LISA MARIE STAAB
The Mindful Foodie & Conscious Living Mentor
Layers of Light
AUTHENTIC
IMPERIAL AUSTRIA RETREAT
“Imperial Charm to Mountain Calm”
18 - 26th May 2026
Small Group ~ Only 4 Spots Available
Whispers of empire, alpine stillness, and timeless beauty flow through Austria’s heart.
Here, life is savoured slowly — over strudel and schnapps, mountain air and music, stories carried in cobblestones and mirrored lakes.
Join us for The Authentic Austria Retreat— an
8-night retreat where imperial elegance meets alpine clarity, and mindfulness infuses each moment with depth.
With space for just 4 guests, this isn’t just travel. It’s an invitation to awaken your senses, linger in presence, and let Austria leave its mark on your soul.
18th - 26th May 2026
with an optional extension
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Where Imperial Charm & Mountain Calm Meet.
Step into the romance of imperial Austria, the freshness of Alpine air, and the soul-soothing rhythm of mindful travel as we begin with a golden-hour rooftop in Vienna, clinking glasses while the bells of St. Stephen’s echo across the skyline, before savouring dinner in a lively Gasthaus with schnitzel, goulash, and strudel just as the Viennese do, perhaps slipping into an imperial café for a slice of Sachertorte by candlelight.
From there, we journey to the Salzkammergut, where jagged peaks rise over mirror-still lakes, trails wind through pine and wildflowers, and our alpine base in Bad Ischl welcomes us with the warmth of traditional apartments that feel like home.
Each day brings space to explore and exhale: riding the Katrin gondola to sweeping views and a mountain hut lunch of Kaiserschmarrn and schnapps, wandering Hallstatt’s pastel lakeside lanes and ancient salt mines in the quiet of morning, hiking the mirrored waters of Gosausee beneath the dramatic Dachstein, or spending a day in Salzburg surrounded by Mozart, baroque spires, and cobblestones that hum with history.
This is a journey that is deliberately unrushed, inviting you to taste, notice, and breathe, where old imperial elegance meets crisp alpine clarity and everyday mindfulness is woven gently through it all — awakening your senses so the experience imprints deeply and deliciously.
Bad Ischl & Beyond, Austria
The Salzkammergut invites us to slow down and truly immerse in its layered beauty — wandering along crystal streams that tumble down from the mountains, stepping into Bad Ischl’s imperial past with a visit to the Kaiser’s summer villa where Franz Joseph once strolled the gardens, and perhaps even indulging in a little tradition yourself by slipping into a locally made dirndl or lederhosen from one of the town’s heritage shops.
Days here are rich and varied: one moment we’re pausing by the river that winds through the valley, the next we’re setting out on the sweeping hike around Gosausee, one of my absolute favourite places in Austria, where the trail hugs the lake and rewards us with breathtaking views of the Dachstein glacier rising high above.
From this alpine base, we also reach out to explore further gems of the region — arriving in Hallstatt early in the morning to soak in its hushed, mirror-lake magic before the day-trippers arrive, and spending a day in Salzburg, where Mozart’s city comes alive with baroque spires, fortress views, and cobblestoned lanes. We’ll pause at iconic sites such as Mirabell Palace and gardens, and then rest our feet at one of Salzburg’s storied beer gardens — perhaps the Augustiner Bräustübl, a centuries-old monastery brewery, or Stiegl-Keller, with its sweeping terraces over the old town — the perfect places to raise a stein, linger over lunch, and taste
Austria’s convivial spirit.
Each experience here carries both grandeur and intimacy — from imperial halls to quiet woodland paths, pastel villages to bustling city squares — making the Salzkammergut not just a destination, but a place that captures both the heart and the senses.
What’s not included
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Airfares
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Visa if applicable
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Excess alcohol
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Travel Insurance (highly recommended)
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Miscellaneous Spending money
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Airport transfers
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Optional Massage
Your Inclusions
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1 night's accommodation in Vienna (right in the heart of it)
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7 nts Accommodation in Bad Ischl - our Mountain Hideaway
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Rooftop Welcome Drink
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8 Delicious & Local dinners
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8 'Austrian' Breakfasts
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6 Lunches
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All Excursions Listed
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Incredible Hiking with insane views
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Limited local wine with meals
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Local Transport
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Dedicated Mindfulness Retreat Leader (with Austrian Heritage)
Your Accommodation
Our Private Luxury Villa
The RUDOLPH apartment house is located in a quiet, sunny residential area on the southern outskirts of Bad Ischl. It offers two separate, spacious holiday apartments with a large communal garden (barbecue, games, sunbathing) which we will be sharing.
The ‘Katrin’ apartment on the ground floor offers direct access to its own terrace with garden access, while the ‘Hoisnrad’ apartment on the first floor with balcony offers wonderful panoramic views of the Bad Ischl mountains. You can reach the town centre on foot in 20 minutes, and shopping facilities (groceries, tobacconist, bakery, bike rental, pizzeria) are about a 10-minute walk away.
Our apartments are perfectly connected to the Salzkammergut road network, which means you can reach all excursion destinations or ski areas in maximum of 45 minutes by car. Family-friendly hikes or bike tours can be started directly from the house. Each apartment has a separate living/dining area and its own fully equipped kitchen.
Our apartments are therefore the perfect hideaway for your discovery tours in the beautiful Salzkammergut and a sunny retreat for relaxation.
Hardly any other area offers such a wide range of sports and leisure activities in such a small area as Bad Ischl and the beautiful Salzkammergut.
Hello,
I'm Lisa Marie Staab
Conscious Living Mentor & Mindful Foodie
Certified Mindfulness, Meditation & Wellness Mentor, Member of Meditation Australia, Trained Chef & actually also have a Diploma of International Travel - because why not right?!
Clearly, I'm addicted to learning - in fact, it's a core value.
As is freedom, traveling and spreading some joy in the world.
I also happen to be a mother to two (adult & teenager), am a committed life adventurer & ex-corporate chick who enjoys real food and the odd glass of wine... along with a good belly laugh.
I've been holding regular Retreats as well as being more recently entrenched in learning and teaching the principles of the Blue Zones (think longevity), along with bringing Mindfulness Principles into everyday, REAL LIFE.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
One night in Vienna’s historic centre — rooftop welcome drink, Gasthaus dinner, optional imperial café visit for dessert.
Seven nights in Bad Ischl at a traditional private alpine apartment.
Katrin gondola & hut lunch — alpine trails, rustic comfort food, schnapps with a view.
Hallstatt — the “Pearl of Austria,” with its ancient salt-mining heritage.
Gosausee & Dachstein hike — crystal-clear waters and dramatic peaks.
Salzburg — Mozart, baroque spires, cobblestone charm.
Daily mindfulness practices woven gently throughout.
Authentic Austrian food — both savoury and sweet.
Optional 4-night extension to Wachau Valley — vineyards, riverside villages, Grüner Veltliner.
NOW WITH AN OPTIONAL 4-NIGHT EXTENSION
Vienna & The Wachau (4 Nights)
For those who’d like to linger, our optional 4-night extension invites you into the Wachau, Austria’s gentle wine country stretched along the blue ribbon of the Danube. We’ll pause overnight in Vienna on the way, before meandering into vine-striped hills and storybook riverside towns like Dürnstein, with its romantic castle ruins, and Krems, with its cobbled old town and wine taverns.
After departing Vienna, we'll be staying at the luxurious Schloss Dürnstein, another one of my Faves if you want to feel old-world luxury!
"Hotel Schloss Dürnstein enjoys a unique location on a rock high above the Danube River, at the heart of the Wachau World Heritage Site, offering a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the Danube and providing panoramic views of the Wachau. Built in 1630, it combines the atmosphere of a historic castle with modern comfort. Guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, and a steam bath"
Days here are slow and delicious: sampling crisp Grüner Veltliner and elegant Rieslings in family-run cellars, wandering through fragrant apricot orchards, and drifting between vineyards and river views.
A highlight of this extension is a visit to the iconic Benedictine Abbey of Melk, its baroque splendour perched high above the river, where gilded halls, vast libraries, and sweeping terrace views carry centuries of history.
With afternoons left for café stops, quiet riverside walks, or a leisurely glass of wine under the vines, the Wachau offers the perfect coda to your Austrian adventure — reflective, delicious, and deeply restorative.
Vienna 26 - 27th May (1-nt)
Dürnstein, Wachau, 27 - 30th May (3nts)
PACKAGES & INVESTMENT OPTIONS
8 NIGHT AUTHENTIC AUSTRIA RETREAT
Choose the plan that works best for you—all payments are handled securely through WeTravel,
so you can book with ease and confidence.
EARLY BIRD RATE ~ SAVE 10%
BOOK AND PAY IN FULL BY:
31st January 2026
Standard Rate | €3,399 per person
Single Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
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Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
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Pay the remainder of your balance by 18th March 2026.
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Part payments are accepted until then.
Twin/Double Rate | €2,799 per person
Twin/Double Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
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Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
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The remaining balance due by 18th March 2026.
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Part payments are accepted until then.
Save 10% | €3,059 per person
Single Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
-
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
-
Pay the remainder of your balance in full by 31st January 2026 to secure your spot at this rate.
-
Available until 31st January 2026
Save 10% | €2,519 per person
Twin/Double Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
-
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
-
Pay the remainder of your balance in full by 31st January 2026 to secure your spot at this rate.
-
Available until 31st January 2026.
EARLY BIRD RATE
3-MONTH PAYMENT PLAN
€3,737 EUR pp
Single Accom
4-NIGHT AVAILABLE ADD-ONS
VIENNA & THE WACHAU EXTENSION
Deposit: €400 (non-refundable)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
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All deposits are non-refundable.
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Spaces are limited to ensure an intimate and personalized experience.
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Payments are settled safely via WeTravel.
Single Rate | €3,737 per person
Single Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
-
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
-
Available until 31st January 2026
-
3-Month Payment Plan
1. 18th January 2026 €1,045.67
2. 18th February 2026 1,045.67
3. 18th April 2026 1,045.67
Twin Rate | €3,079 per person
Twin/Double Accommodation
Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)
-
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit
-
Available until 31st January 2026
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3-Month Payment Plan
1. 18th January 2026 €826.34
2. 18th February 2026 €826.34
3. 18th April 2026 €826.34
3-MONTH PAYMENT PLAN
"The Retreat that was promised, was totally delivered.. the nature, culture, delicious healthy food, mindfulness & meditation, relaxation, Blue Zones & ancient history.
Lisa's attention to detail, fun & generous personality makes for a wonderful experience.
Her connection to local people brings such authenticity and joy.
Thank you Lisa!"
Anne-Marie, Australia
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions?
If you have more questions, feel free to reach out.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
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Airfares
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Visas (if applicable)
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Personal shopping
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Alcohol
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Personal Travel Insurance (mandatory to join - to cover any unexpected emergencies or cancellations)
Ready to Make It Happen?
Let’s secure your spot and start planning your journey.