Salzkammergut Panoramas

Panoramic hiking in the Salzkammergut region

This journey takes you on a scenic adventure through the diverse landscapes of the Salzkammergut region, from the gentle hills surrounding Lake Traunsee to the mountainous terrain of the Dachstein Glacier. You'll traverse mountain trails, rugged peaks, and the rocky plateau of the Höllengebirge before reaching the historic town of Bad Ischl.

Following in the footsteps of Empress Sissi, you'll discover the beauty of the turquoise-blue Lake Wolfgang and ascend to the Postalm, Austria's largest alpine pasture area. As you continue your panorama hiking tour from North to South, you'll experience the rich diversity of the Salzkammergut, transitioning from the outer to the inner region. Along the way, you'll trek high-altitude paths, encounter breathtaking views, and cross the Gosaukamm ravine, all while keeping the magnificent Dachstein Glacier in your sights.

Details on the hiking tour of high-altitude trails, lakes and Dachstein glacier

Embark on a panoramic tour filled with highlights, including the Dachstein Glacier, the otherworldly landscape of the Höllengebirge, and Austria's largest alpine pasture area. Your journey will take you from Lake Traunsee through Bad Ischl and onwards to Lake Gosau, where you can enjoy the marvels of the breathtaking scenery along the way.

Highlights of the hiking tour high-altitude trails, lakes and Dachstein Glacier:

  • Sweet treats in Bad Ischl: For those with a sweet tooth, the famous Café Zauner in the "Imperial City" has just the right treat in store - the wonderful Zauner Stollen made from nougat, nuts and chocolate.

  • Lunar landscape in the Höllengebirge: After a ride on the Feuerkogelbahn in the Höllengebirge and a hike to the high plateau.

  • Pure alpine enjoyment: On the sixth day of your hiking holiday, the route takes you to the Rinnbergalm, where the dairymaid is already waiting for you with fresh milk products.

  • The crowning glory: On the last stage of the day, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Gosausee at the foot of the "König Dachstein" during the cable car ride into the Gosau valley. 

Worth knowing about the hiking tour of high-altitude trails, lakes and Dachstein glacier

The journey to the Traunsee already gives you a first glimpse of the fabulous panoramas. Glittering lakes, spectacular mountain trails and views of the Dachstein glacier are your companions on the hiking tour in the Salzkammergut. Mountain hikes lead to good hiking and forest trails, partly in alpine terrain.

Route summary

You hike on well-maintained hiking- and forest paths, in parts on forest roads, but also on rocky alpine tracks. Mainly on the first days along the mountain tracks, a certain amount of surefootedness and a head for heights is required. For hiking tours with a walking time of up to 5.5 hours, a good basic fitness level is necessary. Many times you have a shorter or longer option to choose from. A hiking week suited to people who like a mixture of varied hiking paths with plenty of amazing views, alp tracks and easy alpine terrain.

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

Tour information
Challenging
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-Guided
  • Luggage transfers included
  • Total walking distance: approx. 77 km
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Itinerary

Use the day of arrival to swim in the refreshing Traunsee.

Above the deepest of all the Salzkammergut lakes, the road leads you to the enchanting peninsula of
Traunkirchen is a landscaped jewel that has inspired many painters and artists. The trail climbs steeply from here to the first imposing peak, which looks like an eagle's nest, perched high above the water's surface. You continue on a mountain path over the Sonnstein to the salt village of Ebensee.

ca. 5 hours
11 km
800 m
800 m

With the Feuerkogelbahn you float over the rocky karst desert of the Höllen Mountains. The area is a stark contrast to the valley's bright greenery and rocky footpaths. When you arrive at the rocky high plateau, you have the feeling that you have arrived in a lunar landscape. After a detour at the Rieder mountain hut, take the funicular back down and then continue by train to Imperial Bad Ischl, which beckons with a visit to the Imperial Villa and Hotel Austria, where the betrothal of Emperor Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Bavaria took place. Or a coffee break in Café Zauner with delicious cakes and pastries or a visit to the warm saltwater pools of the Salzkammergut-Therme.

ca. 5 hours
11 km
500 m
500 m

Empress Sissi's favourite trail leads through meadows and fields to a small mountain lake, which is well hidden in the dense forest and lies beneath the steep flanks of the Katrin massif. You walk over the former border to the "Salzburger Salzkammergut" to the shore of the Wolfgangsee, where the beautiful promenade invites you for a long break. Through an idyllic nature reserve along the lake, you walk towards the famous Hotel Weissen Rössl and the striking Schafberg.

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

Today you will discover the unique mountain landscape of the Postalm region: through the gorge of the Zinkenbach, you climb up through the forest to the first alpine meadows and deeper and deeper into the mountains. Hike through the Niedergadenalm and the Thorhöhe over the vast mountain pastures past cows and horses to a rustic mountain hut where you spend the night under the twinkling starry sky.

ca. 5 hours
13 km
900 m
150 m

An extensive alm tour through idyllic meadows takes you past the highest peaks of the Osterhorn. Over lush lawns to the Rinnbergalm, where the milkmaid awaits you with fresh dairy products from the grazing cattle. Listen to the cowbells concert with a short refreshment before heading to the pretty mountaineering village of Russbach and further into the beautiful Gosau Valley.

ca. 4 hours
12 km
300 m
700 m

At the end of your walking holiday, several highlights await you. On the Herrenweg, you go up to the Zwieselalm, where the imposing ridge of the "Salzburger Dolomites" greets you with its pointed peaks and the white snow surface of the glacier, which seems close enough to the touch. Travel comfortably back into the valley by cable car, where you can enjoy the dreamy view of the glittering Gosau Lake, in whose water "King Dachstein" is reflected.

ca. 5 hours
11 km
300 m
700 m

Route information

You walk on good footpaths and forest trails. Parts of the mountain trails require some security and no fear of heights. A good basic condition is required for the stages of up to 5.5 hours. Often there is a shorter and a longer variants to choose from. A hiking week with a combination of varied and promising
hiking trails, alpine meadows and light alpine terrain.

Prices and dates

Prices are per person in GBP and exclude flights

Price calculation and check availability: Salzkammergut Panoramas

Place of arrival: Traunsee
  Season 1
25.05.2024 - 09.06.2024
09.09.2024 - 22.09.2024

Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
10.06.2024 - 23.06.2024
26.08.2024 - 08.09.2024

Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
24.06.2024 - 25.08.2024

Saturday, Sunday
Salzkammergut Panoramas, AT-SKWTG-08X
Base price
779.00
849.00
959.00
Single room surcharge 169.00 169.00 169.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels and guesthouses, 1 x night in a cosy mountain hut.

Season 1
May 25, 2024 - Jun 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024
Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 23, 2024
Aug 26, 2024 - Sep 8, 2024
Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
Jun 24, 2024 - Aug 25, 2024
Saturday, Sunday
Salzkammergut Panoramas, AT-SKWTG-08X
Base price
Single room surcharge
779.00
169.00
849.00
169.00
959.00
169.00

Hotel information: You will stay in carefully selected 3*** hotels and guesthouses, 1 x night in a cosy mountain hut.

Season 1
May 25, 2024 - Jun 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024
Season 2
Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 23, 2024
Aug 26, 2024 - Sep 8, 2024
Season 3
Jun 24, 2024 - Aug 25, 2024
Ebensee
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
Gosau
Double room p.p.
Single room surcharge
69.00
29.00
69.00
29.00
85.00
29.00
85.00
29.00
85.00
29.00
85.00
29.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Traunsee
  Season 1
May 25, 2024 - Jun 9, 2024
Sep 9, 2024 - Sep 22, 2024

Saturday, Sunday
Season 2
Jun 10, 2024 - Jun 23, 2024
Aug 26, 2024 - Sep 8, 2024

Saturday, Sunday
Season 3
Jun 24, 2024 - Aug 25, 2024

Saturday, Sunday
Ebensee
Double room p.p. 69.00 85.00 85.00
Single room surcharge 29.00 29.00 29.00
Gosau
Double room p.p. 69.00 85.00 85.00
Single room surcharge 29.00 29.00 29.00
Prices per person in GBP

Included services and travel information

Services

Including

  • 7 nights as described, including breakfast
  • Ascent and descent Seilbahn Feuerkogel
  • Cable car rides described in the program
  • Personal welcome meeting (German, English)
  • Luggage transfer(s)
  • Travel folder 1 x per room (German, English with route and overview maps, detailed route description, places of interest, important telephone numbers, luggage labels)
  • GPS data available on request
  • Service Hotline

Not included

  • Tourist tax, if applicable, to be paid locally
  • Bus trip Rußbach–Gosau, Gosausee–Gosau, approx. €6 per person

 

 

Arrival information
  • Airport: Airport Salzburg, then by bus or train in approx. 2 hours to Traunsee. (1x transfer)
  • Train: Salzburg train station, then by bus or train to Traunsee in approx. 2 hours. (1x transfer)
  • Parking: Usually free hotel parking, partly public parking, approx. €30 per week. No reservation possible
  • Departure: Train or bus ride Gosau-Traunsee, approx. 1.5 hours (1 change)
Sample hotel list

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

Ebensee

Hotel Post Ebensee

www.hotel-post-ebensee.at/en/

Bad Ischl

Hotel Goldenes Schiff

www.goldenes-schiff.at

Wolfgangsee

Hotel Aberseehof

www.aberseehof.at

Postalm

Huberhütte

www.huberhuette-postalm.at

Gosau

Hotel COOEE

www.cooee-alpin.com

 

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