Christmas Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride from Salzburg

Salzburg, Austria

Enjoy a quintessential Christmas experience on a horse-drawn sleigh ride in a tiny village near Schladming during this day trip from Salzburg. Travel along the Salzach River valley past many of Austria's top ski resorts before reaching Schladming, where you will ascend 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) above sea level to the base of the stunning Dachstein, an Alpine mountain dominated by glaciers. In Ramsau, enjoy lunch (own expense) at one of the local inns before you embark on your 2-hour horse-drawn sleigh ride full of wintry sights and jingle bells!

In Ramsau, your guide will suggest inns where you can enjoy lunch (own expense) while your festive horse-drawn sleigh ride is prepared. Sample some Austrian specialties including Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel. Take a stroll in the frosty air before proceeding to an open field where your festively decorated horse-drawn sleigh awaits. Climb into your sleigh and glide along as your horse trots through the snow, its harness bells jingling.

The ultimate destination of your 2-hour sleigh ride will be determined by snow conditions. Following your Christmastime adventure, travel back to Salzburg, where your tour concludes with a drop-off at the original start point.

USD $85.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Marnie S,    April 2018
Highly recommended - great atmosphere and enjoyed the day very much.

Review by:   Clare S,    January 2018
Our family thoroughly enjoyed the horse-drawn sleigh ride in December 2017. The joy of riding on the snow at Christmas time, under the warmth of the blanket, was one of the highlights of our trip to Salzburg. We cannot recommend this tour highly enough.

Review by:   Beth D,    January 2018
OMG - Breathtaking views. The bus trip to Ramsau was wonderful then seeing the horses and sleigh as we pulled into the parking lot was amazing. Our sleigh driver was very nice and helped us with a blanket, many times if checked to see if we needed anything to be more comfortable. He stopped several times to point out different photo ops and to let us play in the snow. One time we stopped for hot chocolate and he shared his mountain water. Anyone thinking about doing this ride should immediately book the trip. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about Austria. She made the bus ride interesting and even played special Austrian music for us on our way back to Salzburg. I will do this same excursion any time I am in Austria during the winter.

Review by:   Patricia S,    January 2018
Lovely experience. Well organised, Pleasant Tour Leader Lisa. Plenty of snow and the scenery was spectular. Lunch break of 2 hours too long if you aren't intending to ski. Ski hire reasonably priced and efficiently organised. Would I do it again? You bet!

Review by:   Gilbert R,    January 2018
Wonderful trip. Amazing weather. Would highly recommend this trip!

Review by:   David T,    January 2018
We did our sleigh ride on New Years Eve in brilliant sunshine, just as our guide - Walter - had promised. It was a wonderful experience, which we will never forget. There was snow as far as the eye could see and on our two hour sleigh ride we passed skiers, villages and chalets. The lunch break in the middle of the ride allowed us to warm up over a hot meal and catch up with some of the other sleigh-riders. Thanks to Walter and all his associates for making this the highlight of our trip to Austria.

Review by:   Judith B,    January 2018
A lovely day spent in beautiful surroundings. The sleigh ride was delightful providing plenty of opportunities for amazing photographs.

Review by:   John L,    December 2017
Magical. What a way to spend Christmas Day! We even had a light sprinkle of snow. Everything was wonderful.

Review by:   Melissa S,    December 2017
This was an amazing experience. Our guide, Walter, was the loveliest man and nothing was an issue. Would highly recommend this experience - it made for a magical, snow-filled Christmas day.

Review by:   Spinkazoid,    March 2017
Avoid...tourist trap. Bus ride was lovely...a long string of wagons with no snow...not so much.

Review by:   Tony_cox,    January 2017
Well - no snow on the main trails - but still a fantastic experience to have on Xmas day

Review by:   axel s,    January 2017
this is a must do,all day tour get rugged up it did get cold we had lots of snow,stopped at destination had something to eat and hot mulled wine my favourite drinkfantastic scenery if I go to Salzburg again I will definitely do this tour againJanuary best time to go

Review by:   Andrew M,    January 2017
We did this trip on New Years Eve and we had a really magical day made even better because we were lucky enough to have our sleigh ride almost entirely in snow The sleigh ride was a round trip of around 2 hours including a half hour stop for coffee or in our case just walking in the snow looking at the brilliant views. The views on the journey from Salzburg were great and made the journey go quite quickly Our guide Walter helped with his informative and at times funny narrative After our sleigh ride we had a couple of hours in Ramsau for lunch and a walk There was some confusion over lunch arrangements as there was a large party on the trip who had lunch included whilst the rest of us didn't This wasn't made clear as we were all lead up to the same restaurant and then split into separate dining rooms The journey home was non stop so we were soon back in Salzburg ready for the NYE celebrations

Review by:   Hwee Yee T,    January 2017
we had the most amazing christmas day in Ramsau! The village was beautiful, our horseman was the sweetest and most warm-hearted, constantly sharing information of the village to us, telling us stories and chatting with us. And, snow fell at the most magical moment on Christmas day! It was truly an amazing way to spend our day, seeing landscapes and mother nature in person.

Review by:   Theresa L,    March 2016
Lovely countryside...great to see but would be better if more snow

Review by:   Jillianthetravelller,    March 2016
The bus drive up through the Austrian Alps was just beautiful! What a way to spend Christmas Day!_br/_ This tour was so well organised - when the bus arrived at our destination, waiting for us was a long line of horses with their sleighs! With snow on mountain tops only, our sleigh ride was just magical!

Review by:   Anne O,    January 2016
A perfect day out despite the lack of snow.

Review by:   Patrick H,    March 2015
We did the trip on St. Stephens Day. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There wasn't the snow that we thought we were going to have but that had nothing to do with organiser. The weather is the weather. We had an enjoyable dayand would go on sleigh ride again. Very well organised.

Review by:   Patrick H,    February 2015
Great day out!!_br/_ Tour guide was excellent._br/_ Would highly recommend.

Review by:   bec p,    February 2015
I signed up for this but when getting there the day before and realizing there was no snow, I asked to exchange it to the Sound of Music tour….which you did. We went the next day PAID FOR THE SOUND OF MUSIC TOUR….AS YOU PROMISED I WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SLEIGH RIDE…AND YOU WILL NOT RESPOND NOR REIMBURSE ME. Please respond to this and reimburse me and I will be happy to give a good review! 615-584-4255 Becky Porter

Review by:   Lucy A,    February 2015
Worth the money for a full day out. Yes it was quite a bit of time spent on the coach but it was clean and comfortable and there was plenty of lovely scenery to look at. 2 hours on the sleigh was enough and magical for Christmas, esp when the snow started to fall! Lisa our tour guide was excellent.

Review by:   Kristyn Babs,    January 2015
does it get any better than taking a horse-drawn sleigh through the Alps!? it brings new meaning to the Christmas tune..."dashing through the snow, in a 2-horse open sleigh"! we had an absolutely amazing time. the only slight bummer is you share the sleigh with 6 people, so you may not get to sit in front, as you have to keep the same seats the whole time based on weight distribution. BUT, you're getting gorgeous views of the Alps and Ramsau/Dachstein no matter what. plus you get to make a nice stop for a gluhwein und kuchen!

Review by:   Kym E,    January 2015
Wonderful experience and fabulous scenery all covered in snow. Surreal, felt a bit like a character in a snow dome.

Review by:   David M,    January 2015
pleasant experience. The guide on the bus leg of the trip was very informative._br/_ Unfortunately there was not enough snow on the ground for the sleigh so we had to go along a road._br/_ I suppose I was expecting a freer ride through forest. Still great time on Christmas day!

Review by:   Nicola W,    January 2014
Fantastic day, my friend and I loved it, friendly staff, beautiful setting, totally recommend it, was a dream come true!

Review by:   siobhan R,    January 2014
Went on Dec 28th. We were worried bec the weather had been so unseasonably warm in Salzburg that we wouldn't see snow and we would wind up on a carriage ride....but NOT the case. They take you by bus (about 1 hour) to Town of Ramsu....here there's lots of snow. The journey along the way is spectacular.

Review by:   Ned,    January 2014
Loved the whole day! We enjoyed seeing some of the ski villages on the way, and the sleigh ride was really authentic and fun. We'd thoroughly recommend this activity.

Review by:   Greg B,    January 2014
It was excellent. I would make the first rest stop shorter.

Review by:   Ching Man L,    January 2014
A very fantastic trip with my daughter on the sleigh ride. All the way up to the snowny plateau area, the scenery is so beautiful. During my coffee break, my daughter had her happy time in a very small playground near the restaurant.

Review by:   Thomas B,    January 2014
Way to many people, bus loads. You do not necessary get to ride with the people you want. After you are herded off the bus you are assigned to the sled. It is not a pleasant ride through the countryside. You are only on the sled for 45 minutes or so before you stop for the "tourist trap" break. Then back on the sled to the next 2 1/2 hour "tourist trap" lunch stop. Then back on the bus to Salzburg.

Review by:   Anand B,    January 2014
We had a wonderful time during this tour. The tour was organized so well and the guide we had was very friendly, knowledgeable. Our children also enjoyed it very much. The pick up was on time as well. A must do for any visitor to Salzburg! Thank you Panorama tours!

Review by:   Lesley P,    December 2013
Fantastic trip visiting three charming villages. A fun day out. Christmas markets were amazing. Dont hesitate to book. However times at each village should have been longer as only 3O mins at the smaller villages and only one hour at St Wolfgang in addition a beautiful 15 min boat ride.

Review by:   Gary B,    February 2013
Our family of 5 had a great day. The sleigh ride was fantastic(2 hours in all) and even though there was no snow in Salzburg, in the mountains it snowed lightly for most of the day. Magical! Could not think of a better family experience around Christmas. The stop in a ski village for lunch was good

Review by:   shirley b,    January 2013
The trip from start to finish was amazing,lovely scenery and very plesant and frendly people trrough the whole day.i will be returning to salzburge and do the same trip it was great and i recomend it to others.

Review by:   Sandeep S,    January 2013
Excellent. A must for whoever visits Salzburg during christmas. It snowed when we visited and it was an extraordinary scenery through out. Majority of the trip is in the bus and the journey is divided well with travel and some rest and you will not feel tired or bored even for a second.

Review by:   Jean Toh,    January 2013
We all love the ride from 10 yrs to 40 yrs of age. The view is simply majestic. Beautiful and strong horses. Restaurants along the way provided delicious lunches and snacks.

Review by:   Terry,    January 2013
We had an amazing day, and perfect for Christmas. Everything was perfect and the photos on this web site don't lie. It was beautiful. We had a beautiful white Christmas and the whole family enjoyed, including my two teenage sons.

Review by:   Margaret Y,    January 2013
Was fantastic. My family enjoyed it very much. Good snow and beautiful scenery.

Review by:   Patricia,    January 2013
Wish I could rate 100 stars for this sleigh ride, because riding through the mountains is not only picturesque, it's like something out of a fairy tale. I did this on Christmas Day 2012, and it made my Christmas. We passed farms, private homes, churches, cross country skiers, ski lifts and jumps, etc., and even though I've been to Austria many times, I couldn't take pictures fast enough. This experience trumps walking on sidewalks in towns or riding in a tour bus, that's for sure. En route from Salzburg to Ramsau, you'll stop for 30 minutes at a rest stop. The Australians made good use of their time by throwing snowballs, because many of them had never seen snow before. You'll stop once during the lengthy sleigh ride so that the horses can rest, and you'll finally stop for a meal (at your own expense) that's excellent. I chose veal (weiner) schnitzel with boiled potatoes plus hot cheese strudel for dessert, and the food was incredibly good. It's interesting watching the driver of the sleigh. When we approached terrain that only had a shallow covering of snow, he'd have to reach down and quickly manipulate the wooden gears to lower the wheels. As soon as we got to ground that had several feet of snow, he'd have to repeat the action to put the wheels up and lower the blades. HIGHLY recommended!!!

Review by:   juliecorda,    January 2013
Going on a sleigh ride has been on my bucket list for a very long time. New Year's Eve in Salzburg was the perfect opportunity. The tour was very well organized, and it turned out to be a perfect day. It would be nice if the company helped in getting a photo of each group on the tour as a momento.

Review by:   Jan B,    January 2013
Excellent trip, a definite must if you're visiting at the right time of year. We were fortunate to have deep, fresh snow combined with blue sky and sunshine - truly Winter Wonderland stuff. Even with the sun, it's cold, so make sure you wear warm clothes, including thermals if possible.

Review by:   michael h,    January 2013
The information given in the e-ticket was poor ! We were led to believe that the tour was only for 4 hours and that we would be back by early afternoon. Instead we did not return until 1600 and later. This meant that the dinner and concert at the fortress had to be missed because of the lateness

Review by:   Vicki,    January 2012
The Christmas Sleigh ride from Salzburg was a fantastic day. Organisation was terrific and it snowed while we were there which was a real bonus. Would recommend this to anyone staying in Salzburg at Christmas. A bit of advice. Take plenty of warm face protection during the sleigh ride as your face will get very cold if is is snowing during the ride as it was for our experience.

Review by:   Elizabeth M,    January 2012
Absolutely awesome one of the main highlights of my time in Austria.

Review by:   Michael T,    January 2012
It was fantastic, we didn't end up going to a glacier, but the ride was wonderful.

Review by:   Sheryl C S,    January 2012
Excellent tour - definitely met all expectations., Would thoroughly recommend this to others. Doing the trip on Christmas Day was a great experience.

Review by:   Ross L,    January 2012
Wonderful experience driver exceptionally friendly and informative, horse Bella was beautiful

Review by:   Linda F,    January 2012
I had a fantastic time, it was quite magical. While we were on the sleigh a group of little kids chased us and jumped on the back for a ride which was cute. Only complaint was that we got split from our group.

Review by:   Tania M,    January 2012
Brilliant! Our tour guide Andy was great and we had loads of fun! My only feedback is to specify how long the actual tour is as we got back at about 5pm and all we had on our voucher was 1hr sleigh ride. If I knew how late it would get back I'd have skyped my family in Australia for Christmas before leaving. Cheers.

Review by:   Karen n Glenn,    January 2012
A truely magical Christmas treat. With plenty of snowfall, days before our arrival, the surrounding scenery was beautiful. The view from the coach window was stunning. For the first leg of our sleigh ride we were bathed in glorious sunshine so be prepared with a pair of sunglasses. After a quick warming refreshment stop (snowball fight for the children) we headed out for the second half of the round trip, this time through thick snowflakes. Make sure to wear plenty of layers and cover yourself well. The sleigh ride itself was exhilarating at times but smooth overall (my wife, pregnant at the time, will vouch for that). The sleigh itself is fitted with retractable wheels with which the friendly and skillfull driver can engage whenever the surface gets a little uneven. The restaurant our tour guide adviced us to try was perfectly fine and reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience and would recomend it to all. The sound of those sleigh bells will stay with me forever.

All Traveler Reviews...