Start and end in Bad Goisern, the trip Austrian Lake District And Dachstein Alps is a self-guided walking tour that takes 8 days. You will travel through Bad Goisern, Gosau and Hallstatt in Austria. Austrian Lake District And Dachstein Alps is a trip which includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.
Day 01: Arrive Bad Goisern
Fly to Vienna/Salzburg/Linz/Graz and take the airport shuttle buses, then trains to Bad Goisern. There are trains more or less hourly throughout the day. Settle into your hotel and maybe stretch your legs strolling along the riverside path.
Day 02: Bad Goisern Walk
There are different options today. If you are up for a bit of a challenge, take the train to the Spa town of Bad Ischl (15 minutes) and take the 19 km / 11 mile walk back to Bad Goisern involving a climb up to the craggy peak of Predigstuhl 1278m (some steps & cables to summit but you can bypass the summit). There are great vistas towards the Dachstein group, which still looks quite far off at this point and over the Halstattersee. A steep descent takes you along the Ewige Wand rock band before doubling back through some old salt workings bringing you out into the forest above Bad Goisern.
An alternative is a shorter walk steeply up a forested rock ridge called the ‘The Jochwand,’ 9 km / 5.5 miles approx. There are great views over the region before the path drops downhill to Bad Goisern. For a more relaxing day, walk along both sides of the river bank and explore the coffee shops of Bad Goisern.
Day 03: Bad Goisern-Gosau 16 km/9.9 miles (1100m ascent–900 m descent)
The path climbs past the Goiserer Hutte 1598m. Hardened walkers may wish to spend an extra half hour or so climbing up to the peak of Kalmberg 1833m. It is then downhill to Gosau heading steeply through attractive Alps and then through forests and walk into the spread out village of Gosau.
Day 04: Walks from Gosau
You have the choice of either a full day or half day walk.
Take the local postbus to Gosaursee and gain the ridge high above with a funicular car up to the ‘Gablonzer Hutte,’ 1522m (probably closed September / October) and then from there follow a pretty path back down again to Gosau called the ‘Herrenweg’ (The Man’s Walk). On this 7 km / 4 mile walk there are normally great views of the Gosaukamm Mountains.
You can also take the postbus up to the Gosausee and then walk the trail to the Hintere Gosausee, which is the smaller higher second lake, ascent and descent is about 300m. This trip takes about 4 hours and on a good day you will get some very dramatic reflections of the mountains in the waters.
Day 05: Gosau-Hallstatt 16 km/9.9 miles(900m ascent-1000m descent)
Gosau-Hallstatt 16 km/9.9 miles(900m ascent-1000m descent)From Gosau you can walk to Hallstatt (literally ‘Salt City’)
maybe with the assistance of local transport to shorten routes. Walking, the route follows the valley before climbing up through forest and alpine pastures liberally watered by mountain streams reaching the flanks of Mount Plassen. Here is a short steep section to descend, before a more gentle undulating general descent via the mines of Salzburg where you will find a salt mine where guided visits are possible depending on when you arrive. Finally drop down to Hallstatt. If it is wet or if a storm beckons a little funicular will get you down.
Day 06: Walks from Hallstatt
Time is well spent utilizing cable cars and the Obertrauner Hohenweg to visit an ‘Ice cave,’ the ‘Mammoth cave’ and Mount Krippenstein, with more walking opportunities and views to the Dachsteins and their glaciers. Alternatively from the town a steep gradient leads you up to the salt mine, which originally gave the town its wealth. (If you have not visited this yesterday on the way down from the walk). You could avoid the climb by using the little funicular railway instead. High above there are great views of the Hallstattersee and the high peaks. You can walk back on the ‘Soleweg’ path. Spend some time in Hallstatt, looking around for instance, the old graveyard where bones and skulls have been piled up in the bone house, many painted with floral motifs. You could also take the ferry across the Hallstattersee for a mini cruise. Photographers will certainly appreciate the different vistas of the town from the water!
Day 07: Hallstatt to Bad Goisern 12 km / 7.5 miles
The walk leads off northerly from above Hallstatt along the ‘Solweg’ the path by which they have pumped brine (liquid salt) towards Bad Ischl for a few hundred years. Originally the brine was piped via a wooden piping and is claimed to be the oldest commercial pipeline. Hopefully if the weather is clear and still you will get some beautiful reflections in the waters. You can take a detour down to the lake at a place called Gosaumuhle where you may like to take a swim on a warm day. You then carry on into Bad Goisern and back to your first hotel. Alternatively you can catch the ferry across to the railway station in the morning and walk round the eastern side of the lake to Bad Goisern. For the most challenging walk of the week you can opt to cross the lake and walk via the summit of Sarstein back to Bad Goisern.
Day 08: Bad Goisern to Vienna/Salzburg/Linz/Graz
After breakfast make your way to the train station for your onward journey.
| City | Night (s) | Hotel |
| Bad Goisern | 02 | Alpenhotel Dachstein |
| Gosau | 02 | COOEE alpin Hotel Dachstein |
| Hallstatt | 02 | Gasthof Weisses Lamm |
| Bad Goisern | 01 | Alpenhotel Dachstein |
– Meeting and assistance by our representative.
– Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
– 07 Nights accommodation
– Daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinners.
– Local English-speaking guide
– Train or cablecar services within Austria
– All transfers, sightseeing, excursions as per the program by private vehicle.
– Entrance Fee
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– All present government taxes.
– International Airfare.
– Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
– Visa fees, personal insurance.
– Any item not specified under cost includes.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.