Stanka met us at the bus station in Salzburg and we took the bus trip to Mondsee; around 50 minutes and very pleasant. All the bike hire was organised so... read more after a few seat height adjustments we were off! Stanka was an excellent guide; very good company and very patient with us (we were..kind of slow...). We stopped first at the town's famous church; St Michael's (used for the wedding in Sound of Music). It is pretty beautiful and worth the stop. The mountains around the lake are stunning. It is pretty much what you'd hope for in a lakes-and-mountains bike tour.
We decided to cut the lake tour a little short so we could spend time swimming in the lake. There is an excellent area next to the bike hire where you can swim. Entrance fee is very reasonable and well worth it for the facilities; changing rooms, life guards, various floating things, slides etc; we could easily have spent another whole day here.
Monkey Business is a good way of seeing places and doing things that would otherwise take a lot of organising. Recommended!

  If you are aiming to discover the beauty of Salzburg area and you are not that excited about those crowdy mainstream bus tours than you should definitely book this one!... read more It's more than just a tour, it's a real journey! Me and my wife had a great time exploring amazingly beautiful locations of Mondsee, enjoying biking, walking and even some hiking leaded by an experienced and knowledgeable tour guide. Our group was pretty compact so we felt very comfortable and cozy! I'd say it's an absolut "must do" for all nature lovers out there!

  This was a great hike with Claudio. We had bad weather, as it rained, but the area desperately needs the rain so I have no complaints about that. Claudio was... read more knowledgeable and friendly. He knows the area and the history well. The hike is not difficult in terms of terrain, but it is a 2 hour uphill hike. So, you should be prepared with water and snacks, and appropriate footwear. Beer and goulash at the restaurant were great. I recommend this experience.

  100% recommend this tour!
Experience
Get to hike up to Eagle’s Nest and there’s so much nature has to offer which will be missed if you take other tours... read more that offer a couch ride to the top (Eg. listening to the cuckoo birds, tasting the fresh pine leaf, and breathing the fresh air).

I went on a cold and wet day; while it is presumingly less enjoyable to others, I strongly urge you not to cancel it. I believe that different weather brings different experiences-
my hike felt mystic as I was constantly in clouds. I couldn’t see the view because it was blocked by the clouds. But a couple and I (who are in the group) decided to gamble and wait, and yes, we managed to have a glimpse of it and we started cheering!

Guide
Claudio is a really nice guy! He offered his own snacks, poncho, trekking poles, and heat warmer to hikers who need it; providing an excellent guest experiences. He was also friendly to others, greeting the bus drivers, giving way, and the locals seem to know him well too. Apart from his amicable personality, he is knowledgeable. He shared with us different genres: history, sounds of music, nature, local tips of Salzburg such as food and sites.

I had a great time being in his tour. It is not a typical leisure tour, but an authentic, sensorial and active experience.

  We absolutely LOVED our day with Claudio and could not more strongly recommend making this tour a priority if visiting Salzburg (if we ever come back we might even do... read more it again!). The review of the other travelers are all accurate -- Claudio is professional, kind, and extremely knowledgeable. Our party of 5 people joined Claudio and about 9 other people for this full-day hike/tour. Claudio instantly learned everyone's name and addressed us by name throughout the day, making our little group feel like a private tour. And what makes this tour truly a don't-miss is that Claudio has extensive knowledge about WWII and the Eagle's Nest surrounding area and does an amazing job of explaining the details of history throughout the entire tour. He also patiently, and knowledgeably, answers all additional questions! We loved that we also visited sites that the typical Eagles Nest bus tour doesn't visit. Claudio is super easy to communicate with via email to coordinate everything ahead of time -- just visit his website Monkey Business Tours and send him an email! …

  We hiked up to the Eagles Nest with Claudio who is the best - fun, has a beautiful family, great to chat with, has a lot of history to share,... read more and is an avid outdoor adventurer!!!

He’s only been doing the tours for a year, so our hotel didn’t know of him, but if you want to experience nature and see parts of the mountain that the tour buses don’t go to, go with Claudio’s Monkey Business Tours!!!

  For an in depth and active tour, this is a day of adventure to impress both history buffs and hikers. It is a strenuous four miles but worth the walk... read more to hear Claudio's inside stories about the area. Truly a gem and one of my best tours ever.

  I had a very lovely day cycling around Mondsee with Monkey Business. Claudio (our guide) really knows what he is doing, he is very friendly, nice and fun. He knows... read more the best spots to have a break and go swimming. We had 8-month olds twins with us on the tour, Claudio was cycling and pulling the babies behind his bike in a van. Even with the kids, this tour went without any problems and was relaxing. This area is incredibly beautiful - I can highly recommend a day trip to Mondsee when visiting Salzburg!!!

  We loved our Eagle’s Nest tour with Claudio and did the hike with our 3 boys aged 13, 13 and 10.
Claudio is very welcoming and is very easy... read more to get along with. He took us up the mountain at a nice gentle pace with frequent stops and even brought some extra water for us on such a hot day.
He explained all about the history of the site and even showed some old footage of it in it’s heyday.
When we got back to Salzburg, Claudio helped us out with getting the correct bus line home.
We hope to met up again when we return to Salzburg.
I can highly recommend Claudio for a brilliant day out in the Bavarian Alps. More

  Claudio was awesome. He took us up and despite the poor weather and limited view it was still worth it. His knowledge is outstanding and he really points out the... read more details of the area as you hike around and even on the ride in a few things further out. He even helped recommend me some decent hikes in the area since I was interested. 10/10 would recommend.

  There are no words to describe the experience of hiking to the Eagle's nest. As a Band of Brothers and history fan, I had the obligation of visiting this place... read more I've read so much about. Hiking it, since I wanted the full experience of the view and the historic trails.

I took this tour with really high expectations, and somehow Claudio managed to surpass them all. He was a joyful guide and answered all the questions the group had regarding World War II and hiking itself. As we were blessed with a fantastic weather, will never forget this experience. If you truly want to live the Eagle's Nest route, hiking it with someone as knowledgeable as Claudio is the only way!

  We can't recommend this experience highly enough. Most tours to Obersalzburg and the "Eagles Nest" involve simply being bussed up to the top parking lot and then taking the... read more elevator to the peak - all very "canned" and impersonal. The walking tour with Claudio gives you the time and space to fully immerse yourself in the history of whole site. It is during this time that Claudio's deep, broad knowledge of history and genuine passion really make their presence felt - if you enjoy taking a deep dive into history, philosophy and politics whilst you hike then this is trip for you. Be warned though that the 6km ascent along the walking trail is a decent challenge though one which Claudio paces perfectly. Did I mention that the views are stunning too? All round 10/10.

  My girlfriend and I loved our hike to the Eagles Nest with Claudio!

We started by visiting the remains of Hitler's Berghof residence, which we would not have seen... read more on a larger group tour. We were also shown the remains of several interesting places such as a building used for storage of supplies during the war and also a place where the SS barracks used to be.

The hike took us around 2.5 hours, my girlfriend and I have not hiked before but are physically fit. Claudio is more than happy to vary the pace based on the groups abilities. To gauge the fitness required I would say if you need to be able to do a 5k run or comfortably do 20,000 steps in a day you will be absolutely fine.

Claudio is very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions as we ascended the mountain.

Once we were at the top, there is a tunnel (100m?) to the original brass elevator that takes you up to the eagles nest and summit of the mountain.

We were told that the queue can be quite long for the lift, but there was no queue in mid June when we went. If queues are expected a jumper might be handy for the wait in the tunnel is it is very cold (maybe 5 degrees C).

Once at the summit we saw the eagles nest building at the top which is also a restaurant. We got some lunch here and enjoyed the stunning views.

Claudio also took us to a part of the mountain near the summit that we wouldn't have known about without a guide, the landscape at this point is rocky but worth the 1 minute walk for the fantastic view from this point that is off the beaten track.

We chose to descend using the bus to save time (this did have an additional cost of around 10 euros), or Claudio was up for hiking back down as well for no additional cost.

Claudio is incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and you can tell he is extremely passionate about the Eagles nest tour which made it the best day out we had in Salzburg. We highly recommend this over a hot coach tour, go with Claudio instead for a real adventure!

THANK YOU!! for a fantastic tour!

  Brilliant to experience walking from the base of the mountain up to the elevator and into the Eagles nest. Lovely walk with great views. Our tour guide was awesome, great... read more knowledge of the area and will show you things otherwise easily missed.

  Awesome trip! Very unique experience as you literally hike up the “switch-backs” to get to the Eagles nest as opposed to taking a bus. The trails are clear and... read more easy to hike but it is a bit steep. The trail is about 4 miles and takes a couple of hours to make it up. Helps to be in decent shape! Take water and light snacks. Our guide Claudio was excellent as he told stories along the way and talked about the history leading up to the Eagles Nest. I attached a few pics of the trail to give an idea. Beautiful!! Also, we visited the ruins of Hitlers old house and office (do not miss!). Not sure this is included on the bigger bus tours. Definite must if you are ok with a little effort and sweat!

  By far the best tour I’ve done, from start to finish Claudio was fantastic. His passion clearly shows in the experience he provides for you throughout the tour.
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The best way to see the Eagles Nest! The views throughout the trip are absolutely amazing. The history, area knowledge and experience you’ll get from Claudio’s tour are well worth it!

It’s a must try if you’re in Salzburg and you won’t regret it!

  This was by far one of the best tours my husband and I have been on! We did the hiking up to the Eagles Nest as well as the bike... read more ride around Mondsee Lake. We had such an amazing time and Claudio was so passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Salzburg and WWII. We explored the bunkers which was a huge highlight and spoke of all the history. The bike ride was magical around the crystal blue lake. We even stopped at a waterfall which was a nice surprise. The whole time Claudio was very professional, helpful, and so much fun to be around. We would highly recommend any of the two tours we did! …

  Breathtaking experience - Claudia is one of the most genuine, knowledgeable, and adventurous guides I've met! Despite the rainy weather, we enjoyed the hike and the astonishing view! 100% recommend.

  This is a great way to spend a day outside of Salzburg. We met our guide, Alfonso, near the train station and after a short bus ride we were... read more at the at the trailhead below the Eagles Nest. The signs say to expect a 4+ hour hike, but you can really do this in 2-3 hours. The trail is wide and easy to navigate so no real need for hiking boots, comfortable shoes work great. Alfonso had tons of facts and photographs to share along the way. The views at the top are amazing and seem more so after the hike to get there. Well worth it. Alfonso was a great guide, giving us plenty of options to take breaks along the way if needed. He also showed up numerous remains of old WWII bunkers and most importantly the remains of the Berghof house that we never would have found without him. Highly recommend this tour.

  This was such an incredible way to take in the views, get some exercise and learn about the history of Eagles Nest as well as the deep and dark history... read more of the area. Claudio was awesome and we learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed his company and the interesting facts he shared along the hike. The views were magnificent- the rain held out for us and the skies didn’t open until we reached the peak but it did not dampen the great day. This is a must do! Don’t waste time or money taking a bus to the top- this is the only way to see it and you won’t regret! One of the best experiences of our time here.

  This was by far one of the best tours my husband and I have been on! We did the hiking up to the Eagles Nest as well as the bike... read more ride around Mondsee Lake. We had such an amazing time and Claudio was so passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Salzburg and WWII. We explored the bunkers which was a huge highlight and spoke of all the history. The bike ride was magical around the crystal blue lake. We even stopped at a waterfall which was a nice surprise. The whole time Claudio was very professional, helpful, and so much fun to be around. We would highly recommend any of the two tours we did!

  Amazing experience! Claudio was so friendly and his passion for the hike really shone through. Full of interesting stories and facts about Hitler’s life, German and Austrian politics in the... read more early 20th century, and about the surrounding geography and history of the area. Thanks a lot for this, a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend!

  This was by far one of the best tours my husband and I have been on! We did the hiking up to the Eagles Nest as well as the bike... read more ride around Mondsee Lake. We had such an amazing time and Claudio was so passionate and knowledgeable about the history of Salzburg and WWII. We explored the bunkers which was a huge highlight and spoke of all the history. The bike ride was magical around the crystal blue lake. We even stopped at a waterfall which was a nice surprise. The whole time Claudio was very professional, helpful, and so much fun to be around. We would highly recommend any of the two tours we did!

  Claudio is a wonderful tour guide, very knowledgeable about the history of the area and he shows you a lot of places you would not get to see on a... read more bus tour. The hike is also beautiful and well worth it! One of the best tours we have been on. You’ll also be supporting a local vs a large company.

  Claudio did an excellent job guiding us up to the Eagles Nest!! Went hiked from the bottom by the bus stop all the way to the parking lot at the... read more brass elevator up to the Eagles nest. The hike itself was on a well maintained trail and was paved part of the way. The views were amazing! The hike was not too difficult if you are used to hiking, the last part was fairly steep, but if you are in shape it won’t be a problem. Once at the top you take a ride to the Eagles Nest and get fantastic views!!
Claudio was an excellent guide and knew when to take breaks with the group he had. He is also very friendly and talkative and knows a lot about WWII history. He was flexible with the trip as well because it was pouring rain for part of our journey. Thanks again Claudio! More

  My husband and I had an absolutely amazing day with Claudio in Obersalzberg, Bavaria. After meeting Claudio at the Hauptbahnhof and taking two buses to Obersalzberg, we started our hike.... read more Claudio knew so much about the history of the place and was able to guide us through a foggy, misty forrest to amazing views. Extremely worth our time and very affordable. We would recommend this to anyone who wants to explore without a bus tour and a million other tourists. Please bring sturdy hiking shoes!

  This is a great way to spend a day outside of Salzburg. We met our guide, Alfonso, near the train station and after a short bus ride we were... read more at the at the trailhead below the Eagles Nest. The signs say to expect a 4+ hour hike, but you can really do this in 2-3 hours. The trail is wide and easy to navigate so no real need for hiking boots, comfortable shoes work great. Alfonso had tons of facts and photographs to share along the way. The views at the top are amazing and seem more so after the hike to get there. Well worth it. Alfonso was a great guide, giving us plenty of options to take breaks along the way if needed. He also showed up numerous remains of old WWII bunkers and most importantly the remains of the Berghof house that we never would have found without him. Highly recommend this tour. More

  Claudia is one of the most genuine, knowledgeable, and adventurous guides I've met! Despite the rainy weather, we enjoyed the hike and the astonishing view! 100% recommend.

  Claudio did an excellent job guiding us up to the Eagles Nest!! Went hiked from the bottom by the bus stop all the way to the parking lot at the... read more brass elevator up to the Eagles nest. The hike itself was on a well maintained trail and was paved part of the way. The views were amazing! The hike was not too difficult if you are used to hiking, the last part was fairly steep, but if you are in shape it won’t be a problem. Once at the top you take a ride to the Eagles Nest and get fantastic views!!
Claudio was an excellent guide and knew when to take breaks with the group he had. He is also very friendly and talkative and knows a lot about WWII history. He was flexible with the trip as well because it was pouring rain for part of our journey. Thanks again Claudio!