent horses taking us through the fairyland area around Faistenau (just out of Salzburg). There was unusually little snow this year in the days just after Christmas but it still looked magical. A bonus was then Bern taking us via Schloss Fuschl Fisherei which was also interesting and great to see.
paul_m, Dec 2018
Picked up from our accommodation and taken for a half-hour drive through dramatic scenery by our friendly and informative driver Franz. The sleigh was waiting for us and we were taken through the beautiful peaceful scenery by our driver and 2 beautiful Hungarian 'war horses'. Kids got to run around in the deep snow. We all loved it, would recommend.
Elizabeth F, Mar 2018
Peter took us to the nearby town, and you'll want to ask for him specifically. We were so glad he was our guide on another tour we booked through the same company. We were at the very end of the season in mid-March, so while there was ample snow, we were in a carriage with wheels, not a sleigh, which we fully expected. The countryside was picturesque, and the guide, who owns the carriage and the horses, was full of information but not so chatty that we couldn't enjoy the ride. This is something you'll do once in a lifetime, so DO IT!
Joaquin R, Jan 2018
Christmas time in Salzburg is something that you must experience at least once in your life. I have been in Salzburg three times, one during the summer and two during the winter. There are several things to do but I specially will recommend the fortress and Mozart concert and the midnight Christmas mess at the cathedral not only for the mess itself but also because at the end they sing Silent Night in such a way that you feel transported. This time we had Christmas dinner at the restaurant sHerzl and was excellent. Other tour that was excellent was the Private Horse Drawn Ride
Kyle S, Jan 2018
Wonderful experience at the farm and tour thru the picturesque village. Beautiful Hungarian matched pair pulling our sleigh. The owner was very personable and informative.
Our tour guide was a wonderful young man who drove us thru the lake district and pointed out the cathedral in Mondsee where the wedding scene in The Sound of Music was filmed. He was full of fun facts and very polite and professional.
All in all one of the highlights of our trip.
Harjyot T, Feb 2017
This was the best activity we did in Austria. Amazing Amazing!! To make it even more magical it was snowing the whole time. They give you duvet to try keep you warm. My advice to cover up as much as you can. You get picked up from your hotel and taken to the mountains, where they sleigh ride begins. The tour guide was amazing, stopped a few times for us to take some pictures to. Expensive but worth it.
Kaye K, Jan 2017
We were very excited to do this especially as it had been snowing for three days and there was lots of snow around. The guide and sleigh driver were really lovely people and worked hard to make sure we had a good time. We enjoyed the hour long trip which took us through a small village and some stunning countryside. The sleigh actually looked like a sleigh and that looks great in our photos. The only disappointment was that the 'sleigh' never got off the track which meant we were always on wheels not 'sleighing' as we'd hoped. Know it's hard on the horses but a short burst on the runners would have taken this rating to a 5.
Edie_M, Jan 2017
We thoroughly enjoyed the sleigh ride experience. The weather was extremely cold with a lot of snow which added to the beauty of the country side and we were given warm blankets to snuggle into on the ride. Thomas was our tour director and Eric was our driver who kept us safe on the snow covered roads. The history that was shared on our ride up the mountain was very informative. We stopped on our way back to our hotel at a charming little town and experienced the fantastic Austrian pastries and coffee and the children were given the opportunity to play in the snow. Well worth taking if you are visiting the Salzburg area.
Wendy G, Jan 2017
This tour was very good. The guides were great. It was quite expensive though. Although we didn't get snow is was still a very enjoyable ride.
Laura P, Jan 2017
This was my favorite experience of our 10 days in Austria!! I was scared because we didn't have snow in Salzburg on the day of our ride, but the actual sleigh ride is up at an elevation that is much more likely to have snow. The pictures that I got from the ride are absolutely incredible. On the way home, our driver took us up to a scenic overlook to take pictures and that was also a magical experience.
Stephen_C, Jan 2017
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. We opted for the private tour. We were picked up from our hotel by Daniel who drove us to our destination where we were met by Joseph and his two horses. Unfortunately there was no snow, the sleigh therefore was on wheels. The sledge comes down if it's snowing. As there was only the two of us we had perfect views and did not have to worry about sitting backwards as we may have done it there were more of us. We were given blankets to keep us warm. As it was winter we were dressed warmly. We stopped at various points for Joseph to share his knowledge with us. Fascinating information and some beautiful views of mountains in the background, very picturesque. On our way back we had a tour of various lakes, mountains and canyons which made the whole experience very personal for us. I would recommend this tour to others.
Angela_C, Dec 2016
Hey if you want to do something different with someone special this is a must.... I took my 74 y/old Mum with me. Yes its cold well freezing actually but it is so worth it. We had a great time and those are memories you have forever..
Chong L, Jan 2016
My family really enjoyed this tour. Even though there was no snow on the ground, the scenery was so beautiful, the driver was so courteous and professional.
Scott H, Jan 2015
This was an excellent tour. The driver took us to several lookouts where we could take pictures on our way to the sleigh ride and then we visited some towns on our way back. It was a wonderful car ride both out and back. The sleigh ride was very special. We had hoped for snow and we almost had it but it ended up being rain and sleet. The countryside was gorgeous and the horses were special.
Laurie D, Jan 2015
It was perfect. The private tour was professional, friendly and flexible. It snowed that morning and during our Sleigh ride so it was 'Perfect'! I would recommend this if you have never experienced it, and if it is snowing!
Mrs Beth A C, Jan 2015
Wonderful tour in the snow, great guides, Gerhard and Josef! Also did Panorama Salt tour, Christmas markets and Bavarian Alps and City Tour, all great and wouldn't hesitate to recommend all the tours. Viator was easy to deal with and communication was excellent! Thanks you!
Graham F H, Dec 2014
Unfortunately there was no snow so our sleigh ride became a carriage ride around the town. However no-one can control the weather, and Joseph and the horses were wonderful. Our guide/driver to Faistenau (where the ride started) was also very efficient and informative.
Janice K, Dec 2014
Excellent tour guide. He went out of his way to make sure we saw as much as possible in the time allowed.
Sleigh ride was lovely so pretty despite no snow. Again the guide was excellent.
Well worth doing.
Po_K, Jan 2014
Very cool experience. Joseph was very informative during the ride and we got to pat the horses :) Kohmo (driver, sorry if we spelt the wrong name) excellent driver and music choice great knowledge on area and humour and helpful with photos and moments. We love trout. Fantastic excellent time!
Joel C, Dec 2013
Mini van driver was nice and spoke good English. Sleigh ride driver was a pleasant man although very softly spoken. Sights from the sleigh were breathtaking. However, when we returned after our hour in the sleigh, we were offered drink. We were taken to an upstairs part of one of the buildings around the stables. The woman who ran the coffee room ( I think the sleigh drivers wife) was totally rude, unwelcoming and unfortunately ruined what is an expensive tour experience. She obviously did not want to have to serve us and would have preferred to have been somewhere else. Then, charged us too much for a coffee that really should have been included in the price.
A_J, Mar 2013
Just magical - it had just started snowing as we boarded the sleigh. Wonderful phots,the driver was the owner and very knowledgeable about the area.
JEANETTE B, Jan 2013
What a great trip to do....the local company was great and Thomas our guide really was brilliant . He was knowledgable and really added to the whole experience. The sleigh ride was a lovely way to see the Austrian countryside. I'm glad we included this trip on our weekend in Salzburg.
Brent J, Jan 2013
Fantastic tour, our guide was very knowledgable and the driver of the Horse Drawn Sleigh was very friendly. The scenery was fantastic, would recommended this for any time of the year, particularly around Christmas time. Book early!
Dilys L, Jan 2013
Lovely friendly driver, really nice sleigh driver, lovely little cafe - just like a big farmhouse kitchen (and cheap). Glorious weather, we thoroughly enjoyed our trip, which was very important to us as it was our daughter's 18th birthday celebration. Many thanks.
isabel w, Jan 2013
Fantastic. Our tour guide Peter was delightful. He was informative and friendly. Joseph the sleigh driver was equally charming. Highly recommended tour.
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per group (up to 8)up to 3 days in advance
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