Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Texas: San Antonio, the Hill Country and Austin
6 days from San Antonio to Austin: two nights by the River Walk with the missions by bike, two nights in Fredericksburg for Enchanted Rock, Luckenbach and the wine road, and a last night of Austin music.
6 days · San Antonio to Austin · up to 12 guests
The church door of Mission San José, the largest of the San Antonio missions Photo: NatBaca, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Main_entrance,_Mission_San_Jose,_San_Antonio_Texas.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- San Antonio to Austin
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 2 h on day 5No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Easy
Easy to moderate: town walking on pavements of about 3 to 6 km a day, an optional bike ride of about 12 km on a flat paved river trail (or the van between the missions), and an optional climb of Enchanted Rock, about 1 km each way and some 130 m up bare granite. Every active part has a seated or shorter option, and no drive is over two hours.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 485 (estimated price)
- Season
- March to May and October to November
Highlights
Why this trip
- The four southern Spanish missions by bike along the river, ending at the Espada aqueduct
- The River Walk before the crowds and the Alamo at its first entry of the day
- A morning in Market Square, then lunch at the Pearl, the old brewery by the river
- The German towns of Boerne, Comfort and Fredericksburg on the road into the Hill Country
- Up Enchanted Rock's pink granite dome at the opening hour, with an easy loop for anyone who would rather not climb
- An afternoon under the oaks in Luckenbach with whoever is picking that day
- A peach farm, two winery tastings, then a swim in Barton Springs and live music in Austin
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 485 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 2 h, on day 5.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in San Antonio
San Antonio International Airport (SAT) to your hotel by the River Walk
- Dinner
- Stay in San Antonio
- Drive about 15 min
Fly into San Antonio International Airport (SAT), about 15 km north of downtown, where a driver meets you in arrivals for the short ride to the hotel near the River Walk.
Evening
Plan to land by about 3 pm so there is time to settle in before the group meets at 5:30 pm; later arrivals are met and brought to dinner. Your See Sight Tours guide, who leads day tours in this city, runs through the week: the bike ride to the missions, the early mornings, the Hill Country roads and the evening in Austin. Then we walk down the steps to the river, a loop of paths a floor below the streets, shaded by cypress trees and lined with restaurants, and sit down to a welcome dinner together. Afterwards the guide takes the group along the quieter stretch towards La Villita, the old neighbourhood of stone and adobe houses. Anyone tired after the flight can head back to the hotel, a few minutes away, whenever they like.
Included
- Pick-up at San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner on the River Walk
- An evening walk along the River Walk to La Villita
Free time: Free until the 5:30 pm meeting
Activity: Plan to land by about 3 pm.
The missions by bike
Downtown San Antonio along the Mission Reach to Missions Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in San Antonio
- Drive about 30 min
We set off at 8 am, while the air is still cool, on bikes along the Mission Reach, a paved trail that follows the San Antonio River south of downtown. The four southern missions were founded in the 1700s by Franciscan friars, and together with the Alamo they became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015. First Mission Concepción, its stone church largely as it was built, with traces of painted patterns inside. Then Mission San José, the largest, with its rebuilt compound walls, the rooms where the mission's Indigenous families lived and the carved rose window; a park ranger talk is often running.
Afternoon
Lunch is Tex-Mex nearby. In the afternoon we ride on to Mission San Juan and finish at Espada, near the 1731 aqueduct that still carries water across a creek, about 12 km from downtown. The van brings everyone and the bikes back. The churches are active parishes, so on a Sunday we time visits around mass.
Evening
Late afternoon brings a river barge cruise, and the evening is free.
Included
- Bike rental and helmet for the Mission Reach ride with your guide
- Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada with the Espada aqueduct
- Tex-Mex lunch near Mission San José
- A river barge cruise through downtown San Antonio
Optional experiences
- San Antonio Museum of Art
- An evening at the Tower of the Americas
Easier option: Ride in the van between the missions instead of cycling; the van stops at each one with the group.
More active option: Cycle back to downtown from Espada along the trail instead of taking the van, about 12 km more.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: About 15 km of flat cycling on a paved trail, with a long stop at each mission, or the same day by van.
The Alamo, Market Square and the Pearl
San Antonio River Walk to the Alamo, Market Square and the Pearl, then Boerne and Comfort to Fredericksburg
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Fredericksburg
- Drive about 1.5 h
We walk the River Walk at 7:30 am, when the shopkeepers are hosing down the paths and the ducks have the water to themselves, and climb up to the Alamo for its first entry at 9 am. The church and the Long Barrack are what remain of Mission San Antonio de Valero, the mission that became a fort in the 1836 siege; your guide tells the story from the Tejano and Mexican side as well as the Texan one.
Morning
Mid-morning we drive to Market Square, the Mexican market on the west side of downtown, for its stalls of papel picado, guayaberas and pan dulce.
Afternoon
Lunch is at the Pearl, the former brewery north of downtown, now a quarter of food halls and shops by the river. At about 1:45 pm we leave for the Hill Country on I-10, stopping in Boerne, a town founded by German settlers, and in Comfort, with its 1800s stone buildings, and reach Fredericksburg by about 4:30 pm.
Evening
The evening is free on Main Street.
Included
- An early walk on the River Walk with your guide
- The Alamo at its first timed entry
- Market Square
- Lunch at the Pearl
- Stops in Boerne and Comfort on the drive to Fredericksburg
Free time: Evening free in Fredericksburg
Activity: About 4 km on foot in the morning, then a drive of about 1.5 hours in three legs.
Enchanted Rock, Fredericksburg and Luckenbach
Fredericksburg to Enchanted Rock and back, then Luckenbach
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Fredericksburg
- Drive about 1.5 h
We leave at 7:45 am for Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, about 30 km north, and are at the gate when it opens, with a day pass booked: on busy days the park closes its gate once the car park is full. The dome is a great bare hump of pink granite, and the Summit Trail climbs it in about a kilometre, steep in places, to a wide top with the Hill Country rolling away on every side.
Evening
Comanche and Tonkawa stories tell of the rock groaning at night, which geologists put down to the granite cooling and contracting. We are back in Fredericksburg for a lunch of your choice. The afternoon is free on Main Street: the Pioneer Museum, with its Sunday houses, is included, and the National Museum of the Pacific War, built around Admiral Nimitz's home town, is there for anyone who wants it. At about 4 pm we drive 15 minutes to Luckenbach, a general store, a dance hall and a bar under the oaks, where musicians often sit in a circle and play. German-Texan dinner together back in town.
Included
- Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with your guide, day pass included
- Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg
- An afternoon in Luckenbach
- German-Texan dinner in Fredericksburg
Optional experiences
- National Museum of the Pacific War
Easier option: Walk part of the Loop Trail around the base of the rock, mostly level, and wait for the climbers in the shade by the picnic area.
More active option: Climb the Summit Trail, then add the Echo Canyon trail down the back of the dome with your guide.
Free time: Afternoon free in Fredericksburg
Activity: The summit climb is about 1 km each way and some 130 m up on bare rock, which is slippery when wet; allow two hours. Shoes with grip and water are essential.
Peaches, wine and down to Austin
Fredericksburg along US 290 to Stonewall and two wineries, then Johnson City and Austin
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Austin
- Drive about 2 h
A later start at 9:30 am along US 290, the road east of Fredericksburg lined with wineries. First a family peach farm near Stonewall: on late-May departures the first peaches are in, and earlier in spring or in autumn the stand sells its preserves, peach ice cream and cobbler.
Afternoon
Then two Hill Country wineries, a tasting at each and lunch at the second, among the vines; your guide picks them for the day's group and season. We pass through Johnson City, where Lyndon Johnson grew up, and drive the last hour into Austin, checking in by about 3:30 pm. Then the springs: Barton Springs Pool, in Zilker Park, is fed by springs that keep it at about 20°C all year, so a swim is cool and clear even in November.
Evening
At dusk, from March to early November, anyone who wants joins the guide on the Congress Avenue Bridge to watch the free-tailed bats pour out; others rest before dinner. Farewell dinner, then a live music set in one of the city's clubs, cover charge included.
Included
- A peach farm stop near Stonewall
- Tastings at two Hill Country wineries
- Lunch at a winery
- Barton Springs Pool entry
- The Congress Avenue bat flight with your guide, March to early November
- Farewell dinner in Austin
- A live music set in Austin, cover charge included
Optional experiences
- Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, on a private or extended trip
Easier option: Skip the swim and sit on the grassy bank above the pool, or rest at the hotel until dinner.
More active option: Walk or run part of the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake from Zilker Park to the Congress Avenue Bridge, about 4 km.
Free time: Rest at the hotel between the swim and dinner, or skip the bat flight
Activity: Two drives of about an hour, gentle walking at the wineries and an optional swim. Tastings are for guests aged 21 and over.
Austin and home
Downtown Austin to the Texas State Capitol, then Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 18 min
Morning
A free breakfast, then at 9 am your guide walks the group up Congress Avenue to the Texas State Capitol, the pink granite building finished in 1888, whose dome stands taller than the US Capitol in Washington. Free tours of the rotunda and the chambers run through the day, and the grounds are lined with monuments to the state's history. The rest of the morning is yours: breakfast tacos, the shops of South Congress, or the Bullock Texas State History Museum a few blocks north. Check out by late morning, and our driver takes you to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), about 15 km south-east of downtown and usually a 20 to 30 minute drive. Your guide sees the group to departures. Book a flight leaving after about 1 pm. If yours leaves earlier, we arrange the transfer at the time you need. If you would like more time in Austin, we can book extra nights at the same hotel and move your transfer to the day you fly.
Included
- Texas State Capitol with your guide
- Drop-off at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
Optional experiences
- Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Extra nights in Austin, booked on request
Free time: Late morning free
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 1 pm.
- San Antonio2 nights
- Fredericksburg2 nights
- Austin1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: In spring the Hill Country roadsides are often blue with bluebonnets from late March into April, and peaches come in from about mid-May. October and November are warm and drier, with the vineyards after harvest. The Congress Avenue bats fly at dusk from about March to early November.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Texas history, food and music in six unhurried days
- Anyone who has seen San Antonio's River Walk and wants the missions, the markets and the Hill Country too
- A mix of gentle and active: a bike ride and a granite climb, each with an easy option
- Wine and food lovers who want the tastings and lunches booked
- Solo travellers who would rather not go to music venues or wineries alone
Not for you if you want
- Travellers wanting Big Bend, the desert or long hikes, which this trip does not visit
- Anyone who wants a summer trip; we do not run June to September because of the heat
- Travellers looking for big-city nightlife over several nights; Austin is one evening
- Anyone who needs to start and finish in the same city without an open-jaw flight
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- San Antonio2 nights
- Fredericksburg2 nights
- Austin1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: 2 in San Antonio by the River Walk, 2 in Fredericksburg walkable to Main Street, 1 in downtown Austin
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and drop-off at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group, with a seat for every guest and room for luggage
- Bike rental and helmet for the Mission Reach ride, with the van alongside
- A river barge cruise in San Antonio
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide from our San Antonio team with the group for the whole trip, with park rangers at the missions where a talk is running
Activities
- San Antonio: the River Walk, Missions Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada, the Alamo at first entry, Market Square, the Pearl
- Hill Country: Boerne, Comfort, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area with a day pass, the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, Luckenbach, a peach farm near Stonewall, tastings at two wineries
- Austin: Barton Springs Pool, the Congress Avenue bat flight (March to early November), a live music set with cover charge, the Texas State Capitol
Meals
- Breakfast daily (5)
- Lunch on days 2, 3 and 5 (3): Tex-Mex near Mission San José, the Pearl and a Hill Country winery
- Welcome dinner in San Antonio, German-Texan dinner in Fredericksburg and farewell dinner in Austin (3)
Not included
- Flights to San Antonio and home from Austin
- US visa or ESTA
- Travel insurance
- Lunches on days 1, 4 and 6
- Dinners on days 2 and 3
- Drinks, including drinks in music venues, beyond the winery tastings
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities: the National Museum of the Pacific War, the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Tower of the Americas and the Bullock Museum
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 485 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the San Antonio to Austin trip price include?
Five central hotel nights, breakfast daily, three lunches and three dinners, airport transfers at both ends, our own vehicle and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, bike rental for the missions, the Alamo entry, a river barge cruise, an Enchanted Rock pass, two winery tastings, Barton Springs entry and a music cover charge in Austin.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, in one vehicle with a seat for everyone and room for luggage. That size fits around one table at a winery, on one stretch of the river trail and in a small music venue without waiting for a coach load.
Who leads the trip, and is it run by See Sight Tours?
Yes. This is the only trip in the region we run ourselves. Your guide comes from the See Sight Tours team that runs our San Antonio day tours, travels with the group from the airport pick-up to the Austin drop-off, and handles tickets, tastings and timings. Park rangers add talks at the missions when they are running.
How fit do I need to be?
You need to walk 3 to 6 km a day on pavements. The mission bike ride, about 12 km, is flat and paved, and the van can carry you instead. The Enchanted Rock summit is a short, steep climb on bare granite, about 1 km each way; you can walk the level base trail instead or wait in the shade.
I am travelling alone. Do I pay a single supplement?
Only if you want your own room. The single supplement is CAD 485, about 17 percent of the price, shown before you book. Ask us about a shared room: our roommate-matching policy is still being set, so we tell you when you book whether a match is possible. Winery, Luckenbach and Austin evenings are with the group.
When is the best time to go to the Texas Hill Country?
We run the trip from March to May and in October and November. Late March and April bring bluebonnets along the Hill Country roads, late May brings the first peaches, and autumn is warm and drier. June to September is too hot for the bike ride and the climb, so we do not run then.
How does booking work?
Choose a date and send a request to book. No payment is taken at that point. We confirm availability and your hotels within 24 hours, then send the itinerary and payment details. Prices are indicative until we confirm your departure.
Can I do this trip on my own dates?
Yes, as a private trip for your party only, from CAD 5,150 per person, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently with hotels and a few tours booked, ask us for a separate quote; that is an inquiry, not a set trip style.
Do I need a visa for the United States?
Canadian citizens do not normally need a visa to visit the US. Most other visitors need an approved ESTA or a visa before they fly. Check the rules for your passport early and carry the passport throughout, as wineries and music venues ask for photo ID.
Do you need a reservation for Enchanted Rock?
We book it for you. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area sells timed day passes, released about 30 days ahead and required at weekends and holidays, and it closes the gate once the car park fills. We book the first slot of the day, so the climb is in the cool of the morning and the summit is quieter.
Can you swim at Barton Springs in spring and autumn?
Yes. Barton Springs Pool is fed by springs that hold it at about 20°C all year, so it is swimmable on every departure. It has closed on Thursdays for cleaning, and its 2026 hours and fees are changing, so we confirm them at booking, so we set departure days to avoid a Thursday in Austin. Bring swimwear; if you would rather not swim, sit on the grass above the pool.
Will the peaches be in season?
Only on late-May departures. Hill Country peaches are picked from about mid-May into the summer. On earlier spring or autumn departures the farm stand still sells its preserves, peach ice cream and cobbler, and in March the orchards may be in blossom.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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