Overview
An eight day, self-guided hiking holiday around some of Austria’s most iconic and exquisite mountain terrain, much of which is part of the Hallstatt-Dachstein UNESCO World Heritage Site. Starting and ending in Ramsau am Dachstein, an alpine town located on an elevated plateau between the Dachstein range and Enns Valley, you get a great view of what lies ahead. Which is really a walker’s paradise, with an array of limestone peaks rising 3,000m above sea level.
Walking at high altitude, hiking greats include Dachstein Glacier, Gosau Valley and lake, as well as summiting Sulzenschneid, Hochmühleck and Donnerkogel (for experienced hikers only). Accommodation includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses, with one night in a traditional mountain hut.
- Dachstein Circuit
- Dachstein Glacier
- Gosau Valley
- Hallstatt
- Hallstätter See
- Hallstatt-Dachstein UNESCO World Heritage Site
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Ramsau am Dachstein
Arrive in Ramsau in the district of Liezen, Austria, located on an elevated plateau between the Dachstein range and Enns Valley. Take the chance to explore this alpine town, taking in views out towards the Dachstein massif.
- Accommodation: Hotel Ennstalerhof or similar in Ramsau am Dachstein
Day 2: Ramsau am Dachstein – Hofpürgl | 13km
Begin with a short bus ride to the start of the trail. Hike up to the Sulzenschneid summit (1,950m) via the Linzer Path, crossing Rinderfeld along the way, an alpine pasture used for grazing cattle. Continue along a high altitude path leading below the peaks towards Bischofsmütze (2,458m), the highest mountain in the Gosaukamm. Walk to the foot of this well-known rock formation before ending the day at Hofpürgl mountain hut.
Please note: tonight’s accommodation is in a remote mountain hut, so you’ll need to keep an overnight kit in your day pack, as your main luggage is transferred to your next hotel in Gosau.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 6h, ↑800m ↓660m
- Accommodation: Hofpürglhütte (mixed-gender dormitories)
Day 3: Hofpürgl – Gosau | 11km
Today is another day of high altitude trekking with stunning views over the sharp ridges of the Gosau massif. Follow alpine pastures to Stuhlalm, where we recommend a break to sample some of the local produce. Skirt Donnerkogel peak (1,617m, summit ascent possible for experienced hikers only) to reach Gablonzer hut, offering views over the Dachstein Glacier, Gosau Valley and Gosausee. Descend to Gosau via cable car, an alpine village known for its crystal-clear Vorderer Gosausee which reflects the Dachstein mountains.
- Walking for the day: 11km, 5h, ↑330m ↓540m
- Accommodation: COOEE alpin Dachstein or similar in Gosau
Day 4: Gosau – Bad Goisern | 15km
Head out along forest paths via Iglmoosalm to Goiserer Alpine Club’s hut on the mountain crest, offering views over the Goiserer Valley and the iconic Hallstätter See. Here there is the option to ascend Hochkalmberg (1,833m), with its rock formation known as Stone Indian. Descend to the market town of Bad Goisern, a traditional spa town with flower-decorated houses, famous for its hand-made Goiserer shoes and boots.
- Walking for the day: 15km, 6h, ↑860m ↓1,060m
- Accommodation: Hotel Goisererhof or similar in Bad Goisern
Day 5: Hallstatt circular | 17km
Take the bus to Hallstatt, which is part of the larger Hallstatt-Dachstein UNESCO World Heritage Site and where we recommend a stroll through the historic and somewhat heavenly town centre. Take the cable car up the Salzberg, to reach the famous Skywalk viewing point. Continue on past the salt mine up through pastures and across the plateau to Löckermoos. Follow the Bibelschmugglerweg trail down to Gosausee where it’s worth stopping for a bite to eat on the shore before taking the bus to Bad Goisern for the evening.
- Walking for the day: 17km, 6h, ↑900m ↓750m
- Accommodation: Hotel Goisererhof or similar in Bad Goisern
Day 6: Bad Goisern – Stoderzinken | 19km
After a short transfer, walk through the forest to the summit of Hochmühleck (1,731m) and on to Viehberg alp, where traditional huts are an ideal spot for a break. Continue on through a remote karst rock formations and pine forest up to the Brünner Hut on Stoderzinken. Spend the night in the high mountain area directly below Stoderzinken’s summit.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 7-8h, ↑1,300m ↓370m
- Accommodation: Steinerhaus or similar in Stoderzinken
Day 7: Stoderzinken – Ramsau am Dachstein | 19km
Today you cross the high plateau of the Styrian Dachstein. Hike over karst and gravel areas, through pine and larch forests and some small mountain lakes, towards Dachstein. Continue on this high altitude trek, beneath spectacular summits and remote mountain landscapes towards the mountaineering station of Guttenberghaus, bringing your Dachstein circuit to a colossal close.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 7h, ↑750m ↓1,380m
- Accommodation: Hotel Ennstalerhof or similar in Ramsau am Dachstein
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses, with one night in a mountain hut with mixed-gender dormitories and shared bathroom facilities. 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 default hotels
- Hotel Ennstalerhof (Ramsau am Dachstein)
- Hofpürgl Hut (dorm rooms – mixed-gender)
- COOEE alpin Dachstein (Gosau)
- Hotel Goisererhof (Bad Goisern)
- Hotel Ennstalerhof (Stoderzinken)
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 is a challenging high-altitude trek that requires an excellent fitness level and solid hiking experience. With daily walking distances ranging from 11-19km, you will be mostly on well-maintained walking trails (read more about difficulty grades). Please note that Donnerkogel peak is only for experienced alpine hikers, and should only be attempted in good/dry weather conditions.
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 mid-June till mid-September, starting on Saturdays and Sundays only.
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, please visit our blog Best time to go to Austria.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Salzburg Airport (SZG).
By train or bus
- From Salzburg airport there are regular buses to the city centre and Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (19mins).
- From here there are regular trains and buses to Schladming to then continue by bus to Ramsau am Dachstein (18mins).
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers on all walking days (one piece per person, max 20kg) (except overnight stay at Hofpürgl Hut)
- Ramsau Summer Card (all cable cars, tourist attractions, public buses)
- Cable car descent to Gosaukamm
- Salzbergbahn descent to Hallstatt
- Car transfer from Bad Goisern (hike to Stoderzinken)
- Digital tour materials: detailed roadbook including maps a navigation app for smartphones and GPS tracks. Please note that no printed documents will be provided on-site.
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- 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.
- Extra nights and hotel upgrades
- Printed tour materials
