Salzkammergut Highlights

From beautiful lakes to World Heritage sites

During your daily walks, you'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Austrian history and culture at its finest. For instance, did you know that the charming town of Hallstatt holds UNESCO World Heritage status? It's so iconic that a replica of it exists in China! Prepare for a journey through the Salzkammergut region that offers a remarkable blend of experiences.

There's an old folk song that describes Austria as the "most beautiful country in all time," and this sentiment certainly holds true for the Austrian Salzkammergut. With its stunning mountains, serene lakes, and picturesque towns, it is truly one of the world's most precious treasures. UNESCO has recognized this uniqueness, designating the Hallstatt region as a UNESCO Heritage site, celebrating both its natural beauty and cultural significance.

Details about the hiking holiday in the Salzkammergut

The Salzkammergut beckons you to discover its charming mountain and lake scenery. The World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut, featuring places like Bad Ischl, Hallstatt, and St. Wolfgang, seamlessly blends natural beauty, rich culture, and delightful culinary experiences.

The highlights of this walking holiday at a glance:

  • Bathe in crystal clear water: The Wolfgangsee and Hallstattersee are two of the most enchanting lakes in the entire Salzkammergut.

  • With the 'Schafbergbahn' to the panoramic view: Experience the lake landscape in miniature perspective. A magnificent view opens up to you on top of the Schafberg.

  • Visit the Imperial Villa and Hotel Austria: Where Emperor Franz Josef and Elizabeth of Bavaria (better known as Sisi) got engaged, you can still find the Imperial atmosphere.

Worth knowing about the hiking tour in the Salzkammergut

The eight-day journey begins in the stylish village of St. Wolfgang. From the picturesque town, the nostalgic Schafbergbahn takes you to the top, where you can enjoy a unique view. You walk along the charming lake shore to St. Gilgen. 

A boat trip should also not be missed while walking through this lake-rich region! At Schwarzensee, you can treat yourself to regional delicacies before heading to the lakeside promenade in Strobl am Wolfgangsee. On the penultimate day, you will walk through the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt.

Route summary

This tour combines pleasant walking with culture and places of interest. The walking paths are very good, There are just some short ascents on smaller serpentine paths. We can recommend this tour to families.

This tour has been graded as Medium. Find out more about our walking holiday difficulty levels.

Tour information
Medium
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total walking distance: approx. 63 km
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Itinerary

Use the day of arrival to swim in the refreshing Wolfgangsee with a view of picturesque St. Wolfgang, or take the nostalgic cogwheel railway to the Schafberg, from which you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the lakes of the Salzkammergut.

By boat, you go to St. Wolfgang. You can enjoy the view of the lake during your walk on the mountain path to Falkensteinwand. On the romantic path along the lake, you can walk to the village of St. Gilgen with the house of the Mozart family. Back by boat.

ca. 3,5 hours
10 km
250 m
250 m

From St. Wolfgang, your route leads via the Sattlweg to the Schwarzensee, where delicacies await you in the Lore Hut on the lake. Via the Wirer Gorge into the valley and along the Bürglstein to the lake promenade in Strobl. By bus, the route goes to the old imperial city of Bad Ischl.

ca. 4,5 hours
12 km
300 m
300 m

This day is free to fill in and offers many opportunities to explore the city or just have a nice rest day. Bad Ischl beckons with a visit to the Imperial Villa and Hotel Austria, where the engagement of Emperor Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Bavaria once took place. Whether a coffee break in Café Zauner with delicious cakes and pastries or a visit to the warm saltwater pools of the Salzkammergut-Therme.

Salt is and was the most important raw material in the Salzkammergut. The oldest brine pipeline in the world leads from the Hallstatt salt mine to the salt processing facility in Bad Ischl. You first walk along the Ischler Promenade to the Kaltenbachau, where horse races, picnics and rendezvous took place in imperial times. Via the brine route, you head towards Bad Goisern, the gateway to the World Heritage site. Should you wish to go a little higher, you can hike the spectacular mountain trail of the Eternal Wall.

ca. 3 to 5 hours
11 km
50 m
50 m

Continue your walk along the brine pipeline to the salt mountain in Hallstatt (salt mine from the Celtic era). From there you have a wonderful view of the lake and the Dachstein massif. You should definitely visit the salt mine, enjoy the view from the Rudolfsturm and see the excavation sites. You cross the lake by boat and return to Bad Goisern by train.

ca. 4,5 hours
12 km
400 m
100 m

By train, the route goes to Bad Ischl. Via the romantic Sissi path, you walk to the Nussensee and follow the Ischl river back to the Wolfgangsee. The route runs through the nature reserve and along the lake back to your final destination.

ca. 5,5 hours
18 km
300 m
200 m

Route information

During this trip, walking with culture and sights becomes a wonderful combination. The trails are good, there are only short climbs on smaller winding paths. We can also recommend this tour to families.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights

Price calculation and check availability: Salzkammergut Highlights

Place of arrival: Wolfgangsee
  Season 1
04.05.2024 - 26.05.2024
16.09.2024 - 06.10.2024

Daily
Season 2
27.05.2024 - 16.06.2024
02.09.2024 - 15.09.2024

Daily
Season 3
17.06.2024 - 01.09.2024

Daily
Salzkammergut Highlights, AT-SKWWO-08A
Base price
779.00
829.00
929.00
Single room surcharge 169.00 169.00 169.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels and guesthouses.

Season 1
May 4, 2024 - May 26, 2024
Sep 16, 2024 - Oct 6, 2024
Daily
Season 2
May 27, 2024 - Jun 16, 2024
Sep 2, 2024 - Sep 15, 2024
Daily
Season 3
Jun 17, 2024 - Sep 1, 2024
Daily
Salzkammergut Highlights, AT-SKWWO-08A
Base price
Single room surcharge
779.00
169.00
829.00
169.00
929.00
169.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels and guesthouses.

Season 1
May 4, 2024 - May 26, 2024
Sep 16, 2024 - Oct 6, 2024
Season 2
May 27, 2024 - Jun 16, 2024
Sep 2, 2024 - Sep 15, 2024
Season 3
Jun 17, 2024 - Sep 1, 2024
Bad Ischl
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
Bad Goisern
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
Wolfgangsee
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
79.00
39.00
69.00
25.00
69.00
35.00
89.00
39.00
69.00
25.00
69.00
35.00
99.00
39.00
79.00
25.00
79.00
35.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Wolfgangsee
  Season 1
May 4, 2024 - May 26, 2024
Sep 16, 2024 - Oct 6, 2024

Daily
Season 2
May 27, 2024 - Jun 16, 2024
Sep 2, 2024 - Sep 15, 2024

Daily
Season 3
Jun 17, 2024 - Sep 1, 2024

Daily
Bad Ischl
Double room p.p. 79.00 89.00 99.00
Single room surcharge 39.00 39.00 39.00
Bad Goisern
Double room p.p. 69.00 69.00 79.00
Single room surcharge 25.00 25.00 25.00
Wolfgangsee
Double room p.p. 69.00 69.00 79.00
Single room surcharge 35.00 35.00 35.00
Prices per person in GBP

Included services and travel information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights as described, including breakfast
  • Boat trip Wolfgangsee
  • Ferries Wolfgangsee, Hallstattersee
  • Valley canal Salzbergbahn Hallstatt
  • Cable car Hallstatt-Bad Goisern, Bad Goisern-Bad Ischl
  • Salzkammergut Erlebnis-card (Discount on cable cars, thermal baths, Hallstatt salt mine, boat trips, etc.)
  • Personal welcome meeting (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer(s) max. 1 piece of luggage 20 kg per person
  • Travel folder 1 x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
  • Own signage on the route
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
  • Bus trip Strobl-Bad Ischl, approx. €4 per person

 

 

Arrival information
  • Airport: Salzburg or Munich airport(s)
  • Train: Salzburg train station and about 1 hour by bus to Wolfgangsee. Or train trip to Bad Ischl and in about 30 minutes to Wolfgangsee. Pick up at the bus stop by the accommodation provider possible, on request
  • Parking: Free (limited) parking at the hotel, public parking approx. €30 per week. No reservation possible
Sample hotel list

This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.

Wolfgangsee

Hotel Aberseehof 3***S

www.aberseehof.at

Hotel Weisses Rössl 4****

www.weissesroessl.at

Bad Ischl

Hotel Goldenes Schiff 4****

www.goldenes-schiff.at

Villa Seilern Vital Resort 4****S

www.villaseilern.at

Bad Goisern

Hotel Moserwirt 3***S

www.moserwirt.at

 

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