Overview
A six day, self-guided walking holiday in the Salzkammergut Mountains and lakes, starting in the Abersee area and finishing in Hallstatt. Historically a salt mining region, highlights along the way include the heated salty waters of the traditional spa towns of Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern spas. The mountains of the Dachstein massif are ever present, and lakes such as Wolfgangsee and Altaussee make wonderful rest spots. And you can’t hope for a better finale to lake walking in Salzkammergut than Hallstatt, on the eponymous lake, a perfectly poised and pretty town that’s part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is a short version of this Salzkammergut walking holiday.in the Austrian Lake District.
- Salzkammergut
- Bad Ischl
- Wolfgangsee
- Strobl
- Bad Goisern
- Hallstatt
- Dachstein massif
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Abersee/St Wolfgang
Arrive in Abersee, a village located on the west side of Wolfgangsee, often described as one of the most beautiful in the Salzkammergut region. If time allows, take a stroll along the crystal clear lake and take in the mountain views with a coffee in a local cafe.
- Accommodation: Kirchenwirt or similar in the Abersee area
Day 2: Schwarzensee and Strobl | 12/15.5km
Begin with a short boat trip over to to St Wolfgang to pick up the Sattelweg path and walk through forest terrain to Schwarzensee. Descend into the valley through a gorge and around the Bürglstein (optional detour) to the lake promenade of Strobl. Finally, take the bus (payable locally) to the famous spa and salt town of Bad Ischl. If you have time, you can make the most of the heated salty waters that have been enjoyed here for generations.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 3-4h, ↑240m ↓240m or 15.5km, 5h, ↑240m ↓240m
- Accommodation: Goldenes Schiff or similar in Bad Ischl
Day 3: Bad Ischl – Bad Goisern | 15km
Head out along the promenade in Bad Ischl and continue upwards to ascend Mount Predigtstuhl (1,613m) via alpine pastures and take in views out over the UNESCO Hallstatt area. Descend to Bad Goisern on Ewige Wand, an alpine path carved into the rock, bringing the day to a close in another Austrian spa town with flower-decorated houses, and also famous for its hand-made Goiserer shoes and boots.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5-6h,↑785m ↓650m
- Accommodation: Hotel-Restaurant Goisererhof or similar in Bad Goisern
Day 4: Bad Goisern – Altaussee | 19km
Walk on the high plateau to Ausseerland, a culturally-rich region with deep roots in salt mining and traditional folk music. Take in the views before descending to the alpine meadow of Blaa Alm to continue along the Flower Trail, dotted with alpine flora, to Altaussee. From here, take the local bus (30mins, payable locally) to Bad Aussee, another traditional alpine market town known for its historical connection to salt, as well as the iconic Ausseer Tracht traditional dress.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 6h, ↑490m ↓590m
- Accommodation: JUFA Bad Aussee or similar in Bad Aussee
Day 5: Bad Aussee – Hallstatt | 15km
Follow the river path through the deeply-cut Koppenvalley to Koppenbrüller caves (public access, guided tours available). Continue on to Hallstätter See to take the boat to the centre of this Hallstatt-Dachstein UNESCO World Cultural Heritage area. Said to be one of the most photographed lakes in Europe, it’s not surprising given that it’s home to a perfectly poised waterfront town that catapults you into fairytale mode.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 5h, ↑150m ↓220m
- Accommodation: Gasthof Hirlatz or similar in Hallstatt
Day 6: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodations
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms. Please note that, in Austria, it is common practice for hotels and other accommodations to join twin beds together to make a double, with separate linen for each person. If you prefer to opt for twin beds, we will happily request this at time of booking, however they can’t always be guaranteed.
Click to view hotels for this trip
- Kirchenwirt (Abersee area)
- Goldenes Schiff (Bad Ischl)
- Hotel-Restaurant Goisererhof (Bad Goisern)
- JUFA Bad Aussee (Altaussee)
- Gasthof Hirlatz (Hallstatt)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is graded as moderate, with daily walking distances ranging from 12-19km (read more about difficulty grades). Some routes can be comfortably managed by bus or train.
We strongly advise you only to follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack
When to go
This trip is available from May to August. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date in the season.
The climate in the region is continental, cold and temperate. Depending on location and altitude, temperatures vary, but in the May-August period daily averages are 15-25C. Spring is cooler with occasional rain. Expect the weather to change rapidly during the day. For more information on travelling in Austria, please visit our blogs Best time to go to Austria and Guide to the Salzkammergut Lake District.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this holiday is Salzburg Airport (SZG).
By train or bus
- From Salzburg there is a direct bus (1h) or train to Abersee. For schedules and more information see the Omio planner above
- If you are able to travel to Austria without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with a train station in Abersee. For more details, see the national rail operator ÖBB or use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 5 breakfasts
- Taxi: Predigtstuhl
- Cable car: Hallstatt
- Boat ride: Lake Hallstätter
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg)
- Printed detailed roadbook including maps delivered on-site (one per room), as well as a digital pre-departure information package including GPS tracks
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Bus tickets
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and attractions’ entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Private airport transfers from/to Salzburg Airport
- Extra nights
